Mckale looked at her, concern in his silver eyes. “Are you feeling sick again?”
She pushed the eggs away, the turning in her stomach easing when she couldn’t see the yolks anymore. “Not really. I guess the yolks cooked that way don’t appeal much to me.”
Grandme waved her hand in Barden’s direction. “There are two eggs in another bowl over there. I got distracted and overcooked them. I was going to feed them back to the chickens since we don’t normally like them cooked through, but Maleena is welcome to them.”
Barden’s chair scraped across the floor as he jumped up to get the eggs. Maleena took another bite of the ham. She loved bacon, but she didn’t usually like ham that much. This morning though, she couldn’t seem to eat enough of it. Mckale watched her while his father set the new eggs on the table next to her plate. “You don’t usually eat ham. Not that I’m complaining. It’s a relief to see you eat.”
She finished chewing and swallowed. “I know I don’t. It must be seasoned differently or something because this is delicious.”
Across the table, Grandme’s eyes appraised her again with a knowing look and a small smile played across her face. Maleena felt delight rolling off the woman. What was that about? She thought about probing the old woman’s mind but immediately put the thought away. One did not invade the mind of another out of curiosity. Besides, given the current instability of Mckale’s shield it wasn’t a good idea anyway.
Instead she turned to her bondmate. “Who is Rona?”
Mckale set his fork down with a groan and looked across the table at his sister. “Really? You had to bring up Rona?”
Sonja waved away his comment. “Oh please, everyone knows she never had a chance. Although you can bet, she will try now that you are back.”
“I’m already claimed, there is nothing for her to try.”
Sonja just laughed. Maleena held her gaze steady on Mckale. “Are you going to answer my question?”
He sighed and leaned back in his chair, casting a glare at his sister. “She has tried to find a way to claim me since I left Border Guard training.”
Sonja leaned forward. “She would have tried before, but Border Guards in training aren’t allowed to be present during the Spring Dance. It’s felt that they will do better if not distracted by a wife and young family. Once out of training though, they are fair game and Rona has been trying to latch onto Mckale with her claws since the spring after he graduated. Thankfully, Mckale was smart enough to always be on patrol.”
“Is she also a lady?”
Mckale snorted. “She holds the title but she is no lady. I’m surprised she hasn’t already claimed some poor fool.”
Grandme’s eyebrows drew together. “I think she has been holding out, hoping you would return.” Her face smoothed and she smiled at Maleena. “I have to say, I’m glad to see you return with this young lady ready to claim you. It lifts the worry of Rona. If that woman set foot in my kitchen I would be forced to throw her out the back door by the scruff of the neck and set Mola on her.”
Sonja and Mckale burst into laughter. Barden chuckled. “She means it too. Rona’s mother tried to claim me, which might be where Rona gets her obsession with Mckale. Grandme threw her out that very door and told her if she ever tried to lay claim to her son she would personally see her skinned alive and fed to the pigs. Rona’s mother was terrified of your Grandme after that and never tried to claim me.” His voice softened to a sad, wistful tone. “She did approve of your mother though.”
Grandme nodded. “Nia was a good woman. Why the Fates saw fit to end her life so soon and leave the likes of Rona and her mother alive, I will never understand.”
As they finished their food, Maleena felt the dragons finish the meal of elk they had hunted. Both dragons had eaten lighter than normal. Usually they would have taken most of the herd and not needed to hunt again for a week or two. But she sensed a desire to hurry back in the silver. The dragons would need to hunt again in a few days.
Maleena glanced at her plate. She had only eaten one of the eggs but devoured three of the thick slices of ham. She would have to figure out what they used when they smoked it. All too soon the comfortable breakfast was over.
Mckale glanced at her. “It is time that Maleena and I took our leave. We have to get to a meeting with Arandrall today. I can’t imagine the Shadow Riders will be gone long. They are going to want to solidify their hold over Calladar.” He turned to Barden. “As soon as we meet with him and get acceptance, you will get to meet our dragons.”
Barden leaned back with a smile. “I’m looking forward to it.”
The cool wind rushed over Anevay as she and Latia soared over the bay. Below, the white sails of boats stood out against the dark blue of the water. She closed her eyes and let her body feel the thrill of flying—letting the morning sun and wind clear her mind. She kept coming up against a wall in her research. Maybe there wasn’t a key in the records; maybe there was no way to stop the Shadow Riders.
“You will find it,” came Latia’s reassuring sending.
“What if I don’t? What if I can’t find it because there is nothing to find?”
“If you think there is something to find, then there is.”
So much depended on her finding the keys to the weave. For a while she’d thought she had it, but it turned into nothing. Soon, Latia would be able to Slide to where Kellinar and Taela were. It would be good to see them again. She missed them more than she could have ever imagined.
The wind roared in her ears and she worked to clear her mind again, allowing her thoughts to drift away from the weave. Her body automatically shifted as Latia banked to the left in a wide turn, but she kept her eyes closed. Images from Latia’s Hatching began to flit through her mind, none of them staying long until she saw the one of the crystalline dragon hanging above a lake, lying in a perfect circle. Standing knee deep in the water, a woman wove rivers of magic together until bright-white light burst from her and turned the attacking Kojen to dust.
The woman was Maleena. Somehow, she had pulled Emallya’s dragon through the lake from Maiadar. Anevay studied the image. Why did this particular event keep playing through her mind? Why was it more important than the others she’d seen during Latia’s Hatching?
She let the scene replay itself in her mind again. The ghost dragon, translucent yet solid, gleamed in the light of the rising sun. Something clicked in her mind and the solution she’d been searching for was laid bare. So easy to see, so difficult to accomplish. The weave would be simple in its complexity. Excitement surged through her body. Would it work? Could she really make such a weave?
Latia shifted this time banking to the right. Anevay opened her eyes and saw the dragon was already headed for the hold. Without being asked, Latia knew she needed to get back to the records room. She sent waves of love to the dragon. “Thank you.”
“Do you think it will work?” Latia sent.
“I won’t know until I start on it, but I hope so. As far as I can tell, it is our only hope. We will be able to hold the Shadow Riders for a time, but like the end of the War of Fire, they will overwhelm us one day.”
Within moments, they landed in the caldera of the old volcano. The younger dragon’s called out in greeting. Anevay didn’t see Merru among them. Loki and Merru had made their first flight a few days ago. Most likely the two were off getting into trouble somewhere.
She didn’t have time to worry about them. Anevay climbed down from the saddle, then began unbuckling the saddle straps. She pulled the saddle off and carried to the equipment cave, her mind already turning the problem of the new weave over. There was so much to do, so much to research.
She smiled at Latia as she crossed the inner terrace. The big yellow stretched out on the grass next to the lake. She’d fed the day before and wouldn’t need to feed again for several days. Anevay sensed the dragon’s desire to do nothing more than sleep the afternoon away.
She rushed through the Great Hall. Once inside the
records room, she paused, trying to decide the best place to start. Spirit magic—she needed to look deeper into what could be done with it.
Several scrolls lined one shelf. As Anevay pulled the first scroll down something large, dark, and hairy scuttled across it. She yelped and jumped back, covering her pounding heart with a hand. With a shaky laugh, she reached for the scroll again. “You nearly scared me to death, Nica.”
Her face reflected in the multiple eyes set in the spider’s head as it watched her slide another scroll off the shelf. She had to admit, there were far less mice in the records room with Nica there. She walked to the large desk and settled down. The light orbs glowed strong on the walls, but she lit the candles on the desk anyway. More light made it easier on her eyes to read for long periods of time and Anevay had a feeling she would be there for quite a while.
As the hours slowly passed, Nica found his way to her desk. She glanced at him from time to time as he crouched on his eight legs near the candles burning at the corner of the desk, his many eyes watching her. Anevay smiled, enjoying the quiet company of the arachnid.
Maleena and Mckale rode past the gates to Taragen, the capitol of Calladar. Houses built three- and four-stories high rose around them. Shops crowded in amongst the houses and people filled the streets. Maleena did her best not to look at any of them, concentrating instead on breathing evenly. The press of buildings and people made her feel claustrophobic. Galdrilene, though larger than this city, was more organized and felt more open.
High above them, no more than specks in the sky, Tellnox and Nydara rode the winds.
Mckale stayed to the wide, paved boulevard running through the city. After a while the wooden houses gave way to stone structures set back from the road. Though massive, they were dwarfed by the walls of the fortress in the middle of the city.
They turned onto a wide paved, half-moon path that led off the road, and curved around toward a stone stairway. Mckale stopped Blain at the bottom of the stone steps leading up to the wide doors of the structure.
Maleena gazed at the building. Was it a house or a miniature fortress? Two guards stepped forward and Mckale leaned toward them. “Please inform Lord Arandrall that Mckale Mandarran has returned and wishes to speak with him.”
The guards climbed the steps and disappeared through the door. Maleena glanced at Mckale. “Who is this Lord Arandrall?”
Mckale flashed her a reassuring look and turned his attention back to the doors. “He is the head of the Council of Nine. Calladar has no king; it is run instead by the nine highest ranking houses.”
A flutter of nerves built in Maleena’s stomach and she worked to squash them. Lord Arandrall may be a powerful man, but in the end he was only a man. She sighed quietly to herself. Why couldn’t Lord Arandrall be a dog? They were so much easier to be around and easier to predict.
The doors swung open as the guards returned, followed by three other men. Two of them immediately went to the horses while the third, dressed in fine clothing, bowed low. “Lord Arandrall is most anxious to see you. These two young men will see that your horses are taken care of during your visit.”
Maleena dismounted and let one of the men lead Arella away. Hopefully he would take good care of the old mare. She took Mckale’s offered arm as they climbed the stairs and followed the fine dressed servant into the halls of the massive house-fortress.
The soaring ceiling arched high above them and several wide corridors led off the main one. But the servant led them to the far end of the hall where it ended in a polished ornate staircase. At the top of the stairs was a landing and more stairs branching off in two different directions, following the curve of the outside wall until they reached the next level.
The servant took the stairs. At the top they turned left down another mighty hall until coming to a stop in front of two heavy wooden doors. He opened them and led them inside. “Lord Mckale of House Mandarran as you requested, my lord.”
Lord Arandrall waved the servant away and rose as the doors closed behind the man. He was the same height as Mckale with the same broad shoulders and the same hard-planed face that seemed to be common among the men of Calladar. Deep lines cut through his face and gray heavily outweighed the black in his shoulder-length hair.
He walked forward and held out his hand to Mckale who reached out and clasped forearms with him. “Mckale, it’s good to see you. I trust you found your way to Galdrilene.” He turned to Maleena and surprise flashed through his dark gray eyes before his brow furrowed. He dropped his hand back to his side. “And who is this? She must have been there too or I wouldn’t have been able to mention the name of the place.”
Mckale glanced at Maleena. “I found Galdrilene and hatched a dragon egg. This is my bondmate, Maleena”
Arandrall turned his attention back to Mckale with a startled look. “You were called? That is wonderful. Which color did you hatch and where is your dragon? And you have a bondmate as well. This is indeed good news.”
“I hatched a green. He is flying high above us right now with Maleena’s silver dragon.”
Arandrall looked at Maleena and bowed slightly to her. “It is my pleasure. Forgive my rudeness. It was a shock to hear that Mckale is a Dragon Rider.” A furrow appeared between his eyes again. “For a moment, I was sure Mckale walked in here accompanied by Emallya. You are shorter than her, but the resemblance is uncanny. And a Silver Rider as well. If I didn’t know that she lost her entire family except Bardeck by the end of the War of Fire, I would say you were her daughter.”
Maleena blushed under his scrutiny. “We have the same color of hair and eyes.”
He nodded. “I suppose that could be it.” Arandrall shook his head slightly. “To business, we have much to discuss. Please sit and tell me everything. You have visited your father I presume? If not, he will be most anxious to see you.”
Mckale nodded as they moved to a grouping of chairs at the side of the large room and sat down. “We arrived last evening and stayed the night at my father’s house. He is the one who told me of you.”
Arandrall nodded. “Yes, that makes sense. I’m surprised Emallya or Bardeck didn’t send you straight to me.”
“I think they both knew how much I wanted to see my family again,” Mckale said with a smile.
“Did your father tell you of the recent visit by Shadow Riders?” Arandrall waited for Mckale to nod. “Caused quite a stir and not in a good way. I imagine it will make Calladar’s acceptance of Galdrilene and the dragons both easier and more difficult at the same time. The Shadow Riders caused quite a few deaths and left one man physically scarred for life.”
“We heard.” Mckale said. “When my brother first heard we were Dragon Riders, he became enraged. In the end it was Maleena who convinced him.”
Arandrall’s eyebrows rose as he looked at Maleena. “And how did you accomplish that?”
She looked him in the eye and said quietly, “I showed him my own scars. I have been on the receiving end of the Shadow magic that Kaden described. Mckale too bears his own scars from such an encounter.”
“How did you come up against Shadow Riders already? I think you should start at the beginning and tell me everything that has happened in Galdrilene. I have received a few scattered messages here and there but nothing with too much information. I was hoping Emallya would make her way to Calladar soon to fill in the rather large gaps, although now that you are here I don’t have to wait.” He held up his hand. “Before we get started, let me take a moment to order refreshments and send out orders for the Council of Nine to meet in the Council chambers.” He smiled briefly at Maleena. “This is my personal residence. Meetings between the Nine take place within the walls of the fortress. We are careful to never have more than three of us together in any one place otherwise.”
Maleena nodded as he turned away and rang a bell. The servant who had brought them up came through the doors a moment later. Mckale leaned toward her as Arandrall spoke quietly with the servant. “You seem to be fe
eling much better today.”
She smiled at him. “I think I just needed a good night’s sleep.”
Arandrall glanced at them. “Excuse me for a moment so I can write out the orders.”
He stood and crossed the room to a heavy, polished desk and pulled out several sheets of paper. He dipped the pen in the inkwell and began to write, the sound of it scratching across the paper in quick movements loud in the quiet room. Maleena felt intense curiosity, along with an undercurrent of distrust, rolling off the servant though he kept it under tight control.
As he left with the stack of folded and sealed papers in his hand, he glanced at Maleena and she was struck by the coldness in his eyes. Had he overheard their conversation? Or was he always this way with the people who came to see Lord Arandrall?
She put the thoughts away as Arandrall resumed his position in the chair facing them. Sitting next to Mckale with his hand in hers she could sense Arandrall but nothing more. Maleena gently reached out for his mind. His servant seemed suspicious; was Arandrall sincere?
Her weave touched Arandrall’s mind, and his emotions and thoughts poured into her: intense devotion to Galdrilene and Calladar; deep worry and hope for the future; anger over the Shadow Riders; worries over the Council and their reaction; the knowledge that two others on the Council knew of Galdrilene. There was more but she pulled back quickly, the brief touch bringing an instant ache in her head.
“You should have waited until you rested a few more days before trying that. I’m sure this is not the last time you will be in the same room with this Arandrall,” came Nydara’s sending.
“I thought it best to know sooner. His mind is much like Mckale’s. The pain will fade soon,” she returned.
Mckale squeezed her hand and she looked into his silver eyes. Maleena heard the question in his mind but merely shook her head slightly.
Arandrall glanced between them. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes.” Mckale nodded and looked at him. “Would you like us to fill in the gaps now?”
Tears of War Page 16