Chapter Twenty-Three

Loralie slept in a bed that night for the first time in ages. Although her room was private, there were plenty of people watching both herself and Detlif. When he left her at the door to her room with nothing more than a gentle kiss on the cheek, she was both relieved and disappointed. Much as she wanted another night spent in his arms, she also didn't want them to be gossiped about by his people. Whatever they did in private, she wanted to keep it that way.

And so, after breakfast and a final examination of the manor house the next morning, Det helped Loralie settle behind him on Grennulf's back. They flew due West, heading for the enclave, which wasn't far away as the dragon flies.

When they passed through the magical Veil that protected the enclave from everything outside, she felt it deeply. The amount of power in that magical construct was almost a rival for that which flowed through the Citadel. She had never considered how much power it must take to hide an entire city of people and their dragon friends.

The enclave was even larger than she had expected, filling a fertile valley with a sprawling city at its apex. There were dozens of snow dragons everywhere she looked, and many homes and public buildings that had the most graceful architecture she had ever seen. It was warmer under the Veil than the very cold world outside, and there were fields for flocks of sheep and other animals, as well as farmland rich with growing things. The world under the Veil was truly self-sufficient in a way she hadn't expected.

Frankly, she had never given it much thought, but the people in this place had to survive somehow with little to no contact with the outside world. They had set up a beautifully balanced ecosystem under their large bubble of protection. Whoever had set this up was a genius.

Or, more likely, one of the wizards of old.

Having grown up in the Citadel, she was very familiar with the kinds of things those great beings had accomplished in their heyday. She wouldn't be very surprised to learn that one of those victorious wizards—not the bad ones imprisoned in the Citadel—had been the architect of this land away from the lands of others that sustained itself and prospered without much input from the outside world.

Gren landed in the front courtyard of a very large house, and Loralie felt her nervousness growing ever larger. This had to be House Adain. Det's familial home. Any minute now, someone would come out to meet them. It might even be the twins.

Gren carried the block of ice that contained Gebel in his front talons. The folk at the manor had wrapped the ice block in heavy blankets then strapped them down tight, leaving a sort of handle by which Gren could easily pick up the bulky bundle. He put his burden down in one corner of the courtyard and stood quietly while Det relieved him of the other packs and tack he had worn.

Loralie almost held her breath in anticipation, her nerves strung taught with both fear and excitement. She couldn't wait to see her babies again. And she feared the reception from the elders of Det's very prominent family.

Thankfully, it was Penny who ran out of the house first. She looked so joyful, tears sprang to Loralie's eyes as she fell to her knees and opened her arms to gather her daughter close. Penny had never looked so free to be the child she was.

"Mommy, I missed you so much!" Penny's high-pitched voice was music to Loralie's ears.

"I missed you too, pumpkin," Loralie crooned. "But I knew you were safe with your daddy and brother."

"Is Gebel dead?" Penny drew back to look at her mother with too-old eyes and a pained expression.

"He is imprisoned in ice at the moment," Loralie explained. "Your father wants to put him on trial for his crimes."

As Penny drew back, Loralie caught sight of a boy who must be Petr standing a few yards away over Penny's shoulder. Loralie's heart clenched. He was the spitting image of his father, and she had a sudden flash of insight that he would grow up to be just as handsome and just as brave.

"Sweet Mother of All," Loralie breathed. "You're Petr."

The boy drew closer hesitantly, staring at her with wide blue eyes. He stopped in front of her, Penny at his side, and just looked at her. He was already a little bit taller than Penny. Something, Loralie was sure, would continue as the twins grew older. Det was a tall man. So would his son be.

"Penny told me about you, but I didn't really believe her," Petr said in a voice that was still the piping high tones of a young boy. "She said you would come here if you could someday."

Loralie smiled shakily. "Someday came a lot sooner than I expected, thanks to Leasharra." Loralie held out her hand to her son, and he took it, then practically threw himself into her arms. "Oh, Petr. I have longed to see you for so many years."

Loralie felt the wetness of tears on both their cheeks as she kissed her baby's face for the first time in too long a time. She had missed almost all of his childhood, and if her plans succeeded, she would miss even more. This precious time might be all they ever had together. She vowed to make the most of it.

At that moment, Loralie became aware of several dragons gathering in the courtyard. They were standing near Grennulf, seeming to consult with Detlif's heartmate at first, but then they started looking in Loralie's direction. All were sparkling snow white, except for Leasharra, of course. What looked like the eldest, and most graceful of them came forward, closer to Loralie. She released Petr and stood to face the wise old dragon.

"I am Alemenia, heartmate to the matriarch of this House. I lead the dragons of House Adain," the old snow dragon stated in a gentle voice.

"I am, as I'm certain you already know, Loralie. Thank you for allowing me to visit House Adain and see my children." Loralie spoke aloud so all could hear.

The dragon bowed its head in acknowledgement of Loralie's thanks and gestured to the doorway where a stunning older woman had emerged from the house. The snow white of her long hair was fitted with sparkling gems that glistened like diamonds as she moved. There was no welcome on her face, but rather a sort of challenging assessment.

Loralie would not be cowed by this old woman, even if she was the matriarch of Det's House. She would give the respect due to an elder, but she would not crumple under a hard expression. Loralie decided to wait and see what the matriarch might have to say before jumping to any conclusions.

Det moved to Loralie's side. "Grandmother, may I introduce Loralie," he intoned formally, then turned slightly to meet Loralie's gaze. "Lora, this is my grandmother, Lady Fiora Adain, matriarch of our House."

"I have long wanted to meet the woman who turned my grandson's head so thoroughly," Lady Adain spoke first, a touch of frost in her words.

"I am honored to meet you, Lady Adain," Loralie replied tactfully. She stood still as Det's grandmother looked her over with an appraising eye. It would not do to twitch an eyelash under the lady's scrutiny.

"I see, you have inherited your grandmother's composure," Lady Adain said after a full minute, surprising everyone present, judging by the reaction of Det and even the children.

"You knew my grandmother?" Loralie couldn't help but ask.

"For many years," Lady Adain replied, tilting her head in acknowledgment. Her frosty demeanor eased somewhat. "I counted her as a great friend in my youth. Her name was Beverly, and you look a great deal like her. As does little Penny." Here, the great lady looked over at Penny and smiled a smile so gentle and kind, it was clear she loved her great-granddaughter.

"I never knew her," Loralie admitted. "She was gone long before I was born."

"We have longevity in common. Unlike most of humankind, the Guardians of the Citadel were granted lives as long as ours, to go along with their onerous task." Lady Adain walked closer, gathering Petr and Penny to her sides and placing one old hand on each of their shoulders. "Which is why I did not object when I realized Detlif had gotten involved with you. I knew that you would not break his heart by dying too soon, as it is with most ill-fated romances between fair folk and humans. No, you did something completely different but just as devastating. Perhaps more so. I find it difficult to understand your actions, though I am trying for my family's sake."

Well. That was brutally honest. Loralie wasn't quite sure how to respond to such frank talk, though she appreciated it greatly. It was always better to know where you stood with someone rather than trying to puzzle it out from their actions.

"How did you even know I had met Loralie and who she really was? You never told me she was the Guardian," Det said, a bit of accusation in his tone as he addressed his grandmother.

"I have a heartmate, too," Lady Adain reminded Detlif. "The dragons thought it important enough to share with me and I recognized Loralie's origins from having known her grandmother. I did not disclose her role because it was not my secret to divulge. Out of respect for my friend, Beverly, and the sacred trust passed down through her line, I kept my knowledge of her position to myself." Lady Adain nodded once, as if that was all there was to say about that. Det looked disgruntled, but Loralie just shook her head.

"I suppose I will be saying I'm sorry for as long as I live," Loralie said, not giving any indication in front of the children as to just how short a time she expected that to be. "I proceeded on the course I thought best. If I was wrong, I accept that and beg forgiveness, but I really don't see how I could've done anything different."

She smoothed her hands down her skirt. She was still wearing the red dress of her mother's. It was the nicest thing she owned, and the only thing good enough for meeting Det's family. Thankfully, there had been time to have all her things washed and cleaned at the manor house before coming here.

"That's all moot now anyway," Det said, stepping in. "The threat has been neutralized. Penny is free and reunited with her brother in safety. And I plan to petition the Council to put Gebel on trial forthwith."

"He still lives?" Lady Adain looked sharply at her grandson. "The only report I've heard said he had been encased in ice. I wasn't sure if a human mage could survive such treatment."

"He lives," Loralie answered. "For now." Her voice dripped with hatred of the mage who had wronged her family so greatly and caused such heartache for her and her children. "I confess, that wasn't my plan going into the battle, but it seemed the right thing to do."

Lady Adain eyed her shrewdly. "I suspect you are correct, though it was not an outcome any of us expected after the reports we had gotten from the field. Still, I think this is the right course of action." The old woman looked up at her grandson and nodded. "You will have my vote when the Council gathers."

Det bowed his head in respect. "Thank you, Grandmother."

"Let us go into the house where we can talk more comfortably. Belinda has set out some refreshments in the dining room, I believe," Lady Adain said, turning to reenter the house. The children followed her with a few looks back to make sure their mother was following behind, but Det walked slowly beside Loralie, speaking quietly.

"I'm sorry about that." His voice was pitched low so that only Loralie could hear him. "My grandmother is very attached to the twins and has had a harsh opinion of you, I'm sorry to say. Though I did not know before today that she had been friends with your grandmother. The old dear likes to keep tricks like that up her sleeve and pull them out when you least expect them."

Loralie looked up at him to find a fond smile on his face. It was clear he both respected and loved his grandmother.

"If I remember correctly, you once told me that she raised you and your brother after your parents died." She posed the statement as a question, and he nodded.

"My brother doesn't really remember our folks, but I do. I was older, and it hit me very hard when they passed so unexpectedly, but Grandmother was there to help us and get us through the hard times. She feels very deeply, and when she loves, she loves with all her heart. And her considerable power."

"Then, I'm very glad that she loves the twins. They can use all the dragons they can get on their side."