"Curses!" the man exclaimed as he paced from chess board to golden chair and back again. "Will she never stop her cursed meddling?"

"He needed to be healed," the woman replied calmly as she leaned closer, peering intently into the crystal ball.

"The game would end if the king was destroyed."

"King," he snorted with disdain. "He is no more than a p.a.w.n and you know it."

"Whatever you say, dear." She smiled as she leaned back to stare thoughtfully into s.p.a.ce. "I rather admire her courage.

At least she is making the right moves. Do sit down now. You are making me quite upset by your anger."

"Humph," the man mumbled as he sank into the soft

cushions of the chair. "You do not look upset to me."

The woman smiled softly as she returned her gaze to the glowing orb.

TWELVE.

A bird's song woke Tempest. She found herself curled at Adrian's side, on the big four-poster bed. She laid her hand on his chest and felt the rise and fall of peaceful slumber. There was no fever. Temptation was too much for the curious maid, and she moved her hand slowly to the small patch of wispy blond hairs in the center of his chest.

Twice she had found herself in the arms of this strange man and quite liked the feeling. She was loathe to move but knew he would be hungry when he woke from his long sleep.

She would need to get to the kitchens to make sure there was some broth for him. She tried to inch slowly to the edge of the bed, but his strong arms held her fast.

Gently, she tried to lift Adrian's arm and yet not wake him, but to no avail. He held her too tightly. She would simply have to lie quietly until he awoke.

But she found that she could not just lie quietly and wait.

Her mind feverishly itemized the new day's tasks, and she was eager to be up and started.

"You wriggle more than a new puppy, little one." Adrian's voice rumbled deep in his chest, startling her. "And you kind of feel like one, too, but you certainly do not smell like one.

You smell like wild lavender in the summer." He nuzzled her hair, pulling her even closer to his lean, golden-tanned body.

"Adrian," she breathed, pushing ineffectually against his chest, "you must be careful, or you will pull out your st.i.tches.

Do not move so much. You must let me go now... Adrian!" She tried to pull away from him, but he still held her close and nuzzled her hair, inhaling deeply.

"Mmmm....you fit just right in my arms. You are so soft

and tiny." The big hand at her waist moved slowly up her rib cage on its relentless way to her breast. "Stay here with me forever, sweet one."

"If you move that hand any farther, sir, I will break it."

Nay, she thought, I could never hurt you.

"I know, little witch. I could never hurt you, either." His voice was gentle. "It seems you are my protector, at least until I am healed."

"Protector..?" Tempest did not realize that he had divined her thoughts as the events of her nightmare flooded back to her.

"You fought that demon for me, Tempest. I am forever in your debt."

"Nay." In her agitation, she easily moved his arm and sat on the edge of the bed, facing away from him. She looked at the dawn's soft light as it streamed through the window. "'Twas a dream. I cannot throw lightning bolts. I can manipulate the weather somewhat; I can gentle wild animals and I can create illusions in people's minds, but no one can throw a lightning bolt. 'Tis an impossibility."

"Nothing is truly impossible, little witch. If you really believe and set your mind to it, you can accomplish any task."

"Adrian, I am no more a witch than you are a...a...dragon."

She laughed at the absurdity of her idea, as she turned to look at him. "Although you are big enough to be one," she giggled.

"Ummm," he growled, lunging for her,. "and I am hungry enough to be a dragon, too! Shall I take a bite from your lovely little body, Tempest?"

"Oh nay, Sir Dragon," she giggled, as he wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her onto his long, lanky body. "I am but a fat, ugly maid and not fit for a dragon's dinner."

"Ah, Tempest," he whispered into her ear, "you are soft and curvy and beautiful and fit only for the mightiest of rulers.

I will make you mine, little witch, now and forever." His soft kisses traveled slowly toward her mouth and she held her breath in antic.i.p.ation.

Adrian's kiss was soft as a b.u.t.terfly's caress. She felt a fluttering in her stomach and her heart beat faster as her arms

tightened involuntarily around him. She wanted more, but more of what, she did not know. A tiny moan escaped her as his lips caressed hers, then became more demanding.

"Well, I see our patient is feeling better this morning."

Miriam's voice cut through their tender kiss like a sharp dagger through fresh-churned b.u.t.ter. Tempest jumped and scrambled from the bed, an embarra.s.sed flush making her freckles stand out vividly. Adrian lay in the bed, arms folded across his chest as a lopsided smile spread across his handsome face..

"Miriam...we...I...ah..." Tempest stammered. "He..."

"Aye. And I could see what 'we, I and he' were doing.

Have you forgotten your recent betrothal?" Miriam asked dryly.

"I..." Tempest blushed even deeper, her hand raised in a guilty plea for understanding.

Miriam, seeing the stricken look on the girl's face, relented.

"I was young once," she said softly, "and I do understand how difficult some patients can become when they are healing. This one," she said, looking at Adrian, "seems to be even more difficult than most. You must watch him closely and be careful that he does not injure himself with all his activity."

Tempest bent her head and clasped her hands together tightly in front of her. "He is-"

"Hungry." Adrian finished for her with a big smile. "I need food. I am starving. Ohhh." he groaned in mock agony. "I want a whole cow, two sheep, twelve chickens..."

"You will get some nice nourishing broth," Miriam stated firmly.

"Broth? Oh please, kind lady," Adrian moaned. "I am a man grown. I need real food, not child's pap. See how weak I am?" He tried to rise from the bed and fell back weakly. A look of surprise crossed his face. I really am weak and very, very hungry, he thought.

"You seemed fine when I walked into this room just a few moments ago," Miriam retorted.

Tempest could feel his hunger pangs as she stepped closer to the bed and laid her hand on his forehead. His skin was clammy and damp. "He is not being foolish, Miriam. He needs to eat to regain his strength. I feel his pain," she added softly,

smoothing his hair gently from his forehead. Adrian's hand shook visibly as he reached to clasp her small hand in his.

Miriam was a healer and knew the truth of his need. "Keep him warm, Tempest. I will be as quick as I can," she said as she hurried from the room.

Adrian was seated in a large, cushioned chair which had been drawn near the fire by the time Miriam returned with the tray of food. He was wrapped in a soft fur from the bed and looked pale and weak. His long, bare legs were stretched out, and his head rested on the back of the chair in exhaustion.

"Tempest," she scolded, "he should not be up. He is not strong enough yet. He will catch a chill."

"He insisted, Miriam. And I covered him with the fur."

"Not well enough," she answered, looking pointedly at his bare legs. "I do not approve of a maiden carting a naked man around. Even wounded, a naked man is not a sight for a maiden to behold."

"I have seen him without clothing, Miriam," Tempest replied. "He had nothing on when I found him under my tree.

Remember? Why must you worry so? I am no longer a child, you know."

"I fully realize that you are no longer a child, Tempest,"

Miriam said patiently, "but there are certain things you do not yet realize about men and..."

"I am dying of hunger," Adrian's voice growled. "Are you healers or torturers? Feed me, woman, ere I waste away to nothing before your very eyes." He struggled to throw off the fur, to reach for the tray which Miriam was still holding. The rich scent of venison made him salivate, and he could think of nothing but his need for nourishment to heal his wounded body.

He reached for the tray, and the fur slid precariously toward the rush-covered floor?

"Young man!" Miriam exclaimed in shock at his boldness.

"If you do not keep yourself covered, I will leave, and the food will go with me. Patience is its own reward...Now cover yourself, sir," she coldly insisted.

Hastily, Adrian covered himself, a slow blush

spreading across his cheeks. Tempest giggled and moved a small table closer to the chair. She peered at the embarra.s.sed man out of the corner of her eye and winked. Adrian coughed and looked away.

"I am covered now. May I eat?" he asked meekly.

"Please?"

Miriam set the tray in front of him without a word and removed the cloth to reveal the food she had brought.

"Broth?" questioned Adrian in astonishment. "Fruit?

Bread? 'Tis not food for a man. I need meat to give me strength.

I need real food."

"This is real food, young man. 'Tis all you will get for a while yet. You have been unconscious for four days, and this is all your body can tolerate," Miriam answered gruffly.

"Four days?" Tempest and Adrian said in unison.

"Aye." Miriam looked from maid to young man and back again. "Tempest, are you so worn that you do not realize how long it has been? Lord Wendall has been quite concerned at the amount of time you have spent with this great oaf.""

"Do not call my dragon-man an oaf," Tempest replied absently, trying to accept in her mind the time span that her mentor had claimed. "I recall only one night. We brought him in, tended his wounds, you left, and then it was morning, and he was almost well." She looked at Adrian in wonder. "We could not have wandered in the abyss for four days!" she whispered to him.

"Abyss?" Miriam may have been old, but her hearing was acute. "What abyss?"

Tempest told her about the dream. "But Adrian remembers it, too," she explained. "How can this be, Miriam? Why can I not remember four whole days?"

"Ofttimes magical things cannot be explained," said the elderly healer thoughtfully. "But I did check on you and the young man often. You always spoke, and you tended him well throughout that time."

Is he the one the dragon spoke of at her birth, she wondered. Is he her intended? Nay, he is human, not dragon.

Is it possible for a dragon to become human? Nay, 'tis not.

"But I cannot throw lightning bolts, Miriam," Tempest stated firmly.

"Have you tried before, dear?" Miriam asked gently.

"Nay. There has been no need."

"Well, apparently you found a need this time," Miriam remarked, staring hard at Tempest.

"I am still hungry," Adrian said looking at the depleted tray before him. "May I have more food now?

"What does that old nursemaid know?" the woman wondered, as she looked from the glowing crystal to the man seated across from her. "Will she cause trouble?"

"If she interferes with our game, I will destroy her," the man replied. "I believe 'tis my move?"