Courting a Dragon

Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

Eastwei raised a hand with the palm turned upward. His magic flowed out and shaped itself into a glistening red crystal. The gem floated above his palm and slowly turned in a circle. The dim lights couldn’t hide the gaps and cracks in the gem.

Wuhel crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “You fool. What have you done to yourself?”

He closed his hand, extinguishing the light. “Can you use me?”

She turned her nose up and scoffed. “Barely. Were I in need of even the smallest bit more of your magic you would shatter into a million pieces, and then where would the world be?”

“The world would continue to exist,” he countered as he held his hand out to her. “Now take what you must.”

She slapped his palm and stuck her chin out to glare at him. “Foolish, foolish man! I did not make that promise to His Majesty just to see you throw it away!” Eastwei merely dropped his hand at his side and stared at her. She threw up her hands. “Very well! Stand in the middle of the room and we shall begin the extraction!”

Fuhel emerged from the woodshed with an armful of wood just as a brilliant scarlet-red light burst out of the windows of her grandmother’s home. She let out a gasp and shut her eyes against the blinding radiance. She clutched the wood to herself as a soft warmth spread over her body, tingling her muscles and flapping her hair about her face.

The light faded and she opened her eyes to find them filled with bright red dots. She blinked a few times before she took a cautious step toward her home.

The door opened and her grandmother peeked her head out. “Fuhel!” she hissed.

“Over here, Grandmother,” Fuhel replied as she hurried over.

Wuhel waved her hand toward the ground. “Quiet down! Drop that wood and fetch a covered cart and horse from Kang, and whatever you do, do not mention Lord Eastwei. Is that understood?”

Fuhel bobbed her head. “Yes, Grandmother! Right away!”

She dropped the wood in a pile at the door and hurried away. Wuhel glared at the mess before she ducked back inside.

The young woman dashed over bridges, up hills, and over many islands before she stumbled onto the one owned by Kang. “Master Kang!” she shouted at the figure who stood in one of the nearby corrals. “Master Kang!”

The beast master had a bucket tucked under one arm and a bull-like creature stood in front of him. His other hand was wrist-deep in the feed corn contained in the bucket which the bull covetously eyed. He turned at her coming and a wide smile brightened his features. “Lady Fuhel! To what do I owe this unique pleasure?”

Fuhel stopped at the edge of the fence and set her hands on her bent knees. She doubled over wheezing for air and only managed a few words between gasps. “Grandmother. . .would like. . .one of. . .your. . .covered wagons. . .and a. . .horse.”

He lifted an eyebrow and opened his mouth to question her but was interrupted by the bull. The creature had the expected horns but they were curled like those of a ram. The coloring of its hide was a cool blue with streaks of white and when it snorted small puffs of icy hair huffed from its nostrils. The beast nudged Kang with its nose and a few bits of ice were sprinkled on his arm.

“Hey!” he scolded the creature as he scrambled backward. He brushed off the ice and glared at his animal. “Patience! Can you not see I am speaking with a lovely lady?” The bull turned its head to one side and huffed. “Insolent. . .” Kang muttered as he turned his attention back to Fuhel. “Now why would your grandmother need such a thing?”

Fuhel clasped her hands in front of her and bit her lower lip. “I. . .I cannot say.”

Kang sauntered over to the fence and draped an arm over the top railing. “There is no need to fret, Lady Fuhel. I will gladly offer you my best cart and my fastest horse.”

“And it must be a covered cart,” she reminded him.

He closed his eyes and bowed his head. “Your wish is my command, My Lady. I shall hitch the horse immediately.”

The bull had other plans. The forsaken creature threw its head back and brayed before it stampeded toward them. Kang’s eyes widened and he scampered away from the fence. Fuhel also made a hasty retreat several yards backward.

The bull turned before it crashed into the fence and aimed for Kang. The god snapped his fingers and a bolt of lightning shot out of his hand. The lightning struck the bull full in the snout. The animal yelped and stumbled back while it furiously tossed its head to and fro. The bull eventually turned tail and scampered back to its bedding shed.

“That will teach you to be greedy,” Kang scolded the creature. He waved at Fuhel and pointed to one of the larger barns. “Meet me over there and I shall fix up your cart.”

Fuhel hurried over to the barn while Kang sauntered toward a feed shed that adjoined the corral. She hopped from one foot to the other and wrung her hands together. “Please hurry! You must make haste!”

Kang paused at the door to the shed and twisted his head about to raise an eyebrow at her. “Why? Is something the matter?”

A little color drained from her face before she furiously shook her head. “N-no, but my grandmother wishes to have the cart as soon as possible.”

“Very well,” he agreed before he disappeared into the shed. He came out and quickened his steps, hopping over the railing in a single jump and joining her. “Now let us hitch Shan to the cart and you shall be on your way.”

Kang strode over to a nearby stall where a pure-white horse stood at the door. He led the creature out and it pranced across the floor with all the lightness of a feather. The beast master chose a covered cart with a short box which he hooked up the horse to in a few short minutes.

Kang turned to his anxious customer and smiled. “There. Do you need any advice on handling Shan?”

Fuhel looked up at the horse who whinnied and shook its head. She smiled and copied the gesture. “No, I am sure Shan will not give me any trouble.”

Kang’s eyes shimmered as he looked her over. “Who would want to give you trouble, Lady Fuhel?”

She blushed and moved toward the box. Kang scurried to assist and together they put her on top. She took up the reins and smiled down at him. “Thank you so much for the help. I will not forget your kindness.”

Kang leaned one bent arm atop a wheel and grinned up at her. “I will remember that promise, fair Lady Fuhel, and should we meet again-”

“I must go now,” Fuhel reminded him as she cracked the reins.

Kang jumped back and watched her fly out of the barn and down the road. He sauntered over to the doorway and leaned an arm against the frame. A faint smile still touched his lips as he folded his arms over his chest. “Someday I will tame you, Lady Fuhel.”

Regret was Fuhel’s companion as she rushed down the white roads of the heaven realm. My apologies, Master Kang. I shall try to make up for my rudeness later!

Shan was up to the task of a quick journey and they soon arrived at the shadowed home of Lady Wuhel. Fuhel parked the cart just outside the door and hopped down just as the portal opened. Wuhel beckoned her with one hand while her eyes darted over the area. “Hurry along!” she hissed as she backed up. “Hurry along!”

Fuhel slipped inside and her grandmother closed the door without latching it. The young woman’s eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness and she gasped.

Lord Eastwei sat slumped in a chair near the fire. His arms were draped over the armrests and his head lolled to one side. He was ghastly pale and his breathing was quick and shallow.

“What has happened to him?” Fuhel exclaimed as she hurried over to the fallen lord.

“Never you mind that,” her grandmother scolded her as she grasped the lord’s far arm. “Take up an arm across your shoulders and help me load him into the cart.”

Fuhel did as she was commanded and together the pair hefted Eastwei to his feet. The lord couldn’t do much more than mumble a few words as they dragged him toward the door. “Moon. . .silver. . .moon. . .”

“Is he delirious?” Fuhel questioned her grandmother as they reached the entrance.

“Focus or we shall drop him,” Wuhel snapped as she reached for the doorknob.

They slipped outside and crossed the few steps to the cart where they leaned him against the back. Fuhel climbed into the covered rear and together they dragged him head-first into the vehicle. She gently lay him on the floor and peeked her head out the rear.

“What shall we do with him now?” she wondered.

“Take him to his palace via every back road between here and there and have his manservant help you carry him to his bed,” Wuhel instructed her as she leaned to one side to inspect the road ahead. “Tell him his master needs a good fortnight of rest and food, and no one is to see him. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Grandmother,” Fuhel confirmed before she climbed through the cart and onto the box.

“And mind you do not stop for anyone, even His Majesty himself!” Wuhel insisted.

Fuhel took up the reins and nodded. “Yes, Grandmother.”

She cracked the reins and the cart flew across the bridge. Shan seemed to understand the urgency of the mission now that the cargo was loaded and doubled his speed. They flew over the ground with such swiftness that even the slightest bump in the road made the cart airborne. The driver clung to the reins as much to keep control as to keep a steady hand on some part of the cart.

Fuhel reached the palace of the dragon lord in one piece but with her immortal lifespan somewhat shortened. She avoided the front gate and instead parked the vehicle at the side entrance to one of the gardens. Fuhel hopped down and rushed through the west garden and into the house.

“Puren!” she shouted as her eyes darted about the place. “Puren, where are you?”

Puren peeked his head out of one room with a bundle of laundry tucked under one arm. “Lady Fuhel? What is the matter?”

She pointed at the west wing. “Your master. You need to help me carry him inside.”

Puren’s eyes widened but he didn’t ask any questions. He just dropped the bundle and followed her to the cart. She opened the back flap and the reveal made Puren lose some color. Still, he stiffened his jaw and climbed into the back. She made to do the same but he held up a hand in front of her.

“Allow me to do this, Lady Fuhel,” he pleaded.

Puren carefully picked up his lord and eased them down from the cart. Fuhel followed them inside with wringing hands and watched the servant lay his master gently atop his bed. Puren took a seat beside the unconscious lord and studied his attire for a moment.

A look of confusion covered his face before he looked up at Fuhel. “There are no marks. What has happened?”

“He expended a great deal of energy for the barrier spell and must rest for a fortnight,” Fuhel replied, recalling her grandmother’s words. “And no one must see him like this. Do you understand?”

Puren returned his anxious eyes to his master and set a hand on the sheets that covered him. “I understand what you request but I do not understand why he is in such a state. How could one spell lay him so low?”

Fuhel’s expression fell and she grasped her hands in front of her. “I wish I could tell you more but that is all I know. Please take good care of him.”

Puren sighed but stood and bowed his head to her. “Thank you for safely returning him.”

Fuhel reluctantly left the pair alone, her heart aching for the ashen-white dragon lord and his worried servant.