The Dragon's Redemption

Chapter 18 Betrayal

Sam walked with Lemuel showing him the farm. Many of the farm hands remembering him and greeting him happy to see him again.

"Well Sam, tell me how you and Brie met?"

"I met her my first day here. I was made a thrall on Oother's farm. Brie was already one of his thralls. She was fifteen at the time and so beautiful. I have been in love with her ever since."

"Was she a hospitality thrall?"

"What are you asking Lemuel?"

"A bed thrall, you know what I'm asking." Sam was affronted by the question and taken aback by the tone and innuendo of Lemuel's conversation earlier at the dinner table with Brieanna.

"She lived with Abigail, in her home."

"You believed their story about the little red head?"

"What are you implying?" Sam was feeling angry now.

"Nothing brother...why did you come here anyway?"

"I came to find you, and to talk you into returning."

"I like my new life here, but thank you."

"Why did you leave me Lemuel? I have missed you every day since you left."

"I was banished, didn't our parents tell you?"

"They never speak of it. I know you Lemuel, I love you bro. You can be impulsive but you are a good man. What did you do that was so bad?"

"I took something of value that was not mine to take."

"You could repent, you could make restitution and return to Avalon with us."

"You have always been the 'good' little brother. I'll ponder it and let you know. Do you have a way back, a dragon perhaps?"

"I can call dragons on the equinox to fetch us home."

"Brie and the child too?"

"Of course, I plan to ask Abigail too."

"You will need at least three dragons for all of us."

Sam was going to mention Brieanna's dragon but thought to withhold the information for now. He could not quite put a finger on it, but Lemuel seemed a bit too calculating and cold. His words and politeness not reflected in the coldness of his eyes. Sam was alarmed by the way he looked at Brieanna and spoke to her. He decided he would not ever leave her alone with him. He had always idolized his older brother, now he began to wonder who this stranger really was.

"It's been a long two weeks," Brieanna whispered as she snuggled with Sam.

"It has, next Wednesday is the equinox."

"Abigail said she will come too."

"Did you speak to Dreki?"

"I have not seen him since Loki arrived."

"That's for the better, he is very curious about your dragon. I was hoping Dreki would come with us too."

"Are you afraid I'll stay if Dreki does?"

"Yes," Sam said softly.

"I love you, I always will. I'll go where you go, and live where you live."

"I love you too Brie, I have loved you since the first day we met."

"I was just a skinny fifteen year old," she teased.