Inspiration 50

janettaylorperry.com

Matthew 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Destiny...Fate...Kismet...Providence...

Do you believe you control your future or does a Divine Hand guide you? You have to make your own decision on that topic.

But Aidan has a destiny...As did Duncan before him...

Aidan laughed. "Me father believed in dragons. Mayhap, he was as crazy as old Diggory." He flexed and relaxed his fists causing his muscles to ripple as he pondered the possibility. Why would a man in his roight mind desert his family for such a dream? Could it have been the lure of riches and glory? Had he hoped to give us a better life?

Aidan stood and looked into the house. It smelled like his mother, like lavender in the spring. That once sweet fragrance now turned his stomach with the agony of longing. He stepped inside. The emptiness seeped into his pores.

He walked to the fireplace and stared at the painting of his father over the mantle. It had been an extravagant gift from some earl with whom Duncan had found favor. He wore his naval finest, silver glistening in the creases of the black doublet. His raven-black hair gleamed. His piercing green eyes pulled Aidan. As he leaned closer, a voice whispered to him, "Destiny." For a brief moment, Aidan saw a pearly-white dragon. He shook himself, but he had come to a decision, ending his dilemma. He bumped the mantle with big, strong hands to solidify his choice.

Walking toward the dilapidated hut through the litter-strewn yard, Aidan had to summon all the courage he could find. He had always been afraid of crazy old Diggory, the only surviving member of his father's crew. Seeing coils of rope, fishing nets, and pikes did not put him at ease. The wind blew bits of garbage against his feet, and it seemed the breeze once again, whispered, "Destiny." The vision of a white dragon flashed across Aidan's mind once more. He blew out a breath, feeling disconcerted.

Diggory came home to find Aidan soaking in cold water.

"It hurts everywhere," moaned Aidan.

"I be sure it does, me boy. 'Urry and get dressed. It be time ye 'eard aboot yer daddy."

As soon as Aidan, dressed in his nightshirt, joined him, Diggory began his story.

"I first met Duncan twenty years ago during a voyage when I was first mate for Cap'n Murphy. Yer friend, May Kate, be his granddaughter. Loike ya, Duncan was a big strappin' man, a head taller than most o' the crew. He was quiet and only spoke when it was necessary or privately to 'is friends."

Diggory's voice took on an ethereal quality. Aidan felt transported to another time and place.

Realizing the ship had returned, Priscilla O'Rourke raced to the wharf. Seeing his wife, Duncan leapt over the side of the ship and met her in a full run. He gathered her to him; she buried her face in his chest and wept.

"Priscilla, what has happened?"

"While ya were at sea, The Plague swept through Stonebridge. Many a folk, including"—she gulped—"Anna and the captain's wife, died."

"No! Not me wee girl." Duncan was devastated to learn his child was gone. "We tried for so long." His heart broken, he cried with his wife.

Late in the evening, they visited Anna's grave and shared their grief. Closer to the front of the cemetery, Murphy wailed in despair. His twin sons sought to console him, but he stormed away, countenance dark.

      Captain Murphy completely lost his mind with grief. Two days later, he jumped off the cliff to the rocks below at Porpoise Point. The letter he left said he blamed himself for not being home when his beloved died. The letter went on to say, "Knowing my sons hate the sea, I bequeath my ship to the one person I deem capable of running it, Duncan O'Rourke."

 A year after his return, Duncan entered the pub in jubilation. Seeing Diggory, Duncan ordered two pints and joined his old friend. Diggory asked, "What's made ya so happy?"

"I have a son." Duncan glowed with pride. "Aidan Duncan O'Rourke." The two men clinked tankards and drank down the ale in celebration.

Even with the baby still in swaddling clothes, Duncan took him to sea on little trips just around the point. Priscilla warned, "Ye're gonna get him addicted to sailing."

He simply replied, "He is me boy. He was born loving the sea. 'Tis in his blood."

      One bright spring day, Michael Flannery from the next village over, Wyckeville, came to the pub where Duncan was having a pint with Diggory and a few other fellows. Michael was spinning a whopper of a yarn about some far-off place where dragons and men were friends and the gold lay in plain sight on the ground. Diggory and Duncan laughed heartily, thinking he had drunk a pint too many. The next day, Ligon Murphy and his twin brother, Logan, knocked on Duncan's door.

They made Duncan an offer he was hard-pressed to refuse. Their deal was to back an expedition to search for this mythical land and to split the booty that might be found fifty-fifty. He laughed at them and asked, "Aire ya crazy to believe Michael Flannery's tale? There is no way I will go on a wild goose chase."

 After a good deal of haggling, Priscilla spoke up. "Come back on the morrow. Give Duncan and me a chance to talk."

The brothers left and Priscilla said, "Ya know ya want to go."

"I canna leave ya and Aidan."

"We shall be fine. If ya doona follow yer dream, ya will be miserable."

"I couldna bear losin' another child. Ya canna be serious."

She stroked his raven black hair. "I am quite serious."

"When ya touch me loike that, I would do anthing ya ask."

Duncan scooped his petite wife into his arms and carried her to bed. Snuggled later, he caressed the scars near each of her shoulder blades. "Ya must hold some magic sway over me. Mayhap this is where angel wings once grew."

"Stop a moment," Aidan interrupted. "How do ya know so many personal things about me mam and da?"

"Duncan confided manya thing to me." Diggory narrowed his eyes and continued.

She talked Duncan into following his spirit's desire.

With the crew and supplies ready, Duncan spent one last quiet evening with his family. Once they put Aidan to bed, Duncan and Priscilla cuddled up with hot cider and talked about what they would do with their fortune. They fell asleep on the rug before the fire and dreamed beautiful dreams. Duncan awoke once after dreaming of soaring on the back of a white dragon.

"A white dragon?" Aidan interrupted.

"Aye," is all Diggory responded before shushing Aidan again.

The dream gave Duncan a sense of urgency, yet confidence. He kissed Priscilla's head as she slept and nestled closer to her, drifting back to peaceful slumber.

After the first night in the desert, the men actually saw an animal. A snake slithered through the sagebrush. It stopped and looked at the men. The snake laughed at them. The men looked at one another, but each shook his head feeling he must have imagined hearing a snake laugh. The next day they saw a hawk soaring overhead. Connor said, "The hawk was calling out, 'Stay away!'"

 "'Tis ludicrous," said Duncan. "Did ya eat something to cause ya to hallucinate?" They kept going.

The next morning the hawk was perched on the cactus above Duncan's head. It swooped down and landed decidedly on his shoulder.

"We were shocked that a wild animal would do such a thing. But what 'appened next shocked us even more."

Diggory took a deep breath and got himself a drink of water. Aidan impatiently said, "Diggory, doona stop now. What happened?"

Diggory sat down with crackling bones and a grunt.

 Duncan came alive. "This must be the place! If that hawk can talk, it can tell us where to go and what to do. We must find the hawk and talk to it some more."

"But it flew back the other way," whined Murphy at the inconvenience.

"I know, but we must discover what it knows," explained Duncan.

Murphy grumbled, "Mayhap we should ignore it and go on."

"We canna ignore a thing loike a talking hawk!" rebuked Dr. Donohue. "'Twasn't a parrot."

"If ya recall, a snake laughed at us the other day," Carter O'Day reminded the group.

"We were all wondering if this could be real, or if we were imagining it. In our 'earts we knew 'twas real. 'Ow could we all see and 'ear the same thing if 'twas imaginary? We fell silent for a while. Then, Duncan spoke up and decided we were gonna follow the 'awk," Diggory told the boy listening in rapt attention.

While they were packing up, they had another visitor. A huge rattlesnake slithered into camp.

"A what?" interrupted Aidan.

"A serpent with rattles on its tail. Ye'll 'ear aboot some animals ya've never seen."

They made camp that night, but nobody had much appetite. They toyed with their food when they had another visitor. A coyote wandered up to the fire and sat down.

Aidan huffed again. Diggory cocked an eyebrow, and then smiled. "A coyote is loike a wolf, but smaller."

Aidan grinned and nodded.

He looked around and spoke. "Good evening. That smells delicious. Have you any to spare? I am famished."

They spooned him some onto a plate, and he wolfed it down. He licked his chops and said, "Many good thanks. I did not mean to interrupt your supper, good sirs. Her Majesty was concerned about your progress. She sent me to inquire of you. I am to spend the night in your camp and come back with you tomorrow. 'Twill be very pleasant to sleep by your fire tonight. I pray you have no objections to this arrangement. It has been quite a while since the queen had new visitors, and she is extremely excited."

They had no choice but to comply with this creature's request. Duncan bowed his head in deference since the creature had been sent by a queen.

As Duncan's men neared the oasis, they stopped to take in their surroundings. They smelled crystal water, tropical flowers, and all forms of savory eats. They heard hundreds of different animals, and the temperature grew cooler.

Upon arrival Duncan noted the whole island of beauty was fenced with iron spikes, and there was a massive black horse standing just inside a gate. He gestured to Diggory to take heed. He later found that gate was the only way in or out.

The horse shouted as they approached, "Halt! Who goes there?"

"'Tis Carl and the visitors, imbecile! Whom did you think 'twould be?" Carl snarled.

"Oh, welcome," stammered the horse. "I am Jean Noir, guardian of these premises. Enter."

Duncan stopped briefly and patted the horse's nose. "I pray that does not offend ya. I have always loved the way the nose of a horse feels."

"Quite the contrary. It felt good to have some human contact." Then, the horse whispered something to Duncan.

"I do not think so," Duncan replied.

"I pray so," Jean stated flatly.

Duncan took a cold shower in a cubicle from which water from the waterfall flowed and drank a cup of strong Turkish coffee. He turned deathly pale. "God-a-mercy! Diggory, what have I done? I remember Quazel's voice being seductive. She massaged me neck and shoulders. She started to undress me and to touch me. She kissed me! Her lips!" He licked his lips with a grimace on his face. "Oh, my lips taste so bitter.

"Diggory!" Duncan shouted as he grabbed his friend's shoulders. "God save me!  Tell me I did not betray Priscilla! I couldna live with meself." Duncan buried his face in his hands and wept like a baby.

He caught a deep shaking breath. Then he mumbled, "Nay," and turned toward Diggory. "I remember. That coyote came to the door. He was hollering something about the hawk flying over. Quazel took off like a bat out of Hell."

Just at that moment someone pounded on Duncan's door. "Open up quick, man. Let me in." The voice sounded panicky. They opened the door to see Jean Noir standing there. He kicked the door shut as he darted inside.

"If Queen Quazel saw me here, she would turn me into a seahorse or a newt. Hank sent me. We must talk, Duncan. You must know the prophecy. Your very life could be in danger." He said all this in one breath.

"Slow down, Jean." Duncan was back in control of his faculties. "What aire ya talking aboot? Take a deep breath and go slowly." He turned to Diggory. "Get Jean some water."

Diggory wiggle past the massive horse since Jean's presence in the sleeping chamber took quite a bit of space. He caught water in the hand basin from the trickling cascade. Jean gulped his water and then started again.

"We all know she almost got you tonight. Do not look so taken aback. We have all been there in one way or another. She has a knack for finding your deepest desire and preying upon your need. Thanks to Hank's quick intervention, you did not stay in her clutches long enough to yield."

"Duncan, listen to the man." Diggory said, thinking of Jean as a man, not a beast.

"Relax. I am listening. Jean what do ya mean: 'Turn ya into a seahorse'?"

"Duncan, all of us talking animals were once human

She will do the same thing to you and your entire crew if you are not the one prophesied, or if you miss your calling and stir her ire in anyway. She is not a tolerant person." He shook his mane and nickered softly.

Duncan looked stunned, mouth slightly agape. "Aire ya saying Queen Quazel is a sorceress? Did she change all of you?"

"Aye, man! I know you are not slow-witted," Jean said in frustration.

"What?" Duncan and Diggory said in unison.

Undaunted, Jean continued, "Her ship wrecked here some years ago. We took her in and cared for her. She said she had been falsely accused of witchcraft, of practicing black magic. She had been banished from her country and had not been welcome in any other place.

"What you heard about Draconis is true. The dragons and we men were once friends. We lived together in harmony. Our children played together. I vouchsafe one of the human children's greatest pleasures was to soar over Draconis on the back of a dragon friend.

"Then, the dragon babies began to disappear. We humans were accused. Hank began an investigation. He found Quazel eating a baby dragon."

"Stop! Wait a moment!" Aidan shouted. "Eating a dragon? How can a human do such a thing? Aren't those creatues strong and practically indestructible?"

Diggory sighed. "Quazel is more than a 'uman. Even dragons are susceptible to poison and magic. And babies, 'atchlings, aire not much bigger than a large dog."

"Very well. Please, continue."

"Jean was speaking," Diggory went on.

 "When he tried to arrest her, he immediately changed into the hawk you met.

"Quazel went mad! Within weeks, almost every human was an animal and all the dragons were dead."

"Stop!" Aidan yelled again, both hands raised over his head. "Not all! Surely not all." His voice broke at the thought. "She somehow poisoned all of them?" He shook his head. "But I…"

"Ya what?" Colin asked, his own eyes wide.

"If I say, ya all will think me mad too." He thought back to the vision of the white dragon as he heard the word, "Destiny," on the wind.

"Then 'old yer peace," Diggory grunted and scowled at his young charge. "That is if ya wanna finish the story today."

 Duncan's face contorted in a disgusted look. "Ya mean she managed to kill all dragons—enormous beasts with scales like armor?"

"She somehow got a poison into their blood. The shrieking as they withered to dust haunts me to this day." Jean's entire body shook. "Only one human escaped into the mountains. Quazel could not go after him because she could not abide the cold. Peradventure because she came straight from the fires of Hell itself, and her long-distance spells failed when they met ice.

"So, if you be not the prophesied one, run as fast as possible to the mountains and find our wizard. His name is Alexander. He will help get you away from this island. Go home!"

Duncan shook his head and rubbed the aching muscles of his neck. "I am just a man. How do I know anything of yer prophecies? What makes ya think I might be the one ya aire expecting?" said Duncan with discomfiture.

"You fit the description of the one that the prophet, Nathan, foretold. Let me start at the beginning.

"I have already told you that once the dragons and men lived together peacefully here. This place also had other enchanted beasts such as unicorns and mermaids. It was a wondrous and magical land.

"There came a prophet a hundred years ago. He told us that our tranquility would be shattered by, 'One as dark as night, yet as light as day; as weak as thread, yet as strong as iron; as sweet as honey, yet as bitter as gall.' We in truth did not know what to expect. We had no idea he could have meant a woman with ebony hair and ivory skin. One who was physically weak, but mentally strong, who seemed to be kind, but seethed with bitterness and rage.

"Nathan went on to say that one would come some day that could defeat the evil one. 'A man will come from far away. He will have eyes of emerald and tower over those under him. He will be accompanied by one of fiery hue and nature that will stand by him to the death.'

"Duncan, you are a giant of a man. You have green eyes, and you came from far away. Diggory, you have the fiery hue."

Rugging his hand across his bald head, Diggory explained to those listening to the tale, "At that time I had a mop of red hair." 

"'Tis obvious that you would stand by Duncan, even unto death. What would you think if you were we? What do you think Quazel thinks? She knows the prophecy, too."

Duncan said, "Jean, I can see yer reasoning, but let me ask ya another question. Why have not the animals annihilated one another? I have seen natural enemies frolic together. If Quazel is so evil, why have ya not killed one another?"

"Ah, aye. I shall tell you. I told you our wizard, Alexander, escaped. He was unable to undo Quazel's spell, but he cast a protection on us. His protection was that natural enemies would live in harmony and do no harm upon natural instinct. They might fight upon human instinct; but, for example, Hank Hawke cannot prey upon Jack O'Hara. Do you understand?"

"What aboot natural animals?" Diggory interrupted, his eyebrows drawn into a tight knit."

Jean bobbed his head. "Well, yes, Hank can hunt naturally occurring rabbits and such, and Jack, must be wary of the real birds of prey."

"How do ya know the difference?"

"Alexander's doing as well. You cannot smell the differences as you are in human form, but we can since he cast that spell as well. He was just too late to keep the dragons from breathing the poison in the air. Quazel acted fast for she knew he would confront her. And now, Duncan, we all are concerned for your safety as well as our future. I told you the day we met that I prayed you are the one prophecied. I do so hope it is true."

"Aye, but, oh, Jean, I do not feel special." Duncan ran his hand through his charcoal locks. "How can I possibly be yer deliverer? I hesitated to make this voyage. I did not want to leave me family. The last time I left Priscilla, our daughter died. I do not think I could bear it if something happened to me family this time. If I am not the one ya have been looking for, I could only make matters worse or leave me family widowed and orphaned."

"Orphaned?" questioned Jean, dropping long horse lashes over dark brown eyes. "Do not let Quazel know you have a child. She is capable of casting spells over long distances.

Here the temperature was much cooler. Standing on the outside of the fence was a distinguished looking gentleman. He was covered from head to foot in a black monk's robe. An imposing figure, he stood almost as tall as Duncan, but he was much thinner. He threw back his hood and cowl to reveal short salt-and-pepper hair and a thin, closely clipped graying beard. His eyes were as green as Duncan's, but even more intense with the wisdom that comes with age and experience. They looked so much alike that he could have been Duncan in thirty years or Duncan could have been him thirty years earlier.

Duncan gasped at the vision. "Who aire ya?"

The older man smiled, and a light gleamed in his eyes. "Be well met, son," he said tenderly. "I wondered when you would come. You have become a fine man, full of character and integrity. I am well pleased. Your mother did a fabulous job. How is she?"

"Dead. Who the devil aire ya?" Duncan answered curtly.

"I am so sorry." The man choked a sob. "Genevieve was a wonderful woman. I am grieved by her loss."

"What do ya know of me mother? Who aire ya?" Duncan became agitated, clenching his fists. Diggory placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"'Tis good you have such a loyal friend. You will need him in the years to come," said the mysterious man.

"Out upon it! Stop talking in riddles. Who aire ya, and what do ya want with me? Answer me!" Duncan demanded grasping the bars between them.

"Your mother was the former Genevieve Brady of Willow Hollow. She was the magistrate's daughter, a statuesque beauty with golden ringlets for hair and violet eyes. She married the wrong man, a man the rest of the community distrusted. Consequently, they moved to Stonebridge to start afresh.

"In this realm I am Alexander, a wizard. Twenty-seven years ago in Stonebridge I was known as Alex O'Rourke."

"'Tis impossible!" Duncan turned away, and then back to face the man. "Me father died before I was born. He went on a mission and died from a fever aboard ship."

"So, that is the story they told." Alexander stroked his beard in thought. "Aye, I went on a voyage because the people of Stonebridge and Willow Hollow forced me to leave. They feared me because I had special powers. No one had had such abilities for centuries. I never returned because the ship's crew left me here." He waved his hand to indicate Draconis. "They blamed me for the bad luck they experienced on the voyage."

"Ya canna be me father. Ya canna," Duncan said in a voice strangled by tears. He was near hysterics. This news on top of the other things was taking its toll.

"You are welcome to ask Michael Flannery. He was the cabin boy on the ship."

"No," was the almost inaudible reply.

"Ask Diggory." Alexander looked at Duncan's friend with a glare that bored a hole in Diggory's soul and continued. "He was a young man just starting his livelihood in the village. In your heart you know I speak the truth."

Eyes brimming with tears, Duncan looked imploringly at Diggory.

Diggory told him all he remembered. "Duncan, I remember many of the leaders thinking yer father was a warlock. We young ones just wanted him to tell our fortunes. I knew he left, but I did not know why. When he did not return, we all thought he was dead."

"Diggory, ya canna believe him," Duncan said choking back tears.

"Duncan, look at him. Ya aire his spitting image. Aye, I believe him."

Alexander's words were never harsh. They practically begged for understanding, even forgiveness. "Son," said Alexander beseechingly, "I never wanted to leave. I tried several times to get back, but I always was forced back here. I could not understand why I kept being forced back to this island.

"Then, I met the prophet, Nathan, just before he died. He told me that someday my son would come to me. Then, he told me the prophecy. For a moment I thought he was talking about me. I fit his description, except for my partner." He shook his head. "I did not have a partner. Nathan told me I would dwell in the mountains and guard the young there, but that is another story. He assured me I would help to keep this land from being totally destroyed. He told me my descendant would emancipate those whom the evil one would afflict. He wanted me to find his scrolls he had hidden in the mountains to understand how to defeat the sorceress. He died before he could tell me where they were, but I have searched from the day he died.

"Duncan, you are my son. You must be the one who has come to free these people. You have everything Nathan prophesied, including Diggory. You must be the one.

 Duncan went to talk to Eunice where she stood near a laden honeysuckle vine. "Do not eat the cake," Eunice warned. "The frosting is made with nectar wine. You know what that does to you. Feel in my mane. There is a note from Alexander."

Duncan motioned for Diggory. They hid behind the cats' hammocks. The note read, "Son, get out of there! You cannot do this alone. There is more to the prophecy. Away now!"

"'Tis too late," breathed Duncan as Quazel called him. He cocked his head to the side, seeing a red wasp fly away from Quazel's ear. "Damn!" he muttered and pointed out the bug to Diggory who breathed out a long sigh.

"I saw a wasp at me door. Why did the thought not occur to me that it could be a spy?" He looked at his first mate, his mouth in a tight line. "Diggory, if I say anything the least bit confrontational, climb on Jean and go to my father. Remember yer promise to me."

"If I go, I will certainly return for ya," Diggory promised. They clasped hands around their wrists. Then, Duncan moved toward Quazel.

"Aye, dear, what do ya want?"

"'Tis time to blow out your candles and make a wish." Duncan closed his eyes. Visions of Priscilla and Aidan floated across his mind. I am so sorry. I have failed ya. I love ya with all me heart.

He blew.

Diggory surveyed the listeners. He lowered his voice a bit. "Jean and I were on the fringes watchin' and listenin'. Orson and Eunice 'ad disappeared.

"'What did ye wish for?' inquired Quazel.

"Duncan looked sharply at 'er. 'E never blinked. 'E never flinched. 'I wished all these people would be returned to their original form and would see ya as ya in truth aire.'

"The former did not 'appen, but the latter did. There was screamin' and runnin' as everyone saw exactly what Duncan 'ad seen a little over a week before.

"Jean and I did as we were told. On our way to the gate we could 'ear Quazel, 'Before I deal with you, arrogant one, see what your foolishness has cost.'

"We could see from the gate as Quazel turned her wrath toward a trembling Connor Donohue. 'Oh, fair child, I almost regret this, but your commander must be punished:

 Always laughing and foolish,

Some even think you ghoulish.'

With a pop and many painful screeches, Connor was a hyena.

"'No!' cried Duncan. Quazel turned just as Duncan lunged at her with the 'uge knife from 'is birthday cake. She sidestepped 'is strike, and Duncan sprawled on the ground from the force of 'is thrust. Quazel cackled.

"I suddenly realized Jean 'ad sprouted wings. We were flying. 'Get Duncan,' I begged. Jean started to turn just as we 'eard Quazel's next words:

'Big and black you will be seen

With one identifiable trait, eyes of green.

My death for you, a change will not affect;

To restore you my death will not be dear.

For you only one thing will correct;

Only from the eyes of one you love without bound, a tear.'

"I saw all this from 'igh above. I watched as Duncan fell to the ground, writhing in agony as his body contorted and 'e screamed sounds worse than a woman in childbirth. I saw a 'umongous panther swipe a paw across Quazel's face. Blood spurted everywhere, and the panther screamed, 'Diggory, ya have yer orders! Obey them!' 'Twas the last time I saw Duncan. I do not know 'ow many black panthers aire on that island. I saw at least twenty. 'Twas seventeen years ago. I be sure 'e is with Alexander. Alexander swore 'e would find 'is son. I know 'e would die trying.

"Quazel was not dead. I 'eard 'er wail, 'Where is that fool?' Then, I 'eard another incantation begin:

'A beast of burden you have always been…'

"I 'eard nothin' else as we flew into the clouds, but all of a sudden I felt a searing pain in me back, and a 'uge 'ump popped up. I still 'ave the 'ump as ya can see. I suppose she was trying to turn me into a camel. 'Tis a good thing she did not think about a Bactrian camel, or I would 'ave two 'umps," Diggory added with a sardonic grin.

"I also began talkin' loike a buffoon once I left the island. I didna always sound so ridiculous. Now, no matter how 'ard I try, the words come out wrong." He waved a hand. "Enough of that tangent.

"Jean must 'ave flown into an ice cloud, so Quazel's spell was incomplete. I am still 'uman, just ludicrous to see or 'ear. Jean and I flew to Alexander. 'E was devastated. 'E kept saying. 'Why did 'e not listen to me? I told 'im to leave.'

"Before Alexander sent me 'ome, 'e told me the rest of the prophecy. There was more than the people could remember. Only part of it 'ad been passed down. Alexander read the scrolls. It went loike this:

From a land far away one and one and one will come. With eyes of emerald they will tower over those under them. Though one may be beaten, two can stand strong; but a three-strand cord is not easily broken. The victor will strike from the left, decisively and without warning. By his side will stand those of fiery hue and temperament even unto the call of death. In the power of seven there is unbeatable strength to defeat evil—emerald, diamond, ruby, sapphire, topaz, opal, onyx. More powerful still: love that knows no end.

"Aidan," Diggory said softly, "what think ya?"

Aidan looked up with tears on his cheeks. "Do ya have anything that belonged to me father?"

Diggory went back to the trunk and lifted the burlap robe. "Only a silk robe," chuckled the old man. He handed the cloth to Aidan.

Aidan donned the tattered piece of burlap with the care he would have given silk. It fit as if it had been made for him. The storm having subsided, Aidan slipped quietly out the door. Caitlin started after him.

"Leave him be, Sis." Colin restrained her. "He needs to be alone. If he wanted ya with him, he woulda asked. Doona worry. He will come to ya in time."

"Colin be roight, lass," confirmed Diggory. "The boy's humors be in a fragile state. Give 'im time to gain control." Diggory patted Caitlin's hand.

As soon as the visitors were out of sight, Diggory grabbed his cane and went in search of Aidan. Diggory knew Aidan was hanging dangerously on the precipice of adulthood, still a boy struggling to be a man and a man still clinging to boyhood. What he did with the information he had received during the last two days would affect many people. If he rejected his calling, Draconis would remain cursed forever. If he accepted his destiny, there would be much planning to do.

Diggory finally found Aidan at the livery. He was in a stall rubbing the nose of a big black horse. He looked up and saw Diggory.

"When I was a wee lad, I would see ya in here grooming this horse, and I would hear ya talking to him. I thought ya were sentimental and lonely or mayhap a little crazy, but 'tis Jean Noir, is it not?"

"Aye, lad."

Aidan continued to stroke the horse. "Be well met. I am Aidan O'Rourke. I believe ya know me father and me grandfather, Duncan and Alexander. I am honored to meet someone with so much courage, spirit, and endurance."

The next day dawned clear and clean. After church, Elizabeth Gilhooley invited all the previous night's participants to her home for dinner. The young people eagerly accepted. None of them except Aidan had ever been inside her mansion on the banks of Cypress Creek.

When they arrived, the cook set about preparing a delightful dinner of minced pie, fruit, and egg custard. As they ate, Elizabeth remarked, "I had forgotten how much young men can eat, Diggory. We must remember to furnish plenty of supplies when Aidan goes to Draconis."

It seemed everyone present stopped chewing or drinking immediately, and all eyes turned toward the dowager.

Aidan broke the silence. "What do ya mean, Lady Gilhooley?"

"Call me Elizabeth. I am not as old as ya think. What I mean is simply that when ya go to Draconis, I intend to finance yer voyage. I know it will be some months yet, but we must begin preparations now. An endeavor of this magnitude does not take place overnight."

Aidan eyed Diggory, wide-eyed. Diggory saw the look and answered, "Doona look at me, lad. I be as baffled as ye. Lizzie, ye 'ave some explainin' to do."

"Ya men can be so slow sometimes. 'Tis when it becomes incumbent upon us women to take charge." She laid her fork down and rolled her eyes.

"We all know the question is not if Aidan goes, but when. If we in sooth believe the things Diggory told us, 'tis inevitable. Someone must finance the trip. The only other person in this community with anything at stake or the funds to do so would be Logan Murphy. I pray ya are not offended when I say this, Mary Kate, but I doona think he would be willing to put out that kind of money again. Moreover, he thinks Diggory is just an old fool who lost his mind because he lost his whole crew. He thinks Diggory made up the story of Draconis because he couldna cope with reality. Besides, Logan himself has let go of most reality these days, probably because he blames himself for the fate of The Sea Bird and her crew."

She placed her linen napkin on the table. "I have more money than I could spend in three lifetimes. I shall finance this voyage. I have much at stake besides money. I want the honor of a man I have loved all me life restored. I doona care if he speaks poorly, or if he looks strangely. I care about his heart. Diggory is the same man he was when we loved each other when I was eighteen. We were forced apart then. 'Twill not happen again. Aidan, my only request of ya is that ya bring him home.

"I am not foolish, man," Elizabeth continued, as she looked Diggory in the eye. "I know ya will go with the boy. Ya promised Duncan ya would come back for him. Ya aire honor bound.

"Aidan, ya must face the fact 'tis yer destiny to go to this strange, enchanted land. The rest of ya must decide what yer roles will be in this adventure. I am positive ya all have one. I know what mine is, yer financier."

Destiny ran through Aidan's mind, and he again envisioned a white dragon. He shook himself back to the moment. 

Cover by Christopher Chambers. juroddesigns.com

A few more characters & allies:  Jean Noir, Eunice, Alexander