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Authors: Melanie Nilles
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forgiveness."
"You owe me nothing. I came for peace."
"I'll gladly take the friendship of the feyquin over a war that would destroy this land."
When Antorin extended a hand, Faldon took it, aware of the human custom. "I'll speak to the others, but I no longer hold the authority I had."
"That is all I can ask." A wry grin crooked up Antorin's face. "You've caused trouble, I hear."
After a few seconds to absorb the reality of standing there with a new peace between their species, Faldon noticed the lighter blue at the far horizon. "If I may make one request, my king. The woman..."
Antorin's smile broadened. "This way."
Faldon followed the man, who stood proud and tall, every bit the leader of his people as when they first met long ago, when a young human man stood before him to accept his allegiance.
At one of the lesser rooms in that section of the palace, Antorin stopped. Faldon opened the door. A maid sitting near the bed looked up, a worried expression on her face by lamplight. Faldon ignored her and sat on the edge of the bed near the figure beneath the covers.
"Pardon my asking, sir—"
"Leave us," Faldon said.
The maid's steps faded out the door. Faldon glanced aside, but both the maid and the king were gone.
He returned his eyes to the soft features of Selina's sleeping face amid the plush pillows and smiled. She looked so calm and at peace, not the fiery tempered woman who had caused him trouble. Her chest rose and fell with each breath.
His worry returned when he saw the mark. She would be lucky to see the sun rise. As he expected, the task of reviving Antorin had expended the rest of her life. She might have only seconds left. Was the exchange of one human's life to bring peace among hundreds of thousands a fair trade for another more precious to him?
He could never have made the decision.
"Selina."
She inhaled sharply.
"Selina." He swallowed the emotions hardening in his throat and caressed her cheek. "Wake up."
Her eyes opened and she stretched. "Faldon?"
He took her hand in his and tried to smile.
"You came." She smiled but it faded quickly. She put her other hand to her forehead and groaned. "I feel terrible."
"You look terrible, but Antorin's healthy."
"Good." She closed her eyes and sighed. "Let me sleep."
"No." His eyes burned, the emotions in him tangling into something he had never experienced. He didn't want to lose her. If she fell asleep, he might not have this chance. "Stay awake, a little longer." He sniffed and wiped the tears from his eyes.
"Are you crying?" she chided him softly. "Be careful, or someone'll think you're human."
He choked on a sob and rubbed her hand. "I'm sorry, for everything."
"As am I, but it's too late now." Her voice faded into a whisper.
"For what?"
"Me." Her breath blew away, leaving her for the last time.
The tears came unbidden, a well of grief he had never known. Not even losing the herd to a rival grieved him like this.
When the sun shone through the doorway, the pain started.
It ended when he stood on four legs.
When the maids came to check on Selina, Faldon followed them to where they carried her. His heart had never known grief, but if it meant understanding humans, he would take it as her lesson.
The curse would be a blessing, as she had seen her own inherited curse, to bring peace.
About the Author
Melanie Nilles grew up on a western North Dakota cattle ranch and farm. Along with her interest in horses, she always had a fascination with science fiction and fantasy. After high school, she graduated from North Dakota State University with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. She currently resides in central North Dakota with her family, which includes her husband and kids, and two cats. Her published works include DRAGON PROPHECY (Mundania Books, LLC, 2008) and the continuing LEGEND OF THE WHITE DRAGON epic, which is available as an e-serial at melanienilles.com. Besides writing, she also trains and shows her
"You owe me nothing. I came for peace."
"I'll gladly take the friendship of the feyquin over a war that would destroy this land."
When Antorin extended a hand, Faldon took it, aware of the human custom. "I'll speak to the others, but I no longer hold the authority I had."
"That is all I can ask." A wry grin crooked up Antorin's face. "You've caused trouble, I hear."
After a few seconds to absorb the reality of standing there with a new peace between their species, Faldon noticed the lighter blue at the far horizon. "If I may make one request, my king. The woman..."
Antorin's smile broadened. "This way."
Faldon followed the man, who stood proud and tall, every bit the leader of his people as when they first met long ago, when a young human man stood before him to accept his allegiance.
At one of the lesser rooms in that section of the palace, Antorin stopped. Faldon opened the door. A maid sitting near the bed looked up, a worried expression on her face by lamplight. Faldon ignored her and sat on the edge of the bed near the figure beneath the covers.
"Pardon my asking, sir—"
"Leave us," Faldon said.
The maid's steps faded out the door. Faldon glanced aside, but both the maid and the king were gone.
He returned his eyes to the soft features of Selina's sleeping face amid the plush pillows and smiled. She looked so calm and at peace, not the fiery tempered woman who had caused him trouble. Her chest rose and fell with each breath.
His worry returned when he saw the mark. She would be lucky to see the sun rise. As he expected, the task of reviving Antorin had expended the rest of her life. She might have only seconds left. Was the exchange of one human's life to bring peace among hundreds of thousands a fair trade for another more precious to him?
He could never have made the decision.
"Selina."
She inhaled sharply.
"Selina." He swallowed the emotions hardening in his throat and caressed her cheek. "Wake up."
Her eyes opened and she stretched. "Faldon?"
He took her hand in his and tried to smile.
"You came." She smiled but it faded quickly. She put her other hand to her forehead and groaned. "I feel terrible."
"You look terrible, but Antorin's healthy."
"Good." She closed her eyes and sighed. "Let me sleep."
"No." His eyes burned, the emotions in him tangling into something he had never experienced. He didn't want to lose her. If she fell asleep, he might not have this chance. "Stay awake, a little longer." He sniffed and wiped the tears from his eyes.
"Are you crying?" she chided him softly. "Be careful, or someone'll think you're human."
He choked on a sob and rubbed her hand. "I'm sorry, for everything."
"As am I, but it's too late now." Her voice faded into a whisper.
"For what?"
"Me." Her breath blew away, leaving her for the last time.
The tears came unbidden, a well of grief he had never known. Not even losing the herd to a rival grieved him like this.
When the sun shone through the doorway, the pain started.
It ended when he stood on four legs.
When the maids came to check on Selina, Faldon followed them to where they carried her. His heart had never known grief, but if it meant understanding humans, he would take it as her lesson.
The curse would be a blessing, as she had seen her own inherited curse, to bring peace.
About the Author
Melanie Nilles grew up on a western North Dakota cattle ranch and farm. Along with her interest in horses, she always had a fascination with science fiction and fantasy. After high school, she graduated from North Dakota State University with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. She currently resides in central North Dakota with her family, which includes her husband and kids, and two cats. Her published works include DRAGON PROPHECY (Mundania Books, LLC, 2008) and the continuing LEGEND OF THE WHITE DRAGON epic, which is available as an e-serial at melanienilles.com. Besides writing, she also trains and shows her
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