“An hour apart, I should think,” Dieffenbacher replied. “If you would like to come to my tower, I would welcome you all as guests and offer food and comfort while you recover, Your Majesty. I’d like to see you made whole before you leave, just in case you require further treatment.”
“I will take you up on your kind offer, Lord Dieffenbacher. Perhaps, you’d like to catch a ride to your tower with one of our dragon friends?” Alric looked around the chamber and seemed to be able to see the big white forms for the first time. “I can’t wait until I can really see you all,” he said, his happiness clear on his face. Lilly felt tears falling from her own eyes. Her heart was so full of joy for her old friend.
“Your Majesty,” Det put in. “Lady Tissery and her heartmate stand ready at the window to carry Lord Dieffenbacher to his tower. Sir Zentailleron and Ulrick, his heartmate, will remain here to secure the room while others of my command go through the tower. We will put all of the people in the courtyard below this tower for you to see later, if you wish. There may be some who have knowledge of Osmian’s plans that you wish to interview. My people will do the preliminary work, with your permission, and set aside those to whom you may wish to speak further.”
Alric turned toward Det. “You have my thanks, Sir Detlif. And Sirs Ulrick and Zentailleron will have a special reward for finding our quarry so quickly and efficiently. Let us be on our way.”
Lilly and Luc helped the old Alchemist over to the window and the waiting dragon. He seemed apprehensive at first but soon saw that, with the warrior on the dragon’s back, he would have something to hold onto. He mounted, and the trio left. Gren and Det, with Jimnel, were next to leave. Ulrick stayed behind with his dragon while Lilly and Luc mounted Shilayla’s back, giving Zallra and the King a moment of privacy as best they could.
Lilly saw Alric touch Zallra’s cheek. They were speaking in low tones for a moment before she stepped back and transformed into her dragon shape. Alric didn’t need help getting aboard this time. He could see well enough to know where Zallra was and how to get on. Then, they were off, flying over the city and in between the towers and their spires. Shilayla acted as rear guard with Alric and Zallra flying directly ahead of them.
The green-robed Alchemist had a tower that looked as if it were modeled after the trunk of a mighty tree. It had veins running along its twisting height that were probably the very same pipes that were on the other towers, but here they were gently camouflaged so as to look more organic. Lilly thought it was lovely. The tower was festooned with green banners reminiscent of leaves waving in the breeze, and the buildings below all flew a similar green flag or banner of some kind. From above, this part of the city looked a bit like a forest, but under the surface, Lilly could see the residents were both prosperous and peaceful.
Whatever else Dieffenbacher was, he was a good overlord to his people. It was clear from the way the buildings were kept and the look of the people who gazed up at them as they passed. They were well-dressed and well-fed. None had the lean, hungry look of someone living on the edge.
They landed on the roof, and Dieffenbacher led the way into an observatory where he had a huge telescope mounted on rollers. The roof could be opened in various ways so that he could look in all different directions, and the large openings were wide enough for the dragons. The room itself was also big enough for a few dragons to recline in comfort since the area was kept clear for the giant telescope to be moved through.
Dieffenbacher, on his home ground, was much steadier. He had a cadre of servants and acolytes in similar green robes of a lighter color bustling around, bringing in food, drink and chairs for the two-legged guests. There were even a few children dressed in green breeches and tunics serving as pages who brought in bushels of apples to offer to the dragons. The children, of course, were fascinated by the dragons, and each had several little pages standing around in awe.
Zallra was off to one side, and Alric alighted just as Lilly reached him. She reached out to steady him but pulled her hand back. Alric must have seen her gesture because he took hold of her hand and brought her in for a quick hug.
“Lilly, you have been my dearest friend for so very long. Thank you for bringing these miracles to me. The alliances. My magical lady love. My eyesight. I can never repay you.” His words were spoken low, near her ear as she hugged him with all the joy she felt for him.
She drew back when he let go and looked up at him. “I would do just about anything for you, My Liege. My friend. I could not be happier for you. And there is no need for thanks. It’s been my honor to serve you all these years.”
Alric reached out and ruffled her hair. “I never realized you were so short.”
Lilly burst out laughing as Alric joined in her merriment. She could see a swirl of black out of the corner of her eye, and then, Zallra was in her human form, being ogled by everyone in the room who had never seen the black dragon transform.
Lilly felt Luc come up behind her and turned to see Shilayla was seated comfortably near the large doorway that opened into the observatory. There were chairs, now, around a table that had been cleared of charts and books and laid with a fine tablecloth in green with green embroidery, of course.
Food was being served, brought up from somewhere below through a small cubby at the side of the room that seemed to operate on some sort of pulley mechanism, though it was incredibly steady. Both food and drink came up that way and was quickly placed on the table. Before long, a veritable feast had been laid.
Dieffenbacher came over to Alric and bowed slightly. “If you would come this way, Your Majesty, the table is ready. There will be just enough time for food and drink before your next treatment.”
They all followed the Alchemist to what was no doubt usually a worktable but had been set up for a feast. The servants were pleasant and helpful, and the dragons were at ease, which didn’t put Lilly totally at ease, herself, but went a long way towards helping her relax just a bit. Alric took the place of honor at the center of the table, with the Alchemist at his right hand and Zallra at his left. When Lilly and Jimnel would have taken up guard positions behind Alric’s chair, Zallra assured them both that Alric would come to no harm as long as she was next to him. Alric gave them the nod, and Lilly reluctantly went to sit beside Luc while Jimnel took a seat farther down the long table.
The meal was simple but filling and just what they needed after their long journey. Dieffenbacher’s hospitality was everything that could be hoped for, and his people were accommodating. When it was time for Alric’s second treatment, even Lilly could see the change in his eyes. Where before they were a milky white, the color was returning to his irises as the eyes themselves cleared. His eyes were a sparkling light blue unlike anyone else’s she’d ever seen. Perhaps, Alric would always wear that mark of his previous blindness, or perhaps, it would fade after the third and final treatment. Only time would tell.
He could see distinct shapes after the second treatment, though everything was still blurry, he reported. Dieffenbacher suggested an hour of quiet repose before the third treatment, and he had his musicians come up to play restful music while the company sat and talked quietly. Dieffenbacher asked many questions of Zallra about Draconia and particularly the wizard Gryffid’s return to the mortal world. Zallra held them all spellbound with her stories of flights of gryphons and the enclave of fair folk who lived and thrived on Gryphon Isle. She also spoke of the land of Helios, far to the east, which was also now connected by blood ties to the ruling family of Draconia. One of the King’s brothers, Zallra said, had married the Doge of Helios not too long ago and was making his home in that land now.