Dragons of the Watch - Donita K. Paul [89]
Laddin landed on Old One’s chest. The minor dragon turned in a tight circle then moved slowly down the old man’s legs and up again. He did another check of the abdomen and chest with that measured circle, then he went to the head and spent a moment studying the extent of damage done there.
He settled across the old man’s forehead.
“We can help,” said Bealomondore. “Place Orli on Old One’s chest. Take my hand as I rest it on Orli, and with your other hand, touch both Laddin and the urohm. The healing energy will multiply as it flows through Laddin, you, me, Orli, and Old One.”
Ellie followed his instructions. Bealomondore placed his right hand over Laddin and Old One’s temple. His left hand held hers and rested on Orli.
“Relax,” said Bealomondore. “You aren’t required to know what to do. You only have to allow the energy to pass through. Laddin does the healing. He knows what to concentrate on.”
“What will he do?” she whispered.
“Ease Old One’s breathing, repair the torn tissue to stop the bleeding, and help any traumatized organs. He’ll do the same for Orli.”
She shook her head, trying to clear her mind and take in Bealomondore’s explanation.
He smiled at her. “You may understand some of what Laddin is doing as you experience it, but our role is to provide support. Laddin will coax Old One’s body to return to the functions Wulder has ordained. Take deep, slow breaths. Close your eyes. Allow Laddin to work. Allow Wulder’s presence to strengthen Old One while He guides Laddin.”
What if she did something wrong and interfered with Laddin’s work? But the bond with Bealomondore eased her worries. She found herself relaxing. At first she felt a slight buzz in her hands. Gradually the sensation smoothed out to a soothing hum and extended up her right arm and down her left. She shifted to recline in a more comfortable position.
How long would this take? It didn’t feel like work but was tiring nonetheless. Memories of fields of spring wildflowers came to her mind. She heard old man Lemeterndern’s mellow fiddle as he played at a gathering in the village. She smelled and tasted her mother’s lemon cake. Scenes of peace and contentment drifted through her mind.
She sighed and wondered at the warmth that radiated among those providing the healing circle. Each entity in the ring produced a thread of energy that flowed with the others much like strands in a piece of yarn. They merged to make one stream. She could identify her own and Bealomondore’s. Soon she identified the two dragons’ energy lines. Old One’s thin thread barely pulsed. Once she felt it, she didn’t lose it again, even when the stronger, warmer, brighter, unidentified stream entered the flow.
She laid her head on Old One’s shoulder. Totally relaxed, she allowed the coursing stream to fill her as it passed through. Joining energy felt natural, and she didn’t want the experience to end.
The last thread, the strongest thread—who generated that beautiful peace? The answer came, and she could not tell if Bealomondore had whispered the name in her mind or if the last entity had spoken. Somehow, as soon as she was told, she knew that was what she had expected.
Wulder, Bealomondore’s Wulder, had joined them. But not Bealomondore’s Wulder. Ellie now knew Wulder in her own way. And she knew she would recognize Him anywhere. He was her Wulder. No, still not quite right. She was Wulder’s.
She had a vision of a strong young man writing her name on a huge banner. He stood back and admired the cloth sign as it hung in the sky on nothing. A breeze fluttered it like a flag. The young man, Wulder, gathered the banner, then wrapped it around His body. The sign bearing her name became one with the robe He wore. She could no longer distinguish it from the material of His clothing. She would never be able to pull the two weavings into what they had been, a robe and a banner. No one else