The Vulpirans' Honor: The Soul-Linked Saga (46 page)

“We have to find a way to stop it,” Darck said.  “Destroy the eggs before they hatch,
something.”

“Yes, we must find a way,” Marqex said.  “It makes me sad to think of killing so many
younglings, but Magoa is evil, and he will make them evil.”

“Marqex, may I ask you a question?” Darck asked.

“Of course,” Marqex replied.

“How is it that you know so much about Magoa and all that he’s done?”

Marqex tilted her graying head slightly as she studied Darck for a long moment.  “I
had thought you would have guessed by now,” she said.  “I am Magoa’s mother.” 

***

Berta sat on a bench in the garden behind Arima House, watching Nica play with butterflies. 
At first she thought she was imagining things, but the longer she watched, the more
convinced she became that the orange and blue butterflies were really playing a game
with
the child.  Nica
would chase a small group of five or six around the garden path, then she would turn
around, and they would chase her back.  They did this half a dozen times, until finally
Nica threw herself down on a patch of neatly clipped blue grass nearby.  She laid
down on her back, panting and laughing as the butterflies settled on her and around
her. 

Berta was so engrossed in the sight that it took her a moment to realize they were
both being watched.  She looked up, startled by the sight of three men who looked
remarkably like the Dracons.  She stood up and took a few steps toward Nica when she
noticed that the men were staring unblinkingly at the little girl.

Nica stopped laughing and sat up when she noticed the men, but she didn’t smile and
greet them as she usually did with newcomers.  Berta wondered if the change was due
to the men themselves, or the child’s recent ordeal.  She moved again until she was
standing just behind Nica.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen, may I help you?” she asked, coolly polite.

The men blinked, then looked at her and bowed. 

“Please excuse us,” the one in the middle said.  “We are the Dracon-Bats, cousins
to the royal Princes.  I am Quenton and these are my brothers, Samson and Karlson 
We came to visit, unannounced, and discovered that our cousins are not at home.”

“No, they’re attending a meeting in the Hidden City,” Berta said.

“Yes, so we’ve been informed,” Quenton replied.  “Since we are here, we thought we’d
visit the new Arima House that we’ve heard so much about.  Do you know where we can
find Arima Berta Falcoran?”

“I’m Arima Berta,” Berta replied. 

“Pardon us for our intrusion, Arima Berta,” Quenton said.  “May I ask, who is this
beautiful child that the butterflies claim as their princess?”

Berta looked down and nearly gasped to see a living crown of orange and blue butterflies
on Nica’s head. 

“This is my niece, Nica,” Berta said just as her men appeared beside her.

“Greetings, Dracon-Bat,” Merrick said as he and his brothers all bowed formally. 
“Please forgive us for being absent during your visit.”

“We came unannounced and uninvited,” Quenton said with a shrug.  “There is no need
for formalities.  We wished to see Arima House with our own eyes while we were here,
and came upon this child.”

“Nica is the sister of Arima Honor Vulpiran,” Merrick said, letting the Dracons know
that she had rank. 

“We are most pleased to meet you, Nica,” he said.  Nica surprised Berta and the Falcorans
when she did not respond as she usually did.  Instead, she held out one hand, palm
up, and a large butterfly flew to it.  It sat there for a moment, then flew toward
the Dracons.  It circled them, then landed in Quenton’s hand for a brief moment before
taking off, this time flying high up into the sky.

The Dracon-Bats watched it until it could be seen no more.  Then they bowed to Nica,
holding it for a long moment.  “Nica,” he said, speaking directly to her.  “If ever
you have need, call for the Dracon-Bats.  Can you remember that?”

“Yes,” Nica said softly, speaking for the first time.

The Dracons smiled at her and bowed yet again.  “We shall meet again, Nica, when you’ve
had time to grow.”  He looked up at Merrick, Tor and Jerri.  “We ask that her guardians,
and those who care for her, let us know if she is ever in need of anything.

“You have our word,” Merrick said solemnly.

The Dracon-Bats looked at Nica for another moment, then turned around and left the
way they came.

.