by T. J. Klune
Then it was over.
I opened my eyes, aftershocks dancing across my vision.
“Whoa,” Kevin said. He blinked and shook his head. “I felt everything. The power. The strength. And I can hear the desert dragon now. Do you know what this means? My body is a godsdamned vessel to the gods. Bow before meh, hoomanz. Dis is yer god spakin. I thou commandeth you to do whatever I say for all time! Eth!”
“Well, fuck,” I said succinctly.
Chapter 16: Sam Go Boom
IT WAS early morning. The others still slept, though they’d be waking soon as we had a walk ahead of us. I slipped out of the room, leaving Ryan asleep in our bed. He’d be sore when he woke up, given how hard I’d fucked him against the wall the night before. He’d been almost gagging for it, anxious to get to the makeup sex so we could put the fight behind us. His eyes had gone glassy when I’d pushed him to his knees and come all over his neck and chest. We felt better after, the both of us. Like we were on the same page again. That no matter what Vadoma had said, no matter what she’d announced to everyone else, he knew his place with me. And I’d whispered those words in his ear while I fucked him, telling him there was no one else, that there would be no one else, because he was mine and I was his.
He slept deeply.
I didn’t.
The morning air was cool. Light was beginning to dawn in the east. Desert birds called out from the trees quietly. There was barely any movement in Mashallaha as I left Vadoma’s and walked along the pathways, trying to find a hidden corner to have some privacy. I passed few others, and either they ignored me or eyed me warily as they hurried away. It didn’t matter. I didn’t care what they thought of me, not anymore. The color of my skin wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t going to do anything with Ruv. I’d gone against what their phuro had decreed. They were not pleased with me. They doubted me. I didn’t have anything to prove to them, but they’d see. When all was said and done.
Not that it mattered. I had other things on my mind.
I found a wooden path that led to a dock overlooking the lake. The water was clear, reflecting the fading night sky above. I sat on the edge of the dock, legs hanging over. My toes trailed along the surface, ripples expanding in steady beats.
I sighed and pulled the summoning crystal from my pocket. For the briefest of moments, I considered chucking it into the lake but knew I’d regret it at some point. Instead, I cupped it in my hands and thought of Morgan, Morgan, Morgan. There was a tug in my head, like a hook in my brain, and it pulled. A small light burst deep in the crystal like a shooting star.
Then, a single word.
“Sam.”
And it was said with such relief that I had to blink the burn away. Not because of anything remotely close to anger, but because I felt the same. Relieved. Relieved to hear my mentor’s voice, even if it was just the one word. We’d been apart for longer periods of time. But we’d never gone this long without talking.
I was still mad at him. But for now, it was in the background.
“Hey,” I said roughly.
“It’s early.”
“Yeah, sorry.”
“No, it’s okay,” Morgan said. “I wasn’t asleep.”
“Why?”
He chuckled dryly. “I guess you can say I’ve got a lot on my mind.”
“Yeah. No, I get that.”
“How are you?”
“Um. Okay? I think. Vadoma announced in front of everyone that Ruv’s my cornerstone. So. You know. There’s that.”
“Is she still alive?”
I snorted.
“I’m actually being serious,” he said.
I gaped at the crystal. “I wouldn’t murder her for that.”
I could hear the smile in his voice. “I wasn’t talking about you.”
“Ryan didn’t kill her.”
“Did he want to?”
“Yeah, but I boned him so he wouldn’t go after his sword.”
Morgan sighed. “Of course you did.”
“Sharing is caring, Morgan. Not that you would know anything about that.” I winced as soon as the words came out. “Dammit. I’m sorry. That’s not what—”
“I deserve that,” he said. “Probably.”
“Maybe.”
“Why now?”
“What?”
“Why are you calling me now?”
“Oh. Um. The star dragon sort of possessed Kevin last night? And said stuff? And now we’re going after the desert dragon today and I don’t know what’s going to happen and I just… I just—”
“I’m glad to hear your voice too.”
I deflated. “Yeah?”
“Yes, Sam. Always.”
“I’m still angry with you,” I said. “Really, really angry. And it’s probably going to take a long time for me to get over it.”
“But you will.” It wasn’t a question.
“But I will.” Because I would.
“Good. You’ll do fine.”
“But what if I don’t? Morgan, I don’t even know what I’m doing. I’m going in blind to face a dragon I’ve never seen before and to what…? Gather it somehow? What does that even mean?”
“You’ve done it once before,” he reminded me.
“And if you’ll recall, I got knocked through a building for it!”
He scoffed. “I thought it was just a shed?”
“Semantics,” I growled at him.
“I’m afraid I don’t know what to tell you, Sam. We’ve never been in this position before because there has never been anyone quite like you.”
“Stupid prophecies,” I grumbled. “Why do they always have to be so vague?”
“Because you’ve been through so many prophecies before.”
“Har, har.”
“Sam.”
“What?”
“You know I believe in you, right?”
“Ugh. Really? That’s so lame.” I kicked at the water. “Yeah?”
“More than anyone else,” he said softly. “Because I know your heart, Sam of Wilds. I’ve seen the way it beats, how it’s been lightning-struck. And I know you’re angry with me, and you have every right to be, but one thing I need you to know above all else. I would have found you, prophecy or not, because you and I are tied. Always.”
“You’re a jerk,” I said with a sniff. “I’m going to give you such a hug when I get back.”
“Only you can make an act of affection sound like a threat.”
“It’s part of my charm.”
“You’re scared. It’s why you called.”
“Yeah,” I said, looking at the light in the horizon. “I’m scared.”
“You’ll do fine.”
“I know. I just needed to hear it. But if….”
“If?”
“If I’m not fine, will you… will you tell Mom and Dad I love them?”
He was quiet for a moment. Then, “Yes, Sam. I will. But you’ll be able to tell them yourself soon enough.”
“Okay. Um. Anything?” About Myrin was what I couldn’t say.
“No,” Morgan said. “Nothing.”
And I didn’t believe him.
“RUV KNOWS the way,” Vadoma said as we stood outside Mashallaha later that morning. The sun was at our backs, as we would be traveling farther into the desert. “He will guide you. Keep you safe. Take you to the desert dragon.”
“Yeah,” Ryan said. “Except I think I’ll do just fine keeping Sam safe.” I shot him a look that had him fumbling. “Or we’ll keep each other safe, that works too, which is exactly what I meant in the first place.”
“You could just stay here,” Vadoma suggested. “I don’t see the need for why a knight would have to go any farther. You stay here with Vadoma. I bake you cookies. You like cookies? Yes. You like cookies.” She glanced balefully at Gary. “You should also stay. But no cookies for you. You get hay from the barn. Because you’re an animal.”
“Hate you too, bitch,” Gary muttered under his breath.
“In fact, Ruv will guide Sam with the dragon,” Vadoma said. “And nothing more will happen, of course. Like coupling or gazing into each other’s eyes and realizing that they are meant to be.” She started swaying, covering her eyes with a gnarled hand. “Oooh, I am having a vision! A dire, dire vision. It says that you should listen to Vadoma! I am the drabarni, the seer. You will perish if you leave! Oooh.”
“Wow,” I said. “You’re just… terrible. Like… awful, man. What the hell. How are we even related?”
She dropped her hand and glared at me.
I shrugged. “Pretty much true. Not even sorry, dude.”
“Sam not go without us,” Tiggy said. “If I stay here, Tiggy smash everything.”
“He will too,” I said. “You ever hear of Lartin the Dark Leaf? Oh man. May he rest in pieces.”
“You mean rest in peace,” Ruv said.
I shook my head slowly. “No. I don’t. He was in literal pieces by the time Tiggy was done with him.”
Tiggy growled just to prove my point. It was awesome when Vadoma and Ruv both flinched.
“I, too, don’t want to stay here any longer,” Gary said to Vadoma, flipping his mane. “You dress immaculately, but everything else about you makes me wish I had my horn back so I could stab your face. No offense. Actually, I take that back. All the offense. Heaps of offense. Just all of it over your beady little eyes.”
“And everyone knows I have to go,” Kevin said. “Since this is essentially all about me. I mean, raise your hand if you’ve been possessed by a star dragon lately.” He raised his claws and looked around. “No? Anyone else? Oh, well, would you look at that. Just me! Kevin! The Beast from the East! Do you know how much gold I’m going to get for this? I anticipate a lot. Just so you all know.”
“Maybe Ruv should stay here,” Ryan said. “We don’t actually need him. Just point us in the right direction. I don’t know if you know this, but I have a sword. It’s been said by many people that I look like I know what I’m doing. It’s kind of my thing. Dashing and immaculate, they call me. It was even in the papers.”
“Yeah, babe, you tell them.” Sometimes Ryan looked stupid with his sword. Most men did. But I didn’t say anything when he was trying to be intimidating like the rest of us.
Vadoma shook her head. “You’ll need him. For the sand mermaids.”
I blinked at her. “I’m sorry. We’ll need him for the what, now?”
She turned and started walking back toward Mashallaha. “Don’t die,” she called over her shoulder. “I’m sure it would be very sad.”
“We’ll need him for the what, now?” I shouted after her.
But since she sucked, she didn’t even acknowledge me.
“Shall we?” Ruv asked, cool and calm as ever.
“I hate this place so fucking much,” I muttered.
A FEW days later, I was ready to murder everyone.
“I spy with my little eye something that is sand!”
“Is it sand?”
“It is. Tiggy, dear, you are so good at this game. Sam, yoo-hoo, Sam. Did you hear that? Tiggy is so good at this game.”
“I heard you, Gary,” I said, pulling the hood tighter around my face. “We all heard you. We’ve been hearing you for the last two hours.”
“Well, if you’ve been listening, one would think you would have tried to guess by now, wouldn’t you? Bah. You don’t know how to play travel games, you big sore loser. Go brood with your broody face somewhere else. Tiggy! Let’s go again. I spy with my little eye, something that is… sand dunes.”
“Is it… sand dunes?”
“Oh my gods,” I said.
“Is he ever going to figure it out?” Ryan asked, trudging along beside me.
“If he hasn’t by now, I’m not holding my breath about it. Maybe we’ll get lucky and find a cliff and then he’ll fall off that cliff and I’ll never have to hear him again.”
Ryan bumped his shoulder against mine. It was sweaty and gross and pretty awesome. “You’d be devastated.”
“Not hardly.”
“A little devastated.”
“Barely.”
“You got a plan?”
“For?”
He rolled his eyes. “The whole dragon thing.”
“Ah. That. Sure I’ve got a plan.”
“Good,” he said, sounding relieved. “You had me worried there for a little bit.”
“My plan is to wing it.”
Ryan sighed. “Godsdammit.”
“Watch your mouth, Knight Commander.”
“Or what?”
“Or I’ll have to spank it with my dick.”
He tripped and almost fell. It was glorious.
I laughed at him. He blushed and muttered vague threats in my direction.
We walked on.
Kevin and Ruv were ahead of us, the dragon’s tail dragging behind him and leaving long grooves for us to walk on. Ruv had a small wooden board attached to the pack on his back with black hinges on the top and bottom. There was a thick cloth folded against the sides. I hadn’t asked what it was for, but I was curious about it. I didn’t know if it was some kind of weapon we could use against the desert dragon or some form of protection from whatever the hell sand mermaids were.
I probably should drill him for information while I had the chance.
“Keep an eye on the idiots,” I muttered to Ryan. “I gotta go talk to Ruv.”
“You act like they’ll wander off if we look away,” Ryan said, squinting against the sun. “Wait. As soon as I said it, I realized they would wander off if we looked away. Got it. Oh, and one more thing.” He grabbed me by the back of the neck and pulled me in, kissing me, hard and filthy. His tongue was against mine, and I felt his teeth scrape on my lips. He rolled his hips once, twice, and then pushed me away. I blinked slowly at him. He grinned that smug grin that I hated and adored. “That’s better.”
“Guh,” I said.
“Exactly. Go get ’em, champ.” He smacked my ass hard and then turned toward Gary and Tiggy. “Gary! I am going to explain this game to you one more time….”
Have you ever tried to walk through a desert with half a hard-on in your pants?
It sucks.
“Stupid sexy knights,” I muttered as I hurried to catch up with Kevin and Ruv, adjusting myself in the process. “With their stupid sexy everything.”
“Who’s sexy now?” Kevin asked, looking back at me, eyes narrowing as he saw me randomly groping myself. “Are you checking me out again, Sam? From the back, even. See something you like, sailor? Do you want to dock your ship into my port?”
“Whyyyy,” I moaned, trying to get that image out of my head. “Do you have to do that?”
“Yes,” Kevin said. “Obviously.”
“Whatever. I need to have a chat with our good friend Ruv here.”
“Do I need to make myself scarce?” Kevin asked, but he sounded like that was the last thing he wanted to do. It was good to know he didn’t trust Ruv either.
“Actually, I think you should stay. Because this probably concerns you too.”
“Ah,” Kevin said. “The whole thing where I’m the chosen one and will save the world and be given much treasure as a thank-you. Got it.”
I sighed. “Sure. Why not.”
“You are an odd mix,” Ruv said, sounding amused.
“How’s that now?”
“You. The dragon. The unicorn and the giant. The knight. The gods must have a sense of humor if they have put the fate of the world on your shoulders.”
“I don’t know if you’re complimenting us or insulting us,” I said slowly. “If it’s an insult, fuck you. If not, thanks, that’s a very nice thing to say.”
His smile widened. “She didn’t expect you to be as you are.”
“Vadoma?”
“Yes. And I think it threw her off.”
“She thought I was going to fall in line and do whatever she said.”
“You’re here, aren’t you?”
&
nbsp; And that—dammit. “It wasn’t her.”
He arched an eyebrow at me.
“It wasn’t just her,” I amended. “It was… everything else.”
“What she showed you,” he said.
“Yeah, I guess.” And a thought struck me again, one that I’d let stew in the back of my mind. “Of course, she could have just showed me what she wanted me to see. Magic is manipulation, after all.”
“Perhaps,” Ruv said. “After all, she would want the most powerful wizard in an age doing her bidding, don’t you think?”
“That doesn’t really make me feel any better.”
“I didn’t know it was supposed to.”
I frowned at him. “The whole enigmatic thing you’ve got going on? Stop it. It’s annoying, and I don’t give two shits about it.”
He laughed. “Comes with being the Wolf to the phuro.”
“Being groomed doesn’t mean you get to act like a mysterious dick.”
There was a flash of something on his face that told me I was treading on dangerous ground. “I wasn’t groomed,” he said tightly. “I was chosen because of who I am. I didn’t need to change to fit others’ opinions of me. I’m not you, Sam.”
Ouch. And maybe deserved. But still. “No. You’re not me. And I’m not you.”
He shrugged. “I noticed.”
“The sexual tension just drips between the two of you,” Kevin breathed. “This is like my own private erotic show. I don’t have any money, but will you take requests? And if so, what are your hard limits? How do you feel about object insertion?”
“Against,” I said at the same time that Ruv said, “Depends on the object.”
I gaped at him.
Kevin purred. “I like the desert.”
“How did we even get here?” I asked. “And why do I always end up asking myself that?” I shook my head. “Stop distracting me. I am here for a very specific reason.”
“And what would that be?” Ruv asked.
“The dragon. Vadoma said you were an expert in it.”
He hesitated. Barely, but it was there. “Expert might be… a misnomer.”