Inspiration 52

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Exodus 14:4 And the Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.

Not all battles are fought in the open, and most battles are not fought alone--whether spiritual or physical. And sometimes the least likely ally can be to most beneficial.

Let's meet a few more of King Satin's allies. I know this post is a bit long, so just enjoy reading and getting to know a few of the characters.

SEAMUS

As Diggory and Duncan walked down the corridor, Diggory asked, "How aire ya gonna pull off two personalities this eve, old friend, and when aire ya gonna tell Aidan who ya in truth aire?"

"I do not know when I am going to tell Aidan the truth. I have almost told him a dozen times and almost let it slip more times than that; but something holds me back. I do not know what or why. As for your other question, here is your answer."

Waiting in the shadows was another panther: not quite as large as Duncan, but massive in his own right. Duncan swiped a paw across his eyes to remove his lenses, "Diggory, keep these safe." Diggory stored them in his doublet pocket.

The two panthers greeted each other warmly, nuzzling cheeks. "Diggory, do you remember young Seamus O'Donnell? He was only twelve when he came on as our cabin boy. Now he is Satin's double when I need to be two entities at once."

"'Tis good to see you faring so well," Diggory greeted his old acquaintance with uneasiness.

"It has been a long time, Mr. Danaher," responded Seamus stiffly.

Satin let out a long puff of air. "Trust, my friends. I trust both of you equally. There is no competition between you."

The two nodded at each other. Diggory paused again as they walked a few more steps. "Duncan, why do the other changelings not recognize yer scent. I mean, the changed humans have all the qualities of the animals they have become."

"Ah," the panther nodded. "Father cast a spell when Seamus and I concocted our ruse to confuse our scents. Even the bloodhounds could not track either of us."

"A most excellent solution," mumbled Seamus. "Only Alexander can track us through magic."

Diggory looked at the younger face. The boy Seamus had always had character. The human nodded. Trust formed.

 Duncan sounded the retreat. It was impossible to see from which direction the apes attacked and almost impossible to breathe. As he found the entrance to the cave, Duncan heard Seamus bawl in agony. "Seamus!" Duncan screamed, and he tried to reenter the cave; however, the fumes overcame him. He lay at the maw of the cavern gasping for air. The next thing Duncan knew, he felt teeth clamp into his fur and he was being pulled into the undergrowth by the wolf prince, who also gasped.

"Poor Seamus." Duncan wagged his head. "He is as good as dead, too. Quazel will have him killed. For a brief moment, she thinks she has captured me. She will have him killed either way. She knows the truth. If he were I, she wants me dead, but God only knows what she will do to him when she discovers she has the wrong panther.

Quazel took on a coaxing voice. "I shall make you a deal. I shall return you to your human form if you cooperate with me. What do you say, big boy?"

"Go to Hell, Quazel," Seamus snarled, baring his teeth.

"Wrong answer," shrieked Quazel, and she picked up the hot poker once more, gouging it into Seamus's left eye.

Seamus roared in agony.

Quazel resumed a soft soothing voice. "Would you like to try again?"

"Do not say a word, cat," shouted a small Pekingese chained in the corner.

Quazel picked up a rock and hit the little dog in the head. "That should shut you up for now."

She turned her attentions to Seamus again. "What is your name? I would like to know what to call you."

"I am often called King Satin."

"Wrong answer." Quazel calmly walked to the wall where she chose a narrow bamboo cane. She marched back to the table. "Would you like to try again?"

"I am King Satin, Ruler of Draconis."

Quazel screamed and brought the cane down onto the side of the immobile creature.

Seamus winced, but said nothing.

"Doc? Is that in truth you?" Seamus struggled to speak. "Seamus O'Donnell."

Connor declared, "I am going to find you some help. In my present state there is little else I can do."

"Bother not. Let me die. I deserve to die. I betrayed Duncan," gulped the great cat.

"Nonsense!" Connor argued. "Quazel has abused your body and broken your spirit. How much torture can one person endure? I thought you were extremely brave. You were much stronger than I would have been."

"It matters not. I am useless now and so ashamed."

"Seamus, you know Duncan will forgive you anything. He is a gracious man."

"Not if Aidan dies."

"I am going to ensure that does not happen. Now, be strong. I shall return as soon as I can."

Connor disappeared into the woods at a lope. As he ran, he thought. Ducan will forgive Seamus, but what about me? Does he know of what I have endured? Of Quazel changing me back and forth and forcing me to make more headache powders for her? The beatings? And still I never mentioned Aidan.

Mary Kate helped the tiring giant from the rail. He told Mary Kate, "I used to come down to the beach and lie in the sun. That is where I met Danielle. She would swim into the shallow waters. Sometimes we would talk for hours. Do you think I could bask in the sun for a while? Just knowing Danielle is swimming nearby gives me renewed energy."

"Of course. Let us go the other side of the ship where the sun is stronger."

As they came around the stern, Seamus saw Duncan resting in the chair. He took a step backward. "I cannot do this," he said.

"Aye, you can. You must," Mary Kate encouraged him.

Duncan heard the voices. He opened one eye. He smiled to himself and spoke, "Seamus! Get over here! You have some explaining to do."

Mary Kate touched the cat's head. "'Tis all right, Seamus. Go on." She left the two friends alone.

Seamus limped to Duncan's chair.

Duncan spoke gruffly, "Well, explain yourself."

Seamus trembled. He wanted to run away. He stammered, "Duncan, I…How can I explain?" Seamus collapsed at Duncan's feet. The strain from his exertion and the mental torment he felt rendered him helpless.

Duncan saw the broken-heartedness of his protégé. To see the sadness in the eye of one so young, of one who was like another son to him, cut him to the quick. Duncan leaned forward laboriously. He put his hand under the chin of the enormous ebony panther and raised his face so that they could look each other in the eye.

"Seamus O'Donnell, you know I love you as I would a son. You have always been my friend and confidant. You are a wonderful person, wise and warm. Do you truly think I could do anything other than to understand what happened to you and to forgive you and to love you as always? Do you have so little faith in our friendship?"

Seamus tried to put his chin down, but Duncan held it firmly in his hand. Seamus's voice quivered. "Duncan, I am so ashamed of my cowardice, my lack of perseverance. I am unworthy to be called your friend. I got you killed."

Duncan was indignant. "Cowardice! Is that what Quazel told you? Has she stopped coaxing people into submission by offering the illusion of their greatest desires? Is she now playing on our greatest fears and trying to frighten or beat us into submission? So that is her new strategy."

Duncan's voice softened as he spoke directly to his young friend. "You are no coward, Seamus O'Donnell. You are one of the bravest and best men I know. Let go of your guilt. You must be even stronger now for you will be King Satin, Ruler of Draconis, all by yourself. The people of Draconis need you. I will be your mentor and adviser; and Alexander, Aidan, and I will be your defenders and avengers. Mary Kate, Colin, Diggory, Elizabeth, and Caitlin will be your stalwart companions. Danielle will never leave you. Side by side we will free Draconis. Seamus O'Donnell, hold your head high. 'Tis your time to shine. You must be a king."

Seamus replied humbly, "To be forgiven is all I had hoped."

LIGHTNING

He spoke. "Many good thanks, Chanel. You may go." He turned to his company. "I am Lawrence Willoughby, former governor of Draconis, but I have used the name Lightning since the beginning of change when Alexander said that I ran as fast as lightning. Lightning is a much better name for a wolf than Lawrence; do not you agree?"

"Prince Lightning, if ya aire the only one who will stand by Duncan, I will consider this visit a small victory; but what can I say to convince ya to urge yer people to join us?"

"I am almost persuaded to speak to my people again and to go myself; but short of telling them the promised one has come, there is nothing that will convince them to fight."

"Then, Prince Lightning, 'tis with great sadness I must leave ya now."

As the emissaries rose, Aidan finally spoke. "Prince Lightning, if ya knew the promised one was here, could ya keep his identity secret and still convince yer clan to join the battle?"

"I could and I would."

"Then, prithee, call yer troops," Aidan said as he removed his blue lenses. "I am Aidan O'Rourke, son of Duncan and grandson of Alexander."

Lightning sprang to his feet. "We will be in the encampment within twenty-four hours. Chanel will go with you now.

Duncan examined the wall. "Quazel must have found some kind of secret entrance or made one. How else could she have disappeared through a wall of solid granite? Worse yet, Lightning, how do I tell my son I let Quazel escape again?"

"Your son, King Satin?" asked Lightning a bit confused.

Duncan realized he had forgotten to remove his lenses. Several horrible truths dawned on him at once. A moment of confession was necessary. He knew now Lightning was a true ally.

Duncan removed his lenses. "Lightning, Duncan O'Rourke and King Satin are one and the same. Seamus has always played the role of King Satin when both identities had to exist simultaneously. Aidan does not know. I have grown so accustom to these fake eyes I did not realize I had forgotten to remove them. I was supposed to be Duncan right now, not Satin.

"Poor Seamus." Duncan wagged his head. "He is as good as dead, too. Quazel will have him killed. For a brief moment, she thinks she has captured me. She will have him killed either way. She knows the truth. If he were I, she wants me dead, but God only knows what she will do to him when she discovers she has the wrong panther.

"Lightning, I must continue my charade for a bit longer. Prithee promise you will keep quiet about my necessary deception." Duncan replaced his lenses.

"You have my word, friend." Lightning went to his dead captain. "Do not keep your secret too much longer. We are not guaranteed another day." He rubbed his head on the red wolf, who had become a slim, athletic, strawberry-blonde woman. "I never told her how much I loved her. Do not let your chance slip away with Aidan."

DANIELLE

"One never knows," said the king. Then he turned to Aidan. "Aidan, we have new allies. The Dolphins have come to our aid. I thought you would want to meet their general."

"Aye, I want to meet him."

"Her," corrected the king.

"Her, then. Gaffer"—Aidan hugged his grandfather—"many good thankings for yer encouragement."

"Any time, my boy."

As Satin and Aidan walked to the beach, Satin explained more about the Dolphin Clan. "Aidan, only a few of the dolphins are former humans. Their general, Danielle Martin, was born a dolphin of former human parents. Her mother was with child when Quazel changed them. She has never known land, only stories from her parents. She is, perhaps, a year or two older than you. You should know, dolphins are intelligent animals, so even the natural dolphins want Quazel gone."

Aidan saw a sleek bottlenose dolphin swimming in the shallow water. As she saw the two commanders approach, she skimmed across the water in a little dance of greeting. "Be well met, Aidan O'Rourke. 'Tis good to see you have recovered from your near-drowning experience."

Both Satin and Aidan stopped in their tracks. Danielle realized her greeting was out of place. She swam as close as she could get. "I beg your pardon. Hail, Adam Callahan. I am glad you are alive and well."

"Many thanks," replied Aidan, still puzzled.

Danielle laughed. "Did you think you swam all the way to Isla Linda when you fell overboard? Guess again. A few of my friends and I got you to the beach. You were delirious, of course, so you talked a lot as we swam, but I can tell from the expression on your faces I should pretend I know nothing. Nonetheless, you still need our help. So let me tell you what we dolphins know, and you can decide how to use the information.

"The main thing that will benefit you is the underwater caves on Isla Linda. One of them opens into a grotto, which has a small, narrow opening to the surface. I can tell your hawks or your dragons how to find it. The other one bubbles into a fresh water spring.

"We dolphins swim fast, too. Peradventure we can help transport some of you to the island. I shall remain nearby. If you need me just whistle." Danielle swam away to deeper waters.

"Satin, they may be smart, but they are definitely free spirits," commented Aidan.

"Indeed," agreed the king. "Especially Danielle. When she becomes human, she will probably be a pixie." Satin sighed. She reminds me of Priscilla.

"Ya could be roight. This waiting is killing me." Colin threw another rock.

"Ouch! All that swimming, and I get hit by one of my own. Just my luck." It was Danielle.

"Pardon," said Colin.

"Danielle, do you have any news for us?" Aidan interrogated.

"I have sent a messenger to tell Alexander that he is needed here. I imagine that your friends are on their way. Satin and Duncan are leading a raid on Quazel's fortress."

Even as Danielle spoke, Diggory and the others arrived. Diggory bore the same news as Danielle. "Alexander will be here soon. Then, all the players will be in one place as soon as Duncan brings Quazel." Diggory put his hand on Aidan's shoulder. "This nightmare could be over tonight."

"I hope so," sighed Aidan. Caitlin rubbed against his leg.

Mary Kate peered through the opening into the darkness. Colin went to her. "Do not worry. All this will soon be over."

Mary Kate turned to her husband with tears on her cheeks. She put her hand in his and whispered, "No, Colin it will not."

Mary Kate went to the rail. "Danielle, is that you?"

"Aye. Draco has explained to me about the charade between Seamus and Duncan—the King Satin conspiracy. I cannot believe Seamus did even trust me with the secret." Her last statement came out shrill and she shook back and forth. "Nonetheless, I just wanted to ask you to tell Seamus that I have not forgotten him and I look forward to the day we can see each other with human eyes. May Kate, he needs a reason to live. I know him. He is overwrought with guilt about Duncan. Tell him, well…"

"Danielle, do you want me to tell Seamus you love him?"

"Aye. Aye, I do."

"'Tis done."

"Many thanks, Mary Kate." Danielle swam away, but stayed near the vessel.

Mary Kate went back to perform minor surgery on Seamus. As she washed her hands, she said, "Seamus, Danielle was outside. She wants me to tell you that she loves you."

"How could she still love someone as vile as I?"

Mary Kate began to lance Seamus's wounds. He winced with each incision. Elizabeth washed the incisions and put in sulfur. As Mary Kate worked, she talked to Seamus. "Danielle still loves you because that is what love does."

"In truth?" said Seamus skeptically.

"Aye, Seamus. Love of all kinds: love between a man and a woman, love in a family, even love between friends."

"Even a friend who has been betrayed?"

"Aye, Seamus. 'Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth.' Charity is also called love. This is what God's Holy Scripture tells us."

"About those scars," said Seamus. "Do you think Danielle will find an eye patch appealing?"

Mary Kate teased the quiet man. "If you are wearing it, she will love it."

Seamus attempted a chuckle. "Oh, do not make me laugh. It hurts."

Mary Kate caressed the panther's head. "We shall leave you to your breakfast now."

RENNIN/KIERAN 

RENNIN

Over his shoulder Aidan called, "I promise 'twill be fun." He scooped two little boys under his arms and carried them like footballs. Kieran and Rennin squealed with delight. Aidan zoomed around their yard-to-be and back to Caitlin.

"Aidan, you are the only one with the power to kill Quazel. You have the power because you came here of your own free will. You came with the sole purpose of restoration and reclamation. You never sought anything for yourself. Your motives are pure; but know that if you fail, and there will come a strong temptation for you, the burden of defeating the evil in this land will fall on Kieran, Rennin, and Declan. The evil itself will fall on Morgan.

"Da, I just wish I were human. Aidan is terrific." She blinked her eyes and her whiskers twitched. "He never complains about our situation, and he is a wonderful father. The boys are identical in appearance, but they act totally different. They are little versions of Aidan. Both of them have golden curls and green eyes. Kieran is practical and thoughtful and obedient. Rennin is my wild child. He is daring and challenges authority at every turn. He is loving and kind, but he wants to do things his own way."

 Over the years Rennin had visited Isla Linda with one purpose in mind, spending time with his best friend. After a while Morgan feared they would be caught in the meadow so they explored the island until they stumbled upon the small entrance into the grotto.

"This place is wonderful," said Morgan. "Bring some lanterns the next time you come."

"I will, but let us go play ball for now."

"I do not want to play ball."

"Morgan, you have been acting peculiar lately. What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing. Let us go play ball."

The two playmates budding on adulthood went to their meadow and tossed Aidan's old ball that was beginning to fall apart. As Morgan tried to elude Rennin, he slide-tackled her, causing her shirt to rip.

Rennin jumped to his feet. "Morgan! You are…You are a girl!"

"I always have been." She pulled her shirt closed. "Does it matter? Are you not my friend any more since you know I am a girl?"

"No, but you should have told me you were a girl. It changes many things."

"What does it change?" Morgan asked innocently, sitting up.

"The things we do together; the way I treat you," Rennin responded, flustered.

"You wanted somebody to do boy things with, so I gave you what you wanted."

"I wanted a friend of my own. You should have told me." Rennin plopped down with a huff and frown and pulled grass with his hands.

Morgan moved beside him. "I beg pardon. I am afraid I do not understand the difference between boy things and girl things. I thought I was caring more for you than myself."

"Morgan, I have to tell Uncle Colin about you."

"No! Nana Q told me she would send someone to kill the men who were looking for me. She would, too, though very few apes still come around. She is very mean."

"Morgan you must be the child Uncle Colin and Aunt Mary Kate had stolen from them by an evil sorceress named Quazel, your Nana Q. They have looked for you ever since I can remember."

Morgan clutched Rennin's arm and tears filled her eyes. "Rennin, do you love me? Do you care more for me than yourself?"

Rennin pulled away and stood. "Do not cry. Why do girls always cry? Miranda does that, and it tears Kieran up. 'Tis nothing he will not do for her when water begins to flow." He pointed a sharp finger at her. "'Tis not going to work on me. Do you understand?"

Morgan nodded her head and wiped her eyes. "Aye. Do what you must, but you have no idea how mean Nana Q is."

Morgan tied her torn shirt and walked toward the cave.

"Morgan, wait," Rennin called after her. He caught up with her. "Do you think she would in truth send someone to kill Uncle Colin and my father?"

"Aye, Rennin, she would."

"Then you must tell me how to get to her. My father will take care of her and protect you. You can be with other people who love you."

"Oh, Rennin, then you still love me even if I am a girl?" She threw her arms around his neck.

Rennin awkwardly put his arms around her. He felt his heart quicken at her closeness.

"Aye, Morgan. I love you," he whispered. "Peradventure even more." He held her tighter.

"Can you remember the words if I give them to you?" Morgan asked as she loosened her embrace on Rennin.

"Of course."

"Go into the cave. Touch the wall and say 'Ostium, hostusu, sequor.' To get out say, 'Ostium, libertas.' Repeat the phrases."

Rennin said, "To get in, 'Ostium, hostusu, sequor.' To get out, 'Ostium, libertas.'"

"Well done."

They walked a short distance hand in hand.

"Do not come at night," said Morgan. "Nana Q sleeps during the day."

"I shall remember. If you need me before I get back, call Smoke. He will hear you. Go to the meadow and yell, 'Smoke, I need you.' He will come."

"Gramercy, Rennin." Morgan kissed him softly, the way a woman would kiss a man. "I love you, Rennin." She let go of his hand.

"Morgan," Rennin said her name passionately and pulled her back to him. He kissed her again and then held her closely. "I am glad you are a girl," he confessed. "I thought I had fallen in love with a boy, and you can cry any time you want."

Morgan kissed him once more and disappeared into the cave.

Char chuckled. "I knew Rennin had a mind of his own the day he jumped off the cliff when he was three. I adore the boy. That is part of his problem; he is really not a boy any more. All the children are hanging precariously between childhood and adulthood. Living on Draconis, they have grown up too fast. My biggest concern about Rennin is he disappears to Isla Linda."

Aidan ran his fingers through his long blond hair. "To think I have been so worried about Rennin when Kieran could be getting into more trouble right here. Rennin would probably thrust a dagger without hesitation into the heart of a woman that might approach him on Isla Linda. He would realize 'twas Quazel, no matter how beautiful she might make herself appear. Char, say a prayer for me. I have more to deal with than I knew."

Aidan had barely sat back down when Rennin burst through the door.

"Daddy, I have to talk to you! 'Tis important!"

Already frustrated with Kieran and upset with Rennin, Aidan forgot his words to Caitlin. "I need to talk to you, too. Sit down."

"Daddy, this is no time for sitting. This is important. Where is Uncle Colin?"

"Rennin, I told you sit down."

"No! You have to listen to me!"

Aidan became angry. "Rennin, did you just say 'no' to me?"

"Daddy, I pray pardon. Now listen." Rennin was too excited to notice his father's mood.

"Rennin Drake O'Rourke, I have reached my limit with your insolence. You are rude and disrespectful. You are willful and arrogant. You will sit down and listen to me. You will not disappear for days at a time. You will not fly off on Smoke to Isla Linda again. Do you understand me?" Aidan slammed his fist on the table.

By this time Rennin was just as angry as his father. "I understand all too well. I am not your perfect Kieran. I am Rennin Drake O'Rourke. I take chances. I am not dull and boring. I am not a child any more. I will go where I want, when I want, with whom I want. Apparently, I am going to have to do the job you came here to do. I have green eyes. Kieran has green eyes, and if I can find Declan, he has green eyes and red hair. We are all almost as tall as you." He waved his left hand. "And I'm left handed."

Rennin took a breath and leaned over the table into Aidan's face. He looked more like a man than his father could fathom. "Most importantly," Rennin said through clenched teeth, "I know how to get in."

KIERAN

Kieran and Miranda walked hand in hand toward their homes. They saw Aidan and waved. Aidan called, "Kieran, we need to talk about something."

"Coming, Da." Turning toward Miranda, Kieran said, "I shall see you later." He took her face in his hands and kissed her as she slipped her hands up his back and held on to each shoulder.

"Oh, boy," muttered Aidan under his breath. "I hope I am not too late."

Kieran ran up cheerfully. "What is the problem, Da?"

"Let us go inside and sit down, son. We need to talk about you and Miranda."

Kieran blushed as they sat at the table. "We already had the baby talk, Da."

"Now we are going to have the temptation talk."

"The temptation talk?" Kieran said, a little amused. "What does that mean?"

"Kieran, I know you understand the biological aspects of reproduction, but there is much more involved in making love. Your humours run wild. You do not stop to consider the physical consequences. Kieran, any time you make love, you run the risk or creating a new life. Are you ready to be a father? Are you ready to stop running through the meadow and plant vegetables instead? Are you ready to stop playing ball with your bother, and hold the hand of Miranda while she screams and calls you all manner of names giving birth? Kieran, 'tis obvious you care very much for Miranda, but…"

"Care!" Kieran interrupted. "I love her, Da. I am going to marry her."

"Kieran, you are barely sixteen."

"Da, this is Draconis, not Stonebridge where convention demands adulthood at eighteen. Look around." He waved an open palm back and forth. "Show me my other options. Miranda loves me, too. She does not want Rennin because he is too wild or Declan because he seems too much like her brother, not to mention that he can be an insufferable prig. She wants me." He poked his own chest with his index finger. "I have wanted her ever since I saw her in that hollow log eleven years ago. She was so beautiful she took my breath away."

The way Kieran was behaving, Aidan thought for a moment that he had gotten the boys mixed up.

"Kieran, I am not telling you that you can never have Miranda. I just want you to consider the consequences of your actions. Besides, Draconis will not always be like this. One day there will be a multitude of young ladies."

"I'faith! Then why do you not get off your arse and knock down the wall in the cave with a pick ax if you have to? Get rid of the invisible terror so that there can be a normal life on Draconis."

"Kieran!" Aidan was shocked at his son's defiance.

"No, Da. For once I am going to be like Rennin. I want Miranda now!" Kieran stormed away from the table.

Banging his knee as he stood, Aidan called after the boy, "Kieran!"

His son refused to turn back. "Well, that went well," Aidan growled to himself.

MORGAN

Mary Kate, to everyone's disbelief, was calm and rational. She spoke, "Colin, take the children and Carl to the infirmary. Surely ya remember some of the procedures yer father performed. Take care of the wounded the best as ya can. Everyone leave Momma and me alone. She needs me strength roight now. Soon we will need to rescue Morgan. I see Draco has already left. Everyone leave us now! Fortify yourselves. We will all need our strength." She looked around the group. "All hell is about to break loose."

Duncan, Seamus, Lightning, and Chanel made their way into the inner sanctum. A circle of half-crazed apes, each armed with a poison tipped weapon enclosed Quazel and Morgan in a circle of protection. The four warriors circled the group. Each waited for an opportunity to strike.

Far beneath the floor of the king's former abode Quazel had made a ghastly home. The eerie glow from nests of glowworms provided the only illumination. Thinking all the while that she was on an adventure with Nana, Morgan slept the sleep of innocence in the one room furnished comfortably.

Morgan laid a gentle hand on Quazel's brow, "Nana, wake up."

Quazel sat up. "I am all right, child. I had a bad dream." She sat perfectly still and quiet as if trying to hear.

"Nana."

"Shh. Morgan, be quiet. Come quickly." They ran to the entrance of the cave, stopping only long enough to touch the wall, which melted away at a whispered a phrase. "Morgan, go to the water's edge. Tell me what you see."

Morgan ran toward the sea and returned a moment later. "Nana, there is a shadow of a ship sailing away."

"Leaving, not coming?"

"Aye, leaving."

"Big or small?"

"Big."

"Tomas? No, it could not have been Tomas. He was killed in a battle with the British just after Elizabeth was born." Quazel was in a state of confusion. "Perhaps it was Pablo, my nephew," she babbled. "I do not know, but I felt a kindred spirit. Somebody on that ship is one of my own."

Quazel and Morgan returned to their beds, but the old witch slept no more that night nor for the rest of the nights of her life. She became a creature of the night, sleeping as the sun shone.

Morgan whispered, "Rennin, what are you doing here? You have to go now! Nana Q will wake at any minute. Go to the grotto. I shall come as soon as I can." Pulling Rennin up the stairs, she touched the wall and spoke, "Ostium, libertas." Morgan pushed Rennin through the opening. "Go!" She put her fingers to her lips and blew him a kiss as the wall became solid once more.

Morgan heard a door behind her. As she descended the stairs, she knew she was trembling. "Nana, you are up." She tried to sound cheerful. "We are having something different tonight. I made omelets with hot chili peppers. I thought you would like that."

Quazel acknowledged her. "That will be fine. Where were you going?"

"I was going to gather some flowers for the table, but they are unnecessary now that you are awake. I am famished anyway."

Morgan ate hurriedly. Quazel commented, "My, child, you must have been hungry. You never eat that quickly."

Morgan said, "I should not have eaten so fast. My stomach feels queasy now. I think I shall go to bed early, Nana."

When Aidan came to, he found himself chained to the cold, stone wall. His head ached miserably. The room was spectrally lit with the glimmering glowworms.

Aidan jerked his wrists. The shackles were secure. The door creaked, and a tall figure walked in.

"Quazel," gasped Aidan.

"Ah, you know me. I am afraid I have not had the pleasure of your introduction." Quazel came closer. It was her turn to gasp. "Your eyes! I thought they were blue. You must be Aidan O'Rourke. Coming for me, were you? Well"—The witch clucked her tongue—"it looks as if the shoe is on the other foot."

Quazel blew a yellow powder into Aidan's face. He broke into a fit of coughing.

"What was that, witch? My eyes burn."

"You are tough. I am going to have fun breaking you. Mayhap I shall get sweet little Morgan to help me."

"Where is Morgan? What have you done to her?"

"She sleeps. Her supper disagreed with her. You should get some rest, too. Tomorrow will be long and grueling. I have a few potions to work on. I probably shan't see you until tomorrow night. I have to get my beauty sleep during the day."

"You need lots of it," snapped Aidan.

"You will not think so for long," countered Quazel.

The aspirant queen left the would-be savior to ponder his situation.

Quazel must have had some twinge of concern for Morgan because the girl had never been ill. She tiptoed into Morgan's room and sat on the edge of her bed. Reaching out to touch the sleeping girl, she found fluffed pillows beneath the covers.

Infuriated, she screamed, "Where is that little monster?"

Quazel looked in every room. She cautiously opened the secret door. Seeing that the dragon was gone, she searched the cave. She checked the beach because a few times Morgan had sneaked out to play in the surf, but she had never before gone to the trouble of deceiving Quazel.

After searching high and low, Quazel stalked back into the underground cavern. She pulled a chair to the entrance and waited.

Morgan entered the secret passage to find Quazel waiting for her. The old witch grabbed the girl by the hair and snarled, "Where have you been?"

"I went to the meadow to watch the stars. I fell asleep. I am sorry, Nana."

Quazel raged, "Why did you try to trick me with the pillows?"

"Nana, you get so angry with me. I was not thinking straight."

"No, you were not."

Quazel slapped Morgan repeatedly until she caused blood to trickle from her lip. Then, she dragged the girl kicking and screaming down the stairs and the corridor.

Morgan screamed, "No, Nana. Do not put me in there. I pray thee, do not put me in there."

Quazel shoved Morgan into a small room without even the glow from the glowworms. She slammed the door behind the girl and locked it from the outside.

Quazel opened the door to the closet and jerked Morgan out. "I have a prisoner I need you to help me care for. He will need to eat during the day. You will take care of his needs. Do not bother trying to go out. I have changed the passwords. I shall be dealing with my prisoner in the evenings. At that time you will leave us alone."

"How long have I been in there?" Morgan asked.

"Two days. Would you like to go back?"

"No, Nana. I beg, no."

"Then, do as you are told. I need some sleep now. I have been up since your act of treachery. Take care of the man. I have left the door unlocked." Quazel disappeared into her chambers.

Morgan limped to her room where she bathed and changed her clothes. Her ankle was sprained from being dragged down the hall. She had a black eye and a swollen lip. She put her hand to the tarnished silver that served as a looking glass and cried softly, "Rennin, oh, Rennin, prithee help me."

She suddenly came to her senses. Quazel has a prisoner. Morgan ran to the prison door and swung it open, "Rennin? Rennin, are you here?"

"No, I am not Rennin," intoned a melancholy baritone.

Morgan lit a lantern for more light and saw an older version of Rennin chained to the wall. Quazel had obviously been working on him for his face looked worse than Morgan's.

The man's voice called the girl back to reality. "Morgan, is that you?"

"Aye, I am Morgan. I shall be back in a moment."

Morgan left and returned with a pan of cool water and a soft cloth. As she washed the man's face she talked. "You know who I am. Who are you? You look just like Rennin. You must be his father."

"Aye. I am Aidan O'Rourke, Rennin's father and your uncle."

"What did Nana Q do to you, and why are you here at all? Rennin was supposed to bring you and my father back to get me and take care of that witch."

As Aidan looked up from the sweet face, a new realization and horror struck him. Quazel has not tutored this girl in witchcraft. The stone table, the bloodletting dishes, the ceremonial dagger, the virgin: Oh, God! Morgan is not Quazel's protégé. She was to be her sacrifice. Quazel must have some kind of deep, dark magic to prolong her life and her youth. Aidan started laughing. He startled Morgan.

Quazel screamed again and put her hands to her head. "You have ruined everything, Morgan. I finally had him where I wanted him. He was to be mine tonight. Now, my head is splitting."

Morgan laughed softly. "With any good fortune, your head will burst and you will die."

Quazel slapped Morgan with all her might, knocking her to the floor.

"I have to lie down. Make me a headache powder and then get out. I never want to see you again."

Morgan stumbled to the medicine. At first she obediently scooped the level measure of ground butterrut into a glass of warm milk. Then she dumped the whole container into the glass and gave it to the old witch. Quazel drank every drop. The girl smiled to herself. She said, "I cannot go if I do not know how to get out."

Quazel moaned, "Patefacio, licentia."

Holding her side, Morgan went back to the prison. Quazel had had the presence of mind to chain Aidan back to the wall; however, she left him naked. He was sound asleep.

Morgan whispered, "Damn you to Hell, Quazel." Suddenly, she remembered a glint of silver she had just seen around the witch's neck.

The girl eased into Quazel's bedroom. The socceress was out cold. The terrified young woman lifted the silver chain and jerked as hard as she could. Quazel only moaned. Morgan held a small key.

"Take me to the meadow," Morgan begged.

Aidan ran with the girl to the small, secluded meadow where the child had known her only happiness. Morgan whispered, "This is Rennin's and my meadow." From deep within her soul, she summoned all the energy she could muster and yelled, "Smoke, I need you!"

Her head fell onto Aidan's chest. He realized he was covered in her blood. He whispered, "Do not die, sweet angel."

He felt her stir. "I shan't leave Rennin, Uncle Aidan. Wait for him in the grotto. He will come."

RICARDO

Charlotte murmured, "Why, Ricardo? Five years ago I would have followed you to the ends of the earth, but you left me. Why? Miranda. Take. Your…" Charlotte died with her questions unanswered.

The child screamed and ran into the woods. The young boy started after her. "Let her go," said Ricardo as he laid Charlotte gently on the sand. "If she survives here alone, then, I will have kept my word. If she dies, it will not have been by my hand, and I will have kept my word. Bury that box under that big oak, and let us away from here. I do not like this place." He shivered. "I feel a deep, dark, pervasive evil here—far worse than anything I have ever done. We shall come back when 'tis safe to have those things and claim them. It could be a few years. Bury Charlotte beside the box. I shall not leave her like this."

The two crewmen buried the box and the body while the boy helped Ricardo into the boat. When all was settled, they rowed away, leaving the child in the woods. 

Aboard the ghostly pirate ship all was quiet. Captain Ricardo Mendez-Morales locked himself in his quarters. Wearing only white drawstring pants, he sat on his bed holding a gold locket. The back of it was inscribed with the words, "For Charlotte. All my love, Ricardo."

As Ricardo laid his head on his pillow, he brought the locket to his lips. Then he fastened the heavy serpentine chain around his neck and lay with his face toward the wall. His body jerked with silent sobs. His badly scarred back heaved as he whispered, "Charlotte."

The guard walked by and taunted in Ricardo's native Spanish, "Well, Morales, what would you like before they hang you tomorrow?"

"Get Trevor a doctor!"

¿"Por qué? What difference does it make whether he bleeds to death or hangs? Either way he will be dead. Trevor, do you have any last words?" The guard laughed menacingly.

Ricardo charged the bars. "You bastard! You know you cut out his tongue when we were here before simply to keep him from telling your captain how corrupt you are."

"Shut up, Morales. You had better be glad I put him in here with you so he won't die alone, unlike you; but, of course, you won't be alone either. You will have a cheering crowd."

"I swear, Armando, before I die, you will be dead."

Armando laughed again. "What would you like for your last meal, Morales? Even a condemned man deserves that."

"El corazón." ("Your heart.")

"Fine. I shall bring you some bread and water." As Armando walked away, his cruel laugh reverberated throughout the cold stone hallways.

Ricardo knelt beside his friend again. Trevor reached up and touched the gold locket around Ricardo's neck.

"Do you still want me to open this and see if there is anything inside?"

Trevor gave a weak nod.

Ricardo hesitated. "Trevor, I am afraid to look, but I shall do it for you."

Ricardo flicked the little latch. Folded very tiny and stuffed into the locket was a letter. Ricardo turned the folded paper over in his fingers. He looked at Trevor. "I shall read it to you."

The hard lines in the boy's face had softened. He looked angelic. He smiled.

Ricardo read:

My Darling Ricardo,

If you are reading this, I have died and you have returned to Barcelona. I do not understand why you left me. My heart was torn from me when you disappeared. You were my very reason for breathing. I am sure you must have had a good motive to leave, but my heart aches so.

I have given birth to our daughter and named her Miranda, for that is the name you said you would name your little girl one day. I have married Malcolm Montgomery to hide my shame and to give Miranda legitimacy. I only hope you can understand why I married a man I do not love. He was kind to offer your child and me his name. I shall be true to him, but someday when Miranda is old enough to understand, I shall tell her about you.

Wherever you are and whatever happens, I shall always be your devoted and loving

Charlotte.

Ricardo struggled to control his voice. "Oh, God, Trevor, she knew nothing of what her father and Malcolm did. She thought I left her." He clutched his fist to his forehead. "How cruelly I treated her. She must have hated me in the end, yet she tried to tell me. Her last words still ring in my ears. The child." He inhaled sharply. "Trevor, she is my child, and I left her on a deserted island filled with wild animals." He placed one hand over his heart. "I am a fool. I must get back there. I must save her and make her understand. I must beg for her forgiveness."

He looked around frantically. "Trevor, we must escape." He felt Trevor's hand slip from his wrist. The boy who had sacrificed himself repeatedly because Ricardo had rescued him from these very prison walls years before was gone.

"Trevor," gulped a penitent man. "I am so sorry."

Ricardo looked at the locket and chain, which was a thick gold serpentine. He carefully removed the locket and, refolding the letter, replaced it inside. Then he dropped the locket into a pocket on his doublet. The chain, he held in his hand and waited.

A pain shot through his head and a voice whispered. "No se puede cambiar ." ("You cannot change.")

On Isla Linda a small skiff slid onto the sand just as the sun began to set. An exhausted man fell onto the beach. He looked toward Draconis and spoke aloud in his native Spanish. "Pasaré mañana, para debo descansar un rato." ("I shall go on tomorrow, but I must rest for a while.")

Examining his surroundings, Ricardo Mendez-Morales looked for shelter for the night. He came upon the cave once inhabited by King Satin. To his trained eye he saw it had once been used for shelter. He found a lantern and lit it with a piece of flint lying beside it. He saw an old straw cot and fell upon it. He slept the dead sleep of a weary man.

Ricardo awoke when he felt hot breath on his face. Standing over him was a gorgeous Latin-looking woman. He could have been looking at his sister. The woman was breathtaking. When she spoke her voice was cold and piercing, but the words were in his native tongue. "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

Ever the charmer with the ladies, Ricardo rose to his full height and bowed low. Taking the woman's icy hand in his, he kissed it. A bitter taste remained on his lips, yet he flattered her, the words flowing like honey as he spoke his mother language. "Most beautiful lady, allow me to introduce myself. I am Ricardo Mendez-Morales, your most humble servant."

At the name Quazel was intrigued. "And your father?

Not sure why this woman could possibly care about his ancestry, Ricardo graciously answered, "Pablo Martinez-Morales."

"Your grandfather was Tomas Rodriguez-Morales, killed in a battle with the British."

"Sí, my lady. How do you know?

"Let us just say that I am a distant relative. I am called Quazel."

"It is a pleasure to meet a fellow Barcelonan so far from home."

Ricardo kissed her and whispered, "Gracias for a most memorable evening."

He left as quickly as he could. The lips that had been so sweet by night were as bitter as gall by day. Once outside the cave, he found that he was sick and had to vomit. He spoke aloud, "If I find Miranda and she forgives me, I shall not bring her here. Oh, God, I promised You I would change. What did I do last night? Why did I succumb so easily to that woman's wiles? I pray help me to be stronger in the face of temptation. Help me to be worthy to be loved by someone better than that woman. And, right now, God, my head is splitting. I beg You give me some relief." Ricardo vomited again and heard a taunting laugh.

In fifteen minutes they were at the cave where they found Ricardo reading one of Alexander's books.

Rennin grabbed the man by the shirt. "We do not have time for niceties. My father is confronting Quazel. She has almost killed him twice before. What is the code?"

"Ianitor, invado." Ricardo did not hesitate to tell the impatient young man. "Prithee, allow me to come with you."

Miranda clutched Kieran's arm. Rennin replied, "Fine, but if you make any attempt to assist that perversion of nature, I will personally cut out your heart."

CHAR & BRINDLE

Aidan sent Char and Brindle back with the numbers for Duncan and to begin transporting the rest of the troops. He also sent word for the retrievers to come in on dolphins and to set up another center in the grotto. After delivering the troops, the dragons were to return to Draconis and fortify the perimeter.

Two minutes later Char put down beside his new friend. Aidan ordered, "Char, fly as fast as you can to Draconis. Bring Diggory and Elizabeth to The Privileged Character. I need human hands to sail my ship."

"Papa and I are here. Char must be the fastest dragon on Earth." She looked at the two disheveled boys and considered the other man.

He is not alone," corrected Draco. "Char is with him. How many times have you and I flown off alone?"

"'Tis different," bickered Duncan.

"Why?" Draco shot back.

"Aidan is special."

"And Char is developing as much love for him as I have for you. Have you not noticed, Duncan? Since we are on the subject of special friendships between dragons and men, Colin, an' it please you, will you consider asking Brindle to be your bonded dragon? He needs a human. Brindle is a good kid. Admittedly, he is not as bright as Char, and I am already taken, but he will be loyal and stand by you 'til the death." Draco looked down. "There they are. They are fine. Char is not six inches away from Aidan. Well, Colin, I am waiting for an answer."

 Char roared with laughter. "Is there a female? They are all panting after him. That is part of the problem; he does not want to hurt anyone's feelings. 'Tis my understanding these things were arranged in the old days by the parents. Of course, we are a new generation and orphans. Alexander is the closest thing we have ever had to a parent."

"'Tis it, Char. You are brilliant. We will arrange his mate for him, but is there one he would prefer if he made a choice?"

"Let me see. He cannot have Scarlet. She is mine. I am sorry, but that is that. I do not want to fight, but I will if I have to." The black dragon's agitation began to rival Draco's, and small wisps of smoke wafted from his nostrils.

"Calm yourself." He placed a hand on Char's sleek ebony scales.

 Kieran laughed. "Do not worry. That is only Rennin, my twin brother. We look alike, but he is a lot more daring, Mam says. That gets him into more trouble, too. He does crazy things like jumping off the cliff to see if Char is fast enough to catch him. He almost gave Char heart failure. Char was so mad he actually spat fire. That is the only time I have ever seen a dragon actually spit fire.

Char argued with Aidan all the way to Isla Linda. "Aidan, you should have found Colin. You should not have come alone."

"Char, I do not have time to worry about Colin. I have to stop Rennin from doing something dangerous and stupid, just to prove he can do something better than I can."

"Aidan, my dear friend, I love you, but you are as pig-headed, willful, and impulsive as your son. He gets it naturally," Char huffed.

Halfway to the island, they saw Smoke returning. Smoke did not know whether to fly away or go foward. One look from Char told him to keep going.

"Where is Rennin?" Char demanded.

Char and Aidan entered the cave cautiously. Aidan found one of the old lanterns and lit it, and then looked around the cave carefully. There were fresh footprints in the dirt. A man's steps led to the wall.

"Char, look. Mayhap he truly does know how to get in. He was trying to tell me, but I was so angry about the incident with Kieran, I would not let the lad talk."

As he spoke, the wall dissolved before him. There stood the aberration he had wanted to see for so long. With a banshee's scream, Quazel pulled Aidan behind the wall. Char's fire hit solid rock.

Char hollered, "Aidan! Aidan, answer me!" No answer came. Distraught, the black dragon lay down in the cave to wait for Colin.

Outside the entrance, Aidan hollered, "Char, I need you!"

The glossy black dragon, without explanation, took off. Brindle followed just in case he was needed, too.

Two minutes later Char put down beside his new friend. Aidan ordered, "Char, fly as fast as you can to Draconis. Bring Diggory and Elizabeth to The Privileged Character. I need human hands to sail my ship."

Char started to question, "What about…"

"Plans have changed. We need to be on the ship."

"What can I do?" asked Brindle.

Realizing the need for diplomacy and sensing a tad of jealousy, Aidan said, "I need you to stay with Captain O'Leary and the troops in case they need to fly quickly. Understood?"

"Aye, sir." He took off back to Captain O'Leary.

Father, there are no more eggs for you to protect. Draco, Char, and Brindle, as the three oldest dragons, must form a council to rule their kind. We will still be allies and friends, but we must begin life anew.

The men began to fell logs and plane boards. Colin often disappeared for long periods. He found himself soaring on Brindle, who had agreed to be his bonded dragon. Each time they flew, they went to Isla Linda to speak to the birds of prey who had stayed behind to watch for signs of Morgan. On this trip, Colin spoke to his friend. "Brindle, how can I ever go back? How can I leave this place? Yet, how can I never see me mother and father again? Why does this have to be so hard?"

"I might not be the brightest dragon," said Brindle in his self-deprecating manner, "but let me make a proposal. Why not send a hawk squadron with a map and a letter requesting your folks to come here? Draconis is going to need a doctor. If they come here, all your problems are solved."

Colin defended his friend. "Who says ya aire not bright? 'Tis a marvelous idea.

Brindle had a dumbfounded look on his face when Colin asked if there was a female he particularly admired. He slowly shook his head negatively and said, "None of the girls would want me. I am too stupid."

"Fie me! I have had enough," Colin said, his ire stirred greatly. "Why on Earth do ya think ya aire stupid? Brindle, do ya think I am stupid? Do ya think I would choose a stupid dragon to be bonded to me?"

Brindle's eyes grew wide. "Oh, no, Colin, you are not stupid, but you only felt sorry for me. 'Tis why you asked me to be your bonded dragon. Everybody knows I am dimwitted. Alexander dropped my egg before I hatched. I was born with a great big knot on my head. Everybody knows that makes a dragon practically brainless."

"Brindle, that is ridiculous! Granted, I asked ya to be me dragon after Draco suggested it, but I didna know I could have me own special dragon friend. I thought that honor was reserved for Duncan and Aidan. If I had thought ya unworthy to be me bonded dragon, I would have demanded another. I am blessed to have ya.

 Brindle nodded his head.

Colin continued, "Now, is there any particular female ya loike?"

"I have never thought much about it. I think Rose is quite pretty, and Periwinkle is soft spoken. Then there is Sandy. Oh, she is so mean. She makes my blood boil. I think I hate her."

"I get the gist," said Colin. "Do ya trust me, Brindle?" He patted the dragon's leg.

"Verily."

"Then, let me take care of this. Ya will have a promised mate by the end of the week."

Colin drafted a letter and sent a copy to every available female dragon. The letter stated:

To all available female dragons:

From Sir Colin Fitzpatrick:

Three golden doubloons to the one who is willing and able to become the betrothed of Brindle, my bonded dragon. Apply for the honor at my house tomorrow morning at sunrise.

The next morning there were eight young female dragons in the oasis, including Rose and Periwinkle. Colin had Mary Kate with him for her female perspective.

They interviewed each lady, and they always ended with the question, "Can you love Brindle for the dragon he is?" After an entire morning of talking to eight eligible ladies, not one of them answered with a definite "aye" to the last question.

A shadow loomed above them as a glistening beige dragon landed before them. In her talon she held Colin's announcement.

"Colin Fitzpatrick," she spat the words and fire flashed in her eyes as a small stream of steam escaped her nostrils. "I am Sandy. I have read this solicitation a hundred times. 'Tis insulting!" She slammed the letter into Colin's lap. "The very idea that you think you must buy Brindle a wife is degrading. How dare you! Brindle does not need your help finding a mate. All he needs to do is open his eyes and grow a little backbone! Some of us have been trying to get his attention since we hatched. If he would not believe that absurd story about his being stupid and stop wallowing in self-pity, he might see what is right in front of him."

Colin and Mary Kate looked at each other. Mary Kate spoke, "Sandy, I have one question for you."

Sandy turned her glaring golden eyes toward Mary Kate. "Make it a good one for I would have thought you would have had better sense than to be a part of this fiasco."

Mary Kate remained calm and asked the same question one last time, "Can you love Brindle for the dragon he is?"

Sandy put her face right in Mary Kate's face so that Mary Kate could feel the radiating heat. "Can I love Brindle for the dragon he is? What do you think I have been ranting about? I do love Brindle for the dragon he is. I have loved Brindle for the dragon he is since before my wings sprouted. Now, do you understand?"

Colin spoke, "You have the job, milady." He started to reach into his pocket for the doubloons.

Sandy whipped her head to be nose to nose with Colin. He could feel the heat pulsating from her. "If you pull gold from that pocket, you will be a one-handed human. I do not need to be bought. Brindle is reward enough." Sandy flew away.

SMOKE

"I shall remember. If you need me before I get back, call Smoke. He will hear you. Go to the meadow and yell, 'Smoke, I need you.' He will come."

Before Aidan could get dressed and summon Char, who was half way to Isla Linda when Aidan called him, Rennin had landed Smoke directly on the beach near the entrance to the cave.

"Smoke, go home. I shall call you when I need you."

"Rennin, you should go home."

"I cannot, not tonight at least. I am too hurt and angry."

"Do not do anything rash. Promise me you will not confront Quazel by yourself," Smoke entreated his friend.

"I promise. I shall talk to Daddy after we both calm down. Now go home before you get into trouble, too."

Smoke reluctantly flew home.

Char argued with Aidan all the way to Isla Linda. "Aidan, you should have found Colin. You should not have come alone."

"Char, I do not have time to worry about Colin. I have to stop Rennin from doing something dangerous and stupid, just to prove he can do something better than I can."

"Aidan, my dear friend, I love you, but you are as pig-headed, willful, and impulsive as your son. He gets it naturally," Char huffed.

Halfway to the island, they saw Smoke returning. Smoke did not know whether to fly away or go foward. One look from Char told him to keep going.

"Where is Rennin?" Char demanded.

"I left him on the beach near the cave, Father. He told me to go home."

"Then do so and do not leave until I return." Small tendrils of smoke curled into the air from Char's nostrils. He growled, "Do one thing. Send Colin to us."

"Aye, Father."

Smoke awoke with a jerk as he heard Rennin's voice. He started to wake Char, but realized that would be betraying the sacred trust of his bonded human. He jumped from the cave door and glided downward before he flapped his wings the first time. He flew with all his speed toward his friend.

Smoke picked Rennin up in mid-flight. During the trip home, Smoke eyed his friend curiously. "Was she worth the risk, Rennin?"

"What?"

"The girl. Was she worth the risk?"

"Smoke, she is the best thing that has ever happened to me."

Smoke dropped his passenger in his front yard as the sky began to lighten. Rennin sneaked around back to climb the trellis into his window as he had done on numerous occasions. Three feet above him, his twin brother was having trouble navigating the rickety woodwork.

Aidan handed Ricardo an envelope. "If I do not return, give this to my son, Kieran. He will see that you have your hour with Miranda."

The valiant few climbed aboard the three dragons, who were their most loyal friends, and zoomed into a date with history.

Smoke, who had eavesdropped from the ledge above the cave, paced to and fro, debating with himself. Aidan promised to get Rennin if he went to Isla Linda. He lied. Even if Rennin does not go into Quazel's chamber, he can wait on the beach nearby. Rennin will be upset. Oh, but he is on his honeymoon, and that is very special. He can go back to his honeymoon. Smoke made a decision and flew to the honeymoon chamber.

The groom's most special friend arrived at the entrance to the sound of laughter. He crept into the chamber and saw Rennin chasing Morgan around the room. Rennin wore only a towel while Morgan wore Rennin's shirt. Rennin caught her, and she did not seem to really be trying to get away, he wove his fingers into her hair and kissed her. When Morgan let Rennin's towel fall to the ground, Smoke figured he should let his presence be known.

"Excuse me. I am sorry to interrupt your honeymoon, but Aidan and the others went after Quazel. I thought you should know." Smoke turned to leave.

"Smoke, wait," Rennin called after the young dragon as he dressed quickly. "What do you mean?"

"The chosen ones left at dawn to finally kill Quazel."

"Out upon it, Daddy! I suppose he thinks he is protecting me. Morgan, get dressed."

"I am ready." She had thrown her dress over her head when Smoke spoke. "Let us go, and do not attempt to leave me behind."

Cover by Christopher Chambers. juroddesigns.com

The characters as I see them: SEAMUS (Human & panther), LIGHTNING, DANIELLE (Human and dolphin), RENNIN/KIERAN (They look just like Aidan), MORGAN, RICARDO, CHAR, BRINDLE, SMOKE