Page 23 of Henry & the Dragon
“He is in great agony. Poison courses through his veins, and he fears Death will also visit him soon. His greatest regret is not being able to speak to you of his love.”
Kai loved him? “Surely you must be mistaken.”
“No, never. He is in a cave up on a mountain twenty leagues to the west. It is there he expects to die.”
“And the dragon?”
She frowned and squinted, as though she was seeing something Henry could not. “I don’t see a dragon, but your love is not concerned with that, only with you.”
Twenty leagues? He could cover that distance in two days, if weather prevailed. Still, if he had to take Dmitra home….
“Take her with you. She will be sad, but she has the gift as well, and she already knows what will come to pass, even if she isn’t ready to deal with it. She can be of help to you, I’m certain.”
Henry wanted to protest, but Constance squeezed his hand to forestall anything he would say.
“Dmitra already thinks of you as a savior. Do not let her down. I would beg if it helped.”
He had no doubt she would. This, more than anything, proved to Henry she was a doting mother.
“Please, speak to me the truth. How long have you got to live? I could leave Dmitra with you, and—“
“I have already seen I will pass this night,” she said, a slight wheeze in her voice. “I’m sorry if you wasted your salve on me, but without it, I wouldn’t have made it long enough to talk with you. I was on my deathbed, Henry, and you kept me here to give me one last chance to see to Dmitra. I will forever be grateful to you.”
Henry nibbled his lip. He could not, in good conscience, leave Dmitra alone, but the thought of taking her with him chilled him to his core.
“She will make you a fine daughter. She is bright, and learns quickly. You could teach her the healing arts.” Constance said softly, her eyes fluttering closed. “All I ask is that you occasionally remind her of my love.”
“I will, I swear.”
“Then all is right with the world, and I can go into the light. Go with the gods, Henry. You and your love are at a crossroads. You must reach him soon, if you hope to save him. Dmitra will know the way, and can guide you there. Hurry, Henry. He… waits.”
A wheezed breath, and Constance passed from the living to the other side. Henry pulled the threadbare blanket up and covered her face with it.
“She’s gone,” came a small voice from behind him.
Henry turned and found Dmitra there, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry.”
She nodded and came to stand by his side. “I knew this would come to pass, even if I hoped for a miracle.” She slid a slender arm around his neck and leaned into him. “Am I to go with you, or to the orphanage?”
A sigh slid out of Henry. “You will come with me. I would never abandon you.”
The little girl smiled sadly. “I know. Mama told me a good man would come to save me. When you approached me in the market, I knew it was you.”
“Never in my life have I met someone who so loved their child, they hung on to life until they were certain she was cared for. Your mother was truly a special woman.”
Dmitra nibbled her lower lip, an affectation Henry recalled Merry having when she needed to say something she thought would upset others. “She said you were to be my father. Is that true?”
“I will raise you as my own,” Henry vowed. “But you must know—“
“She told me. I would have two fathers, if we can save the other man.” She leaned against Henry, her head on his shoulder. “I would like that.”
Henry stood, then took Dmitra’s hand in his. “Then we should see to making it so, daughter of ours.”
Together they left the stale air of the hovel. Henry went to the neighbor’s home and knocked on their door. When it opened, he explained Constance’s passing, and asked if they could see to the body. At first it seemed as though they would refuse, but Henry said in exchange for their oath, they could help themselves to the food Henry had left. After that, they were more than happy to do so.
“Mama made them uncomfortable,” Dmitra said, as she packed her meager belongings into a new sack Henry purchased for her. “They felt as though she could look at them, and know when they would die.”
“Well, she looked at me, and knew you and I would have a happy life, so I see nothing to fear there. Are you ready to depart? We have a long journey ahead of us.”
