Chapter Eighteen: The Search

Every day at first light Ryoch would meet with leaders of the searching crews.  Twenty-five crews of ten each went out every day in a grid like search, while Ryoch flew above.  Every day there was nothing new.

            Runners returned every day with no news of the girls, but one day a runner was stopped by a mercenary, on the march to the Northern War.  He told of a large auction held some time ago, and a dragon of great beauty with a miniature on her back, went for a pretty stiff price.  They were just yearlings, so they were not bought as mating slaves, but rather workers.  The little one had amazing speed, so fast it was thought to be magic.  The larger dragon could read, and she helped soldiers with letters from home, and such.  They were going to be sold separately, but the little one showed her fangs, and would kill the first one that tried, from then on it was a package deal.  It’s said they have been re-sold to other base camps over and over again, their price always going up.  He wished them luck and moved on.  “Oh by the way,” he continued, “they’re captor’s name is Cord, if you are interested.  He is a bottom feeder, always with stolen goods to sell.  No clan will claim him, and he has no loyalty to anyone.  He is also venomous, and has a bad temper.”  The Mercenary said.

            The runner returned to the Castle, and relayed to Ryoch all that the Mercenary told him. 

            “Cord, huh?  Well we know now more than we ever have, but still they seem to slip through every time we get closer.”  Ryoch said.  His head dropped as he sighed loudly, discouragement was heavy in the room.

            “Father, they will return, just as I have said.  Please don’t worry so much, they are not being harmed in any way.”  Bella tried to cheer him up.

            “But when Bella?  Will they return, tomorrow, next week, next year?”  Ryoch probed at Bella.

            “I am sorry Father, it doesn’t say when, but I can estimate based on the girl’s size, and colors.  We grow the most during our second year, and as we grow our colors deepen or lighten up, depending on the dragon.  Why haven’t I thought of this first?”  Bella exclaimed.

            “Of course!”  Ryoch jumped up, and hugged his daughter

            Bella calmed herself, and her eyes rolled into the back of her head.  Bella slumped in the Thrown, and Ryoch reached to help her.  Ryoch had never seen how Bella’s magic worked, and her faint scared him to death.

            “No brother this is how it’s done with Bella.”  Leona’s voice came to him, calming him down.

            “Thank you, Leona, now stop it.”  Ryoch replied.  He heard a giggle, and smiled in spite of the weight of the circumstances.

            Bella slowly blinked her eyes and settled on Ryoch as she sat back up.

            “Mara is becoming very good at her blocking, but even she can’t block the future.  I saw them return, and they are not alone.  A large warrior class male is with them and also a yearling male.  There is something about all of them that is a little off kilter, something un-said or ignored or secret.  I don’t know.  But Father, Mara’s scales have deepened in color, and she has become a full-grown dragon, and most shocking of all is Missy.  Missy is still a miniature dragon, but she is now the size of a normal dragon hatchling.  She has grown a lot!”  Bella finished.  “I am sorry Father, I know you were hoping for a better answer, but this is what will happen.  They have been gone a long time now, and it still will be a long time before they are back, but they will come home, I promise.”  Bella said softly.

            Ryoch nodded and sighed again, full grown that means at least another nine months.  The Seasons were almost upon them, and this would be Bella’s first.  Everything was ready, and the guests should start arriving over the next two weeks.  This would be Bella’s first grand parties, dances, games and such.  Ryoch was not ready for it.  Chaperoning Bella every day to all of her events, and outings will be a chore.  He wondered if he could hire a chaperone, or another family member?  He would check into it, he told himself as he went to be with Glenna.

 

            Glenna was having a good day today, she was awake and alert when Ryoch entered their chamber.  It had been three long scary months, since she had been bitten, and the girls gone.  Ryoch’s daily flights over the forests had come to a stop, because while he was gone one time, Glenna had awaked by herself, and had been terrified.  Glenna’s nightmares had come true, she was all alone, and dying, of course servants came running, and Ryoch was found, but the damage had been done.  Ryoch never left the Castle after that, and rarely left Glenna’s side.  Glenna never asked about her arm, it seemed she knew it had been done from necessity, to save her life.  She grew stronger every day, and showed it by her appetite, and increasing restlessness.

            Today was to be her first attempt to stand and walk, and Ryoch wanted to be there.  She had lost so much weight, her bones stuck out whether she was human or dragon.  She could eat regular meals now, so she should fill back out soon.  Ryoch missed her curves and soft spots.

            “Are we ready?”  Ryoch asked as he entered the room.  He was eager and happy, just for Glenna, since she needed all the positive energy around her.  Glenna smiled, and Ryoch stepped closer.

            With the healer at close hand, Ryoch took Glenna’s hand, and let her try to stand.  They had decided to make her first moves at dusk, because it would be easier to handle her if she fell or something.

            Glenna’s legs wobbled and trembled, as she got to her feet.  She just stood for a few minutes giving her legs a chance to remember what it felt like to be upright, rather than bed bound.  Slowly the wobbliness stopped, but the trembles remained.

            “O.K., so now what?”  Glenna asked.

            The healer stepped closer, and helped to balance Glenna on one side, while Ryoch took the other.

            “Just one foot step Glenna,” the healer said.  Glenna slowly picked up her foot, and sat it down a few inches forward.

            “That’s good!  Very good.  Can you try the other?”  The healer asked.

            Very slowly they made a circle around the room, by the time they reached the bed again, Glenna was sweating, and out of breath.  They eased her down on the bed, and the healer clapped her hands with excitement.

            “That was wonderful Glenna.”  The healer exclaimed.

            “Yeah, not bad.”  Glenna replied.

            Ryoch could not stop smiling, his grin was from ear to ear.  (dragons grinning...creepy)

            “You are amazing Glenna.”  Ryoch spoke with love.

            “You are just biased, dear.”  She replied.  Glenna’s smile faltered as a wave of dizziness grabbed her.  Ryoch helped get her in bed, and her eyes closed in sleep.  She would probably sleep the rest of the night away.

            This would be a good time to check in with Saber about the search, and pass on Bella’s information.

 

            “How is the search going?”  Ryoch asked.  He had flown over to the Lair, right out Glenna’s window.  It was faster and easier than going thru the Castle, and over the bridge and up the mountain.

            “Hey pup, I am glad to see you.  How’s Glenna?”  The standard question every time.

            “She is great!  She walked today for the first time.”

            “Great!”  Saber said happily.

            “I have  more info on him.”  Ryoch said.  They both knew who ‘him’ was.  He passed on what he knew, including Bella’s image of the girls being so much older when they  return.

            “Has the runner returned from the far North yet?”  Saber asked.

            “Not yet, it’s a good six-month trek.  He could make better time if he would fly, but he could miss critical info at inns, lodges and Clans along the way.  Hopefully he will be back by mid-Season. 

            They both contemplated the map, Saber had made showing where the girls had been, and their journey along the way.  Info on slaves was slow and not accurate, but two yearlings, one a miniature, were hard to forget.  The last three months they had been bought, and sold four times according to Sabers info.  Always traveling, never in one place for more than a week or so.  Runners had always been just behind them, never catching up.  It was discouraging, but also helped with Sabers map.   It was almost a process of elimination, because the girls never went back to where they have been, always moving north.  The battle zones were always their destinations, but once there they tended to disappear.  The girls owners always kept them under cover so no one knew if they were there or not. 

            There were three battle zones, with six clans fighting.  Of those the girls had been to two of them and been sold off both times.  Then a new group of mercenaries would buy them, and off they went again.  Saber’s runners just days away, as of right now, Saber believed they were on the trail to the far north war zone.  It was a three months, trek from the last war zone.  Getting info while the girls were in motion, moving from one place to another was impossible.  Ryoch’s new information from Bella is just what they needed!  Saber added it to their search information.

            “Do you think Ryan would know this half-breed?“  Ryoch asked.

            “It’s worth a shot, let’s go see.”  Saber replied.

            Ryan was off duty, and visiting with Saber’s mother, Dana.  Since Dana came to live with them, Ryan had become a constant visitor.  Saber was glad and hoped they would become life- mates.  His mother deserved some love in her life, and Ryan was the perfect match for her.  Ryoch just shook his head smiling to himself.

            “Ryan can I borrow you for a few minutes?”  Saber asked, when they reached the Great Hall.

            “Sure what’s up?”  Ryan asked, as they returned to Saber’s office, where all the information and maps were.

            “Whoa you are really on the ball here Saber.”  Ryan said with pride.  He walked around the room, reading and following the trail to the girl’s where about.  As he came to the last bit of information he stopped, reading it twice.  His bright blue flesh turned a dark color, and he trembled with anger.

            “Where did this info come from?” 

            “Bella and a runner brought it in earlier today.”  Saber said, watching Ryan closely.  He was a Berzerker after all, and Saber did not think he could take him out if he had too.  Ryoch watched Ryan’s body language too, and came up with the only explanation for Ryan’s reaction.  He knew Cord, personally.

            Ryan regained control, and turned to face Saber.  He seemed to have aged just within a few moments.

            “I know why he hates the Royalty, and especially you Saber.  Why he attacked Glenna, why he wanted to sire, a child of Royalty, why he stole her and sold her into slavery along with Mara.  I know where I can find him, sort of.  I know where he will be in a week or so.”  Ryan finished with his head bowed, and his shoulders slumped.  Guilt and shame radiated from Ryan.

            “O.K. let’s hear it.”  Saber stated.  Ryoch just kept quiet, because he had already jumped to the end of this scenario, and knew where it was going.

            “A thousand years ago, I was on leave back home at the Berzerker summer fest.  The ice melts for just a couple of weeks each year and that is when the celebration is.  A couple of friends I had not seen in years were with me, and we were drunk to the gills.  We were headed to a house of sex, to have a few hours of erotica.  I had to pee and told the guy’s to go on I would catch up.  As I stood there peeing, I could smell her.  Her mating scent was almost over powering.  Down the alley into a dark area, I followed the scent.  Her door was opened, like she had expected me, she was a Cave Dweller in the heart of Berzerker Territory.  She was in high heat, almost in pain, her heat was burning her up.  I thought I would fry if I touched her, but at the same time, I could not stop myself.  With all the violence a Berzerker, and Cave Dweller could produce, the mating was over quickly.  I knew a hatchling would come of it, so I told her to bring me the hatchling, and I would raise it to be a soldier in the Queens Guard.  This was an opportunity that would NEVER come again, especially for the off spring of a streetwalker.  Six weeks passed, and there was no word or sign of her and the hatchling, so I went home again to find them.  I was told she and the hatchling had left a week ago for the Castle.  Well it had taken me over a month to reach Berzerker lands, and I flew without stopping, until I almost fell from the sky, asleep, from then on I rested every three days.  Now I would have to do it all over again on the return trip.  I knew it was six months trek for her and a hatchling with no protection, there was a slim chance that they would make it at all.  I decided to return to the Castle, and resume my duties, and wait.

It was almost six months to the day that I found them.  Winter had hit with a vengeance, six feet of snow throughout the Realm.  I was hunting when I heard a cry, I followed the sound deeper into the forest.  With snow almost too heavy to walk through, I lurched forward, the cry sounded to my right, and there they were.  A hollow had been dug out of the snow, with branches and pine needles as cover, and to insulate the snow.  She was dead, and scavengers were after the hatchling.  I swept in, and tucked the babe in my arms, I had to leave her, but I could save the hatchling.  It was a male, and he was very colorful, two shades of green, yellow, blue and purple accents.  He had pink Berzerker eyes, and a Cave Dwellers mouth, and as he yawned I noticed he was venomous.  I brought him with me back to the Castle, and requested ‘family leave’ to raise him. He was my first born son, and I wanted to do it right, especially since his mother was dead.  When Cord was a yearling, I returned to the guard on half time, so I could still be with him.  Cord was a good son, he seemed happy and content, he thrived and loved all the attention the Castle staff sent him, he was practically spoiled.  A few months before his majority, a group of Cave Dwellers requested a night’s rest at the Castle, they spotted Cord right away, since he had the run of the place.  One of the Cave Dwellers requested audience with the Queen.  They stated a case of a missing daughter from almost two years ago.  She had a hatchling, and was coming to the Castle.  The Queen, Darna, called for me to join them in the Throne Room.  Basically they convinced Darna to let them take Cord back to their lands, because he is the Clan Leader’s grandson.  They took Cord the very next day.  I have never seen him since, each time I return I ask for the Cave Dwellers Leader to see me, and I am denied.  Hundreds of years have passed, but I still ask when I am up North.”  Ryan came to a stop, looking up at Ryoch and Saber, the shame swept over him again.

 

            “It’s not your fault Ryan.”  Ryoch said.  “You did what you could do to see that Cord had a father that loved him.  What Cord is today is a completely different dragon, then the one you cared for.”

            “Thank you Milord.”  Ryan said formally.

            “Tell me the rest.”  Saber stated, with a quiet voice.  Ryoch immediately stepped back, knowing that particular tone of voice.  His father was enraged, completely and totally over the edge, pissed off!!!  Ryan did not have a clue.

            “Let me Saber.”  Dana stepped in and blocked her son from Ryan.

             Saber looked to his mother and asked one question.  “Why?”

            “Because I am a female, and females need love in their life, to truly feel alive, feminine, vibrant and more.  Because I was so very tired of being the ‘Virgin Queen’.  I was tired of being alone, and quite simply I fell in love.”  She stated.

            “Why?”  Saber said again in the soft voice.

            Ryan did not know what was happening between mother and son, but he did not like the tension in the room.  Ryoch shook his head when Ryan started to intervene.  Warning came too late.....Ryan stepped up, and suddenly the room was way too small for two large Alpha males.  Dana pushed Ryan back, but never took her eyes off of Saber.

            “I couldn’t tell you Saber, I did not want to look bad in your eyes.  The Queen can never life mate, oh we can have hatchlings, in fact we have to, but we are never allowed a Life-mate.  You never seemed interested about my love life or your origins.  I was never interested in giving out personal information either, as you gained your majority it didn’t seem necessary.  I mean you look so much alike in so many ways, you act alike, and it seemed everyone else could see it, everyone but you.”  She finished.  Saber looked towards Ryan, and really looked for the first time in his life.

            Ryan was bright blue, the exact shade of Saber’s blue.  Ryan’s breastplate was green, but it was much lighter a shade than Saber’s green breastplate.  That could have faded on Ryan, as he aged.  Saber’s facial shape was just like Ryan’s, and their muscle definition was a match as well.  They were the same height and weight.  When Saber raised his head, he looked his father in the eye for the first time.

            “Thank you for being there for me every time I needed you.”  Saber said quietly.  The scary soft voice was gone, and Ryoch breathed a sigh of relief.

            “And Mother?  You’re not off the hook that easily.”  Sabers voice stopped her retreat, Saber turned to look at Ryan, and then back to his mother.

            “Can anyone say wedding cake?”  Saber asked with a smile.