 "He's growing so fast, Kiya," Rhaegar said with the smallest of smiles, "I wish you could see him." The Dane sat cross-legged on the floor of the tomb staring up at the faded pictures on the walls. A vision of her eyes swam before him, warm and kind. They narrowed, creasing at the edges in a joyous smile which made his heart leap. She would have loved his son, he was sure of it. "Every time I see him he's bigger, and his hair's getting longer. He'll look like a proper Viking soon enough." Rhaegar's latest gift to his boy had been a wooden dagger, the handle wrapped with rope so his little hands could keep a tight hold. The end was round and blunt, but as Gar had discovered, still effective enough to leave a bruise between ribs. It had felt good to laugh as the little boy had clambered over the furniture waving the little weapon around challenging monsters to duels with a delightful fearlessness. There was an unhindered incorrigibility to the child which grew every day. "He's going to be trouble," the Dane informed the empty tomb proudly, "you can just see it."
Climbing to his feet, Rhaegar's long legs unfurled as he dusted the sand from his hands, "I'll be back in a day or two," he promised, laying his palm flat against the wall, "see you soon." The Dane lingered a moment with his head bowed in thought, and then he turned and marched from the room. Skuld and Arnor were waiting for him outside. The dogs had seated themselves on either side of the entrance like stone guardians, and they remained there until their master had passed them. Together they followed Rhaegar along the now-familiar route in and out of the wadi, their noses lowered towards the floor tracking the scents of prey and pirate alike.
"Skuld, Arnor," Gar called as they left the sands behind them. The dogs stopped their dawdling and ran to catch up to the God. He reached out and scratched them both behind their ears as they sat obediently before him, their ears perked and their tails wagging.
"Find the boy," he instructed them, pulling a sheet of paper out of his pocket and holding it out for them to sniff. Skuld, snarling at his son to hold him back, took the scent first and began to range back and forth across the ground. Arnor however, younger and sharper than his father, found the trail first. He didn't howl, he just gave a low, gruff bark and set off purposefully towards the nearest cluster of trees. Skuld and Rhaegar followed after him.
Rhaegar hadn't been to the Olive Grove before, but he recognised it as such when he saw it. He had learned enough of Shaman to know that it was the largest settlement of Aura's little world. He knew too that it was led by the king's sister and that it was home to Dr. Gupta, an ordinary fairy who had helped Thyri through her pregnancy; for that he had earned Rhaegar's respect and, should he ever need it, protection. Skuld and Arnor made a beeline for one of the houses, trotting up the small steps which led to the front door before glancing back over their shoulders to their master. Gar whistled to call them away and leaned against the nearest house to wait.
It had begun to grow dark when the door to the little cottage sprung open, spilling a warm golden glow out into the gloom of the night. The boy came first, followed by Dr. Gupta who was holding a lantern aloft to guide them through the village. Rhaegar followed them. The Doctor walked with the boy until he was in sight of the castle before bidding him goodbye to return to his patients in the village. He left the lantern with the child. It was not until Rhaegar was sure that Danny and his tiger were alone that he made his approach.
"Hello, boy," he said as he stepped out of the shadows, "I've been looking for you."
R H A E G A R
it wanders lost and wounded, this heart that I misplaced |
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