The Dragon's Redemption

Chapter 30 Touch Me Not

Dreki lay atop the steep wooded roof of the great hall. He was cloaked. The roof sagged slightly under his weight. Brieanna was in the room directly below him sleeping. He felt comfort being close to her. Dreki could smell Loki and he trembled slightly. Dreki was not afraid of Loki's ability to bring pain. Pain could be endured. Dreki feared only two things; surrendering his will to Loki, letting Loki control him as he easily did to most others around him, and losing his Brie. Dreki could not fathom how much Loki hated her. Dreki resolved he would not flee this time. He would stand at Brie's side until the end. He would find his redemption even if it meant his death. He would enter the void forever rather than bend his will to Loki.

Brieanna awoke next to Sam. He was still sleeping. She gently kissed his lips and he stirred, "Sleep my love, I will return."

"Brie?"

"Yes, it's Brie. Sleep." Sam eased back into sleep. She needed to talk to Gwen, to make plans if only to simply run. As she exited her room she saw that it was guarded. "Am I under arrest she asked?"

"Protective custody Shield-woman, Chieftain Harald asks that you stay and not run."

"You have my word, I'll not run." The guards smiled with relief. She then walked to Gwen's room. Gwen was still dressed in her warrior clothes.

"I think we should stay dressed as shield-women while Loki's here," Gwen said.

"You just like running around half naked," Brieanna teased trying to hide her level of fear.

"That too!" Gwen replied smiling brightly. "I'm so scared Brie. Where's Dreki?" Brieanna wordlessly pointed straight up. "Clever Dreki."

"I recognize most the smell Loki emits everywhere. Fermented dragonhead, mint, and cedar. There other scents too but I can't place them. Opiates perhaps, Abby used opiates to help with pain. I never tried them, walking was how I dealt with my knee pain."

"Do you think that's how he controls people?" Gwen asked.

"And dragons too. Did you see Sam, he was like a zombie?"

"So was my dad," Gwen said softly.

"Not everyone is affected, your mom, Abby, you and me. I don't understand."

"Haakon seems to be unaffected, I'm sure there are others."

"Let's stick close together Gwen if we are in the great hall or outdoors."

"Shall we use the sauna before everyone is up?"

"Yes, then I need to get back to Sam."

Sam felt Brieanna return to the bed. He turned to face her. "Your hair! It smells so nice."

"What about the rest of me?" she asked pretending to be angry then laughed, "I just washed up a bit."

"You look so different!" Sam gently touched her face, then her shoulders and finally her tummy.

"Do you like?"

"I love you my little warrior princess."

"Are you...OK, Sam?"

"Lemuel broke me. It took days and frequent beatings, but he broke me."

"Did he use a red powder on you?"

"At first he kept squeezing this bag he keeps around his neck. That didn't do much, Eric and the others were mesmerized. Then he tried beating me, several time a day he had me kicked and beaten. Then he threw this red powder in my face, I could not talk or move. I fought to control my mind."