Mercy's Prince (49 page)

“How
do you feel, Tristam?” Merry smoothed his short brown hair back from his
forehead.

“Lady
Merry, I feel fine on the outside, but my heart is not well.” He closed his eye.
“I must look like a monster.”

“I
won’t lie to you. You had a terrible injury and will have scars for the rest of
your life. But Tristam, those scars were honorably earned while helping to
protect others. All true Levathians will respect you for what you have done. It
doesn’t matter what the rest may think.” He peered up at the fierceness in her
voice. Merry kissed his cheek on a place where there were no stitches. She knew
Valerian would approve.

Tristam
took a deep breath.

“There’s
no reason I should stay here, is there?”

“No,
you’re free to go. I’ll take out the stitches as soon as you heal.” Merry
paused. “You can’t wear an eye patch until then, but if you have a cloak with a
hood, perhaps you could pull it over your eye to help you feel less conscious
about it.”

The
squire nodded and forced himself to sit up.

“How
long before you can remove the stitches?”

“When
they begin to itch unbearably.” She smiled at him. “You will know.”

“All
right, my lady.” Tristam slowly stood, and Merry was surprised to see he was
almost as tall as Valerian. “I know where to find a cloak with a hood.” Then he
turned and slowly walked from the room.

Merry
glanced around the infirmary. Gwendolyn came to stand beside her.

“It’s
so quiet, so empty,” Gwendolyn said.

“This
battle could have ended so badly for all of us.” Merry grasped Gwendolyn’s
hands. “I saw only part of the Horde’s swarm at the garrison. Truly, Valerian
saved us all. I hope the king realizes it.”

“He
does. That’s the reason for the feast tonight.” Gwendolyn scanned Merry from
head to toe. “My lady, ’tis time we returned to your room. I want to help you
get ready.”

Merry
ducked her head. “I would like to look my best for Valerian, especially if the
king is going to announce our betrothal.” She touched her short hair again. Her
voice came out in a hoarse whisper. “I wish I could have kept my hair. I feel
ugly without it.”

“I
have some ideas to make you show off your beauty.” Gwendolyn hugged her. “I’m
so glad you and prince found one another.”

Merry
returned the hug.

“Thank
you, Gwen.” She pulled back and stared at her friend. “But what about Drew? Is
there something I should know?”

“Our
families have wanted to join us in marriage all our lives, for reasons of land
and dowry.” Gwendolyn blushed. “But, thankfully, we’ve always had great
affection for one another.”

“Must
you wait long? I don’t know how marriages are arranged outside my own village.”

“We
must wait until Drew is knighted.” Gwendolyn sighed. “Three more years.”

Merry
was grateful she and Valerian didn’t have to wait that long. A few days, or
even weeks, was nothing, and she should be more patient.

“May
that time seem like just a few days, and may your love grow more and more.”

“It
will be worth the wait, Merry, I know it will.” Gwendolyn blushed again and
turned serious. “Now, I must get to work and ready you for the banquet.”

Merry
first put all her medicines in the carry sack and then left with Gwendolyn.

Valerian
sat close to the fire in his bedchamber, wrapped in a towel. Kieran and Drew
had helped him bathe, taking care to keep his bandaged stump dry.

For
once, Valerian was glad for their help. He was still weak from loss of blood
and off balance because of the missing lower leg. After Drew helped him pull on
a pair of black velvet breeches, the squire carefully pinned back the extra
material on the right leg, covering the fresh bandage on the stump.

Kieran
pulled Valerian’s finest white tunic over his head, the one with embroidered
golden dragons along the neckline and sleeve edges. The trim would still be
visible once the royal surcoat was in place.

“Drew,”
said Kieran. “Do ye know how to braid hair?”

“I’ve
braided my horse’s tail on occasion.” He combed back Valerian’s damp hair with
his fingers. “I’ll see what I can do, Sire.”

Valerian
watched Rafael. The boy sat nearby on a chair, swinging his legs. Rafael
fingered his own hair, which was much longer than Valerian’s.

When
Rafael met his eyes, Valerian asked, “Would you like for Drew to braid yours,
too?”

“Are
you wearing a braid because you’re one of the Brethren?” Rafael frowned in
puzzlement.

“No,
Rafael. I’m wearing a braid so no one will ever forget the Brethren. It’s my
way to honor them, especially Gabriel.” Valerian wanted to believe that Gabriel
would have recognized the honor he meant to give them.

“I
was going to cut my hair short like Drew’s so I could be a page,” said the boy,
“but maybe I should keep the braid. Do you think it will hurt Sissy, since she
had to cut hers off?”

“I
think you should wear a braid if you wish to. Even a page is not required to
cut his hair. You won’t hurt your Sissy. In fact, she told me she will not cut
her hair again. I plan to have matching clasps made for our braids.”

“Truly?”
Rafael slid down from the chair and came to stand beside Valerian.

“Yes,
truly.” He smiled at the boy. “What do you think of a purple background with a
golden dragon inside a wreath of balmflowers?” Valerian
Saw
Rafael picture
the design in his head.

“It’s
a good idea. May I wear a dragon too?”

“Of
course you may. After all, you’re a descendant of Alden the Dragon King, just
like your sister.”

“You
don’t have the clasps yet, so how will you tie your hair?” Rafael frowned.

“Look
in the bottom drawer of yonder press,” Kieran said. “There should be some
lengths of ribbon.”

Rafael
wrested open the heavy drawer. He picked out two ribbons and brought them to
Valerian.

“Here’s
a purple one and a black one.”

“Which
would you rather wear, Rafael?”

“You
should wear purple because you’re the prince. I’ll wear the black one.” He
handed the purple ribbon to Drew, who wrapped it around the end of Valerian’s
short braid.

Drew
stepped to one side.

“Come
and check my braiding, Rafael. The prince has got to impress your sister, you
know.”

“Sissy
will like him no matter what, but he’s s’posed to look handsome for the feast,”
Rafael said while examining the braid. “It looks good, Valerian. Can you do
mine, Drew?”

Drew
braided Rafael’s hair while Kieran tied Valerian into the royal surcoat and set
the princely circlet upon his head. All that remained was to pull on the left
boot and carry him downstairs to the great hall. Valerian fidgeted in the
ornate garment.

When
Rafael opened the door for the “throne bearers” the boy said, “Oh, Sissy, you’re
beautiful.”

Anxious
to see Merry, Valerian had Kieran and Drew set down the chair in the hallway. Merry
wore a green embroidered gown with sleeves just off her shoulders. Her hair was
arranged under a green jeweled veil that framed her face. She smiled at
Valerian, and his heart swelled with admiration and longing.

A
pang of sadness squeezed his gut. Merry came closer, resting her hand on his
sleeve.

“What
is it?” she asked.

“I
only wish I could escort you into the hall.”

“That
day will come, and soon.”

While
they spoke, eager footsteps ran toward them. A young man burst from the
stairwell and saw the small group.

“Your
Highness,” he cried.

“What
news, Flint?” Valerian caught the courier’s excitement.

Flint
Mallory?
Merry
sounded surprised.

Yes,
do you know him?

He
brought a message from your father to our village. I Healed his broken arm
.

“You
are wanted in the yard outside the doors to the great hall, Sire,” Flint
Mallory said with a flourish. “The king has sent me to bring you.”

“Thank
you.” Valerian inclined his head. “We will come directly.”

The
king’s messenger turned his gaze on Merry, and his jaw dropped.

“My
lady,” he said. “Pardon me, but you resemble someone I once knew.”

“Perhaps,
because I am that someone.” She came forward so he could better see her.

“Why,
it is Mercy the Healer. What do you here?”

“It’s
a very long story,” she said. “One that will have to be told another time, I’m
afraid.”

While
Kieran and Drew lifted him in the chair, Valerian spoke up. “The short version
is that she is a royal cousin and my intended bride.”

“Well,
if that’s the short version, I cannot wait to hear the long one.”

As
the sound of Flint Mallory’s voice receded, Valerian closed his eyes and
gripped the chair arms while his squires patiently bore him down the stairs.

When
Kieran and Drew carried Valerian through the big double doors that led from the
great hall to the castle yard, those that had assembled burst into cheers. Then
Valerian saw Albinonix, Tetratorix, and several other dragons sitting in the
yard. The rest of the great beasts perched on the walls, towers, and buildings
of the huge castle complex.

Kieran
and Drew set Valerian’s chair on the ground just beyond the lowest step. Merry
came to stand beside him and clasped his hand.

They
are so beautiful, love
.

Yes,
the dragons are altogether magnificent
.

My
prince!
Albinonix reared up and opened his great wings.
The time has come for us to
leave you
. The great dragon went back on all fours and folded his wings
across his back. Then he came near and looked from Valerian to Merry with his
penetrating eyes.

Is
this your mate, my prince?

Yes,
my lord Albinonix. This is Merry
.

I
am honored to meet you, my lord
. She curtsied.

Albinonix
opened his terrible mouth in a dragon smile.

You
must be another descendant of Alden
.

Yes,
my lord, I am
.
Merry opened her mind to the dragon leader as well as to Valerian. Albinonix
tilted his head to better
See
her.

You
are a Healer, are you not?

Yes,
my lord
.

Come.
Wyvernia has injured her wing. Will you see if you can Heal it?

Valerian
squeezed her hand and spoke aloud.

“Go
on, love. I would not dare refuse him anything after what they have done for us.
I would go too if I could.” He beckoned to Kieran, who stood nearby. “Go with
Merry. She has been asked to Heal one of the dragons.”

Kieran
trotted after Merry and Albinonix, and Valerian felt a twinge of envy that he could
not go with them. The dragon Wyvernia was smaller than most of the others and a
paler greenish-blue. She moved her wing toward Merry, and even from this
distance Valerian could see the bent wing tip.

Then
he heard Merry’s exchange with the dragon and gave thanks for that ability. It
helped make up for the loss of mobility a little.

I
am Merry. I am a Healer. I will now
See
your injury. You should feel no
additional pain
.

I
do not fear pain, Healer Merry. I fear not being able to fly properly
.

Valerian
opened himself to Merry while she Healed the wing. He
Saw
when her
strength began to fail, but before he could warn her, he sensed Kieran adding
his strength to hers to complete the Healing. How had he done that?

Valerian.
Did you feel that?

Yes.
Did Kieran’s help keep you from exhausting yourself?

Amazingly,
yes. Perhaps you could help me in the same way
.

I
hope so, Merry
.

Wyvernia
flexed her wing and threw back her head in exultation.

Thank
you, Healer Merry. I am whole again.

Merry
curtsied to the dragon.

It
was our pleasure to aid you
, Merry said. Then she and Kieran made their way back to
Valerian’s side. Before he reached the chair, Kieran grinned when Tetratorix
bent down to playfully snort at the squire.

Albinonix
came forward again and positioned himself before Valerian. Again he reared up
on his back legs and stretched out his wings.

Prince
Valerian, we will not forget the Covenant we have renewed with you. When you
become king, we will return to welcome you as our new Dragon King. You and your
descendants may call on us, always
.

At
that Albinonix pointed his head skyward and roared. The other dragons reared up
with an answering roar.

Help
me stand, love
.
Valerian pushed himself erect, and Merry wrapped her arm around his waist to
help him balance on one leg.

“My
sword! I don’t have my sword.”

Kieran
slid his blade from the scabbard on his belt.

“Use
mine, Sire.”

Valerian
grasped the hilt and held it above his head. The thunderous sound of the dragons
was made more deafening as the human witnesses added their shouts to the
dragons’ salute.

All
grew quiet as Albinonix lowered himself and brought his enormous head down to
Valerian. He could feel the dragon’s hot breath as he returned the sword to
Kieran and put his right hand over his heart. Then Valerian spoke out loud for
the benefit of those present, as well as with his mind to the dragons.

“I
pledge to you, my lord Albinonix, greatest of all dragons, that I will be
faithful to our Covenant all the days of my life. I will teach all Levathians
to respect and honor you for the salvation you have brought to us.”

Tears
came to his eyes when he realized that except for him and Merry, every human
present had gone down on one knee, paying homage to the magnificent dragons.

Farewell,
Prince Valerian. Farewell, Healer Merry. We shall meet again.
And Albinonix reared up
a final time, spread his wings, and launched himself into the air. The force of
the backstroke pushed Valerian into the chair. Merry let go of him and held on
to the chair’s arm. As soon as all the dragons were airborne, they briefly
flamed the air, living fireworks in the evening sky. The awed crowd watched
until they were specks against the clouds.

“Well,”
said King Orland quietly as he came to stand beside Valerian. “That is a memory
not soon forgotten.”

“We
should never forget what the dragons did for us, Father.”

“No,
we should not.” The king turned to look at Valerian. “I’m afraid the feast will
be rather dull after that display.”

Valerian’s
heart was so full of gratitude, he smiled with all his being.

“How
could it be so when the Keep is still standing, and most of its inhabitants are
alive and well? We have much to celebrate.”

***

Merry
sat beside Valerian at the feast. King Orland had the chair on Valerian’s other
side, with Queen Winifred next to the king. The four of them were the only ones
at the head table, but so many extra tables had been set up that the huge room
appeared small and crowded. Merry caught glimpses of people she knew or had
met, but most were strangers. Everyone ate and laughed and shouted to be heard
over the group of musicians playing happy tunes.

Is
every feast as loud as this one?
Merry asked.

Valerian
laughed at her reaction.

Most
of them. This time it’s a display of happiness at being alive
.

I’m
thankful for our mind talking. I would not be able to hear you otherwise
.