The Dragon Legion Collection(26)

Whatever he might have said died on his lips, because his gaze fell upon Pelias. Alexander gave a cry and stumbled to kneel beside the older soldier, checking his breath and his heart.

“It’s too late. He gave his last to you,” Katina said, tears in her eyes. “With his dragonsmoke.”

Katina had never seen Alexander lose his composure, but he lost it in this moment. He gasped in anguish and his tears fell. He bowed over the fallen soldier and touched his forehead to Pelias’ chest, weeping silently. Katina held Lysander’s hand tightly. She knew that Alexander was overwhelmed, for otherwise he would have remained stoic.

Or maybe the fact that she knew his secret meant he could share all of his emotions with her. If he didn’t feel he had to hide behind impassivity to protect his secret, then they could be as one all the time. Their marriage could be potent and passionate.

“He should never have done it,” Alexander murmured. “He could have been healed. He could have lived.”

“No,” Katina corrected gently. “His wounds were too great. He would never have healed.” She reached out and touched her husband’s hand. “He chose, Alexander, and he didn’t regret it.”

Alexander’s mouth worked in silence as he fought for composure. He bent and kissed the older man’s cheeks, his last tears falling as he did so. Then he pushed to his feet and walked a short distance, his hands running over the closed wounds on his chest as if he couldn’t believe his own state either.

He turned to look at his fallen mentor again. “I would have talked to him again,” he said softly. “I would have told him what I have seen.”

“He said he was content to have seen you returned,” Lysander said. “He said he knew you would return. How did he know that?”

Alexander looked at his son. “I don’t know.”

“Because your father gave his word,” Katina said, rising to her feet. “And a man of honor always keeps his word. I’m sorry, Alexander, that I doubted you would come back to me.”

He looked at her then, his anguish and his love mingled in his gaze, and once again, Katina had the sense that she could see straight to his heart. She might have stood there forever, simply basking in the warmth of his regard, but she knew they couldn’t linger.

“I meant to die for both of you,” Alexander admitted. “I meant to give my life to see you safe from Jorge. It would have been an honorable deed.”

“You nearly did, but Pelias gave his for you instead.”

“Is the yellow dragon gone, Papa?”

Alexander frowned. “Did you see blue-green light when he disappeared?

Lysander nodded.

“Then the darkfire has cast him back.” Alexander inhaled deeply, narrowing his eyes as if he assessed the scent with care. “I believe he may be gone.”

Katina remembered his sense that the Slayer could hide and reveal his scent, and knew he wasn’t positive. He was being protective, shielding her from his doubts. “Lysander said the yellow dragon had a plan to capture all the sons of the soldiers in your company.”

“Yes,” Alexander said, recovering himself. He looked hard at their son. “You heard that?”

Lysander nodded proudly. Katina noticed that the pieces of scale had disappeared from the ground and knew that her son had put them safely away. They must be in the small pouch he kept tied to his belt for carrying treasures. “Mama heard only thunder.”

“That’s old-speak that you heard,” Alexander explained. “It’s too deep for any other than our own kind to hear, and we can hear it at a great distance. There are those who can whisper old-speak into the thoughts of others, so that it mingles with their thoughts.”

“So I am Pyr?”

Alexander smiled. “You are the son of a Pyr, Lysander. There never was any doubt.”

“Pelias said he was going to watch me.”

“As he watched me. But now that you have heard old-speak and seen dragonsmoke, our path is clear.” He nodded at Katina. “We go to Delphi, for your training will be there.”

And to ask the counsel of the Pythia. Katina hoped with all her heart that Alexander would be allowed to stay.

“What training?” Lysander asked. “I thought I was going to the agoge.”

Alexander smiled. “I’ll explain it all to you on the way.”

“Will we fly?” Lysander demanded with enthusiasm, but Katina saw the weariness in Alexander’s expression.

“Your father has just fought a battle and nearly died defending you,” she chided gently. “We can walk while he recovers his strength.”

Lysander nodded agreement to this, his excitement at being in his father’s presence clear.

“Don’t ask too many questions just yet,” Katina said. “Let your father catch his breath.”

“Yes, Mama.”

“You should take Pelias’ armor and his cloak,” she told Alexander. “Your clothing is too strange, and it would be best if we drew less attention.”

Alexander frowned as he considered the older man. “I can’t leave him here, not like this.”

That hadn’t been Katina’s intention. “Of course not. How do you honor the dead of your kind?”

Alexander glanced up in surprise. “Pelias was not Pyr.”