Dragon Wish (18 page)

Earth. The gentle swaying relaxed her. Each tree and the

growing plants beneath them thrived in the hothouse

atmosphere of the island. A thin mist floated close to the

ground, coating the floor of the forest. If she pretended, this

place might be the Amazon jungle or even the swamps in

Louisiana.

“Why isn’t it more muddy after all the rain last night?”

She asked, staring at the ground beneath the broad hind feet

of Paladin’s dragoon. “Where are the puddles?”

Paladin glanced over his shoulder. “The plants drink the

rain in through the roots. Do you see the thickness of the

leaves?”

She looked in the direction he pointed. All the plants they

passed were coated with the same shiny glaze like the one at

Largin’s back door.

“It is their protection against so much rain. They draw

every drop into their roots. What they don’t catch runs off

into streams then the sea, or to the island’s interior which

empties into one of the many lakes.”

“This place is like paradise.”

A puzzled look crossed Paladin face.

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Before she had the chance to answer, the dragoon crested

a ridge. A large valley extended to towering mountains on the

other side. Off to the left, at the bottom of the valley, a green

meadow stretched to a drop in the land. Out past where the

meadow ended, the ocean, with its white tipped waves, rolled

toward land.

The beauty of the view took Seren’s breath with its

postcard perfection.

Paladin moved his mount to her side. “If you look there,

on this side of the meadow, you’ll see a Felerian village. We

will stop for a visit.”

This pristine land made her pulse race with excitement.

Seren smiled and nodded, willing to discover more of this

alien world. She thought about the explorers of the Americas.

They had to have felt the same thrill she was experiencing.

After another hour of traveling, they reached the edge of

the village. Round vertical huts nestled in a natural indent

along a sloping hillside. Upright poles held the straw cone

roofs in place. Each hut sat on stilts above the ground and

wooden steps led to the small blanket covered doorways. The

blankets, made from multi-colored threads, cast a cheery

atmosphere.

Felerians, smiles splitting their long, narrow jaws, came

forward. The women wore bright reds, blues, and yellow

sarongs while the men had on natural toned shirts with

leggings. Some of them had nothing on except deep blue loin

clothes, leaving their muscled chests, arms, and thighs bare.

The villagers approached the new arrivals in a sea of

color, calling out greetings. She marveled at these people

with round, slit-pupil, feline eyes and pointed ears on the

upper side of their heads. Their slender fingers with sharp

claws on the tips joined with palms much like her own.

She looked out at the growing crowd and stopped on one

young girl not far from the front. Her features were more

human than cat, yet she still had the ears, dark tipped nose

and rounded green eyes.

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Unique, even beautiful, the strange feline eyes were

focused on Paladin. A sharp, jealous pang shot through

Seren’s stomach. Who was this girl? What was her interest in

Paladin?

A path opened in the middle of the gathered villagers. An

aged male in a zagged design yellow sarong, wobbled

forward, a tall, heavy staff in his hand. The feathers

decorating his crown fluttered in the gentle breeze.

The reddish fur on the elder Felerian’s face was sprinkled

with white hairs. He raised the staff and announced in a

voice no different than a human’s, “My Lord, your visit is a

great blessing to our village. A feast we will serve as a

welcome gift.”

Paladin lifted a hand, shaking his head, “No, Muggoossa,

it is not necessary. We cannot stay. The storms will come

once more today. We must return to Master Largin’s before

they do so.”

“Then you will break the mid-rise fast with us. This we

offer you in welcome,” Muggoossa responded. He glanced to

his left then to the right nodding. Several females hurried

away, giggling in excitement. Seren assumed to prepare the

meal.

Paladin stepped from the saddle to stand beside the

dragoon. He extended his left arm, clasping the Felerian

leader’s.

The girl Seren had noticed earlier moved forward and

knelt at Paladin’s feet, her head bowed, hands held pressed

together above her. “My Lord, is it time now for me to leave

my home. I have passed through to my adulthood. Will you

take me with you this time?”

Surprised at the girl’s actions and words, Seren’s mouth

fell open before she snapped it shut. She never considered

jealousy a part of her emotions, but the possessive reaction

she experienced at what had just happened seemed to be the

only explanation. Years ago when she and her husband were

still married, he’d flirted with other woman, but she’d never

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had heat crawl up her back like it did now. Just thinking of

Paladin with another woman made Seren see green.

The sudden heated anger which rose inside her surprised

her. Had she grown so attached to Paladin? She tried to

understand what she felt for him. Not love, no, not that, but

something else. He belonged to her. Right now, while she

stayed on this planet, he was hers. In return, he possessed

her, too.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm the raging desire to

jump off the dragoon and pull Paladin away.

“Leala, it is good to see you have grown, but the time is

not right. You must stay with your clan a bit longer.” Paladin

reached out and ruffled the top of the girl’s head.

She lowered her arms to look up at him with bright,

round eyes. “But, my Lord, I am older...”

Muggoossa cut her off. “Be still, it is true what Lord

Paladin has said. The time is not now. Go now, child. Help

with the meal.”

Leala sighed and stood. Throwing a hopeful glance over

her shoulder, she shuffled off in the same direction the other

females had gone.

“She wants to travel so she might view Avaris’ wonders. I

too desire to do so with her, but these old bones will not

allow it,” the Felerian leader commented as he watched Leala

make her way into one of the huts.

“It is best she remain here. There is much turmoil

brewing in the world. I fear war is bearing down on us.”

With an understanding nod, Muggoossa faced Seren.

“Welcome to our humble village, my Lady. I am Muggoossa,

village elder.”

Seren smiled, her jealousy fading after their conversation.

“I’m Seren.”

“Ah, so you are the one who has come to Avaris from the

stars. Even your name means star.”

Eyes wide, Seren stared at him in amazement. “How do

you know that?”

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“Our mystic healer saw it in the smoke of the sacred fire.”

He held out his arm. She clasped it the same way Paladin

had. “Have no fear, my Lady, you will return to visit us once

more.”

Confused by his comment, Seren tried to keep her face

empty of any emotion. She glanced over at Paladin to see if

he understood, but he didn’t meet her stare. Leo stepped

from behind her to greet the leader. He looked over at her

and shrugged.

Muggoossa led the way into the village, pointing out

different lodges, one was set up for healing, another larger

one for community assemblies, and last, his own home. He

introduced her to many of the villagers. Every female smiled,

reaching out to touch her hand. The males nodded, chins

lifted in pride, arms crossed over their chests and legs braced

apart. Their bright colored clothing stood out against the

greens of the foliage surrounding the village. Their hair

varied. Some had long, thick, curly hair while others wore

theirs shorter, thinner and much straighter.

They stopped not far from the elder’s lodge when Paladin

spoke to the elder. “Muggoossa, I wish to show Seren the

meadow. We thought to break our mid-fast there.”

The elder nodded. “Very well, the morning is good. The

walk is not far. So be it.”

With a slow smile, Paladin placed his hand on her lower

back. “We will go ahead and wait for you.”

“Yes, yes. We will follow soon,” Muggoossa agreed. “Leo,

will you go also?”

“No, sir. I think I’ll stay to walk with you.”

Paladin’s smile shifted into a grin. He winked at Leo

before he took Seren’s hand. With a tug, he hurried down a

dirt path cutting through the tall, slender trees with the

grayish-bark topped with light green leaves which bordered

the village like official guardians, watching and protecting.

Smiling, Seren glanced over at him. “Why do I have the

impression that you planned this?”

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He answered over his shoulder. “And if I did? What

harm is there? I desire to show you the meadow. Alone.”

That’s what worries me.
She shook her head, letting

let him guide her along the narrow dirt path. Winds pulled at

the leaves with a rush, dancing over their tops and creating

delightful music to add to the beauty of the place.

The trees ended, opening up into a meadow. Green grass

carpeted the land broken by patches of yellow and red wild

flowers that bloomed across the expanse. Seren gasped at the

beauty before her. The sky, a deep azure, dotted with

brilliant white clouds, hung above them. Breaking free of

Paladin’s hand, she raced through the ankle high grass. She

twirled, savoring the fresh air along with all the vibrant life

around her.

When she stopped, her gaze met his. He walked toward

her and stood at her side. Curiosity drove her to ask. “Who is

Leala?”

A gentle smile formed on his lips. His eyes softened

around the edges. “Her father sailed with me. He died last

annual. She feels she must complete his duty to me. I do not

want this. She owes me nothing.”

Seren reached out and ran a finger down the center of his

chest where his shirt gaped, revealing the sleek golden skin.

Her mouth watered. “She’s infatuated with you.”

He lifted his hands up, cupped her jaw, bringing her

attention to his face. The deep melodious tone weakened her

knees. “Do you know how difficult it was for me to lay by

your side last evening and not touch you?”

Stepping back, she pulled away from his touch, and

turned from him. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have slept with you.

It won’t happen again.”

“Seren...”

She whirled to him, placing one finger on his lips to stop

his words. “Don’t misunderstand me. I want to, but I can’t.

My time here is temporary. I don’t want any attachments to

you. It’ll be too hard for me to leave if I allow anything to

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happen between us.”

His tongue tasted her fingertip. Liquid heat gathered in

the vee between her legs. She shook her head. The passion

overwhelming her, she pulled away. “No. Please...”

He let her go. “And if you find you do not care to leave?

Could you come to want me—Paladin—the man?”

After considering for a moment, she nodded. “From my

time with you, I believe you’re a man I could grow to love.

I’m just not sure I should.”

“You do not believe in love at first sight then?”

With a gust of laughter, she shook her head. “Maybe lust

at first sight. I do lust after you.” He stared at her, his

expression serious as he contemplated her. Her smile faded

as her attempt to keep the conversation light failed. He was

serious. “Why? Do you believe in it?”

“In the ability to look at a woman...” He tilted his head in

acknowledgment, “or one man, and know in your heart this

person is the one for you? The other side of your spirit? That

your heart is lost to him or her?”

Yes, she could understand the concept, but was unsure of

where he was going with these questions. Deep inside,

though, she wanted to know. Her heart raced in anticipation.

She needed to discover if she was the one person for him.

“When at the moment their eyes first meet, to see a future

bright with happiness and love for the rest of their lives? This