Gorlee drew his arms back, tucked his chin in his chest, and turned his head away.
Keep silent. Keep that sharp tongue silent.
Well, you are part orc.
“Hanging doesn’t scare me. I’d rather be devoured by a dragon, given the choice.”
The draykis leaned down in his face and said, “That can be arranged, foul one.” He shoved Gorlee in the shoulder and moved on.
Sad, I’m getting the hang of this orc thing.
Several onlookers in the crowd stood tall and guiltless. Others cringed. The draykis rough-handed them all. Checked markings on their arms and faces. Stood them up and shoved them back down again. The tension intensified with each passing moment. The air became rank with fear and dripping sweat.
The draykis commander spoke up again.
“I’ve a quota to make before the curfew, or the High Priestess will have my head.” He stepped close to the small group that Gorlee had listened in on, who were trying to leave. “Take those hoods down.”
The first man and woman dropped the heavy cloth back off their heads. The pair’s chestnut hair fell on their shoulders. Their features were sharp and inquisitive, but scuffed with dirt and soot.
Towering over the man, the draykis commander shoved his chest.
“I don’t like the smell of you, or this woman either.” It eyed all of them. “Not a one of you. You remind me of those others we hung.”
“We’re lifelong citizens,” the man said.
The draykis lashed out.
Whap!
The man spun and collapsed on the ground. It was an awesome display of the draykis’s supernatural power.
The party of humans helped the man to his feet. His mouth was bleeding. His hand fell to his sword.
The draykis folded his arms across his chest and said, “By all means, unsheathe that blade of yours, human.” It eyed its scaly arms. “Many have tried, but no steel can cut my skin.” It grunted an unnatural laugh. “Shackle them and take them to the gallows. Send word there will be hangings after first light.”
The other two draykis approached. One went outside, and the other stayed in. A moment later, the other draykis entered with shackles and chains.
“If you must have blood, arrest me then,” the man said, holding out his wrists. “My family doesn’t deserve this, but I’ll give my life for theirs.”
“Bravery, humph,” the draykis commander said, spitting on the floor. “I think I’ll let you watch as I hang them first.”
Gorlee’s fists turned to stone. Evil bloodthirsty monster!
“Now,” the commander continued, holding out his clawed hand, “hand over your sword.”
The man’s shoulders slumped. His head dipped when he said, “As you command…” A blade of bright light whisked from his sheath and lanced into the chest of the nearest draykis. “Abominations!”
CHAPTER 24
Selene traced the lines of the white scales on Nath’s arm. They were smooth to the touch yet tougher than iron. It was a fascinating feature of dragons. He stirred the slightest, and it gave her a shiver. He’d awaken soon. She had discontinued the sleep charm she’d put on him.
And the lies will resume once more. Her cherry lips formed the slightest smile. I like lying. And this one hates it. Why is that? She brushed his red hair away from his face and admired his strong handsome features. She rested her other hand on the gentle rise and fall of his deep chest.
So much power and such little understanding.
A gust of wind blasted into Nath’s bedroom, extinguishing one of the torches. She made her way to the balcony and secured the door. Outside on his terrace, the feline fury’s paws were propped up on the balcony and its head was cast downward. Her face drew tight. Gorlee. Once the war was won, she’d see to it every changeling died. They were too dangerous. Too much of a threat, alive.
She relit the extinguished torch with her fingertip, resumed her place by Nath’s side, and lay down on his chest. His heartbeat galloped.
“Oh, Nath.” She sighed. “I really hate doing this to you.” She rose and began tracing the white lines on his scales again. “I’m going to have to make up an explanation for this. A really good one, as I promised.”
She clasped her fingers with his. Her scales were coal black with not a single trace of white. Why was he different? Was it the good in him? Or something else? Gorn Grattack had never explained. The thought of her dark father gave her a shiver. He’d brought her up, but she knew little about herself. She was a dragon, born a girl human. How, she did not know. From her earliest memories, Gorn had been the one to show her everything. How to hunt. To fly. To kill. He told her she was filled with wondrous powers and that with her by his side, he’d take over the world.
Nath moaned, and her body became rigid.
She’d have to lead him into darkness. Convince him to kill a good dragon. Maybe she could make Nath think it was an accident. That might get the job done. Surely he would defend himself. She had no choice. If Nath didn’t fall in step with her, Gorn Grattack would kill him. Nath could not survive Gorn and all his forces.
Nath’s fingers tightened around hers.
“Ah,” she said, freeing her hand. She gave him a kiss on the cheek. “See you soon.” Then she departed from his room.
***
Nath woke with a funny taste in his mouth. Next, his sight was fuzzy. Holding his head, he grunted and slung the sheets from the bed. His first step wobbled. With the second one, he found his strength, headed for the balcony, and slung the door open. The piercing eyes of the fury greeted him.
“Great Guzan! Are you going to just gawk, or finally eat me?”
When the beast did nothing, he pushed past it and glanced down into the streets. It was quiet. No one was moving. Dragons perched like gargoyles on the rooftops. The guards barely even shifted at their posts.
“How long?” he said. “How long this time?” He leaned against the balcony and rubbed his eyes, trying to figure out the last thing he had done. He had been in Selene’s throne room, talking and ... His stomach rumbled. And eating! They had been discussing the war among the dragons and how he could put an end to it once and for all. Nath’s blood turned fire red. He balled up his fists and snarled so loudly the whole town heard him.
“SELENE!”
He charged off the balcony, through his chamber, into the corridor, and up the stairs to the doors of her throne room. A pair of draykis barred his path. One started to speak.
“The High Priestess—”
Nath slung one draykis right into the other and flung the doors wide open.
Inside, Selene sat on her throne. Her face lit up with surprise.
“Nath!” she exclaimed. “You have awakened! Thank the dragons!” She rushed down the dais and right up to him. “I feel … joy, I think.” She embraced him.
Her embrace felt … too good. Fighting to keep his wits about him, he grabbed her shoulders and pushed her backward, asking, “What’s happened? How long was I out, Selene?”
“Nath,” she said, taking his arm. “Come and sit. It hasn’t been so long. Just a few months.”
Relieved that the Truce hadn’t passed by while he slept, and stirred anew by the feel of her hand on his arm, Nath fought to stay alert, to remember why he was angry.
He pulled his arm from her hand and said, “Are you certain?”
“As certain as the scales on my tail,” she said, swiping it along his side, “and I am relieved. I feared you’d sleep through the Truce.” She pulled a chair out for him. “And that would have been a disaster, after all the work you’ve done.”
With a furrowed brow, Nath took a seat. Waking from this sleep didn’t feel the same as waking from the other long ones. He felt groggy, not bright-eyed and energetic as before. He held back a yawn.
“It’s alright, Nath,” she said. “You’ve been through much. Even dragons get tired. I know I am.”
“You never seem tired to me,” he said.
“I’
m a woman, so to speak. We hide it well. Now eat.”
He grabbed some cherries in his clawed fingers and ate them one by one. He noticed Selene eyeing his scales.
“What is it?”
“You have even more white scales now,” she said. “I envy them.”
He glanced at his hands and said, “I don’t notice any difference.”
“I do, and I think it’s a good thing.”
“Why is that?”
“I think it’s the Truce you have sworn, Nath. It’s making an impact. Not just on you, but on all the people. You are growing.”
“I don’t see how sleeping is doing a good thing.”
“Sometimes, the best action is no action. Sometimes, the best words are none at all. Silence is often an excellent answer.” She poured him a glass of wine. “Enjoy the peace we live in, Nath. Your patience is changing you. Your wisdom makes you stronger.”
“And that’s why I have white scales?”
“Nath, many dragons have scales of different colors. You see how they change as they grow. You are growing, and with growing comes change. That’s all.”
“You’re growing,” he said. “How come all your scales are black?”
“I like black. It suits me. Besides, there is no change in me. I am what I am.”
“You are what you want to be, Selene. Anyone can change, even a dragon.” He took a sip of wine. “You just have to want it.”
Selene’s eyes became distant, and she turned her gaze away. He’d never seen that look before. She was strong. Confident. Striking. But not at this moment. He eyed his scaled arms and fingers. “Huh?”
“What?” she asked, turning back toward him.
“Maybe that’s what’s happening to me. I’m finally learning.”
“You’re young, but you’re not a fool.”
He dug into his food. Maybe he had been too hard on himself. That was his problem. He needed to trust his instincts and be patient.
I need to end this war among the dragons. If I can change, they all can change. They just need a good leader.
“So, what has happened while I’ve been out?” he said.
“Well,” Selene said, resting her hand on his arm, “the citizens miss seeing their champion, and they’ve been restless. You have such an effect on them.”
“I’m not worried about them, so much. I’m worried about the warring dragons. What has happened with them?”
“Nath, you need to not worry about so much. You just woke up. Ease your way into things.”
“I’m not going to sit here and do nothing, Selene.”
“We can do some things. Perhaps a walk through the city—”
He rapped his fist on the table.
Bam!
“Don’t be childish!”
Nath got up from the table and said, “Then don’t play games!” He made a beeline for the door.
“Alright, Nath,” she said. “Alright!”
He stopped but didn’t turn.
“The skirmishes are becoming more frequent, more large-scale in some places.” She sighed a long breath. “But you can’t go chasing the winds. You aren’t ready yet.”
He turned and said, “I want you to take me to the nearest battlefield. Will you do it?”
“I’m not going to resist you, Nath. I’ve held you back enough already, and I support your cause. Our cause. I’ll gather a legion, and we’ll leave at first light.”
“Good,” he said, turning and walking back through the doors.
***
Selene smiled as he walked out.
Perfect.
CHAPTER 25
The entire tavern erupted in brilliant flashes of light that sent the draykis commander careening into the door frame.
Great Guzan!
Gorlee gravitated toward the fireplace at the back of the room and wrapped his hands around an iron fire poker.
The small party of humans, heroes by his reckoning, had exploded into action. One draykis stood in astonishment with the leader’s sword in his chest. The bearded man, hard-faced and well-built, swung a flanged mace into the other draykis’s face. The tall and lovely woman’s slender arms were entwined in snakes of mystic power, while the last woman, smaller in stature, held arcane symbols over her head and shouted words of power. Everyone else in the room scrambled. They crashed through doors and windows and scurried through the streets.
The draykis struck back. The commander ripped a sword from his side and charged.
“You won’t hang! You’ll die here and now.”
“Try it!” the lead human said.
The draykis’s steel clashed into the man’s magic weapon, and bright sparks flew. The two swung and parried back and forth, rambling through tables and knocking over chairs.
The bearded man pressed his swift attack. He bashed the draykis over its hard skull—once, twice, three times—knocking it to its knees. The taller woman blasted brilliant yellow fire into its chest. The draykis squealed as its scales erupted into smoke and ash.
Two draykis were down, and their commander battled for its undead life.
Who are these people?
The group converged on the lone draykis commander, hemming it in.
“Your life comes to an end, abomination!” the leading man said. “Balzurth’s forces are at hand.” He lunged.
The draykis, quicker than a snake, side stepped and cut the warrior in the chest. His heavy fist rocked the man in the jaw, dropping him to his knees. His glinting sword clattered off the planks, and its brilliant light went out. In a flash, the draykis slid behind the man and pressed a dagger to his throat.
“Overconfident fools,” it said. “Step back.”
The small party eyed one another and backed off.
The draykis let out a high-pitched whistle. Barnabus soldiers flooded into the room, carrying heavy swords and wearing heavy armor. With them, a wingless dragon scaled in deep purple prowled in. Its back was waist-high with tall, scaly ridges. Horns swooped back along its neck, and a pair of tongues flickered from its razor-sharp mouth.
Guzan!
Gorlee channeled his power. His skin turned as hard as the iron poker he held.
The leader jammed his elbow into the draykis’s belly and yelled, “Get out of here, everyone! Escape!” He went for his sword, but the bigger, quicker draykis jumped on his back, pinning the man to the ground. His fingers stretched for the hilt of his sword, juttered, and went still.
One woman gasped, while the taller woman blasted a swarm of golden hornets into the fray. The soldiers of Barnabus swatted and clutched at their arms and faces.
The bearded warrior hammered into them with his mace. He dropped three frantic soldiers to their knees and turned just in time to face the deep maw of the purple dragon.
Chomp!
Its jaws clamped on his legs, and the bearded warrior yelled and struck out his mace with ferocity.
“If I’m going down, you’re going down with me, you wicked scaled beast!”
Two handed, he wailed on the dragon’s head, one heavy blow after another. The dragon held him fast while two soldiers slipped behind the man and drove swords into his back.
“Urk!”
His mace fell from his fingers. The smaller woman let out an ear-splitting scream. Windows and glassware shattered. Gorlee’s knees buckled. Soldiers fell to their knees. The draykis headed right for her, unhindered.
Gorlee’s mind reeled, and something within took over. He snatched up the fallen warrior’s sword, and its blade became hot with fire. He charged the draykis, lunged, and chopped through its wings.
“Who dares?” the draykis said, whipping around, sword ready.
Gorlee, never a practiced swordsman, hacked at him.
The draykis, skilled as they come, parried and countered. A deadly arc of steel bit into Gorlee’s shoulder and skipped off it.
“What manner of race are you?” the draykis said. “Your skin’s thick as metal.”
Gorlee swung again. S
word met sword.
Clang!
“You have to be tough when you’re this ugly,” he said. “You should know that by now!”
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Striking harder and faster, he banged the draykis’s sword down.
The draykis twisted inside and jammed a dagger at his belly. It snapped off at the hilt.
“Impossible!”
Gorlee slid the shimmering sword through the draykis’s ribs.
Its eyes popped open and simmered to dust inside its head. It collapsed to the floor, unmoving.
Guzan, what a sword! Maybe I should learn to use these things!
He turned and squared up on the dragon. The hulking beast stood on top of the smaller woman. Her body was broken. Its tail lashed out, striking the last woman. Her body crashed into the fireplace hearth.
“No!” Gorlee said. He raised the blade and charged.
The dragon lowered its horns and rushed straight for him.
Gorlee smote it with the blade. Unhindered, the dragon trampled over him, pinning him to the floor. Its hot breath snorted in his face, and its jaws clamped down on his shoulder. The pressure blinded him with pain, but his iron skin held.
“What’s the matter, dragon, not chewy enough for you?”
The dragon released its bite and filled its lungs with air.
Sultans, what does this creature breathe?
Gorlee grabbed the creature by the neck and tried to push it away. Green fire erupted from its mouth in streams that dripped all over him.
“Ow!” Gorlee cried out. “That burns!”
Chairs and tables caught fire. The tavern filled with smoke.
Gorlee wriggled beneath the beast, but its paws kept him pinned down. Clothes and iron skin burning, Gorlee cried out, “Enough of this!”
Power inside him ignited, and his half-orcen body of iron expanded. In seconds, he towered the height of ten feet and locked his arms around the dragon’s neck and squeezed.
“No more toying with you, lizard!”
The dragon thrashed and flailed. Its claws scraped at his chest, but Gorlee held the dragon fast. Its tail slithered around his neck and squeezed.
The Chronicles of Dragon Collection (Series 1 Omnibus, Books 1-10) Page 115