Page 31 of Henry & the Dragon
“What bothers you most, Henry? Is it the fact I am of the Hodac?”
Henry peered up, his eyes unfocused. “What? No. I have always loved the tales of dragons. I knew they could not possibly be the corrupt beings people claim. They seem far too noble.”
“No, we most certainly are not evil. It is difficult to explain, but we come from another plane of reality. Our people are scholars, healers, teachers. Good and noble people all. I am still vexed by what worries you most.”
Henry peeked down at Dmitra, then his gaze slid toward… oh. Now Kai understood. Henry worried that he’d touched thegenitals of a royal. No doubt something like that on this world would mean death. Many things did, apparently.
“Is it because we have lain together?”
“What? No, of course not.” His cheeks reddened. “Okay, yes. You’re a prince!”
Kai reached for Henry, and stroked a thumb over his cheek. “And you are the most beautiful soul of any being I have ever seen. The first day we met, you did your best to save the Virbolg, not knowing if it would end your life. When its mother arrived, did you demand I destroy it? No. Why?”
Henry’s cheeks flushed. “All living things have a dignity about them. They have lives they do not wish ended. Why would I want to hurt them?”
“You are a rare human, Henry. So very rare. You are like a precious flower; one that must be cared for, tended to, and allowed to blossom fully so that everyone can behold its wonder.”
Those cheeks Kai loved pinked as Henry averted his gaze. “Why does your mother not take a human form? Is she unable?”
“Oh, she is quite capable. However, no one is allowed to see her in her nude state except my father. He’s rather… adamant about that.”
“Oh!” Henry grabbed his bag and removed Kai’s cloak, which he handed over. “Will this help?”
Kai couldn’t help but smile. “You are aware that if you’d sold the cloak you could have fed you, your family, and every person in the town for the rest of your lives.”
That made Henry frown and pull the fabric closer to him, clutching it tightly to his chest. “I would never give up something that is precious to you.”
“Now ask yourself again why I love you. Where Neron only saw the cloth as a path to riches, you hold it close as a remembrance.” Kai turned and held the cloak out as his mothertransformed back into her human form. She was tall, radiant, and regal, with striking red hair and eyes the color of new blades of spring grass. Kai loved her more than he thought he could ever love another, until Henry.
She pulled the cloak around herself, then stepped out into view. She graced Henry with a smile, then held out a hand to Dmitra, who reached for it.
“It is a great pleasure to meet you, Dmitra, daughter of Henry.”
Dmitra smiled up at Henry even as she clutched his hand with her other.
“And you, Henry, I owe a debt which can never be repaid. You have saved the life of my son.”
Kai groaned. “Mother, I am one of eight boys. And I’m adopted. We all are.”
“You are,” she admitted, placing a hand on his shoulder, “but that does not make our love, our bond, any less true. You are precious to your father, as you are to me.”
Henry crossed an arm over his stomach and bowed. “The pleasure is mine, your majesty.”
She laughed at that, the sound not unlike the loveliest of birdsong. “You must call me Arissa, Henry.”
“But… you’re a queen.”
“And my husband you will refer to as Harramir. We do not stand on ceremony, you see. At least not with our people. We are a family, and Harramir is like the father of us all.”
“This is all too much,” Henry said, shaking his head.
“Mother and Father take in the orphaned children of dragons who….” He glanced at his mother, uncertain if this was his tale to tell. She nodded. “We are explorers, Henry. We travel to many worlds, seeking knowledge. Oh, the wonders we have beheld. You could never imagine the sights, the sounds, the emotions. Then there are places like your home? They aretoo violent, and many of our people lost their lives during their sojourn. At one time, we visited often, but those visits came less frequently as the years went on and your people learned better ways to kill.”
“After this visit, I do not think we shall come to this time again,” Arissa said harshly. “I had no idea Kaithyn would be in such terrible danger. After we return home, the portal that leads to this era will be sealed permanently.”
Sealed? “Mother, no!”
“I have made up my mind, Kaithyn.”
