Bane of the Dragon King Read online

  “It’s a good thing you keep them here for people like me. I can’t believe how much better I feel already.”

  “Was this your first time flying?” Venniver asked, leading her away from the dock.

  “Oh, no. I’ve flown many times, but never by dragon.” She glanced at the magnificent beasts lying on their bellies, their wings tucked to their sides. “May I get a bit closer? Will they mind?”

  “Not at all. Go ahead. The male at the rear is Hitril. The female in front is Paschette. Both are quite fond of these.” He handed her two biscuits the size of his palm from his pocket. “They are called nimbies which just happen to be made from their favorite food, a purple berry called nimbs. Go on, give them one.”

  Charlotte kept a wide birth of the creatures, deciding to approach Paschette from the front. She was beautiful, so regal and magnificent. And her head … Charlotte was almost certain she could stand inside its mouth and there would still be room to spare. Paschette emitted a low purr and bowed her head as Charlotte approached.

  Greetings mistress of the heavens.

  Charlotte let out a small gasp and pressed a hand to her heart as a wise, gentle female voice entered her mind.

  We would know you anywhere in any disguise. I am honored to serve you. You are a much-welcomed guest here on Itas.

  Charlotte answered. Thank you. I don’t know what to say. Would you like a nimbie?

  Paschette stretched out her long neck. Her soft, feathery beard scuffed Charlotte’s outstretched hand. I would love one, please. It is rare we get them.

  Charlotte opened her palm and Paschette’s leathery tongue gently took the biscuit from her hand. That’s why they’re called treats. Charlotte stared at a life-size reflection of herself in the dragon’s huge eyes.

  Nimbs are not treats, mistress. They are our main source of food.

  Charlotte stared at her. Then why do you rarely get them? I don’t understand.

  She felt something on her arm and brushed it away. Answer me, she said to Paschette. Hurry.

  “Charlotte?”

  She felt the touch again and whirled around.

  Prince Venniver stepped back. “Are you all right?”

  She looked back at Paschette, her mind struggling to learn more. Was Venniver starving them? The dragon blinked at her. Charlotte’s stomach sank. Why? Why would he do such a thing? Paschette tucked her head under a wing.

  “Lady Charlotte!” Venniver’s voice pierced through her core, his tone hard and cold as steel. “I asked if you were all right.”

  Charlotte swallowed and looked up at him, into eyes swirling in a kaleidoscope of amber and teal. Think. Lie. “I-I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I just recalled a dream I had as a child. It was strange yet so real. It was as if I’d seen and ridden these beautiful creatures before, like we’d taken wild and exotic adventures together exploring waterfalls and caves, mountaintops and oceans, but I couldn’t have, right?” She prayed her attempt at innocence and child-like expressions were convincing.

  He stared down at her, considering. A smile flickered and faded across his face. “No, of course not. Edryds do not associate with humans or witches such as yourself. There’s bad blood there.”

  Untrue, mistress, Paschette said.

  Charlotte pretended to ignore her and chose a different conversation instead.

  “I’m curious, Prince Venniver. What makes you think I’m a witch?”

  His cold, calculating smile sent chills creeping up her spine. “Why, your beauty. Your powers.” He moved closer to her, and she put up a shield. “I can feel the magic rolling off you. It’s intense, like standing on the precipice of a dark, powerful storm, knowing any second I could be swept away in its vortex. But I can’t move, I don’t want to move, because I’d rather be swept away and die in turmoil than spend eternity in absolute tranquility.”

  She felt the warmth of his breath on her neck, the heat of his body. Sparks needled her bones in warning. Oh, he was good. She could feel him knocking on her shields, searching for a way in. There was a calm urgency to his maneuvers. He was a thief determined to find the combination to a complex lock. He was trying to disarm her, control her, but she was stronger than that. It was her turn to parley. She reached deep within and found the sly confidence she needed.

  “That’s a shame,” she said, tracing her fingers ever so lightly from his throat to his chin. “And here I was thinking you wanted to tame the tempest, not be absorbed by it.” She gazed into his eyes, feeling the dangers of the game she was playing. “I suppose I’ll never understand this whole peace and tranquility thing. It’s so … boorish.” She sauntered around him, dragging her hand over his shoulder and down his arm as she passed. Keeping her back to him, she exhaled a long, deep breath, and wished her nerves would stop vibrating like plucked guitar strings.

  A passerby approached from the right. Charlotte watched her as she passed, unable to peel her gaze away. The woman was regal in every way: exquisitely tall and slender, pointed ears, full lips, and a pearlescent quality to her pale skin. Her eyes were dark and slanted, appearing as if they held the secrets to the universe. She smiled at Charlotte as she continued down the street of the wide-open plaza edged in enormous columns of crushed pink coral. A whoosh of wind twisted Charlotte’s gaze behind her. Her eyes sprang open in wonder as a team of three plum colored dragons carrying several large crates landed on the next dock over. They settled into crouches as dockhands set about unloading their wares.

  As if by magic, the plaza was suddenly bustling with locals, all like the woman she saw moments before. Several docks away, a team of canary yellow dragons arrived; their cargo appeared to be dignitaries, judging by their conservative but finer clothes. Citizens, humans and elves, ascended and descended the steps of enormous white buildings set high above the streets. Pegasus clomped along the streets carrying passengers to and from their destinations. Everywhere she turned there was something incredible to see.

  Prince Venniver stood beside her. “Remarkable.”

  “Yes it is. Where did they all come from?”

  “They’ve been here all along, my lady. What is remarkable is that you can see them.”

  “Why is that so remarkable?”

  “Because Itas is masked in layers of glamour. To the average guest, this is nothing more than a vacant street.”

  “Who glamoured it?”

  “Why, the faerie king, of course.”

  She glanced up to meet his eyes. “Seriously?”

  He gestured around him. “Welcome to the Sidhe. Are you ready to meet King Thallan?”

  ***

  They took a carriage drawn by two black Pegasus to the palace, a sprawling fortress that glistened like brilliant diamonds in the sunlight. Tall, conical trees swayed in the wind. A fae male greeted them, his eyes a brilliant, clear, starburst green. He held Charlotte’s gaze for a split moment as if caught in a fond memory, before addressing Prince Venniver.

  “What is the nature of your visit today, Your Highness?”

  “Lady Charlotte and I have an audience with King Thallan. Please let him know we have arrived.”

  The fae bowed his head. “Remain here so I may announce you.”

  The minutes dragged on. Charlotte found a warm, sunny spot near a small fountain and sat down. Overhead, a colorful bird, larger than an ostrich, flew by, a rider on its back. Charlotte stood, her hand shading her eyes. “What is that?” She pointed to the dot in the sky.

  “The bird is a wilder, the rider a Sona elf.”

  “Where are they going?”

  “The Sona Mountains, my home.”

  Charlotte’s eyes narrowed. “You’re a fae?”

  “Please, do not insult me.” He sat beside her. “I am an elfryd, a name I gave to myself. My father was elf, my mother, Edryd” The latter part rolled out of his mouth as if he were expelling a giant turd.

  “Wow. How did that ever happen?”

  Prince Venniver
chuckled. “Edryd are shapeshifters. They are also connivers and manipulators. For centuries, they tried to join our species together, but the elves would have nothing to do with it, until my father fell in love with one of them. Imagine my father’s surprise when my mother arrived on the footsteps of the elven King with a bundle of joy swaying in a bundle sack from her large mouth.”

  “What did your father do? Did he know when he fell in love with her she was an Edryd?”

  He shook his head. “No. She swore she loved my father, and she wanted nothing of the kingdom. She begged him to go away with her, to live a happy life away from the politics and greed. He refused. Instead, he took me, banished her, and claimed dominion over the Edryd for their betrayal and lie. I never saw my mother after that. I don’t where she is, and I am not inclined to find out.”

  “But she’s your mother. Don’t you want to know anything about her?”

  “She lied to my father! You don’t lie to the ones you love.” He stood and walked away. He was pacing the street before the palace when the doors finally opened and the fae emerged.

  “King Thallan will see Lady Charlotte now.”

  “Good. It’s about time.” Venniver cupped his hand on Charlotte’s elbow as she fell in beside him, taking a step toward the palace door, but the fae pressed a hand to Prince Venniver’s chest.

  “He will see Lady Charlotte alone. Those were his orders.”

  Prince Venniver’s eyes darkened. His hands curled into fists. If he could cast daggers with a thought, Charlotte thought, the fae would be dead from multiple wounds.

  Charlotte touched his arm. “It’s okay. I’m sure it’s just a formality. I’ll see what I can do to have you join us.”

  Not in a million years, she thought as she followed the fae inside the palace.

  Her jaw dropped open.

  It was a tropical oasis meant for a king. Lush, colorful foliage lined the sandy walkway on both sides. A river twisted and curved through the forest while macaws, toucans, and other tropical birds soared around the room. The air was warm and clean, and overhead the vibrant, light blue ceiling served as a perfect sky, with a slight scattering of clouds.

  Was it a mirage? A glamour? Who cared? She turned slowly around, taking it all in.

  “Wow. This place is amazing! If you could only make the outside look like the inside, you’d have a hit.”

  “Perhaps as a Numí you could change the weather of the Isles,” said a tall, lean man with wide shoulders and strong arms walking toward her. He had a gentle face. “As a fae, I am limited in my powers. I would most certainly be open to a more favorable climate. The cold is chilling on my bones.” He folded into a deep bow before meeting her gaze. “I am at your service, Mistress Charlotte. I am King Thallan. What can I do for you?”

  Charlotte stilled. How did he know what she was? Was she wearing a sign? She let out a nervous laugh. “I-I’m sorry. I’m confused. How do you know what I am?”

  King Thallan smiled. “For two days Slavandria reached out to me beseeching me to meet with King Gildore to discuss war plans. Seven times I turned her down.” He chuckled. “She is a persistent one. It was after the seventh time she threw you into the mix. She knew it was the only way I would agree to it.”

  “Why is that? Do you have something against humans?”

  “I find them for the most part to be illogical, self-centered, far too critical, insensitive, and impossibly arrogant. They would rather wage a war with their best friend to further an ideology rather than accept everyone as different and love each other for those differences. I could go on if you’d like.”

  “You tend to focus on our faults and not our qualities. For the most part, we are kind and compassionate. We strive to be better. We create things. We heal others. We—”

  “You bully each other and call it change. You unite in tragedy but divide when the danger has passed. You purposely abandon and kill creatures you believe are of lesser value than you, not thinking of the totality of its life. You kill and maim your own kind for what? An article of clothing? A bauble? A conflicting idea?”

  “Again, you’re focusing on the worst of us.”

  “No. I am bringing to your attention that humans are warmongers. They are not happy unless they are inflicting pain on something or someone they feel is beneath them. I’ve been to many worlds, I’ve experienced the unimaginable, but never have I encountered a species so intent on killing itself off. So please, speak to me as a Numí, for I am losing my patience with you as a human.”

  Charlotte looked at the floor and picked at her fingernails. Think. Be the goddess you need to be. You can do this. You must get the fae king to agree to …

  Fighting.

  He’s against fighting. What am I going to do? Be honest, Daddy always said. It may hurt, and it may sting, but you’ll never have to cover your lies with more lies. She hoped he was right. She cleared her throat and began again. “It seems we started off on the wrong foot, Your Majesty. I would like to begin again with your permission.”

  He gestured for her to continue.

  “Up until a couple of days ago, I believed myself to be human, and I will admit, I was selfish. I wanted to go home, get back to my family, my dog, my friends. The idea of fighting appalled me. I wanted nothing to do with war. To be honest, I still want to go home, but what I want is not the issue anymore. Over the past few days my eyes have opened to the atrocities of war and tyrannical rule. Innocent people and creatures have become victims of terrible events through no fault of their own. More are going to die if I don’t help them. While it terrifies me to carry this torch, I know deep in my soul that Einar will not rest until we are all under his rule or dead. I’m sure he’d prefer the latter.

  “With that said, I have to stop him. Whether I like it or not, I am the only one who can send him into the afterlife, but I can’t do it alone. I need help. I witnessed extreme power on the battlefield. He dominated the air. Now he’s bringing in foot troops. Ifrit attacked my friend as well as others. He’s building his army, and if we are to defeat him, I must build mine. I am asking, no, I’m begging you to engage with me and our allies. Take a stand. Do something altruistic for the betterment of all kind. With your support, I believe I can convince the Seelie and elven kings to join the cause. I’ll be able to solicit more dragon power from the Jade Sea.” Charlotte dropped to one knee. “King Thallan, I humble myself before you. You hold the key. Only you can unlock the door.”

  The room fell to silence. Even the birds quieted in the trees. The river ambled along, it’s voice, a low, beckoning purl. The king motioned for the fae guard to join him in an alcove where they spoke and nodded their heads. Charlotte strained to listen but was met with a shimmering wall of resistance. She backed off, certain if she remained he’d sense her beating at the door. Not exactly a way to garner friendships.

  He motioned for Charlotte to stand when he returned.

  “Can you promise that my people will not be slaughtered if they choose to participate in this war? What assurances can you give me that those who choose not to fight will also be protected?”

  “Your Majesty, I cannot promise no one will die. This is war. I can promise that those who do not want to fight do not have to, and there will be no ill-will born upon them. For those who perish, I will see they are given safe passage into the next realm, regardless of their past transgressions. I would also like you to know that the Numí will be fighting alongside us. Of course, the choice is completely up to your people and you. I would not have it any other way.”

  “Then you have my cooperation. I will address our people, and I can also speak with King Tanyl and King Wynrel. The fewer that know your story, the better. They will also listen to me where they may see you as an interloper.”

  Charlotte bowed her head. “Thank you, Your Majesty. King Gildore will be delighted to hear you have joined forces.”

  “There is one other that you will need to speak to as none of us royals ho
ld any sway,” His expression grew serious

  “Who is that?”

  “Drac, the chieftain of the Edryd.”

  Charlotte shrugged. “I don’t have an issue with that. I was planning on going to the Sona Isles anyway.”

  “He is not on the Sona Isles, my lady. You would have to travel to the Silver Isles.”

  Everything that made Charlotte whole fell out of her, leaving her hollow and weak. The fae guard caught her before she dropped. He guided her to the fountain where she sat, her mind in a whir.

  “I-I don’t understand. I thought the Edryd lived on the Sona Islands.”

  “The Edryd who choose to live in Elven form make Sona their home. The Edryd dragons, the ones who will never become shifters, live, eat, breathe, and die on the Silver Isles. If you want the dragons to fight along beside you, you must convince Drac to join you. It will not be easy. The Edryd are peaceful. They have never fought a war. To be honest, I doubt they ever will.”

  “I can’t go there,” Charlotte said, her hand on her chest. She stared at the king, her soul begging him to return the lungs he’d just stolen from her. “Is there any way we can meet on neutral ground?”

  The king shook his head. “Drac never leaves the Silver Isles. If you want his help, you will need to approach him on your own. I cannot help you. Oh, and one more thing. Do not tell Prince Venniver what we discussed, except that I have agreed to help your cause.”

  “Why is that?”

  “I admire Venniver’s father, King Wynrel. For an elf, he is of good morals and high standing. His son … well, let’s just say there is much to be desired. I am pleasant with him because he is Wynrel’s bastard son. That does not mean I want him knowing my every move. He’s an arrogant lad, who, in my opinion, needs to be removed from his status and sent to work among the less fortunate so that he may realize how truly blessed he is. Trust me when I say none of the nobles or royals of Itas, including his own father, would shed many tears if he should succumb to a less fortunate fate.”