Arianwyn glanced out the window. The sun had not yet risen. The moons and stars were still the more prominent lights in the sky. She frowned, wondering what the king was up to. “Do either of you know what His Majesty has in mind?”
“You’re wearing one of his old riding jackets, lady,” Sigurd responded.
“If this is a riding jacket, why haven’t I worn one before?”
Wymond chuckled and Sigurd answered, “Not for riding horses, m’lady.”
Arianwyn frowned, still not understanding. She entered the courtyard, the slight nip of coolness in the air relieving some of the heat from wearing the jacket inside. She glanced around the courtyard, unable to see far in the flickering torchlight. A slight shifting of blackness caught her attention. Sigurd and Wymond both moved into defensive stances, Wymond drawing Arianwyn back slightly.
“At ease,” King Rael’s voice drifted over to them. They both relaxed, breathing easier. “Call your dragon down,” he ordered.
:Dragon?:
:What do you want?: She could feel the yawn and stretch in dragon’s voice.
:The king has summoned us.:
Dragon laughed softly. Arianwyn sensed her rolling carefully onto her back to scratch it on the floor. :He isn’t my king.:
:Will you come?:
:I still want to know why.:
Arianwyn sighed and turned to the king. “Begging your pardon, Your Majesty, but she wishes to know why.” Arianwyn felt a blast of hot air on the side of her face. She turned to see the source. One giant eye reflected the reddish yellow glow of the torch.
The king slapped his dragon lightly on the muzzle. “I know. I think it’s part of the gender.” His dragon rumbled slightly. “Tell her we’re going flying…unless you’d rather stay here with Lysander…”
“I’ll inform her immediately, Your Majesty,” Arianwyn said hastily. :Well? Will you go flying with me? Or should I ask the king if we can ride double?:
Dragon growled, irritated. :You do not need another dragon to carry you about. I’m coming.:
Arianwyn smiled and was surprised when the king grinned back. “Good. I thought she might like to get out.”
“May I ask where we’re going, Your Majesty?”
He shrugged. “Flying. It isn’t often that I can avoid Tad and his infernal schedule.”
Dragon arrived, her hide gleaming silver in the dim light, the backdraft from her wings kicking up dust. “Finally,” King Rael said to her. She snorted in his direction, blasting him with hot air. He grinned at her and turned back to Arianwyn. “Quickly now, before we’re caught!” He pulled her hood up. “Almost forgot this!” He pulled out a scarf and wrapped it around her head, covering the lower half of her face. She moved to pull it down, but he stopped her with a sharp slap on her hand. He wrapped his face in the same way, hiding his almost boyish grin of excitement, and then turned to his dragon. He vaulted easily up between the shoulders.
Arianwyn scrambled onto Dragon’s back, the king’s excitement becoming infectious. She had barely settled herself when Dragon crouched down and leapt into the air, followed shortly by the king and his dragon. They gained height rapidly, the air cooling the higher they climbed. Arianwyn huddled down close to Dragon’s neck, shivering as the air continued to cool. Dragon had never flown this high with her before and she soon saw the wisdom in wearing the heavy coat and scarf. She pulled the sleeves down over her hands and hugged closer to Dragon.
The dragons veered east, adjusting their wings to keep them aloft and take advantage of the wind coming from behind. Arianwyn glanced behind them. The castle lights had already vanished. The first moon had set and the second was hovering just over the mountains. She turned east and watched as the sun seemed to rise up to meet them. Dragon stretched out her neck and roared happily and Arianwyn grinned in response. They had rarely had the luxury to fly for pleasure. They had always been fleeing from someone or something.
:He has fine form, does he not?: Dragon asked, sneaking a glance under her wing at the king’s dragon.
Arianwyn laughed, shaking her head. She sensed Dragon admiring the king’s dragon and turned to observe the large black creature. :If you insist.:
:I do. His muscles are well formed and he flies well. He will make a fine mate,: she half purred.
:Do we really have to discuss this?: Arianwyn asked, blushing.
:We should,: Dragon said firmly. :After all, we are both going to be mating soon and should be prepared for what is to come. Have you not considered how our bond will affect us?:
:Oh, dear.:
:Yes. It should be interesting. I have never mated before. Have you?:
:Dragon, I don’t know what to expect any more than you do.:
:Perhaps your male will have more information. Be sure to ask him when we land,: Dragon decided. Arianwyn shook her head. She had no intentions of having that particular conversation with the king. :Your male is trying to get your attention.:
Arianwyn twisted around. She could barely make him out in the dim morning light. He seemed to be pointing towards the south. Arianwyn looked and noticed black clouds gathering. :Does this mean we have to go back?:
:No.: Dragon responded. :That is not a storm.:
Arianwyn frowned. :What is it?: Dragon’s shoulders rippled in a shrug and they continued eastward. Near sunrise, a shadow passed over Arianwyn and Dragon as Rael and his dragon surged ahead of them. They adjusted course slightly, veering toward the north.
The sun was full in the sky before Rael and his dragon began to descend. Arianwyn and Dragon followed. They flew lower, wingtips grazing the pine trees beneath them. A large mountain lake appeared in front of them. The king’s dragon dropped down when the pine trees cleared, feet extended into the clear, calm lake. Water flew in all directions beneath his feet. Dragon followed suit, landing in the icy mountain lake behind him. She tucked her wings back and paddled over to shore, helping Arianwyn dismount on shore before splashing back out into the water.
Rael lowered a knapsack from his back, pulling out a small blanket. He pulled his scarf down and tossed the blanket to Arianwyn. “Spread that out and then gather firewood.” Arianwyn followed directions, returning shortly and preparing a small fire. Rael had pulled out a bottle of something liquid, some cheese, a dark loaf of bread, and several apples. He stretched out on the blanket, crunching into an apple. “Now we can talk,” he said.
Arianwyn rolled up her sleeves and set to work creating a bow and drill. “What did you wish to discuss, Your Majesty?” As she worked on the fire, her mind wandered back to her conversation with Dragon. She fought down the rising blush, focusing on the fire. She hoped that he and his dragon weren’t having the same conversation.
“What are you doing?” he asked, watching her curiously.
“Lighting the fire.”
“By making a hole in a board with a stick?” He chuckled. “Here, use the flint and steel I brought.” He tossed the knapsack over to her. Arianwyn dug to the bottom and pulled out the flint and steel. She fanned the flames to life, carefully feeding the fire. “Sit and eat,” he ordered, “and tell me about yourself.”
Arianwyn tucked her skirts underneath her, breaking off a hunk of bread and cheese. “There isn’t much to tell, Sire.”
He snorted. “We’re not at court. When we are in private, you may call me Rael.”
Arianwyn bowed her head. “As you wish. There still isn’t much to tell.” He sat up and pulled out two glasses. He filled them both with a pale, yellow drink. Arianwyn took a sip and frowned, inspecting the liquid. “What is it?”
“Grape juice.” She raised an eyebrow and he laughed. “It’s made from crushed white grapes. Do you like it?”
She swirled it in her glass before trying another swallow and then shrugged. “It’s different, but not bad.”
He raised his glass in salute to her. “I was born and raised in the palace that we both currently occupy. Charon hatched about an hour after I was born and we’ve been Bonded ever since.”<
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Arianwyn blinked. “Who?”
“Charon…my dragon.”
“Did you name him?”
“Of course not! You should know as well as I that a dragon is not a pet.”
Arianwyn blushed. “No, of course they’re not. It’s just…I didn’t realize that dragons had names.”
Rael laughed. “What do you call your dragon then?”
Arianwyn shrugged. “Dragon, of course.” Rael laughed again, shaking his head. Arianwyn looked across the lake. Dragon and Charon were floating on their backs, stomachs exposed to the morning light. :Do you have a name?:
:Of course I do.:
:Why haven’t you ever told me?:
She felt Dragon shrug. :You’ve never asked. Do you want to know?:
:Of course I do!:
:It’s Parvati.:
Arianwyn tried the name out in her mind. “Her name is Parvati,” she told Rael. The word felt foreign to her tongue.
:Par-VAH-tee,: Parvati corrected.
Arianwyn tried the name again. “Parvati.”
:Closer,: Parvati said.
Rael nodded and continued his narrative. “I spent my childhood in the castle. At the age of fourteen, I was apprenticed for one year to each of the thanes that I might learn their respective territories and needs. At eighteen I traveled as ambassador to the Territories of the Makara, where I met Hammurabi.”
“He’s from the Makara?” Rael nodded. “I thought everyone from there were assassins and murderers! I left him alone with Lady Alyssa!” Arianwyn moved to stand, alarmed.
Rael waved her back down, chuckling. “While it is a common occupation there, we have nothing to fear from Hammurabi. There are no other people more knowledgeable about the use of plants than the Makara.” Arianwyn settled back onto the blanket and continued eating and listening. She glanced across the lake, where Parvati and Charon had left the water and were now sunning in the grass. “I returned to take my place as king when I was twenty-two.”
“How long have you been king?”
Rael blinked, surprised. “You don’t know? There were celebrations for over a week!”
Arianwyn shrugged. “Maybe for the well-to-do or here in the capital. Besides, it was not important to me who the king was so long as he left me alone.”
Rael chuckled. “And now you’re engaged to the monster.” Arianwyn blushed and began to stutter an apology. Rael waved it away. “I’ve been king for four years now. And the thanes have been clamoring since I returned from the Makara for me to choose a bride.”
“So you’re…”Arianwyn screwed her eyebrows together, thinking and ticking numbers on her fingers, “twenty-six, correct?”
Rael nodded. “It’s your turn to tell me your story. Then we had best return to the Keep.”
Arianwyn sighed, putting her glass down and thinking. “I don’t know where I was born or how old I am,” she admitted. “My mother died when I was very young and father not much longer after that. I grew up in one of the northern quarry towns. I was just becoming a young woman when I ran away, I do know that. It must have been spring when I left because I stayed in the forests for a long time.”
“Which is why you were attempting to start the fire so crudely?” Rael interrupted.
Arianwyn nodded, shrugging slightly. “There are several things I learned living in the forest, others working as a servant or a maid. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to winter well on my own. I had just decided to find a village to winter in when I found Dragon…Parvati.” Arianwyn smiled across the lake at Parvati. “She’s saved me more times than I can count.”
Rael sat up, resting his elbows on his knees and looked at Arianwyn intently. “Did you Bond with her as a hatchling?”
“No, she was full grown.”
Rael stood up, clasping his hands behind his back and looking intently into the trees. “A wild Bonding…incredible…” He turned back to Arianwyn. “How did you get so close to her? And were there others around?”
Arianwyn shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny. “She was the only dragon there. She had been captured in a magical net and only Bonded me out of desperation,” Arianwyn admitted.
Rael stiffened. “Captured? Did you get a look at the attackers?”
Arianwyn shook her head. “We were both pretty desperate to get out of there and it was getting dark. I’m sorry.”
Rael sighed. “No matter, now. We will need to discuss this further at a later date, though. Continue your story.”
“I worked in another village at an inn for a few years before leaving there when I discovered the innkeeper was planning to sell me,” she shivered at the memory. Rael’s eyes narrowed and he frowned, opening his mouth to question her further. Arianwyn rushed on before he asked uncomfortable questions. “Drag…Parvati and I agreed after several weeks to come to the capital and look for work. Tess found me and hired me the first day here.” Arianwyn shrugged. “Except for being a servant in the Keep for a year, there isn’t anything else to tell.”
Rael continued to stand, staring across at the dragons. “How did you discover the entrance to the Dragon’s Cave?”
Arianwyn winced. “That was an accident.” Rael looked at her, eyebrow raised. “Tess asked me to clean your rooms. I had just finished when I noticed that one of the brass fixtures surrounding the fireplace needed polishing. I touched it to check it and noticed it was loose. So I wiggled it a bit and accidentally opened the door.”
Rael stared at her incredulously. “It truly was an accident?” She nodded. “Why did you try running?”
Arianwyn flushed again. “I thought you were going to beat me or kill me.”
Rael rubbed his forehead. “I was only going to kill you if you tried leaving. I thought that would be proof of your duplicity.”
The corners of Arianwyn’s mouth quirked up. “And in my experience, as soon as you come to the attention of your superior, it is only a matter of time before they attempt taking advantage of their authority.”
Rael grunted and extended his hand to help her stand. “And here we are now…” he sighed.
Arianwyn glanced sideways at him, brushing her skirts loose and beginning to pack up their breakfast. “Do you regret it, Your Majesty?”
He shrugged, putting out the fire. “Do not take this personally when I inform you that one woman is as good as another when it comes to a wife.”
“I was told you were going to choose Lady Ethelinda.” Arianwyn folded the blanket and put it back in the knapsack.
“I was. Politically, she was the best choice. She’s beautiful, intelligent and her father is well-connected and powerful.” Rael sighed. “Now he is a dangerous enemy.” He shook out the glasses and handed them to Arianwyn to stow in the knapsack.
“What were those clouds?”
He smiled grimly. “You saw them, did you?”
“I don’t know how anyone could miss them.”
He chuckled. “Only those who are Bonded can see those particular clouds. Dramatically? They are the Clouds of War. When a clash of the Totems is imminent, the Clouds appear as a warning.”
“There is war? Shouldn’t we warn the southern thane?”
Rael shook his head. “It is imminent, a strong possibility. We would be wise to be prepared for it,” he finished, almost as if to himself. They wandered around the lake, walking side by side toward the dragons, each lost in his and her own thoughts. Rael’s dragon-enhanced reactions were all that saved them.
Water exploded upwards, tentacles racing over the sand and reaching to twine around their legs. Rael grabbed Arianwyn’s shoulders, pulling her back and away from the tentacles with him. Arianwyn lost her balance when Rael abruptly let go. He spun and drew his sword in one smooth motion. His movements were a blur to Arianwyn’s eyes. She scrambled backward, searching for any sign of the monster.
“Calm down, keep your head,” she muttered, standing up and taking a deep breath. She backed up so that her back was to a large boulder. With a massive overhand sw
ing, Rael lopped off the end of one of the tentacles. Arianwyn closed her eyes, concentrating. “Water,” she whispered.
The beast came roaring furiously out of the water, intent on killing Rael. It raised its body out of the water. Arianwyn gaped. The creature had a bird-like beak in the center of its head, more tentacles thrashing the water into foam. Its body was oily black in appearance. A giant, single eye dominated its head, over the beak.
The dragons had taken to the sky and were taking turns diving at the creature, fireballs exploding and hissing around the creature. Each explosion caused the creature to flinch and shriek in fury. Rael backed up, sword weaving defensively in front of him. “Get out of here!” he yelled at her. Arianwyn ignored him and focused on the water.
The light blue haze darkened around the lake in her vision. She envisioned tentacles of water coming out of the lake, wrapping around the beast and dragging it back down into the lake. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. “Enclose the monster,” she said clearly. Pillars of water shot upward into the sky before bending toward the creature. The pillars split into smaller streams, like a web, and wrapped around the juncture of the monster’s body and legs. As the water touched the body, it flattened and spread out, covering more of the creature. “Pull it back to the deep,” she commanded the water, sweat beading on her forehead.
The water surged back, pulling the creature under. It struggled to capture Rael, screeching furiously and lunging against the water. Arianwyn clenched her teeth, a knot of pain developing in the center of her head and spreading outwards. “Return it to the deep!” she growled under her breath, forcing the water to bend to her will.
The water encased the head of the creature and silence fell over the meadow. Slowly, it sank deeper into the lake. Arianwyn focused intently on the water, still feeling the creature struggling against the bonds she had imposed on it. Rael sheathed his sword and ran towards Arianwyn. “Charon!” he called.
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