Page 34 of Henry & the Dragon
“Sleep, beloved,” Kai whispered. “I will let no ill befall you.”
Kai snuggled against Henry, who closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep once more.
Henry, used to being awake to start his day by preparing breakfast for Neron, woke first. It was still dark in the cave, so he sat quietly, enjoying the warmth the queen provided, but also the silence that he never seemed to have when he toiled under Neron’s yoke.
The dawn finally broke, heralded by a bright sun, calm winds, and the smell of heather on the breeze. The queen opened her eyes, blinked at Henry, who turned away as she transformed into her human form, then swaddled herself in Kai’s garment.
“Good morning. I hope you all slept well.”
Dmitra stretched. “I had the nicest dream,” she informed everyone. “Of a place whose sun glittered as gold, whose skies were vast, and where people smiled when they saw you.”
“You’ve seen our world,” Kai informed her. It’s a beautiful place, with kind and loving people. Mostly.”
“Kaithyn, how do you fare?” the queen asked.
He stood and stretched his arms to the sky. He blew out a breath, then inhaled deeply. “My lungs no longer ache, my mind is clear, and….” He moved closer to Henry. “What ails you, beloved?”
“I must return home to speak with my family,” he said at last. Then he turned to the Queen. “And you are certain we would be welcome?”
“Of course. I give you my word, even without the fact you saved Kaithyn, your family would be adored by our people.”
He sighed. “But what will they do? My mother and sister farm, and Merry’s husband is a smith. From what you say, your people will have no need of us.”
Kai slid a hand through Henry’s hair. “My love, our people need to eat, so farms are plentiful. Also, smiths still exist hundreds of years into the future on your world, and they still practice their craft on ours. He might need to learn new ways of doing things, but isn’t that part of growth?”
And it was. Henry hated to admit he was excited by this possibility. He was also worried, because it would only come to pass if his family would listen with an open mind and heart.
“It will be a long ride. Could Dmitra stay with you while I’m gone?”
The Queen laughed, and it was the warmest sound Henry had ever heard. “We shall take you there in an instant,” she promised. “Kaithyn, are you certain you are well enough to travel?”
Kai drew in a breath, then exhaled slowly. The color had returned to his cheeks, and Henry couldn’t have been more pleased. “I am, Mother. As I said, Henry’s salve is truly a work of magic.”
“I am pleased, my son.” Then she turned her gaze to Henry. “Focus on your home, if you would be so kind.”
She placed a hand on his head, the touch light, warm, and filled Henry with bliss. Then she chuckled. “Henry, I meant your family’s home. I cannot transport us to Kaithyn, as he is already here.”
“You thought of me when she said to think of home?” Kai asked. Then he leaned in and gave Henry a peck on the lips. “I think the same of you.”
A strange thrill slid slowly through Henry at the realization Kai thought of him as home too. And that he was willing to kiss him in front of his mother. How enlightened the world they hail from must be. For now, though? He pushed such thoughts to the back of his mind, and pictured the farm, seeing his family standing at the door to their house. Of how much he loved them, of the years he’d missed out on, of seeing them again.
“Ah, there it is. I think you should close your eyes for a moment. Traveling this way is… not always easy the first time.”
Henry looked down at Dmitra, who reached for his hand and held fast as she squeezed her eyes shut. He did the same. One moment they were in the cave, and the next his stomach was somewhere else. Henry wasn’t sure where, but it certainly wasn’t where it should be.
“Are you well, Henry?” Kai asked, an arm over his shoulder.
“That’s how you travel?” Henry asked, feeling a tad green.
“It gets easier, believe me. My first time I threw up everywhere.”
“Threw up?”
Kai chuckled. “I expelled.”
That Henry understood. “What is threw up?”
“Like many things on your world, language has evolved in the centuries. You’ll catch up in no time, I promise.”
