Chapter Seventeen

The next morning, Loralie woke in Det's arms. She wondered for a moment if she was dreaming, but the hard warmth of him told her it had all been real. She almost cried when she realized she had been granted one last night with her lover—the only man she could ever conceive of loving so deeply—before the beginning of the end, which would start in just a few hours.

If she failed to defeat Gebel, it would end there too. But at least she'd had last night and these few stolen moments held safe and secure in Det's strong arms.

It couldn't last though. She had to get up and make her preparations for the conflict ahead. She needed a bit of quiet time before embarking on a magical battle the likes of which she hadn't fought in a very long time. The last time she'd faced Gebel, she'd lost.

He'd used Penny to get Loralie to back down that time. This time, she would not back down for any reason. Gebel would die by her hand, or she would die by his. There was no other acceptable outcome.

Easing out of Det's embrace, she felt a pang of regret that she couldn't take the time to bask longer in the joy of being with him, but she could already feel the pull of the sun beginning to rise. Magic was cyclical to a large extent. There were inherent moods that changed with the stations of the sun and moon. Part of her preparation for the action she planned later required her to meditate on the rising sun, gathering its power into her soul.

Every little bit of centering could only help her endeavors today. She had to do as much as she could to make sure she was as ready to face Gebel as possible. To that end, she left the comfort of the furs, glad to see that Det remained asleep. He was going to be fighting today, so he needed his rest.

Loralie dressed as quietly as possible, washing up in the smaller section of the cave she'd set aside for that purpose. She put on her red dress. Red was a power color, her mother had always said. It was a good omen to greet the sun in red to begin a day that could prove to be momentous if her plans came to fruition.

Wrapping up in her cloak, she tiptoed out of the cave, squeezing past Grennulf, who remained in his sentry position at the entrance. One of Gren's big eyes opened as she passed.

"I hope you're not sneaking out on him again," Gren mused in her mind.

She didn't like his tone but realized he might be justified.

"No, I'm not sneaking out. I'm letting him sleep while I go gather power and center myself in the rays of the rising sun. I'll be back just after dawn," Loralie reassured the dragon, trying not to sound too testy.

"I did not realize…" Gren began, then hesitated uncharacteristically. "I believe you will have company as you greet the dawn. Don't be surprised."

Gren's eye closed, and he seemed to settle back to sleep, saying nothing more. Loralie shook her head and went on. She had a particular spot picked out where she wanted to be when the sun broke over the mountains. It was a bit of a walk and a small climb, but it wouldn't take long.

It was cold out here in the predawn darkness lit only by the ethereal glow of the stars sparkling off the snow that covered most of the side of the mountain. But as soon as the sun began to rise, she knew she would no longer feel cold. The sun would power her. Energize her. Warm her in its sacred glow.

As she made her way around to the back side of the peak where she would not be seen from the manor in the valley below her observation post, the sky began to lighten by slow increments. She was heading for a spot on the east-facing slope of the mountain from where she would be among the first to feel the rays of the sun.

But there was someone there before her. In her chosen spot, which was a wide ledge that formed a spacious platform on the side of the mountain. It was mostly clear of snow because the wind kept it swept clean most of the time and waiting for her in that special spot was a large dark dragon.

Not an ice dragon or snow dragon then. No, as the sky lightened more and Loralie got closer, she was able to perceive that the dragon was red. It was the red dragon. Leasharra.

Loralie had a moment of panic. If Leasharra was here, where was Penny?

Leasharra spoke first, sending her thoughts directly into Loralie's mind. "Never fear. Penny is still in the enclave with Petr and the others."

While Loralie would have loved a chance to see her daughter, this was no place for her, and Loralie was grateful the dragon had left Penny behind. But then, why was Leasharra here?

"Is aught amiss?" Loralie asked, frowning as she made it to the ledge and stood before the juvenile red dragon.

"Nothing is wrong, but I feel, having gone as far as I already have, I should watch your back, as the fighters say, when you face the mage. I will go into the manor with you."

"You will?" Loralie was shocked by the dragon's words.

"I've gone this far, I might as well go all the way," Leasharra said, shrugging her folded wings slightly. "I've been briefed on the plan and know the fighters will be remaining outside to cause maximum distraction. Except for a small group led by Detlif, who will fight through and deliver you to Gebel, if at all possible. I plan to be part of that group, and when you meet Gebel, I will be at your back. By your side. Whatever you need. I will back you up."

Loralie dropped to her knees as they gave out. She had not ever imagined she would have so much help in pursuing her deadly goal. Not only Det and the folk and dragons of the enclave, but also Leasharra? This was all too much.

After what Loralie had done—what she had been forced to do—she did not deserve this kind of consideration.

Leasharra craned her long neck over toward Loralie. Her tone held concern when she spoke again.

"Are you all right?"

Loralie had to take a moment to compose herself before she could answer. "I'm fine. I just… I didn't expect to have any help with this task. Leasharra, you have to be certain. Penny is bonded to you. She would be devastated if something happened to you."

"I'm a dragon. Fighting evil is what I was bred for," she replied, only a hint of smugness in her tone. "And there is a seer in Valdis Maj that gave me a message I didn't understand until now. She said I would stand behind the woman in red and that my presence might just tip the balance to the side of Light."

They both looked at the red skirt of Loralie's gown for a moment.

"You put such faith in a supposed human seer?" Loralie could hardly believe the red dragon was offering to stand with her. "What if she was just some charlatan?"

"Did I say she was human?" Leasharra seemed to take on a slightly chastising pose.

Loralie was confused. "Not one of the fair folk, though. You said she was in Valdis Maj, and they don't travel much, as a general rule."

"Not one of the fair folk. The seer is a dragon," Leasharra said in a triumphant sort of tone.

"A dragon seer? I didn't know there were any," Loralie admitted, nonplussed.

"It is very rare, but every few generations, there is one born with the seer's gift. This one is very young, still, but her visions are powerful and true. She is the talk of the Lairs, though she is from this side of the mountains."

"I suppose a dragon wouldn't steer you wrong," Loralie allowed, turning her face to the east and the sun that was about to make its appearance over the very tips of the distant mountains. It was time to get ready. "Thank you, Lady Leasharra, for your willingness to help. Now, I must prepare."

"I will watch your back as you do so, as I will until Gebel is no more," Leasharra promised.

Leasharra stepped back and made room for Loralie to face the sun. Loralie breathed deeply as the sun's first rays peeked over the mountains to bathe this part of the world in its light.

After that, Loralie was totally focused on the sun and its energy. She stood there for a long time, her magical senses reaching out for the rhythms of the land and stars, the energy flowing between them. She was reborn in the fire of the sun's early rays and tempered in its heat.

Revitalized and reenergized, Loralie left a few minutes later, ready to face whatever the day might bring. Leasharra was right behind her.

Det was surprised to find Loralie return with a bright red dragon at her back. A dragon he'd come to know very well since that dragon partnered his daughter.

"Lea, what brings you here?" he asked as the dragon drew near.

"A vision brought me, but it feels right to be part of the final resolution to my heartmate's peril," Leasharra replied.

And that's all that Lea would tell him, no matter how much he asked for more clarification. Lea was like that, he'd learned. She kept her own counsel, even more than the snow dragons. She was young, it was true, but very cautious by nature. She'd been living in his household since she'd brought Penny to him, but even so, he was still trying to understand her.

He let it go for now, turning instead to his own preparations for the day ahead. It was almost time for him to leave with Gren. They were going to meet up with the forces gathering to attack the manor house, organize the ranks, then lead the charge.

With Lea's arrival and her willingness to carry Loralie into the manor, the plan was complete. All they had to figure out was where to place the red dragon among the descending horde so as to keep Loralie as safe as possible. Det suspected the very tail of the flying formation would be the best place. That way, the fighters would already be engaged when Lea and Loralie descended. They should have a clear path into the manor to find Gebel.

Det wasn't sure how he felt about Loralie after last night. His emotions were churned where she was concerned. He still loved her. He knew that—especially after last night—but how could he trust her? How could he trust that she wouldn't leave him again?

If they both survived the coming battle, should he welcome her into his home? Would the rest of the enclave even stand for him inviting her in? It was very rare, indeed, that a human be allowed to even visit the enclave, much less make their home there.

And what about the children? She'd never even seen Petr since she left him on Det's doorstep. Det had heard that Penny told Petr all about their mother when Det wasn't around. She'd done so openly when she'd first arrived but had stopped when she realized Det wasn't happy about it. He'd still hated Lora back then. Now? He wasn't sure what he felt.

Would it be harder on the children to see their mother and then have her leave again, or would it be kinder to keep her away until he was certain she wasn't going to leave them all again? Of course, he knew she thought she wasn't going to survive her mission. He'd have something to say about that, but he was letting things play out for now. He suspected he'd have to cross a lot of bridges when they came to them, but he couldn't help worrying a bit about what some of those decisions might be, even now.

This was getting him nowhere. He had a job to do today. He'd best be thinking about that, and only that, for the time being.

Lea settled with Gren outside the cave, out of sight from below, around the curve of the mountain. Other dragons would be joining them as their riders came to meet with Det to finalize plans in person before launching such a major attack. He also wanted them to see Loralie so they would recognize her. It was unlikely there would be another blonde woman in a gorgeous red gown lobbing magical blasts around, but he had learned to prepare for all contingencies. At least if his wing leaders saw her, they would be able to identify her to the others should there be any confusion.

He also wanted to gauge their hostility toward her. The dragons had done a lot to ameliorate the antagonism toward Loralie since Leasharra had joined them and told her story, but there were probably still some hard feelings among them, and Det wanted to be sure they could all work together. The dragons needed to see how she was living and what she had sacrificed to carry out her plan. They could hear about it from Gren, and now Lea, but more of them should see it for themselves, Det thought. So, they could understand Lora's dedication to her cause.

After a light breakfast shared quietly between Det and Lora, the others began arriving. They had staggered their arrivals so as not to draw attention, but before too long, the wing commanders that would be participating in the strike were gathered around, looking at the diagrams Det had worked up to show his plan of attack.

The plan would probably not survive the first engagement, but he had contingencies planned for different scenarios. He went through each and every one with the warriors and their dragons were listening in through their eyes and ears. Everyone would be on the same page when it came time to enact the plan Det had devised.

Loralie held back, watching. She said hello and thanked everyone present for participating but was met with varying levels of welcome. Mostly, they seemed to tolerate her, which was less than Det had hoped for and more than he'd expected in some cases. At least they knew what she looked like now and wouldn't do anything to prevent her from doing her part.

Although the warriors would engage the enemy's troops, there wasn't much they could do against a mage of Gebel's abilities. They needed Loralie to neutralize his magic and take him out, if she could. They would help, but if Gebel truly had forbidden magical knowledge, then it was really going to be up to Loralie to end him.

"All right, that's it. Any questions?" Det asked, wrapping up the briefing.