Page 12 of Henry & the Dragon

Three days later, everyone was gathered by the toning of the bell. There was a quiet buzz of anticipation from the kids, but Merry seemed nervous and Euric stood at her side, stroking a hand over her back, whispering gently to her. The Queen had given permission for Euric to bring his family with them. Telling them the story was… interesting. They acted much the same as Euric himself. Disbelieving at first, then angry and hard, forming a wall between Kai and their families. Only after deep conversation did they understand their time here was coming to an end, and fleeing would save their families from disaster.

Six brothers, their wives and children, four sisters with husbands and family, his parents, and a family dog. In total, there would be thirty-six of them making the journey. When Henry fretted that might be too many, Arissa assured him they could take ten times that number without issue. Yet, oddly, Henry could think of no one else to take.

“Are you ready?” Queen Arissa asked, as she strode through the assembled crowd. “Have you made all the arrangements?”

“Yes,” Merry replied, but her voice trembled with what Henry could only imagine was fear. He reached for her hand and laced their fingers together, doing his best to give her strength like she did when he was a boy. “We’ll be okay, Merry. You have my solemn vow.”

She drew in a breath as she gave a weak smile. “I trust you, brother.”

He turned to his daughter, who stood expectantly. “Dmitra? Are you certain this is something you wish to do?”

She flashed the biggest smile Henry had seen to date. “Oh, yes. I can’t wait.”

One of their youngest was the most eager. Of course. Still, Henry was proud of their daughter. She wasn’t at all fearful of the unknown.“We are ready, your majesty.”

She smiled at him. “I believe you are. Please join hands with everyone.”

They all linked hands. Merry’s were clammy and she leaned in closer to Henry. “I’m afraid,” she admitted softly.

“I would be too, I’m certain. Kai would never allow anything to happen to us, though. And Queen Arissa is as noble as any person you would ever meet. They will protect us.”

“With our lives, if it came to that,” Kai proclaimed. “You are mine, Henry. The mate of a dragon is not something to be taken lightly. We are very possessive of our friends.” He gave Merry a nod. “And our family.”

“Thank you, Prince Kaithyn,” Merry said quietly, her eyes downcast. “Your Majesty, I would like to apologize for my rudeness to you and your mother when you arrived. I have no excuse for my behavior beyond fear for Henry’s safety.”

He reached up and gave her shoulder a squeeze, which caused her gaze to snap up and Merry to look into his eyes. “You are to be my sister-in-law, so it’s only fitting that you call me Kai. As for taking you with us? Think nothing of it,” Kai insisted. “With everything your family has endured over the years, I would be wary too, if I were you. I think on how I felt when I feared losing Henry after so short a time. I can scarcely begin to understand your feelings for a brother you lost for so long. Please, I beg of you, don’t fret. Neither of us is hurt or offended. In fact, we are proud to meet such a strong person who cares for her family.” He took her hand in his and held it firmly. “You are loved, Merry. You who are now our family.”

“O-Okay,” she whispered.

“All right,” Arissa said. “Close your eyes and don’t open them until I tell you. There is no danger, but the first time traveling by this method can be jarring.”

Everyone closed their eyes, except for Henry. He’d already traveled this way once, and he was dying to know how it came to be.

“Henry,” Arissa chastised teasingly. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

He recalled his first time and knew he should do as the others were, but he wanted to see this new world to which they would travel. “Yes, milady.”

She chuckled. “Very well. Here we go.”

Their lands shimmered and the buildings and fields began to fade from view. The last thing to go was the metal bell his father had made, and it warmed Henry to know that everything would be in their new home upon their arrival. He wondered at the stories the people in the village would tell, of how the Cabot family and all their belongings simply disappeared overnight. He couldn’t help but smile, knowing word of their lives would live on.

Arissa pulled them aside last evening and told them since Mother was connected to this land, it would hurt her immeasurably to leave it. Instead, she’d arranged to take it all with them and use it to create their new area. Henry was beside himself with happiness when he explained it all to Mother, who seemed doubtful, but she promised she would trust the queen.

As the last sights disappeared, bright swirls of light surrounded them. Henry’s mouth fell open at the beautiful coalescence of colors and sounds. Yes, it was chaotic, but there was an order there as well. Then, in an instant, it was gone, and Henry found himself standing in a large field, looking nearly identical to his home. The house, the barn, the outbuildings were all there, and if he didn’t know better, he would say they were still in Innernook. But he did know, and one breath of the crisp air told him they were away from that infernal place.

“What is your home called? he asked Kai.

“This is the world of Shilan. It is home to dragon-folk, humans, elves, fairies, dwarves, and many others. It’s a large, thriving world. War is virtually non-existent there. Oh, there might be skirmishes from time to time as the races flex their muscles, but they’re very short-lived. The neighboring kingdoms quell them quickly, because they all enjoy the fruits of peace. And this land upon which we stand? Mother made it so it would please you. She scanned your mother’s mind while she slept and had it created for your family.”

“It’s perfect,” Henry said, his voice filled with awe even to his own ear.

“This isn’t all,” he told Henry. He held out his hand and an image formed. “Is this an accurate depiction of Dmitra’s mother, Constance?”

Henry stared and Kai’s outstretched palm. There, in the center, was what looked to be Constance, but she wasn’t made from stone!

“Yes, it looks exactly like her.”

Kai smiled. “Good. Mother will be pleased to hear that.” He turned and placed the box on the ground, and then stepped back as it grew to much larger proportions, but through it all, Constance smiled.

“This is what we call a hologram. It’s created of light, and can be made to look very lifelike.” He turned to Dmitra. “Does this please you?”

She stared up at it, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her hand trembled as she reached up, pulling away when it passed through the cloth of her Constance’s dress. “It’s my mother before she got sick. She’s beautiful.”

Kai swiped a finger over Dmitra’s cheek, taking the tear away. “If this upsets you—”

She smiled up at him, her face luminous. “No. I… I very much like it. It will allow me to remember her this way.” She dipped her head. “Thank you for this incredibly kind gift, your majesty.”

“Please, call me Kai,” he said gently, taking her hand in his. “This is your home now, and you are of our people. We will do whatever we can to make you happy here. Later, after you’ve had time to acclimate, I will introduce you to my brothers. They’ll enjoy having someone new to play with.”

Dmitra flung herself into Henry’s arms and sobbed. He stood there, stroking a hand over her back.

“We’ll be okay,” he said quietly.

“I know,” came the reply from a very soft voice. “I just… A new world where I have a chance to make friends. If they don’t know about my gift, then perhaps they won’t see me as tainted and—”

“Hold a moment, Dmitra,” Kai interjected. “Do not hide who you are. My brothers are dragons who can breathe fire. I guarantee you they won’t pretend to be something they’re not, so why should you? We have teachers here who can help you practice your gift, hone it.”

“You have teachers for that?” Henry asked.

“We have those who can teach nearly anything. No matter how grand or esoteric. And the thing about our people? If they don’t know, they will find out. So please, daughter, don’t think of this world like yours. Our people are more enlightened, and will never lash out or make you feel less than you are.”

“Really?” she asked, tears staining her cheeks once more.

“I give you my oath, dear child,” Arissa said, coming into the group. “Kaithyn is right. Don’t try to deny who you are. Be proud that you are the daughter of Constance, Henry, and Kaithyn. The three of them will provide you a firm base upon which to build yourself up.” She smiled and winked. “And I, your new grandmother, will be proud to help as well.”

Dmitra’s lower lip wobbled a moment, then she threw herself into Arissa’s arms, hugging for all she was worth. Even though she seemed shocked at first, Arissa enveloped Dmitra, bringing their heads together.

“You’re safe and loved here, child. Never forget that.”

“I’ll try… grandmother.”

And those words made the queen join in the tears.

It had been a whirlwind since they’d arrived. So many dragon-people had come to the area to marvel at Constance’s statue and to hear her story, but also to introduce themselves to the family. Henry couldn’t believe how open and accepting they were. Each brought gifts for the family, mostly things Kai promised he would explain as they were technology Henry hadn’t seen and would need to learn. But Dmitra got dolls and books and the most beautiful jewelry. She also received a device that strapped to her wrist and could tell her the time or the weather or any number of other things. She was wide-eyed when the kids were explaining everything it could do, but she seemed to take it in stride.

Mother received cooking utensils that put her old, beaten ones to shame. Brand new pots of what they called cast iron, things to help in the kitchen with chopping and dicing, and a magic wand called an immersion blender.

Other people brought Euric new, sturdier equipment for his smithy, and his eyes were wide as they installed it. When they were finished, they offered him what they called beer and pizza. They’d brought enough for everyone, and with the first taste, Henry swore he’d died and gone to heaven. Even mother seemed impressed as she finished six bottles of the ale herself. After, the queen bid them all a good night and they wandered off toward their town, which Henry desperately wanted to see.

Mother was singing loudly when Dmitra, Euric, and Merry took her home.

Leaving Kai and Henry alone.

“Henry…. I’ve been waiting for us to have time together, just us,” Kai breathed out as he embraced Henry. “I want to know, would you spend the night at my home? I would know you better.”

Henry had questions, and he really needed to know. “Kai, why is it that your way of speaking is so similar to ours?”

Kai’s eyes widened. “Oh, I forgot.” He reached up and pulled a small circle from his ear. “Oh, man. That’s better.” He leaned in and gave Kai a kiss. “This is what I sound like normally,” he said. “What this device does is it translates everything people in the vicinity say into the language of the people I visit. Though we both speak English, yours is far older than mine and the translator assures we can understand each other.” He slipped the piece back into his ear. “Until we are able to help you and your family get caught up on the language my people will wear these so you’ll feel more comfortable.”

This was truly an age of marvels.

They arrived at Kai’s home, which was far grander than anything Henry had seen in Innernook. Of course it would be. He was royalty, after all.

“I see your expression. You’re worrying about the house. Everyone here has something similar. Yes, my parents are the king and queen, but we are all treated as family. And now, that includes you. He opened the door and bade Henry to enter. Gods of the earth and sky, Kai’s home was beyond imagining. Small glass bulbs were affixed to the ceiling and shone with an intensity nearly as bright as the sun. A device sat on a counter, the bright picture illuminated from somewhere within. When the image changed, Henry gasped. Everywhere he looked, a new marvel caught his gaze.

“What is this?” Henry asked, as he stared at a box that appeared to be made of metal. It was nothing like the one Neron had purchased from the blacksmith, what with the sharp edges. These gleamed and had no rough corners Henry could detect.

“This is called a stereo,” Kai explained. He put his hand on the protrusions from the box and gave a gentle turn. Music the likes of which Henry had never heard poured out of the box.

“This is… lovely,” Henry said.

“This is Johann Sebastian Bach, a composer from hundreds of years ago. His music is so popular, people play it to this day. This is Concerto Number One in F Major.”

“It makes my soul soar,” Henry murmured as he swayed to the rhythm. “Never have I heard anything similar.”

“There are many different types of music. This is called classical, but there is also rock, pop, jazz, rap. Whatever people can think of, they create.”

“I must hear more!” Henry cried.

“Could we do that later?” Kai asked gently. “I would take time to know my future husband.”

“Oh? Oh! Yes, please, let us do that.”

Kai flicked the switch and the room fell silent, but Henry wasn’t worried. What he was looking forward to was far more exciting to him. Kai helped Henry strip out of his garments, tossing them onto the floor.

“Come tomorrow we’ll get you new clothes,” Kai murmured as he leaned in and kissed Henry’s shoulder. “Your skin is so beautiful. Sadly, as you worked in the apothecary and rarely saw the outdoors, I doubt it’s ever really been touched by the sun, so we’ll have to make that part of our daily routine.”

He licked Henry’s neck, which made him gasp at how decadent it felt.

“And you’re certain there is no Hell?” he asked, his stomach fluttering.

“No, there is no Hell. Nor Heaven. There is here and there is now. There is you and there is me. Two men who have professed their love, and tonight will consummate it.

Yes. Henry wanted that desperately.

Kai couldn’t believe how nervous he was. As a traveler, he’d never felt the need to mingle with other people. Yes, he’d seen some truly beautiful men and women, but Henry? He was in a class of his own. Kai stripped off his own clothes, his cock jutting out in front of him. He’d never thought he could be with anyone, but especially Henry. Nothing could make him happier.

“Come with me,” he whispered, taking Henry by the hand and leading him through the house to the bathroom.

“What is this?” Henry asked, staring at the shower.

“It’s called a shower. It’s what we use to get clean.”

Henry scowled. “Where do you heat the water?”

Kai bit back the chuckle. It wouldn’t do to have Henry think he was being laughed at.

“This has water delivered to it by pipes beneath the house. We can make it hot by turning this knob.” He gave it a slight twist and pulled it out to start the water. “See? Just like this.”

“By the gods,” Henry gasped.

“Nope, by the science.” Kai held his hand out. It wasn’t as hot as he liked—after all, he could stand in Mother’s fire and enjoy it—but he thought it would be warm enough for Henry. He brought his hand closer to the water. “Feel the warmth. Tell me if it’s too hot or too cold.”

Henry wiggled his fingers. “This is delightful!” he cried out. “Can we stand inside, or do we bathe out here?”

“We get inside and close the door behind us. For future reference, there is a bathtub. A big, wide glorious thing that you can soak in for hours, if you choose.”

“And how much do you charge for the use?”

“Well, if you live with me, you can use it whenever you’d like.”

Henry’s eyes opened wide and his mouth formed an O. “You would have me live with you?”

Kai leaned in and kissed him. “Of course. Where else would my husband and our daughter live?”

Henry sniffled as he embraced Kai. “I love you.”

A gentle kiss to Henry’s head. “And I you, dearest one.” He maneuvered them into the shower. “Now, let us get clean.”

As soon as Kai angled the nozzle, Henry sighed and tilted his head up toward the spray. “You were wrong,” he whimpered. “There is a heaven, and this is it. Never have I felt such a thing.”

It amused Kai so that to Henry all of this was likely to be magic. Things he took for granted every day were wizardry for Henry and his family. They would have to get them tutors to help them adjust to the new reality they found themselves in.

Tomorrow.

Tonight, Kai wanted to have Henry. Wanted to be with him in a way he’d never been—never wanted to be—with anyone else. He reached up and took the washcloth from the hook, then grabbed a soap bottle. He squirted a bit on the cloth, before holding it up for Henry to see what it was.

“Oh, what is this?” he asked, clutching Kai’s wrist and holding it still so he could inhale. “I smell something sweet and something earthy, but I don’t recognize the scents.”

“The earthy one is called coconut. It’s grown on Earth and we have our own grove here. I presented it to Mother after I discovered it and she had to have it. The other scent is called vanilla. They’re a bean that is pulverized and mixed with the coconut and other ingredients to make it foamy.”

“I love it,” Henry said dreamily.

“I have so much to show you. I can’t wait to start. But that’s for after.”

He stroked the cloth over Henry’s chest, receiving a delighted purr from him. Instead of questioning, he continued his ministrations, taking great care to get all the nooks and crannies clean. When he grasped Henry’s dick he earned a gasp.

“What are you doing?”

“You need to be clean everywhere. If this is too private or personal, I’ll leave you to it.”

But his cock was rising, staring up at Kai. He smiled at Henry, who was blushing hard.

“N-No, this is fine. Just… please don’t look at me.”

“But I like looking at you,” Kai said, as he leaned in and sucked up a hickey on Henry’s neck. It was a thing of beauty, that deep red mark on that soft, sweet skin.

“Henry? I have a need to lie with you. Is that something that would be acceptable?”

The smile he got was radiant. “Yes, I would like that too,” he admitted. “I… touched myself thinking about it.”

“In the way you touched me?”

Henry nodded and warmth rushed through Kai. It was hot as hell that Henry had masturbated while thinking about the two of them together.

“Let me finish washing ourselves, then we’ll go into the bedroom. Okay?”

“Yes, please.”

Kai took his time washing Henry down. He was particularly careful when sliding his hands over the smooth globes of Henry’s ass. If Henry had never masturbated, he probably had never had anything near his hole. When Kai swiped the cloth over it, a full body tremble, punctuated by a husky moan, went through Henry.

“Why does that feel so good?”

Kai smiled at the way Henry’s voice rose a bit. “Because our bodies can feel pleasure anywhere, even there. And it is there I want to show you how we make love.”

Henry glanced down, then wrapped his fingers around Kai’s shaft. “I am uncertain something this size will fit into something my size, but I will trust you.”

“Oh, it’ll fit,” Kai assured him. “It might hurt a bit as I prepare you, but once you’re ready I have a feeling you’ll enjoy it.”

When Henry smiled and kissed Kai, he felt as though Henry were the teacher and Kai the student. Then again, as neither of them had ever been with another, perhaps they were both kids fumbling around in the bedroom one night during a sleepover. The only way Kai knew what he did was the classes they’d had on sexuality. Henry had none of that. No one to teach him, no one for him to trust.

Kai wanted to be worthy of his role.