Free A Dragon's Honor by Dahlia Rose Page B

Valencia said with a
knowing smile. “Now, come, let’s sit and we can have some refreshments.”
    Raven
was surprised that Valencia didn’t take the baby from her but let her hold on
to the little bundle of joy. She had a soft spot for babies and children and
decided that it was because at the age of seventeen, she was the assistant to a
midwife and had helped deliver a few babies, mostly while on the dig sites in
Peru and Egypt. She told them the story as they walked into a beautiful room
with a jade inlaid fountain in the center. Tables and chairs glistening bronze
in the natural sunlight coming in from the glass-paned roof told her there were
artisans living in Paladin. Everything was so beautiful. A woman brought in
drinks and intricate little cakes. Raven tried to take it all in, but knew she
wouldn’t be able to in just one day. She knew Paladin would never lose its wonder
in her eyes.
    “So,
tell me why you’re home, Raul, or should we walk and let the women enjoy their
refreshments?” Orin asked.
    “The
women are sitting right here,” Valencia said. “Honestly, Orin, do we need to
discuss the chauvinistic terms again?”
    Orin
inclined his head and a tried to smother his smile. “My apologies, ladies.”
    Raul
laughed. “It’s not necessary, Orin. Raven already knows what is going on. Let
me fill you both in.”
    She
played with the baby and nibbled on some of the most delicious pastries she’d
ever had in her life, while Raul filled them in. She watched the interest in Orin’s
face turn to anger and Valencia looked worried.
    “I
want to weed out the cell and find my father,” Raul said.
    “That
may not be wise, Raul, there may be things you don’t know,” Orin said
hesitantly.
    “Why
do I get the feeling there is some big secret that everyone seems to know
except me?” Raul snapped.
    “If
you guys have any ideas about why the Shen would be
keeping his dad, why not spill it?” Raven asked. No wonder Raul had issues if
the people closest in his life were holding things back from him.
    Orin
directed a cold stare at her, but she refused to look away. Try to stare me down, buddy, I can do this all day, she thought angrily.
    “Stop
using the death stare on Raven,” Valencia admonished. “She is looking out for
Raul and that is a wonderful thing. Plus, if you do know something, maybe it’s
time the truth came out for everyone’s sake.”
    “It
has nothing to do with the Shen , and it’s not my
secret to tell,” Orin replied and then faced Raul. “I only know what I’ve heard
from my father. It’s best you talk to Hawke about this.”
    “Oh,
I will,” Raul said grimly. “This is going to be over
once and for all, whatever it is.” He stood and Valencia took the baby from
Raven who was bouncing him on her knee. “I’m going to show Raven around Paladin
before we head back to Madison.”
    “Whatever
you do, Raul, know that Hawke was trying to honor a promise and he loves you
more than you know.” Orin stood and placed his hand on Raul’s shoulder. “He was
hard on us both in our training; me, because I was the king’s son and I needed
a punch in the head a few times for being so cocky. I needed to learn the rise
to the thrown was not mine just because of blood, but because of honor and
respect. He was hard on you because he never wanted to lose you in a battle. I
don’t think he could take it. You may not see it, but I think he feels a bond
or a connection with you that he doesn’t have with the others. There is a
reason why you are very important to him, probably because he is the one who
rescued you as a boy.”
    “I’ll
keep that in mind,” Raul said.
    “It
was nice meeting you both,” Raven said.
    “I’m
sure we’ll be seeing you again,” Valencia said with a smile.
    “Under
better circumstances, I hope.” Orin gave Raven a crooked smile. “I won’t even
use my death stare, as Valencia calls it, on you next time.”
    Raven
winked. “Trust me, big guy. I can give