Bird woke at dawn which was her usual routine since she could remember. She left her bedroom and drew a pot of water from the fountain. She half of it in the window box for her flowers before warming the rest for herself. She scrubbed her face and arms before applying a scented oil that Apple had given to her which smelled of apples.

Sarene still slept in her bed while Bird began to comb her own hair. Soon she tamed her curls into a single braid. As she set the instrument down she heard a small gasp behind her. Bird turned to find Sarene lying awake. Her skin had paled so drastically that Bird thought she was sick. “You’re back,” Sarene said sitting up swiftly.

“Yes, sorry I didn’t come on time.”

“No, it’s fine,” Sarene said quietly. She continued to stare at Bird in an unnerving manner. “Is it true?”

“Is what true?”

Bird felt the hairs on her neck begin to rise. Sarene had been staring at her for quite some time with quick fluttering blinks that spoke of fear, but what had frightened her?

“I heard that you opened a gate in the middle of the city. Is it true?”

Bird felt a chill go down her spine. Who had told Sarene about the gate? Who else knew about her ability.

“Yes, I had a small fight with Lore last night and without thinking opened at gate to get away from him,” Bird said hoping the truth would calm Sarene. The color in the other woman’s cheeks returned and she let out a breath she had been holding.

“I had heard something much worse. Thank goodness,” Sarene said stretching.

“Worse? What did you hear?” Bird asked as Sarene began her morning routine.

Sarene paused in her movement. “They are saying that you were trying to summon tigers,” she said shyly.

“What?” Bird said shocked.

“They said you’re a spy for the Heavenly Tigers. They say that witches are granted the power to open gates by tigers so that they can invade places like this.”

“That’s ridiculous! I’d never seen a tiger until I met Apple.”

Sarene gave a weak smile. “I’m only repeating what I’ve heard. They don’t know you Bird. They’re scared. We all are scared of the tigers. They hunt and kill us because they don’t believe we deserve to live.”

“We do deserve to live. All of us. If I had a way to protect us from the tigers, I would use it.”

Sarene hugged Bird quickly. “I know Bird.”

***

The Oracle opened her eyes and tried to reorient herself. Switching back and forth between trance and reality left her constantly doubting if she truly awake. As time had gone on the doubt had only grown so she needed an assistant to keep her grounded.

Already Sera was kneading her temples relieving the tension headache that had begun to build. The Oracle sighed in relief.

“What did you see Madam Oracle?” Sera asked.

“Death,” The Oracle said closing her eyes again. “Every path I follow Death has walked. If there was some way to avoid it I would gladly carve that future myself.”

“We all wish that Madam, that’s why we have you to show us the right path.”

“There is no right path, only the best. There is a squadron of tigers building a post in the ruins of Errolt. This post is too close to our city for us to be safe. I know which teams need to go, but I’m loathe to send them,” the Oracle said twisting a handkerchief in her right hand. Why did fate ask her to constantly sacrifice her sons and daughters in order for the world see a brighter future? Of her hundred children that she had born only 20 were alive now and still fate hungered for more of them.

Each death was as if her own blood and been spilled on the battlefield. Her heart felt crippled and withered, but still managed to bleed anew when she laid her children to rest. Every night she prayed that another would not be taken, but her prayers went unanswered; her god silent in his prison.

“Serafina, I’m so glad that my son found love in you,” the Oracle said patting the younger dragon’s hand. “But it seems fate has chosen for him to face battle once more.”

“No, Madam, he’s only been here a few months!” Sera cried. She faced the Oracle and placed her head in the dragon’s lap. “Not him…” The Oracle stroked her head.

“My heart is bitter too, but if we are to see our god restored, all of us must fight in our turn. Though centuries have passed it seems to my eyes he was just a suckling babe the day before. His whole team must go,” the Oracle said with finality.

Sera looked up at the sad eyes and pressed her mouth into a thin line. “What of Avalon’s charge, the witch child?”

“She will stay here and continue her studies with Nana.”

“Our brethren fear her. They speak of her as a traitor and spy. Everyone knows she can open gates. Send her with Avalon so that the rumors may die,” Sera said adamantly.

The Oracle shook her head and said, “She is young and untested. She may prove more of a burden than an asset after all Avalon is her protector.”

Sera shook her head. “That may be, but did you hear what happened between her and Lore?”

“No, what happened?”

“They harmonized!”

The Oracle’s eyes widened. Though it was not unheard of a dragon and witch to harmonize in spirit, accounts were rare and far between. “So it would be two distracted instead of one.”

“I think you underestimate them and their duty. Bird is strong; stronger than most witches. This is a chance for us to test her.”

The Oracle pursed her lips then took a sip from a glass that sat beside her. If Uler was beginning to doubt the young witch would it be better to keep her under watch in the city or send her out with the vanguard? Either decision had its pros and cons, but wouldn’t keeping Bird under close watch raise suspicion of her?

“She will go with them. Tell Nana that Bird shall be sent to combat training at once with Valyon.”

“Yes Madam Oracle,” Sera said bowing away from the older dragon.

***

Bird was heading to her first lesson when she was intercepted in the hall by Nana. A hard look was in the old dragon’s eyes. Instinctively Bird shied away from her. Surprise broke out on the dragon’s face. “Bird, I did not mean to scare you. I have a lot on my mind,” Nana said patting Bird’s cheek. “I came to find you; you will no longer be attending your normal lessons.”

“Am I not to practice magic anymore?” Bird asked worried.

“No, no you will be starting a new regimen. Valyon is to be your new tutor for the next few weeks. She is a great teacher, I know because I taught her.” Nana sighed and took Bird by the hand and started leading her down the hall. “If I still had my right arm I would be the one teaching you.”

“Teaching me what?”

“Combat; this won’t be a simple self-defense class. You are going to be taught how to kill.”

A chill went down Bird’s spine and she stumbled over her feet. Kill? How could she kill anyone? It was one thing to kill animals for food, it was another to kill a person just for the sake of death.

“I have every confidence in your ability Bird. You are incredibly strong, but lack the knowledge or maybe it’s the ability to use your strength. Hopefully Valyon can bring that potential to the forefront.” They left the Council Hall and entered the main courtyard that led out of the palace complex. Many people were passing through the courtyard as they stepped from the warmth of the building into the chilly morning air. A singular dragon was standing in the middle of the courtyard unmoved by the activity around her. She was dressed in a black tunic with two brown stripes going from shoulder to hem. A patch was sewn on the front left side of the tunic of a crest depicting a downward facing sword surrounded by blood stained laurels.

Bird did not recognize the crest, but knew it was for one of the combat units of Uler.

“You must be Bird, I am Valyon,” the dragon said in a gruff voice that was nearly masculine.

“Yes ma’am,” Bird said shyly.

Valyon turned to Nana. “You are right, she is incredibly powerful. I’m surprised she was allowed to live into adulthood.”

Bird winced. She had heard this before. If she was so strong why was she powerless to save her family?

The two dragons had continued to talk while Bird questioned her strength. “Isn’t that right Bird?”

“Huh?”

Nana looked annoyed and Bird bit her lip. “Isn’t right that you can open gates?” Nana said once more.

“Yes,” Bird said in a low voice. Her ears burned in embarrassment.

“Wonderful, we can incorporate that into her training,” Valyon said to Nana. “Bird, we will be training on the other side of the island. The spells we practice are too dangerous within city limits.” Valyon took several steps back, shimmered and turned into a dark red dragon. The red scales lightened into a bronze color around the edges and were flecked with gold. Her claws were as black as ebony and gleamed as if they had just been polished. She bowed Bird and Bird found herself bowing back.

“Go with Valyon and remember you are representing me,” Nana said patting Bird on the shoulder. Valyon lowered her neck so that Bird could climb onto her shoulders. As soon as she settled the dragon took off abruptly causing Bird to smack her face into the back of the armored neck. Fresh blood dripped from her nose and she pinched it to slow the flow.

The flight to the other side of the island took twenty minutes; if Bird had tried to walk the distance it would have taken her hours. They passed over a paved yard where it appeared dragons and humans were marching in complicated formations.

Valyon began to descend, but not before Bird noticed other paved yards. A cluster of buildings lay at the other end of the yard and this is where Valyon finally landed. A dragon met them as Valyon regained her human form. “Colonel, glad to see you’ve returned. Who is this?”

“This is my new student. The Oracle wants me to train her in combat for an upcoming mission.” The other dragon’s eyes widened in surprise. “Get her a uniform,” Valyon said before noticing the blood on Bird’s face, “and a towel.”

Valyon had Bird change quickly in a small open air shower before leading her onto one of the empty yards. This yard had a variety of targets, worn and battered with use and exposure. “Unlike Nana’s classes where you deal mostly in theory and small scale spells we deal in situational application of large scale spells. You are going to learn not only to defend yourself with magic, but also to attack with it.

“You may have heard how the tigers enslave witches to their cause. They spend years training them kill whomever their army deems to be enemies. They will not hesitate to kill you so you should not hesitate to attack them.”

“But-,” Bird began.

“This is war child! We save who we can and protect who we can, but we cannot save everyone. I was told that you wish to save your cousin, how can you save her if you end up dead? Those who hesitate die!” Valyon yelled.

Bird began shaking as tears fell from her eyes. She knew it would be dangerous to rescue her cousin, but the thought of killing to reach that end had never occurred to her. How was she supposed to kill other witches?

Valyon seemed to soften. “Most soldiers do not want to kill. They join the army to protect their families and values. They join knowing that they may have to spill blood. As a witch your main goal is to subdue the Seekers on the battlefield so that they can be recovered alive. Most Seekers will not go willingly believing wholly in the cause of The False Ones. If you can’t fight you can’t save anyone.”

Bird nodded. “Yes ma’am.”

“First lesson is stamina. We are going to run five miles starting now!” barked the dragon woman. She began to jog away and Bird raced to catch up with her. They completed a circuit around the training yards with Bird falling farther and farther behind. Valyon began to slow her pace to match Bird’s. “Keep running, we haven’t finished a mile yet.”

“How… many… more?” Bird gasped as she stumbled over her feet.

“Three laps is a mile, multiply by five gives you fourteen more to complete. Pick up the pace if you want to be done by ten.”

Bird continued to run. Her body felt heavier with each lap and the air became thicker as she gasped. Several times she fell over stirring dust from the ground. Bells marked the hour as ten and Bird fell to the ground exhausted after completing her last lap. She was allowed to rest for a five minutes.

Valyon walked over to a dummy and place a hand on its shoulder. “I want you form a barrier around yourself,” Valyon ordered. Bird stood up and did as the dragon said and form a barrier of magic that shimmered in the sun. “Now I want you to set fire to this dummy.”

“How am I supposed to do that without hurting me?” Bird asked.

“Don’t ask me for the answer just do it!” Valyon barked.

Bird studied the dummy. She had never cast a spell on objects outside her barriers. She knew on theory that a barrier spell created a small bubble of isolated reality around what it was cast. This protected the caster from outside attacks that could work around a simpler shield spell. The caster also ran into the problem of not being able to cast spells outside the barrier as well.

What if I manipulated the barrier to cast the spell? she wondered. Bird raised her arms and concentrated on her barrier while conjuring a fire spell. She merged the two spells. Suddenly her barrier went from a small shimmering bubble around her to a blazing inferno. The flames sucked up all the air in her barrier and Bird fell to the ground gasping. It felt as if the fire had entered her body.

The flames collapsed around her, but Bird had no breath left to scream as they began to burn her flesh.

Bird woke in a dark room. She found she was naked except for cloth bandages that were wrapped around her arms, torso and legs. Her body ached and every time she moved a sharp pain traveled along her skin like lightning. She gasped and tried to lie as still as she could. “Bird?” a masculine voice said. A flame flickered into life before her illuminating the worried face of Lore.

Bird felt a thrill go through her heart as he leaned closer but she suddenly yelped as his body heat caused her skin to burn. The dragon jumped back. “Where am I? What happened?” Bird whispered hoarsely her skin tingled painfully.

“You’re in Sick Hall,” Lore said. “How did you manage to set yourself on fire I thought you were smarter than that?”

“Oh, I just wanted to see how it felt to be a candle,” Bird quipped. “Some of us aren’t immune to flame as some dragons.” Lore shook his head and laid it close to hers without touching her.

“How are you feeling?”

“Raw. I swear did someone skin me?”

Lore chuckled. “No Bird, a healer tended you. You have new skin, but you won’t be able to stand heat or sunlight for two more days.”

“Great, bed rest, my favorite time of day,” Bird said as her eyes watered from the pain. “How did you get here so fast? How long have I been out?”

Lore took a moment to answer. “A day. I thought we would lose you,” Lore said hoarsely. Bird could not see Lore’s face, but could hear the hitch in his breathing as he wept beside her. Fighting through her pain she lifted her arm and touched his damp cheeks.

“Please don’t cry, I’m alive.”

“I’m crying because I’m relieved that you’re alive,” the dragon growled. He held Bird’s hand to his cheek then swiftly wrapped a bracelet around her wrist. “This will make sure you are never burned again,” he said softly.

Bird began to feel light-headed. Spots appeared in her vision making her blink rapidly to dispel them. She felt a wave of warmth wash over her skin and her pain faded. Her heart skipped a beat then began to beat fast. Lore leaned in close and planted a kiss on Bird’s cheek. She was surprised when his heat did not hurt her skin. Bird sighed and touched her head then gasped in surprise. Her hair had been cut!

“This is a protection charm. You will be harder to burn, but this will only work against fire.”

“Thank you,” Bird said softly. “I can’t wait to get out of this bed.” Lore set down the candle.

“Really? I thought you might like to stay in it,” Lore said kissing a trail from Bird’s temple to her neck. Bird gasped in pleasure when he licked her collar bone. “Bed rest is not the worst thing in the world,” he murmured into her skin. The mattress shifted as Lore climbed into bed beside her.

“Lore?” Bird whispered sharply as the dragon settled beside her with his face in the crook of her neck. She felt waves of heat beneath her skin as her energy went into flux. The smoky smell of his body filled her nose and a small thrill went through her.

“When is your birthday?”

Bird turned her head until they were face to face. Lore looked handsomer in the soft candlelight. She traced his lips with her fingertips and he kissed them gently.

“Why do you want to know my birthday?”

“That is a silly question. I want to know so that I can give you a gift.” Lore kissed her nose and she swallowed a gasp. She ached to hold him close, but was afraid to move. She had never felt such a strong desire to be so close to another person. What if he rejected her? She never saw herself as pretty or smart so what did Lore see in her?

She wanted to ask for him to hold her closer, but how was she to say it?

“I don’t want to celebrate my birthday. I feel I have no right to when so many members of my family are dead and Nettie taken,” Bird said turning her head away. Tears soaked her pillow and she lay in the dampness quietly until Lore hugged her tightly.

“You need to celebrate. I know it will be hard to without your closest relatives, but you have us now. Every year I still celebrate my and Brigid’s birthday because it is the last connection we have to each other. She was my twin; no one was closer to us than each other. Please, please let me celebrate with you!”

Unable to hold back her feelings Bird kissed Lore. She pulled at his shirt until he responded by taking it off. Bird tangled her fingers in his braid and used it like a rope to lead him back for another kiss. Her heart ached, but touching Lore’s bare skin soothed it.

Lore straddled her and began to kiss a trail down her chest, pulling the blanket down as he went until her thighs were exposed. He caressed her hips and she let out a soft sigh and lifted them. “Bird, I don’t want to do anything you don’t want me to,” Lore whispered over her navel before kissing it. “I don’t want you to regret anything.”

Bird felt her skin burn, but it was a different kind of heat, this was a dragon’s heat that spoke of banked flames just beneath the flesh. She sat up and cradled Lore’s head to her belly. “I want to be a part of you,” she whispered. “I feel as if we have left something undone between us. I can feel our energies pulling us together. It’s scary.” She bowed her head. “It’s scary, but I don’t want to run from it.”

Lore lifted his head and took one of her breasts into his mouth and began to suck hard until her nipple felt bruised. He then moved to the other making her gasp as she felt her body tighten below. She moaned softly and placed her hands on his shoulders.

Soon he traced his tongue down her belly then used his hands to spread her thighs. He found her center and began to suck gently drawing a small yelp from her. “Shh…” He said bringing his head up to kiss her.

Bird sank beneath him and grabbed his waistband. Lore took a moment to pull off his pants and boots so that he lay naked above her. He began to kiss her again while spreading her legs once more with one hand. Bird felt something hard and silky against her belly and grabbed it firmly with her left hand. Lore hissed in pleasure and clasped his hand over hers and showed her how to move her hand up and down. “Not too fast,” he moaned.

“I need more,” Bird said. “I feel empty.”

Knowing what she meant Lore pushed away her hand and positioned himself between her legs. Slowly he inserted himself into the hottest part of her body then kissed her as she gasped in pain. He began to move in long deep strokes and Bird felt the fire beneath her skin blaze and the pain fade. Her body began to move to his rhythm until it felt painstakingly slow. She dug her fingers into his shoulders until she thought her nails would draw blood.

“Faster,” moaned into Lore’s ear. His strokes became faster sending waves of pleasure through her body. The fire within her roared and she thought she saw Lore’s body ignite as her body shuddered and sent her over the edge.

Her back curved and she moaned. Lore growled above her then collapsed to the side.

“Dear…Lady…” he gasped. “I love you.”

Bird smiled and clasped his hand. She placed her head on his shoulder and said, “Pegasus eighteenth.”

“Huh?”

“You wanted to know my birthday. It’s Pegasus Eighteenth.” Lore chuckled and covered his eyes with his hand. Bird could see tears gleaming on his cheeks. She sat up and pulled his hand away. “What’s wrong?”

Lore shook his head. “We have the same birthday,” he said. He lifted his head off the bed and kissed her swiftly. “I will plan something special.”

“You don’t have to. I’m fine with some honey drops,” Bird said shyly. Lore shook his head.

“No, I want to do it. Lay down, you need to rest,” Lore said. Bird settled in the crook of his arm her body feeling spent.

“Will you be here when I wake up?” She asked sleepily. She yawned then closed her eyes.

“Of course,” Lore said softly.

Two days later Bird found herself back on the training grounds with Valyon. Her new tunic felt itchy against her new skin and she could not stop scratching. “Bird, this is the same test as before. I want you to seal yourself in a barrier then attack the dummy.”

Bird nodded and immediately sealed herself in a barrier. How was she supposed to attack the dummy from the barrier?

Off in the distance she could hear a squad of dragons and soldiers marching and chanting in harmony. She closed her eyes and listened to the simple chant. Suddenly her eyes flew open and she stared at the dummy; she knew how to attack it.

Concentrating she opened a small door hardly bigger than an inch in front of her. She summoned flames and sent them through the small door and ignited the dummy. Valyon clapped.

“Well done Bird. Now I want you to attack that row over there.” Bird began attacking the dummies one by one. “No, all at once!” Bird created a second gate then a third and her barrier collapsed. “So your limit is three? Try again with two.”

Bird recreated her barrier then two gates. She summoned fire and struck two of the dummies at once. Valyon rubbed her chin. “Again!” Bird continued to attack the dummies until she struggled to hold two gates open. “Well done Bird,” Valyon said as Bird collapsed to her knees with exhaustion. “Normally we take our time teaching new recruits, but you are a special case.”

“Why am I a special case?”

“I have only three weeks to train you. The Oracle has something planned for you.”

“Oh,” Bird said softly.

“Rest is over, we’re going to run again,” Valyon said helping Bird to her feet.

Bird’s training seemed to drag slowly for two weeks as she worked under Valyon. Every morning they ran which was followed by offensive training until she could no longer maintain multiple spells at once, then a second run followed by a cool down before she was released for the day. She would eat a light dinner with Valyon in a small dining hall reserved for upper leadership before retiring to her temporary room at the training base.

Her room was located in the visitor’s quarters near the entrance to the training base. She was the only one staying in the building since she had begun her new training. Since her accident she had not seen Lore and an ache had grown in her chest during his absence.

She understood that Lore had his own duties to Uler, but that did nothing to calm her feeling of loneliness. The trainees viewed her as an outsider. They rarely spoke a word to her other than to say hello. A certain tension seemed to be between them, but she was unsure if it was from the intense training or because they knew she could open gates.

Bird unlocked the door to her room and closed it firmly behind her. She quickly lit her lamps and settled on the old worn mattress of her bed. Why am I here? she thought as she took off her boots and threw them by the door. What special power do I have that the Oracle needs?

There was a knock at her door and Bird peered through the window next to it to see who was there. Her view was blocked by flowers that the person held in their arms. She felt her skin tingle as heat flooded her body. Was she running a fever? She wondered and she unlocked her door.

A bouquet of roses and baby’s breath was thrust into her face and she instinctively grabbed them. Lore appeared over the large arrangement smiling. Bird felt her heart skip a beat and stepped back to allow him into her room. She formed the words to welcome him, but found that her voice had fled her. Embarrassed she kissed him on the cheek and locked the door behind him.

“Dear Lady, what’s the matter? I’m used to hearing some vocalization from you, but you are unusually silent. Did I do something to offend?”

Heat flared in Bird’s cheeks and she shook her head briskly. “No,” she croaked. Lore placed his hand on her forehead and touched his own.

“We are of the same temperature so it’s not a fever,” he murmured.

“How are we the same temperature? Dragons are warmer than humans,” Bird said barely above a whisper.

“The charm I gave you matches our body heat when we are near each other,” Lore said simply as he surveyed Bird’s sparse new quarters.

“But it disappeared after you left,” Bird said holding out her bare arm. Lore took it gently in his hands than ran a finger over her wrist. A pattern of scales glowed bronze for a brief moment before fading to match her skin. “What?” she exclaimed as she pulled her arm back. She looked closely at her skin and noticed the faint scale pattern that went around her wrist. “How does it do that?”

“I understated this charm when I gave it to you. Unless someone is looking for it, they will not see it. This is my protection for you made from my own scales,” Lore said kissing Bird’s wrist. Heat flared anew within Bird and she looked away. “Is something wrong? Why aren’t you looking me in the eye?”

“I… I still feel weird since we…” Bird trailed off.

“Since we consummated our love?”

Bird snatched her arm away and put the flowers down on a small table beneath her windows. Her thoughts whirled swiftly through her mind. She knew that she was falling in love with Lore though it seemed so sudden after having loved Apple. She wanted to be open with him, but her voice kept getting caught in her throat.

Were they moving too fast or not fast enough? She could not decide. “Lore… you are my first,” Bird said slowly. “I don’t know what to say to you anymore. I keep getting so flustered.” Bird shook her head as heat rushed back into her cheeks making her feel heady. Lore came up behind her and hugged her.

“I know what you’re saying. I felt so unnerved by my feelings for you that I found myself teasing you instead of telling you outright. I haven’t been in love before…”

Bird breathed in sharply shocked. How had Lore never been in love before? “Lore?”

He kissed the top of her head. “I’m not saying I have never loved anyone. I love my family, I love my friends, but I had never had a romantic love for anyone but you. When I first saw you it was like some fire had been lit in my soul and brightened it. I wanted to be closer to you, but you were in love with my cousin. How was I supposed to express my feelings when Avalon was the one you loved? I tried to give you both room so that you could love him, but my own jealous heart got in the way,” Lore said as his voice thickened with emotion. “How was I to compete with the favorite child of Uler?”

“Lore, I didn’t know you cared that much about me.”

“No, you didn’t because I hid it well until Assembly. How was I to know that fate would take my choice out of my hands?”

Bird turned her head up and nibbled on Lore’s chin. He tightened his arms around her then lowered his head to kiss her deeply. “I’m glad fate intervened,” Bird said. Lore rubbed her wrist until the scales appeared.

“Do you want to keep this this charm?” he asked cryptically.

“Yes, of course! Why wouldn’t I want to?”

“This charm is used between couples to strengthen their bond beyond the initial harmonization. My life is spiritually and physically connected to you through this link and yours to mine. The longer it stays on, the closer we will become and the harder it is to separate us from each other. We will begin to feel each other’s bodies and draw on each other’s magic. In fact many don’t use this charm because of those reasons.”

Bird looked down at the glowing scales. Did she was to keep this bond with Lore? “What happens if one of us dies?”

Lore squeezed her tighter. “If I die, you will die with me because you are mortal, but if you die than I can survive your death.”

“I’ll keep it,” Bird said firmly. “The bad and the good, all of it, if it means being closer to you!”

“Do you understand what you’re saying?”

“Yes, I’m saying I love you.”

Lore turned her around until their fronts were flush with each other. Due to their differences in height Lore’s groin was matched to Bird’s belly. She gasped as she felt his groin press against it. He cupped her face and planted a kiss firmly on her lips. “Will you marry me?” he asked again.

“I want to wait another year,” Bird whispered. Lore licked her lips sending a thrill through her body.

“That doesn’t answer my question Briar,” Lore growled softly. Bird stuck her hand down his pants and cupped him. She made slow soft strokes until his eyes began to flutter back in pleasure. “You’re cheating,” he said through clenched teeth.

“I’m only doing what you taught me,” Bird said innocently. She drew him from his pants and began to stroke. His member shuddered in her hand in response to the sensation.

“You’re going to pay for this,” Lore panted.

There was a sudden knock at the door and they both froze. Lore quickly tucked himself back into his pants and smoothed his shirt down. Bird flames over her hands and then smoothed out her tunic. “Who is it?” she asked approaching her door.

“Valyon and Nana,” Valyon said through the door. Looking guiltily at Lore, Bird opened her door for the two dragons.

“How is my student?” Nana asked patting Bird on the shoulder. “Lore, I didn’t know you were here too,” Nana said elbowing him in the ribs. “Visiting your paramour?” Lore choked and backed away from his grandmother. Bird could see his ears turn red as he pointedly looked at the wall. “Don’t think I didn’t know this would happen. We all know the two of you harmonized. I can feel the energy threading between you. I just want to know when the wedding is.”

It was Bird’s turn to feel her face flush. She stared at her bare toes.

“Don’t tell me you weren’t planning on getting married?” Nana asked raising an eyebrow. She winked at Valyon.

“Never, Nana! Bird and I were just talking about a date,” Lore said quickly. Bird glared at him as Nana turned her gaze back to her.

“So, when is it?”

“I-I want to wait to get married. M-maybe next winter; I like the snow,” Bird stammered.

“I don’t see why you couldn’t marry now. It is still winter,” Valyon said. “We can even do it right after you’re training is over.”

Bird shook her head as fear raced through her heart. To marry Lore now would be too soon for her. She did not have much time to get to know him. A year would give her that time and she could also plan out what she wanted for the ceremony.

“I want a special wedding,” Bird said. “If we get married now, I won’t have that chance. I also want to take the time to get to know Lore more before marriage changes us.”

Nana reached into the folds of her robe and pulled out a simple silver ring. “This belonged to my daughter Rhiannon, Lore’s mother, when she was still alive. She was as much a warrior as I was, some nights I lament that fact,” Nana said sighing. She approached Bird and motioned for her to hold up her hand. The young woman did so and Nana slipped the ring on the second to last finger of her left hand. “I want you to keep this Bird. You’re family now, even if you don’t decide to marry my pig-headed grandson.” She kissed Bird’s forehead. Nana reached into her robe again and pulled out an identical ring and placed it on Lore’s hand.

“I didn’t know you had kept these. I thought you had given them to Brigid,” Lore said softly.

“I knew you would cherish them more.” Lore hugged his grandmother.

Valyon pulled Bird aside. “I know my nephew can be a handful, but I’m sure he’s not more than you can handle.”

“You’re nephew?” Bird exclaimed with wide eyes. She covered her mouth quickly.

“Oh, I didn’t tell you, Valyon is my oldest daughter,” Nana said. “My daughters and granddaughters have a bad habit of becoming fierce warriors making an old heart like mine uneasy.”

“And who do you think we have to thank for that, Mother?” Valyon shook her head. “It’s difficult having a normal life when you’re constantly reminded of the great feats of The First, Luriel. I had to pick up your banner or risk besmirching your name.”

Nana snorted. “Like any of you could.”

Bird stepped away from the two dragons as they began to argue between themselves. Lore slipped his hand into hers and she smiled up at him. “Are they always like this?” Bird whispered.

“Only on a good day; you know it’s a bad day when they don’t speak to each other.”

“What man in his right mind would want to marry me if they knew that they would have you for a mother-in-law?” Valyon yelled.

“That wasn’t a problem for your sisters!”

“It never was; the boys all fawned over them constantly. I’m never getting married. If it was possible I would have done it centuries ago.”

“You’ll find someone, I know,” Nana said patting her daughter’s arm. She turned to Lore and Bird. “I will bid you both good night.”

“Try to get some sleep, Bird,” Valyon said. Both she and Nana left the room. After the door closed Bird and Lore’s eyes met and she giggled.

“That’s my family,” Lore said.

Bird took off her tunic and slipped on her night gown before turning down her bedding. “Are you going to stay or are you going back?” she asked.

“Well I thought that we could finish what we started,” Lore said with sly look in his eyes. He sauntered close to Bird and nibbled her ear.

“No, I’m not in the mood now,” Bird said pushing him away reluctantly. She was beginning to feel tired after her intense training. Lore suddenly scooped her up in his arms, laid her in bed and then climbed in next to her. He tucked her under his arm and pulled up the blankets.

“Lore, can you tell me about the Creator?” Bird asked.

“If you wish,” he said softly. Bird yawned while nodding her head.

“Once, long ago there existed only The One. All about him was chaos. He opened his mouth and spoke “Light”, and Light came forth from the chaos and submitted while his twin Darkness fled.

“The One then spoke “Earth” and Earth came forth from chaos and submitted. The One then spoke of many other things and they came forth from the chaos and submitted. Then The One spoke “Life” and Life filled all things The One had created.

“The One looked at all he had created and noticed the Darkness alone still cleaved to chaos. Though The One used kind words Darkness refused to submit.

“One day the Shining Children of The One strayed too close to Darkness. He kissed their cheeks and called them friend.

“‘Shining Ones why do you not create as your father? He has built all and you, but you dishonor him by building nothing. Come, use me. Eat of my flesh and you will be greater than he.’

“So the Shining Children consumed Darkness’ flesh and spoke of new things. They took their creations and showed them to The One, but The One had also created something new. The Shining Children grew angry and destroyed the new creation.

“Though The One was angered he was gentle and rebuilt his creation and spoke Light and Life into it so that it shone like the Shining Children.

“The Shining Children spoke darker things into being and waited until the Burning Ones had retired. They attacked The One and sealed him in “The Last Sleep”. When the Burning Ones learned of what was done they took arms against the Shining Ones and their fangs of darkness.

“Though a valiant battle was fought the Shining Children cast the Burning Ones out of Heaven.”

“Who were the Shining Children?” Bird yawned.

“They were Lun and Hexa. They once shone brightly like the stars, but once they consumed Darkness their light began to fade,” Lore said solemnly.

“And the One’s creation, what was it that angered them?”

“I don’t know. This happened long before I was born. I’ve never seen Heaven either, but I’ve heard stories of it.”

“Nice…” Bird whispered. She yawned again and was silent. With a wave of his hand Lore dimmed the lamps and snuggled beside her. He studied Bird’s face in the gloom. The roundness of her cheeks and begun to sharpen since they had met changing her features to those of womanhood. The wry grin she would give him that left him wondering what she was thinking could be seen faintly in the corner of her lips.

He traced those lips with his finger and smiled when Bird wrinkled her nose. Lore then kissed the tip of her nose.

How was he supposed to part from her tomorrow? All his life he had felt as if he was waiting. Many women had made advances toward him, but despite all of their affections he did not love them. One by one they left him in tears that broke his heart because he could not love them the way they did him.

The first time he had seen Bird he knew she was different. His heart had never been moved for anyone, but for her it did. He dreamt of her and found excuses to speak to her. He yearned constantly for her touch and smile. Now that she was in his arms he felt as if he was dreaming.

“I love you,” Lore whispered and gave her one last kiss.