Winds from the North: An NA Epic Fantasy (Blood of the Dragon Book 3)

by Samantha Warren

Rul accepted and stopped, turning to Jase. “More?” His words were strained, but clear.

  “I am tempted to try the three, but I am more afraid of losing one of my men than having you lose. No, no more for now. Maybe we will try something different after I have spoken to Commander Aito.” He turned to his soldiers. “Thank you, gentlemen. You are dismissed.”

  As they walked back to the barracks, Rul rejoined Jase and Veni. The arrow was still sticking out of his shoulder and another pierced his bicep. The dead man reached up and ripped the arrow out of his arm. No blood flowed and he merely winced with the pain. When he couldn’t reach the arrow in his back, he turned to Veni for help.

  Her nose curled involuntarily, but she stepped up and took hold of the shaft. Taking a deep breath, she pressed a hand against him and yanked. The arrow came out easily, bringing bits of flesh with it. She fought back the bile rising in her throat and threw the arrow on the ground.

  “You did very well. Where did you learn to fight?” Jase addressed Rul directly, a look of admiration on his face.

  Rul’s face wrinkled as he concentrated, searching his memories. “I do not know.”

  “What do you mean you do not know?” The soldier looked to Veni, confusion on his face.

  “Most of his memories are gone. He remembers some things, but not much. He mentioned a quilt his mother made that used to lay on his bed, but he cannot remember any of his family or where his home was. We call him Rul, but that is not his birth name. He cannot remember what that was. He knows he died at the battle of Rona, but I’m not sure if he truly remembers that or if he just thinks he remembers because we told him. Apparently he remembers he fights best with a mace.”

  “Interesting. Does he remember which side he fought on in Rona?” Jase looked at the dead man very carefully, his eyes squinted.

  Rul paused momentarily, then shook his head. “No.”

  Jase smiled. “Very good. A clean slate. I think we can find a use for him. Let me discuss it with the commander and we will see where he will fit best.”

  He stopped for a moment, glancing at the mangled target dummies. “I am not sure I want your witch involved, though. She could be trouble.”

  Veni remained silent. She agreed completely, but she could not see a way to take Rivanna out of the equation. When Jase looked her way, she tried to communicate her thoughts via look alone. The curl of his lips told her that he understood.

  “I will take care of that, if necessary. In the meantime, I will be dealing with you as much as possible. I think you understand this man better and will be more effective when it comes to his continued training. That is, if you do not mind, of course.”

  “No, not at all.”

  “Very good. I will have a servant show you back to your rooms. You and the dead man have leave to come to the courtyard when you wish, but only when the witch is otherwise occupied. We do not want her roaming the castle unaccompanied.”

  “I understand completely.”

  “Where did he get that gash on his face? It looks fresh.”

  “Your soldiers, when they set upon us in the woods.”

  “My soldiers? And he did not rip them to shreds?”

  “No. He did not fight back.”

  “Why not?”

  “We told him not to.”

  “And he just stood there?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Jase nodded again. “Is there anything you need to be more comfortable in your room?”

  “No… well, maybe one thing.”

  “Yes?”

  “Rul seems to perk up when he is given food.”

  “Does he, now? Very interesting. I will see to it that he is fed. Anything else?”

  “No, sir. That is all.”

  Jase turned without a word and headed into the castle. Rul and Veni remained in the courtyard, enjoying the chilly air until a servant came to retrieve them. As they walked along the halls again, Veni desperately thought of an excuse for why they left Rivanna alone in the rooms and went with Jase.

  Chapter 13

  Rul’s first true test came a week later. He and Veni had been sneaking out while Rivanna slept to practice with his mace and the dummies. On occasion, Veni would act as a live opponent, but she had no experience in combat and did not offer much resistance. Rivanna often questioned their newfound friendship, noticing how close they had become. Commander Aito refused to see the old witch and her temper began to flare.

  “Don’t think I don’t notice the way you talk to me, girl!” Veni cowered in a corner during one of Rivanna’s maniacal tantrums. New welts along her cheeks burned an angry red and tears stained her face. Rul stood by the door, hands clenched. Veni had waved him away when Rivanna’s hand first flew at her face and he respected her wishes.

  A knock at the door stopped Rivanna’s next attack and she stormed over to yank the wooden plank open. “What?”

  The old woman had been expecting a servant, but it was Jase himself. Her shocked gasp brought a small smile to the girl’s face. Jase’s eyes narrowed as he saw Veni in the corner, but he held his tongue.

  “Come. We need to go.”

  “Where are we going?” Rivanna’s sickeningly sweet voice echoed through the small room.

  “You are not coming, witch. You are not to leave your room.”

  “What?” She was stunned into silence, but only briefly. “What do you mean I’m not going? If you are taking my girl and my creation, I am going with them. I brought them here. They are mine and mine alone. You do not control them.”

  Her face was bright red and her anger was palpable. Jase crossed his arms. “Are you quite done?”

  Rivanna opened her mouth to say more, but he cocked an eyebrow and silenced her easily. “Veni, Rul. Come, please.”

  Veni used the wall to push herself to her feet. Her legs wobbled and her hands shook, but she forced herself to stand tall and straight. As she made to follow Jase, she turned, beelining for her bed. Reaching underneath, she pulled the small cloth bundle she had brought with her to the castle and clutched it to her chest.

  Jase narrowed his eyes again, but said nothing. He stood in the door, blocking the witch from leaving as Veni and Rul slipped through. When they were in the hall, he shut the door behind him. A pair of soldiers stood on either side, fully armed.

  “She is not to come out under any circumstances, understood?” They both nodded and he turned to Veni. “Can she do magic without the stuff we took from her wagon?”

  “Some, but nothing extreme. She should not be able to break out or harm the men.”

  “Very good.”

  He walked down the hall, his plate boots clanking against the stone floor. Veni hurried after him, followed by Rul. Rul’s speed and cognitive abilities had increased over the last week with the addition of food. Rivanna had been irate when the servants started bringing a tray for him, but she could not go against Jase’s orders or she would suffer the wrath of Aito, so she settled for fuming and beating on Veni. Veni had plenty of scars to show for the years of abuse, and as they walked, she imagined a life without Rivanna. For the first time since she was picked up from that cold, windblown road, she dared to hope.

  “Where are we going?” Veni was terrified of receiving the same scorn Jase had shown Rivanna, but she desperately wanted to know what they were getting into.

  “There is a training village about a four days’ ride from here. They have been under our control, but now they have decided to rebel. You are going to help us convince them otherwise.”

  Veni chewed her lip. She had never been in a battle before and she did not know what she would do if confronted with that kind of danger. Jase must have sensed her concern, because he turned back to look at her as they descended a spiral staircase.

  “You will not be fighting. I am going to leave you with our younger soldiers on the outskirts. The dead man listens to you. I do not think he would appreciate us throwing you into a situation you have never prepared for.” Jase smiled and winked at the
girl, and she blushed and looked down at the steps. A small chuckle behind her let her know that Rul appreciated the man’s forethought.

  As they continued the rest of the way in silence, Veni eyed the gruff soldier who held the confidence of the most feared person in Layr. He was different from the man who had escorted them to their room that first day. That man had been hard and unyielding with a reputation for being cruel and lacking compassion. This man, while not kind, was understanding and showed concern for their well-being on occasion.

  He was several steps below her and with the curve of the stairs, she could examine his face. He was older, at least old enough to be her father. Scars crisscrossed his face in several places and wrinkles were forming at the corners of his eyes and lips. He kept his beard short and clean. He wore no symbol of marriage on his hands or throat as most men with wives did and she had not heard mention of his family.

  Jase glanced up, noticing her gaze, and the corner of his mouth turned up. It was not a smirk. She had seen many of those from him over the last week, and this definitely was not one. She was only a small child when her father died, but the one image she remembered of him was when he offered her that same smile. He lay in bed, and she knew he had been sick at the time. She sat beside him, holding his hand.

  Her mother had abandoned them a year before, when the sickness started to take him. Veni did her best, but she was too young. She had a little brother, barely two years of age when her mother left. The boy did not survive. Veni buried him in the backyard. She remembered that. But she could not remember where her home had been.

  When her father died, she collected her things and headed out to find her way in the world. They were trivial things; she knew that now. Toys and clothes, no food. She managed to survive for nearly a year on her own, but scavenging food from trash piles and begging in the streets only goes so far.

  “Veni?” The girl jumped at the gruff voice and the gentle hand on her arm. Jase was looking at her with concern. They had reached the bottom of the stairs and she realized they were standing still.

  She offered him a weak smile. “Sorry. I was daydreaming.”

  His lips puckered in an amused smirk. “I figured as much. You seem like a daydreamer.”

  Unsure whether to be offended, Veni gave him another smile. He led them through the castle to the outer courtyard where the stables were located. Most of his soldiers were already gathered and saddling their horses or loading their packs.

  A small, stocky horse was led over to Veni by a stable boy. He had saddled it with a thin, flat saddle and a pack was strapped to the back.

  “Can you ride?” She nodded at Jase. Rivanna often kicked her out of the wagon and made either walk or ride the horses. She typically chose the horse.

  “Can he?” Jase nodded at Rul.

  “I don’t know. I have never seen him on a horse. Rul, can you?”

  The big man shrugged—a jerky, odd gesture.

  Jase looked at the horse, then at Rul. “He can ride with you. Put the pack on his back and there should be room. The horse is strong enough. We used him for field work during the summer and he didn’t let us down.”

  As Jase went to retrieve his own horse, Veni inspected her mount. He was brown with black legs and had several scars along his flanks. Veni ran a hand over the dark stripes, feeling the creature’s pain.

  Rul untied the pack and Veni helped him secure it to his back. She unhooked the flap and shoved her bundle in, burying it deep within the supplies. After some searching, she found a wooden block and Rul used it to climb up onto the horse. He leaned over, offering her a hand. She smiled at him and took it and he hoisted her easily into the saddle in front of him. Lifting the reins, she steered the beast over to where Jase was mounting up.

  Veni blushed briefly as Rul slipped his arms loosely around her waist. She had never been touched like that by a man. She sternly reminded herself that he was more like a brother, and besides, he was dead. A relationship with a dead man could only end in trouble.

  “All set?” Jase sat high in his own ornately decorated cavalry gear. The saddle shone brightly, having been polished until it would hold no more oil. A large, tightly rolled pack was strapped to the saddle’s back and his swords swung in sheaths at his sides. The large horse shook its head and snorted, expressing its impatience.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Call me Jase, or captain. Only my men call me sir.”

  She nodded. “Yes, Jase.”

  The captain paraded his horse through the mounted soldiers, beckoning for Veni to follow. She kept pace with him and together they reached the gate. She could feel the eyes of all the men on her and it made her very uncomfortable until Rul gave her hips a gentle squeeze, which comforted her a bit.

  Jase turned, surveying the men as they fell into position. Several dozen armored soldiers were mounted on horses nearly as splendid as his. They arrayed themselves into three lines. Behind them, three wagons filled to the brim with supplies were followed up by another half dozen mounted soldiers. Though they were far away, Veni could see that the men at the back were unseasoned and young—several were even younger than she was. Since they were likely to be her guards during the actual battle, she hoped they were better prepared than they looked.

  “Fall out!” Jase’s voice echoed through the courtyard and he whirled around, his horse tossing its head in excitement. She spurred her stocky little mount and it kept pace with the behemoth next to it easily.

  As they trotted out through the gates with no fanfare, Veni felt a surge of excitement. She was fed, she was with her best friend, and she had an entire contingent of soldiers around her for protection. She was safe, and for the first time in her recent life, she was truly free of Rivanna.

  She had not thought of the witch the entire time they were preparing to leave. Turning her head, she looked for the window where she knew her bedroom was. A figure stood there, and even from such a distance Veni could feel the hatred rolling off the old woman’s puckered skin. She had told Jase that Rivanna could not perform substantial magic without her ingredients. But Veni really didn’t know. She had never seen the Gypsy try to do so.

  A small hand raised and fear shot through the girl’s veins. She knew the witch was mad, and she would reap her punishment when—if—Veni returned. Even so, Veni felt a chill roll over her, settling on her shoulders like a weighted apron. Rul and Jase seemed oblivious to the change, so Veni turned and ignored the uncomfortable feeling that followed her down the path. She wrote it off as irrational fear and told herself that Jase would protect her upon their return. Turning back to the road, she tried to enjoy her rare freedom.

  Chapter 14

  The trip to the village was uneventful. Rul took well to riding, so they traded places on occasion and she rode in back for a while. With her arms around his waist, she rested her head on his broad back and closed her eyes. The rhythm of the horse’s plodding sent her into a light sleep.

  She was on a wagon and it was rocking back and forth as the horse trotted along through the darkness. She was about ten years of age and had been with Rivanna for at least three years. She sat on the seat beside the old woman. Her hands were raw and bleeding from the cold and lack of proper clothing. The left sleeve of her sweater was torn and she could see a gash through the fabric.

  The day before, she had dropped a vial of frog liver oil, and as the glass shattered, it splashed across the clearing they were in. Unbeknownst to Veni, Rivanna had added ingredients to the oil and it began smoking when it came in contact with the decaying leaves. A fire started, spreading quickly through the dry forest. The girl and the old witch had to work quickly to rescue their belongings and the wagon, but the fire continued to grow. Veni did not know how much damage it did, but she had heard days later that a little boy playing in the woods had been trapped in the flames and burned to death.

  As she sat on the wagon bench in the cold, she put a hand over the wound on her arm. Rivanna had been angry, angrier than she had ev
er seen before, and her first reaction had been to grab the horse whip. The first lash, though painful, had been stopped by Veni’s sweater. The second and third tore through the wool and ripped into her skin. The little girl’s screams echoed off the trees and Rivanna was forced to drop the whip in order to cover her mouth. Much threatening, pleading, and cajoling was required to stifle the child’s cries. It was the first time Rivanna had hit her so viciously, but it was not the last.

  The wagon jerked and Veni awoke, taking stock of her surroundings. She was still on the back of the horse with Rul. A light snow had started to fall and Rul’s hair was covered in white flakes. She reached a hand up to brush him clean and touched the skin on the back of his neck. It was cool to the touch, as cool as the air around them. She shivered and withdrew her hand. He turned, a slightly confused look on his face, but relaxed when she smiled.

  Later that night they were sitting around the campfire with Captain Jase, eating bread and cheese. The older man had shot a rabbit earlier and was roasting it on a spit. When the meat was cooked, he tore a large chunk off and handed it to Veni, then gave another to Rul. The soldiers glared at the pair, uncomfortable around the undead man.

  Jase noticed Veni’s persistent glances toward the other men. “Ignore them. They are ignorant and afraid. The only time they’ve spent with your man is to fight him. They will see what he can do, and then they will either change their attitudes, or they won’t. You cannot change them.”

  Veni nodded. “I know. It’s just difficult.”

  “You have my promise that they will not bother you or Rul. You are both under my protection, and they still respect me enough for that to hold weight.”

  Veni looked at the captain. The tone is his voice was strange. “What do you mean ‘still’?”

  He grinned at her, though the grin did not reach his eyes. “Politics, my child. Nothing to be concerned about. We should get to sleep. Tomorrow, we reach the village.”

  Veni curled up by the fire, still thinking about the soldier’s coy words.