Livia went to sleep that night, still smiling at Hrardorr’s antics. They’d crossed a line today from mere acquaintances to true friends. Though her heart still broke for him and what he’d been through, she felt gratified to know that she had helped him, even in such a small way. He was a different dragon from the one she’d met that first day. He was a little happier, she thought. A little more grounded.
She sent up a prayer as she prepared for sleep that he would find happiness again one day. If anyone deserved it, he did.
Gowan was ready to burst with anticipation as the weekend finally arrived. He had a date with the lovely Livia, and he was more than ready to get out of the Lair for a bit and do something enjoyable. He thought spending time with Livia would be immensely enjoyable, and he’d spent the past couple of days planning their outing.
Genlitha had agreed to help, which was both surprising and fantastic. He only hoped Livia wouldn’t be too scared to fly. If she was, he had a backup plan for an evening in town, but he’d rather go with Plan A, which was something much more special.
At the appointed time, he and Genlitha flew down to Dragonscove. Gen dropped him off in an open square near Livia’s home, where she would wait to see if Livia was game to fly or not. He’d picked a giant bouquet of the prettiest wildflowers for her from a mountain meadow earlier that day, and he brought them with him to her door.
As the housekeeper answered his knock and let him in, Gowan waited nervously in the front hall. The house was impressive without being overpowering. There was wealth here, but it wasn’t ostentatious. Everything was of fine quality, but not overblown. Gowan liked it. Very much.
When Livia came down the stairs, Gowan held his breath. She was a vision. Lovely as the morning sky. Would she think him foolish if he said so? Probably.
“You look beautiful, mistress,” he offered instead, proffering the bouquet, which she accepted with a huge smile. She bent her head to sniff at the delicate flowers, her cheeks rivaling the pink of the meadow daisies he’d found. Enchanting.
“Thank you, Sir Gowan. I love flowers.”
Score.
He’d thought she would enjoy the blooms and was glad he’d gone through the effort of tracking them down and selecting just the perfect ones from the field for her. Genlitha had laughed at him a bit, but just seeing the look on Livia’s face now made the effort worthwhile.
“I’m glad to hear it,” he said modestly. “Now, about our outing. I have a proposition, but you can decline if you wish.” The next few minutes would tell him a lot about her spirit.
“I’m intrigued. Pray tell, what dire choice must I make?” She smiled at him, her tone light and teasing. So far, so good.
“Well…you can choose between a quiet dinner for two here in town, or something a little more adventurous. Lady Genlitha, my dragon partner, is willing to convey us up to a lovely meadow where I found those flowers for you. We could have a picnic, if you’re willing to try flying. I promise it’s safe, but we’ll understand if you’d rather not.”
“Are you kidding?” Livia’s eyes blazed with excitement. “I would love to fly!” Her lips broke into a huge grin. “It would be like a dream. A once in a lifetime opportunity. How could I refuse?”
Well, that answered that question. Livia had heart and a keen sense of adventure.
They walked together to the square where Genlitha waited, being admired by the children in the area. She was very good with little ones, allowing them to climb on her forelegs, giving them little
rides
through the air by lifting her legs upward, slowly, while the children clung to her and giggled and laughed loudly.
The children scattered back to their parents when Gowan and Livia appeared, though a few ran up to Livia for a pat on the head or a word of praise.
“She is good with the little ones,”
Genlitha observed silently to Gowan.
“That is a good sign in a potential mate.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Who said anything about mating?”
Gowan replied, not quite sure he was willing to go that far just yet…though it was very tempting to think about having the lovely Livia in his life on a permanent basis. At least so far. She seemed like a nice girl, but he needed to know more about her—which is what this outing was really all about.
“Greetings, Lady Genlitha,” Livia said, curtseying to the dragon prettily. She had the manners of a lady, which didn’t surprise Gowan in the least.
“Hello, Lady Livia. It is good to finally meet you,”
Genlitha answered in that silent way of dragons, sharing her words between Livia and Gowan equally, including them both in the conversation.
While the two females had spoken briefly before, Genlitha had been high in the sky teaching a group of younger dragons the finer points of judging tricky air currents at the time. They’d never met in person, as it were.
“Thank you for agreeing to take me with you. I have never flown before, but I’ve dreamed of it. I hope I don’t turn out to be a coward.” Livia was grinning when she said that last, so Gowan wasn’t too concerned by the idea. Still…
“If you’re the least bit uncomfortable, we’ll bring you right back. That is a promise. Right, Gen?” Gowan was quick to say.
“Most assuredly,”
Genlitha added her thoughts.
“I have never once dropped anybody, and I promise you will not be the first. If you do not like it aloft, I will return immediately to ground. You have my vow.”
“Thank you,” Livia said, blushing slightly. “Let’s hope that is not necessary.” Gowan ushered her closer to Genlitha, toward the foreleg that was propped up so that they could climb it like a ladder to the dragon’s back. “I don’t think it will be necessary,” Livia added, almost under her breath as she walked.
Gowan showed Livia how to mount and climbed up behind her on the dragon’s back. There was a natural
seat
in the area where the wings joined the body and what would be akin to the shoulder area. When Gowan rode alone, it was more than comfortable for him. With them both, it was…cozy.
Very
cozy, indeed.
“Hold on now,” Gowan warned her as he felt Gen gathering for a leap into the sky.
With as little jolt as possible, Genlitha launched into the air, her great wings causing only a little disturbance at ground level. She had more power in her hindquarters than most, which allowed her to jump higher before she had to use her wings, allowing her to land in tighter spots than most average dragons. She made good use of her skills now, showing off just a bit as the children below cheered and the adults waved and smiled.
Gowan tightened his arms around Livia’s waist, but she seemed all right. He was able to put his mouth next to her ear as Genlitha leveled out a bit, flying over Dragonscove.
“How are you doing?” he spoke loudly, to be heard over the rush of wind, even at this low height.
“This is amazing!” she shouted back, and Gowan felt his shoulder muscles relax. He’d been worried that she wouldn’t like flying, but she seemed to be a natural.
“We’re going a little higher. Everyone all right back there?”
Genlitha asked.
Experimentally, Gowan tried to include Livia in his silent answer to the dragon.
“We’re all good here. Take us up, milady, if you would be so kind.”
Livia sat up straight in his arms, her head turning slightly toward him. “I heard that!”
“Then you are even more gifted than I thought,”
Genlitha said gently, though Gowan sensed the thrill running through her words.
“It is a rare human female that can hear us, much less the silent speech of our knight partners. Even among the knights, most of them cannot hear each other unless they are closely partnered and joined through their dragons. Hold on now. We’re aiming for the top of that cliff over there.”
Gowan enjoyed the feel of Livia’s back pressed against him as they rose higher in the sky. True to her words, Genlitha flew right up to the cliff top, encountering a strong counter current at the crest that she handled beautifully. She truly was an artist in the air.
Genlitha circled once, giving Livia a view of the pretty meadow Gowan had picked out earlier. He’d already been up there, setting things up. As a result, Genlitha landed very close to the supplies he’d already brought up, knowing the plan Gowan had in mind.
It was late afternoon, and they would have a few hours before sunset. He had a plan, but he wasn’t sure how it was all going to work out. A lot depended on Livia, and so far, so good.
Gowan helped Livia down from Genlitha’s back. Livia took a moment to offer formal thanks to Genlitha for the transport, proving again how respectful she was of others. Genlitha raised one eye ridge in Gowan’s direction in silent approval.
“I took the liberty of pre-positioning a meal for us to share. It’s cold now, but Genlitha can solve that problem for us in a trice.” He smiled, and Livia followed suit.
“Handy,” she commented. “Must be nice having a dragon around, especially when it gets cold out.” Livia smiled at Genlitha, who was moving slightly away, finding a comfy spot to stretch out on her belly. “And to be able to fly with her…”
“It is a privilege I’m still getting used to, if I’m honest,” Gowan replied, lifting up the basket he’d stashed between two rocks an hour before. “But you’re right. Having Genlitha in my life is an amazing experience I wouldn’t trade for the world.”
“Nor I,”
Genlitha added gently, a warm moment passing between them. Gowan felt her acceptance and the glow of her regard down the bond that had formed between their souls when he’d accepted her as his fighting partner.
Words could not describe the bond. Gowan had heard knights try to describe it before, but he’d never fully understood it until it had happened to him.
“Can I help?” Livia broke into his thoughts as he opened the basket and started to unload a few things.
“Do you want to spread the blanket over there, by Genlitha? She’ll block the wind on one side so we don’t get blown off the cliff.” He was exaggerating, but having Gen act as a wind break was a good idea. They were exposed to the air currents up here, and as he had learned, they could be unpredictable.
Livia went off with the blanket while Gowan set up a spit with the chicken that had already been cooked in the Lair kitchen. It just needed warming, which was something Genlitha could do with a single breath. Gowan just needed to set it up so that he didn’t get toasted at the same time. Hence, the spit, which consisted of two tripods between which hung the skewer with the chicken on it.
Gowan put that up near Gen’s head, leaving a few of the stone crocks containing side dishes that could also benefit from her warm breath on some flat stones he’d already selected earlier that day. All he’d have to do was get out of the way, and Gen could do her thing, warming up the whole meal at once.
“If you would be so kind, milady,” he said with exaggerated courtesy, bowing gracefully to the dragon.
Genlitha winked at him as he retreated to a safe distance, bringing the basket and the rest of the items in it over to the blanket Livia had spread. He took out the bottle of wine that was nicely chilled by its time on the cliff top, and two hand-blown glasses he’d won in a game of chance with a glass blower some years back.
“Looks like you’ve thought of everything, Sir Gowan,” Livia said as he handed her a glass of wine.
“A man tries to be prepared,” he answered, raising his own glass. “Now, for our winged companion’s input. Lady Genlitha, do you think it is ready?”
“Almost,”
Genlitha answered in both their minds.
“Another little tickle should do it.”
Genlitha blew out another warm breath and raised her head with a dragonish look of satisfaction.
“There. Dinner is served.”
The entire afternoon—the flight, the meal, the conversation and the company—was well beyond Livia’s expectations. She had liked Gowan before, but he impressed her on every level, pulling out all the stops. He showed himself to be a caring, thoughtful person, not just a tall, muscular soldier.
The fact that he was very much the tall, muscular soldier had attracted her at first. She wasn’t shy about admitting to her purely physical attraction to the man. At least not in the privacy of her own mind. But the clues to his true character were what made all the difference. The way he talked to and interacted with Genlitha charmed Livia. The obvious care between the dragon and Gowan touched her heart.
Livia couldn’t help but notice his physique, though, when he was sitting right there next to her, on a cushy blanket, flanked by a warm dragon. He even smelled good, like strong man tempered with the gentle fragrance of tree resin, for some odd reason. She wondered if it was something he wore or if he came by that uniquely attractive scent naturally.
She’d been courted by overly-perfumed popinjays in the town. Rich men with more hair than wit, and young lotharios looking to score a rich wife by spending more time in front of the looking glass admiring their own appearance than most teenage girls. Neither had impressed her.
Oh, some of the decorative ones were certainly enjoyable for a short amount of time, but none interested her as a potential life mate. Before she made that kind of decision, Livia would have to put them through their paces. She wasn’t about to accept any man as a life-long partner without first getting to know them extremely well—in the bedroom and out of it.
Her father might not agree, but then again, he wasn’t here. He’d more or less abandoned her for the past several years. She was a woman grown, over the age of her majority, an heiress in her own right. Her father might be the richest man in town, but her mother had been the only child of a prosperous merchant. That gentleman had been Livia’s grandfather—the only one she had known, since her father’s parents had both been killed at sea long before Livia was born.
Grandpa Jonas and Granny Lynn had doted on Livia, and when Jonas died, Lynn had given her husband’s business interests to Livia’s father, to be added to the collection of businesses he looked after. But Granny Lynn had been crafty, and she made sure that legally, once Livia was old enough, the business itself would pass to her. She’d wanted to be certain her only grandchild was provided for in the future.