Liza (Dragon Isles Book 1)

by Shelley Munro

  His parents had ignored him until they’d decided the betrothal to Nan was an excellent idea. He needed to learn what they were getting from the deal.

  It seemed he’d underestimated this dragon woman. He’d assumed—wrongly—that Nan’s parents had arranged the match.

  Not Nan herself.

  He pressed his eye back to the crack and focused on the conversation.

  Gwenyth was still unconscious. That did not bode well. Worry speared through him, but he couldn’t do anything until Nan left the dungeon.

  This was her second visit, and it was unusual enough to cause speculation—Leo’s and the prison guards.

  About half an hour later, Nan departed, taking her torch with her and plunging the dungeon into darkness. It took a while for Leo to focus. He tapped his finger against his knee, wondering if a guard would check on them.

  “We should be safe enough now,” Jakab murmured. “My brother assured me he was on duty and responsible for the lower dungeons.”

  No sooner had Jakab spoken then another person entered the dungeon. The light illuminated their face.

  Jakab’s brother.

  Leo froze. What did he do now?

  Jakab never hesitated. “Karlos,” he whispered.

  Karlos’s gaze snapped away from the cells within the dungeon. “Who’s there?”

  “Jakab and Leo.”

  Karlos strode closer to the cracked wall. “How? Wait. Never mind. What’s your plan?”

  “Leo!” a feminine voice cried out. “You’re here.”

  “Yes! Our mate is alive,” his dragon whooped with relief, and smoke poured from Leo’s mouth.

  “Of course, I came for you, my lodestone. I intend to dig through the wall and retrieve my mate,” Leo declared. Even if he had to do it with his bare hands. By Lodar, Gwenyth was still alive. That was excellent news and rekindled determination surged through him.

  “We need tools,” Jakab murmured. “Dragon fire won’t work. I have my dagger, but you’ll need a crowbar and a strong hammer at the least.”

  Leo’s shoulders slumped. Jakab was right. “All I have is my dagger. Perhaps Cook has something we can use.”

  “We shouldn’t involve her,” Jakab said. “Once your parents learn we gained access to the dungeon via the old kitchen entrance, they’ll ask questions. She shouldn’t suffer for our actions.”

  Jakab was right. The kitchen staff had seen them and could talk, given the right incentive. Frustration simmered through Leo as he juggled pieces of plans and decided what to do for the best. “We’re running out of time. Let’s retrieve tools and spring Gwenyth.”

  “Are you still planning to fly to Perfume Isle?”

  “We’ll be safer among friends,” Leo said. “My house is the first place my parents will search. There and the human village. I feel stupid for not bringing tools.”

  “We didn’t know we’d find a simple way into the dungeon. Karlos, we’re coming back once we locate tools.”

  “The shift changes in one hour,” Karlos warned. “My replacement kowtows to the head soldier.”

  A sense of hopelessness assailed Leo then. Obstacles faced him in every direction.

  “I’ll try to find something to help you from this side,” Karlos promised. “I can’t dig from this side, but I can pass the tools through a larger crack.”

  Leo pulled out his dagger and scanned the cracks in the wall. After choosing the largest one, he attacked the old mortar and stone.

  Karlos left and returned with tools. “A bit of luck for you. My replacement is Georges. He’s lazy and will spend most of his time playing cards with the other guards at the midway station. I doubt he’ll bother checking down here.”

  “If you let us out of our cells, we could help dig from this side,” Gwenyth said.

  Leo heard the keys in a lock.

  “Let Martinos out too,” Gwenyth said. “He’ll help.”

  They had accused Martinos of rape, and even though Leo hadn’t considered him capable of the crime, he opened his mouth to demand Gwenyth stay away from the dragon.

  “Leo, your brothers set up Martinos in collusion with Nan. Martinos will help us.”

  “Our Gwenyth is right,” his dragon said. “We must trust this dragon’s will to escape is greater than his desire to injure our mate.”

  Karlos unlocked the dragon’s cell. “Stay inside until I return.”

  Leo wanted to protest, but both Martinos and Gwenyth remained in their cells. Leo dug at the stone and mortar, trying to widen the gap. He chipped a fraction of the cement away, but the constant grind of his blade against the stone blunted it fast. His frustration rose at the impossible task before him.

  “Don’t despair,” his dragon shouted at him. Leo’s shoulders slumped anyway. “We will succeed.”

  “Someone is coming,” Martinos warned from inside his cell.

  Leo stilled, ready to attack, only relaxing when Karlos strolled up to them.

  “I gathered what I could find. Make sure you take them with you and discard them somewhere outside the castle. Each tool bears the castle mark for identification,” Karlos said.

  “We will do as you say,” Gwenyth promised.

  Leo’s longing to hold her and kiss his mate had him digging faster. He almost cheered as a broken corner rock came free. The hole grew sizeable enough to pass a chisel through. Unfortunately, it was also big enough to warn any guards of an escape attempt.

  Jakab returned quicker than Leo had thought possible.

  “Cook was waiting for us in the kitchen,” Jakab said. “She had tools ready since we hadn’t returned straightaway. Cook pushed the cupboard back after I left. She doubts whether anyone will suspect her, but she didn’t wish to risk questions.”

  “I love Cook,” Leo said.

  “Me too,” his dragon agreed.

  With the extra tools and the help from Martinos and Gwenyth, the hole grew larger.

  “I think someone is coming,” Gwenyth said.

  “Keep digging,” Martinos said. “I’ll wait for whoever the visitor is and stop them if they try to alert the other soldiers.

  Gwenyth gripped Martinos’s arm for an instant. “Be careful.”

  A growl burst from Leo, but Jakab slapped Leo over the back, a silent reminder not to cause problems at this delicate stage of operations.

  Leo showed his teeth at Jakab, but took heed and continued to chip at the stone. The added strength he applied to the chisel and hammer removed another largish piece.

  The gap was now big enough for Leo to see Martinos at the dungeon door, his attention on whoever was coming.

  “I heard things from Karlos about Martinos’s trial. Karlos thought there was something questionable. I’m surprised they didn’t execute Martinos.”

  “I believe he has been in the dungeon for several years. If they set him up, you’re right. Why did they let him live?”

  “Either he is useful to his sister or they have something on him that keeps him silent,” Jakab murmured.

  “Stop work for a moment,” Gwenyth said.

  Leo and Jakab stopped. The hole was sizeable enough now that any idiot would notice, and fine dust covered them all.

  “It’s all right,” Martinos said. “It’s Karlos again.”

  The door opened and closed, and Karlos stepped inside the cell. He closed the door behind him and pulled out more tools.

  Jakab released a growl. “How are you going to explain this, Karlos? You’ll lose your job and your freedom.”

  “My gut tells me of the rotten stench within the castle walls. I’ve sensed it for some time. I’ll be leaving and not returning once my shift ends,” Karlos replied. “Meanwhile, I might as well help.”

  “Can you hear the noise we’re making on the level above?” Leo asked.

  “It’s no worse than the normal racket the prisoners make if they’re riled up about something. Keep going,” Karlos said.

  With Karlos, Gwenyth, and Martinos working from inside the dungeon, and
he and Jakab working from the alley, the hole rapidly increased in size.

  “I think it’s big enough now,” Leo said. “Gwenyth, try to squeeze through.”

  “No, make it a little bigger, so Martinos and I can both get through,” she countered.

  Leo wanted to argue, but he’d already learned of his mate’s stubbornness. And the truth, if she squeezed through the hole, the temptation to leave Martinos behind might get the better of him. The admission had him fighting shame. “We’ll make the hole bigger.”

  It took another half an hour in which Leo stressed about the guard change and the rising of the sun. He still wasn’t sure where to take Gwenyth. By the time they fought through the outer wall, the local tradesmen and other castle residents would’ve started their day. It’d make more sense to go to ground until the night. Fewer dragons to see them take to the air or witness their direction.

  His parents would comb the city for them—that much he understood.

  Leo pulled away another chunk. “Martinos, can you fit through here?”

  “I’ll make it,” Martinos said.

  “Gwenyth, you come first,” Leo ordered.

  She hesitated, glancing at Martinos and a wave of jealousy jabbed Leo in the chest.

  “Go,” Martinos said. “I’ll follow you through.”

  “What next?” Jakab asked.

  “Do you know a place we can rest and hide out until it gets dark?” Leo asked. “There are too many eyes during the daylight hours.”

  “True,” Jakab said.

  Leo watched Gwenyth wriggle through the hole. She came straight to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her face against his chest. He hugged her, relief making him dizzy. The light was dim in the narrow space between the kitchen and the dungeon. He wanted to study her face and check her for injuries. He wanted private moments without others present where he could touch her, kiss her, and reassure himself she was in one piece.

  “Did they hurt you?” he murmured, keeping his voice low.

  “I’m fine,” she said. “Where are we going?”

  He still didn’t know.

  “Jakab, do you think we could hide out at your apartment?” he asked his friend.

  Jakab frowned. “If they learn Karlos is missing, they’ll search his quarters. My sister and her husband have a property on the outskirts of town. They will give us food and shelter.”

  “If our presence doesn’t put them in danger,” Leo said.

  “Francine is our half-sister,” Karlos said. “Not many know of the familial relationship.”

  Leo couldn’t stop touching his mate. His fingers twined with hers, the physical contact smoothing his apprehension. “Still, there’s the possibility someone might learn of the connection. I’d hate your sister to suffer on our behalf. Martinos, your turn,” Leo said. “Hurry, time is a precious commodity.”

  Despite his years of captivity, Martinos was bulkier than he looked. It took an effort to drag him through the space they’d dug, but finally, he popped free. Given his grimace, it must’ve hurt, but Martinos didn’t complain.

  “Thank you,” he said, offering his hand for Leo to shake. “Your mate is amazing. You’re a lucky dragon.”

  Leo agreed. He and his dragon had fallen under her spell. It appeared she’d worked her magic on Martinos too.

  “Where will you go once we leave?” Leo asked.

  “I’m coming with you,” Martinos said. “I intend to help.”

  “No,” Karlos said.

  “Never mind that,” Leo said. “Is Karlos coming through the hole?”

  “No,” Karlos said. “I’ll exit through the dungeon and avoid the guards as much as possible. That will muddy the story for anyone who wishes to investigate the escape.”

  “Karlos, if you get captured, I’ll come and kick your butt myself,” Jakab declared.

  “Hurry,” Karlos urged. “Don’t waste time talking. Go.”

  “How do we get out of here?” Martinos asked. “I had no clue the dungeon backed on to this area. I presumed it was deep beneath the ground.”

  “So did I,” Leo said. “We’re winging the plan. Bring the tools with us. We might need them to dig through another wall.” He brought to mind the plan he’d seen. “This way.”

  He hoped the alley would emerge somewhere at the castle rear. Supposition led him to think the residents wouldn’t want to watch deliveries so the entrance would be at the back, somewhere out of sight. He lifted the lanterns he and Jakab had brought with them. The light shone on Gwenyth’s bruised face. One of her eyes was black, and her cheek was red and swollen.

  “Did Nan hit you more than once?”

  “I’ll tell all once we’re safe,” she promised, and she squeezed his hand in reassurance.

  “I’ll kill Nan,” his dragon snarled. “How dare someone strike our mate? How dare they!”

  Leo tamped down his fury and gave a curt nod. “This way. Single file. I’ll go first. Gwenyth, you walk behind me. Martinos next. Jakab will bring up the rear.” A way of monitoring Martinos. Gwenyth might trust him, but Leo didn’t have to—not until he learned more of the dragon.

  Leo set a fast pace since someone could notice the escape at any time. The guard might not be as lax as Karlos assumed. The alley curved around a corner, growing even more narrow with a part of a wall collapsed. Leo squeezed through the gap, and Gwenyth followed without complaint.

  “Our mate has spirit and determination,” his dragon said, satisfaction in his tone.

  “She amazes me,” Leo replied. “We are lucky to have such a brave woman as our mate.”

  “We rescued her.”

  “It was fate,” Leo replied as he continued to walk as fast as he could, given the limited light and the growing number of obstacles in their path.

  “The sex was better than my imagination. Can we do it again soon?”

  Leo barked out a laugh.

  “What’s funny?” Gwenyth asked from behind him.

  Leo turned to grin at her. “I promise to tell you later once we reach safety.”

  Five minutes later, the alley ended, and Leo halted before a wall. Like the rest of the stonework, cracks were visible where the mortar had fallen away.

  “What now?” Martinos asked.

  Leo leaned closer to peer through the largest of the gaps. “We need to break through the wall fast with minor ruckus. Judging by the light, it’s still early, but workers and tradespeople will be about their business.”

  “Once we get out, I think we should split up,” Jakab said. “It will be harder for anyone chasing us if we go in different directions.”

  Leo turned to Martinos. “Do you have somewhere you can go?”

  “I’ll make do. I can’t fly.” He gestured at the bracelet encircling one biceps. “The bracelet holds a druid spell to stop me from taking my dragon form.”

  Leo stared at Martinos, unwilling compassion filling him. Although Leo didn’t trust him, he sympathized with the dragon’s plight. Imprisonment of his other half seemed a harsh punishment. “Does a druid need to remove the spell?”

  “Yes,” Martinos said, his tone devoid of the anger or frustration Leo imagined he’d feel at the suppression of his dragon.

  “I have a plan for you. Make your way to the human village. It will take you a day on foot. Perhaps longer, depending on your fitness. Sleep in the rough to avoid detection. Head to the fishermen’s cottages at the bottom of the village—the ones that edge the sea. Ask to speak with Henry and tell him I sent you. He owns a fishing boat and travels between the isles. If you’re willing to work as crew, he’ll give you passage to Perfume Isle. Sometimes, he travels as far as Smoking Isle. Tell Henry I’ll pay him a boon during my next visit to the village.”

  “You’d do that for me, even though Nan is my sister, and she’s trying to kill your mate and marry you?”

  “I’m trusting my gut that says my brothers’ involvement with your sister confirms shady dealings. I don’t trust my older brothers.�
�� Leo picked up the iron lever he’d carried with him and began chipping away at the wall.

  Jakab and Martinos helped him while Gwenyth started carrying the pieces they dislodged to build a barrier behind them.

  “Where will you and Gwenyth go?” Martinos asked.

  “It’s best if we don’t tell you,” Gwenyth said from behind them before Leo could snap out a suspicious query of his own. “Otherwise, it defeats the purpose of splitting up.”

  “You misunderstand,” Martinos said. “I’ve languished in the dungeon for almost three years, which has given me plenty of time to think about what happened. My sister wanted to run the family business. That’s obvious. Your brothers, however…” He strained to remove a stone. “I’ve often wondered why they spared my life.”

  “My brothers forgot you,” Leo said.

  “They destroyed my honor, and I demand revenge. My dragon was taken from me, and the reasons are damn murky. I’ve racked my brain and can’t fathom why.”

  “Where will you go after you get the bracelet removed?” Leo asked.

  “I’ll go home, keep a low profile, and investigate my sister and her tie to your brothers. It has to be something on Hissing Isle since this was where the crime they accused me of occurred. The soldiers captured me during a business trip, and the council incarcerated me here.”

  Leo pried another stone free and set it aside. The gap allowed a wash of early dawn light, and he scanned for pedestrians. None. Yet. Although the building blueprints remained in his mind, he still wasn’t positive of their location. The single thing he was certain of was the alley had led them from the castle grounds.

  He, Martinos, and Jakab continued to work in silence. As did Gwenyth, who cleared the area of stones behind them to give them more room in which to work.

  “I think I could squeeze through the gap now,” Gwenyth said. “Why don’t I scout the area? At the least, I can give you an idea of our surroundings and where we are.”