by Diana Green
Chapter Eleven
Hathos watched with keen interest as a guard carried food and water to another of the cavern’s stone cages. Apparently, prisoners had been brought in while he and Oliana slept. The new arrivals remained so still and quiet, he hadn’t realized they were there.
He couldn’t begin to guess how long he and Oliana had been captive. The incessant darkness made it impossible to tell day from night or keep track of the passage of time. They ate whenever the guards brought food and slept as much as possible.
Without Oliana, the whole experience would have been much worse. She kept his spirits up and offered a distraction from the anxious churning of his thoughts. He enjoyed getting to know her, a rare blessing, considering the nature of their situation.
“Who do you suppose it is?” she asked, gesturing toward the other cage. “Could it be your friend Valla?”
“As much as I wish it was…I don’t think so. I’d sense if she was near.”
He’d tried numerous times to mind link with Valla, but there appeared to be some kind of magical warding around the cavern. It effectively blocked all his attempts. If only he knew what had happened to her his mind could rest easier.
“Look!” Oliana pointed again, and Hathos saw two figures rise to a standing position in the other cage. They took the food from the guards but remained silent.
“I think they’re eldrin,” he whispered. A wonder any of that ancient race still lived, though he sensed there were few of them remaining.
“How do you know?” She seemed endlessly curious about his second sight.
“It’s hard to explain my impressions. They just come, unbidden. I know it seems far-fetched, but I’ve learned to trust them.”
“Of course you have. It’s a wonderful ability.” She slipped her arm through his and leaned her head on his shoulder.
He smiled, appreciating the warmth and comfort of her presence. It was odd, but he felt closer to her than to most of the dragons he’d grown up with. She had a gentle sweetness uncommon in their race. It touched his heart, making him feel less alone.
The guard left, and Hathos tried speaking with the other prisoners. For whatever reason, they ignored him. Perhaps they didn’t trust anyone is this place, even fellow captives.
A short while later, the empress arrived with three of her cloaked toadies. Hathos pulled Oliana into the shadows at the back of their cage, hoping they would remain unnoticed. The last thing he wanted was another go-round with the empress’ mind probing.
She went directly to the other cage and began questioning the prisoners. He couldn’t catch everything said, but it sounded like she wanted to find an enclave of renegade eldrin. The prisoners didn’t cooperate.
Soon their screams echoed through the cavern, as she progressed to more extreme tactics. Oliana covered her ears, and Hathos put his arms around her.
“What is the empress doing to them?” she gasped. “It sounds awful.”
“Probably digging through their minds, like she did with me. I hope she doesn’t learn anything.”
After another few minutes, the empress ceased her efforts and left the cavern.
Oliana shuddered. “We have to get out of here. I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”
“I just wish I could think of a plan or at least find out what happened to Valla. If she’s still free, she might be able to help us.”
“What if we tried finding her in our dreams?” Oliana’s soft brown eyes lit up at the possibility. “You said the mind link isn’t working, but maybe there’s another way.”
“I’ve never tried intentionally connecting with someone’s dreams. With you, it just seemed to happen naturally.”
“There was one time I called you on purpose.” She bounced on the balls of her feet, clearly hopeful. “One night, in the sorcerer’s tower, I needed so badly to see you. I called with all my heart and mind and you came, just like that. Poof. You were there in my dream. That’s the time I was able to show you what the island and tower looked like.”
“Interesting. I wonder if you have a gift for lucid dreaming.”
“I don’t know, but you have all sorts of abilities. Maybe if we work together, we can make it happen.”
“It’s worth a try.” He answered her smile with one of his own. “You have good ideas.”
She blushed. “You’re the first person who’s ever said so.”
“That’s impossible. I’m sure all your family and friends must think you’re wonderful. How could they not?”
“They mostly think I’m odd,” she corrected him. “And I am…for a dragon.”
“Well, that makes two of us.” He squeezed her hand, pleased by their growing fellowship.
Her delicate features shone with delight, reminding him just how pretty she was. Even in this dark dungeon, after all the weeks of her captivity, she bloomed like a wildflower.
He reached out, cradling her cheek in his hand. She tilted her face to his, an invitation seemingly evident in her eyes. Did he dare kiss her?
What if he was mistaken? Unwelcome physical advances could strain their relationship, and she’d been through so much already. Perhaps it was best to wait until they were free of this terrible place. Then she could choose if she wanted him or not.
Next thing he knew, she’d thrown her arms around his neck and brought her mouth to his. Despite his surprise, he instinctively pulled her close.
She responded, burying her fingers in his hair, pressing her body tight to his. Her mouth opened, and their tongues twined together, desire flickering between them like flames of a newly lit fire.
When at last they came up for air, she gave a happy laugh, joy beaming in her face.
“That was my first kiss ever,” she told him.
“Mine too.” He traced the line of her lips with his thumb, overcome with a sense of wonder. Despite hardship and suffering, goodness and love also existed. A person needed to cherish these treasures and hold on to them, no matter what.
“That explains why you were too shy to make the first move,” she said. “I decided, if I waited for you, it might never happen, so I took matters into my own hands.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“Me too.”
With twinkling eyes, she drew his head down to hers for another kiss. The rest of the world faded away, and nothing remained but the two of them, blissfully together.
****
Vadin walked several paces behind Valla, admiring the graceful strength of her movements. In everything, from fighting to flying, to simply walking through the woods, she appeared at home in her own skin. She was potently physical, like other dragons, but he could sense nothing brutish or cruel about her.
Around them, the morning sun sifted through the trees, highlighting rust-colored conifer needles scattered on the forest floor. Patches of blue wildflowers dotted the open areas, offering welcome variety in the sea of red boughs and gray trunks.
With no warning Valla stopped and brought her hands to her head. She swayed as if dizzy, and he rushed to catch her before she fell.
“What’s the matter?” He held her by the shoulders, alarmed by her strange behavior.
“Shush.” She waved a hand to quiet him, her eyes scrunched shut.
He waited, staying close, in case she toppled over. After a moment she straightened and opened her eyes.
“I think I’ve just had a vision.” The experience left her clearly perplexed. “Hathos and Oliana sent it to me, if that’s possible.”
“I don’t see why not, since dragons commonly link minds.”
“But this wasn’t a normal mind link,” she insisted. “More like a waking dream. It didn’t have any words, just images and emotions. I felt their worry and their need to escape.”
“Could you tell where they are being held?” A pang of guilt stabbed him. This was all his fault, and his actions no longer seemed justified.
Spending time with Valla had changed things. His attitude toward her race beg
an to seem overly harsh. Dragons could be self-serving villains, but they weren’t all that way.
“I saw they’re being held in a stone cage,” she said, “inside a big cavern. They aren’t starving or injured, but both of them are afraid of the empress.”
“Did you learn any more about her, what she wants, who she is?” He tried to speak calmly. No need to reveal how much this mattered to him.
“The vision was over too fast,” she answered. “I didn’t get much. Just what I already told you.”
“Well, it’s better than nothing. At least your friends are alive and unharmed.”
She gave him a searching look. “When did you start caring about that? Seems to me, you’d happily see them both dead.”
“That’s not entirely true. I only wanted…” He struggled for the right words. “I mean, in the past—”
“Save your excuses,” she quipped, turning and setting off, northward. “All I care about is finding and freeing them before something worse happens. As long as you don’t interfere with that, our truce stands. Double cross me, and I won’t hesitate to cut you down.”
“Charming.”
He fell in behind, lengthening his stride to match her pace. Obviously his warming feelings toward Valla weren’t returned. She had no more use for him than she would for a case of the pox. And who could blame her?
****
When the sun sat directly overhead, they stopped for lunch. Valla not only managed to find a stream, but one with a pool of darting fish. She felt rather proud of herself, considering they had eaten their last two eels for breakfast.
The place dazzled her with its beauty, circled by a new type of tree, broad-leafed and golden in color. Brilliant foliage danced in the breeze, reflecting rippling amber in the water.
“I could almost grow to like this world,” she said, relaxing on a sun-warmed rock by the pool.
“It’s not what I expected,” Vadin responded, “especially from the home world of a demon army.”
“Demon army?” She rolled her eyes. “That seems a touch dramatic. There were a lot of those furry little beasts, but I’d hardly call them—”
“I was referring to the ancient demon army that waged war on the eldrin.”
“Oh. That army.” She pondered his words, frowning. “Wait. You knew you were opening a portal to the realm of the ancient demons? What kind of crazy are you?”
He stared at the ground. “In my defense, I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time. I was too caught up in the thrill of the chase, and I was desperate to find…” He paused, shook his head, and left the sentence unfinished.
“Desperate to find what?” Her curiosity roused.
“It doesn’t make any difference. We’re here, and things are as they are.” He strode down to the water’s edge. “Now it’s time to catch some fish.”
“You’re going to do the honors?”
“Why not.” He removed his boots and rolled up his trouser legs.
“Surely you’re not quick enough to grab them barehanded?”
“You’ll see.”
He waded in till the water reached his knees. Bending forward, he hovered his hands over the pool, muttering a quiet incantation. He drew an elaborate symbol in the air then slapped his hand down on the water’s surface.
Immediately, over a dozen fish leapt from the pool, their bodies wriggling, scales glinting in the sun. They piled on the shore, some of them falling back in the pool, while a second wave leapt to their doom.
“Good grief!” Valla couldn’t help laughing in surprise. “I never know what you’re going to do next.”
“They should keep us fed for a while.” He grinned, his shirt and trousers wet from the splashing of the fish.
Valla had never seen such a carefree expression on his face. It worked a glorious transformation. His eyes shone bright, teeth flashing, hair gleaming like liquid silver in the noon light.
She couldn’t fail to notice how the damp fabric of his clothes clung to his well-toned torso and long limbs, completing the vision of masculine beauty. Unbidden, desire kindled, speeding her heart and tingling her skin. His gaze locked with hers, the unmistakable heat in his eyes answering her own.
For a moment they both stood still, riveted by the attraction crackling between them. Valla shook herself and broke away first. She forced herself to ignore Vadin, when he stepped from the pool. Instead she focused on putting the flopping fish out of their misery.
What in blazes was she doing, getting all weak-kneed over the sorcerer? He was nothing but trouble. She couldn’t let a bit of physical chemistry cloud her judgment. A handsome face and a gorgeous body were all well and good, but he was a dangerous man. One she knew very little about.
“We should cook as many fish as we want for lunch,” he said, acting as though nothing had passed between them. “The rest, I’ll send to my pocket dimension, to keep for later.”
“Sounds good. I’ll go collect firewood.” She rose and walked away, eager to put as much distance between them as possible. At least till she cooled down and his clothes dried out.
Chapter Twelve
Vadin offered to take the first turn at watch. The night was quiet, with barely a breath of wind stirring the tree tops. A small stream wound near their camp, its quiet chuckling adding a pleasant background to the crackle of the fire.
Soon Valla slept, features illuminated by the flickering embers. Her thick lashes rested soft against her cheeks, her face relaxed and peaceful.
He wanted to reach out and stroke her hair, to feel the satiny dark waves under his fingertips. How enticing, to taste those beautiful lips and draw her close—skin to skin.
Too much time had passed since he’d been with a woman, but there was more to his attraction than simple lust. Valla was fine, in more ways than just appearance. She was fierce and strong, courageous and passionate. The longer he knew her, the more enthralled he became. She represented the best of what dragons could be, in contrast to the dragon lords, who represented the worst.
If only he hadn’t gotten off on such bad footing with her. She’d seen him at his most imbalanced and cruel, with no context for understanding his actions. Little wonder she kept her distance.
He dragged his gaze away from her and looked up at the night sky. A blaze of stars lit the velvet black, arrayed in myriad unfamiliar constellations. It was a completely new sky, in a brand new world.
Somehow, that fact made him feel better. Here, in this alien land, he wasn’t bound so irrevocably to the past. Maybe he could make a fresh start.
Was that foolish? Could anybody truly start over?
He certainly hoped so. He’d been gifted with power and long life, but what had he done with them? What did he have to show for all his years and spells?
The bitterness he’d held against dragons began to seem like a poison, one that robbed him of good sense. Was it possible for him to release it—after all this time? Could he truly be free?
His mind reeled at the possibility. Who would he be, without the old hatred? Who was Vadin the man? Not the weapon of the dragon lords. Not the avenger of his family. Just Vadin, the man.
He leaned back on his elbows, taking in the vast expanse of the heavens, so deep and infinite. What was his place in all this? Did he have a destiny greater than the path he’d chosen?
Though the answers to his questions might not come easily, he was ready to search them out. Hopefully, if he found Asahni, she could help.
****
The next day, Vadin and Valla came to a region where the wooded hills grew more rugged, broken up with stone outcroppings and narrow ravines. Traveling became difficult as they toiled through brush choked gorges and climbed steep rocky slopes.
“How much farther do you think we have to go?” Valla asked, as they stopped to drink from a rushing stream. Even with her dragon stamina, she felt the punishing pace of their journey.
Vadin considered. “I should think we’ll reach the empress’ castle in a few more days. I
t’s hard to be precise, but we’re making good time.”
“It’d be so much faster to fly. Especially over this terrain. I think my drake’s wings might be healed enough.”
“I’m not sure speed is the most important factor,” he countered. “The empress has all the advantage in this situation. Retaining the element of surprise may be essential to our success.”
“So you think we can to sneak up on her castle?”
“We need to try. It’ll be slower, but we don’t stand much chance otherwise.” He frowned, rubbing the lengthening stubble on his chin. “Until she reversed my locating spell, I underestimated her. Now I know how careful we need to be.”
Valla sighed, regretting another set of days spent slogging on foot. “I suppose you’re right, but it’s a shame. I could probably fly us there by tomorrow.”
“I know.” He gave her a hint of a smile. “But this way you get to enjoy more time in my company.”
“Oh yes, there is that.” She arched an eyebrow. “Aren’t I just the luckiest she-dragon ever?”
After drinking their fill from the stream, they continued northward. As much as possible, they kept to the high ground. It made progress easier and gave them a better view of the surrounding countryside.
Despite this strategy, they were taken unaware by a group of armed scouts. One minute Valla strode along a shady ridge top, the next she faced a line of spears and crossbows.
It was too late to draw her sword. They’d have an arrow through her heart before the blade left the sheath. But how had they crept up on her? She had damned good hearing.
“Who are you, and what are you doing here?” one of the strangers asked.
He had an uncommonly well-formed face, with features so perfect they made Vadin look rough around the edges. In fact, all the scouts were equally breathtaking. And every one of them stood taller than her, though she cleared five foot ten. Who were these people?
“We’re just passing through,” Vadin said, stepping closer to her, his expression carefully neutral. “We don’t want any trouble.”
“No one ‘passes through’ these hills.” The scout who spoke appeared to be in charge. “What is your purpose?”