The Dragon Gods Box Set

by Resa Nelson

  Concern laced Njall’s voice. “Frayka, are you alright?”

  Still holding onto him tight, Frayka said, “Yes. Confused, but alright.” Feeling the warmth of his hands in hers, she didn’t want to let go. “Njall, do you know that someone in the Wulong Province is stealing babies from their families?”

  “Babies?” Njall frowned and rubbed his thumb against the back of Frayka’s hand. “No. Why would anyone do that?”

  “I didn’t know until now. GranGran told me it’s been happening, but no one has known why.” Frayka looked into Njall’s eyes and kept a firm grip on his hands. “My portent showed me a woman. I heard babies crying. Then she had a cup of blood, and the babies cried more. They sounded as if they were in great pain. As if they were being killed.”

  Njall blanched. “What do you think it means?”

  “What if the blood in the cup belongs to those babies?”

  Njall looked ill. “I don’t think I want to know what it means.”

  “You’re a powerful Northlander warrior,” Frayka said. “Be strong.” She paused to watch his face regain a bit of color, certain he would soon lose it again. “I saw her drink from the cup and rub the rest of it on her skin.”

  Njall gaped at her. But instead of becoming paler, anger now colored his face. “Who is this woman? Who did you see?”

  That’s my powerful and strong husband.

  Encouraged, Frayka said, “I don’t know. Her face was covered with hair. All I could see were her eyes. I know I’ve seen her before, but I can’t place her.”

  With a startled realization, Njall said, “Our child! What if our child is in danger?”

  “Frayka!” Ling Lu called out from a short distance away. She hurried toward the cage.

  Was it Ling Lu I saw in the portent?

  Before Njall could feel Frayka’s suspicion, she pulled her hands free and took a few steps toward the approaching Ling Lu.

  “Frayka!” Tears streaked Ling Lu’s face. “The empress has come. And she brought men with her. She demands to see you and your baby.”

  Njall spoke in Northlander to keep his conversation with Frayka private. “Was it this girl you saw in the portent? Is she the one?”

  Frayka peered into Ling’s eyes, noting that she had fewer eyelashes and thicker eyebrows than the woman in her portent. “No,” Frayka told Njall, also speaking in Northlander. “I think we can trust her.”

  Ling came closer, and her voice quivered when she spoke. “Your great-grandmother told me to fetch you at once. You can’t keep the empress waiting.”

  Switching to speak Far Eastern, Frayka said, “Where is my daughter?”

  Ling’s lower lip trembled. “In the house with your great-grandmother.”

  Frayka’s thoughts sped into a plan. “And where are the empress and her men?”

  “On the beach. They arrived just now.”

  “Ling, you must do exactly what I say,” Frayka said. “We’ll return to the house together. I’ll go on to meet the empress, but you will bring Dagby here and give her to my husband after setting him free.” Turning to Njall, Frayka said, “I know you will keep our daughter safe.”

  Njall nodded. “Of course, I will.”

  “Didn’t you hear me?” Ling Lu said. “The empress wants to see you and your baby, not just you.”

  “That’s not going to happen,” Frayka said. Walking forward to stand beside Ling, Frayka said, “Let’s go.”

  “But it’s against the law to defy royalty,” Ling protested.

  “It’s against the law to defy your father, and you had no problem doing that,” Frayka said. “You and your mother came to this island without his knowledge. If you don’t do as I say, I’ll tell the empress about you and your mother, and you’ll still be facing punishment for the crime you committed.”

  Ling hesitated as if torn between two horrible choices. “I don’t have the key to open the cage. One of the elders has it, and she’s with the empress.”

  It’s impossible to ask the elder for the key and then leave with it. The empress would either stop or follow me.

  “The baby will fit through the bars,” Frayka said. “If you can’t release Njall, then he can keep Dagby safe inside with him.”

  Instead of answering, Ling cast a worried look toward the village.

  “If you’re afraid,” Frayka said, “after you give our child to my husband, you can run up the mountain and tell the dragon goddess of fire that I ask for your protection.”

  “It’s true you talked to her?” Ling said. “Would she truly protect me?”

  “Yes.” Frayka didn’t know if Ling would be protected, but she had no use for Ling’s fear, especially since Frayka had already helped the girl with her own problems. Ling’s lack of obligation insulted Frayka. “But you must bring Dagby to Njall first. Do you promise?”

  Ling nodded. “Yes. I promise.”

  Satisfied with the girl’s response, Frayka said, “Then I shouldn’t keep the empress waiting.”

  CHAPTER 28

  Frayka stood behind the house and glanced back to Njall in the distance, waiting for Ling to bring Dagby to him.

  The cage will protect them both. No one will guess Dagby is there with Njall. Not after the fight we had last night.

  GranGran and TeaTree accompanied Frayka on her short walk to the beach where Empress Ti stood flanked by her favorite guard Jojen and the boy magician Asu Chu.

  The rest of the population of Seahorse Island rested on their knees before the empress.

  Frayka bowed, noting that GranGran and TeaTree did likewise. “Empress Ti.”

  The empress stood tall and proud. “I told Ling Lu to bring you and your child. I want to congratulate you on becoming a mother.”

  “I’m honored by your kind congratulations,” Frayka said. “But infants spend most of their time sleeping, and I couldn’t bear to wake my daughter. I’m sure you understand.”

  The empress’s eyes narrowed, and she looked unconvinced. “And Ling Lu? Where is she?”

  “Watching over my child while I have the pleasure to greet you,” Frayka said. “I told Ling to bring my daughter to you the moment she wakes up.”

  The empress walked up to GranGran and took the cane out of the old woman’s hands. “I need to see the child,” Empress Ti said, “now.”

  Frayka considered inviting the empress to their home but thought better of it. The entire village stood between the beach and the cage where Njall kept Dagby—right now, neither the empress nor her men could see it.

  I have to keep Ti here. I have to keep her on the beach.

  “My child is sleeping,” Frayka said. “You can see her when she wakes.”

  A wave of murmurs ran through the village women, still kneeling before the empress.

  Empress Ti stepped away and spun GranGran’s cane in her hands as if in threat. “You may be my distant cousin, but that doesn’t protect you from the law. I will give you one more chance to bring the child to me. If you refuse, I will charge you with the crime of Disobedience.”

  “Disobedience?” Frayka snorted. “I know you intercepted messages between GranGran and Wendill. How dare you tell such ridiculous lies about me? How dare you threaten my marriage with your lies?” Frayka rested her hand on the pommel of the dagger tucked under her belt. “I almost lost my husband because of you.”

  “You’re the one telling lies,” Ti said as she stepped closer. To all those surrounding them, Ti shouted, “Never trust a Northlander—even when she looks like one of us. She isn’t!”

  Incensed, Frayka shouted, “You’re my cousin! We come from the same family! How can you hurt your own family?”

  “We’re not family,” Ti said, coming even closer. “I have the purest blood in the Po Dynasty. You’re nothing but a mongrel.”

  As Ti approached, Frayka looked at her face.

  Her eyes! I recognize them from the portent.

  Frayka pointed at the empress. “You’re the one responsible for the missing infants in
the Wulong Province!”

  Empress Ti halted with a startled look. She remained quiet for a few moments as if not knowing how to respond.

  Asu Chu stepped up next to the side of the empress. “How dare you accuse the empress!”

  Frayka imagined what Empress Ti would look like if she were drenched and her hair fell over her face.

  It’s her. Empress Ti is the woman I saw in my portent. She’s the one who drank the blood and rubbed it on her skin.

  Ignoring Asu Chu, Frayka continued. Her body tensed with distress. “Why do you do it, Empress? Why do you have infants taken from their families? Are you killing them? Why do you need their blood?”

  GranGran stood on her feet, followed by TeaTree. “Is it true, Empress Ti?”

  “The Empress needs the blood to live!” Asu Chu blurted. “How dare you question her?”

  Frayka noted how Ti’s expression turned to fury when she turned and glared at Asu Chu. Anger boiled in Frayka’s belly. “It’s true! He just admitted she’s a murderess!” Frayka wrapped her trembling hand around the grip of her dagger, still resting under her belt. “If you touch my child, I will slice you open and gut you like a fish.”

  “The boy lives in his own world of fantasy,” Empress Ti said to the startled women surrounding her. She stood her ground even though her face paled. Her knuckles whitened as she tightened her grip on the cane. “He speaks nonsense.”

  Asu Chu’s gaze darted in all directions, and he appeared confused. “But Empress Ti, your cures won’t last much longer. Look—your legs shake even now!”

  Frayka took a closer look at the empress.

  Asu Chu is right. Her legs look wobbly. What would cause such a thing?

  “Empress Ti,” GranGran said. “Did you give the water I delivered to you from the Fountain of Immortality to your step-sister? Or did you drink it yourself?”

  Empress Ti’s face flushed with rage. “How dare you question me?” Turning to Jojen, she said, “Seize the old woman!”

  Before Jojen could do so, the sound of a crying baby filled the air.

  The hope on Empress Ti’s face made Frayka’s stomach churn.

  “I have the child,” Ling Lu said. She walked from the village holding Dagby in her arms. Ling Lu circumnavigated the population of Seahorse Island still kneeling before the empress.

  “No!” Frayka shouted. She placed herself in front of the empress and held her arms wide. “Stay away, Ling!”

  Ti wrapped a firm hand around Frayka’s wrist. To Jojen, Ti said, “Forget the old woman. Take this one under arrest!”

  Seeing the empress’s favorite guard walk toward them, Frayka looked him directly in the eye. “She’s been stealing and murdering babies, Jojen. Did you know that?”

  Jojen hesitated.

  He doesn’t know!

  “It’s true,” Frayka said, swelling with hope. “Dozens of babies are missing. Maybe hundreds by now. Believe me when I say she’s a murderess!”

  “Jojen!” Empress Ti said. “Pay her no mind. She’s broken the law. Now she tries to avoid punishment. Take her!”

  “My great-granddaughter speaks the truth,” GranGran said.

  “Think of your own children,” Frayka shouted at Jojen. “They could be next!”

  Jojen froze in place.

  Ling Lu came closer with Dagby fussing in her arms. “Empress?”

  “Help me!” Frayka called out to the hundreds of kneeling women of Seahorse Island. “If you all stand up, we can defeat her together!”

  All of the kneeling women looked down, angering Frayka.

  How sad to be so cowardly. How can women like that fail to help? How can such a woman face herself every day?

  Frayka dismissed her thoughts about the kneeling women and turned her attention elsewhere.

  Withdrawing her dagger, Frayka broke free of Empress Ti’s grip and faced her.

  Backing away quickly, Ti swung the cane in diagonal cuts in front of her body, making it impossible for Frayka to get close.

  Frayka circled Ti, emboldened by the delicious feel of her fingers curled around the hilt of her dagger. Although she favored her short weapon, Frayka knew she had to find a way to get close before she could use it. She couldn’t allow Ti to keep her at arm’s length.

  With a smile of inspiration, Frayka trotted around Ti in a circle, forcing the empress to spin in place.

  I’ll make her dizzy!

  Ti continued making diagonal cuts, until she appeared to realize she couldn’t control the cane while spinning. Ti lunged at Frayka with the cane only to stumble.

  Frayka sprang forward with her dagger pointed at Ti’s throat.

  The empress regained her footing in time to step aside and swing the cane in the air, just like she’d learned from GranGran.

  Frayka waited until the cane had swept diagonally through the air and ended its arc near the feet of the empress. Before Ti could reverse the cane’s momentum, Frayka stepped close with her dagger pointed at the empress’s throat.

  Ti shrieked and ducked down while throwing the cane’s momentum at Frayka’s feet.

  Frayka backed away from the swinging cane, and lunged at Ti again.

  Before Ti could gain control of the cane’s downward momentum, Frayka threw herself at the empress and knocked her to the ground. Pinning Ti down with her weight, Frayka raised her dagger, ready to make good on her promise to gut the empress.

  Ti’s eyes widened with terror.

  In that moment, Frayka saw herself in Ti’s eyes. Frayka saw what she might have become if she’d been born in Zangcheen instead of the Northlands. She understood the depth of Ti’s fears and the height of her anxiety.

  If I’d been an Imperial Daughter like Ti, I might have turned out like her.

  But that doesn’t excuse what she’s done.

  Frayka heard Asu Chu cry out and felt desperate hands latch onto her shoulders and wrestle her off of Ti.

  Asu Chu then struck Frayka’s weapon arm with such force that it knocked the dagger away, and he latched onto that arm. He wrenched her away toward the incoming tide.

  Frayka wrestled to rid herself of the boy, but his strength was greater than she expected. Her ankle turned, and she fell into the shallow waves.

  Asu Chu let go and hovered next to Frayka.

  Empress Ti turned toward Ling Lu with open arms, ready to take Dagby.

  The cold of the ocean water snapped Frayka’s thoughts into focus. She remembered what Taddeo, the dragon god of water, told her in her portent.

  When the time is right to request my help, you will know. And when that time comes, I will help.

  Looking at the ocean, Frayka shouted, “Taddeo! Open the Gate of Water!”

  In the shallow tide, the gate made of pearls emerged, a waterfall cascading from its top.

  Frayka spun with her feet facing Asu Chu and delivered a hard kick upward to his groin. Asu Chu screamed and crumpled onto the sand.

  At the same time, Empress Ti took Dagby from Ling Lu.

  Frayka scrambled to her feet and raced toward them while GranGran approached from the other side.

  GranGran caught the empress’s attention. “Empress Ti, please reconsider.”

  Frayka clamped her hand around Empress Ti’s arm.

  “No!” Empress Ti cried. “Jojen! Do as you’re told!”

  The guard roused himself and took a step forward but then hesitated again.

  “GranGran,” Frayka said, “take her now!”

  GranGran took a swift step and swooped Dagby into her own arms while Frayka dragged Empress Ti toward the tide, past the still screaming Asu Chu, and then through the Gate of Water.

  CHAPTER 29

  On the other side of the Gate of Water, Frayka entered the realm of the dragon god of water with Empress Ti in tow. Frayka kept a tight grip on the girl’s wrist, determined to keep control.

  Frayka walked into an enormous cavern carved with winding stairways and passages.

  But she didn’t see Taddeo or any of th
e other dragon gods.

  “Taddeo!” Frayka shouted. “Fiera! Wendill! Kikita! I need you now!”

  The air around Frayka and Ti shimmered.

  The dragon god of earth appeared, soon followed by the dragon goddess of air.

  “Oh,” Kikita said in surprise. “You brought royalty with you.”

  To Wendill, Frayka said, “This empress has been stealing and killing babies for their blood. I think she drinks and bathes in it.”

  Fiera flickered into form and laughed. “Let the mortals cannibalize each other! What fun that would be.”

  Mist peeled from the cavern walls and materialized into Taddeo. “Don’t be so heartless, Fiera. Maybe the empress has good reason to murder her subjects.”

  The waterfall splashed when GranGran walked through it and the Gate of Water. “I can tell you what happened,” she said, her arms now empty. Pointing at the goddess of air, GranGran said, “I asked Kikita for a cup of water from the Fountain of Immortality. Intended for an ailing daughter of Emperor Po.”

  Fiera rolled her eyes. “How gullible.”

  “Kikita is soft hearted,” Wendill said. “Nothing wrong with that.”

  Fiera snorted with disgust.

  GranGran continued while she walked to join Frayka’s side. “But the empress—who was then the Imperial Daughter—failed to deliver the water to her ailing step-sister. She drank it instead.”

  “Oh,” Kikita said. “That’s a problem.”

  Fiera laughed again. “Not if the girl accepts the consequences.”

  Empress Ti trembled under Frayka’s grip. “I don’t understand,” she whispered. “Who are these people? Where are we?”

  Fiera’s eyes turned into flames. “What kind of empress fails to recognize her own gods?”

  Ti tried to run back toward the gate, but Frayka held on tight.

  Taddeo waved his hand, and the waterfall covering the gate turned to solid stone.

  “He’s locked the gate,” Frayka said. She let go of Ti. “You can’t go back.”

  Ti cried out in agony. Her legs wobbled so much that they appeared to turn to jelly. She crumpled to the ground.

  Fiera took a step toward her and spoke with mockery in her voice. “Does it feel like all your teeth are coming loose? Is there a deepening ache in them as well as your bones?”