Oh, no, I would feel ever so much better afterwards. It is so satisfying to fix broken mortals. She had said almost the same thing to him when they first met in France, before she had made his pain so much less.
Who was he to argue with her desire to relieve suffering? He stepped over to Thompson and said in a low voice, “This dragon is a fine healer, and she has asked if you would allow her to do a healing for your hand.”
The old gatekeeper’s jaw dropped. “On me? Could she do that?”
“I do not know how much she is capable of, but I think it is likely she could reduce your pain, if nothing else. I have seen her abilities.”
He tugged at his ear. “What would you say, sir? Would you let her do it?”
“In an instant.” He wished he could tell the man the truth.
“Then I will do it.” The old man showed more bravery than Darcy had, facing his first healing.
He agrees, Darcy sent.If you are certain you wish to do this.
Oh, yes! There is nothing I like better than doing healings, but since my companion died long ago, I have only had the Kith to work on. This will be a treat.
What had Jack said, that all the mortals at the Nest were in disgustingly good health thanks to Coquelicot?
“Thompson, go up to her and look into her eyes,” he instructed. “She will put her talons on your cheeks, and you may feel something odd when she begins.”
“Yes, sir.”
The man deserved a medal, hobbling up to a strange dragon many times his size on nothing more than Darcy’s say-so. He did not even hesitate when Coquelicot turned her enormous head towards him and placed the sides of her razor-sharp talons on his cheeks.
Darcy could almost see the dragon magic flowing between them, as Thompson’s eyes grew wide. Then the old gatekeeper flexed his hand with wonder, as tears of joy poured down his wrinkled cheeks.
Elizabeth sidled up beside him. “What is happening?”
What an odd turn-around this was, that now he was the one having silent communication with a dragon while she was left out! “She wanted to do a healing on Thompson first.”
“After flying all the way from the Vosges?” Her disbelief was obvious.
He shrugged, uncomfortable at the questioning. “It was her request. She likes to do healings.”
“Does she now?” Elizabeth asked sharply, and her gaze fixed on his weak hand, the one that had been almost useless and painful when she had last seen him in France. “William, are you under a binding?”
A sigh of relief escaped him. “Yes.”
She nodded slowly. “That explains a great deal.”
His shoulders relaxed. “And I still hate bindings,” he said fervently.
Elizabeth laughed. “That will never change!” But she sounded warmer now, with less distance in her voice, and that made his heart sing.
Half an hour later, as Darcy led Coquelicot to the ballroom, he said silently,I am bound against speaking of the healing you did for me. Is it possible to remove that binding?
I cannot, Little One, for it was placed by my Eldest. My regrets.
I do not understand why I am so bound. Surely healing is a good thing.
The dragon’s aura softened.It was to protect the Nest. If people knew there was a healer dragon in the Vosges mountains, many of them would never rest until they found me – and the Nest. My abilities had to remain secret. It made me sad, because I wanted to help them all.
It made sense, but it was also tragic. Injured and ill people suffering unnecessarily when Coquelicot wanted to help them, all to keep the Nest a secret. The Great Concealment, when all the dragons of Britain and Europe went into hiding, had hidden costs.
And in this case, he might be able to help.If you wish to heal more mortals, we have many here who would be glad of it.And it might make them accept dragons as allies more easily.
The tired dragon seemed instantly more energetic.Truly? That would make me happy.I used to heal the Kith as often as they would let me.
