Chapter Eighteen
Christy slid quietly out from under Blake’s arm. He was sound asleep, and she knew he needed the rest, so she walked softly across the floor and to Max and Heather. She asked, “What do we do now?”
Max was also asleep, and Heather glanced at him then carefully stood and gestured for her to follow her. They met Marlene in the kitchen as well as some of the other witches and a few humans who had been busy helping to tend the wounded.
There was much to do still, but right now there was a need for rest. Marlene passed around bowls of soup, a rich, clear broth that tasted delicious and went down smoothly. Christy asked, “Do you think the Orcs are coming back?”
Marlene said, “Yes, and they will do it soon, tonight. I can sense them. The dragons need to sleep. They’ve spent a lot of energy, and they have to have some of it just to survive the next attack.”
One of the humans whispered, “I think we need the pitch. Max is against it and Blake too, but it’s our last chance at a defense.”
Christy and Heather gave each other a long look. “What is that?”
Marlene explained. “They boil the pitch from trees and then pour it onto the enemy.”
Christy recoiled. That was horrible! She said, “Is there...I mean I am not at all against killing those things, but that…” Her chest went thick with horror. “That’s pretty extreme.”
Marlene said, “Oh I agree. It’s like medieval napalm, and it’s bad for the environment too. I think we need something else.”
The human shuffled their feet. Nobody would meet Christy’s eyes nor Heather’s. Christy asked, “What is it?”
Marlene said, softly, “There is a spell, but it would mean…it would mean the Orcs would be destroyed. At least those gathered against us would be. Evil lives no matter what is done to kill it off. But this spell, it would save us all right now.”
Heather and Christy exchanged glances. “Why hasn’t anyone done it yet?”
Blake spoke from the doorway. “Because it would take a dragon heart to cast it.”
Christy spun around. Her mouth fell open. “What? What do you mean?”
He entered the kitchen, Max beside him. They both looked tired and wan. Blake said, “I mean we would have to give our heart to one we trust, one who could hold it and not allow it to be broken or taken and who would use it as a weapon against the Orcs. One we know would give it back after.”
Christy could not breathe. She cried out, “Surely you aren’t considering this!”
“We have to,” Max said softly. “They’re too many. It has to be Blake, Christy. I’m sorry.”
Her stare went wider. “No! Wait! What? Why you?”
Blake said, “Because I have a power that no other dragon has.”
All of the air went out of the room. Heather’s hands held her up and Heather said, “You can’t do this to her, and now! You can’t…”
Blake moved Heather away, gently. He took Christy’s face in his hands. He looked at her and said, “You fought off Orcs with a rock. You came back through the door, and most don’t know the way. You are brave, and you are strong, and you are true. You were out there on that field with me even though you have never been in a battle before in your life. I love you, and I trust you. It has to be me, and it has to be you. You have to take my heart, and you have to use it.”
“No.” The word trembled off her lips. “No, I can’t. What if…what if I drop it? What if the Orcs come and take it? What if you…you’ll die without your heart!”
“No, not if you’re fast enough. It can be done. You have to do it. I wish there was another way, but there isn’t. You have to take my heart, and you have to use it.”
No. God no. She stared at him, tears running down her face. All the love she felt for him came in, threatening to overwhelm her, threatening to choke her. She could not hold his heart in her very hands; she just could not do it. What if she was not strong enough? What if she failed him?
He whispered, “You won’t let my heart get taken or broken, and you won’t let me die.”
Her mouth snapped shut and then she opened it again. “Did you just read my mind?”
“No, just your face. I know you are very scared. I am too. But it’s the only way. I swear it is.”
She wept out, “Why you? Why?”
“It’s the power. Every dragon is born with a different one.”
