Healing Fire Read Free

with Anselle?” the captain asked. “I don’t wish him to be alone.”
    Lem knew it wasn’t his place to allow or not allow the captain to stay with Anselle, but he wished to beg for forgiveness in private. “If I can have a few minutes first please, Captain.”
    “If you wish to keep him company, you have the right. You were his trainee.”
    Yes, and he had failed his master. He wasn’t sure he had any rights left. He inclined his head to the captain, waiting until the man had left before turning back to Anselle and bowing his head low.
    “Please, Master, I beg your forgiveness for failing you.” Lem knew he didn’t deserve it, but, nonetheless, he had to ask.
    “Failing me? Pshaw. You saved the palace. You sounded the alarm.”
    “But you’re dying.” Lem should have gotten Anselle safely behind closed doors before leaving to sound the bell. And he should have been earlier to sound it, as well.
    “Everything dies, my boy.”
    “Not because of me!”
    “No.” Anselle gave him a stern look. “Not because of you. Because we were attacked.”
    “I should have done more, Master. I failed your training.” He had failed in so many different ways.
    “Nonsense. I have never been so proud.” Anselle reached out for him.
    Lem took Anselle’s hand, willing his Master to draw on his strength.
    “My heart son. You will be the best of my legacy.”
    Oh, Anselle’s heart son. It was the biggest honor Lem could dream of being bestowed.
    “I will not fail you again, Master. I swear it.”
    “You have never failed me. Not once since you hatched.”
    The words made his eyes fill with tears.
    “Master, please. Don’t leave me.”
    “I could never leave you. My training lives within you.”
    Lem held on tightly to Ansell’s hand. “I will make you proud, Master. I swear it.”
    “I love you, my son.”
    The tears began to spill from Lem’s cheeks. He bent his head over Ansell’s hand, kissed it.
    “Master...” He wanted to beg Anselle not to die, but he knew it would make no difference. The poison had ravaged his Master’s body.
    The dragon sighed softly. Then the huge heart stopped beating, the magical spirit filling the room with Anselle’s final rush of presence.
    Lem closed his eyes and breathed his Master in, the tears pouring down his cheeks.
     
    ***
     
    Jules woke a ten day after Mabon passed. He went from the hospital to his quarters, refusing to speak, to eat. Nothing. His heart was broken, and his body ached.
    There was a knock at his door, then it opened, the captain of the guard coming in.
    “Your bodyguard is here, Your Highness.”
    He stared, his heart pounding furiously. What? What? His Mabon lived?
    The captain stepped aside, and a tall, broad man with a square face, who was definitely not Mabon, walked in.
    The man came up to him and stopped abruptly. “Lem, reporting for duty, Your Highness.”
    No. No, this was not Mabon. Jules stood up and opened his door, pointed to the hall. No.
    “I will not leave unless you do, sire.”
    “He is yours, Highness,” the captain told him. “Your father has ordered it.” With that the captain bowed and left, closing the door behind him.
    Jules shook his head, then turned to his bedroom. No. No. Mabon was his guard. Before he could close the door behind him, Lem was through it, right at his heels. He shook his head, shoved the man away. No. Lem stepped back next to him.
    “I am your bodyguard, whether you wish it or not.”
    “My bodyguard is Mabon.” His voice was destroyed, raw.
    “I am sorry, sire. Truly.”
    “Go. Please.” He needed peace. Silence. Mabon.
    “I cannot.” Lem stood, hands at his sides, back straight.
    Jules crept back into the shadows, curled into the bedding, and hid. He would stay in his nest, lest he burned anyone else. Lem moved to stand next to his nest, silent and tall.
    The only safe space in all the world was gone.
    Nonetheless, silent and still, Lem remained.

Chapter Three
    Lem was worried about the prince.