She took the opportunity to study the steward. He was tall and reed thin. His skin was stretched tightly over his body and his lips were pressed into a perpetually thin line. He had a few wisps of hair still clinging stubbornly to his head that were combed severely back. His clothes looked like they had been washed, dried, and starched carefully on his body so that there was not a wrinkle on them. He carried a slightly musty smell about him, as if he had not been outdoors in a long time.
Tad finished reading the day’s agenda and Rael shook his head. “That won’t do. Switch this morning and the afternoon around. Let the petitions come early and I can spend the afternoon answering letters. The storms show no sign of abating today.” Tad made a careful note on the scroll. “Invite the Merchant Guildmasters to lunch as well as the Mining Guildmasters. They need to come to an agreement on weights and prices. And add a round with my guards for this evening.” Tad nodded, meticulously making the changes where Rael noted.
“Will that be all, Your Majesty?” Rael nodded. “I will have the criers announce petitions for this morning and send messengers to the Guildmasters, then.” He bowed stiffly and left the room.
“Any word?” Arianwyn asked anxiously the moment the door closed. Rael shook his head no. Arianwyn sighed. “I’ve been worrying about her all night.”
Rael shrugged. “They’re two dragons. You shouldn’t worry so much.”
Arianwyn nibbled on a piece of toast, glancing occasionally at the king. There was a stack of parchment at his elbow he was reading in between bites. “Does Tad come in every morning?” He nodded and continued eating. Arianwyn waited. “Was there any particular reason you wished to dine with me, Sire?”
Rael glanced up at her, and then looked around the room. “I have told you that you needn’t address me formally when we are in private.”
“Considering you’ve barely said two words to me without prodding, I wondered if this wasn’t a formal breakfast.”
Rael scowled slightly. “I’m beginning to regret inviting you.” Arianwyn stiffened, glaring back. “When we finish eating, I planned to check the Dragon’s Cave. It is possible that they are so deeply asleep that they cannot hear us. Eat something.”
“I’m sorry,” Arianwyn said, letting go of her anger. Rael grunted and finished eating, picking up a quill to make a few notes and setting aside the top piece of parchment. Arianwyn fidgeted and waited, only picking at the food halfheartedly.
“How did you know the common man’s name?” Rael asked suddenly.
Thoughts of the dragons fled Arianwyn’s mind. “He’s…he’s an old friend from the village I worked in before coming here.”
“Sigurd did not give the same report.”
Arianwyn blushed but sat up straight. “Are you spying on me, Your Majesty?”
“Of course I am,” he scowled at her. “How am I to protect you if I don’t know what you’re doing?”
“Why bother asking if you already know the answer?” She crossed her arms, keeping her back straight. She was determined not to back down on this.
Rael slapped the table with his hand. “Do not play games with me. You are already engaged?”
“No, Your Majesty, I am not!” she hissed back. “He proposed. I did not give him an answer before leaving.”
“He followed you here.”
“He didn’t know I came here. He is a good man doing what he thought best.”
Rael studied her a moment. “I could release you from your duty of marriage.”
Ice formed in her stomach. She wanted to scream at him. She closed her eyes, trying for logic instead. “Are you mad? After dealing with the thanes?”
“It would be better to end the marriage before it starts than deal with scandal should you and your ‘friend’ have ideas beyond friendship,” Rael snapped back.
Arianwyn took a deep breath, opening her eyes and forcing her fists to unclench. She glared at Rael glaring at her. The anger was flickering dangerously in his eyes again, she noted absently. “Rael, I did not answer Bernie because I did not want to marry him.” Her throat ached with the effort of keeping her voice down.
Rael frowned. “That makes no sense. Why would he propose if you weren’t interested in him?”
Arianwyn winced. “Because…” She looked away, taking another deep breath and organizing her thoughts. She glanced at Rael and rushed into her explanation. “I had no one except Parvati. While she is formidable, she cannot be with me all the time. Bernie treated me well and would provide stability and security.”
The tension left Rael’s shoulders abruptly, understanding replacing his anger. “He was safe.” Arianwyn looked at Rael in surprise. He reached across the table and took her hand. “From what you have told me, safety was in short supply during your life.” Arianwyn shrugged uncomfortably, looking away from him. Rael sighed and dropped her hand. “We should check on the dragons.” Arianwyn stood quickly with Rael. She followed him back up the winding passageway, keeping right behind his back and occasionally bouncing to try to see over his shoulder.
They came out at the top. Frost glittered in the few rays of light that entered the cave. Their breath rose mistily into the air. Arianwyn buried her hands in the sleeves of her dress, looking hopelessly around the cavern. “They’re not here,” she said. She wandered to the edge again, glancing into the gusting wind. The icy rain had temporarily abated, though the clouds continued to threaten the city.
Rael walked deeper into the cavern, looking at the ground. “They haven’t returned yet…” His voice trailed off and he stared blankly out of the cave entrance. He exhaled heavily and moved to Arianwyn’s side. “They’re coming.”
Arianwyn stretched her mind out. :Parvati?:
:I’m coming,: she yawned. :Be patient.: Arianwyn remained by the entrance, waiting anxiously with Rael. A few minutes passed and the light was blotted out by the dragons’ bodies. Arianwyn and Rael stepped to the side for the dragons. They walked in, heads and wings hanging low in exhaustion. Charon gave one mighty whuff in their direction before curling up against the wall, tucking his head under his wing.
Parvati took the effort to walk nearer, briefly pushing her nose against Arianwyn before curling up next to Charon. She was clearly pleased with herself. :Stop worrying yourself and go do something worthwhile,: Parvati said, nudging Charon’s wing out of the way and stretching her neck over his.
Arianwyn glanced up at Rael. He shrugged and led her back down the stairs. “Thank you, Rael, for taking the time to help me find them.”
“Do not forget that I have a vested interest in their well-being also.” He smiled over his shoulder at her. “A dragon’s well-being isn’t the only thing reflected in their bonded partners. The way they feel toward another bonded dragon reflects in the way their partner feels toward another. It will be advantageous for us to be on the same side after we are married.”
She fought down the frown at his words. “I still appreciate it. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to do something ‘worthwhile,’ as Parvati put it.” Rael chuckled and waved her away. Arianwyn paused, hand on the door. “Do any of the guards know of the passageway?”
Rael shook his head. “As I said earlier, I was the only one living who knew of it. Now you do as well.”
Arianwyn paused a moment longer. “Thank you for understanding about Bernie,” she whispered.
Rael nodded, gathering his parchment from the breakfast table. He paused and glanced up at her. “You should answer him,” he said.
Arianwyn blushed, glancing at the door. She curtsied and pushed the door open the rest of the way. She walked down the torchlit hallway, lost in thought. Her feet carried her down to the kitchens, where startled servants ducked curtsies and bows her way before hurrying on various errands. She stopped and looked around, frowning slightly. She started forward again when she spotted Tess.
“You shouldn’t be coming down here anymore. It’s not appropriate for a lady to visit the areas of the servants.”
“Ple
ase. You and I both know that you’re far too busy to be running all over the Keep because someone wants to chat.”
Tess smiled at her. “What do you need?”
“To chat. I was wondering…have there been many kings and queens who were…fond of each other?”
Tess sighed. “You shouldn’t be worrying about romance, Lady Arianwyn. You are no longer a peasant.” Arianwyn winced, looking away. It seemed her fears regarding Rael were confirmed. “Nevertheless, there have been some. Thane Cael was very fond of his wife before she died. A few of the kings and queens were also fond of each other. More important than fondness, however, is the ability to work together. Respect King Rael and everything will be fine.”
“Were King Rael's parents fond of each other?” Arianwyn asked hesitantly.
Tess looked past Arianwyn, a look of sorrow flashing in her eyes. “His parents...” she trailed off and shook her head. “It's complicated. His mother and father loved him very much.”
“But not each other?”
Tess flashed a quick, forced smile at Arianwyn. “You don't need to worry about it. Your story has already begun differently from theirs.”
“Thank you, Tess.” Tess curtsied and Arianwyn made a face at her.
“Another piece of advice? Stop making late night visits to His Majesty. Gossip will ruin a lady.” Arianwyn nodded and returned to her room to gather her things. She made her way to the library, the treatise and parchment of words in hand. She intended to get through her lesson with Aldous as quickly as possible. Then she needed information from The Book of Dragons.
21-A Messenger
It was late in the evening a week after the mating of the dragons before Arianwyn found time to slip into the library to study The Book of Dragons. She spent some time browsing the stacks, not remembering exactly where Rael had pulled the book from, before she found it. She had to call Edmund over to get the book down for her. He carried it carefully to a table near the window and stepped back.
Arianwyn sat down, staring at the oversized book before opening it to the first page. “Contained herein is information specific to those bonded to dragons. Under no circumstances should one unbonded approach a dragon. Dragons are extremely dangerous, independent creatures. They are fickle in nature. They have an innate affinity for magik. One should exercise caution when dealing with them.
“A dragon’s first instinct is to attack when it feels threatened. They can defend themselves with teeth, claws, and tail. Or they can call upon the Elements to hurl powerful magiks at the attackers.
“One should never approach an ensnared dragon. Doing so is certain death.”
Arianwyn sat back, shaking her head slightly. :Fickle? Who wrote that book, anyway?: Arianwyn smiled at Parvati’s irritated tone of voice. She searched the title page to the book, but found only Book of Dragons inscribed on the front page. Parvati snorted in the back of her mind. :Cowards.:
Arianwyn flipped several pages further in, scanning the first paragraph of each chapter. There were chapters on the preferred hunting methods of dragons, how to affect a deep bond with dragons, the dangers of dragon overpopulation, controlling your dragon gifts, and teaching your dragon to fly. She frowned, scanning farther to the back of the book. “Average size of dragons, mating rituals of dragons, gestation cycle of dragons, and hygiene of dragons,” she muttered.
Arianwyn pulled out a scrap of vellum, unstoppered an inkbottle and sharpened her quill. She took a few careful notes on controlling her dragon gifts. She leaned back, frowning. Carefully, she scribed Personality changes? and Emotional attachments?
She set the vellum aside and tried closing the book. Even with all of her weight pressing down, she could not get the latch to flip back up. She stoppered the inkbottle and looked up to see Halvard and Edmund grinning at her. “Now that you've had a chance to laugh at me, will one of you two close this, please?” She cleaned her quill and blew lightly on the parchment. Halvard leaned on the book, closing the latch with one hand. She stared at her notes, frowning. “Halvard, will you put the book back, please? Edmund and I will start up to the king’s quarters.”
“He’s likely in his study, this hour,” Halvard remarked.
“Very well. We’ll head to his study, then.” Halvard nodded, taking the book, while Arianwyn held the vellum flat so the ink could finish drying. She and Edmund walked to the staircase leading up to the King’s Study.
“How well do you know the king?” she asked Edmund.
He shrugged. “I was only his bodyguard for two years before being reassigned to you. Before that, I was one of the regular Keep guards. As a guard, I only saw him occasionally. And then it was from a distance. Sigurd and Rynert know him best.”
Arianwyn continued walking, brow furrowed in thought. She was amongst the king’s bodyguards before she knew it. She pulled up abruptly as one of them coughed politely, catching her attention before she could plow into him. She took a step back, looking up at him. “Do you need something?”
“Is His Majesty here? I would like to speak with him if he isn’t too busy.”
The guard knocked once on the door before sticking his head in. The conversation was somewhat muffled, but brief. “You may enter.”
Arianwyn stepped in, curtsying as the door closed behind her. “We’re alone. What do you need?”
Arianwyn stood up, frowning at his abruptness. “Have you had a difficult day?”
Rael looked up from the scroll he was reading, scowling. “Did you just come here for idle chit chat? If so, I haven’t the time. The protests for our marriage and the land allotment on the border have finally arrived from a few of the thanes, as have the reports on the status of the military. I have responses to draft, orders to send, and egos to soothe. So no, I haven’t had a good day.”
Arianwyn winced. She walked over to him and perched on the edge of a chair in front of his desk. “Do you know who wrote The Book of Dragons?”
He frowned, returning his attention to the scroll he had been reading. “No. Why?”
“The information seems…inaccurate. And incomplete.”
“The book has been the standard in dragon dealing for centuries,” he said, arching an eyebrow as he looked up at her from the scroll.
Arianwyn flushed. “That may be. But when I was reading through it, Parvati found some of the information inaccurate as well. And it’s curiously blank in regards to personality changes as a result to Bonding.”
Rael frowned. “Why would your personality be affected?”
“I know I’ve changed. While still wary, I have noticed that the longer I am Bonded, the more bold I have become. Perhaps it is merely a result of knowing that Parvati will help, but I doubt it.”
Rael studied her, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his chin. “Bold in what way?”
“Well, I give orders more easily and I no longer fear—” she cut off, glancing up at him and blushing. He sat back, waiting. “I no longer fear your wrath like I once did,” she whispered.
He glared at her. “You were afraid of me?”
“Of course I was! You are the king and I am—was a peasant.”
He continued frowning but went back to the subject of the Book. “Perhaps the information in the Book came after Bonding with the monarchs was common. If so, changes in the human or dragon after bonding would be impossible to detect. Or maybe your 'boldness' is a result of your rise in station.”
Arianwyn sighed, watching her hands. She looked up to find Rael still studying her. There were little lines between his eyes from the scowl he was trying to hide. She decided to change the topic. “Would it be possible to schedule time in the soldiers’ training arena? In private?”
He frowned again. “Why?”
“I would like to practice my Dragon Gift, but I worry that I might accidentally kill someone,” she murmured.
Rael opened his mouth to respond when the door swung open. He scowled at the door, looking irritated. “Your Majesty, a messenger has arrived. He says it’s ur
gent.”
Rael’s scowl vanished and he sat up straight, nodding to the guard. A man half staggered into the room, clothes travel-stained and torn in places. Patches of his clothing were soaked with a dark liquid. His face was weary and lined with worry. Dark circles ringed his bloodshot eyes. His lips were blue from the cold and his skin was sickly white.
Arianwyn frowned and whispered “Spirit” as the man bowed to Rael. “Show me his vitality,” she murmured. She drew her breath in sharply, jumping to her feet and rushing to the door, pulling it open. “You, fetch a blanket and food for him. And you, a healer. Wake one up if you must.” The guards glanced at her in surprise and Arianwyn scowled back. “Now!” she shooed. They jumped slightly and hurried off down the hall. Arianwyn came back in, pulling a chair over toward the messenger who was speaking in a weak voice. “Sit down,” she interrupted.
Rael and the messenger stared at her in amazement. “This isn’t the time for niceties,” Rael growled.
“It’s not a nicety. It’s a necessity before he collapses from loss of blood. Now sit.” The man gave an uncertain look at the king, who nodded, and collapsed into the chair.
The messenger cleared his throat, glancing nervously between the two before continuing his story. “We were patrolling in the southern thaneship, near the border with the Manticore when we were attacked. Most of the squad died before they knew what was happening,” he said grimly, eyes still haunted. The door opened and one of the guards returned with a bowl of stew and a heavy blanket. A healer entered behind, blinking and rubbing his eyes.
Arianwyn snatched the bowl and shoved several of Rael's papers aside. She placed the bowl on the desk in front of the man. “Eat and talk.” She draped the blanket around his shoulders as the healer approached, frowning at the signs of blood.
“I need to remove his shirt,” the healer said.
“What are you waiting for?” The healer looked uncertainly at Arianwyn. The messenger still had not resumed speaking and was watching her with mouth agape. Rael’s eyes were crinkled above the fist in front of his mouth. Arianwyn shook her head in exasperation. “Do you honestly believe I’ve never seen a man bare-chested before? Get to work! And you,” she jabbed her finger at the messenger, “start eating.”
The King's Treasure Page 18