Disclaimer: Hey guys sorry for being absent for a while but I am back and with a new chapter. I am trying to get more chapters out as soon as possible but well life gets in the way and I don't have the opportunity to write but here you go and I hope you enjoy this latest chapter.
As usual I don't own Drake, Geoff, Mansel, Master Kwan, Lin. Universal does. I do own Kalias, Colt, their baby and Kelei.
We greet the monks as we make my way to the dungeons. I hope for Drake's sake, he listened to me. I open the door and walk down the halls to the stairs to his room. He is sitting on his bed next to Geoff with his tail curled around him. I take a deep breath before addressing them. As upset as I am at them, I need to be calm when talking to them. I don't want to cause myself to have another headache or distress to my child. It's been kicking me more often today than normal.
"Ok you two. Would you please explain to me what you were doing out there?"
They look at each other in confusion and then back at me with scared expressions.
"You're not mad about what happened," Drake asks me.
"No, trust me I am plenty mad Drake," I slowly tell him, "But I am trying to remain calm to avoid another incident okay?"
He nods his head and looks down. I guess he saw how furious I really am in my eyes or something.
"Um, Kalias," Geoff asks me in concern.
"Yes Geoff?"
He points behind me and I see several items floating in the air.
"Drat," I groan and calm myself a bit more before putting those things back. "I really need to work on that."
"Ok, now please Drake explain to us what you were doing outside," Colt says with concern both on his face and in his voice.
"I wanted to get out for a bit."
"Why?"
"Because he was tired of being cooped up," Geoff says as he rises up off the bed.
"Geoff please," I say to him, "Drake, I asked you to stay inside for a reason. To protect you."
"Oh yeah, some protection," Geoff sneers and gets in my face, "You just wanted to keep him here forever!"
"No, Geoff that is not true! I wasn't going to keep him in here forever."
"Well, that's what it looks like to me! You are so paranoid! I mean, what is the big deal?! Nothing bad happened the last time he came out," He yells at me and then covers his mouth in shock.
I flinch at that last bit of news and see Drake cringing with his paw over his eyes. Did I just hear right? My little brother has already been outside and never told me?
"Drake, what is he talking about," I push past Geoff and ask him, "What other time?"
"What he means is, I've kind-of been out one time already. It was yesterday when Friar Peter died. I wanted to say goodbye to him," He says with a shameful look on his face and in his voice, "I saw you and the monks carrying him over a bridge and into the woods."
I gasp, back away from him and put a hand on my head. How could I let this happen? I can feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I try to control myself as I feel fear welling up inside me as well.
"I have to get out of here," I think to myself.
"Kalias," Geoff says, grabs my shoulders and turns me to face him, "It's ok, there's no reason to get upset."
I shake my head, brush his hands off me and run out of there. I need to clear my head. I ignore their calls to me. I am too upset to be around those two right now. I can't believe Drake got out, not once, but twice. I run up the stairs and force the door open. I keep running and pass the monks and friars, luckily for me they jump out of my way, but I can hear them calling my name. I keep running until I get to a willow tree. I grab the trunk to support myself as I feel the tears run down my face. I listen to the wind blow through the willow branches around me. As I push the branches back, the place I was aiming for comes into view. It is a beautiful glen with a waterfall falling from the top of the cliffs and flowing down to the river. All sorts of trees grow along the cliff sides and there is a nice grassy area near where the water forms into a small brook.
With it being sunset, the sun made the water sparkle gold and it almost looks like it is on fire. I go up to the waterfall, cup my hands and drink. As the cool delicious water runs down my throat, I go to a small rock and remove it to reach inside a hole. Inside is a chest about the length of me. I drag it out and set it in front of me as I sit down on the grass. I sigh as I unlock, I had hoped I would never ever need to open this again. As I open the lid, a shadow falls over me. I gasp, turn around and stand to fight, but lower my fists when I see it is Master Kwan and one of his sons.
"What are you two doing here?"
"We merely came to see if you were all right Kalias. I saw you run by a little while ago and that you were upset about something. So we followed you to see if we could be of some help." Mr. Kwan bows to me as he explains.
"Oh, where's your other son?"
"Actually he's a she. And she's not actually my daughter, but I think of her as one and she is also my greatest student. Her name is Lin. And this is a dear friend of mine, Zelei.
"It's good to see you again, " She smiles as she bows to me as well.
"I see," I say as I grunt to sit back down, turn to face the water and gesture to Master Kwan and Zelei to do the same if they wish.
"Thank you," He says to me as he sits next to me, "This is a very peaceful place."
"It reminds me of home," Zelei says as she lays on the grass and lets the sun shine on her back.
"I found it years ago when Brother Gilbert, Kara and Bowen were still alive. It remains me of the home I shared with my father, Draco."
"I know of the fact that you were raised by him, but not everything. If you don't wish to speak about it, I won't force you. I just saw you were upset and thought I could help in some way," He calmly says and hands me a handkerchief.
"Thank you," I say and use it to wipe my eyes and nose; "It just feels like everything is falling apart. I feel like all my hard work I have done to keep him safe has been for nothing. And I don't know what I can do to fix this."
"Just out of curiosity," He says and points to the chest in front of us, "What's in here?"
I sigh and open it for him. Inside are all my old short swords, daggers and knives as well as my old bow and quiver of arrows. Seeing those again, started to bring back memories, until Master Kwan touched my shoulder. I smile at him and close the lid. As I drag it back to the hole, he stops me.
"I am thinking that you might need them again in the future. It would be a good idea if you at least got your bow and arrows out."
"Master Kwan, I swore I would never pick up a weapon again. I can't," I tell him as I move away from the chest, close my eyes and turn away. I hear him go over to it, open it and close it. I open my eyes and see him holding the bow to me.
"I know you are a kind soul and that you wish to heal people now rather than fight, but I can also see a deep fire burning in your heart. A fierce protectiveness of those you care about."
I know he speaks the truth, but how can I take back up the object, I had once used to protect people, to hurt the one person that meant more to me than anything. I watch him set the bow and arrows on the ground, put his hands on my shoulders and looks me squarely in the eye.
"I know you still blame yourself for your father's death. But, answer me this, did you kill him in cold blood?"
"No," I sadly answer as I remember how I felt as I launched the arrow.
"Sometimes forgiving others is easier than forgiving oneself. But I think if you do, you will find that sense of peace you've been longing for," Kelei says as she comes over to us.
"How," I ask in desperation.
"By using the bow to protect your brothers and I can even help you get control of your emotions and powers." Kwan says to me.
"How did you know I had powers," I ask in shock, but also reveal myself by causing a rock launch itself across the brook.
"Calm down Kalias. I could feel something about you the moment I met you. I can help you get control of your emotions and your new powers if you will let me."
I sit and think for a moment. Father did say I would have to learn to control them. And if Master Kwan can help me, then maybe he could also help Drake too.
"Ok, on one condition, you have to train Drake too."
"Yes that's another matter, Kalias with the comet coming soon; I ask you if I may be permitted to test his heart to make sure."
"What kind of test?"
"We assure you it won't hurt him. If you wish, you can come with us to witness it yourself. Once he finishes it, Master Kwan will train you both," Zelei explains.
"All right, you have a deal."
"Let's go back. Don't forget your bow."
I look at it, take a deep breath and sigh as I pick it up and the arrows and set them aside. As I drag the chest back in the hole and place the rock back, I remember my training days with Father and later with Bowen. I smile as happy tears run down my face. As we leave and past the willow tree an old urge wells up inside me. I take the bow and one arrow and hand the rest to Master Kwan. I walk until I am at the proper distance from the tree and draw back my bow. It's kind of hard to do with my massive belly but I manage to get in the proper stance. I take a deep breath and release it as I release the arrow. It speeds through the air and hits the knothole I was aiming for dead center.
I smile at it and walk up to the tree to remove it. Master Kwan smiles and nods in approval at me as he hands me my other arrows. As we walk, I take a closer look at them and see several defects in them. In fact, the arrow I shot at the tree was the only good one.
"I will have to get some more if I am going to be using this again," I think to myself, "But first, I need to see my brothers again."
By the time Master Kwan and I return home, it is now night. I look up and can see the constellation Draco shining brightly. Father's star shines brightly for a moment.
"Father, I hope I am doing the right thing by trusting Master Kwan," I think to myself as I look up at his star.
We walk up the lane and I can see the lanterns are lit in the stables. I bet Geoff is in there, in fact I can see him moving around in there. It looks like he's packing.
"Master Kwan, you and Lin and Kelei can stay in my hut. My husband and I have a big bed and a room for guests. Lin and Kelei can have our bed and you can use the guest room. I mostly stay with Drake in his room as it is and sometimes my husband sleeps at the castle."
"Thank you. I hope you will work things out with your brothers. Good Night."
"Thank you and good night to you too."
"Might if I come with you? I would like to meet Drake for myself if that's alright. " Kelei asks me.
I nod and gesture her to follow me. As I start walking to the stables, I see Mansel in there too, talking to Geoff.
"Geoff, you don't know what you have done," I hear him yell at Geoff.
"Sure I do, I got Drake out of that prison you and Kalias and Colt kept him in and I got myself out of the stables."
"That's another thing; do you have any idea how much you have hurt her," Colt yells at him* " She has worked for years to protect him, and with you letting him out, she feels you have betrayed that trust she placed in you."
"You and she were not protecting him!"
"Actually we were Geoff," I sigh and say to him as I walk into the stables, "Years ago I discovered an old prophecy that foretold that an ancient evil will take hold of this land using a dragon's heart when a two-tailed comet passes overhead."
"Exactly," Mansel exclaims and throws his hands down, "All we had to do is keep Drake hidden for 4 more days and then he would have been free to live his life."
"Ancient evil," Geoff smirks and snorts, "Drake? You, three have the wrong dragon. Drake isn't anywhere close to being evil."
"Drake doesn't have to be evil for evil to use him," Mansel tries to explain to him; "He's young and easily mislead."
"Don't worry so much Mansel. I will protect him."
"But who's going to protect him from you," Mansel snaps at him and turns to leave.
"I will," I tell him and Geoff, "With the comet coming, we are going to have to be ready. Geoff, I will forgive you for letting him out but I also will need your help protecting him until the comet has gone. Especially since my baby is might come any day now."
"I promise and I am sorry Drake and I scared you earlier."
"Hmm, like I said I forgive you both. Oh Colt this is Kelei she want to meet Drake." I introduce her to him.
"Pleasure to meet you ma'am," Colt says to her.
"Excuse me, what do you think you're doing," We hear Mansel outside. Geoff and I look at each other and go to investigate. We see Mansel talking to Lin by a colorful cart, "Uh with the exception of Lady Kalias, this monastery doesn't allow girls."
"Please. No one must know," She pleads with him.
"Mansel," Geoff shouts and goes up to him.
"You knew about this?"
"Shame on you Mansel," Geoff scolds him and pulls him aside.
"It will be ok," I say to her as I hear Geoff say to Mansel, "Don't you remember the abbot's sermon about that old tradition, sanitary?"
"Sanctuary," Mansel corrected him.
"Right well we should offer her some sanctuary. Ok? You're a monk Mansel. That's what monks do."
"All right," He reluctantly says to him and leaves.
"Thank you," He says to him and turns to us, "Don't worry, he'll keep your secret."
"Thank you," She says and smiles at him.
"I'm glad you're moving in. The foods lousy, but the place more than makes up for that with its lack of excitement."
"Ha, with your antics, it feels like this place hardly has a moment's peace," Colt nudges him and smirks.
"Well someone's got to keep the monks and friars on their toes," He blushes and turns to Lin, "Uh, need some help with those?"
"I can manage," She says as she lifts a couple of bags and smiles.
I smile at him and her. I can tell he likes her, so Colt and I leave to give them some privacy. Besides, I need to talk to Drake. I don't want him to think I am still upset with him. I go to the door and find it unlocked. Apparently, Geoff left it that way on purpose. I gesture for Kelei to follow us as we make our way down. She doesn't seem too bother by the dead kings and the dark down here.
"Drake," I call out to him as I make my way down the stairs to his room.
"Kalias?"
I sigh in relief that he is here. That makes it easier for me to talk to him. As I come around the corner, I see him standing there.
"I want to talk to you."
As soon as I said that, he grabs me and brings me in for a hug. It almost feels too tight as I move my belly away.
"Kalias, I am so sorry that I left without consoling you and Colt. I didn't mean to upset you so much. Please don't be angry with me anymore."
"Drake I'm not upset with you anymore," I gasp and pat his arms, "However, I should tell you that I can't breathe."
"Oh sorry."
He releases me and it takes me a minute to get air back into my lungs.
"It's ok and I forgive you. I don't blame you for wanting to get out. Will you forgive me?"
He smiles at me, comes back over and hugs me gently this time to his chest. It reminds me of the moments I shared with our father. I look out through the grate and see Father's star shining brightly for a moment and then fades.
"Well, 'protector of the Realm'," I move away from him and look him in the eye, "I think we have had enough excitement today and should get some sleep. I told Master Kwan that he and Lin and Kelei could stay in my hut during their stay. So looks like you and I will be sharing a bed again."
"Well it's not like you haven't sleep here a million times before."
"True," I say to him as I go to my truck and get out my nightgown. Then just as I start taking my dress off, the pain hurts a lot more than before and I feel liquid running down my leg. "Oh no! Colt help me! The the baby! It's coming!
