A Dragon's Tale Ch. 07

As she lay there on the stone floor, her thoughts drifted to Ethan. She met him about six weeks ago and her entire life had been flipped upside down since then. Her farm had been destroyed, she had bonded, fallen in love, had her heart broken, watched the man she loved marry another woman, watched that woman die, seen Ethan rip men apart with his bare hands, and been in mortal danger more times than she could count.

Even with all of that, she wouldn't have missed meeting him for the world. She smiled slightly and found it didn't hurt.

Life certainly was strange.

Finally awake enough to think clearly, she began to call upon her mana to heal her wounds. She was pleased to discover they weren't bad, just painful. A few minutes later they were all healed and she sat up.

"Ethan." She called, but no one answered.

"Rachel?" She tried again, but still no response. She was about to call for Beth when she realized Beth wouldn't answer. She felt tears well up in her eyes and she didn't stop them from falling. Even though Beth had separated her from Ethan, the wood elf genuinely like the girl had only wished them happiness. She never wanted... this.

She sat for a long time trying to process her death. It just didn't seem real; it didn't seem possible. She replayed what happened endlessly in her mind. She'd done everything she could, everything she knew how to do. She found herself wishing she'd been faster with her healing spell.

As she thought about what happened in the alley, one unusual thing stood out to her; that echoing voice in her head. She had definitely heard it inside her head, not with her ears. With the anguish it projected, there was only one person it could be. He also happened to be the only person who might be able to project a thought into her head.

*Ethan?* Alana thought while directing her thoughts toward their bond. *Ethan, can you hear me?*

There was no response.

*Ethan?* She tried again, but she didn't hear a response. She let her shoulders slump and leaned her head against the wall. It would be a long wait without someone to talk to.

*Alana?* A voice rang out in her head.

*Ethan!* she thought back. *You can hear me?*

*Yeah. This... this is our bond isn't it?*

*I think so.*

*Are you okay?* he asked.

*I'm a little banged up, but I healed myself. How are you?*

*Trussed up like Christmas turkey and I have a muzzle clamped around my mouth. Other than that, just peachy.*

She was going to ask what a Christmas turkey was but thought better of it. *How's Rachel?*

*I think she's okay* Ethan replied. *She was in shock and they treated her a lot more gently than you or me.*

*About Beth,* Alana thought, but couldn't think of a way to finish the sentence. Ethan didn't respond, and silence hung in the air -- or rather her head -- for almost a minute.

*I'm going to miss her.* He finally said. *She was... I can't believe that she's gone.*

*I know what you mean.*

*No, I mean I really can't believe it.* He said after a few seconds. *It doesn't feel real. I know the first stage of grief is denial, but...* He trailed off, and she could almost imagine the way that he'd shake his head slightly after saying that.

*She was a good person and didn't deserve that.* Alana finished when he didn't.

*Yeah.*

*What happens now?* She asked a few minutes later.

*I need to get serious about life here.* He replied and she detected a note of bitterness. *I've been way too careless and Beth is dead because of it. I didn't kill her, but it's my fault she's dead.*

*It's not your fault. What could you have done differently to prevent it?*

*I don't know. I just know it's about time I took things seriously here.*

Alana didn't know what to say, so she fell silent. Considering their luck lately, she agreed more seriousness about the threats wouldn't be a bad thing. However, there was something about the way he said it that bothered her. There was an edge to Ethan's thoughts -- a darkness -- that didn't sound quite like him.

*Are you okay?* she asked.

*Beth just died.* Ethan replied with a sharper edge in his thoughts. *I'm sure as hell not okay.*

*That's not what I meant. I just mean you just feel... off.*

Ethan didn't respond, but Alana could feel his annoyance at the question. Something was going on with him. She didn't know what, but she didn't like it. It made sense that he would be feeling down after Beth's death, but this was something more; something different.

She tried to figure out what Ethan was thinking, but she couldn't keep her mind on it. She couldn't exactly read his mind either. It seemed she could send him messages, but she couldn't actually tell what he was thinking. That left her wondering what was going on with him.

* * *

Beth watched the wizard work in fascination for a little while before it became rather boring and tedious. She'd seen countless healing spells performed in the clinic with Madam Hygea and now they bored her. Even the novelty of watching him heal a body protected by a stasis spell only lasted a few minutes. He worked at healing the wound on her neck, but his progress was incredibly slow.

Outside, the sun seemed to have set, changing the hues of this strange astral plane from light purple to dark purple.

She was bored.

Dear Illuminar in heaven she was bored.

"Hello Beth." A feminine voice said from behind her, making her jump out of her skin.

She turned as fast as possible while still being anchored to the inky black tendril. Behind her was a woman who was the only thing that wasn't purple.

She was clad entirely in robes of the purest white. Her clothes and skin seemed to shine like the sun but with the warmth of a flickering candle. She looked to be about Beth's age, but that simply wasn't possible. She had the beautiful face of a young woman untouched by age, but the eyes and presence of someone ancient and full of wisdom.

Her heart-shaped face was the picture of perfect femininity and was beautifully framed by her long hair. The hair itself was probably blond or white, but that might've just been the light. She had a soft smile on her face that instantly made Beth feel very comfortable and safe.

"Hello?" Beth replied with trepidation.

"Don't be afraid." The bright woman said. "My name is Gabriella and I was sent here to help you."

"Who sent you?"

Gabriella smiled. "Always with the questions young one; He loves that about you."

"Who?"

The luminous woman laughed. It was a cheerful, infectious laugh that made all the worry and fear completely disappear from Beth's troubled soul. She was sure that the bright woman was laughing at her, but she didn't feel the slightest bit ashamed or embarrassed. On the contrary, she managed a chuckle herself.

"I will release you Beth." She gestured at the black tendril that was still wrapped around her ankle, "but what happens after that is your choice."

"Why?" She managed to grab onto the most interesting of the dozens of questions racing around in her head.

"Because the one who sent me has no need of slaves and prefers willing helpers."

"You haven't said who sent you."

Gabriella smiled again; it was a very comforting smile. "Nor will I, but I think you can figure it out. However, time is short and I need you to make a decision."

"What decision?"

"When I cut the tendril, you can resume floating toward the wonderful light, or remain in this world to help Ethan."

"I want to help Ethan." She replied almost without thinking.

"Are you sure young one? If you choose that path, there will be much heartbreak and sorrow on your journey, though there will be great joy and happiness when you finally reach its end."

Beth bit her lip. That didn't sound like a bad deal at all, but she was still wary. "What's the catch?"

"The 'catch', is that while you will see Ethan soon, he will not see or hear you for some time. Further, you must share him young one."

"Share him?"

"You've read the Book of Light. What has Illuminar -- blessed be He -- decreed about men and wives?"

"But that's not fair!" Beth felt the skin on her face grow hot. "Why can men have multiple wives but women not have multiple husbands?!"

"Would you wish for another husband?"

Beth averted her eyes and shuddered in disgust. "Well no, but it's still not fair!"

"Would you wish Ethan to have other wives?"

"Of course not!"

"Then why did you imagine him taking both you and Alana to bed together less than a fortnight ago?"

Beth opened her mouth to respond, but couldn't think of anything to say. Her anger disappeared, replaced with a sense of mild arousal as she remembered exactly how she'd felt while imagining Ethan thrusting into the wood elf. Just thinking about it was distracting.

"A man must protect and care for the women he marries and the children they bear." Gabriella said. "His reward for marrying a second woman is he may bed a second woman. A man's other wives receive this reward too, as Illuminar -- blessed be He -- nowhere forbids a man's wives from bedding each other."

"Yes, but--"

The luminous woman ignored her protest. "He may bed an additional woman; you may bed an additional woman. You both get the same benefit, yet you have no increase in responsibility while his have doubled; far more than doubled once children enter the picture. So really, is it less fair to the man or woman?"

For the second time, Beth opened her mouth to respond but couldn't think of anything to say. When she put it like that...

"But, but what about my time with him? I want him to focus on me and our relationship. If he marries another woman, then he'll have to focus on her too."

"Ah, but where does the Book of Light say your focus -- or your husband's focus -- should be?"

Beth looked away sheepishly and mumbled. "On Illuminar Himself."

"So, should you desire Ethan to completely focus on you?"

Beth crossed her arms, clenched her teeth, and mumbled a few choice words under her breath, but shook her head anyway.

"So then, wouldn't Ethan taking another wife serve as a constant reminder that he shouldn't focus exclusively on you, any more than you should exclusively focus on him?

Beth decided the silent treatment was the right way to go. That would show this beautiful, smart, and absolutely infuriating woman. Yes, the silent treatment would be perfect. Consequently, an uncomfortable silence hung in the air for several minutes.

Or at least it made Beth uncomfortable.

Gabriella didn't look the least bit uneasy. She just stood there, a gentle and kind smile seemingly permanently etched into her face. What a bitch. How could she be so happy when she was losing her claim on her husband? Didn't she know what that was like?

It occurred to her that maybe Gabriella hadn't ever gotten married. What man could possibly want to marry this gorgeous, flawless beauty who didn't mind her husband sleeping with other women? The very idea was... well, probably really likely. What man wouldn't want that? Beth glared at her in frustration; she just smiled back kindly.

"What now?" Beth finally said when the silence became too oppressive to stand any longer.

"You must choose. Either resume your drift into the wonderful light or remain here and help Ethan, realizing that if you stay you will be one of several wives."

"I'm going to hate that." Her face fell.

Gabriella's smile turned into almost a smirk. "You might be surprised."

"Does he need my help? I mean, will he be okay if I don't help him?"

"If you choose not to help him, my Lord will provide help from another source. You are free to join the wonderful light if you wish."

For the briefest moment, Bethalmost considered leaving Ethan behind. Almost. Heaven was supposed to be the most wonderful place in all of creation. The stories she'd heard made it sound better than sex. Well, maybe not sex with Ethan, but better than normal sex. Well, she assumed better than normal sex, but not having had sex with anyone other than Ethan she wouldn't know.

But she couldn't leave him.

She had sworn to follow Ethan wherever he went and she couldn't break her vow. Further, she had no desire to break it; she truly loved him and wanted to help him. Her mind drifted back to her conversation with Anthiel about love. If she had to share Ethan, she was going to make damn sure she was his favorite wife.

"I'd like to help Ethan." She said finally.

"Good." The luminous woman beamed. "He knew you would choose to help, but I'm glad it took so little convincing."

"Just promise me it'll be a while before he marries again; please?"

Gabriella looked amused. "Truly, truly I tell you; before midnight eight days from now, Ethan will wed Alana and take her to bed."

Beth swore.

"Does this change your answer?"

"No." She replied glumly.

A sly smile appeared on the luminous woman's face, like she knew something Beth didn't. "Don't worry young one. I know you can't imagine sharing Ethan now. However, the time will come when you can't imagine keeping him to yourself."

Gabriella reached to her side and drew a sword out of a scabbard that either Beth hadn't noticed before, or it had simply materialized out of thin air. The sword was just as bright and shining as the woman wielding it. It seemed to glow with an inner light and Beth didn't think anyone or anything in the universe could extinguish it.

Gabriella grabbed one of Beth's hands, concentrated for a moment, and then she felt the constant upward pulling sensation completely disappear. It was as if she was no longer being pulled toward the light.

Gabriella raised the sword over her head and cut the tendril in two with one swift stroke, while at the same time giving Beth's hand an almighty pull to stop her from falling on top of the tendril's base.

No sooner had the deed been done than a horrible eerie wail came from the severed stump of the tendril. Beth hit the floor awkwardly and clamped her hands over her ears, but that did nothing to silence that horrible wail. The sound seemed to pierce her very soul and filled her with a despairing dread.

The tendril writhed like it was having a fit of convulsions. The severed tip seemed to melt and slowly burn away, like water boiling out of pan. The sound slowly subsided as the tip of the tendril finished boiling away.

"What was that?" Beth asked once the sound had faded.

"That's what happens when one of Saidow's minions meddles in affairs he should've left alone. Come, there is much work to be done."

* * *

Rachel paced back and forth in her cell trying desperately to figure out how to get out of their current predicament. There was no evidence to prove they were innocent. Alana had been covered in Beth's blood and Ethan... well the prejudice against dragons was widespread. She had no reason to think it would be different in Arcanum.

Rachel took just a moment to savor her exquisite freedom to think whatever she wanted. At random times she had thought things like "my dad is an asshole" or "Lord Delmar is evil" just because she could. There was still no compulsion from the will-breaker ring.

However, that wouldn't help here.

She could tell it was almost sunrise from the light that streamed in through her window. Sure the window was eight feet in the air and had inch-thick steel bars, but it was fresh air. Since it was almost dawn, she assumed their trial would begin soon. They always dealt with high-profile murders quickly to keep the public calm.

The question was how to mount a defense.

Nearly an hour of brainstorming later, a guard opened the door to Rachel's cell. Ten minutes later, Rachel found herself in the courtroom.

It was a dark circular room about fifty feet in diameter. The only light was from torch sconces placed around the room. In the center of the room was a pit about four feet deep for the accused. Around the pit were dozens of desks and benches occupied by grumpy-looking old men in formal robes.

Rachel and Alana were chained hand and foot, but that was nothing compared to Ethan. He was strapped to a hand cart by thick leather straps. The straps made it impossible for him to move and a steel muzzle had been attached to his snout. He didn't look happy.

"Hi." Alana said to Rachel. There was a strange contrast of both sadness and cheerfulness about the wood elf.

"No talking." One of the guards said, and he hefted a wicked-looking truncheon in his hand to emphasize the point.

Alana nodded, then glanced at Ethan. A moment later, he made a sound that resembled a half-hearted laugh, but with the muzzle it was hard to tell.

"What?" Rachel mouthed to Alana.

"Later" she mouthed back, then nodded her head towards the guard with the club.

"Order in the court." An important-looking guard called and the rumbling of dozens of conversations quieted down.

"All rise in honor of Supreme Magistrate Haglath." He said.

Everyone in the court stood up. A door opened behind the highest desk in the room and a man walked in.

Supreme Magistrate Haglath looked like he had been born with a frown on his face. The age lines etched into his skin told of a thousand displeased expressions that had been carved into his face through countless repetitions. His hair was gray and his eyes were cold, ruthless, and calculating. His robes were perfectly clean, not even a hint of lint or dust. Rachel had seen judges like this before in her father's court.

They were in trouble.

"You have been convicted of murdering a fine young woman of this city." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said. "What have you to say in your defense?"

It was now or never.

"I say how dare you." Rachel said in her loudest and clearest voice. Immediately hushed whispers broke out among the men in the benches.

"Keep a civil tongue or I'll have the guards cut it out." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said. Something told Rachel he wasn't bluffing.

She continued unfazed. "I am Rachel Delmar, daughter of Lord Delmar; the great lord of the middle plains, sovereign of the eastern mountains and master of Lake Tivere; long may he reign."

"Long may he reign." The old men in benches chorused together.

"What gives you the right to treat the daughter of a Lord so?" Rachel continued. "Is Arcanum trying to provoke Lord Delmar to war? If so, you are doing an excellent job."

Again, there were hushed whisperings throughout the courtroom.

"A crime is a crime, even if perpetrated by a Lord's daughter." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said. "Further, Lord Delmar has officially disinherited you. You are no longer his daughter, nor does the protection of the Lord's Council apply to you. You stand before us as a common criminal, and common criminals would do well to watch their tongue. I will not warn you again."

Rachel opened her mouth, but no words came out. That had been her only plan to get out of this predicament alive.

"If it would please your honor, I would beg your permission to speak." Alana said. Rachel raised an eyebrow. That was a very well-put-together request for a hermit who lived in the woods.

"You may." Supreme Magistrate Haglath said.

"I would have the court know that the woman who was murdered is-- I mean was, our friend." Alana said. "We were set upon by thieves who sought to claim this dragon's gold for their own. It was the blade of a thief, not our blades, nor the claws of this dragon who killed her."

"What proof do you have of this?" Supreme Magistrate Haglath asked.

"None, but the heartfelt plea of a woman who just lost a friend." Alana said. "I'm sure the guards testified that my dress was covered in her blood. I know a little magic and was trying to heal her."

Supreme Magistrate Haglath looked down his nose at them and Rachel could almost see the wheels turning in his head. If he let them go, then he would have to conduct a city-wide manhunt for the real killers. If he executed them, he would be praised for bringing swift justice. Rachel didn't need to be a prophet to know which one he would choose.