CHAPTER 22

“As the dragon leader for this village, it is my prerogative to overrule any decisions of this council. I am normally loathed to do so, as I feel it undermines the authority of the men I entrust matters such as those before the court this morning. However, I see no justice for anyone has occurred here today.”

He stopped to examine their faces, still holding Dawn’s hand in his as he spoke. It was obvious that he was just as unsettled by this as anyone who had witnessed it, even to those who lacked Dawn’s capabilities.

“Dawn McCord did not seek out the skills of someone who practices the dark arts or an apothecary from which she could purchase poison. For years, she was in possession of something that held no more value to her than a photo frame any of us would sit on their mantle. It was only by chance that she and Liam found out what it was, and it was only by the grace of God that she had put it safely in her pocket until she could find a proper way to dispose of the contents.”

“No one is debating any pre-meditation on her part,” the elder councilman replied.

“Then why are you punishing her for saving a life? The only pre-meditation here was on the part of a young man who had been released from our custody and sent into exile. A man that we had not ensured vacated this village. It is our failing that allowed him to stalk and attack Dawn and Liam, and he would have killed them both if Dawn had not seized the opportunity she saw in front of her.”

“The law is clear on this, Dragon Leader,” the man continued.

“That’s right. I am the dragon leader and, as such, I am overturning the decision and sentence you have handed down here today.”

“Sir, I beg you to reconsider. It sets a bad precedent for you to intervene in matters that affect your family and friends so directly.”

“I don’t care. I wouldn’t be here if not for these people! In case you’ve forgotten, my family was once exiled from this same village by a horrible dragon leader. I know how it feels to be sent away to a strange place, and I was with family. You are sending away a young woman with nowhere to go and no one to support her except her family, leaving them no choice but to abandon her or leave with her.”

“But, sir–”

“No! All discussions are over. My future daughter in law will not be sent away from this village. I have watched my grown son cry because he can’t see her. I have listened to him call out for her in his sleep. I have watched her today be as honest and forthcoming as she could possibly be in the face of men who have no sympathy for what is happening to her. You are overruled. Get out of my council chambers.”

Loud applause went up all around them. Dawn looked around to see that even Thomas Higgins was clapping. He had never wanted to agree to this in the first place and had been merely overruled by the others.

“Come on. Let’s go see Liam,” Mr. Donnelly told her, escorting her out of the room and toward the doors that led down to the hospital. “I’m sorry for all of this, Dawn. It’s my fault. I should have intervened sooner, but I’ve just been so distraught about Liam and felt it would just run a natural course to justice by getting dismissed by the council.”

Dawn nodded and tried to smile, but she couldn’t force one. She wasn’t sure that she would ever smile again. Then she walked into Liam’s room, and he looked up at her and she realized she was wrong. Running to his bedside, she threw her arms around him, careful not to squeeze too hard.

“There’s my girl. I have missed you so much,” he said, choking up a bit.

“I’ve missed you, too.”

“How did things go upstairs? They come to their senses?”

“Yes, they did,” his father interjected.

Dawn knew she would tell him what happened eventually, but not today. She didn’t want to spoil her time with him by talking about what she had just experienced upstairs. There would be plenty of time for that later.

“How long until you get out of here?” she asked.

“Well, the doctor is going to take me out of this contraption tomorrow and put me on crutches to get around, so as soon as I can manage that, I can get out of here. He said that I should be able to shift in a couple more weeks to speed up the healing, but I have to wait until the bones have set properly before I go bursting out of my casts.”

“I might be able to speed things up a bit,” Dawn offered.

“No. You’ve done enough healing, young lady,” he told her. “I’ll be just fine.”

“It is so good to see you. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you,” she told him.

“Oh, I think that I do. I have a very good idea.”

“Thank you, Mr. Donnelly. Will you tell my parents that I’m going to stay here with Liam tonight?”

“You don’t have to do that, Dawn. It must have been a long day for you, with court and all. Go home and get some rest.”

“I can’t rest without you. I’ll stay here if that is okay.”

“Of course it is.”

“I’ll let Owen and Amy know,” his father replied, turning to leave the room.

“Are you okay, Dawn? Your heart is racing.”

“How is that any different than the effect you usually have on me?”

“For all the good it does you to get excited. Afraid I’m going to be out of commission for quite a while longer.”

“All the best things are worth waiting for,” she said, laying her head softly against his shoulder to listen to his heartbeat.