Page 37 of Henry & the Dragon
In his mind, Henry heard his father’s booming laugh, then a soft, faint ‘don’t fret, my love. I would not have believed it either.’ “Father says it’s fine,” he told Mother. “He wouldn’t have believed it either, if it hadn’t happened to him.”
After that revelation, questions came rapid-fire. Kai and Arissa answered them all with great patience. Finally, with exhaustion over the day’s events weighing on everyone, things calmed quickly. Kai returned to human form, dressed, and then joined with the family to discuss their future until late in the night when they finally went to bed.
Henry lay, unable to sleep. He reached for his scabbard and withdrew the sword, which pulsed with the familiar blue light.
“Father? I… I am sorry that I was such a disappointment as a child.”
The sword was quiet for a few moments.Henry, my beloved son, why would you say such a thing?
“We never got along,” Henry replied, his chest aching. “I know Merry was closer to you than I.”
No, Henry. You’re wrong. So very wrong. Merry only appeared closer because she wanted to farm, while you? Your head was filled with so much knowledge, not only from your mother, but the things you learned on your own. I knew to my very heart, that you were on a path to greatness. You were never meant to till the soil, and in order to help make your dreams come true, I put in the labor to help you. Was I wrong? Looking back, yes. I should have done more to encourage you, but also to make time for you. That is one of my deepest regrets. You were a son that any man would be proud to call his own.
“So you aren’t ashamed that my love is a man?”
That booming laugh again. Gods, how Henry missed it so. They’d be having their supper one night, and Father would tell a story that had him laughing so hard, he’d cry and say he might wet himself. He never did, of course, but his laughter had been infectious, making everyone gathered around laugh too.
Your mother told you, we knew a wife was never meant for you. And let me tell you something, We could not have chosen someone better. Kai is perfect for you. I could not be prouder that you have found love and I cannot wait for you to leave Innernook. It was killing you to be here, amongst the people who looked down on us. Neron was the worst of them. I wanted so badly to get retribution for what he did to our family, but I had no one I could speak with. Until you took the sword in your hand. That, my son, should show you how close we are and how much we loved each other. Merry held the pommel many times, but the connection I needed wasn’t there.I love you both with everything I am. Merry is the jewel of my eye but you, Henry, are the one who I share a special bond with. You’re a part of my soul.
All these years thinking that he wasn’t special to his father, and with just one conversation Henry understood he was wrong. He was loved.
“I love you, father.”
“And I you, my son. I cannot wait to join you on this great adventure.”
“I must know. How did you come to inhabit the sword?”
A chuckle. “You’re still the same as you were when you but a child. Asking endless questions to avoid sleep. Even when your mother told you a story, you still wanted more time.”
“Please, father. I… I need to know how things work.”
“Very well, but after this you must promise to sleep.”
That was a constant request Henry remembered from when he was a child. “I promise.”
When I returned home, I was… different. I’m aware you all knew it, but still, you cared for me. The reason wasn’t what your mother thought, though. It wasn’t the battle that had fractured my mind. I told her that my savior and I parted ways when he believed I was well enough to travel. That wasn’t true. The wounds I’d sustained were too grievous, and he informed me that despite his best efforts, I wasn’t going to be part of this world for much longer. I lamented not being able to protect you all. Especially you. If I hadn’t been about to pass to the next world, I would have come for you and wrested you away from that monster. Never would I have allowed Neron to take you.
“Then I never would have made many of the unguents I did. Neron was a horrible person, but I did learn things while working there.”
Perhaps. As an answer to your question, I let my regrets out, thinking I would never see any of you again. The man orwhatever he was, told me there was a way, but it came with a terrible price. He said there was a way to move part of what he called my consciousness to the sword. He told me it would lay dormant until picked up by the one meant to wield it. The rub of it was the part of me he infused into the blade would be gone from my body, and I would be addled. I was going to die anyway, so I agreed, even if I didn’t believe.
Was father’s savior a Hodac? One of Kai’s people? Based on what Henry knew, it seemed to be the likeliest of answers, but could it truly be a coincidence?
He bade me lie back and close my eyes. Something warm and sticky, akin to tar, was placed on the sides of my head, and then a cool metal was added as well. He told me I could look again, and what I saw was… amazing doesn’t even begin to cover it. A… stream of blue light flowed from the things attached to my head and traveled into the sword. My mind grew muddled, but the sword grew brighter. Eventually my savior took the things from my head and told me it was done. He had me hold the sword, and I felt like I was in two places at the same time. Which, I was. Then he embraced me, apologizing for not being able to do more. I told him if this was helping to protect my family, he’d given me a gift I could never repay. Then he flew me to the nearest town, where he gave someone coins with instructions to find my way back home so I could live out the remainder of my days.
And Henry was humbled beyond words. With the knowledge that he would soon die, his father had done what he could to protect his family. To ensure Henry could protect them.
Thank you for trusting me, father.
Never doubt that I did, my son. Now fulfill your promise and sleep. Tomorrow will come soon enough for all of you. And tell your mother that all of our years together were never going to be enough. Good night, Henry, my most beloved son.
The sword became dull once again. Henry replaced the blade in the scabbard, then Kai rolled over and wrapped an arm around Henry’s waist, relaxing him enough that he was finally able to tire his mind. They lay in warmth and comfort, Kai snuggled around Henry, his breathing even and deep. Henry would miss this life, it was true. He had a few people he considered friends, but until Kai entered his life, he had no one other than Merry and their mother he considered as part of his family.
Now? With Merry, Euric, their children, and mother? He had both, and was determined to grab hold and hang on for the ride of his life.
Chapter 12
Three days later, everyone was gathered by the toning of the bell. There was a quiet buzz of anticipation from the kids, but Merry seemed nervous and Euric stood at her side, stroking a hand over her back, whispering gently to her. The Queen had given permission for Euric to bring his family with them. Telling them the story was… interesting. They acted much the same as Euric himself. Disbelieving at first, then angry and hard, forming a wall between Kai and their families. Only after deep conversation did they understand their time here was coming to an end, and fleeing would save their families from disaster.
