Vaddoc turned to his tiny friend. “Would you have preferred I lied to her? I will admit it was amusing to watch the fearless Kirynn run from her food though.”
Kirynn growled and sat back in her chair. With deliberate movements she grabbed the sticks and plucked a chunk of meat out of the bowl and tossed it into her mouth and proceeded to chew, her eyes locked on his.
Vaddoc laughed. “Think of it as payback. They scare you, you eat them.”
The last of their meal was interrupted by a loud horn sounding from the other tower. The thunderous roars of the dragons drowned out the horn and shook the walls of the inn. Kirynn leaped to her feet and ran out the door with Vaddoc close behind her.
In the sky above the town, three whirlpools swirled and turned black. Vaddoc raced down the street to Namir. He yanked the catcher strap down, fastened it with quick movements and leaped into the saddle. Children piled out from under his wing screaming in fear. They ran as a group toward the houses, the older carrying the younger.
Black dragons burst into the air. Maleena hadn’t made it to her dragon, but Nydara didn’t wait. She leaped into the air with a powerful down stroke of her wings and landed in front of the group of children as a Shadow dove toward them. The silver whipped her head around and shot a stream of fire at it while the children dashed under her. She held her wings low to better cover them. With a shriek, the black broke out of the dive and climbed into the air, the scales on its face and neck smoking. As it continued to climb, Cat streaked out from under Namir and raced across the grass to the safety of Nydara.
Maleena stopped in front of Nydara, cautioning the children to stay beneath the dragon. She stood with her hand on the silver’s breastplates, concern clear in her violet eyes.
Namir, Syrakynn, and Tellnox rose to meet the trespassers. The riderless black dragons splintered away from each other. Vaddoc felt the gold shift to go after one of them. It turned in the air and spit sickly green fire at them. The safety straps held him in the saddle as Namir made a tight roll to avoid it. The gold breathed a wall of bright-orange flame but missed by inches.
Tellnox streaked across the sky in pursuit of another Shadow. The black in front of Namir spat more green fire at them, but again the gold dodged and retaliated, this time scoring a long burn on the black’s side before dodging more green fire.
Vaddoc wove his magic in a tight weave, trusting the dragon completely to keep them alive for the moment. As Namir came out of the roll, Vaddoc threw the weave up.
A large square of light sprang into the air; too late for the Shadow to avoid it. It hit the shield head on with a smack. Dazed, it tumbled part way to the ground before opening a Jump and disappearing into the foul blackness of the whirlpool.
Namir turned to find another, but they too were already entering their Jumps. The last one losing a chunk of its tail to Syrakynn as it ripped free of the red. Namir glided toward the ground as people poured out of their houses and ran to the children still huddled under Nydara.
The silver lifted her wings and looked at each child as if ensuring they were all there and safe. Anly made it to the dragon first and scooped Lenya into her arms, tears running down her face. The children ran to their parents as cries of relief went up.
Medar watched Namir and the other two land. He approached the riders as they dismounted, obviously shaken by the brief but intense battle in the sky. “I am at a loss on how to properly thank all of you.” He looked at Nydara. “You especially. You acted so quickly. I hate to think how many of the children we would have lost if you had not.” Medar turned back to Vaddoc. “You truly are so very different from the Shadow Riders and their dragons. Earlier, when Namir said he would protect Annoc with his life, I am not sure I wholly believed it. After seeing the silver one place herself directly in the path of danger to do just that…” He rubbed the top of his head for a moment before continuing, “please forgive me for ever doubting.”
Vaddoc clapped the innkeeper-mayor on the shoulder and smiled as Cat rejoined ‘his’ dragon. Namir rumbled in pleasure at finding the feline safe and unharmed. “There is nothing to forgive, Medar. We were raised with the same tales as everyone else. It is hard to believe when you have not seen it for yourself.”
Medar nodded. “I will see to it that news of what happened today is spread far and wide.”
Mckale stepped forward, a serious look on his face. “I think it’s time to ensure your other tower is up and ready to go.”
Kellinar strode through the gates of the Trilene District and into the Dellar. He had known the Trilene would never agree to the terms of Galdrilene’s protection. Fates forbid that people other than those born to the High Houses might actually be able to lead the city, or that someone from the Mallay be taught to read. No, the Trilene would rather throw their lot in with the Shadow Riders than be decent human beings.
He glanced at Taela as she walked on his left side, a deep frown on her face. She had truly expected the Trilene to be reasonable. Kellinar had known they wouldn’t be or at least not enough of them. Only two of the High Houses had been willing to accept Dragon Law.
Lord Vesnar of House Vesnar had thrown his support to Kellinar. That wasn’t a surprise since they had a truce that bordered on friendship. Ever since Kellinar had refused to sell Vesnar’s daughter, Arianna, to the boats in Turindar—not to mention Kellinar quietly slipping into the Vesnar’s house with Arianna’s letters so they knew she was safe.
Lord Telain wasn’t too much of a surprise either; the man had always been fair to deal with. Though Kellinar wasn’t too sure how far he could really trust either of them.
The other eight houses, however, had turned out just like Kellinar expected. The only reason Taela, Serena, and he had left the Trilene District with their heads still attached was because of the three dragons who had made their presence known. Anevay had left for Shadereen that morning after being called again to heal wounds inflicted by Shadow Dragons. She’d decided to stay on the border for now and Kellinar couldn’t decide whether he was relieved she was out of Trilene or terrified because she was on the border.
Stupid. The whole thing was stupid. Stupid Shadow Riders and stupid flaming people.
Serena’s touch on his arm drew him from his internal rant. “Kellinar, I know this might not be the best time…I need to talk to my mother. I need to convince her to come with us.”
Taela shifted the shawl she wore over her shoulders and studied Serena. “What about your father?”
Kellinar snorted. “Her father is the south end of a north bound pig. A man with his nose so far up the hind end of the Trilene he will go whichever way they do.”
“Kellinar is right. My father is the main reason I was banished from my home. He has spent his life gaining status though he will never be part of the Trilene. By the time he kicked me out, our house had become high-ranking in the Dellar. My father is unbending and he was beyond offended that I had almost brought unthinkable shame to his house.” Serena toyed with the end of her shawl, staring at it as if it held the answers before raising her eyes to Kellinar’s. “I have to try to save my mother though.”
Kellinar put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her. “Serena, you certainly don’t need my permission. If you want to try to speak to your parents, then do it. If you want us to come with you, we will.”
“Thank you, Kellinar,” Serena whispered.
He linked hands with Taela and followed Serena down the street. It bothered him to see the hurt lurking in the depths of her eyes. Serena had done a good job of moving on with her life, the practical side of her would take nothing less. The other side, the much smaller, much quieter part of her, still longed for the love and affection from her parents that she had grown up with.
No one paid much attention to them as they walked the streets of the Dellar. The soft, well-woven fabrics were dyed in dark colors only Trilene residents or high-ranking Dellars Lord Vesnar of House Vesnar could hope to afford. Their well-made boots and the jewel-tipped, g
olden Di’shan pendants made their right to be there obvious.
When they reached a large house with a blue door, Serena stopped. The big houses ran in a long row down both sides of the street. Each shared a wall with its neighbor on either side. Serena hesitated so long that Kellinar reached passed her and banged on the door.
“Kellinar!” She sucked in her breath and looked at him with wide eyes.
He smiled and shrugged. “They won’t know you are here if you don’t knock, no matter how hard you stare at the door.”
Moments later a middle-aged maid answered the door. “May I help…Serena?” The scowl on the woman’s face made it clear she wasn’t pleased to see her employer’s daughter.
Serena squared her shoulders. “I wish to see my mother.”
“You aren’t to be here. Leave.” The maid started to swing the door shut.
Serena slapped her hand against the door, using her bond-enhanced strength to force it open. “You will get my mother for me now.”
The maid sent her a tight-lipped glare and turned away from the door, leaving it standing wide open. She wasn’t gone long before Serena’s father, Farlain, came to the door. His blue eyes looked like they were ready to pop out of his beet-red face. “What in the name of the Fates are you doing here?”
“I need to see my mother.” Serena glared back at him, her hands balled into fists at her sides.
“You will get your dragon-blasted butt off my front stoop and never darken my doorway again!” He waved a beefy finger in her face. “I made that perfectly clear last time.”
A slender woman with big green eyes moved like a wraith in the room behind Farlain. She came close and laid a frail hand on his thick arm. “Please, Farlain. Please let me speak with her.”
Farlain yanked his arm out of her timid grasp and pushed her away. “Shut up, Sereanna.” He turned to Serena. “This is not your home. You have no parents here. We had a daughter; she died.” The woman sobbed as Farlain slammed the door shut in Serena’s face.
Serena stood for a moment, staring at the door. Kellinar ground his teeth together and felt a gentle squeeze on his hand as Taela tried to flood him with soothing emotions. Serena turned to leave and the sun shimmered on the unshed tears in her eyes.
Kellinar pulled his hand from Taela’s and reached out for his magic. To the void with this load of Shadow crap. The door exploded into the house, tiny splinters flying across the room. Farlain turned with a yell and stared at Kellinar. It didn’t take him long to gather himself up. He stormed toward Kellinar with one meaty hand raised. “Get out of my house, you filthy—”
Kellinar walked into the room, grabbed Serena’s father with a weave of air and slammed him against the far wall. Farlain gasped and sputtered, unable to move anything but his head. Kellinar glared at him. “You will shut up and hang there while Serena speaks with her mother. If you so much as say another word, so help me Fates, I will gag you with another weave.” He smiled coldly. “And yes, this is magic. Yes, Serena can use it too and guess what, it doesn’t drive a person insane. The only thing that drives people insane are pompous, dragon-blasted gits like you.”
Taela curled her fingers around Kellinar’s forearm. “Be careful. Serena is hurt and angry, but she would still be very upset if you killed him.” She looked at Farlain and sniffed, turning away from him with the haughty nose in the air style only a princess could carry off. “Even if he is the flea infested whelp of a back alley cat.”
Kellinar snorted and suppressed a smile. She did have a way of making a man seem less significant than a bug beneath her shoe.
Serena stepped into the room with him. She only glanced once at the man pressed against the wall, his feet dangling a least two paces off the floor, and turned away.
“Farlain, what…?” Sereanna walked into the room.
“Mama?” Serena reached her hand toward her mother.
Sereanna gasped and held both arms out, enfolding her daughter in a tight hug. “Serena baby, what is going on?”
“The Keepers were right. I can use magic. I hatched a dragon, mama. But not one of those evil black dragons. I use my magic to heal people when they are sick or hurt.”
Sereanna stepped back a little and cast a frightened look at her husband. “Why did you come here?”
“There is a war brewing, I want to protect you. Will you come with me? Please?” Kellinar’s heart nearly broke at the tone of hopeful pleading in Serena’s voice.
Sereanna backed further away and whispered, “I can’t. I love you, Serena, I always will, but I can’t.”
“Mama…please.”
Sereanna clasped her hands in front of her and shook her head, tears spilling down her thin cheeks. “I can’t. I’m not strong like you. I never was.” She lowered her head and stared at the floor. “You should go now. Go knowing I love you.”
Serena stared at her mother for a long time before turning toward the shattered door. Kellinar let the weave go, dropping Serena’s father unceremoniously on the floor.
As they stepped out onto the street, Farlain barreled through the door and grabbed Serena’s arm. “You ungrateful little wench, look what you did to my door!”
Kellinar reached for his magic again but never got a chance to use it. Miya landed heavily in the street, her wings whipping the air around them. The street emptied of people as she stuck her snout straight into Farlain’s face, smoke curling from her nostrils. She slammed her thoughts into Farlain’s head with such force even Kellinar could hear it in his mind. “You will take your hands off my rider.”
Farlain had no choice. He screamed and let go of Serena, grabbing the sides of his head as he sank to the ground and passed out. Even gentle, direct communication from a dragon was extremely loud and uncomfortable for the unbonded. And there had been nothing gentle about Miya’s message.
Serena stared at the man on the ground who was supposed to be her father and walked away. She ran her hand over the yellow’s face. “Thank you, my love. Now fly before they all jump over the city wall and kill themselves. There are terrified enough of dragons. They haven’t been treated well.”
Miya glared at the unconscious man on the ground and then lifted off, as Kellinar pulled Serena into a hug. “Are you alright?”
Serena clung to him for a minute, letting her tears fall. Finally, she stepped back and wiped her face. She lifted her chin. “Let’s go, there is nothing here for me.” She glanced back at the house once. “I was a fool to think there ever was.”
She looked back at him, firm resolution in her eyes. “Time to tear this place apart. It wasn’t what I hoped for; it isn’t what I would choose if there was any other way. Unfortunately, the people of the Mallay will never have anything in life if we don’t.”
Taela nodded slowly, her eyes sad. “There is no other way. Not enough people care here.”
Kellinar linked his hand with Taela’s again as they walked toward the Mallay.
Maleena sighed with relief and rubbed her hand over the slight mound of her belly as Nydara landed behind the house of Mckale’s family. Fates, she was tired. The time spent in Shadereen trying to get towers up for as many towns as possible had been exhausting and the skirmish with the Shadow Dragons at Welan had been only one of several they had to handle.
It seemed strange the Shadow Dragons showed up at every town they went to, almost as if someone was tipping them off. They had numbered more than three every time after Welan. Maleena slid off the silver and dropped to the ground as Tellnox landed. She rubbed her temples.
Latia landed right after Tellnox and a tired Anevay began unfastening her safety straps. After Sliding back and forth between Shadereen and Trilene several times, she finally decided to stay with them for a little while.
Maleena unbuckled the catcher strap then straightened and arched her back, bracing her hands on her lower back as she did. It would be good to relax for a day or two. Between creating the watchtowers in both Calladar and Shadereen, it had been over a month since she had
seen Mckale’s family.
Mola’s sharp barks of joy heralded the arrival of Barden and Sonja as they rounded the barn. “Mckale, Maleena, it’s good to see you and your dragons again,” Barden called as he crossed the grass that had turned green in their absence. He paused as he took in Latia and Anevay. “And you bring another with you. Mckale, you must have a knack for finding beautiful women.”
Sonja rolled her eyes at her father and smiled at Maleena. “I see the babe finally makes its presence visible.”
Maleena ran her hand over the small mound again. “Yes, and has begun to kick.”
Mckale walked up and put an arm around her. “Sonja, Father, I would like to introduce Anevay and her dragon, Latia. Anevay is the bondmate of a good friend of ours.”
Bardeck glanced at the yellow dragon and back to Anevay before holding out his hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Anevay.”
She placed her hand in his and laughed when he kissed the back of it. “Your father is a charmer, Mckale.”
“It’s a shame you missed the Spring Dance, Maleena,” Sonja said, a wistful look in her eyes. Happiness radiated from her like a warm sun.
“You didn’t miss it though, did you?” Maleena said.
Sonja danced in a small circle, her face glowing. “No, I did not.”
Maleena peered around the yard behind the barn. The mid-day sun shone down on the goats roaming in one small pasture while the horses grazed in another larger one. “Where is your new husband? Are you still living here?”
Barden scowled slightly. “Yes, they both live here now.”
“Only until Yaden can build our house.”
Mckale’s father snorted. “He’d better get a move on, he only has a year.”
Anevay frowned. “What happens in a year?”
“The new husband has one year to build his wife a house,” Mckale answered. “If he fails to complete it in the year, the wife’s family has the right to negate the marriage on the grounds that he can’t provide for her and any future children.”
Tears of War Page 34