Eulia And The Butterfly Dragon

Chapter 17 Fraternizing

Jacob initially failed to recognize Eulia. The shy farm girl he remembered with her long red hair, long baggy dress and bare feet was replaced by a dragon rider. All three of the young women were beautiful dressed in their black uniforms and contrasting white vest, their tight fitting jeans, knee high black boots, and each had their hair in a single long braid. It had been over six months since he had last seen her. Those few minutes so long ago he had spent holding and kissing her in her bed burned forever in his memory. He tried to think of how he would describe her now, elegant, self assured, determined, flamboyant. Mable was the first to speak breaking the spell caused by Jo's declaration, "Please come in, we have tea and some cookies." Eulia ran to Mable to hug her and kiss her cheek, the other two dragon riders followed.

"Granny, I'm back," Eulia whispered.

"Let me introduce you to everyone," Agnes said smiling with mischief. The introductions took several minutes to complete. Phoebe poked Eulia when Colonel Jeremy was introduced to Jo by David. After whispering to Mable, Eulia managed to get the two of them seated together at the table. Eulia smiled sweetly at Jacob coquettishly peering at him through partially veiled eyes. Jacob had a very strong desire to simply seize her, hold her tight and kiss her soundly.

"Jake," she whispered as she discreetly tapped his bottom and walked past him. Eulia in her numerous correspondence with Jacob had failed to mention her changed status, or the reason of her visit. Jacob had tried his best to dis-sway her from coming to a war zone, but here she was as was his sister.

"Two of you have red hair," Thaddeus said, "I take it you're sisters."

"We're all sisters," Jo answered. "Dragon riders are part of the sisterhood."

"Otherwise we're not related," Eulia added. "Fee and I come from the same village."

"I believe Jacob, David and Jeremy are also from there," Thaddeus said.

"Yes, we know each other," Phoebe said.

"That's good, you can work together then, that's excellent." Nearly unnoticed Eulia flashed a wicked smile at Jacob.

They spoke quietly and the dragon riders described their observations of the siege of Dexter and the arrangements made at the city's fort and barriers. "You have less than a third of your cannon visible from inside the city on that ridge," Jo said, "the rest is well hidden."

"And we counted another hundred cannon en-route." Phoebe added.

"Why yes," Thaddeus said sounding surprised, "you saw into the city?"

"Yes," Jo said, "Euly also sent her butterfly dragons to look closer. We should know more later."

"They can snoop in on conversations too," Eulia added.

"Did you hear that, Jacob," Thaddeus said, "work close with them."

"That I will," Jacob answered blandly.

"Would you ladies like to review the troops," Thaddeus said, "I know they would love to see you."

"It would be our pleasure General," Jo said. Then turning to her sister riders added, "Let's wash up and let our hair down, then we'll be ready." The time it took to review the troops felt like an eternity to Eulia. Having Jacob so close and being unable to touch him agonizing. Finally they finished and Thaddeus suggested that the riders meet with David and Jacob in the map room so they could point out deficiencies. Jeremy asked Jo if she would spend a few minutes with him for coffee and she agreed. Jacob's heart was beating staccato as they entered the map room.

"Euly!" he whispered as they entered the room and closed the door. Eulia turned to him and looked up and into his eyes. "OH GOD EULY!" Jacob moaned.