Nixiesocean: Hi! I'm updating! Whooohooo! I hope you enjoy my newest chappie.
Responses:
Simplegrl007: See bottom of chapter. (wink, wink) Also, Hyane is the princess of the native Furdes, which you can guess, aren't wholly Human. I haven't decided what color Hyane is yet, so… also, you're right. She knows where Dragonhold is. No, the group will have a better route than through Hyane… although that is a good idea… Where is the mistake? I looked through it and I couldn't find it…
Read, enjoy and review!
Chapter 17: Bamun Adele
"Hyane," I greeted. The slim native bowed. "What news?"
In a more hoarse version of Draconic, she spoke, "Nothing of Your Majesty's note."
I bowed my head. "By now you've heard the word, Hyane, no?" I asked quietly.
"That Your Majesty is with child?" She said. "If that is the case, yes."
I looked back up at her. "It is." I murmured. I breathed deeply. "I need you to find the father." I stood and placed a hand on her shoulder, which reached about to mine.
"Pray tell," She replied. "Who is it I am looking for?"
I breathed deeply. "Prince Ade of Furde."
Hyane stepped back. "I know of his location, Your Majesty."
"You do?" I barely contained my excitement. Would Ade be happy? Would he demand we marry? I wasn't adverse to that… "Where?"
"In my village; my slave."
I cried aloud "He's your slave?"
"Yes, Majesty. The Humans don't know of our residence, and he was in my territory. I did not know you searched for him."
"Hyane." I said, all business. "Bring him to me; disguise him." I breathed deeply to contain my excitement. "Don't tell him why he is to come; I would like to tell him myself. Merely tell him he has been summoned by the Dragon-Queen of Dragonhold."
"Yes, Majesty." Hyane bowed and left.
I nearly wept. I could bring him here; tell him. Everything would be perfect!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I was in Everett's prisoner tent. All the others had been removed for work; after all, Dragonblooded could not be expected to work! … or so the people of Hyane's village thought. What would they say if I told them I knew a full-blooded Dragon who very easily worked like a commoner? I imagine they would think me insane.
Everett grinned when he saw my form. Fiona turned out to be a determined flirt. I knew that Averill had been guilty, so I didn't worry about the past. I drew the small knife Fiona had found me and cut Everett's bonds.
"Shh." I whispered in Furdian. "Don't talk. Fiona, you and I are leaving. Don't say a word, act like I'm taking you out to work like the other, rub dirt in those streaks of yours."
He nodded and rubbed dirt into his silver-streaked hair. He bowed his head and acted very much like a cowed prisoner. I, being Hyane's personal slave, had a higher rank than any prisoner. I pretended to hit and punch him to keep him moving as we left the tent. Fiona spotted us leaving.
She started yelling at us in Hyane's language. I knew what she was saying – since she told me beforehand –, so I took the lighter-than-they-look blows she threw my way. The guards grinned at my browbeaten expression. They knew I had been hard to "break". Truly, I hadn't been "broken".
We easily made our escape… eerily so. Once in the woods, Everett shed the rest of his rope-bonds. At least they hadn't branded him like some of the prisoners. Everett led the way, silently, back towards his village. We heard yells and Fiona gave me a glance.
"Run!" I whispered in an order-like fashion. Immediately, we broke into a sprint, Everett slightly ahead to lead the way.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mother's child was a beautiful baby boy. His name? Bamun, pronounced Bay-moon, meaning Heart's Desire in Draconic. My name meant nothing in Draconic, being that my name was more Human than anything.
I suspect Mother was pointing a finger at me, naming her baby boy Heart's Desire.
Father was there for the birthing. "Ade's gone missing again." He told me when we were waiting outside for the post-birth washing. "Aram tried to cover, but Katharine could always tell."
I bowed my head. "He didn't come to you for help?"
My father's silver head shook. "I believe he thought I'd keep him away from you; to what end I've no idea." He patted my shoulder. "I'm happy for you, daughter, no matter how displeased your mother may be about this whole thing."
"Thank you." I murmured. I touched my stomach, already, my maids refused to allow me to wear a corset (thank the Goddess). Under my loose blouse, I felt a small mound. The idea that another being was growing inside me was amazing.
My mother came out in a loose nightgown. In her arms a small, sleeping baby rested, nestled against her chest. His head was pure silver and I suspected his eyes were blue. My father smiled when he saw his baby boy. He held him, cradling the small babe like any tender parent.
His stormy eyes met my mother's. Closing the distance they kissed. When they released, I spoke up. "May I hold my new brother?"
My mother glanced my way, then at Bamun. My father smiled. "How silly of us to forget you." He held the baby out to me and I took the small child in my arms. He yawned and opened his eyes. He reached up and took a lock of my silver hair. I saw stormy-blue eyes looking at me.
"Bamun." I murmured. "Heart's Desire. I'm your sister!"
He made baby sounds at me. I held out a finger and he wrapped five chubby digits around my pointer. Immediately, he fell back asleep, content and happy. I touched his mind. His thoughts were very picture-like and in red and black, but three faces shown brightly in Bamun's mind. Mother's, Father's and mine.
I was pleased that my new brother thought so highly of me.
My mother and I seemed to come to truce when it came to Bamun. His baby-babble and cute faces enchanted us both.
The next day Father had to return to Furde for advisor meetings. I spent most of my time looking over the cradle and watching Bamun's sleeping form. Mother never let me spend more than a few hours at a time with Bamun, though. I guess she thought I'd "corrupt" him with my "too Human" views.
It didn't matter. I had a cute little brother and I'd have a child in six months. Bamun would have a niece or nephew before he could remember even not being an uncle!
I was happy, however, that I had been born first. I would probably outlive my children, being that I was a full Dragon, and they would not be. I tried not to think too far into the future. All too clearly, I saw it lacking Ade.
Hyane appeared in my study while I was working on balancing expenses. "Your Majesty," She said in greeting.
"Yes, Hyane?" I replied without truly looking at her.
"Freedom to speak?" She asked.
I rolled my eyes. Hyane knew me well enough to not bother asking. "Given."
"Prince Ade of Furde is not there." She said. "He is missing; or so my warriors say. Our prisoner, one Everett of Whitewater, and the slave Fiona are also missing. I have my suspicions that they left together."
"Check Everett's home." I said nonchalantly.
"We did. His twins are also missing. His house was boarded up. We've looked for days. They seem to have disappeared."
"Hyane!" I moaned. "You are your village are the best trackers in Dragonhold and Furde. Why is this so hard for you?"
I heard her clothes rustle; I assumed she shrugged. "Your Majesty, a prince, a slave and three Dragonblooded make for an odd group."
"That should make them easier to find." I replied.
"They stay off the roads." Hyane whispered. "They know we search; though not why. I suspect Prince Ade thinks we will have him in slavery again."
I breathed deeply. He would be mad to find out that Hyane had kept him enslaved, not knowing I wanted him here. "When you find him, you will tell him you work for me. I will give you a paper to give him when you find him. If you don't find him within six months, send a messenger with your seal on a piece of parchment and my letter; I will know its meaning."
"Yes, Your Majesty." She turned to leave.
"And Hyane," I added, "Don't bother coming back if you don't have him with you." She nearly was to the door. "Did I give you leave?" I asked acidly.
"No, Your Majesty." She said, obviously kicking herself for not asking.
I finished writing my letter to Ade. At the bottom, I signed my name and added my seal, the one he'd know. I slid the dried paper into an oiled pouch and sealed it with the royal seal. "If this seal somehow comes undone, Hyane, it will be the dungeons for you."
A little edge never hurt anyone.
"Yes, Your Majesty." I knew her voice quivered slightly. A seal could easily come undone en route. By saying I didn't want it broken at all, I was demanding constant watch over it. I scrawled a small note in Furdian (Hyane doesn't know it) on the oiled envelope, turned and handed it to her.
"Dismissed." I ordered. She took the hint and left. I sighed and leaned up against the chair. Mira Eyen appeared for her lessons.
"Ceara Adele?" She whispered hesitantly.
"Come on in, Mira." I replied, gesturing for her to take a seat. She was quiet. Normally, she began asking many questions. "What's wrong?" I asked. "You're too quiet today."
She still stood, I realized. "Nothing."
She lied. "Sit, Mira." I commanded. She sat and looked directly into her chocolate-brown eyes. "May I enter your mind?"
"No." Most people said yes.
"Why?" I asked. "I need to know what's bothering you into such quietness?"
Mira shook her head. "I need to go." I saw her eyes flick up. A lie.
I held her shoulder. "Mira, if Lord Coven-"
"No," She interrupted. She seemed scared. "He didn't."
Another lie. I held Mira's chin. "How many times?"
She knew I knew. "Only once, Ceara Adele."
"You're being promoted, Mira. You'll be my personal servant." I replied. She flinched.
"Y – yes, Ceara Adele."
"Ceara." I corrected. "You'll be my lady-in-waiting."
"Ten Human years is young." She murmured.
"Ten's better than what I thought!" I laughed merrily. "I thought you were eight Human years."
She grinned, obviously happy. "When do I start?"
"Now." I said.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Nixiesocean: Review please!
Thank you to simplegrl007 (again) for reviewing and also reviewing three times in a row!
Yay!