“More than luck.” Anton smiled. “You used your magic to shield yourself from death. The ‘blood bane.’ “

“We know about the ‘blood bane,’ “ Rosa added. “Our daughter was one of the Blessed. She was quite strong in it.” Her voice softened. “And we know that sometimes it can be hard for young girls to deal with such power. We know that sometimes they run away—”

Draca lowered her gaze in confusion. Her hands plucked nervously at the blanket. “Please! Don’t tell the monks—”

“We won’t, dear, we won’t. Now lie back and rest.”

Draca nestled down among the blankets. She closed her eyes, and was soon breathing deeply and evenly.

The two stood gazing down on her.

“It’s good to have a young one to care for again,” said Rosa with a tremulous smile. She reached out to take hold of her husband’s hand.

“We can’t keep her indefinitely,” Anton said, drawing his wife near. “Someone will be sure to find out, and then the monks will be coming for us.”

“I know,” Rosa said with a sigh. “Just a day or two. That’s all. No one will miss her in the confusion.”

“Now you should go to bed,” said her husband.

“Not yet.” Rosa pulled the stool on which she sat when she was weaving over to the side of the bed. “I’ll stay up with her a bit. She might wake again and be frightened.”

Her husband kissed her on the top of her head. “You’re a good woman, Wife.”

Rosa smiled, pleased. She drew the blanket around the girl’s thin shoulders and tucked it in. Taking up some mending, she rested her back against the wall and began to hum a lullaby she had sung for their daughter.

Lulla, lulla, lulla, lullaby.

My sweet little baby, what meanest thou to cry?

Lying in their bed, Anton realized he had not heard his wife sing in a long, long time. His eyes filled with tears.

5

WHEN GRALD ARRIVED AT THE ABBEY, VEN WAS CONSCIOUS AND alert, though he pretended not to be. He lay in bed with his eyes closed, stirring only when he heard his father’s rough voice.

“How are you feeling, Dragon’s Son?” Grald asked.

Ven did not answer immediately. Opening his eyes, he stared around the room, as though disoriented and confused. At last, he shifted his gaze to Grald, to the dragon, his father.

“Well enough.” Ven made an effort to pull himself to a sitting position.

“Do not move, Dragon’s Son,” one of the monks warned, and laid a restraining hand on Ven’s shoulder.

Ven flashed the monk a look, and the man hastily drew back his hand.

“The monk is right. You should not be moving,” Grald said solicitously. “We must take care of that body of yours.”