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Her First Knight
Book 5
Sanctuary
Chapter 1
Soon after the Dragon of Almara had fallen prey to her own foolishness, the blizzard lifted completely, and clear blue skies spread their warmth over the snowbanks. A rainbow even appeared, shimmering innocently above, so that Ava pointed at it and giggled girlishly.
Walking beside Ethne, Lysa smiled gratefully at the rainbow in the sunny sky, reflecting that it would be spring soon and farmers would begin a new crop. The markets would be bursting, and cattle would be roaming the fields. Spring was her favorite time of year.
As they traveled down the road back toward Hastow, Lysa was still in shock that Ava was so willing to give up her own child just to retake her throne. In all the years she had known Ava, the princess had never cared about politics or ruling. It was as if entering the tomb of Queen Saraid had changed something in Ava forever, and now, there was no going back for her: she must become queen of Illa.
Liadan likewise seemed to have become determined to set Ava on the throne and was overwhelmed with the realization that she would rule the seven realms at Ava’s side. The two of them could be seen sitting together at the campfire, cooing over the dragon egg – almost as if it were more their child than the actual babe growing in Ava’s womb!
And that was another thing: it had been three days since Godga’s cabin, and Ava was growing steadily rounder. Ethne had told Lysa that Wildoras pregnancies only took three weeks. Before long, Ava and Liadan would be parents!
It was all happening so fast. It was overwhelming to Lysa, and she was only a side observer, yet Ava and Liadan, who were directly involved, were so calm and matter-of-fact about it all.
“This is madness!” Lysa hissed at Ethne one evening when they were breaking camp.
Liadan and Ava were standing together over the fire as they warmed themselves a last time, smiling and exchanging happy whispers. Ava was still carrying the dragon egg in her makeshift sling and held it now over the flames. Lysa gasped: the silhouette of a baby dragon could be seen inside!
“What is madness?” said Ethne dismissively. “That our friends are happy? Oh, yes. Right madness that is.”
Lysa glared over her shoulder at the Knight of the Sparrow. Ethne was squatting over her saddlebags and was rummaging through them as she packed them. Lysa drew near and stood over her impatiently.
“I knew you’d take her side,” Lysa complained. “You don’t care about anything so long as Liadan is happy.”
“Yes. I’m a terrible friend,” Ethne sarcastically agreed, not looking up.
Lysa scowled. “Ethne! Don’t you think this is all happening too fast?”
Ethne paused and finally looked up. She was concerned now, having heard the terror in Lysa’s voice. “I thought you were happy about going on a quest?” she said, confused.
“I was,” Lysa admitted. “But that was before Ava said she was coming as well! Ethne, she’s in no condition! Destroying the four watchtowers won’t be some merry lark!” She took a halting step closer. “You must convince Liadan. Tell her to tell Ava to hold off this quest! At least until the babe is grown! We should away to a temple, where she may raise the child in secret. And when the child and the dragon are old enough to fend for themselves, only then should the campaign begin—”
“I have heard your counsel, fair Lysa,” said Ava, startling Lysa to silence.
Lysa turned: Ava and Liadan were still standing over the fire, side by side. Ava was cradling the green dragon egg in her arms, and after being warmed over the fire, it was glittering more brightly than ever before. The brilliant color matched her eyes almost completely.
“And I shall heed it,” Ava said, smiling.
Lysa hesitated. “You shall?”
“Yes,” sighed Ava, who suddenly looked very tired. “I know I’ve been . . .hasty. It’s just, it feels as if all the pieces are finally falling into place!” Her eyes glowed with excitement. “I feel like my destiny is calling me!” She glanced dotingly at Liadan (who smiled) and added, “Our destiny.”
Liadan gazed down into Ava’s doting eyes with soft affection.
Ava gazed dreamily at Liadan a moment before looking at Lysa again. “I finally understand my place in the world, and I only wish to seize it!”
Lysa shook her head. “And you will, princess! But not overnight!”
“As I said, I have heard your counsel, dear Lysa,” Ava answered. “We shall place the quest aside, and we shall find a temple where I may give birth.” She looked down at the egg in her arms. “To both my children.”
Lysa paused. “Wait a minute. . . When the Godga asked for your second child. . . She meant the dragon, didn’t she?”
Ava nodded unhappily. “The dragon shall help me drive out Endoreth and then . . .” She looked down at the egg sadly, and Liadan placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“I suppose that’s better than surrendering your own child,” said Lysa, relieved. She noticed tears behind Ava’s eyes and was startled and confused by them: Ava was behaving as if the dragon were her actual child!
“Yes,” Ava said hoarsely, though her agreement was so obviously a lie.
They broke camp and continued on foot to Hastow. Liadan and Ethne walked side by side at the head of the procession. Ethne was still carrying her saddle bags over her shoulder, and the bags jingled with the gold they had taken from Queen Saraid’s tomb. Liadan walked calmly beside her, and the two knights were speaking in low voices. Lysa thought their whispered conversation seemed suspicious, for they kept glancing back at Ava and looking quickly away. What were they up to?
“Lysa, I wish to ask something of you,” said Ava. She was walking beside Lysa and had been in deep contemplation for some time, gazing off at the trees ahead, her pale lashes fluttering. Now she pushed the hair behind her ear as she said, “When I am queen, I shall need an advisor.” Ava waited.
Lysa hesitated, caught completely off-guard. “And you would ask me?” she said in wonder. She had to admit she was flattered.
“I know you wanted to travel and go questing,” Ava said quickly, “and you could still do that! But your advice has proven quite valuable to me, and I trust you. I l-love you,” she said, blushing brightly.
Lysa felt her heart flutter, and inside her leather trousers, her sex was throbbing.
“And I couldn’t imagine anyone more fit to help me rule. You would forever be a part of my court—”
Lysa halted and took Ava’s hands. They faced each other, and Ava blushed hotter as Lysa said, “Nothing could honor me more greatly, my princess. I love you too.” So saying, Lysa bounced up on tiptoe and kissed Ava slowly on the lips.
Ava’s lashes fluttered and she smiled, quite flustered and pleased.
They walked on, and now Lysa was distracted with thoughts of making sweet love to Ava. She had meditated on it often as a girl, caressing Ava’s big breasts, tasting her pink sex and the soft golden hair between her thighs. And since the night Liadan had taken them, her desire had only grown twofold. Oh, what would it be like to have Ava to herself? And would Ethne care? Would it anger her? Ethne was so possessive. Lysa knew she would probably never hear the end of it. But why? It wasn’t as if she and Ethne were married!
Ethne had asked days before, and Lysa still hadn’t given her answer. At the time, she had assumed Ethne was joking or delirious from her battle wounds, but now Lysa was realizing exactly how serious Ethne was about marriage. The woman kept sending her longing looks, sometimes tinged with sadness. It made Lysa feel terrible.
But Lysa didn’t want to marry Ethne, and she didn’t want to live in Ava’s court as a royal counselor! She wanted to sail a ship on the open sea, make love to many fine women, and steal gold and jewels from the rich and greedy! Since her horrible stay in Bella’s room, she had not been able to get the woman’s riches out of her mind. There had been so much gold and jewelry and fine things, and Bella hadn’t slogged away scrubbing chamber pots to get it, either.
No. No one became rich by slaving for the rich! No one deserved to be a chambermaid! Bella had taken what the world owed her! And while Bella had been a violent monster, Lysa couldn’t help admiring the carefree and lavish aspects of the pirate lifestyle. She had already decided that, once this business with Endoreth was over, she was going to join a pirate crew and live life on the sea, above and beyond the reach of the law.
They walked all night, until finally, the gray dawn crept over the horizon, reaching its long fingers between the trees. Lysa was exhausted and just thinking how wonderful it would be to make camp and lie down when Liadan said with a sigh of relief, “At last – Hastow!”