The Dragon King

Chapter 8

Baroness Yvette Castian of Emberhelm, Vrinian

EMBERHELM, VRINIAN

The door to Marnie's room is slightly ajar when Yvette grows close. For a moment, she thinks someone is visiting with Marnie, but all is quiet. Yvette knocks and glances in, seeing Marnie upright in bed and looking out a window close by. She turns, and it is apparent that it has pulled her from deep thought. "Yvette!" Marnie calls while looking relieved. "Come in, please."

Yvette enters with a bundle in hand and a smile. Marnie looks to the bundle and then at the baroness as she comes to sit on the bed. "It is a girl." The smile on Marnie's face is almost as if the little baby was hers. Having helped raise the baroness' children, it is understandable that she is attached to them. "I thought perhaps you might like to name her," Yvette reveals while placing the baby in the younger woman's hands.

"Why me?" Marnie asks, looking at Yvette with pain and confusion.

"I wouldn't be here today if you hadn't saved me, or the little one for that matter." She replies with calmness and empathy.

"What did I do?" Marnie questions. "If anything, you should be angry at me for leaving and disobeying orders."

"Only to save your brother," Yvette answers with a kind touch to the younger woman's cheek. "You made the dragon go away, Marnie. I don't know how, but we are all alive because of it. You saved us all."

"I don't even know what I did to make him leave." Marnie looks down at the sleeping baby wrapped in a blanket.

"It is puzzling," Yvette admits. "But I wonder...." She trails off, trying to piece it together in her mind. "You said the dragon was coming for you, that it wouldn't leave unless it killed you. Perhaps it thought you were dead."

Marnie's face scrunches for a second. "Maybe, but when I was fighting it, it almost seemed like it wanted to grab me rather than kill me. I think it wanted to take me, and it couldn't because I was hurt. What if it comes back to try again?" She looks at the baroness with a hint of fear.

It is a possibility, Yvette knows, but looking at Marnie, she can't help but try to ease her pain. "Then we will be ready."

Marnie nods softly and then looks back down at the baby. "Genevieve." She names while combing the baby's fair hair off to the side. "Genny."

"I love it." Yvette nudges Marnie's shoulder a little with a smile. "Little Genny. Genevieve Castian."

Marnie winces suddenly, enough to quietly wake the baby, who stares up with pale blue eyes at the two women. Yvette, concerned over Marnie, takes the baby and glances over the younger woman. Marnie's eyes are shut as if suppressing the urge to scream. "Marnie, what is it? Is your side hurting? Is it your back?"

Marnie shakes her head, but Yvette can't tell if she is replying to her or if she disagrees with herself. "No." She says at long last, but it doesn't ease Yvette's concern. Marnie opens her eyes and looks at the baroness. "He's coming back, and fast." Yvette stills. "You need to leave, and I need to find Zircon." Marnie starts getting up, and Yvette can't stop her. "Please, Yvette. Save little Genny and the others. I will be right back."

"You promise?" Yvette asks with the air of a mother looking at her adult child, wondering if she means it.

Marnie nods with a forced smile. "I promise, Yvette. I will meet you in the safe room."

***

Prince Antonio Fairmore of Vrinian

IMPERIAL CITY, VRINIAN