Page 33 of Henry & the Dragon
She gave a soft smile. “I wish that was possible, but it isn’t. It will be known as the Black Death, and it will lay waste to this country, as well as many others. By the time it has run its course, your people will be forever changed, but from this they will grow smarter, stronger. I’m afraid even your miraculous salve will not stem the tide. You see, we know what has already come to pass, and we have seen the future of your world. There will be so many trials and tribulations. Wars, famine, and disease will be constant companions. Through it all, though, they will triumph.”
“Henry, please. Return with us.” Kai grinned. “I will be able to take you places you’ve never imagined. Show you plants that don’t exist on Earth. Assist you in creating unguents that will help so many. In fact, we could travel to your Earth, but in the future, so you could see how things progressed. Think of the knowledge you could gain.”
So many things went through Henry’s head. He could be with Kai. With his family. Plus, there was the fact that Henry really did like knowing how things worked. And the opportunity to see things he might never otherwise have the chance to?
“If my family says yes, then I will too.”
Chapter 11
“Perhaps we should go,” Kai said, his voice soft and still radiating with pain.
“We’ll go nowhere until I say so,” the Queen insisted, her voice letting all assembled know not to argue. “You almost died, Kaithyn, and I will not move from this spot until I am certain you won’t fall down the mountain, plummet from the sky, or that some other ailment should lay you low.”
Kai smiled, and Henry could see her words, though frustrating, pleased him. As they sat, she stepped out of the cave and flew down to where Henry had left the horses. She retrieved pelts to warm them and enough food to feed them. It was all quite vexing, having her serve them. She was a queen, after all. Still, when Henry had offered to climb down to retrieve everything, she gave him an indulgent smile.
“You risked your life to save Kaithyn,” she said, her voice breaking. “You killed the odious being who harmed him.”
“Was the dragon we saw soaring in the sky you, your majesty?”
She winced. “Yes, it was. Please, don’t be frightened of me. I was a mother deep in her grief, unable to find the son she holds most dear.” She averted her gaze. “I was in my home when I heard Kaithyn’s call. The fear that engulfed him had me rushing to get here in order to save him.As I arrived I heard them bragging about killing Kaithyn, and everything went dark. My anger exploded, laying waste to all around me. I must admit, I felt nothing but rage when I killed those men. I had not wanted Kaithyn to come to this violent time, but he insisted we needed to seed an area on our world with Virbolg, who would becomeextinct without our aid. I will admit, as enraged as I was, I would have burned the entire area to cinders and ash. No one would have been left alive, not even the Virbolg Kaithyn wished to rescue. It was only seeing him propped against a tree, hand over his bloody shoulder, that allowed me to think clearly enough to get him to safety. I apologize if I frightened you.”
“We do not fear you, ma’am,” Henry said. “I wanted to thank the person who saved Kai, who kept him safe until we could find him. Anything you want, I will do my best to give you.”
“Anything?” she asked with a sly smile. “What if I ask you to tell me the story of Henry and his family? I would be honored to hear it.”
“Are you certain?” he asked. “I wouldn’t want to bore you.”
Her eyes twinkled, lit as though by a fire all their own. “I doubt I could ever be bored with one such a you, my dearest Henry.”
The conversation started slowly. Kai leaned against Henry, who felt as though his weight kept Henry from flying off and shattering into shards. Dmitra lay on some furs, her head in Henry’s lap as he stroked her raven tresses. The queen sat, obviously enraptured by the story of Henry’s life as he told them of his mother and Merry. Of his father, now gone from his life. Of Neron, whose very name caused the queen to growl. Everything he could think of, he shared. He knew it was nerves making him eager to speak.
Finally he closed his eyes and let all the energy seep from his body, which felt as though it weighed as much as a Virbolg.
“Are you ill, Henry?” Queen Arissa asked, concern in her voice as she reached for him.
“No, milady. Simply very tired. T’was a long journey, and I find I am unable to keep my eyes open.”
“Then you should rest. All of you. I will stand guard, ensure that nothing disturbs you.”
There were a few half-hearted complaints, but they stretched out on the cave floor, huddling together. Arissa shifted once more, becoming the enormous dragon. She enfolded the group in her wings, then placed her head on the hard stone floor beside them. Henry stuffed his now nearly empty satchel beneath to cushion her so she too could rest. Then he slumped down and fell fast to sleep.
“Murderer!” came a voice from his dreams, accusing him of a crime most vile.
“I am not!” Henry snarled.
Then Neron appeared, a gaping hole in his stomach from where Henry had run him through. His face was sunken, almost hollow now.
“Then think on what you’ve done to me, Henry. Know that I lie in the cold ground, food for worms.”
“You deserved it! You lied to me. You kept me prisoner for years, scheming to keep me from my family, never telling me that Merry was well. Not informing me of my father’s death. Then you compound your crimes by trying to steal the life of my love. My Kai.”
Neron sneered, appearing even more terrible than ever. “I alway knew you were a disgrace.”
Whereas he would have been afraid, he was no longer. The people he met on his journey opened his eyes to a wider world. One where love held sway. Henry stood, his chest puffed out. “Once I would have agreed with you. I would have accepted that I was tainted and doomed to the fires of the pit. Then I found love, and I know that if a god exists, they would not be cruel as we have always made them out to be. People like you, those who don’t help others, those who steal what little ourneighbors have in order to enrich themselves, you are the truest evil. And I no longer fear you!”
Neron’s eyes widened, then he dissipated like dust, leaving Henry feeling oddly… clean.
Startling awake, Henry realized they were still in the cave, under the protection of Lady Arissa. He was about to stand when an arm snaked around his waist and pulled him against a warm body.
