Bane of the Dragon King Read online

  David couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You can’t be serious. He’s consorting with the enemy, and I’m the one getting punished?”

  “I’m sorry, David. You attacked a prince. We cannot forge good will if we ignore their laws. If they violated the laws of Hirth, we would expect them to abide by the ones we set forth, would we not?”

  “I can’t believe you’re not going to stand up for me. You know he should have never been in her room. You know he’s secretly meeting with an enemy against the crown. Don’t let him get away with it just because he has some sort of stupid title!”

  “David, it’s a bit more than that,” Trog said, perching half of his butt on the end of a desk. “He’s a prince. He’s the highest-ranking member of the Edrydonian army. His father is King Wynrel, the elven king. We need his father and the elves to fight alongside us. With the swing of a fist, you took the chance of an alliance all the way down to zero. The only way to salvage this is to let Prince Venniver issue punishment upon you of equal measure. Let him have his victory. We can then pursue your claims without his knowledge.”

  David’s head pounded so hard he thought it would explode. He fell into a chair, his palms pressed to his eyes. “He could have done anything to you, Char. For all we know he could have sat on your bed, touched you, stroked your hand, played with your hair, kissed you. I fear what he will do to you once you are away from everyone here who can protect you.”

  Charlotte knelt before him. “David, I appreciate more than anyone here your wanting to protect my virtue, but we need allies. In case you haven’t figured it out, I want to go home, and the only way to do it is to end this war once and for all. It’s time to pull the finger out of my butt and get this done. To do that, I am going to need your help, their help,” she gestured to the rest of those in the room, “and the help of a lot more I haven’t even met. And if you think my diplomatic mission ends in Itas, you’re wrong. After I’m done there, I plan to travel to the Pearl Islands in the Jade Sea where I will seek an audience with the woodland dragons. Getting them to agree to fight will be difficult as well, but if I have the Edryd on our side, it will sway them more to fight for Hirth and the realm.” She clutched his hands in hers. “I cannot defeat him alone. I need air power. I saw what happened on the battlefield. The only thing up there in the sky was Einar. He had control. He had aerial dominance. That must change. We need land, air, and sea. Mangus has promised the sea will deliver. I know we have land. And as much as I despise the prince, I must do whatever I can to get them on our side, which means you have to swallow your pride, bite your tongue, and apologize to him. Take whatever punishment he gives you, provided it is within reason.” She placed a hand on his chest and looked him in the eye. “Please. I want to go home.”

  He lost his fight with her.

  “Fine. Just know this. If I ever find out he ever laid a hand on you, I’ll beat the crap out of him. Do you understand that? I will gladly give my life to protect you, and that’s not me being cheesy or goofy or whatever you’re thinking right now. I mean it. If he even dares to look at you in any way that is disrespectful, I’ll rip his eyes out. Have I made that clear?”

  Charlotte nodded, never taking her eyes from his face. She cupped his cheek in her hand. “You will always be my Robin Hood and I your Maid Marian, but even Robin Hood had to take his blows. Do this for me, David. For everyone in this room. For Hirth.”

  David glanced around the room at all the faces staring at him, waiting for an answer. He stood and turned to the door. “Let’s get this over with.”

  The dining hall fell into a hush as David emerged with his entourage behind him. Prince Venniver stood and faced David, his face already a bit swollen with a blossoming bruise. King Gildore stepped in between the two, a referee at a fighting match.

  “Prince Venniver. I believe David has something he would like to say to you.” He gestured for David to step forward.

  David bit his tongue, his lip, and stuffed what he really wanted to say in his gut. He waited for a moment, allowing the insincere words to roll around his mouth until his tongue and lips dripped with hypocritical sincerity.

  “It has come to my attention that I may have over-reacted by striking you. I should have chosen a more diplomatic way to resolve the problem. I am hereby presenting myself so that you may exact equal judgment upon me before this assemblage.”

  Prince Venniver sneered. He approached David with a smug expression that needed to be knocked off. He stopped inches from David’s face. “Well, that must have been difficult for you, admitting you disgraced a royal before all of these fine people. If we were on the Floating Isles, I would have you arrested and sentenced to cleaning my chamber pot for eight seasons. But since we are not on the Isles, I will do nothing but this.” He slapped David across the face. “Do not disrespect me again or you will face a punishment far worse than humiliation.” He glanced at Slavandria. “I have summoned my carriage. Lady Charlotte and I will leave at first light.” He turned to Charlotte and moved in so close to her, their bodies almost touched. He traced an index finger down her arm, his eyes on David.

  David stepped forward, his fists clenched. Trog grabbed David’s shoulder.

  Venniver grinned. “Might I also suggest you find something more appropriate to wear to Brath la Dune. Something warm and green. King Thallan is the king of the Sidhe. He likes green. And do something with your hair so it’s not so, I don’t know, everywhere.” He faced Trog. “If you don’t mind escorting us to the docks in the morning, I would appreciate it very much.” He bowed to King Gildore and Queen Mysterie. “It has been a most interesting visit. Once again, I am sorry for your losses.”

  He turned and strode from the room amidst whispered chatter.

  Charlotte kissed David’s cheek. “I know how hard that was. Thank you.”

  He glared at her. “You better pack. You wouldn’t want to keep the prince waiting.”

  He stomped away, the heat of his anger ready to burst through his clothes and set him ablaze. He wanted to hit something, bust it to pieces. He never despised someone so much in his life. Why couldn’t anyone else see through him? Why did everyone tiptoe around him as if he were some sort of god? He thrust open the doors of the vestibule and stepped outside in the cold. He tilted his head back, and breathed it in. Calm, deep breaths. The brisk cold air swirled around and within him, taking away the fire.

  Until Sir Farnsworth smacked him on the back. David whirled, his fist eye level. He dropped it upon seeing who had touched him.

  “I was impressed with you, young man. You did what most people in that room have been wanting to do for years, and for much fewer reasons.” A hearty arm draped over David’s shoulder. “What say we take a walk in the forest, and you can show me where you saw our prince engaging the pyromancer, hmm?” Booted footsteps approached. David peered around the hulk of the man to see Trog, Gowran, and Crohn coming toward them. David smiled. So they did believe him after all.

  “I say we all go,” Crohn said, tossing a sheathed sword at Farnsworth. “Who has a lantern?”

  Mangus strolled up behind them, a smile stretched across his face. “Who needs a lantern when you have magic?” He snapped his fingers, and a ball of light hovered in the air before them.

  Trog grinned and smacked Mangus on the back as he went around him. “I always knew there was something I liked about you. Let’s move out.”

  David

  The roosters crowed, announcing the approach of dawn.

  David slipped into his second boot with a yawn, his eyes barely able to stay open. He’d tossed and turned all night, his stomach ill with the thought of Charlotte in Prince Venniver’s clutches. During their moonlit trek in the woods, he’d begged Mangus to go with her, but he insisted she was well prepared, more so than he could have ever dreamed. He also found magical proof of Pusrig’s presence, and the knights stumbled upon the scattered corpse of the buck, corroborating David’s story. They’d taken the ev
idence to the king and Slavandria. Now to see what they would do with it.

  “I hear you had an eventful evening at the dinner last night,” Julien said, floating around the room gathering clothes. “You do realize you got off easy with just a smack to the face.”

  “How do you know about what happened last night?” David’s voice rasped with fatigue.

  “Fig. He’s been watching you, you know.”

  “Why?”

  “He adores Lady Charlotte, and he sees you have a soft spot for her. After last night, I think he might have changed his mind about fighting and all. It’s all he could talk about, the way you punched the prince in the face, knocking him backward to the floor.” Julien chuckled as he straightened the bed. “I would have liked to have seen it. You know, I have some calendula salve that will work well with the swelling and bruising of those knuckles. You got them pretty good.”

  David opened and closed his fist a few times, the pain sharp but tolerable. “Thanks, but I’ll be all right.” He stood at a knock at the door.

  Julien admitted Sir Farnsworth. David’s stomach fell. “Where’s Trog?”

  “He had things to attend to with Slavandria. He’ll meet you here later, but we need to get to the docks and see Lady Charlotte off. It will be some time before you see her again, and you don’t want Venniver standing between you. Besides, no matter what you think of him, the carriage and the Edryds are an incredible sight to behold.”

  “This is true,” Julien said.

  The brawny, ashen-haired knight threw a look Julien’s way that made the lad shrink. He lowered his head, his hands clasped before him.

  “Have a travel bag together for Prince David within an hour. Nothing fancy. He will need a mix of clothes. The weather has been unpredictable as of late.”

  Julien folded in half. “Yes, sir.”

  “Oh, and see to it there is food waiting for him upon his return. We have a long journey ahead. I want him plumped before we leave.”

  Farnsworth laid a massive hand on David’s back and edged him from the room. “We need to hurry. You don’t want to be late.”

  ***

  They emerged from the woods onto a lush green meadow, its beauty untouched by Einar’s wrath. A pink glow tinted the sky as the sun crested on the horizon, and a slight breeze stirred the air.

  David followed Farnsworth along a narrow footpath where feather-like fronds of grass swayed at their feet, their tips glimmering like diamonds in the dappled sunlight.

  “Watch your step through here,” Farnsworth said. “In fact, stay to my right. I wouldn’t want you falling into the pit.”

  David froze for a second, his heart pounding. “Where?”

  “There,” Farnsworth pointed to the patch of dense leaves no more than a foot away.

  David gulped, unable to look away. “Th-those are tree tops. I-I thought it was ground cover.”

  “You wouldn’t want to step on that ground, not unless you want to take a tumble. Come on. We have to go.” His steps picked up.

  “How deep is this pit?” David called out, rushing to keep up. It was hard to think of Charlotte training down there, in the dark. With the dead. A bird screeched overhead. David’s eyes followed, but the ground gave way. His left foot slipped, sending rocks tumbling below. His heart joined the bird.

  Farnsworth gripped the waist of David’s pants and tossed him as if he weighed no more than a sack of feathers. David stumbled to stay upright, gasping for breath. His heartbeat returned but continued its chaotic dance.

  “I told you to stay to my right!” Farnsworth said forging on.

  “David!” Charlotte ran toward him, a smile on her face. “You came to see me off!” She flung her arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around her, his limbs shaky and weak.

  “Yeah. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.” He glanced over his shoulder. “You trained down there?”

  “Yes. Come. You’ve got to see this.” She grabbed his hand and tugged him forward. “Look up. That’s where I’m going.” She pointed in the sky.

  David raised his arm, shielding his eyes from the sun. Hovering high above were six floating islands, their bottoms conical and made of roots and dirt. Giant stepping stones in the clouds.

  “They’re amazing, aren’t they?” Charlotte asked.

  David nodded.

  “The Edryd have also arrived,” Charlotte said, nudging him ever so lightly. Her voice trembled with excitement. Her eyes twinkled with wonder and amazement.

  He turned a bit to his left, and his stomach, heart, all internal organs took a hike.

  Before him on a platform of pink tiles was a silver carriage roughly the size of a small plane, its frame a mass of swirls and exquisite flowing vines. Pulling it were two dragons, white as stardust and each the size of two city busses easy. Their wings appeared as thin as gossamer, yet strong and graceful. Their faces were slender with long white beards and mustaches, and eyes as blue as the Caspian Sea. For the lack of a better word, they were beautiful, and for a moment, a twang of jealousy ripped through him. What he would do to take a ride, to feel their power.

  To protect her from Venniver’s leaching hands.

  A warning tugged at his mind, but it vanished before he could make light of it.

  Charlotte clasped both of his hands and tugged to get his attention. “Where were you? I’ve been trying to say goodbye for the last few minutes.”

  He looked into her beautiful lavender eyes. The color still threw him off a bit, and he wondered if he’d ever get used to them. “I’m sorry. I can’t get over how gorgeous they are, like wise ancient souls.”

  “I know. I wish I had a camera.” They both smiled at that. “Anyway, I guess it’s time to say goodbye. I should be on my way to the Jade Sea tomorrow, supposing my meeting with the kings goes well.”

  “Who are you meeting again?”

  “King Thallan of Brath la Dune. I love saying that. Anyway, he’s the Sidhe king. I hear they can transport through portals in the burial grounds.” She shivered. “After that, it’s on to the Sona Isles where I’ll meet with the Seelie king, Tanyl. Rumor has it he’s wild and primeval, though handsome beyond all imagination. He also rules the Edryd, which is rather strange, since the dragons are elf shifters. Apparently, King Tanyl made a bet with King Wynrel, the elven king, and Wynrel lost. I’m not too sure how the Edryd feel about the whole thing, but what are you going to do? After that, I visit King Wynrel who rules the isles of Galward and Volaris. He’s the one I’m most nervous about. I mean,” she leaned into him, her voice dropping to a whisper, “he’s an elf. All I can picture in my head is Thranduil, you know, Legolas’ father, and the Mirkwood. Ah geez, I read too much. Anyway, that’s my itinerary. God, I hope it goes well.” Her palms were sweating, and waves of nervousness were rolling off her and into him.

  He pulled her into him and held her in his arms. “You’re going to do fine. How could those beautiful creatures not be convinced to join your side? I’m sure you will dazzle and delight the king. What is there not to love?”

  He held onto her, his instincts telling him not to let her go, to take her back to the castle and hide her away. But he knew he couldn’t hold onto her forever. He had to let go. They each had their own parts to play in the future of Hirth and with each other. This wasn’t the end. It was a new beginning, one filled with promise and hope.

  She pushed away and held his face in her hands. “I love you David. I’ll come back, and I’ll find you. I promise.”

  “I’ll be waiting.” He met her waiting lips with a kiss. “Stay safe. Come back soon.”

  She nodded. “I will. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  She strode across the lawn to the dock, her emerald green cloak flapping in the cold wind, and stepped inside the silver carriage. Prince Venniver followed and closed the door behind him. The dragons stood and unfurled their wings.

  David’s heart nearly thumped from his chest
.

  The Edryds flapped their wings, the whoosh like a heavenly whisper. In five, four, three, two, one, they took flight. The carriage lifted behind them, and they soared into the clouds. David watched until they became a small speck in the sky, disappearing behind the third isle.

  Everything inside of him clenched. She was gone. His lifeline to the world was soaring to another realm with a man of questionable integrity, and he had no choice but to let her go.

  He hated sacrificing things he cared about.

  He hated growing up.

  Charlotte

  Charlotte realized as soon as they took off that traveling by dragon airline was not her thing. Not that it wasn’t awesome beyond words. It was, but every flap of their wings made the carriage dip, and they didn’t fly a straight path, either, which caused the carriage to sway. Up and down, side to side. She sat in the corner of the coach, her knees pulled to her chest as she tried to focus on anything that would keep her from hurling the food she’d eaten less than an hour before.

  Prince Venniver, on the other hand, seemed bored with the trip and even a bit miffed that Charlotte turned as green as the velvet gown she wore. Several times he tried to get her to look out the windows, to view the beauty of the isles, but it was impossible. It wasn’t until they landed that her head stopped spinning and her stomach returned to its upright position.

  The door opened and Prince Venniver stepped out. He spoke to someone and moments later footsteps pattered away. He poked his head in the coach and offered a hand.

  “My lady, your carriage has arrived.”

  She took his hand and stepped into the sunlight.

  She welcomed the bite of cold air and the sweet, citrusy scent it carried. “What is that?” she asked, inhaling deeply.

  “It’s called lemenia,” Prince Venniver said. He collected a small bouquet of tiny, star-shaped yellow flowers from a basket at his feet and handed it to her. “It grows on all the islands but is most prevalent on the main isle of Brath la Dune. It is very good at relieving travel sickness.”