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.“It likes you,” Lera proclaimed, somewhat surprised by the playfulness of the eternal flame in the child’s presence.“See? That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Hugh’s voice was warm in Lera’s mind as he spoke to Miss.“Fire hurt before,” Miss said, her head tilted to one side, clearly perplexed.Lera looked at Hugh.Little puffs of smoke came from his nostrils as he chuckled.“That was ordinary fire.The eternal flame is very special, Miss,” Lera explained.“Very magical and sacred to the Lady we all serve.”Lera walked toward the fire, glad to be in its presence as Miss scampered back to Hugh’s side.She raised her arms, greeting the flame and taking it within herself.All was well.The eternal fire welcomed her as it had always done.She was still its chosen.Being with Hugh hadn’t changed her so much that the flame no longer wanted her.She felt empowered by the flame.Fleeing for her life had put Lera in a position she’d seldom been in during her privileged life.Hugh had saved her and taught her about real passion, but the feelings of vulnerability persisted.Her cousin wanted her dead.The most expensive—and successful—assassins that money could buy were following her, lying in wait, anticipating her every move.Hugh had foiled them and taken her away from danger for a precious few hours.But sooner or later, the threat had to be faced.She was back in the city to do just that.Like it or not, things would be coming to a head soon.On her terms, hopefully, this time.Leaving the tower and walking into the courtyard, which was covered by a leafy trellis, hiding them from above, Lera and her party found the High Priest and his Council of Elders waiting for them.They greeted Hyadror first, with a respectful bow for his age and station.Lera walked with Miss.Hugh guarded them from the rear.Lera noted the widening of the High Priest’s eyes when he saw the dragon, even though she knew he’d had to have known by now that the black dragon had brought her to his temple tower.The priests had efficient ways of passing information among their number.Even Lera didn’t know the extent of their magics.“Greetings, milady.We are relieved to see you well.” High Priest Gregor greeted her with concern in his eyes.“Father Gregor, may I introduce Hugh of Draconia and his ward, Miss.” Lera kept to the formalities while they were standing in the middle of the courtyard, in full view of anyone who could possibly see or hear them.She trusted the priesthood in general and had even more respect for the elders and High Priest, but there were always a few brothers-in-training around who had not yet been fully embraced by the flame.She’d never questioned their presence before.Then again, she’d never had the most fearsome assassins in the land set on her trail before.Bitter experience of the past few days made her leery of anyone and everyone.“The flame has welcomed you, Hugh of Draconia and young Miss.Be welcome in our temple and among our brethren.”Miss bowed on her forelegs, her manners impeccable, as usual.Lera had to wonder again where she’d learned such dainty ways, but the child had so far refused to discuss much about her origins.Hugh bowed his head, holding eye contact like most warriors she’d seen.He did not initiate telepathic communication and she wasn’t sure he’d show his human form to these warriors, which left her unsure how to proceed.“I invite you to the main audience hall.It should be big enough for our flying friends,” Gregor said, neatly taking the problem out of her hands.“I would request only that you limit the meeting to you and your Council, Father Gregor.I trust you, but I have reason to doubt all others until proven otherwise.” She tried to phrase her request politely.She may be the Doge and the Keeper of the Flame, but the warrior priests of the Order of Light operated under their own aegis for the most part.They were autonomous and dealt with transgressions within their own order separately, away from the justice system she administered either as Doge or as Keeper.Gregor frowned but nodded.“I heard about the bodies in your cousin’s orchard.”“Eyes, Father.She set Eyes on me.” Lera’s voice broke with emotion.She’d had some time to let the fact of her cousin Sendra’s betrayal sink in, but it still hurt.Badly.Gregor sighed as some of the elders in the Council shook their heads in disapproval of Sendra’s actions.“Your cousin is missing, milady.Our brethren have been assisting the Guard, looking for her trail with no luck.”“Thank you for trying, Father.Much as it pains me, she must be brought to justice.”“We agree,” Father Gregor said, including the elders that surrounded him in his statement as they nodded in agreement.“Let us go indoors where we may sit and make plans.”“Thank you.” Lera almost collapsed in relief.She had feared somehow the priesthood might have turned against her.Or they could have denied her assistance.They often kept to themselves and did not choose to interfere in secular matters.She had been hoping they would help her but couldn’t fully count on it until she saw Father Gregor in person.Judging from his responses and tone, he would give as much help as she could wish for.Lera’s heart lightened as they stepped toward the main audience hall.Once again, Hyadror led the way.Miss scampered under Hugh’s wing when they came out from under the arbor and were exposed to the sky and the gryphons who still circled above in agitated spirals.The giant arched doorway to the main hall was open and large enough to fit both gryphon and dragon.They proceeded through in the same order—Hyadror taking point, Lera in the middle and then Hugh acting as rear guard.She had never felt safer.The priests fanned out and the elders and High Priest took seats around a long table that had been set to one side in the large chamber.Place settings and platters of food were already on the table and an area behind held pillows enough for both gryphons and the dragon.Lera wondered if Hugh would stay in his dragon form.She would have liked to have him seated at her side, but it was his secret to share.“If you can get the younger priests out of here, I will shift form.I believe these elders and Gregor can be trusted after what I learned from your flame.”Hugh’s thoughts came to her, as if in answer.She wondered what his first experience of the eternal flame had told him.She was curious to know what he’d learned from it.Sometimes—in very special circumstances—the flame communicated with those it touched.She assumed, from his words, that Hugh had experienced something like that.It meant a great deal that the flame had chosen to converse with him.A great deal, indeed.“Father, can we be private? Just the elders and yourself? There are many things I wish to discuss with you, but I am hesitant to do so in front of others.” Lera looked at the priests stationed all around the large hall.They didn’t shift their stance but Lera could tell they were probably surprised and a little suspicious of her request.“The flame has already tested my companions.They mean no harm within your walls.Isn’t that so?” She turned to the non-human shapes gathering behind her as she took her seat at the table.“I have no quarrel with the priessthood,” Hyadror confirmed.He turned to Miss, prodding her gently with the tip of one long feather [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]