The Queen of Elysium

Chapter 69 - The patter of tiny feet

Darish watches as Dusk paces back and forth, threatening to wear a rut in the turf. Above, the stars are beginning to lose their lustre and droplets of dew are budding on the blades of grass, at least those not being trampled by Dusk. It will be dawn soon.

The thought draws his eyes to Dawn, who is a safe distance away, situated near the dragons. Elissa and the Sapphire Priestess have remained steadfast by the Dragonite's side, whilst the others have long been abed.

As one, the three dragons lift their heads to the sky where a dark shape circles around the invisible dome before disappearing. Soon after, a dragon swoops over the lawn to join the others.

Dusk ceases his motion and exhales a deep breath. "Thanks be to Ishtar. Mother is finally here."

Darish is not quite so relieved. The woman always manages to unnerve him. He sometimes wonders at the Great Mother's hand in guiding him into such a family. Still, I am not the same elf I once was and would not trade Dusk for all the riches in Elysium.

The formidable woman sashays over like a siren. "What are you two doing skulking over here?"

He places his hands together in polite greeting. "Lady Mira."

"Still so formal, Darish? We are almost family." She throws her arms around him and he stiffly endures an over-friendly embrace. 

Just when he thinks that he has escaped, she wraps one arm around his waist and the other around Dusk's. She walks back to her daughter and he is forced to follow, not wishing to rudely shuck from her hold.

Her hand slips lower and she squeezes one of his buttocks, whispering, "You need to relax."

During one of his trips to Atlantis, he encountered an octopus and reckons her arms are just as mischievous as that strange creature's tentacles.

Once they reach their destination, he is released. Dawn is without any clothing of worth and beads of sweat form and then evaporate on her exposed skin. The Dragonite is crouched on the ground with Elissa and the Priestess knelt on either side.

"How are you holding up, sis?"

Dawn growls. "It feels like I am trying to shit a melon."

Dusk laughs and is treated to a barrage of language fruity enough to fill a platter.

Mira rummages in a bag and pulls out a wooden box intricately carved with two sinuous dragons curled around to form a circle. "Let us get a bit more comfortable, shall we? No need to rough it."

Placing the box on the ground about ten feet away from her daughter, she pulls a key from her ample cleavage and unlocks it. Canvas billows out and a marquee mushrooms up. Enlisting Dusk's help, they ferry out several arm chairs, a small table, a couple of bottles of her special wine and a platter of pastries dripping with honey.

Elissa tries to move but Dawn's arm strikes out like a snake, snagging Elissa's wrists. "You do not get to go anywhere until this is over."

"I can see the head. You are very close now, my dear," the Priestess announces.

With a lurching stomach and feeling rather faint, Darish sinks into one of the seats. He would much rather be anywhere but here, yet cannot abandon Dusk.

He keeps his eyes averted and thankfully the Priestess's sapphire robes blot out the worst on the occasions that his eyes do stray. However, there is nothing that can stop his sensitive ears from picking up every pant, encouraging murmur and howl-like wail. Then a different cry rises; high pitched and stirring a need to protect.