Kingmaker (The Dragon Corsairs)

by Margaret Weis

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  Kate had no difficulty recognizing Countess Anasi, who had the short, thick neck of a common dragon, not the long elegant neck of nobility. She had not allowed her low birth to prove an impediment and she had risen through the ranks of the Brigade to become one of its leaders. She had served as the judge at Dalgren’s trial for desertion and she had been strict and stern, though also fair.

  Still, if there was one dragon on Aeronne Kate would not want to encounter now, that dragon was Anasi.

  “Let me do the talking,” said Dalgren.

  As Anasi and her fellow dragon drew close enough to see Dalgren, Anasi viewed him with astonishment. Small wonder, she had supposed he was at the bottom of the world, serving out his punishment for desertion.

  Anasi’s surprise changed quickly to anger. She twisted her head to say something to her rider, who raised his helm and shouted to his partner. He placed his hand on his sidearm, but did not draw it. His partner did the same.

  Dalgren was practically motionless in the air, stiff and rigid. Kate sat straight and tall on his back, keeping her hands where the riders could see them. She reminded herself that for once in her life, she was on the side of the angels. She was going to give them news that would save their lives, perhaps save the Brigade.

  Anasi didn’t spare her a glance. She focused her anger on Dalgren, refusing to even use his name.

  “We granted you a reprieve on your sentence, Nameless Dragon. The judgment of the court was given that you would be permitted to go Below, serve out your sentence with Father Jacob Northrop, rather than suffer banishment from dragonkind. You have flouted our attempts at mercy and are seemingly bold enough to openly defy us!”

  Kate was angry at the countess’s imperious tone and accusations. Dalgren opened his mouth, but before he could say a word, Kate interrupted.

  “I am Katherine Fitzmaurice-Gascoyne and I am a friend of Lord Dalgren’s,” she said, emphasizing his name. She raised her voice so that both dragons and their riders could hear her. “Lord Dalgren came to the brigade knowing he faced arrest, to warn you that a black ship, armed with a green-beam gun, is planning to attack Fort Vaila. The ship left Haever two days ago. It could arrive at any time. You need to be prepared.”

  Anasi gave a smoke-laced snort of derision. “Those guns were destroyed in the war.”

  “I know for a fact that some survived,” said Kate. “I don’t have time to bandy words with you! Take me to Captain Thorgrimson. I will explain everything to him.”

  Anasi regarded Kate with narrowed eyes, then shifted her head to cast a questioning glance over her shoulder at the man who was riding her.

  Kate had been keeping her eye on the rider. He had removed his helm and she could see his face. He was a big man with dark eyes and a dark beard and he was wearing the traditional leather coat trimmed with dragons.

  Kate knew who he was before he said it.

  “I am Captain Thorgrimson.”

  Kate felt Dalgren quiver, saw his jaw clamp together tightly. She gave him a reassuring pat. He gave her a grim glance.

  “I am telling the truth about the threat to the Brigade, sir,” Kate said. “Dalgren and I have flown day and night to reach you with this news.”

  Thorgrimson regarded her gravely, then turned to his comrade who was mounted on the second dragon and issued orders. “Double the patrols, Lieutenant, and evacuate the fort. Inform His Majesty, King Renaud, and Her Ladyship and assist them to make preparations to immediately depart.”

  Kate gasped at this, then groaned and swore beneath her breath. Of all the damnable luck! The King of Rosia must be making a royal visit to the fort. His presence explained the yachts and the fact that the fortress had been ablaze with lights. Also why two dragons and their riders had swiftly flown out to confront the strangers.

  The lieutenant saluted and spoke to his dragon. They made a banking turn and flew swiftly back to the fort.

  “If this is Lord Dalgren,” Captain Thorgrimson continued, “you must be his partner, the notorious Captain Kate.”

  Kate sighed. She hadn’t really expected that using her full name would fool anyone, but it had been worth a try.

  “I swear to you, Captain, those stories you’ve read about me in the newspaper aren’t true!” Kate said, talking so fast her words fell all over each other. “I don’t thirst for the blood of Rosians. Dalgren and I didn’t know King Renaud was here! We don’t mean His Majesty any harm. It is true that I was sentenced to hang for piracy, but I was a privateer—”

  Captain Thorgrimson raised his hand to stop the torrent. “Please, Captain. I believe you. I read the reports and gave orders for your sentence to be commuted. Didn’t you know?”

  Kate sighed, weak with relief. “Thank you, sir! No, sir, I didn’t know. I have been living in Freya and I heard no news of it.”

  Dag regarded both her and Dalgren thoughtfully. “So Dalgren came to Maribeau knowing he would be placed under arrest and you came knowing you would face a death sentence.”

  “I don’t see why you should sound so surprised, sir!” Kate said, bristling. “Whatever you might think of us, Lord Dalgren is a former member of the Brigade and I—”

  “I meant that as a compliment, Captain,” Dag said with a glimmer of amusement in his dark eyes. “I admire your courage and Lord Dalgren’s.”

  “Oh,” said Kate, feeling stupid. “Sorry, sir. Thank you, sir.”

  Captain Thorgrimson gave her a grave look. “You said you traveled from Freya, Captain. Rosia is at war with Freya, or at least Freya is at war with us. Did His Majesty, King Thomas, send this black ship?”

  “No, sir,” said Kate emphatically. “Thomas—I mean, His Majesty, King Thomas—was the one who sent me to warn you.”

  Thorgrimson raised his eyebrows at this news, then leaned down to confer with Anasi. She seemed reluctant, but she grudgingly agreed. “I have no objections, sir, so long as he is kept under guard.”

  Captain Thorgrimson straightened in the saddle. “We have a great deal to discuss, it seems, Captain, and I don’t want to have to keep shouting. I must deal with the immediate danger first, of course, but if you will accompany us to the fort, we can speak at length.”

  “What about Lord Dalgren, sir?” Kate asked boldly. “If the dragons are going to take him into custody again, we’ll be on our way. Dalgren came here of his own free will to save his fellows and I want your surety that he will be able to freely leave.”

  “Lord Dalgren’s fate falls within the purview of the dragons,” said Thorgrimson. “What do you say, Countess?”

  “We need to hear more about this black ship,” said Anasi. She did not look at Dalgren, nor refer to him directly. “This dragon came to warn us knowing the peril he faced, and that is to his credit. He may come to the fort, but since he is under the sentence of Banishing, he should remember that no dragon will speak to him or acknowledge his presence.”

  Kate stirred angrily and had to bite her tongue to keep silent. The decision was Dalgren’s, as he reminded her with a stern look.

  “Let the countess be assured that I will not attempt to make contact with any of my fellows.”

  Countess Anasi still did not look at or otherwise acknowledge him, but she gave a cold nod.

  “Lord Dalgren is granted safe passage. For seventy-two hours, he may come and go as he pleases.”

  “If you will accompany us, Captain, Lord Dalgren,” said Thorgrimson.

  Kate understood that wasn’t a request. It was a command.

  Anasi made a steep, banking turn and she and the captain led the way back to the fort. Kate and Dalgren followed more slowly. Kate leaned over his neck so they could talk.

  “We nearly killed ourselves to save their lives!” Kate said angrily. “She treats you like a criminal!”

  “I am a criminal,” Dalgren pointed out.

  “But they don’t need to treat you like one. I don’t care what they say. We are not staying where we are not wanted. I will tell Captai
n Thorgrimson what we know about the black ship and then we’ll leave. You have Anasi’s permission to move about freely, so don’t do anything noble and stupid like offering to surrender.”

  Dalgren didn’t answer. Instead, he changed the subject. “I have always wanted to see Fort Vaila. I am glad to have the chance.”

  “I don’t want to talk about a fort,” Kate said.

  “And I don’t want to argue. Do you want to hear about the fort?”

  “Not really,” Kate said. “I suppose this fort is like every other fort.”

  “No, it is not,” said Dalgren. “And that is why I have looked forward to seeing it. Fort Vaila is the only human structure in the world designed by a dragon. You can see it from here.” He indicated the building perched at the top of the cliff.

  Kate knew he was wrestling inwardly with his decision and that he would talk about it when he felt like it and not before. And so she talked about the fort.

  “Is that it?” she asked. “That oddly shaped building? Why is it shaped like that?”

  “The fort has ten sides, allowing for accommodations for ten dragons,” said Dalgren. “Vaila was a common dragon who worked for the Brigade. Since common dragons aren’t permitted to take part in battle, she hauled supplies, foraged for food, ran errands. When the Brigade was talking about building their headquarters, Vaila went to a human architect and asked him to draw up the plans for her idea for a fort. She knew, you see, that the Brigade would never accept her design if they knew it was created by a common dragon, so the architect presented it as his own.

  “The Brigade was impressed with his design and hired him to build the structure. After it was completed, he told them the truth, and the Brigade named the headquarters in the designer’s honor: Fort Vaila.”

  “What makes her design so special?” Kate asked, now intrigued.

  “The structure is made of granite, five stories tall, with ten sides constructed around an inner courtyard that is open to the air. The fort is designed solely for the use of the dragons, who like to sleep in dark, cavernous spaces.

  “The fort can house ten dragons, two wings of four battle dragons and a command dragon. Each has his or her own chamber that opens onto the courtyard. The dragons descend into the fort from above, land in the courtyard, then go from there into their sleeping chambers.”

  “What about the human riders?” asked Kate. “Where do they live?”

  “They have their own quarters nearby, but the Brigade holds meetings in the fort. The humans enter from a door that is on the ground level. It is an excellent arrangement. Too bad I won’t get to spend much time here,” Dalgren added wistfully. “I should like to see inside.”

  “Better we leave before Anasi changes her mind,” said Kate. “My plan is to talk to the captain. Once I’ve done that, we can return to Freya. You are coming home with me, aren’t you?”

  “Don’t badger me,” Dalgren growled.

  The bells on the fort chimed twelve times. A huge silvery moon was rising, lighting the edge of the cliff where the dragons would land to allow their riders to dismount and to visit with each other before going to their rest.

  The fort was some distance away from the landing site, giving the dragons plenty of room to maneuver. The only impediment they faced was a low stone safety wall built by the dragons along the edge of the cliff.

  Kate and Dalgren waited deferentially for Thorgrimson and Anasi to land. The moment Anasi touched down, Thorgrimson vaulted from the saddle and hurried off in the direction of one of the yachts, which was the largest and most elegant Kate had ever seen. She guessed it must belong to King Renaud. She could see that the yacht’s captain had heeded the warning and was already preparing to depart. Sailors swarmed the decks, hastily raising sails and fully inflating the balloons.

  Anasi and Thorgrimson both appeared to have forgotten Kate and Dalgren. Thorgrimson was swarmed by several other officers, who had heard the news from the lieutenant and were eager to find out what was going on. Countess Anasi lumbered off toward the fort, where dragons were waiting to talk to her.

  “I guess we have permission to land,” said Kate. She added, teasing, “Don’t do a belly flop.”

  Dalgren was clearly nervous, fearing that every dragon in the fort would be watching and judging his performance as they had when he was only a raw recruit. He circled the cliff, testing the air currents.

  He was always a little awkward, because he had to put his weight on his bad leg, and to make certain his wings didn’t clip the wall. The air was calm, the mists hardly stirring, and he came down, rear legs first, then settled onto his forelegs.

  “Light as thistledown,” Kate told him.

  Dalgren grunted.

  Once he had settled, Kate started to slide off his back, then saw a woman watching them from a safe distance. The woman wore an elegant silk cape with the hood pulled over her head to protect her from the night air. Seeing Kate notice her, the woman drew back her hood and Kate saw her face in the moonlight.

  Kate groaned. “My luck just keeps getting worse and worse!”

  “Why? What’s wrong? Who is that woman?” Dalgren asked.

  “The Countess de Marjolaine.”

  “I thought you liked her.”

  “I do, but she will want to hear about Sophia and she will insist that we stay the night. Don’t worry, I will make some excuse.”

  “I’m not worried,” Dalgren said. “You’re the one who’s worried. As for me, I would like to spend the night. I’m bone tired, and I haven’t eaten in days.”

  “Get something to eat and then we’ll leave,” said Kate firmly, jumping to the ground.

  She was preparing to formally curtsy and was startled when Cecile swept forward, embraced her, and greeted her with a warm kiss. Kate was astonished by this effusive display of emotion from a woman who had survived decades in the royal court by keeping her emotions locked in some secret recess in her heart.

  “I have been worried to distraction about Sophia. Then Rodrigo brought me the message from Sir Henry that you helped her escape the palace and she is safe,” said Cecile, clinging to her. “Thank you, Kate! How is she?”

  “Sophia is safe and well, my lady,” said Kate, managing to talk even as she was half-smothered in rustling folds of silk and velvet. “We tried to persuade her to leave Freya, but she refused to go.”

  The countess recollected herself and returned her emotions to the lockbox. She released Kate from her embrace and took a moment to arrange her mussed hair. “I think I can guess why she is staying. I will not ask you where she is, for I would not endanger her.”

  “Miss Amelia made the arrangements,” said Kate.

  “Miss Amelia? Not Sir Henry?” Cecile asked, slightly frowning.

  Kate didn’t want to talk about Sir Henry. “My lady, didn’t you hear the warning about the black ship? You should leave the fort immediately. You are not safe.”

  “I was present when the lieutenant informed the king. His Majesty is leaving. You can see Captain Thorgrimson speaking with His Majesty.”

  Cecile indicated the king’s yacht. Two dragon riders from the Brigade circled above the yacht, waiting to act as escort. Kate saw Thorgrimson bow and take his leave. The sailors raised the gangplank, others released the mooring lines, and the royal yacht, accompanied by a Brigade escort, sailed into the Breath.

  Cecile turned back to Kate. “When I told His Majesty you were Sophia’s friend and that you had helped her escape the palace the night the queen was assassinated, he asked me to give you a message. I am to convey His Majesty’s heartfelt gratitude.”

  “Sophia helped me as much as I helped her,” said Kate, embarrassed. “Your Ladyship should be leaving, as well.”

  Cecile gave Kate a look that reminded her she was speaking to a countess and one of the most powerful women in the world.

  “I appreciate your concern, Captain,” said Cecile and walked over to speak to Dalgren.

  “I am pleased to see you again, Lord Dalgr
en. The other dragons in the fort are making preparations to evacuate. They plan to travel to caves farther inland. Countess Anasi has given you leave to spend the night, so long as you do not speak to any of them.”

  “Thank you—” Dalgren began.

  Kate interrupted him. “Dalgren and I will not be staying. I came only because Captain Thorgrimson asked me to tell him what I know about the black ship. After that, we will be going.”

  Kate looked toward the courtyard around the fort, hoping to see Thorgrimson. The news of the black ship had spread and riders and brigade staff were making arrangements to evacuate and she could not find him in the crowd.

  “Do you know where he is?” Kate asked.

  “Captain Thorgrimson will not be free to talk to you for some time,” said Cecile. “He has a great deal to do as I am certain you can imagine.”

  She turned back to Dalgren. “You appear to be exhausted, my lord. I suggest you go with the other dragons to the caves. They will provide food for you and a place to sleep. I will take care of Kate. She can spend the night on board my yacht and speak to Captain Thorgrimson in the morning.”

  Dalgren looked to Kate, who gave a helpless shrug. “You should go,” she said, relenting. “You do look tired and hungry. I’ll be fine.”

  Dalgren was relieved. He thanked the countess and gave Kate a pleading glance, begging her not to cause trouble. He shifted his bulk around to head for the fort, taking care with his tail to keep from accidentally knocking down either Kate or the countess.

  Kate started to follow, but Cecile detained her.

  “Please wait a moment, Kate. I need to speak to you in private.”

  Cecile led her over to the wall and stood near it, gazing out into the mists of the Breath that drifted past them, calm and placid this night.

  “How is Thomas?” Cecile asked abruptly.

  Kate had been expecting more questions about Sophia, but she was not prepared to talk about Thomas. She could already feel the blood rising from her heart to her cheeks. She wondered uneasily how much Cecile knew or guessed about her feelings for Thomas and his feelings for her.

  Afraid Cecile would notice her cheeks burning even in the moonlight, Kate ducked her head to avoid her scrutiny.