Leo wanted to protest. His dragon shouted a dissent because they wished to protect her from further harm.
“Leo,” she said, coming close enough to place a hand on his forearm. Her touch seared through him, arrowing to his cock.
“Let us clear a few more stones, then you can go through,” Leo said. “If anyone comes, run and hide. I’ll come for you.”
She opened her mouth as if to protest, then nodded. She continued with her rock moving, and when Leo glanced back, he was proud to see a hip-high wall of stone. Any barrier, no matter how flimsy, would offer them precious extra seconds in which to escape.
“Gwenyth,” Leo said. “You should be able to fit through here.”
She squirmed through without difficulty.
“Be careful,” Leo ordered. “Stay in the shadows.”
“I promise.”
Watching her scurry away was the hardest thing he’d ever done. To stop himself from howling, he applied himself to making the hole big enough for all of them to pass through. His dragon chattered off his ear.
“We shouldn’t have let her go. What if she gets captured again? The guards might notice our escape tunnel. What if that Nan revisits her brother?”
“Stop,” Leo demanded. “Gwenyth is clever. She won’t get caught.” He applied force to a stubborn piece of rock, grunting as it came free without warning and almost planted him on his arse.
Jakab steadied him and yanked another bit from the wall.
“Martinos, you slide through the gap and leave,” Leo said. “Once you’re free, make your way to the human village.”
Martinos nodded. “I’m serious about meeting with you again. Hopefully, we’ll each have information we can share by that time.”
“All right. Leave a message with the baker at the human village on Perfume Isle. Gwenyth and I will make our way in that direction.”
“Thank you. I won’t betray your trust.” Martinos sent Leo a long look before nodding and squirming through the hole. Once through, he paused.
“I think we’re near the entrance to the dungeon. Take care leaving.”
Leo watched Martinos melt into the shadows.
“Do you trust him?” Jakab asked.
Leo shrugged. “Time will tell.”
He put renewed energy into removing rocks, his worry increasing when Gwenyth didn’t return. If the guards spotted her, all of this would be for naught.
17 – Survival Is My New Middle Name
Gwenyth slunk through the shadows cast by the buildings. She approached a corner and slowed. Was that the clink of swords and the stomp of boots on cobblestones? She risked a glance around the corner and barely restrained her gasp.
They’d emerged right by a guard station. Gwenyth backtracked and wondered at the amount of activity given the early hour.
A blast of flame lit the road, and Gwenyth squeezed against the wall of the building at her back.
A black dragon flew overhead, giving Gwenyth a glimpse of power and beauty. Then the dragon disappeared over the rooftops and out of sight.
That wasn’t the best direction for them to walk. She’d mention it to Leo. Gwenyth retreated, ghosting through the dim-lit areas and hugging the building walls. She had to wait for a man and an adolescent boy to exit their cottage. The pair walked in the direction of the guard station. The man noticed her, but Gwenyth made herself smaller and turned her face away, praying she didn’t raise their suspicions. The instant he rounded the corner, she sprinted back the way she’d skulked earlier.
When she arrived at the hole in the wall, it was much bigger, and only Jakab and Leo were present.
“The guard station is that way. I’m not sure what’s going on, but there’s a lot of activity.”
The two men exchanged a look and hastened their pace. A few minutes later, Jakab squeezed through the gap. Jakab hugged her and disappeared. Leo squirmed through the hole and dragged her into his arms. His kiss was way too brief before he snared her hand in his.
“Where will we go?” she asked.
“We’ll make our way to the outskirts of town on foot and risk flying once we get to open ground.” He pulled a dagger from his boot.
“It’s blunt since I used it to dig at the wall, but it’s better than nothing. Keep it hidden somewhere secure. Maybe in your boot. And my lodestone, remember this. Dragon scales are strong enough to deflect a knife blade. If you have to protect yourself from a dragon, go for the eyes or the delicate scales on the chest. Don’t hesitate. Not for a second, because we’re fast. Even better, hide if you can, but our sense of smell improves if we’re in our dragon form.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Gwenyth said.
“Act first. Don’t give a dragon the opportunity to prepare and lose your chance to win. Let them think you’re weak and inflict the most damage you can.”
“I’m not sure I can injure another being.”
“Promise,” Leo said, his gaze so intent she’d swear she glimpsed his dragon in his eyes. “Gwenyth, swear you will act without hesitation.”
She swallowed her unease and lifted her chin. “Survival is my new middle name.”
He gave a clipped nod. “Let’s go.”
Leo dragged her down the street, his long strides meaning she had to trot to keep up.
“Slow down,” she pleaded when her lungs threatened to explode from her half-breaths. “I can’t maintain this pace.”
“Sorry.” He glanced at her, his expression darkening.
“What?”
“Nan doesn’t get to hit you again.”
“I won’t have a problem sticking her with a dagger,” Gwenyth muttered. “The dragon is a bitch. The second time she visited, she was wearing a fur wrap. It was the same color as Jenny.”
“Are you sure? I thought the same, but you were closer.”
“Oh, I’m positive. Is it possible she and her people have been lurking around Hissing Isle for longer than we think? She indicated an interest in your land.”
“Now that makes sense. She must be part of the group who offered to purchase my land. I wonder if she met with my brothers.” His steps slowed at the end of a rutted road.
Gwenyth halted at his side. A soldier wearing a scarlet tunic was tacking a poster on the wall of a cottage. A group of lessor dragons loitered, eager to read the contents the moment the soldier moved on to pin up the next sign.
Once the soldier pushed through the crowd and strode on, she and Leo eased closer to join the avid group of male and female dragons. No one paid any attention to them.
“What is it?” a woman demanded from the rear. “Read it out for all of us.”
A chubby woman, who Gwenyth had noticed using her elbows to get to the front, cleared her throat, and began reading. “We hereby invite you to attend a special battle at the events arena to celebrate the betrothal of Leonidas, Champion of the Skies, to Nandag, The Strongminded. Prisoners will fight exotic animals and champion fighters in a battle to the death. Blood and gore guaranteed. A small donation will ensure your entrance to the arena. Doors open at dusk this evening.”
Leo’s arm, which had curled around her protectively, tightened to the point of pain. Horror rose up her throat, threatening to choke her. They intended to make Leo a widower and to marry him off to Nan. She tugged on his tunic, diverting his attention from the excited conversations around them.
He started, gave her a quick squeeze, and wove his way through the curious bystanders. The locals seemed more intent discussing the upcoming battle while yet more newcomers struggled to get close enough to read the poster.
Leo led her down a quieter, residential street. He plucked a cloak off a washing line and a black tunic and a hat off another. He kept them moving at a brisk pace. They passed other huddles of dragons reading the posters. Several dragons stared at them but none spoke. Gwenyth was positive they’d recognized Leo, and she wondered how long it would be before the guards discovered she and Martinos had disappeared.
Around the next c
orner, the area beyond was more rural. A herd of goats sat in the shade of green trees. To their left, a dragon shifter plowed a field with two oxen.
“Put on the cloak,” Leo said, handing her the cloth. “If it’s too long, I’ll hack off the bottom. We can keep the surplus fabric to cover your face while we’re flying. Pull up the hood to conceal your hair and face.”
He planted the hat on his head and exchanged his pale brown tunic for the black one he’d pilfered from the washing line. “Just over the rise, there’s a field where I can shift. If we can get that far, no one will see me morph to a dragon. I’ll skim the tops of the trees until the castle is out of sight before we gain height. Let’s go.”
Leo set a brisk pace, and she did her best to keep up. The farmer spotted them and waved. Leo waved back but didn’t stop. Gwenyth’s breathing became heavy, and a pain dug in her side. Her face ached while her head throbbed in tandem. She recognized her pounding temples as a symptom of dehydration. With the evening’s excitement, she hadn’t collected drinking water.
She swallowed and forced her legs to keep moving. Time to rest once they reached safety. She’d find something to drink later.
The brow of the hill seemed miles away, the incline like a cliff. Sweat beaded on her forehead and under her clothes. She wanted to thrust aside the cloak, but she persevered. One foot after the other. One foot. The other foot.
Up ahead, Leo disappeared. Gwenyth made a push, fear giving her feet wings. He wouldn’t leave her. He wouldn’t.
Panic roared through her, her breath coming in hoarse pants as she crested the hill. Relief, big and bright, struck like a spear to her heart. Leo was there, worry etched into his features. He took half a step in her direction, his face creasing into a smile on seeing her.
“I’m coming,” she wheezed. “My legs are shorter than yours.”
He offered her a brief hug of apology. “Sorry, my lodestone,” he whispered. “We must keep moving. My parents and Nan want you to die in the arena. Since the fight takes place this evening, it won’t be long before they realize you’ve escaped and I’ve disappeared too.”
She acknowledged his words with a squeeze of his hand. “Lead the way and I will follow.”
“You look exhausted. Once we reach the safety of the trees, we can rest.”
“Will there be water?”
“You’re in luck. A stream passes through the clearing up ahead.”
The brief stop made resuming the trudge to safety even harder. Every muscle in her thighs protested while her head ached so much her vision blurred. She wobbled, caught herself, and managed another two half-strides before she dropped.
Leo cursed and returned. He scooped her up and set a brisk pace across an open field. The bubble of water reached her ears, her desire to dampen her mouth, and dunk her head into its coolness, forcing a moan past her dry lips.
“What’s wrong?”
“Thirsty and so hot and achy,” she whispered. “It feels as if I’ve caught the flu.”
“An illness?”
“Yes.” The croak of sound hurt her throat.
“Not far to go,” Leo promised and increased his speed.
Gwenyth’s eyes closed, and the waves of pain merged into one big ache. Everything hurt, and she drifted until Leo set her down.
“You must take a drink before we enter the trees, my lodestone. I have no vessel to fill.”
A blast of trumpets sounded in the distance. Leo stiffened as the blare repeated.
“Hurry,” he urged. “They’ve discovered us missing.”
When her brain refused to function, her body stalled in movement. Seconds later, mountain-cold water struck her in the face. She cried out, her eyes widening in shock.
“Sorry,” he whispered, his eyes full of apology. “Drastic measures.” He filled a cupped hand with water and held it to her lips.
The frigid water was the best thing she’d ever tasted. “I can do it myself,” she said and suited actions to words. She drank three hands full of water before Leo cautioned her to limit herself. Aware he was right, she drank one more before washing her face and neck.
“Gwenyth, we need to seek shelter,” he said, urgency lacing his words. “The guards will split up and fly in different directions.”
Nodding, she stood. “I’m ready,” she said and prayed it was true.
“Here’s what we’ll do. During our lovemaking, our scents combined, and you took on more of a dragon scent. That works to our advantage. We’ll mask your scent with mud and find a place to hide. Hopefully, a safe refuge where we can relax since the more we make love, the better chance we have of our followers thinking we are two dragons. The change of clothes will have helped too.”
“Sounds like a plan. Which way?” Despite the oncoming danger, the idea of making love with Leo filled her with joy and anticipation.
With Leo in the lead, they entered the trees, following a narrow animal-made track. When they reached a spot where the path crossed the stream, Leo stopped.
“Time to cover your face, arms, and legs with mud.”
She pulled a face. “Do it.”
A few minutes later, they continued along the path that forged deeper into the trees. It became darker with the tree canopies creating a roof over their heads. The click of insects and the tweet of hidden birds brought a comforting note of familiarity, a sense she’d walked through here or a similar place.
“Have you been here before?” she murmured once the path grew wide enough for them to walk abreast. Although her head still thumped, the water had revived her flagging body.
“I used to play here with my friends.”
“Your brothers?”
“My brothers have never been my friends,” he said. “The boys I met while working in the castle kitchen with Cook and the ones I trained with while learning how to battle. We drank water from the same stream.”
“Do you have a hiding place in mind?”
“There are two possible ones. The second is a cave. It’s farther away, but we’ll push onward for as long as you can manage. This forest is large, and it will provide us with cover plus get us nearer to the sea and the closest point of Perfume Isle.”
The trumpet blast sounded again, and this time, the signal was closer.
“They’re coming this way,” Leo murmured. “Tread silently. No more talking. If you wish to communicate, tug on my tunic.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
The trumpeting came nearer, and she glanced up in apprehension, positive they’d be visible to the dragons who were flying overhead. With her gaze upward, she stood on a stick. The crack came loud to her ears, her heart jolting in apprehension, but her mistake came at the start of another trumpet blast. She swallowed, almost lightheaded with relief.
“The trees are too thick for them to spot us, but I’d still like to put more distance between us and the castle. If they don’t find us during the first sweep, they might hire the dog master from the human village.”
“Dogs?” Gwenyth asked in a faint voice. She imagined rabid canine creatures with sharp teeth and frothy mouths. She pictured blood. Hers. A shudder passed through her. “They’d send dogs after us?”
“It depends on how determined my parents and Nan are to capture us. My parents dislike dealing with humans. The dog master loathes doing business with dragons, but he might at the right price.”
“You know him.”
“I and several of the other humans disapprove of the way he treats his animals. He can be cruel.”
“This island isn’t human friendly. Why do they live here?”
“Humans have always lived here,” Leo said. “It’s their home as much as it belongs to the dragons.”
“Do we have to stay here?”
Leo sighed. “I love my home, but it might be best to stay far from my parents and brothers.”
“Did you speak with your brothers?” she asked, curious because of the things Leo had let drop about his siblings.
“I spo
tted one of my brothers with Telus. Nemyr. I decided it was best not to interrupt the pair.”
“Do you know why your brothers dislike you so much or why your parents mistreat you?”
“No,” Leo said. “It wasn’t always like this when my grandparents were alive. We seemed happier and more a family then. I used to spend a lot of time with my grandparents and my Uncle Joharan. He and my grandfather enjoyed nature and farming. He taught me everything I know about the land. I was with them during the attack. We went on a picnic, and rogue dragons attacked our party. I fell early, struck on the head by a blow. Uncle Joharan, my grandparents, and their two servants died during the fight. I guess the attackers thought I was dead. My memories of the day are fuzzy.”
“And your parents took over after your grandparents’ deaths.”
“Yes. Given my parents’ attitude toward me, I’ve wondered if they organized the attack. I’ve never voiced my suspicions because it didn’t seem wise. Uncle Joharan was meant to rule rather than my parents.”
“You don’t recall the attackers?”
“The dragons wore special paint that covered their natural color. It turned them bronze.” His brow wrinkled. “Over the years, I’ve heard whispers, but I don’t have proof. Just my suspicions. Shush,” he warned. “They’re doing another sweep of the forest.”
For an instant, Gwenyth heard nothing, then a trumpet blast rang out above their heads. The sharp note reverberated, and panic froze her. A low whimper squeezed past her compressed lips, and Leo urged her face against his broad chest. She leaned into his strength, and he let her take comfort from him.
The trumpet blared, this time farther away, and Gwenyth sagged in relief. His powerful arms held her up, gave her support.
“Sorry,” she whispered. “I can’t go back in that dungeon. It was cold and wet. Horrible. And I don’t want to know what the arena battles involve. I get the sense I wouldn’t leave alive.”
“No,” Leo agreed, his voice grim. “Given my parents’ determination, I’m not even sure Perfume Isle will be a haven for us.”
Liza (Dragon Isles Book 1) Page 17