Epilogue

I hike d up the volcano, a bag of texts on my back. My feet had toughened from all the abuse and it felt strangely natural to go barefoot. As long as I was careful to avoid hot spots.

Kiraka waited for me at our usual spot, ruby eyes lighting with interest at what I brought. It wasn’t the simplest solution, for me to go to her, but her presence elicited too much attention at the palace for us to get any work done. N’andanan was complex, indeed, but I was beginning to get a feel for it. The more I learned, the more I thought it might be a perfect language. The language of the ancients. Full of magic and power.

Greetings, Daughter.

“Hello, Kiraka. How are you today?”

I am well. The sun is bright and I am feeling fat, sleek, and satisfied.

“I’m glad to hear it.”

You are looking sleek and satisfied, also. Though not fat. Yet. Her mental tone held smug amusement.

My heart fluttered, a new beat in it I’d hardly dared give credence to. “Don’t tease me, Kiraka. What are you saying?”

The babe you’ll bear, Daughter. The beginnings of your family for me to help raise and train up properly. I’ll begin with respect for ancient dragon ancestresses.

I brushed past that, full of hope. “I’m too old to conceive.”

No, Daughter. She sounded more kind. This is what I bring to you. Your body is healthier for proximity to me. Younger, even. You will heal quickly and live a very long time, if you stay out of volcanoes. You may have many babies.

Stunned, I wrapped my mind around it. If a girl, I’d name her for Bethany. If a boy, Gailand Fayne, for my brothers. A bit of life for them again. I couldn’t wait to tell Nakoa.

Though, by the way he’d kissed my stomach, just over my womb, before I left the palace that morning, he might already know. Incorrigible man. I would have to extract a kama from him, if he’d known and hadn’t told me.

Enough mooning, Daughter. Time for your lesson.

In agreement, I sat down and focused on my work.