War Against the Realm

by Sherri Beth Mitchell

  The Dragon of the Gods

  Vol. IV

  War Against the Realm

  By Sherri Beth Mitchell

  For Cody Nathaniel

  and Serenity Anne

  Also by Sherri Beth Mitchell:

  WolfShyne

  The Dragon of the Gods Series

  Throne of the Dead Queen

  (Book One)

  Rise of the Dragon Queen

  (Book Two)

  Of Gods and Dragons

  (Book Three)

  War Against the Realm

  (Book Four)

  The Mortal Gods

  (Book Five)

  Copyright © 2018 by Sherri Beth Mitchell

  Cover Art by Fantasy Grfx

  Model: Nikie Vandeperre

  Photographer: Ronny Trippaers

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 1981256415

  ISBN: 978-1981256419

  Prologue

  She sat atop the chestnut mare, back straight and hands gently holding the reins. Her eyes peered across the field before her as she studied her next path. The field was wide and beautiful with all its wild flowers and she yearned to ride through it. But it was an area she did not know, and she was a little farther from home than she needed to be. Bandits could be about, or an untamed beast lurking in the tall grass.

  Serious dangers to contemplate for a young woman riding by herself.

  She steered her mare towards the broadest part of the open field. The wind blew her thick brown hair back from her face and her knees hugged the horse’s flank as she spurred it forward. The horse sped up to a gallop, enjoying the hard run her master was silently asking for. They flew across the field as one entity, free and uncaring.

  As they neared the tree line on the far side of the meadow, the mare stepped into a large hole. Its leg snapped in the crisp fall air and the girl was thrown forward over the mare’s head, narrowly missing a large rock jutting out of the ground as she landed. The girl let out a bark of laughter at her luck, and rolled over to look back at her horse.

  The mare had not been so fortunate. It had collided head-first into the rock; its neck was broken.

  Filled with despair, the girl rushed to the horse. She ran her hands down its smooth neck and rubbed its velvety nose gently. A single teardrop fell from her eye, but she willed the other tears away. Her mother didn’t appreciate weak women.

  She slowly walked the long trek back home, arriving well after nightfall. Her mother whipped her for being so late, leaving welts across her back and buttocks. Luckily, she did not yet know about the accident with the horse, or it would’ve been much worse. The girl held back the tears and took the whipping. She headed to bed straight afterwards, where her sister was waiting to embrace her. Her sibling fell asleep, but the young woman could not follow suite; thoughts of her mare kept her awake.

  Right around the darkest hours of the night, she heard a rustling outside her window. She stood up and opened the curtains, jumping in fright when she came face to face with a man.

  “Don’t scream!” he whispered. “I’m here to help you.”

  “Help me with what? And who are you?” she looked behind to her make sure her sister still slept.

  The handsome young man smiled. “I am simply a great admirer of your beauty, fair lady. I came to see if you wanted your horse back.”

  The girl’s face saddened and her voice held a sharp bitterness. “What good is a dead horse to me?”

  The man leaned close. “What if you could bring her back from the dead?”

  The beautiful young woman arched her eyebrow. “I’m listening…”

  “Come with me and I will instruct you how you can do it.”

  The girl looked at the man only a moment longer before grabbing a dress to pull over her shift, and a pair of shoes.

  It took her a moment to get out of the window—the welts on her back were very tender. The man led her to the woods, where he had a horse, and they rode off into the night in search of her dead pet. When they found the mare, flies were already starting to buzz around her. The girl angrily shooed them away and looked at the man.

  “Okay, stranger. What do I do?”

  “Put your hands upon the horse and close your eyes,” he said.

  The girl did so, and did not see the other figure that came up behind her. The man who had led her here looked up at the man behind her and nodded solemnly. The new man held his hands over the girl without touching her, and slowly, a bright reddish-orange mist floated down from his hands and onto the girl. The mist seemed to be absorbed by her skin, and her brow relaxed as she smiled. The man behind her stepped back and disappeared into thin air.

  She opened her eyes. “I want my horse back from the dead,” she whispered.

  The horse beneath her hands trembled, and then snorted as it began to rise. The girl stood up excitedly, embracing the animal fiercely. The animal stamped its foot and nuzzled her face.

  She turned to the man, finding him watching her curiously. “I cannot thank you enough!” She ran to him and hugged him. As he returned the embrace, she cried out.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  The girl’s face reddened. “My mother was not pleased that I came home so late. She’ll whip me again if she finds out that I snuck away in the night.”

  The man stepped forward and lifted her chin with a gentle finger. “What if you don’t go back? Stay with me. Run away with me this very night and I will give you all the happiness that you seek. She will never whip you again, for no one touches my wife.”

  “Your…your wife?” the girl said breathlessly. “But I don’t even know your name!”

  “I am called Rohedon,” the man said. “And what is the name of my wife-to-be?”

  The young woman lifted an eyebrow mischievously as she smiled at him. The look was sultry, and pulled at his loins.

  “I am Natosha.”

  Chapter One: Nillias

  The army was well beyond the point of exhaustion as they were shown to their camps. The Queen refused to leave them until all were within the immediate outskirts of Nillias. As tired as she was, she walked the campsites, speaking with her people and making sure all were accounted for in their regiments. King Keelan also went through the camp, following her lead. What good were rulers who did not care for their own?

  As she approached yet another campfire already ablaze in the early evening, Sir Grant placed a hand lightly on Queen Silvia’s arm. “Milady, we must get you to the Duke and Duchess of Nillias. They await you, I’m sure, and are expecting your presence.”

  Silvia glanced at him but did not stop walking. “They can wait a bit longer.”

  He frowned. “They may see that as an act of disrespect. I do not wish them to think you rude, Your Highness.”

  She stopped and turned to face him. “Trust me, I wish for nothing more than meeting them, resting, and taking in a good meal. But what would my soldiers think of me if I ignored them to relish in amenities?”

  “They would think you’re a typical queen,” he said with a smile.

  “I am anything but your typical queen. Besides, I am a part of this army as well, and want to see that it’s taken care of. I need their respect, and respect is earned, not given, Sir Grant. When I finish here, I will go to the Duke and Duchess to personally thank them for their hospitality.”

  “Yes, Your Majesty,” he said, bowing with his arm extended.

  From a little ways off, the figure in the gray hooded cloak watched her with a pleased smile upon his face. The Queen of Lystia was making good choices—he would’ve done the same, and had in the past as a matter of fact. The Dragon Queen was clearly making her power known and gaining honor and respect.

&nbs
p; This would definitely be a war worth watching.

  Keelan was patient. He knew how important it was to Silvia to see to the welfare of her soldiers, and whatever appeased his queen was perfectly fine with him. Eventually, he split from her to meet briefly with his brother near the city wall.

  “How goes it within the walls of the city?”

  Quentin shrugged, his white cloak shifting upon his shoulders. “It is as any city would be with royalty coming to visit.”

  Keelan arched an eyebrow—a clear indication that this was not exactly the answer he was wanting to hear.

  His brother chuckled. “What do you want me to say? That they’re preparing to battle you as soon as you go into the city?” He shook his head. “They’re making preparations for everyone, dear brother. The Duke and Duchess have had rooms prepared for you and the Queen, and the Nillians are grabbing everything they can to cook for the men and women we have brought here. They are being most hospitable, Your Highness.”

  The King nodded. “Good. Let’s hope they remain that way. Perhaps we’ll even convince them to go with us to war.”

  Quentin said nothing, looking down and away. “I’m not so sure about that. From what I’ve heard as I’ve walked around the grounds, they are content on staying here and letting the whole thing blow over.”

  “Blow over? How can they just sit back and let this war go on without lending aid?” Keelan let disgust creep into his tone. “We need them to go with us. I must say that having a bigger army would make me feel better when we get to Lordale.”

  “A bigger army does not necessarily mean a better army, Keelan,” Quentin said quietly.

  “But we would look more formidable to the enemy,” Keelan said. He scowled as an image of the enemy floated through his mind.

  Quentin snuck a glance at his brother. “Do you feel anything for the heathen witch? Be honest with me. I deserve that much. Silvia deserves to know it, too.”

  Keelan turned his dark brown eyes onto Quentin’s blue ones. The wind blew his hair, now well past his shoulders, into his face. He had not shaved since leaving Lystia, and had a short beard growing which matched his white hair; he looked more menacing with the beard. “I feel a lot of things for her…most of all hatred. I have this intense need to get to Rohedon’s Realm and destroy every last one of them. I would kill each of the witches personally, if I was able. The witch in question though…I will be the death of her. Of that I can promise you. Those are the feelings I harbor, and there are no more hidden away. They will all die, Quentin. All of them.”

  The Duchess prowled the halls of her court like a beast hunting its prey. It was now nearly dusk, and the Queen and her personal entourage had yet to come inside the city. She’d been told that the woman was seeing to her people and would arrive shortly. Several of the largest rooms in their home had been set up for the King, Queen, and their company. Their nicest blankets and tapestries had been taken out of storage and set up in the rooms where her guests would be frequenting, the silver was still being polished, and the stone floors were swept and mopped. Intricate candelabras were strategically spaced and fitted with tall candles of golden hues, illuminating her most valued paintings and statues.

  The Royal Lystians would be impressed with her décor—she was sure of it.

  “Where do you go in such a hurry, my dear?” came her husband’s voice.

  She saw him approach from a nearby corridor. “Wherever my feet may take me, husband.”

  He folded his hands behind his back and walked around her leisurely. “You’re awfully eager to please these strangers.”

  “Oh, please. Since we stopped trading with Lordale at the beginning of the war we have hardly had any important visitors to speak of. It’ll be nice having someone different visit the palace. Imagine having conversations with people other than merchants passing through.”

  He grunted. “You know why they’re here. Let’s not forget that.”

  Tinaya rolled her eyes ever so slightly. “If you think I had forgotten, you are mistaken.”

  “Could’ve fooled me with all the measurements you are taking to impress them.”

  She stepped up to him, adjusting the bronze clasp which held his cloak around his neck. It had been a gift to him: the snarling wolf engraved in the bronze was part of his family’s crest. “These ‘measurements’, as you call them signify our importance and our wealth. They represent things we have gained in our position and the strength that we have over this city. I don’t suppose you’ve forgotten the rumors about the Queen of Lystia? That she is a shape-shifter out to bend people to her will and misfortune. She will not find anything here except temporary solace. We will allow them to rest a couple of days, and then we shall give them minimal supplies and send them on their way.”

  Duke Byarne leaned forward, breathing in Tinaya’s light perfume. “You still have no wish to partake in this war, I presume?”

  “You presume correctly. If you’re smart, you’ll do the same.” She continued down the hall, leaving him standing thoughtfully in her wake.

  The pale cloak fluttered in the breeze as the man watched from atop his horse. The Queen and her entourage were finally approaching the gates of Nillias. He waited until they had pulled their horses to a halt in front of him. “King Keelan and Queen Silvia of Lystia…may I bid you welcome to the city of Nillias.” He bowed his head.

  “Thank you, Lenard,” said one of the men. “We are most gracious to the Duke and Duchess for their hospitality.”

  “I will let you tell them yourselves over a fine meal,” Lenard said. His gaze criticized the group silently. They were a bit of a bedraggled bunch, dusty from the road and well-tanned from the summer sun. Though they looked the worse for wear, they carried themselves tall and proud from their saddles. “The Duchess has kindly provided several hot baths in your rooms so that you may freshen up before we break bread. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your quarters.”

  They trailed his horse down the dirt pathway of the gates and into the city. It was much small than Lystia, but homely. The landscape was flat, and in many places the stone houses were very close together. Stray dogs darted around the corners of taverns for scraps, and people watched the strange group of visitors from windows or out on their doorstops. The sun was nearly gone when they arrived at the palace but it stood out nicely on a knoll; Silvia thought it rather small and quaint, yet incredibly charming. They stopped at the main entrance of the palace and dismounted. The horses were led away to the stables for a good rub down and oats, and the rest of the group was led by Lenard to their quarters.

  Silvia was a bit surprised that separate rooms had been set up for her and her king. In a way she was relieved, as she still felt she needed distance from him; on the other hand, she was used to having him closer. She’d heard it was a typical thing for royal couples to sleep in separate quarters, but it’d be something she would need to get used to. Keelan didn’t seem to mind it terribly; he waited outside his door, bowing deeply with his arm extended until she had entered her chambers and shut the door.

  Her chests of clothes had been brought in while she was with the army and were lined up neatly along one of the walls. She opened one up and chose an elegant rose-colored dress with half sleeves to make the warm night air more bearable. She plucked out a clean white shift to wear beneath it and spun towards the middle of the room.

  Normally she wouldn’t prefer for a tub to be right in the middle of the room, however it had been so long since she had properly bathed that she would not have cared if it had been outside in the street. Hot water awaited her, and the steam rising from the surface beckoned her with wispy fingers. She undressed and hastily immersed herself in the water, sighing at the exquisite feeling of fresh, heated water caressing her skin like a long lost lover. She knew she was dirty but didn’t realize the extent of it until she was washing up. She pulled tiny twigs and bits of leaves from her hair as it was lathered; after scrubbing her body she seemed to shed layers of dead skin an
d dirt that had somehow found its way through her clothes. She didn’t stay in the bath as long as she wanted, knowing that her presence was expected soon.

  She exited the tub and dried herself, then wrapped her long hair up in a towel. She gazed at her sapphire necklace lying on a table as she donned the clean shift. Her fingers reached out and touched the stone, feeling its hard smoothness against her skin.

  “It seems like so long ago when these were made,” she whispered to herself. Memories flooded her thoughts…times long gone revisiting.

  “It only feels that way, young queen.”

  Silvia looked behind her, bowing when she saw who spoke. “What brings you to my private chambers, Lord Geldin?”

  The god was perched on a stool near the bed. “I came to see how you’re faring.”