“You could stay there forever if you want, but I don’t recommend it. The coyotes are mighty ravenous out here in the desert. I’m sure you would make for a tasty snack.”
Leland motioned for Catori to go first. Grabbing the rope, she pulled herself up toward the light, hoping these people were friendly. The sharp voice from above wasn’t reassuring. When she reached the top, a hand was held out for her to grab, which she did, and it heaved her out of the hole.
The moment she had her feet topside, another person grabbed her arm and gave her a good, swift tug.
“Catori of the Reinhardt clan, eh? Our leader is going to want to see you. By the way, the Reinhardts are all dead. I highly doubt you are who you say you are.”
The man flashed his brilliant emerald eyes at her. The unnatural, luminescent color marked him as a dragon shifter. Maybe it was a challenge or to show Catori he wasn’t quite human. Maybe it should have scared her, but it didn’t. Leland would probably terrified of such a display, though, as he had not seen a dragon shifter use magic to change their eyes before Catori had held Tarek in her grip.
All the time Catori had been in the Institute with Jack, they’d been given serums to suppress their shifting abilities, trapping them in their human forms. But it had been a long time since her last injection of serum, and she mimicked his display, flashing her own emerald dragon eyes back toward him, proving that she had dragon blood.
Stunned, the guy looked away but continued to pull on her arm, causing her to yelp. “Our leader does not tolerate insubordination. You will do as you’re told or you’ll suffer the consequences, girl. Until we can figure out who you are, you’re still highly suspect.”
Catori bit into her lip to keep from crying out again as he dug his fingers into her arm. She glanced back at Leland, who had emerged from the pit and was being treated just as roughly by the other soldier. Maybe after her show of power, they had assumed Leland was a dragon shifter as well. She hoped they didn’t treat them too harshly, for his hide was a lot softer than a dragon shifter’s skin and would bruise easily. Soon enough, they would find out they were dealing with a human. Would that be the end of Leland? She hoped not.
They dragged them both toward a cave in the lower mountain range which led down into cool underground caverns lined with pools of water. Who knew all this existed below the unrelenting desert heat? The smooth, wavering pools beckoned to her. Catori had lost her bottle of water in the pit, and her mouth was already sticking to itself, aching for just one little taste.
She’d have to wait, for they tugged them along past the pools and deeper into the cavern. Surrounding them were countless glowing eyes. People lined the main hallway, staring at them, studying the new prisoners. If nothing else, the darkness would be Leland’s undoing. His eyes would fail to reflect the dim lantern light, and he’d surely be done once they noticed that.
Catori gulped and hoped she could cause a distraction before they noticed his lack of abilities. They approached a sort of throne room where a man sat looking bored, his boots laced up tight on his feet and kicked up on the arm of the chair. His entire uniform was dark leather, laced all the way up to his shoulders. It was a riding outfit, and he looked like he’d just returned from a desert outing himself, for pale dirt caked his boots and lightly dusted the rest of him, including his long dark brown hair.
They were pushed forward, and he sat up to get a good look at them both. Close up, the leader was revealed as handsome. He was older than Catori by at least five years. When his interest shifted toward Leland, his eyes widened just enough that Catori knew they were done for. He knew Leland was no shifter. If the fact Leland was a former Paladin of the Lucidium Order was revealed, he would surely be put to death.
“What creatures have you brought me, Bran?” the leader asked.
The man holding onto Catori bowed his head. “They fell into one of our traps along the perimeter of the nest. They got far too close. This one claims she’s of the Reinhardt clan, but I highly doubt it. She’s been confirmed as a shifter, but I don’t know if she’s a friendly or not.”
There was a murmur of voices from the left, and everybody, including the leader, turned to watch as an older man pushed and shoved through the thick crowd until he was right next to Bran, eyeing Catori with wide, brilliant grey eyes.
“You’re from the Reinhardt clan? Could it be… which one are you? Which daughter?”
Catori’s eyes widened as she stared at the older man. He looked familiar but for the white hair and receding hairline. Try as she might, she could not place him. His voice triggered something in her mind. She knew this man and had met him before, but who was he?
“My name is Catori. I was taken from my family seven or eight years ago. I’m searching for them. Do you know where they are?”
The man shook his head, and his shoulders sagged as she asked her impossible questions. His reaction gave her all the information she needed to know, and she dropped her eyes to the ground while tears welled up inside them.
“I’m sorry, m’lady,” the man responded, “but the Reinhardt clan was exterminated by the Lucidium Order around the time you were taken. We believed all the Reinhardts had been killed. I lost my own son in that attack. Jack of the Talinion clan.” His eyes shot back up, a slight hope flickering in them. “I never found his body. Was he imprisoned with you?”
Catori frowned. She closed her eyes as tears spilled down her cheeks. “Jack was taken with me. He was alive up until a few days ago. He perished when we attempted our escape. He died valiantly saving my life. I do not believe he is still alive.” She looked back up at the man who was Jack’s father. His name suddenly came to her: John. John Talinion. “I wish he could’ve been here with you, to grow into a young man. I’ll remember him always. He kept my spirits up all these years.” She wiped away a tear. “I remember you now. In the Institute, I forgot a lot of things. I think my mind was trying to protect me from the painful memories, but it’s all coming back now. You… you were like a second father to me.”
The urge to run to him and give him a hug was nearly overpowering, but she held steadfastly to her spot.
“So it’s true? Jack’s dead?” He wasn’t truly asking, but saying it out loud probably made it more real to him.
She nodded. “I’m so sorry, John. We tried to get away. It was our one chance to escape, and we blew it. He was behind me and was shot with an arrow. He urged me to keep going. I couldn’t turn back; it was far too dangerous.”
John nodded, looking solemn, but he quickly straightened and met Catori’s gaze, giving her a slight smile filled with warmth but edged with a profound sadness. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Jack was supposed to be here with her, not Leland.
“Thank you for letting me know what happened to my son. I never knew, but I always believed him to be alive. At least I know he was until now.”
He turned away, causing her heart to wilt as she watched him leave the room. There was no good news today; her family was all dead, her best friend was long gone, and his father was too overcome with grief to welcome her back. If only she had brought Jack back. Would it have mattered?
“And what of this thing you have brought with you?” The man on the throne hopped to his feet and eyed Leland with pure, unfiltered hatred. “He is not of dragon blood. How dare you bring a human into our midst?” He narrowed his eyes at Leland before he flicked them back to Catori. “You know this is forbidden. Guards—take him away and kill him.”
Leland began to struggle as the crowd gasped. Catori stepped forward, squirming in Bran’s firm grasp. “No! You can’t kill him. He is bound to me by an oath. His life magic will abandon him if he ever breaks it.”
Everyone stopped wrestling as Bran let her go, stunned by her words. Catori gasped for breath and stared at the tribe’s leader, surprised by everyone’s sudden reaction to her statement. She lifted her chin and held her ground defiantly before their leader, who watched her warily, scrutinized her from head to toe, cha
llenging her with his own emerald stare. Long seconds passed before he smirked, and a malicious grin spread across his face.
“Well, now. A human slave bound to you by magic. Very well. We won’t kill it, but you’ll need to wrangle it a little bit better than that, or else we’ll be forced to put him in his rightful place.”
Catori bowed her head, relief flooding her body. “Thank you. I will keep him under control. He poses no danger to the tribe.”
“You’d better be right, Reinhardt. If a Paladin were to find us, we’d have to abandon our humble home.” His eyes glazed over, their glow absent for two seconds as his thoughts wandered. Bran growled next to her, cursing under his breath. She glanced at the enforcer and realized he looked like he might be related to the leader standing before her. Were they brothers?
“What do you mean?” Catori asked. “Have Paladins been here before?”
“He means we’ve already been compromised by this Paladin.” Bran reached over and ripped Leland’s shirt open, exposing a tattoo on his right pectoral muscle.
Catori’s eyes widened. How had she not known he had it to mark him as a full Paladin? He had never mentioned it. This was not good. Not good at all.
Bran smirked. “Few humans possess life magic. As soon as you said he was bound to you, we knew he had to be either a Paladin or some meddler who’s read a few tomes and thinks he understands such things.”
The room erupted in murmurs and whispers as the stunned shifters realized there was a Lucidium Paladin in their midst. Anger flashed on the leader’s face, scales rippling along the skin of his cheeks and jaw. Steam leaked from his flaring nostrils as his eyes narrowed into snakelike slits.
“How dare you bring a Paladin into our nest? It’s treason!”
“Wait,” Catori pleaded. “He’s no longer a Paladin. He renounced the Order when he swore his allegiance to me. He’s bound to me by magic. The mark means nothing now.” Catori held her hands out toward the leader, pleading, before Bran grabbed her arms and yanked her back away.
“Brian, this is a matter for Fenwick, not you,” Bran said, still gripping onto Catori’s arms, but his hold was less rough this time. “We have to wait until he returns. Fenwick will be pissed if he knew you decided on this without him. Oaths upheld by life magic are not taken lightly, especially those made with humans. Leave it to Fenwick, brother.”
Bran stared hard at his sibling as Catori chewed on her lip, waiting for Brian’s answer. Who was this Fenwick? Brian was apparently the second-in-command and not the true leader. This realization had Catori straightening with the hope they had not met their ultimate end. There was someone else they could plead their case to.
“Yes, I heard you, brother,” Brian said, scowling. “They’ll get an audience with Fenwick, but I must speak with him before he deals with this scum.”
Brian stared hard at Catori, narrowing his eyes with hatred. Pressing his lips together into a thin line, he turned around and walked past the throne before stopping and looking over a shoulder calling out to them.
“Fenwick arrives tonight. It will be left up to him if the Paladin lives or dies. Until then, throw them in a cell. We cannot trust these strangers.”
Chapter Twelve
For the hundredth time, Leland checked the sturdiness of every bar, brick, and seam in the cell. Nothing was loose or looked defective enough to dislodge.
“This is ridiculous. Why do we have to wait in a cell for Fenwick? I’m one of them.” Catori groaned in frustration, sitting with her back to one of the cold, dirty walls. She was a prisoner once more, a fact that stung her more than all the pinpricks she’d received at the Institute. “Fenwick is going to get an earful from me about this disgraceful treatment.”
“It’s not like you’re royalty.” Leland dusted some of the dirt off another brick, but to his dismay, found nothing of interest. Catori’s silence caught his attention, and he glanced back at the girl who was balled up tight, her arms wrapped around her legs, and her head resting on her knees. “Or are you?”
“What does it matter?”
Leland’s eyes widened. “You are? You never told me you were royalty.”
“It doesn’t matter. Like I said, it wouldn’t change a thing.”
“But you’d have some pull, right? Your claim… it could rally the others to switch to your side. You should have mentioned it earlier, in the throne room.”
“Just stop already. They know. Believe me. Fenwick will know too. Not to mention my family’s enemies who wanted them done for before the Lucidium Order ruined everything. Trust me, they know.”
Leland frowned and headed over toward Catori’s spot. There, he slid down to sit next to her. The cell was frigid, and his fingers were already frozen to the bone. He hoped Catori wasn’t cold and sat mere inches away but close enough to feel her body heat. He hoped his own would help her stave off the cold too.
“They don’t have heat in this place, do they? Who knew the desert could be so damned cold.”
Catori lifted her head and studied him. “Are you cold, Leland?”
“Yes. I’ll be fine. Nothing I’ve never slept through before.” He rubbed his shoulders and wrapped his arms around himself.
She gave him a small laugh. “You humans. So frail and meek. Yet brave and curious. I have to give it to you, you surprise me all the time.”
Leland scowled. “Frail? I don’t think so. You’ve got us all pegged wrong. Most creatures like you underestimate humans. Why do you think Paladins are so feared? It’s not because we are frail. Plus, we do have magic, it’s just not as impressive as yours. But it makes us stronger, faster, enhances our senses… no, we’re not weak. Quite the opposite.”
Catori’s smile fell, and she stared down at her feet. “You’re right. Humans appear frail, but their capacity to fight and band together makes them dangerous.”
“We have a capacity for great love too.”
“I’ve never seen it.”
“You’ve never lived amongst humans who weren’t oppressing you.”
Catori mulled over Leland’s words, conflicted. She knew he was right. Like dragons, humans could love. She’d seen Paladins eye each other with desire and adoration. Some of them even paired, like Leland and Tarek’s parents. She wished she’d seen more of that rather than her cramped cell and bitter guards who were on the lowest rung in the Order. It fed her loneliness even more. It was an apparent hole in her chest she desperately wanted to fill.
Leland shivered once more, rubbing his arms up and down to stave off the chill.
“Did you know dragons don’t often get cold? We make our own heat.”
Leland stopped rubbing his arms and peered over at her. His dark eyes shined in the faint light.
“Really?”
“We create our own heat. Unless depleted and near death, our magic keeps us warm. We can radiate heat at will. Here, come closer.”
He hesitated but reached out to touch her hand and felt an immediate wrap of delicious warmth.
“Wow! You’re like a fire.”
Catori laughed. “Yes. Inner fire burns within all dragons. When we shift, this inner fire becomes our weapon as we breathe it out and burn all that go against us.”
They sat in silence, listening to the distant murmur of voices as they echoed through the halls of the cavern. Leland no longer shivered, and Catori felt happy she could give him some comfort in this cold, cruel place. There was nothing more they could do until their meeting with Fenwick, a name that sounded vaguely familiar to the young dragon girl, but no matter how hard she tried to put a face to it, it eluded her.
***
“Up, both of you.” A gruff voice woke them from their dreams and uncomfortable sleep. They rubbed their faces and stood, smoothing down their hair and clothes. Stretching the stiffness of the night away, they followed Bran out of the cell and into an area they hadn’t seen.
“Get yourselves cleaned up. You’re a wreck and not fit to see our leader this way. There’s breakfast
for you on the table.” Bran motioned them into another room, which was split into two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a central living area. The place was cozy and clean for an underground cavern. In the bathroom was an old tin tub filled with steaming water. They’d both have to take a bath in it, and the thought of that made them frown.
“Ladies first.” Leland cleared his throat and turned away to sit at the meager table, his back to her. Catori groaned but quickly got to cleaning up. When she emerged, some of the water was gone, splashed into the other empty basin where she had rinsed off to keep the heated water somewhat clean.
Leland smiled at her loose clothes, which had been left by the tub by their captors. He’d noticed that there was a set for him too. Catori’s garments fit better than the clothes he’d met her in, but they still hung enough to give her freedom of movement. Great clothes to fight in, he casually thought.
“Eat up. The sandwiches are actually pretty good.” He stuffed the last bite of his meal into his mouth as he left the room to clean up as well. Catori eyed the food, her mouth drooling as she picked up a sandwich and took a generous bite. Chewing as she sat down with her back to Leland, she wondered if they were going to be holed up here as roommates. The thought made her cheeks turn red. The place barely had any privacy, but it was better than sleeping on the floor of the cell.
She wondered if all the living quarters looked like this one. From what she’d seen, the cavern was large and had many tunnels and side chambers. She looked at the door and noticed a keyhole but no key. This place must have been designed for guests who weren’t all that welcome but weren’t exactly prisoners. She checked the door. Locked, of course.
“Have you met this Fenwick?” Leland called from the tub.
“No. He sounds familiar, but I can’t remember him for the life of me.”
“You think he’ll be merciful to us?”
“To you, you mean?”
A Plague of Dragons (A Dragon Anthology) Page 29