Adrianna's Dragon

Chapter 10 Witch

"Well what do you think of my egg?" Adrianna said excitedly as she sat on her bed holding the egg. James sat next to her on the bed as Kaitlyn sat on the other bed.

"It's a big black egg."

"Don't you see the swirling colors, or the flame where I touch it?"

"Looks black to me."

"James I can see it!" Kaitlyn said. "I can't believe you don't." James shrugged his shoulders.

"Perhaps in the morning. We are off camping tomorrow so you need to get some sleep. We will be taking an early shopping excursion too."

"Aren't you forgetting something Jimmy?" Adrianna was now on her hands and knees on the bed facing away from James.

"So I'm Jimmy now?" James laughed. "What did I forget?" Adrianna still on all fours on the bed began wiggling her bottom, and turning to look at James over her shoulder said.

"You promised me a spanking!"

"I'm so tempted Addie, you are one naughty girl." He gave her bottom a single light tap. Adrianna laughed.

"Jimmy loves me-e-e-e! Why do you love me-e-e-e Jimmy?"

"You kind on grew on me Addie."

"Really, that sounds so sweet."

"Like a fungus!" then he followed up with harder slap to her bottom. He left Adrianna laying on the bed and laughing.

"Meanie!" she taunted laughing as he kissed her and closed her door.

"Lock yourself in," he called through the door. Kaitlyn stood and walking to the door threw the bolt.

They sat together in the small dining room eating breakfast. "Enjoy this, we will be doing the cooking for a while," James said.

"I like to cook," Adrianna said. "What's that box for?"

"It's for your egg," James whispered. "I hired a covered wagon and a team of horses. You'll need to pack after breakfast. Then well go into the harbor and purchase a tent, cooking pots, food and you two will need a more suitable dress for camping.

"I wonder when my egg will hatch." Adrianna said.

"I bought you a book on dragon lore this morning, while you slept in. It's a very old hand written manuscript." Adrianna took the book then stood knocking her seat over as she kissed James's cheek. "So much for keeping a low profile."

"I'll be as unobtrusive as a mouse," Adrianna said smiling with mischief.

"Trouble follows you Half Pint. The sooner were on the road the better."

"James, what aren't you telling us?" Kaitlyn asked.

"I feel like I'm being followed, perhaps it's nothing." He shrugged his shoulder and smiled at the women. They had the wagon packed and then drove to the harbor and James purchased a tent, three sleeping mats with blankets and pillows. Kaitlyn selected cook ware and Adrianna dried beef, salt pork, bacon, eggs, dried beans, tomato paste, salt and several summer sausages. Kaitlyn and Adrianna then went to the dry goods store. Kaitlyn helped Adrianna pick out a heavy but pretty skirt. It was denim. Adrianna then chose red blouse that buttoned in the front. She tied the blouse at her waist using the shirts tail.

"You look pretty Addie."

"Thank you, I want to get a pair of those denim pants." She chose a tight pare then after finishing the purchase requested a scissors and cut the legs off very short. She put them on and looked in the mirror. The woman storekeeper gasped.

"Isn't that a bit short Addie?"

"I might roll the legs up a bit."

"You can't go out in public half naked!"

"We'll be camping. Only you me and Jim."

"You're going to drive the poor man crazy."

"That's the plan!"

They wore their denim skirts and walked through the harbor making one last sweep. There was a commotion ahead and they approached. A young girl was lying on the ground screaming as a large water snake clung to her arm. The snake released her and was killed by a young man (her father) as a young woman held the screaming child. The child then began to have a seizure as she continued her shrill cry, her arm blackening and swelling, a pink froth coming from her mouth. Adrianna knelt next to her feeling helpless. An older woman knelt next to the child across from Adrianna, "I'm a healer," she said. The child's mother wept cradling the child.

"That's a viper," the healer said softly. "I can give a laying of hands for comfort, little else."

"NO!" Adrianna shouted. Her hands glowed blue as she touched the child. Immediately she felt the agonizing pain of the bite and felt her body seizure. She held on determined to help the child. Her arm swelled and the skin blackened, finally bursting. She felt her breath falter as bubbly pink froth drained from her mouth and nose. The healer realized what was happening and also touched the child her hands glowing green briefly, then directed her healing energy into the child. Several minutes passed as healer and witch battled for the child's life. The child's seizures stopped and the swelling resolved as Adrianna collapsed.

"She'll be fine," the healer said to the frightened parents. "Get her home quick, things may get ugly." James was at Adrianna side and lifted her into his arms. "Follow me quickly!" the healer whispered. Kaitlyn followed as James carried Adrianna down a narrow alley and into a small cottage.

"The child, the child!" Adrianna whispered.

"She is just fine thanks to you."

"I always wanted to be a healer, I'm going to the Healer school in Bountiful."

"You're so much more than a healer Miss."

"Addie, her name is Addie," James said still holding her.

"Addie, did you know you were an empath?"

"Don't know what that is."

"A witch, you're a witch."

"No!" Adrianna wailed, "They will burn me!"

"You are going to have to leave town quickly."

"I'll bring the wagon around," James said grimly.

"What about you?" Adrianna asked.

"I'll be fine. You have a special gift Addie. You'll be safe in the Republic."

"Why didn't I know this?"

"You just emerged. My little sister was a witch."

"Can I talk to her?" the healer just shook her head sadly.

"You lay in the wagon Addie and I'll cover you with a blanket." James loaded both of his pistols and put them in his belt. Then Kaitlyn joined him on the seat and they slowly rode out of town. People was milling about and talking about the witch.

"We'll burn her once we find her."

********************************

The four dragon riders stepped out of the long boat and began crossing the capitol harbor. The four of them were wearing their favorite red dresses. The dresses came to just below the knee and they were all barefoot. They had their hair in a thick braid as they walked with purpose across the harbor. They garnered a lot of male attention and whistles and cat calls as they walked briskly four abreast.

"You would think the whistles and cat calls would be old hat," Theodora complained.

"You still don't like it Teddi?" Susan asked.

"Odie don't either," Theodora said. "Why has mother Ruth summoned us?"

"You didn't feel it?" Elodia asked.

"I felt something, no idea what."

"Another witch has emerged," Maryann said. "And I bet she has an egg."