Alayse leaned against the window frame as she looked out over the city of Eastgate. She watched as the silver moon rose blue, something it did every few months. Some said it was a sign of change, others just a cycle. Though the display was magical, she didn't care. What was on her mind was the knowledge that out in the city stood a dozen men watching the temple. None could enter or leave the temple without being harassed by these men. They questioned everyone, seeking information about visitors to the temple.

Two days ago, a much larger group pressed the gates and demanded to be allowed to search the temple. She'd gone to Prime Arlin, and he told her they would be allowed in. When she asked what he was going to say to them when they searched the west wing, the prime told her the west wing was empty.

She smiled at the revelation that Thayle was already gone. She slipped away into the night as she did five years earlier, leaving Alayse with more questions. She asked around privately and learned that the men were searching for Gersius. The greatest knight of Astikar and according to rumor, a traitor to his order. These men believed Gersius was hiding in their temple, Alayse wondered if that was true.

Gersius supposedly attacked the city of Whiteford with a dragon. His order had driven him off, and he fled into the farms outside the city. Thayle's little temple was in one of those farms, and she had come running to seek protection and asylum for herself and some friends.

Where ever Thayle was concerned, there were questions, always questions. She asked Prime Alrin, but he refused to answer them. He told her that the less she knew about it, the better. Alayse hated responses like that. She was a Governess commander of one of Ulustrah’s companies, and she hated sending soldiers to die when she had no idea what they were dying for.

There was another point of contention between her and Prime Arlin. Her company had been recalled to defend the temple, but he refused to allow her to bring them all in. He didn't want to appear that he was preparing for war. She was forced to hide more than half her forces in camps outside the city. The rest she smuggled into the temple in small groups so as not to arouse suspicion. Now they sat idly by, waiting for the storm that was brewing.

There was a muffled noise in the hall, and she glanced over her shoulder to the doorway. In the gloom, she could barely make out the shape that stood there. It was a female form, probably one of the sisters come to ask a question. It was then she felt the prick on the side of her neck and reached up and plucked out a tiny dart.

Her neck began to burn with pain as the poison seeped in. She fell to her hands and knees as the weakness overtook her.

The woman in the doorway stepped back into the hall. As she did, a man emerged from a second doorway down the hall.

“This rooms empty,” he said.

They were garbed in black cloth from head to toe, with leather on their shoulders and chest. It covered them so completely that only their eyes were visible.

“Did you take care of the guard?” the man asked.

“I darted her,” the woman said. “She will be dead in a moment,” she added as she walked passed him.

“Be sure you don't dart the one we're looking for,” he said.

“Our target has raven black hair. That one was golden,” she replied.

“This is a huge risk,” the man said as he fell in line behind her.

“Ah, but the reward is worth the risk,” she said. “You heard our queen, the price on his head is outlandish. Our spies told us the priests of Astikar found nothing when they searched the temple. So the key now is to find the raven-haired woman named Thayle. She is connected to them, and Zahdain believes she will know where to find him.”

“But why take the risk of hunting in the temple? She will come out into the city eventually, and we could grab her there,” he suggested.

“Because the priests of Astikar are hunting for him as well. We can't afford to let them find him, we must find him first,” she said as she pressed herself to a wall and carefully peeked around an open door.

The room inside was a small library with several comfortable looking chairs. It was a well-appointed room, but it was empty of people.

She leaned back and lifted her hand to gesture silently to move on. She heard a sort of thunk followed by a gentle gurgling, and she looked back over her shoulder.

The man stood motionless with his hands layered over each other on his chest. He looked at her with a blank stare as he slowly crumpled his body sliding off the end of a sword.

The woman looked up with a start into the glaring eyes of a woman in all green armor, the same woman she had just darted the room before.

“You didn't know we can cure poison, did you?” Alayse said as she stared the woman down.

The woman in black burst into motion an arm arcing wide. Three small triangular blades raced out and clattered harmlessly off the metal armor.

“Knives won't save you,” Alayse growled as she raced in bloody sword leading the way.

The woman in black drew two daggers from behind her back and met the blade in a ring of metal. The assassin battered the weapon aside and made a quick slice at Alayse. Her blade struck, but only traced a scratch over a leg plate.

“You should wear more armor,” Alayse retorted. “Your weapons are near useless.”

“All armor has weak points,” the woman said in a smooth voice. “Yours will fail you.”

Alayse smiled and launched into a dance of swipes that kept the assassin stepping back.

“How many more of you are there in my temple?” Alayse demanded as the woman in black tried to stay out of her reach.

The woman made a quick slice giving Alayse and opening, but then the woman's second hand came up, and a cloud of white flew in her face stinging her eyes.

She lost her sight for a moment and staggered back. The woman in black laughed, and Alayse felt the bite of a dagger through the mail of her waist.

“What use is armor if you can't see?” the woman cackled.

Alayse did the one thing that made sense. She knew where the woman must be standing because of the dagger in her side. She ran as fast as she could and tackled the woman. She charged with all the speed she could muster into the wall crushing the woman between her metal plates and the stone of the mountain.

The woman let out a groaning cry, and Alayse heard the other dagger hit the floor in a clatter.

She stepped back and put a hand over her eyes and muttered a prayer of healing, her vision cleared, but her eyes still stung.

At her feet lay the woman in black who groaned as she rolled over. Her arm stretched out and tried to reach the dagger nearby. The other dagger was still firmly buried in eAlayse's waist.

Alayse stepped on the woman's hand and leaned over.

“Who are you looking for?” Alayse demanded.

The woman only groaned again and struggled to get her hand out from under Alayse boot.

Alayse ground the heel of her boot down and heard fingers break. The woman cried out in pain and beat on the toe of Alayse boot with her free hand.

“Who are you looking for?” Alayse demanded again.

“Thayle!” the woman cried.

“Why?” Alayse snapped while grinding the hand.

“She knows where Gersius is!” the assassin added.

Alayse narrowed her eyes in a scowl as she yanked the dagger in her side out and threw it aside. She uttered a prayer of healing and took a deep breath as she looked down at the woman who was still trying to free her broken hand.

“Who sent you?” Alayse demanded.

The woman roared in frustration and reached into the sleeve of her trapped hand and drew yet another knife.

Alayse stabbed down, the leather armor offering no protection to her sword and the woman twitched and went still.

“Once again I am cleaning up your messes, Thayle,” Alayse said as she stepped back. “How many more will there be before you take your rightful place?”

Alayse stormed down and hall and sounded the alarm that the temple was under attack.

“Stay behind me!” Lilly yelled.

“What have we hear?” The dragon said as it seemed to slither into the room. Its body was twice the size of Lilly's in her dragon form. It had nearly all blue scales, but its belly was a band of glossy white. A set of curling horns of jet black grew on its head, and spikes of the same color ran down its back.

“Three humans come to pillage my temple?” he said in a deep, slow voice as he stalked across the room. He didn't approach them directly. Instead, he crawled along the back wall heading for the steps as they backed away from them.

“We didn't come here to pillage anything,” Lilly said.

“So the snow mouse isn't afraid to address a dragon,” It hissed.

“Did you just call me a mouse!” Lilly yelled, her voice suddenly echoing as two voices, much like his.

“Ooooh, I see. I didn't realize I was speaking to an equal,” the beast said as he arrived at the top of the platform.

“Tell me which one of them is your offering, and which one did you plan to eat?” he said eyeing Gersius and Thayle.

“If you make one move toward them, I will tear out your heart!” Lilly said in a voice that dripped with rage.

Gersius and Thayle exchanged glances, and Gersius tightened his grip on his sword.

Lilly and the great dragon locked glares as he loomed over the altar and spoke in the dragon tongue.

“Tell me, sister of the scale. Why do you travel with two of the human blood?”

Lilly answered him in dragon with a cold dual voice that echoed with power.

“They are my friends, and they are under my protection!”

“Friends?” he said. “Do you not hear the call of your blood, dear sister? Do you not hunger for their flesh?”

“I do not! Nor will I allow you to harm them in any way.”

“Bah dear sister, I have only to open my mouth and breath on them. They would be dead before you could change!”

“They would be protected by my power!”

“Sooooo, they share your power. I wondered how they could see so well in the dark.”

“They are mine, and I love them, they share my gifts.”

“Love dear sister? What does a dragon care for love? To have such a feeling for two of the humans, you are far from the calling of your blood.” He made a sickening face as if repulsed.

“I don't care about my blood. I am much happier knowing the love of humans.”

“So what is the man to you then?” he said, his head slowly drifting down to look at Lilly in a level stare.

“He is my mate, my lover, and my husband!” Lilly shouted back at him.

“Him!” the beast roared. “A human! How can you stand the depths you have sunk to?”

Lilly watched as he recoiled from her in disgust.

“And what of the woman?” He said when he regained his composure. “What is she to you?”

“She is my,” Lilly looked at Thayle who stared at her suddenly aware they were talking about her. “She is my consort,” Lilly said at last. “At least she will be when she realizes the truth.”

“You would share your flesh with two humans?” he roared. “Have you no shame? No understanding of what you are?”

“I know exactly what I am! I know feelings and emotions you and the rest of dragon kind don't even know exist! I haven't fallen from my place, I have grown beyond it. I am ten times the dragon I once was, and I do not feel shame for it!”

The eyes of the dragon glowed with a bright light as it listened to Lilly’s answer.

“Well said,” was all it responded with.

A white mist began to crawl across its scales. The dragon was suddenly engulfed in a billowing mass of smoke that writhed and twisted. A flash of light erupted from the cloud, and it started to dissipate.

They began to see the form of a man who was adjusting the fit of a white robe, his back to them as he tugged on the front.

“Why did I never think to start getting dressed while I was still in the cloud?” Lilly said.

“I was always grateful that you did not,” Gersius said, drawing a snicker from Thayle.

They returned to watching as the mysterious man began trying the robes cords his back still to them.

“What's going on here?” Thayle asked. “Why did he just change form?”

“I have no idea. He was condemning me for loving you both a moment ago,” Lilly replied.

“Stay on your guard, this may be some kind of trick,” Gersius said.

The man finally turned around and revealed himself. He was two inches taller than Gersius with smooth features and blazing blue eyes. He had a short silver-blue beard that ran around his face. His hair was the same bluish silver as Lilly's only a slightly darker blue. He wore the garment that had been laying on the altar. It was a simple woolen robe of a tan color that tied in several places down the front. He looked up at them and smiled.

“Welcome friends of a dragon. Welcome to my home.” His voice still sounded deep, but it had a more human ring to it now.

“Why did you change?” Lilly asked him eyeing him with suspicion.

“I didn't want to appear to be threatening,” he said, walking around the altar to the steps.

“Who are you?” Gersius asked his sword still up.

“Call me Numidel,” he said in a warm voice. He looked at them all one by one as if waiting for something.

Gersius finally understood what the dragon wanted and introduced himself.

“I am Gersius,” he said. “This is my wife Lilly, and this is Priestess Thayle.”

He looked at Gersius who still had his sword out.

“You are a brave man. Counting your priestess, you make exactly three humans who have not run from me.”

He turned to Lilly and walked down the steps to her.

“Lilly, was it?” he said, smiling. “Such a perfect name for one so beautiful.”

As he reached the bottom, he turned to look at Thayle.

“And you, Priestess Thayle. I am truly honored to have a member of Ulustrahs great order in my house.”

“How did you know I was a priestess of Ulustrah?” Thayle asked.

“I am familiar with your Goddesses colors,” he said motioning to the armor. “You are also a priest of Ulustrah then?” he asked Gersius.

Gersius lowered his sword and looked down at the armor he wore.

“No, I am. I was a priest of Astikar. This armor is a gift from Priestess Thayles order.”

Numidel nodded as he listened. “You are all welcome in my home and temple to Balisha of the silver moon,” he said, holding his arms out to gesture to the space around them.

They glanced between one another as the strange man smiled.

“Let's have some proper light,” he said. He called out in a long tone, and every sun and moon emblem began to glow, filling the room with vibrant light. The huge emblem on the back wall took on a soft glow, the sun part taking on a golden color, while the moon part a soft white lite.

“Forgive me, but who is Balisha?” Gersius asked.

“No offense is taken few truly remember Balisha,” he said with a kind wave. “Balisha is the queen of dragons.”

“The queen of dragons?” Thayle said. “Like in the old histories. The one who gave the fang blade to the dragon.”

“The fang blade of Balisha,” he corrected. “She gave it to the dragon of old who helped mankind fend of the Goromogoth.”

Lilly silently noted the name used, her eyes growing narrow.

“That is just a legend though,” Gersius said.

“That is the shame of our times,” Numidel said, looking sad. “So few know the truth.”

“What truth is that?’ Lilly asked.

“The truth about us, about dragons,” Numidel said.

Lilly still didn't trust the dragon, not after what he had said to her. She wanted to make sure he was not trying to trick them.

“Why did you say those terrible things to me?” she asked, walking toward him.

“I wanted to test you. I needed to know what was in your heart,” Numidel said.

“Why?” Lilly asked.

“To see if you truly had grown beyond your base nature,” he said with a smile.

Lilly stared at him with a cold face.

“Lady Lilly, your mate, and consort are welcome here. I do not judge you for loving them.”

“Consort?” Thayle said with a start.

“Why would you care? Why would you want to know what my heart held?” she asked him.

“You see that pile of bones over there?” Numidel said, pointing to the corner where the skeleton was.

They all turned round to look at the bones briefly.

“He was just a dragon. All he was interested in was finding more gold.”

“Just a dragon?” Thayle said.

“Yes, just a dragon, but Lilly has, as she said herself, grown beyond being just a dragon.”

“You killed him?” Gersius asked.

“I put down a wild beast,” Numidel said in a plain voice.

“So if I had been just a dragon, you would have tried to kill me?” Lilly said a hint of anger in her voice.

“Truth be told I thought you were three humans who wandered in. I was planning to give you a good scare. But then you spoke in the blended voice, and I knew who you were. When you threatened to rip out my heart to protect them, I knew you were more than just a dragon. I wanted to test just how committed to them you were.”

“So, I get to live because I passed your test?” Lilly growled.

“Precisely,” Numidel said.

“So what is this truth about dragons?” Gersius asked.

Numidel smiled and walked back up to the top step and sat down comfortably on it.

“We dragons were not always as we are today. One time long ago we lived in small communities like you humans do. We even mingled with you humans regularly. We have our human forms as a gift from Balisha. We were always meant to be a part of your world.” He paused a moment as if remembering.

“There were many types of dragons back then, but the most common were blue and red. The blue dragons represent the moon, and the red dragons represent the sun. Balisha ruled the lunar dragons of ice, and Solesta ruled the solar dragons of fire. The two great powers originally wanted the same thing. They wanted dragons to live in harmony with humankind. Hence, we were given our human forms.”

“So this is why dragons can take a human form,” Thayle said.

He nodded as he looked down with heavy eyes.

“In those days the dragon goddesses were only worshiped by dragons. However, Balisha was gifted with love. She saw humans and loved them as well. She opened her faith to all who wanted to worship her, dragon, and human alike.”

He paused to take a long deep breath.

“But Solesta was offended. She felt that only dragons should worship them, and she challenged Balisha. The two argued, and Balisha tried to appeal to her love, but Solesta grew more resentful of the humans. There was a tense peace for many years between the two, but then Balisha shattered that peace with an act of compassion.”

“What did she do?” Gersius asked.

“I cannot share the details of that here. It is a secret even to most dragons. What happened though changed the fate of the world. Solesta called to the dragons and declared herself their true and only Goddess.”

“So, what happened then?” Thayle asked.

“From this moment there was a split in the order of dragons. Blue dragons went to Solesta were scorched with flame and became black. However, many red dragons rallied to Balisha's love and were touched by her light and became gold. Thus was born the gold and black dragons, and the war that would decimate our kind.”

“Our kind fought a war?” Lilly said, not able to believe it.

“Oh yes, a terrible and destructive war that ended our welcome in human lands. Before this war, it was not unusual for there to be several dragons living in any large human city. There were temples to Balisha and Solesta in all of them.” He stood up and turned to face the seal on the back wall. “Temples like this one, dedicated to the sun and moon. To the balance between the powers of dragons, and to a way of life lost long ago.” His voice trailed off as he spoke.

“So, what happened next?” Thayle asked.

“We fought a terrible war. Humans rallied to Balisha’s love and swelled her ranks, but Solesta promised men power in exchange for service. Dragons fought in the skies over massed armies of men, and the peace of the world was torn asunder. Many of the great human cities were destroyed, and catastrophic numbers of dragons died. So many that in a thousand miles, you would be lucky to find one.”

“That is terrible!” Thayle said

What happened next was worse. Balisha and Solesta finally met in a direct clash. The battle was fierce, and the heavens burned. The sun was more powerful than the moon, but Balisha had unlocked a secret that Solesta hadn't known. She had found power in the love of humans.

He paused to smile at Thayle and Gersius.

“You humans have no idea how your love works. It is why the gods want you to worship them. Your love gives them strength; it feeds them and makes them grow. Without you, most Gods would become weak and powerless. They won't die, of course, but they lose any ability to influence the world or grant blessing. Balisha had humans who loved her, where Solesta's humans only cared for wealth and power. When the two met Balisha was stronger in love, and the dragon goddess of the sun was defeated, but not before she cursed us.

“Cursed us?” Lilly repeated.

“Yes, Lilly. She cursed us to seal our hearts. We no longer saw humans as friends; we saw them as food. We no longer cared for anything but wealth and power. We lost our ability to feel the strong emotions of love or compassion. We can only do so to feed our greed. We can love our gold, and we care if it's stolen.”

“So how I used to feel is a curse?” Lilly asked.

“An ancient curse by a long-dead dragon Goddess,” Numidel said. “But the story gets worse still.”

Thayle and Lilly exchanged nervous glances.

“The dragons that remained turned on the humans. There were great battles, and many more were killed or driven off. The humans felt betrayed by Balisha. They tore her temples down and erased her name from the land. Balisha had won, but she lost everything.”

Thayle looked like she might cry, and she reached out to take Lilly's hand.

“Few dragons were strong enough to resist, and with the humans cursing her name, her worship all but vanished.”

“So where is Balisha now?” Lilly asked.

“She is still there, crying at the loss of her children. Crying for what once was. She gave one last gift to the world with the last of her power.”

“What gift did she give them?” Lilly asked.

“She gifted the world a small blue flower known as Dragons Tears.”

“The flower?” Gersius said. “That is why it is called dragon's tears.”

“It would be more accurate to call them Balisha's tears,” Numidel said.

Gersius turned to look at Lilly, who had a sad broken look on her face.

“I had no idea that was why they named that,” Gersius said.a

“It’s fitting,” Lilly said. She walked over to Gersius and leaned into him, pulling Thayle with her. He put his arm around her and held her close.

He glanced up at Thayle, who looked decidedly uncomfortable. He nodded his head and motioned her in with his hand.

She slowly leaned into Lilly until she was pressed up against her and Gersius wrapped her in the hug.

“This is why you are special Lilly,” Numidel said as he observed the display of affection. “You have broken through the curse and regained your emotions. This is why Balisha is calling you.”

“Calling me?” Lilly said from her embrace.

“I believe you have found your way here because she can sense you are free. She called you to me so I could tell you this story.”

Lilly leaned up and looked at Gersius.

“I haven’t heard anyone calling me,” she said.

“A calling is not something you hear,” Gersius said. “It is more of a guiding sense. Like how you wanted to explore this temple so suddenly. That could have been her calling.”

Lilly raised a brow as her head tilted to the side, showing she clearly didn't understand.

“What else can you tell us?” Gersius asked.

“I can't offer you much more information. I am an old historian by human standards,” Numidel said. “But there is a place you could go to learn more.”

“Where?” Gersius asked.

“You must go north into the Silverwood. Find the river and follow it to its source. There you will learn more,” he told them.

Lilly closed her eyes and let Gersius's love flood her across the link. She Felt Thayle pressed against her and was grateful for the woman's presence.

“We can't. we are going to Avashire, and then to Calathen,” Lilly said after thinking about it a moment.

“The choice is yours, Lilly. I can only tell you where I think you should go,” Numidel replied.

“Lilly, maybe we should look for this other place,” Gersius said. “This might be very important to you as a dragon.”

“I agree, Lilly. This sounds like a matter of faith. It may be more important,” Thayle said.

“Going to Calathen is about Gersius's faith. I want to help him,” Lilly argued.

“Lilly, we cannot go to Calathen. We are traveling to Avashire to try to set events in motion that will clear the way for us, but we could not go there now if we wanted to,” Gersius reminded her.

“I will think about it,” Lilly said, unsure.

“Yes, please think about all I have said. Stay the night, the storm will pass by morning, and you can set off then.” He smiled at them as if appreciating the love they were showing. “Here, I will make things more comfortable for you,” Numidel said. He danced a pattern with his hands and made a series of low tones.

A silver light formed on the floor and suddenly grew becoming lumps of color and then quickly faded away, leaving behind a thick round blue rug. All around its edges were pillows and cushions all in shades of blue.

“How did you do that?” Thayle gasped at the sudden display of power.

“The rug and cushions were in my horde. I summoned them here,” he said with a smile. “Come, sit down, and let us talk of other things.”

They relaxed and sat on the cushions with Numidel who told them stories. He explained how he had been very young when the war started.

“You witnessed this war?” Gersius asked.

“Indeed, I did. It was nearly five thousand of your years ago,” Numidel said.

“How did you break your curse?” Thayle asked.

“I didn't,” Numidel said. “I was spared. When the curse was pronounced, the Divines scrambled to protect the dragons. However, most of them only managed to shield one or two. Astikar was so committed to the war that his power was overspent. He saved but one. Balisha used all her remaining power to save me, and Vellis...” His face took on a grave expression. “What Vellis lost is hard to speak about.”

“What about Ulustrah?” Thayle asked

Numidel looked at her with grave eyes. “Those of Ulustrah's love were already dead even before the curse.”

Gersius and the others looked at the man as the pain became evident on his face.

“But let us speak of happier things,” he said, before going back to more stories about his youth. He eventually got to one of how he had once loved a human woman with long red hair who he insisted was so strong she could lift a man over her head.

They had laughed at that part of his story, but he then he became sorrowful when he spoke of how much pain it had caused her to find out they could not have children.

Lilly leaned against Gersius and felt a wave of sadness wash over her from him. She felt him take a staggered breath, and he asked a question.

“So humans and dragons cannot reproduce?” Gersius asked.

“No, my friend, I am afraid they cannot. Our human form was so we could live in harmony with your kind, but it lacks that gift,” Numidel said a sad note in his voice.

Lilly could feel the pain welling up in his heart. Her face took on a deep frown as the sadness washed over her again. She got up and ran out of the pile of cushions to the far side of the room.

Numidel watched Lilly run off and looked back to Gersius and saw the anger on his face.

“Oh, I am sorry. You didn't know, did you?” Numidel said to Gersius.

“No, I did not,” Gersius said with a voice of stone as he looked at Thayle. “Did you know priestess? Did Lilly tell you?”

Thayle lowered her head in sadness. “Yes, Gersius, I knew. Lilly told me just the other day. She was going to tell you herself, but we were forced to leave before she could.”

Gersius nodded his head and turned his gaze away from them both.

“I didn't mean to cause any pain, especially a pain I know all too well myself,” Numidel said.

“I needed to know,” was all Gersius said.

Thayle glance over at Lilly. She paced the far wall wiping her eyes repeatedly with her hands.

“I have to go speak to her,” Thayle said.

“Of course,” Numidel said.

Gersius just waved her out.

Thayle walked slowly across the room and approached Lilly, who was full of tears.

“Lilly, are you alright?” Thayle asked, the sobbing woman.

“I can feel his pain, Thayle! I can feel the despair in his heart to know I can't give him a child!”

“The link! You felt him when Numidel told him you couldn't have his children,” Thayle said.

“It's a terrible feeling, to be so close to him and feel his heartbreak,” Lilly cried.

Thayle wrapped her arms around Lilly and tried to steady her.

“So you ran off to try and get some distance. Did it help?” Thayle asked.

“A little. I can still feel it. He is so angry at me!”

“Sweetheart, he is angry because he didn't know, and he found out in a terrible way. You need to explain it to him, so he understands. He still loves you, Lilly.”

“I know he does, and I love him, but I can't give him what he wants!” Lilly cried.

Thayle tried to think of something to say that would soothe her. There was no gentle way to say you can't have his children. She steadied herself and decided to go with a distraction, one she knew would consume Lilly's mind.

She turned Lilly to face her and readied herself.

“Lilly, look at me please,” she said.

Lilly looked up with tear-streaked eyes and stared into Thayles.

“Lilly, I love you.”

Lilly's eyes seemed to flash for a moment, and her breathing took on a sudden shudder.

“You do?” she said quietly.

“You know I do, or you wouldn't have teased me about it,” Thayle said.

Lilly broke a faint smile as she remembered all her toying with Thayle.

“Why didn't you tell me sooner?” Lilly asked.

“Lilly, you have a husband. Not only is he your husband, but you two are bound together. You are connected in a way that love can't clearly define. I can't intrude on that, and I can't be a part of that.”

“But I love you too, Thayle,” Lilly said.

Thayle knew that was coming. She needed to explain it to Lilly, so she understood.

“Sweetheart, in human society, once two people are married they are exclusive to one another. Neither partner is allowed a second lover outside the marriage. For you to love me would violate a very sacred understanding of love.”

“But you always encourage me to love?” Lilly questioned.

“I always encouraged you to love Gersius. Now that you have him, you need to do everything you can to protect that love. You must never betray his trust in you, and loving another will do that.”

“I don't think he sees it that way,” Lilly said.

“Lilly, this is all so new to you. You don't understand how hard it is to find a love like you have. I can't allow you to risk it by loving me.”

“But I want to love you,” Lilly said.

Thayle put a hand to her face and grunted trying to think of what to say now that the words were out.

“Lilly, I have never seen a love like yours. I have never seen a woman so innocently fall in love, and have that love so terribly tested. It was truly a beautiful blessing to behold. Sharing all that with you and Gersius made me grow fond of you both. I wish I could have a love like yours. I wish I could know what it felt like to be bound to somebody who loves me as he loves you.”

Thayle took a few moments to steady her breathing.

“The whole world considers being bound to be a terrible thing. That is part of why mortals like us don't know our true names. Only the Gods know them, and the secret of them is carefully hidden.”

“Gersius knew his name, he learned it from his God,” Lilly said her tears drying up.

“Gersius is a rare man, one who has achieved heights most men only dream of. His faith was absolute, and he was given the gift of knowing his name. This is part of why his fall was so hard, to fall from such heights is always painful.”

“Do you know your true name?” Lilly asked.

“I,..” Thayle paused, not sure how to continue.

Lilly sensed the hesitancy and realized Thayle didn't want to answer.

“Why do you keep so many things from me, Thayle? You wouldn't tell me you loved me. Now you won't tell me if you know your true name?”

“I do know my true name,” Thayle said, letting her go.

“My title isn't priestess either. Some people will call me a high priestess, but even this is untrue. I call myself priestess because it makes life easier. If I was a man in Gersius's order, I would be an Abbott, in my order that title is Grand Priestess, only Prime Arlin is a higher rank than I am.”

“Why didn't you tell anyone?” Lilly asked.

Thayle sighed and turned away.

“I am not cut out for running a major temple, Lilly. As you go up the ranks, you spend less and less time helping people and more and more time writing letters and assigning duties. I would have been running some temple somewhere with a dozen priests and priestesses under me, and I would have been miserable. I chose to forsake my rank and assume the title of Priestess so I could run a quiet little temple where I could do some real good.”

Lilly stood there, her face frowning as she studied Thayle.

“I am grateful you have told me your secrets. I am also grateful you want to honor my relationship with Gersius. But you love me, and I love you, I don't understand why you encourage love so strongly and then hold it back?”

“Your relationship is complete, Lilly. There is no room for me.”

“So it has to be one man and one woman? I can't have more?” Lilly asked.

“That does happen, but it's rare. Some men have two wives. Wealthy and powerful men can have three or more. Few women ever take more than one husband, and if they do, they are seen as outcasts.”

Lilly considered her words carefully.

“I have questions, and I want direct answers. No more hiding from me, priestess.”

Thayle could only lower her head in shame. She folded her arms over her chest and nodded her consent.

“So you have achieved a rank like Gersius, and you have learned your true name?” Lilly asked.

“Yes, I have,” Thayle said her back still to Lilly.

“And you love me?” Lilly asked.

“Yes, Lilly. I love you.”

“You mean what you say? You are telling me honestly that you love me?” Lilly asked again.

“Yes, Lilly, please, I love you.”

Thayle felt Lilly's arms wrap around her from behind.

“Never hide your emotions from me again!” Lilly said firmly.

Thayle sighed as she enjoyed the warm embrace. “I promise I will be as open with you as I have told you to be with Gersius,”

Lilly shifted and made a slight groaning sound.

“Are you alright. Lilly?”

“I want to keep hugging you, but your armor is hurting my ribs,” Lilly said.

“Silly dragon just let go,” Thayle said, and the embrace broke.

“It's fine, you can take your armor off later, and I will hold you then,” Lilly said innocently.

Thayle blushed violently at the suggestion, but Lilly didn’t seem to notice.

“What do I do about Gersius, then?” Lilly asked.

“You do the only thing you can do. You hold him like you were holding me, and you talk to him.”

“Will you help me talk to him?” Lilly asked.

“I’m not sure I should get involved directly between a husband and wife,” Thayle said.

“Please, Thayle! He thinks I was keeping it from him,” Lilly implored.

Thayle relented with a shake of her head. “I will help you talk to him.”

Lilly took her by the hand again and slowly walked back to the rug of pillows. Gersius was sitting there facing Numidel engaged in a conversation about Lilly.

“So she was chilling all the drinks in the inn?” Numidel asked, laughing.

“All of them. They were paying her to do it,” Gersius said a small smile on his face.

“I need to talk to you, Gersius,” Lilly said as she reached the pillows.

Numidel looked up and smiled at the women.

“I believe I have done enough harm for one night. I will leave you all alone and check on you in the morning,” he said, getting up and walking away.

“It is alright, Lilly, I forgive you,” Gersius said even before she began.

“Well, that was easier than I thought it was going to be,” Thayle said sighing in relief.

Lilly looked into his eyes and wanted to make sure he understood.

“No, Gersius. I want you to know everything,” she said, kneeling beside him and putting her hand over his. “When you made love to me those nights, I could feel your emotions. I could feel your desire to have a child. You were thinking about it as you made love to me, and I felt every minute of it.”

She took a breath and went on.

“I suspected that because I was a dragon, I would not be able to have your child. So I wanted to try and find a way to give you one. The very morning we had to leave I spoke to Thayle about it. I told her I wanted you to have your child. I asked her if she knew any way to help us.”

Thayle took over and chimed in.

“I told her I would ask Prime Arlin about it. He knows things about the magic of Ulustrah and the blessing of fertility that might help.” Thayle said.

“I was waiting to hear back from him before I told you. I wasn't trying to hide it from you.” Lilly said, a fresh tear rolling down her cheek.

“But we were chased away before he had time to do any research. He told me he would do the work and try to get me a letter with his results.” Thayle said.

Gersius nodded his head. “Thank you, Thayle, for trying to help.”

“I’m sorry I wasn't much help, but we may yet get a message when we get to Avashire,” Thayle said.

Gersius reached up and pulled Lilly to him.

“It is alright, Lilly. I am glad you told me. I understand you were not trying to hide it from me,” he said.

“I am sorry, Gersius,” she cried.

“It is alright, Lilly. I love you, and I can do without a child.”

“No, Gersius! I can feel your pain, even as you said that! I can feel the deep sorrow across the bind.”

“I am sorry, Lilly. It is something I always wanted, but I have you, and I would never trade you, not even for a child. Besides, it would be foolish to have one now. There is too much to do. Children are for when I am ready to settle down and live my life for you.”

Thayle began to cry for them as Lilly squirmed in his embrace and let out a cry of frustration.

“What is wrong?” Gersius asked.

“Will you two please take off your armor so I can hold you without breaking my ribs!” Lilly cried.