tour in the next row. After a minute or so, only his bobbing torch was visible in the dimness.
Clutching the dagger tightly, Timothy sat next to the wiggling plant again and imagined the squirming little boy or girl inside. He repeated his own words in his mind. They need more guards like you where they came from. Biting his lip, he lowered his head and spoke in his mind to his companion. They certainly don’t need hypocrites like me, right?
The ovulum floated up to his ear and replied in a quiet tone. You are not a hypocrite until you act against what you know to be right. Your deeds define what you are, and a hypocritical act will soil your character beyond your ability to cleanse. You only have one life to give to God, so give it to him without stain or blemish.
“Easy for you to say,” Timothy grumbled out loud, letting the moonlight flash on the blade. “You don’t have any children you have to kill for.”I have only you to love and counsel. The companion perched again atop his shoulder. I have no children to kill or die for.
The plant wiggled violently. Setting the dagger on the ground, Timothy rose to his knees and caressed both leaves gently. “Shhhh … It’s going to be okay.” As he rubbed the baby’s back, it arched, and the little head shifted until it rested in Timothy’s palm. Tenderly massaging it with his thumb, he began to sing a lullaby he made up for Ashley years ago.
Your daddy slays the nightmare beasts
Who bring their sorrows to your mind.
Begone you monsters, take those fears
And never leave your ghosts behind.
Slowly, the baby settled down. As its steady heartbeat pulsed through the leaf and into his skin, Timothy wept. This child would be born tomorrow and cradled in loving arms, while another precious child would not awaken to another dawn. He snatched up the dagger again and gritted his teeth. There had to be another way! There just had to be!
A weak whistle spilled down from the sky. Timothy slid the dagger behind his belt and looked up. The silhouette of a great dragon passed in front of Pegasus and dove toward him. In a gust of wind and flapping wings, Grackle landed gracefully, Listener sitting in the control seat, dressed in purple sweat pants and a black leather jacket. She whistled again, and, while the dragon lowered its head to the ground, she waved Timothy aboard.
Timothy let go of the leaf and scrambled up the dragon’s stairway. When he settled himself in the already warm passenger’s seat, he reached around and hugged her from behind, his cheek nuzzling hers. “Are you absolutely sure you want to do this?”
She nodded forcefully.
“Then let’s go.” Just as he was about to pull back, her two companions buzzed around his eyes. The weaker one brushed against the stronger one, and they seemed for a moment to be annoyed with each other.
Listener whistled. Grackle spread out his wings.
“Wait!” Timothy called, falling back in his seat. “Wait just a minute.”
Listener whistled again and massaged Grackle’s warm scales, breathing a lower whistle to keep him calm.
“I have an idea.” Breathing rapidly, Timothy ran his fingers through his hair. “It might work, but our timing has to be perfect.”
A shout pierced the night. “Who goes there?”
“It’s the guard!” Timothy clasped her shoulder. “Get us out of here!”
She pursed her lips and blew a shrill blast. Just as Cliffside came back into view, Grackle beat his wings and vaulted into the air. After gaining altitude in a tight circle over the garden, he shot away toward the land of the shadow people.
Timothy twisted and looked down. The torch streaked toward the village. Soon, Abraham would know. Brushing aside Listener’s hair, he leaned forward and kissed her on her scaly cheek, whispering, “You are the bravest of the brave, little lass. I love you like my own daughter.”
Listener nodded, rubbing their cheeks together. Warmth flooded Timothy’s heart. Words weren’t necessary … She loved him, too.
As they approached the bowl-shaped valley, the wind grew colder and colder, stiffening his fingers and numbing his skin. He could barely extend his frigid arms to point the way or force out spoken directions into the biting wind.
Listener didn’t seem to mind the cold. As she guided the dragon in the direction Timothy pointed, her little brow furrowed whenever a gust threw them slightly off course, but, other than an occasional shiver, she remained stoic.
Timothy leaned to see