Disclaimer: Hi guys, sorry it's been over a month since my last entry. But I have not forgotten about this story. I do plan on finishing it before the year is out. Last time we saw Drake bonding with his new niece and Kalias getting them ready for the party. How will it go? Let's find out. I don't own Drake, Geoff, the king, Mansel, Lord Osric or Rowen the knight or Master Kwan and Lin. Universal Studios does. I do own Kalias, Colt, their daughter Laia and Kelei. Be sure to leave a review below to let me know what you thought of the story.
"Knock, knock. Are my favorite girls ready," Colt calls out to me as he comes down the stairs.
"Just about," I answer as I finish dressing Laia in the best dress I have made for her. Then I gently smooth her little tuff of hair before holding her up for him to see, "Ta da."
"Aw, she is going to be the most beautiful baby there," Colt chuckles as he takes her from me and holds her in his arm.
"She's probably going to be the ONLY baby there, but it's sweet of you to say so, "I say and then finish putting on some lipstick and rouge, " And I'm ready."
"And you are beautiful too," Colt kisses my cheek and offers me the red tunic.
"Ok, let's get this over with," I sigh as I gather up my small satchel bag with extra nappies and a lotion in case Laia needs a change while we're at the party and put it on over the red tunic. "Want me to carry her?"
"I got her. Drake? It's time to go. Drake," Colt calls out and sees him hiding under the hill of pillows on his bed.
"Drake? Come on, time to go," I say to the tail sticking out.
" I-I changed my mind. I don't want to go meet the king," Drake nervously says, "What if he doesn't like me or anyone else?"
"Drake, he's going to love you. I know Ethan and he grew up listening to stories about Papa and me and with his father Bowen. I can tell you he's gonna be excited to meet you. So come on, what do you say? We can stay for a little bit and then we'll come home," I say as I stroke his tail.
"...ok," Drake softly says as he comes out and shakes the pillows off him.
"There he is. My handsome brother," I smile as I pick one of the pillows off his wing joint and then brush the scales on his shoulder.
For practice, Drake lets us fly to the castle on his back. Laia loves the trip but Colt seems to be nervous. I forget that he didn't grow up flying on the back of dragons like I did.
"Are you ok Colt," Drake looks back to ask him.
" Yes, yes I'm fine. As long as I don't look down, "Colt chuckles nervously and clings to my waist with one hand and holds Laia close to him in the other.
"But if you do that, you'll miss out on a lot of amazing things below," I say and point down to the village and the monastery behind us, "Oh I've missed this. And look at your daughter, she's having the time of her life."
"She's right Colt. Things are amazing from up here and flying is fun," Drake chuckles as he looks at the sun setting and the lanterns from the windows of the castle. He lands in a clear near it. A few people exclaim in surprise when we land and Drake helps up off his back. The people get out of our way as we pass by to where the party is. I can already hear the music playing.
"Wow," Drake says in wonder and then looks around, "Where's Geoff?"
"I'm sure he's here somewhere," Colt says and gets a glass from a servant with a serving tray, "Want a drink?"
"Oh yes please," I say as I take Laia from him and take the goblet from him too, "Thank you. Drake do you want something to drink? Water maybe?"
"Yes please," Drake says as he takes the pitcher from a passing tray and then sniffs," Something smells good."
"That would be the buffet table. We can get a bite before mingling," I suggest and then see several people coming over to us to ask questions, "Or we could mingle now."
That's what we do for several minutes. People were coming to Drake and me and Colt things like "How long have you known the dragon?" "What's his name?" "How old are you Drake in human years?" All of which Drake happily answers and then explains to them how Colt and I raised him in the monastery. Then they start noticing my baby and asking me questions about her. And one person asks me what has it been like being a new mother.
"It's a challenge but luckily Colt and I have had practice raising her uncle Drake," I answer them as I nuzzle Laia to me, "Excuse me but I think I want to get something to eat."
"I'll get you something sweet heart," Colt says and leaves me for the buffet table.
As I turn to go find a place for us to sit and eat, I bump into someone.
"Oh sorry about-"I start to say and see the one I bumped into is Lord Osric, "that. Lord Osric."
"Lady Kalias, you came and you're not alone," He says as he looks down at Laia.
"Yes, she decided to be born the other night," I say and hug her close to me.
"I see she's got her mother's beauty," Lord Osric says as he tickles her and she fusses on cue," Oh someone's hungry."
"Or she might need a change," I say and think, "You have the right instincts my little starlight."
"Is everything alright," Colt asks as he brings us a tray with two plates of food on it.
"Yes but I believe your daughter needs a change Colt. I hope you brought some changing rags," Lord Osric smiles at my daughter.
"We did and I think I should do that right away," I say and start to head for somewhere private to change her.
"Oh I think Colt can handle that. If you'll allow me one dance, " Lord Osric says to us.
"Oh I uh," I start to say and then Laia starts squirming and fussing, "Well one dance. Colt will you take her please?"
"I...suppose," Colt says as he takes Laia from me and the satchel. No sooner does she leave my arms, then Lord Oscric pulls me onto his and to the dance floor as a new song begins. He places one hand on my back and holds my right hand in his left as I put my left hand on his shoulder. As he leads, I follow along with the music. I suppose it would look like a sweet moment but there was two things wrong. Number 1, I am a happily married woman and new mother and Number 2, this man gives me the creeps.
"Kalias," I hear a voice yell in my ear and startles me, "What are you doing?! I told you not to trust this man. Take your daughter and Drake and Colt and go home! Leave while you have the chance. Don't trust anything he says to you!"
"Papa? Is that you-" I think to myself until Lord Osric interrupts my thoughts.
"My lady, are you alright," He asks me in concern.
"Huh?! Oh yes Lord Osric. Why do you ask," I ask with a smile. I hope he didn't notice me talking to a voice in my head.
"You just seem very distracted is all. Is everything ok?"
"Yes, absolutely fine."
He looks at me for a moment and then nods his head. In that moment, I thought I saw a something in his eyes.
"So how have you been with your healing business and the new baby? Any problems?"
"Oh well it's been tough, but I have managed to get caught up with the work I missed while I was pregnant."
"Why did you miss a day anyway," He asks as he twirls me around and we circle each other with our hands together.
"Oh, I was out sick," I tell him as we go back the other way.
"Really? Nothing too serious I hope."
"No, it passed overnight. My daughter is fine and I'm actually feeling much better now. Stronger even."
"I'm glad to hear that. It would be such a shame to lose our land's finest healer due to an illness," He says as he dips me, "Not to mention little Laia being motherless."
I smile and nod to him as he pulls me back up. "What did he mean by that?"
"Kalias?"
"Hmm?"
"Has anyone ever told you that your eyes are like the ocean?"
"Yes, my husband when he was courting me," I cautiously say, "Why do you ask?"
"Because they are as beautiful and as powerful as the sea and I can see straight into your soul," He says with a smirk.
"That is very sweet of you to say Lord Osric," I smile back and say to him and think. "Ok that ominous feeling just amplified in my stomach when he said that."
"I am only speaking the truth Kalias. You know that is one of the rules that a knight is bound to," He says with charm in his voice, but again I see something in eyes. Something that was a hint of danger, " And I certainly wouldn't want to get 7 lashes for lying to such a beautiful woman such as yourself." Then he brushes a piece of hair behind my ear and runs his fingers down my cheek.
"Ok that's it. I need to end this now," I think to myself, but luckily for the music finishes and the dance ends. Inwardly, I breathe a sigh of relief, "Well thank you for the dance Lord Osric, but I must be getting back to Drake or try to find Geoff. I know he's here somewhere."
"I see him over there." He says and points to him. I sigh and make my way through the crowd. Geoff says something to Mansel at the buffet table and Mansel in turn, puts down the food he had in his arms. Then he bumps into someone that looks his age but a little older.
I could hear the other boy say as I came closer to them , "You know without that dragon, you are still a peasant."
"Roland, Geoff is well on his way to becoming a knight," Lord Osric scolds him and puts his hand on his shoulder, "Is that not true?"
"Yes it is," Roland says in a small voice and looks down.
"Yes, and what do you get if you don't tell the truth in our kingdom?"
"7 lashes but," He starts to say until Lord Osric tightens his grip on his shoulder.
"One more outburst like that and I will double it. You understand," He coldly says in Roland's ear as he releases him, "Geoff come with me. Lady Kalias it was a pleasure. Enjoy the rest of the evening."
"You too Lord Osric. Geoff come find me when you and he are done all right?"
"Sure thing."
I smile and turn around to see Drake's tail disappearing at the entrance. I move and follow him.
"Hey Drake, Master Kwan where are you two going?"
"I wish to show Drake something," Master Kwan calmly says to me.
"Oh well I'll come with you."
"As you wish."
He leads us to the courtyard where his cart is and where they keep the hawks they use for hawking. I greet Kelei as I see her standing by the cart.
"This is what I wanted to show you Drake," He says as he opens a compartment and reveals a mask, "It's an ancient ritual mask based on the most famous dragon in the East."
"But it looks so angry," Drake says as he nervously stares at it.
I will admit the mask is a little unnerving. I have seen pictures of dragons in the East, but there was something off about this one. I look at Master Kwan as he pulls back a cloth to reveal a bright red amulet with a gold seal on it.
"This amulet has been imbued with all the wisdom of the ancient dragons. If you do as I say, you will receive all that knowledge in an instant."
"Wait a minute," I think to myself at this point, "How is that possible? Father always taught me that knowledge comes with time and study. There are no shortcuts."
"I always dreamed about learning more about dragons, but how could I possibly learn so much all at once," Drake asks with interest.
"You must open your most vulnerable spot, your heart, to the dragon's mouth," Master Kwan instructed, "Then touch the amulet, and the wisdom will be yours."
"Open my heart? Oh, uh you mean like this," Drake asks as I see him lift up the scales on his chest like I saw our Father do many years ago.
"Now just touch the amulet."
I look at that thing in his hands and I feel a chill in my body. It feels like it's calling to me and there's a sound coming from it, like a heartbeat. In fact, as Drake starts reaching for it, I can see it glow blood red. It feels like it's calling for me to touch it too.
"Isn't there another way for me to learn?"
"We could teach you but that would take years," Kelei says and gestures to the amulet. "Would it not be easier to just get the knowledge now instead?"
"I don't want to touch that thing," Drake frowns and says as he puts his paw down, "It's evil. Kalias? Hey, sister are you all right?"
"Huh? Yeah, I'm ok," I tell him as I snap out of it, rub my head and look away from the amulet. Master Kwan looks at it and then me before covering it back up. Drake looks at it and leaves.
"Hey, what are you guys doing to our dragon," I hear Geoff ask someone behind the cart. There I see Lin crawling out the back with a smile on her face and she hugs him.
"Nothing, everything is all right now."
"That is most inappropriate," Master Kwan frowns and says about the two of them hugging.
"Hmm, I think it's sweet," I smile and say to him, "So was that the test you were talking to me about? And the one you said you passed Kelei?"
"What test," Geoff asks in confusion.
"Yes it was and I am happy to say Drake passed it," Kelei brightly smiles and sighs in relief
"I will start training both him and you tomorrow like I promised," Master Kwan nods.
"I'm looking forward to it, thank you," I bow my head slightly and go to tell Drake the good news.
