A Bond of Venom and Magic (The Goddess and the Guardians Book 1)

by Karen Tomlinson

  “When we get to the palace walls, just behave like we’re supposed to be there. The palace guards have better things to do than worry about two harmless women taking in a view of the city,” advised Rose.

  Diamond raised her eyebrows and glanced meaningfully at her guards.

  “Oh them? They won’t stop us. Their orders are to stop you leaving the palace or using magic; they won’t give a rat’s ass what else you do,” she responded, grinning at Diamond’s shocked expression. “What? I’m not always quiet and respectable, you know. Come on! It’ll be a fantastic view of the valley today,” Rose said. “It’s so lovely and clear you can probably see the Rift Valley wall too.”

  In the distance warriors ran along the battlements, launching into the sky. “I wonder what they’re so excited about, probably some training exercise,” Rose said dismissively. “It’s about six miles from the gates down to the sea on the east side of the island, and about three miles to the docks on the west,” she explained, her steps speeding up whilst she told Diamond about the city.

  By the time Rose had finished talking they were within forty feet of the largest gates Diamond had ever seen. It also became obvious something was happening outside the walls. Loud commanding voices bellowed for the gates to be shut. Diamond’s ear drums rattled as a massive pulley system was activated to close the gates, which were clearly made for keeping invading armies out. She stared open-mouthed. In the shadows under the wall, eight huge beasts roared as whips snapped and men bellowed.

  Ometons!

  Heads down, their muscles bunching and straining under the thick covering of grey and white fur, the northern snow beasts dragged the massive gates shut. Diamond had only seen Ometon pelts when the Ice Witches came to trade at Berriesford market. Normally solitary animals, they were notoriously vicious if riled and had been known to hunt their unfortunate victims down over hundreds of miles, purely by blood scent when angered.

  “You know, staying inside the palace walls might actually be a good thing. There have been terrible fights—and even riots—breaking out in the lower levels of the city. Maybe that’s what all the excitement is,” mused Rose, frowning up at the ramparts.

  From the barracks and around the city, airborne troops streamed into the sky, bows at the ready.

  Diamond gaped. This was surely too great a response for a riot. The two girls grasped each other, unsure what was happening; even their guards looked back toward the palace as if debating whether to grab Diamond and return to their Queen.

  Diamond felt a strange prickle along her arms the moment before a deafening roar rocked the sky. Petrified screams rang out in the distance. Diamond’s body rocked with recognition, and she stared up at the huge shadow that glided high above their heads. A great horned head angled down. She could almost feel those red eyes searching for her.

  Rose squealed and ducked as fire rained down from above. But the shield held. It crackled and glowed as bright and hot as the sun, but no flame pushed through its power. The dragon bellowed its fury and glided across the blue clear sky, turning on huge outstretched wings to make a second pass.

  “What in the name of Chaos is that?!” Rose yelled, straightening up as more screams echoed from the city streets. Suddenly Rhodainian soldiers and Avalonian warriors alike burst into action. Some formed foot squadrons, others flew into formation, then headed out across the city.

  “Quick! We need to get to the next section of wall. We’ll be able to see better from there!” shouted Rose, dragging Diamond behind her.

  “Why? Can’t we just go up here?” countered Diamond, pointing at the nearest set of steps.

  “No. Quickly. We must go this way,” she urged, her eyes flitting to Diamond’s two guards.

  Another surge of dragon fire crackled against the shield. Rose began to run, holding tightly to Diamond’s hand. They reached the base of some narrow steps and Rose hoisted her skirts.

  “This way. As fast as you can, Diamond,” she panted.

  Diamond glanced over her shoulder. Her guards were only a couple of steps behind. The nearest looked as though he were about to grab her. Rose ran up the narrow steps first, then dragged Diamond up the top step past two burley soldiers who seemed to be guarding the stairwell. They eyed the two girls with a frown. Before Diamond knew what was happening, the two soldiers pushed in front of her guards and sliced a dagger across their throats. Diamond looked on horrified as blood spurted from the necks of her captors.

  “Come on, this way,” hissed Rose and without a backward glance at the dead warriors, grabbed Diamond’s arm.

  Then they ran through a throng of men who seemed to close together in the wake of the two fleeing girls, as if shrouding them. Soldiers and warriors alike, some with Jack’s sigil, some with a serpent adorning their chests, surged around the turreted wall. Rose’s hair came loose and fell down her back in a chestnut curtain. They were close enough to the edge of the wall for Diamond to see the twisted rooftops and chimneys of the sprawling city falling away to the ocean. Above them the ancient shield glowed faintly blue, forming a huge dome.

  “It doesn’t normally glow like that,” panted Rose, glancing over her shoulder at Diamond. “It must be that monster’s fire. Look, you can see it…the valley wall…” She pointed, still weaving between warriors who were too preoccupied by the sight of a mythical beast gliding over their heads to pay any attention to the two girls, or the two soldiers hurrying along behind them.

  They seemed to be miles up in the air here and could see for eternity. The ridiculously steep sides of the island dropped away into buildings of all shapes and sizes. Apprehensively, Diamond craned her neck to get a glimpse of the labyrinth of streets leading down through the sprawl. Warriors darted through the air, heading towards the ocean where a ship exploded, sending smoke billowing into the air. The dragon flew low over the white-crested waves, a long column of fire igniting more vessels. Even from this distance it was possible to see the flecks of people diving into the water to escape the flames, only to find themselves plucked from the waves by large claws, thrown into the air and cooked alive before the dragon caught them in his jaws.

  “Good goddess above!” exclaimed Rose, coming to a sudden halt to stare in horror at the destruction. “It’s destroying ships and eating people….” her voice drifted away as she spun sideways to stare at the distant valley.

  “Yeah, it’s roasting them first though,” confirmed a rough voice from behind Diamond.

  “One of the others said he heard it was searching for her, or maybe the boy prince. What we need is a warrior like that bastard Casimir to fly this magic wielder thirty miles back to that damned forest and leave her there for it. In fact, sod that. The master’s son could do it…couldn’t he? You know, Rose, use those wings that makes you women lift your skirts so easy.” Rose threw him a dirty look and he grinned.

  “Seriously. If we dump her in the ocean outside the shield, that bloody creature might leave this city be.”

  Diamond stared at the soldier. Menace glinted in his eyes. She shuffled nearer Rose. Then it registered what he’d said. Hugo had flown her thirty miles, whilst he was injured himself…. How had he managed such a thing?

  Rose glared, “Shut up, Ayk. Leave Diamond alone. Just do what you’re supposed to do and get her to the master. Come on,” she urged Diamond. “We need to get you out of here before those dead guards are noticed.”

  Once again Diamond found herself propelled onward, this time toward a tower door. Too shocked to fight or question, she stumbled through the entrance into the dark interior, her chest tight and panicky.

  “Rose? Please. What’s happening?” she panted, unsure whether to be pleased they were running away from the palace or scared she was fleeing with men who could kill so easily.

  “Don’t worry, they’re taking you somewhere safe,” said Rose, her face in shadow. Dust-filled sunbeams from four small arrow slits were the only source of light.

  “Go on just do it. Hurry up! I need to get out of
here,” Rose urged, clearly not talking to Diamond.

  Large arms encircled Diamond, holding her fast as the other man slammed his fist into Rose’s jaw. Rose fell against the wall, her hands outstretched to save herself.

  “Leave her alone!” Diamond yelled.

  “Quiet,” growled Ayk, putting one hand over Diamond’s mouth. “Do you wanna bring the whole palace guard down on our heads?”

  “Sorry, Rose,” muttered the other soldier, “That will bruise nicely. But I hope it doesn’t get my arse kicked by….”

  “Dan! Shut up, you idiot!” hissed Ayk “Go, Rose. We’ve got her. She’ll be fine,” he tried his best to sound reassuring, but Diamond wasn’t convinced.

  Holding her face, Rose glanced back anxiously at Diamond.

  “Trust them, Diamond. They will help you. Goodbye,” she mumbled, then rather than going down the steps as Diamond expected, Rose ran back out through the door, disappearing into the clamouring soldiers.

  Darkness fell again as the door slammed shut. A shadow stepped forward. Diamond wanted to fight. She was sick of being weak, of being pushed around and beaten like she was nothing, like her will didn’t matter.

  She bucked and wriggled. Dan stepped forward and pressed a cloth tightly to her face. A bitter herbal smell filled her mouth and nose. This was not a rescue! Desperately Diamond fought and kicked out trying not to breathe in the foul tincture.

  “Oh, come on, girl. Don’t fight it. We don’t have time for this. ’Ere, back pocket, shove some more on,” Ayk snapped at Dan.

  The cloth left her face for a blessed few seconds, but her breathing was too panicked to scream before it was pushed back on, suffocating her. This time there was no choice, her body needed to breathe. She gasped a great lung-full of the foul stuff. Her mind became fuzzy and her arms and legs heavy. Unable to fight any longer, her body went lax.

  “Saviour, my arse,” muttered Ayk. He picked her up just as she blacked out.

  Hugo had deliberately avoided going anywhere near Diamond until this morning. Staying away was safer for them both, especially as his magic reacted wildly to hers, and he couldn’t seem to stop himself wanting to touch her or comfort her in some way. Spies and informants worked every nook and cranny of this vast palace, and he wasn’t stupid enough to think the Queen wouldn’t hear about this morning.

  Of course, Hugo also made it his business to know what Diamond was doing and who she was with, every minute of every day. Every six hours her guards changed. He often waited impatiently for their reports even though they had nothing much to tell him. Rose, Kitty and one visit from Tom had been Diamond’s only company—so far. It seemed Jack had been too busy organising his own court and council to seek Diamond out; either that, or General Edo was keeping him too busy in the valley to return.

  Hugo stretched out his wings and de-armoured them before relaxing his grip on his sword. The Silverbore blade sung as it cut through the air and slid home in the scabbard on his back.

  Tallo Nosco nodded and grinned, “Thanks for the practice, commander. I’m glad to see you haven’t become sloppy since you disappeared to the north.”

  The master-at-arms sheathed his own blade and bent to pick up his discarded tunic. The older male was all tough, lean muscle and scars; despite his advancing years, he was the only male Hugo had ever met who could challenge him with a sword. He was also the only fae in this palace Hugo ever let his guard down with.

  “Anytime, old man,” countered Hugo, grinning.

  “Piss off—old man,” Tallo grumbled.

  Hugo chuckled as Tallo flipped a rude gesture his way. The warrior who had once trained the young Queen’s guard recruits grinned back.

  Before their grins had faded, a deafening roar followed by a column of fire streaming high above the palace snapped them to alertness. Armour clattered across their wings. Together they gaped upward. Glowing sparks crackled across the ancient shield as it devoured the red hot dragon fire. A black-winged shadow glided past. Hugo instantly grabbed his armour off the dusty ground. Sweat ran down his face as he watched the dragon turn gracefully in the air.

  “Holy shit! What is that?!” exclaimed Tallo.

  “That is the guardian I told you about,” responded Hugo, quickly fastening the armour around his broad torso.

  Tallo dressed, becoming the calm and controlled warrior once again.

  Hugo nodded and, as one, the two warriors bent their knees and launched upward, their metallic wings glinting impressively in the luminescent light of the shield. Hugo slowed to hover about forty feet off the ground, feeling suddenly torn. His responsibility lay with protecting his Queen. The tower glinted in the sunlight as if daring him to turn away from it. He closed his eyes and he heaved a frustrated growl, but his Queen was not the face burning brightly behind his eyelids right now.

  “Commander, I must re-join my captains,” Tallo barked, not bothering with a farewell as his momentum increased and he headed out.

  Hugo beat his wings powerfully, his eyes flickering from the palace to the wall. A sudden surge of panic set his heart pounding. This wasn’t his emotion, he realised quickly. It was muffled and shot through with disgust and fear.

  Diamond! He whirled about. Remembering his reports from this morning, Hugo propelled himself toward the main gate. Rose was taking Diamond to view the city from the palace walls today. The main gate is where they would go.

  A menacing black shadow glided close to the shield, then with a bellowing roar shot like a huge arrow down towards the ocean. A moment later Hugo heard far off screams. The air around him thrummed with energy, making his skin tingle. Spurring himself higher and nearer the shield, Hugo instinctively thrust out his magic, sending shadows crashing against the crackling blue dome. His muscles spasmed and it was an effort to keep flying forward as he forced his body to absorb the shield’s might. When its energy began to burn in his blood, he yanked his magic back inside.

  His silver wing markings flared brightly and his eyes blazed with molten silver fire. Shocked, he realised that the shield’s extra power had enhanced his senses. He could hone in on the minutest detail and focus on each individual conversation if he wished. Hugo stopped, arched his back and roared up at the shield, his face inches from it. The beast inside him roared along with him.

  Now. Let me out now, it urged. Let me find her.

  No, he answered, forcing it back inside its cage.

  Other warriors watched the Queen’s guard warily from afar but none approached. To them, dark wings equalled dark magic. Hugo narrowed his focus on the wall. How right they were.

  A crowd of guards gathered together on the second watch tower. Their faces were fraught with fear and indecision. They saw him coming and made a space, every one of them eyeing him with alarm. Then he realised why. Two bodies lay atop each other, thrown haphazardly into a dark corner of the tower wall. Their heads lay at a grotesque angle, exposing sinews and vessels, their eyes glassy in bone white faces.

  “Who is in charge here?!” bellowed Hugo, trying to control the dread in his heart.

  A tall thin warrior stepped forward. A fae captain. “I am, sir.” The male saluted, outwardly calm.

  “Where is the girl?” Hugo barked. Diamond had definitely been here; he could smell her, not to mention feel the remnants of her horror at those deaths.

  “What girl, sir?” the man stuttered looking confused.

  Hugo stared long and hard. His razor-sharp eyes zoning in on the male’s large pupils, the sweat beading his brow, and his eyes that darted to his left farther along the wall when Hugo deliberately glanced back at the bodies. Faster than lightening, Hugo slammed his foot into the warrior’s gut.

  “Where is she?!” he bellowed. The fae landed on his back as Hugo pulled both his swords. “Tell me now or you die and so do your warriors,” he threatened, thrusting one blade against the back of a young warrior’s neck.

  Barely into adulthood, the fae was younger than Hugo, maybe seventeen, and had clearly never seen any r
eal fighting. A wet patch appeared on the boy's breeches. Hugo snarled in disgust and stepped sideways, but placed his second blade threateningly against the boy’s stomach. They all knew he would kill every single one of them if they defied him.

  “I-I don’t know where they went. It was two soldiers; they took her and the other girl towards the next turret. That’s all I know—I swear it, sir.” This time the fae looked him in the eye as if willing him to believe. Hugo did not have time to wonder if he was lying or to punish him for holding back information.

  “If you are lying to me, I will ensure you die an extremely painful death,” he told the warrior. “See to it Lord Commander Ream hears of this,” he ordered, inclining his head at the bodies. He pushed the young warrior away before launching into a run.

  Hugo inhaled as he sprinted across the section of wall spanning the main gates. Diamond’s scent was strong on the air, almost as if she were running next to him. Another group of soldiers gathered around a crumpled figure on the floor.

  “Rose?” uttered Hugo, dropping to his knees by the healer. Her face was swollen as if she had taken a hard blow. He swore.

  “Commander?” her face paled even as she tried to sit up.

  “Where did they take her?” he asked.

  She just stared at him.

  “Rose!” he barked. “Where did they go? I need to get her back!”

  Rose hesitated and shook her head as if clearing it, then turned to the nearby turret.

  “In there,” she breathed.

  Not fae. Not flying, Hugo realised quickly, thanking the goddess.

  The turret door slammed open as he barged through. It was dark inside save for the light from the arrow slits. He immediately stilled. Still buzzing with magic, his heightened senses picked up every sound from nearby. Listening intently, he didn’t know whether to be relieved he hadn’t run into a trap like a bumbling novice, or roar with frustration that she wasn’t in here. His anger and worry grew.