Stephen Lawhead - In the Hall of the Dragon King

“What is wrong, Durwin?” asked Quentin softly. He had seen a melancholy glimmer in the hermit’s eye when he approached. “Why do you not join in the festivity?”

“Ah, Quentin it is you. Oh, I have enjoyed myself quite as much as I feel able.” He smiled a smile Quentin thought a little sad. He turned to watch the stars come out one by one in the vast blue vault of the heavens.

“We won,” he breathed, his upturned face lit by glimmering torchlight. “We won at last.”

“So it is! We won the battle… but the war is not over, I fear.”

“Not over? What do you mean?”

“Look around you, Quentin. Think about all that has happened to you. The old gods of earth and sky are vanishing, the old order is passing away. The true god is making himself known; his rule is just beginning. But the old ways die hard.”

“This is the twilight of the gods, and there is much darkness still ahead before the dawn comes. Ah, but the light will come. That I promise you!”

Then the hermit turned and fixed Quentin with a long and wondering gaze. “Remember your blessing, Quentin. You have some part to play in all of this-the god has his hand on you. Perhaps he has chosen you to help bring in his new order. What you have done is just the beginning; there is still much to do.”

Quentin stood blinking back at the holy hermit.

“Durwin,” he said with a sudden urgency. “I want to go back-back to Dekra. Is there anything to prevent me, do you think?”

“By no means! A ward of the King may go anywhere; all doors are open to you.”

“Would you go with me?”

“I would love nothing better. There is much I would show you.”

“Can we leave right away?”

“As soon as may be, my hasty young sir. However, it would be well to abide in Askelon for a time to allow Eskevar to express his gratitude. But we will go soon enough.” Then, noticing Quentin’s anxious look, “What? Is not one adventure enough for you? You have to begin another so soon?”

“But there is so much to do, so much to learn!”

“And plenty of time to accomplish what has been given us. We will think about all that some other time. Look! Here comes Toli with someone who would meet the hero of the day.”

Quentin turned to see Toli hurrying up; a young girl followed demurely behind him. With a start Quentin realized that it was the girl he had met outside the furrier’s shop that cold winter’s day that now seemed so long ago. She smiled shyly as she approached, and Quentin realized how very much like Queen Alinea she looked. Their auburn hair and emerald eyes were identical. Before Toli could make the introduction, Theido, who came strolling up along the balcony, called out, “Ah, Bria! There you are! After pestering me all day to introduce you, I see you have managed on your own.”

Quentin bowed low and said, none too certainly, “I am Quentin at your service, my Lady.” The girl, her green eyes sparkling, rustled a deep curtsy in her pale blue beribboned dress.

“Well you say ‘my Lady,’" said Theido, beaming. “Do you not know that you are addressing the Princess?” He and Durwin both laughed, and when Quentin turned they were already walking away arm in arm back to the garden where music had begun to play under the stars.

“I am Princess Bria,” the girl confessed. “Would you like to listen to the music?”

Quentin was speechless, but his eyes spoke most eloquently for him. Toli fairly pranced for joy, his dark features shining with pleasure, as he ushered the bashful couple along. Bria’s warm hand closed upon Quentin’s as she drew him away into a night he suddenly wished would never end.