“Horrors in which I’m sure you had no part.” Markus crossed his arms and leaned against one of the pillars.
Havard smirked, taking on the tone of a father explaining simple matters to a young child. “I must confess I don’t know what you mean, your majesty. Though I applaud your take on suspecting all around you. We must be ever vigilant and consider all possibilities, no matter how ridiculous, mustn’t we?”
Eivonne snorted. “Surely you don’t think Havard would be able to control a dragon, Markus? You know better than most that none have accomplished such a feat.”
Markus shrugged. “Just because it hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean it’s impossible. I was born common and am now king , aren’t I? Of course, it might be easier if the person who did manage to control a dragon were, say, part reptile themselves, no?”
Havard’s black eyes glinted, but the anger soon faded into a slippery grin. “Such ideas. It’s no wonder her late highness found you amusing, my lord.”
Eivonne pursed her lips. “Watch yourself when you speak of the deceased, Havard. I know neither of you like each other, so you won’t have to put up with the other’s company for long. Markus, I believe you have a hunt to prepare for. Havard, I’m glad you answered my summons. I could use someone to give me a leg up among the Council, perhaps some insight into my sister’s projects before…”
“Don’t dwell on it, Princess. The news of Adrienne’s untimely departure from this world pains us all, but I couldn’t imagine how much it tortures you.”
Markus watched Havard step in to comfort Eivonne as she wept, stroking her hair and muttering to her. He narrowed his eyes, debating whether to leave. The dragon did pose an immediate threat to the people, but sometimes he wondered if the greater danger lay in things and people they trusted rather than what they knew to be perilous.
Something didn’t add up with Havard, either. He’d been the last Council member to see Adrienne and the first to see Eivonne. It had to be more than coincidence. Adrienne had never liked him, he knew that much. How many times had he stepped in to prevent too much unnecessary and unwanted interaction between the two ?
Of course, the man might be a nuisance, but the obvious suspect wasn’t always the true perpetrator. Markus sighed as he watched Eivonne cry. He’d done it again. Letting his logical side overlook the pain of those for whom he cared.
He placed a hand on Eivonne’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Ivy. I can send a few knights out instead. You should take some time to yourself, process everything. I know this isn’t easy.”
Eivonne sniffed, regaining her composure and opening her mouth to reply, when metallic footsteps clanked against the stone floors of the entryway. Spears lowered once more and the messenger almost impaled himself upon them in his haste.
“My liege! My liege, we’ve found the dragon! A farmer reported it landing near the outer village.”
Markus stepped forward. “Anyone injured?”
“Not that have been reported, sire. It disappeared into the desert . We found the landing sight, but it seems to have… vanished, sir.”
That sounded about right. An idea formed as old knowledge awoke. “Question the folk surrounding the area. See if anyone new has moved in or if someone has been behaving strangely.” The soldier bowed and clanked out of the throne room. Markus turned to his sister-in-law. “I’d forgotten dragons usually bond to a person in their adolescence.”
Eivonne lifted a brow. “What a strange instinct.”
He shrugged. “No one knows why. The people they bond to have never told us and no, they still have no control over the animals. Some kind of cult secret, I should think.”
Eivonne eased into the throne, though she looked uncomfortable in it, and checked to see Markus’ reaction. He smiled at her in an attempt of reassurance. Havard smirked. “You don’t think this… cult… ordered Adrienne’s death, do you?”
He bit his lip. “I don’t know.”
Havard scoffed. “There’s only one way to find out, don’t you think, your highness?”
Markus sighed. As much as it made him grind his teeth, the politician was right. “Sorry, Ivy. I’m going to have to go myself. I know these people best and if there is a valid threat to the throne, we need to uproot it before it gets out of hand. A cult of bonded soldiers could do a lot of damage.”
Eivonne nodded. “We do what we have to. I’ll see you when you return, but Markus-” He turned back to her. “Make sure you return. I’ve already lost a sister. I’d rather not lose a brother as well.”
He nodded, glancing at a too-happy Havard for a moment before marching toward the great doors. He caught the eye of one of the guards, not Gaius, and beckoned him to follow.
“Double security around the princess and keep an eye on the Council.”
The guard frowned. “Sir?”
“Just a precaution, until the threat is neutralized. You understand.”
The guard nodded and Markus continued down the corridor. This whole situation reeked of conspiracy , but from whence the source of the odor came, he couldn’t decide. Politics had been Adrienne’s forte, and something told him he’d regret not honing those skills himself .
PART IV
A dry breeze blew across the sandy road as Markus rode into the village at last, grateful that the sun had begun to set. Even after the week-long ride, the world still seemed so small without Adrienne. He dismounted from his stallion and led the animal toward the inn at the center of town. The horse nuzzled his pocket and Markus found himself unable to breathe for a moment. It had done that every night regardless of not getting the typical snack from Adrienne, but the reminder still felt like a bag of bricks had slammed him against the chest.
She’d loved her horses as if they were her children. What Markus saw as only a mode of transportation, she considered her most valuable treasure. After himself, of course… maybe.
He waved the horse away and it snorted in disgust, twitching its tail.
The Inn’s stable hand took the stallion’s reins with a bow. Markus hesitated for a moment before stopping the lad. “Give him a treat or two. He’s earned it.”
He ensured the road stayed clear before bringing out his dagger and carving a single, curved line into the threshold, nodding to himself in satisfaction. That would get the attention of the cultists or his name wasn’t Markus Giles.
“Oh for- would ye tell me when ye people want ta meet? I just had me doorway replaced last harvest !”
Markus looked up to the full, ruddy face of the woman he assumed was the innkeeper. “Uh… Sorry. They told me-”
“I dun care what they told ye! If’n they told ye ta jump from Fledgling Peak for a meet, would ye? Ach. Nevermind. Ye prolly would if’n it meant seein’ one o’ them bats up close. Idiot outsiders. Here. Git inside afore ye deface anymore o’ mine property, eh? We already have a fledge doin’ ‘nough o’ that a’ready.”
The innkeeper yanked Markus into the building and sat him down at a table. “I’d rather have the corner…”
“Oh ye would, would ye? Tough luck, love. Ye either deface mine property or git the table ye want. Can’t have it both ways. Sit down an’ tell me what yer wantin’ whilst ye wait. Shouldn’t be too long afore them robes git here.”
Markus frowned. “You mentioned a fledge? You have an adolescent dragon in the flock?”
The innkeeper sighed, looking around her dining area as if wishing there were anyone else to talk to. “Yes. An adolescent dragon. Yes, it’s been burnin’ th’ place ta charcoal. No, it don’t happen very off’n, but it ain’t unheard of in these parts. No, I dunno why they like it here s’much. The Drake Cult ’ll hann’le ever’thin’. We ain’t worried a mite.”
“Thank you, Agniss. We’ll take it from here.”
Markus blinked as the innkeeper huffed at the hooded figure behind her and marched away from the conversation. By the way the newcomer had every inch of his body covered, his face obscured by a hood, he knew he spoke to a member of the
dragon cult. The robes were more ornate than he recalled, however. Perhaps this one had a higher ranking in thei r hierarchy ?
Markus held out a hand. “I’m-”
“I know.”
“I’m here to-”
“I know.”
“How-”
“Follow me.”
Markus frowned, but stood and followed the cultist through the inn and out a back door. The sun no longer held any power over the sky and the stars danced in celebration of their liberty. Crickets sang in the tall, dry grass and the smell of dust and horses permeated the cool breeze that wafted through.
“I do not think it good that you are here, King Markus, but I understand why you came. This fledge has done great damage. Her power scares even some of our most experienced Drakes.”
“It killed my wife. We didn’t even have a body to bury.”
The figure paused, the inky blackness within his hood facing Markus. “... I see. So it isn’t only pest control that brings you here.”
“I’m not seeking revenge.”
“But you do have questions. If this were any other case, I’d send you back. But we need you, Markus. She needs you.”
“She? The fl-”
A black mass hurtled through the sky, so close that the updraft sent Markus staggering forward. The cultist watched him, unaffected, and shook his head.
“Any other case.”
They continued into the bare, spidery trees, toward what Markus assumed was the fledgling dragon. Steeling himself, he forced his hand away from his sword and stepped into a clearing of broken trees and flattened shrubbery. The dragon flailed about, roaring and snapping at the forest around it , clawing at the earth.
The robed cultist stepped forward, his voice exasperated. “Again. You must let go, my dear. Don’t fight it or it will hurt all the more.”
The dragon turned to its would-be instructor and snarled, folding and unfurling its wings as if in indecision before its entire body shuddered. Its scales seemed to fold into themselves one-by-one and it shrunk, wings gluing against its back, claws softening in shape and color. Chocolate hair replaced horns and crest and the dragon’s muzzle curved into nose and lips .
Markus froze as the dragon stood in the clearing, naked as its day of birth, covered in raw, spiralling scars, and ran to it as it knelt in exhaustion.
“Adrienne!”
His hand drew back as he touched a large gash on her shoulder, a scar not as graceful or flowing as the rest, and he choked.
His wife looked up at him and she withdrew, glaring at the cultist . “Y-you weren’t supposed to show him, Claudius. I wanted to do this on my own terms.”
“It was necessary or I wouldn’t have.” The cultist unveiled himself, a well-kept man with similar scars strewn across his face. “You needed someone to ground you. I failed and you scared off everyone else.”
Adrienne blushed. Markus remembered to breathe at last and sucked in as much air as he could, stroking his wife’s hair to reassure himself. “I-I’m not dreaming, am I?”
She smiled, wrapping her arms around herself and shaking her head as she stood. “No. I-I’m sorry about the castle and… and the guards. How are their families? Did you-?”
Markus cut her off with a kiss, wrapping her in his arms with such force that she squeaked. Claudius stepped away. “I’ll leave you two for now . But remember, we still have much to talk about.”
Adrienne tried to respond, but Markus wouldn’t let her. He had to touch every part of her, smell her, taste her. The past week felt like a nightmare and just now was he waking up.
His wife pulled away, catching her breath. “Well… That’s a different response from a week ago. You know you almost got me through the heart? Two more inches and-”
“Don’t.” Markus scowled. “I thought th at dragon had eaten you. How did you expect me to react?”
Adrienne took a shuddering breath and held him closer. “I don’t know. I was still in shock. Claudius said instinct took over. He was amazed I had the presence of mind to fly away instead of killing you and everyone else in th e palace .”
They stood there for a moment, Markus trying not to dwell on horrifying possibilities. “So… now what? Eivonne doesn’t want the throne and Havard wants it too much. Do you think we’ll go home or… ?”
She sighed, snuggling into his chest. “Let’s not decide right now. I’m just glad you’re here and… not utterly horrified at what I am.”
Markus grinned. “What you are? You’re my wife first, foremost, and always, Adrienne. The dragon part… wi ll take some getting used to, I won’t lie, but it’ll certainly spice things up.”
Adrienne smirked and snorted, dainty puffs of smoke blowing from her nostrils. Markus tried not to wince.
“You have no idea.”
PART V
Agniss, the innkeeper, smiled at Adrienne as she set a plate of hot porridge in front of her.
Adrienne smiled back under her hood, grateful for her friend’s kindness in spite of everything she’d put the town through. “I’m sorry, again, about Yustis, Aggie.”
Agniss shrugged. “He was only me backup pig, child. I be used to it, anyhow. Claudius ate me cousin’s entire flock o’ sheep in one night when he first transfig g’ red. Luckily, er’ry time a new fledge comes, we git a whole heap o’ new visitors and I was able ta s’port him through the win’er.”
Adrienne glanced at Markus while Agniss talked and smiled, trying to hide her expression under her hood as she was still not quite able to meet his eyes without blushing.
Agniss still caught the exchange, however, and humphed in satisfaction. “And he’d better keep satisfyin’ ye, sweetheart. Dragon or no, yer still all woman.”
Adrienne almost choked on her porridge, spilling some on her robe while Markus smirked from the other side of the table. Her husband glanced at Agniss as she walked away to tend her other guests and leaned in. “We have an entire week to ourselves on our way back, too. Eivonne is going to be so relieved to see you, and we can-”
“I can’t.” Adrienne stared at her food, which no w failed to rouse any kind of appetite .
Markus scoffed. “I beg to differ, or was I only dreaming last night?”
She felt her ears burn and hoped no one had caught that remark. “I mean, I can’t go home.”
He reached to lift her hood, but she stopped him. He sighed. “You want to stay here?”
“Well… Not exactly.”
“Then don’t. You always have a choice, Adrienne.”
“But my choices affect everyone , Markus. It isn’t just me or us I have to worry about, it’s the entire kingdom . I transform at random and when I do it’s… It isn’t me . If I can’t keep a rein on myself, I can’t keep a reign on the people.”
His expression softened. “Your mother said that. I remember. So… How long is it going to take for you to train yourself? Only transform when you want and all that?” He raised a brow. “I don’t look like a better breakfast than that porridge, do I?”
Adrienne rolled her eyes. “Of course not.”
“You haven’t killed me in either form. I’d say that was a good amount of self-control.”
“But look at everything I did kill, Markus. Agniss’s pig? The guards? Who knows what or who else on my flight here? Claudius certainly wouldn’t tell me.” She swallowed, trying to blink away tears.
Markus moved to sit next to her, bringing her close and laying her head on his chest. “Look, I know you’re scared. To be honest, so am I. I never dreamed anything like this would ever happen, and supposedly I know dragons a lot better than most. Does everyone know about your… you know, or…?”
“Just Agniss. She’s kind of our gatekeeper. Why do you think I’m wearing this thing in this weather?”
“Well that makes me feel better. The point is: I might not know everything, but I know you. I know you really wanted sugar on your porridge, but knew it was scarce here, that Agniss would give it to you rather than charge yo
u for it, and you didn’t want to be a burden so you didn’t ask. I know you want to heal the rift between classes and that you can’t do that sitting here in the outskirts of the kingdom with Eivonne under Havard’s watch.”
Adrienne felt her stomach churn. “Havard’s there?”
“Of course he’s there. He smells opportunity two miles away. What happened that night, anyway?”
“He… Ignited me.”
Her husband’s face darkened. “Please tell me that’s not-”
“No! No. There’s a fire chamber that lays dormant in dragons until-”
“A message for Master Markus Giles!”
Agniss directed the courier to their table and he laid a note before them. Adrienne blinked as he ran off, uncertain she was reading the lettering right.
“It that…?”
“A wedding invitation. Looks like Havard intends to join the family.”
Adrienne felt her skin crawl. “Doesn’t she know…?”
“I doubt it. We weren’t able to get any evidence against his assault, so to her I’m just a grieving husband looking for someone to blame. He must have asked her not too long after I left, judging by the time it takes for news to get this far.”
The still new warmth in her chest burned and Adrienne caught herself growling. Markus took her hand and she took a breath. “It looks like they don’t want you there, either. Look at the date.”
“Tomorrow? He certainly moves fast. I wonder how he convinced her?”
“We have to warn her.”
Markus nodded. “Of course, but how? To ride that fast would kill several horses…”
Adrienne pursed her lips. Her husband’s eyes widened.
“You’re actually considering it? How much of a threat is this man?”
“He’s threatened my family. My people would be miserable under his elitist thumb. Nothing has ever been this urgent .”
“You have wings, why not fly there?”
Adrienne snorted. “I can’t just-”
“Why not? No one would ev er have to know it was you. Swoop in, bite his smug little face off, and fly away. After you return, everyone will think it was a sign from the gods that you were meant to rule. The Council would have to back off and you could move forward in making the kingdom a better place for everyone.”
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