Firedrake

by Bianca D'Arc

  “I was just as blind as everyone else who placed bets on which Wayfarer male was the spymaster. Sweetheart, I’ll admit you took me by surprise. I’ve long admired your work.”

  All in all, Krysta thought, he was taking the news of her secret identity much better than she would have imagined. She liked that he hadn’t questioned the claim. Made in the presence of the Clan elder and the Captain of the Guard, Drake hadn’t even questioned the revelation. She knew other men wouldn’t be so open-minded and accepting of a female spymaster. But then Drake had been special from the moment she’d met him.

  Golden and good-looking, Drake was a definite charmer, but there were hidden depths in him that called out to her. She genuinely liked him. And she hadn’t expected that at all.

  The thought was faintly disturbing. Generally speaking, she didn’t go for womanizers or Jinn bards with glib tongues, but there was something very special and not at all superficial about Drake. One felt his words were far more than just surface flattery and his eyes held an honesty and integrity she hadn’t expected.

  She was drawn to him, which didn’t sit well, but Krysta was honest enough with herself to acknowledge the truth of her own feelings. Drake was gorgeous. Manly, masculine, with more than a hint of devil-may-care attitude and bad boy panache. He was also highly intelligent and sexy in a deep, mysterious way that was altogether alluring.

  Krysta had to shake herself out of her contemplation. The man was just too distracting.

  “You have information about Wil?” Drake’s deep voice brought her back to the problem at hand.

  “A lead. We’ll see if it pans out, but if my source is as reliable as I believe, I didn’t want to waste time summoning someone from the castle and it’s obvious you’re investigating this for them.”

  “I promised Roland and Nico I’d find Wil,” Drake said, shrugging his broad shoulders as if such a momentous task was an everyday occurrence. But then, perhaps it was, Krysta thought. She knew full well that Drake was highly placed in the Jinn spy network.

  It was significant to her that Drake was also on a first name basis with the king of Draconia and Prince of Spies, but she didn’t let her surprise show. She sent a knowing look to her brother, who thankfully picked up on her silent signal.

  “As Captain of the Guard, I’m assigning Krysta to this case exclusively until Prince William is found. I’m also authorizing travel and expenses to that end and give her over to your care, Master Drake, for the duration.”

  Krysta thought that last part was going a bit far, but didn’t argue the point with her sometimes overprotective brother. The speculative look in Drake’s blue eyes claimed her full attention.

  “I could use her skills, and I’m not too proud to admit it. I’ve been away from home a long time and the city’s changed a great deal. I’ll be glad of your assistance, Krysta.”

  She warmed under the true respect she saw in his expression. But this was no time to moon over his handsome face. No, there was work to be done.

  “Good.” She stood decisively. “Then if you’re finished eating, there’s a man we need to see before he finishes packing.”

  Drake stood, nodding to the men as he followed Krysta out the door. “Packing?”

  “He’s an outland trader who’s let it be known he plans to depart the city this very afternoon.”

  “How convenient.”

  “Quite.” Krysta stopped at one of the barrels where an oiled canvas coat lay airing and shrugged into it. It looked like it might rain later.

  “You think he’ll stick to his publicized plan?”

  “I do. It will rouse less suspicion if he does, but even if he tries to flee, half the Wayfarer Clan is watching his every move at this very moment.”

  “Very nice,” Drake commented as she led him to two horses, already saddled and waiting. Krysta had tried to plan for every contingency when she’d heard about the kidnapping in the middle of the night.

  The square was one of the larger public spaces, just over the farthest bridge, on the fringes of the old city of Castleton. There they found nothing seemingly amiss, though the bustle for the early morning was a little livelier than one might expect. For one thing, there were more than the usual number of patrons sitting at the three outdoor cafes on the square. For another, the patrons were unusually vigilant as they watched one particular traveling peddler pack up his wagon and clear out his small space in the square’s central market.

  Krysta and Drake flanked the wiry man as he looked up from his packing.

  “What can I do for you, friends? As you see, most of my wares are packed and I’m on my way out of town, but perhaps there is something I can find to please you.” An oily smile and waving hands accompanied his slick talk.

  Drake moved closer.

  “We aren’t looking for goods. Merely information.”

  The man’s shifty eyes narrowed, seeking over Drake’s shoulder, possibly for an escape route. Drake knew the man’s helpers were otherwise engaged by the Jinn who’d stood at Krysta’s subtle signal, to surround the merchant’s wagon on all sides.

  “What is it you’re looking for?”

  Drake smiled as the man’s eyes refocused on him. It wasn’t a pleasant smile.

  “Actually, I’m looking for Prince William, and I have it on good authority—” Drake seized the man by the collar and lifted him with one hand, “—that you know who took him.”

  The man protested, but Drake would have none of it.

  “Tell me now and I might spare your life.”

  “Who are you to threaten me?” The man started blustering, looking to Krysta—and her gray Guard uniform—for help.

  Bless her, Krysta perched on the side of an apple cart, picked up a ripe piece of fruit and polished it on her tunic. She flipped the owner of the cart a coin and bit into the juicy apple with a satisfying crunch.

  “I’m the man who will break both your legs if you don’t start talking.”

  “Guard!” the man called to Krysta, “You can’t let him do this!”

  “Actually,” she replied calmly, “I can, and I will. You messed with the wrong people when you decided to assist in the prince’s abduction.”

  “Come now.” Drake shook the man. “I’m growing impatient. Tell me what you know.”

  The man kept protesting his innocence until suddenly his eyes widened and he went stiff with fear. Drake could smell the terror sweating from his pores as he stared over Drake’s shoulder.

  Drake felt the whoosh of air against his back and heard the distinctive clacking of dragon claws on cobblestone. He knew without looking that Jenet had decided to assist yet again. This time, though, he didn’t mind in the least. He’d use every advantage to discover where Wil had been taken. He dropped the shaking man and stepped back, making room for the dragon.

  Jenet took a menacing step forward, brandishing her sharp talons in a way that impressed even Drake. His little dragonet had certainly grown into a fearsome creature while he’d been away. Drake hardly recognized the aggressive dragoness as his own little Jenet, but he had to admit she was quite effective.

  The merchant crumpled in fear, cowering away from the fiery dragon.

  “Tipolir! They took him to Tipolir!” The man cried out in terror as Jenet’s smoky breath streamed over his face and her shining talons drew closer to his trembling skin. “That’s all I know. I swear! That’s all I know.”

  Drake looked at Krysta, raising one eyebrow in question. She nodded almost imperceptibly. She too felt the truth of the coward’s words.

  “Back off, sweetheart. You did a good job,” Drake said to Jenet privately as he moved in to bind the man’s wrists with Krysta’s able assistance. As a Guard, she had lengths of rope as part of her kit for just such purpose. The dragon moved back, but kept a wary eye on the proceedings.

  Krysta whistled loudly and more Guards appeared, from where Drake could only guess, but they seemed to know Krysta well enough and took charge of the prisoner with tidy movements
. The man was bundled into a cart brought out from a side alley with almost frightening efficiency and Drake had to hand it to Krysta. She certainly had prepared for all contingencies.

  “I’ve got to get to Tipolir.” Drake was thinking out loud as Krysta stood at his elbow, nodding. He knew the city of Tipolir was near the southern border, on the coast. If his abductors managed to get Wil on a boat, the trail would be lost. There was practically no way to track them over water.

  “We can’t be more than a day or two behind them and on dragonback you might be able to overtake them before they get to the sea.”

  Drake turned to the dragon who was never far from his side since he’d returned to his homeland. “Jenet, will you take me on this journey? It could be dangerous, but—”

  “I will do anything to find William. You could not keep me here.”

  “I’m going too.” Krysta walked right up to the dragon. “Will you take me, Lady Jenet? Or must I make my way over land?”

  Drake turned to her. “I thank you for your help, Krysta, but this journey is mine to make. You should stay here.”

  “I disagree. I can still be of help. I have connections all over this land and you’ve not been here for years. You need me, Drake.”

  “She speaks the truth,” Jenet offered, “but I’m still too young to carry you both the breadth of the land.”

  Drake sighed, studying both females. Why did they have to make things so difficult? Krysta was right. She had the contacts here, not him. She had to go, but she couldn’t go alone, and Jenet might have grown up quite a bit in those intervening years, but he remembered well the way she would tire from flying long distances as she grew. He didn’t want to put too much stress on Jenet. There was no help for it.

  “Send for help from the Castle Lair.” Drake asked Jenet to relay the message.

  “Already done. He’s on his way.”

  “Who?”

  “Nellin.” The way Jenet practically purred the other dragon’s name gave Drake pause. Then he thought of Nellin’s partner.

  “And Mace.”

  “And Mace,” Jenet agreed rather smugly. “They have taken Krysta aloft before. I thought it would be easier for her to fly with a team she knew.”

  Drake had to concede to the young dragon’s wisdom. “Good. There’s no time to waste.”

  He turned to Krysta. “Are you ready to fly?”

  She moved away to speak in a low voice with another Guardsman. Turning back to Drake, her face was set in determined lines. “I’m ready. My men will carry back news of where we’ve gone to the Guards and the castle.”

  “You’ll fly with Mace and Nellin. They’ll be here shortly.”

  As if on cue, Nellin trumpeted from above and the bystanders cleared a space for the massive dragon to land. Drake had to admire the skill Nellin displayed in setting down in such tight quarters with perfect precision. Nellin too, it seemed, had grown from the youngster Drake had once known.

  Mace jumped down and jogged over to them, greeting Krysta first, then nodding to Drake. “Nellin told me what Jenet relayed to him. We’re up for the flight whenever you’re ready.”

  “Krysta will fly with you.” Drake didn’t like the tiny spark of satisfaction that edged into the knight’s eyes when he looked at Krysta, but there was no hope for it. Jenet was still too young to carry him and Krysta riding double, however much Drake would have preferred to hold Krysta close to him. No, he had to trust her care to Mace.

  And if truth be told, Drake did trust Mace to take the best possible care of Krysta. He was an able knight and the boy he’d known had been steady, respectful and wise beyond his years, even back then. Drake knew too that Mace had strong feelings for the Guardswoman. Krysta could have no better knight looking out for her on this potentially hazardous and long flight.

  That didn’t mean Drake had to like it.

  “It will be our pleasure,” Mace replied, his admiring gaze for Krysta alone.

  Drake scowled. “We don’t have time to waste if we want to catch them before they reach the coast.” Mace’s attention focused back on Drake, for which he was glad.

  “We’ll catch them, Drake. Don’t doubt it. We’ll flame the gryphons themselves if we have to, but we’ll get Wil back. No matter what.”

  Drake was pleased to hear the same determination that flared in his own heart in Mace’s words. Drake clasped hands with the knight before turning to Jenet.

  “Let’s be off.”

  With little fanfare, the humans found their way to their respective mounts, climbing nimbly onto the dragons’ backs and then taking to the sky. It had been years since Drake had last ridden on Jenet’s back, and even back then he hadn’t done it often. Jenet had been a petite dragonet and Drake had grown quickly. He’d never flown with Jenet for longer than an hour or so, not wanting to overburden her, though she was always game for more. Still, he loved her and looked out for her back then, just as much as he wanted to now.

  But Jenet was nearly fully grown, with a juvenile dragon’s seemingly unending supply of energy. She could fly for longer than even most adult dragons with the added metabolism of the adolescent. She could support his big frame easily now, and Drake was glad he wouldn’t be too much for her to carry over the long distance that awaited them.

  Drake had second thoughts about the wisdom of their headlong flight, but something within him refused to give up the chase to others. He’d made a promise to Roland, Nico and his own father. He’d find Wil. It was his task. His quest.

  No other would fulfill it.

  Drake didn’t dare examine why his thinking was so adamant on that score. It was not his nature to interfere where others with more skill would be better suited to a task, but this was one mission on which his normal routines did not seem to apply. No, in this duty, Drake was charting new territory for himself both as a man and as a citizen of Draconia—the land he’d left behind fifteen years before.

  Perhaps this was the beginning of his true homecoming. Perhaps this was the act that would redeem him—if only in his own eyes—and allow him to return to his land and family with his head held high. Only time would tell. And such thoughts were mere idle speculation. The real task was retrieving Prince Wil safe and sound. Nothing else truly mattered. Only Wil’s safety.

  Jenet took to the air with three strong wingbeats and all other thoughts dropped from Drake’s mind as the ground dropped away beneath them. He’d often enjoyed flights with Jenet’s parents when he was small, but to be on Jenet’s back again was something that defied description. The sense of rightness, the feeling of belonging, was nearly overwhelming. As was the beauty of seeing the city—new and old—spread out before him. It was breathtaking.

  On one side the new Jinn settlement was growing. Rough planked buildings vied with colorful tents, flapping pennants in every color of the rainbow marking various clans or establishments. It was organized chaos of the most lovely design.

  On the other side of the river, over newly constructed footbridges, was the old city of Castleton. Sleeping at the foot of the castle mountain, Castleton was a study in lovely stone and wood architecture, combining the best designs of nature with the most attractive creations of man.

  And out beyond the city, the pasturelands and farmlands spread as far as the eye could see. Within moments they were away from the city and up higher than he’d ever flown before. He could just make out the mountains in the distance and the endless terrain over which they would fly to reach their goal. He was struck momentarily speechless, taking it all in.

  “You’ve gained weight since last we flew together, Drake.”

  Jenet’s voice in his mind pulled Drake from his reverie. “So have you, sweetheart, but in all the right places. Did I tell you yet how gorgeous you are?” Drake knew dragons—and women—well enough to know that females of all kinds loved compliments. And in Jenet’s case, he meant every single word. “I missed you so much.” He hadn’t meant to add that last bit, but the words slipped past his guard as he
admired the view from just under the low-hanging clouds.

  “I missed this, Drake. I missed flying with you all those years. Think how much we could have shared.” Jenet sighed a stream of thin smoke out behind them. “But they tell me not to dwell on the past. What’s done is done. What matters is that you’re with me now and we’re together.”

  Drake didn’t like the possessive tone in her words, but he was powerless to fight it. He knew Jenet was right, even if he did have to leave her again once this adventure was over. Perhaps she’d come to understand his reasons on this quest. Perhaps she’d learn first-hand how bad he’d be as a knight—how bad he’d be as her knight. And then, when it came time to leave, she wouldn’t be hurt. Only his heart would break this time.

  It was time to focus on the matter at hand. “Can you do a low pass over the place Wil was kidnapped? I want to see if we can follow their trail. If so, perhaps we can overtake them on the road.”

  “Good idea.” Jenet was silent a moment as she conferred with Nellin. “I’ve never been to the spot, but Nellin has and he’ll lead us there.”

  Chapter Nine

  As it turned out, Prince Wil had been kidnapped several hours from the capital city, well south and east from where they started. The dragons pushed ahead, stopping only once to drink from a lake and hunt from among the small herd kept nearby and clearly marked for dragon consumption. They would need their strength on this long journey.

  The sun was still strong in the sky when the dragons dropped down to do a quick skim over the site. Mace and Nellin took the lead now. They’d been trained in aerial reconnaissance, and Drake knew when to let an expert do their work. They made several low sweeps over the site, where it was obvious a serious scuffle had taken place. There was blood, and lots of it, dried now, into the pale dirt. Dragons and knights alike had bled here—Drake’s family.

  Fire burned in his veins as he took in the evidence of what had happened here. He recognized the deep red of dragon blood, mixed with the sandy soil. Lilla’s and Arlis’s blood. And Ren’s and Declan’s blood.