The Traitor

by A D Lombardo

  Men screamed in pain as they burned—anyone who attempted to douse the fire only spread the oil to themselves. Kai had always thought the ancient siege weapons were mere decoration perched on the Diu walls, not viable threats. The third assault struck the pier, engulfing two vessels tied on either side of the blast. White and yellow flames floated on the water’s surface. The smell of Arkin oil, a sticky syrup that floats, caught in Kai’s throat, a smell he remembered from the battle for Port Anahita.

  A dozen dragons took flight moments before a fourth trebuchet struck, and another Arkin oil-soaked ball flew into the air bound for the white tent. Three airborne dragons sprayed fire on the black-and-orange blaze as it hurled through the sky. A bright white glow blossomed around the boulder, and it blazed like the sun before it struck the ground. The projectile hit beyond the tent, creating a sizable crater, but the consumed oil had nothing left to give and burned out.

  Roark’s men responded to his call and retreated out of the line of fire. All but three of the remaining dragons burst into the air: Raijin, Benmar, and Simone. A few circled over the gatehouse, and Kai spotted the point of a dragon killer—a massive crossbow big enough to take down a dragon in midflight. When did Diu install a dragon killer? He watched in horror as a bolt was launched from the wall, but Simone rolled, and the iron point missed its mark. Kai knew all too well how it felt to have such a weapon rip scales and crack bone.

  The remaining Milnos men and a few Diu soldiers continued to retreat through the gatehouse into the city's safety—men pushing and running as if their lives depended on hiding within the thick city walls. The Regent and Queen Nola's appearance on the gatehouse parapet surprised Kai.

  Does she mean to orchestrate this battle personally?

  Shouts and commands volleyed around the field, bringing the orderly chaos around Kai into focus. A launch of arrows turned the sky gray, but a blast of dragon fire turned the projectiles into embers before they peaked. Simone flew over to the gatehouse, preventing the dragon killer from aiming as she singed the banners blowing in the wind, encouraging men to run away.

  Kai watched as Simone flew to a safe distance and the men returned to take aim. Queen Nola’s defiant stare burred across the field as if she could will Iver dead once more.

  Chapter 25

  Exposed

  Cannon fire and a flurry of arrows sent everyone running for cover and the safety of the forest. As Kai searched for Rayna, he found her running with Kendra and Sabastian. She was safe, for now.

  Iver dragged Seth and Kai through the swarm of soldiers while the remaining dragons took to the sky. Their massive forms cast an eerie rolling shadow across the field.

  While Roark and Iver discussed strategy, Kai studied the battlements along the walls. As the trebuchets cranked backward to reload, Milnos banners fluttered in the wind. He noticed someone was fighting against the retreating mass but could not see who disrupted the orderly flow filing into the gatehouse when the Admiral’s words caught his ears. “How do we use the dragons?”

  “You do not!” Kai barked, letting go of Seth’s hand. “Dragons are not tools you wield like a sword, nor are they under your command.” The sounds of battle pulled Kai’s gaze to the gatehouse as the last few men disappeared into the city, and the young prince emerged before the gates slammed shut, leaving him alone on the outside.

  Tears streaked down Aaron’s cheeks as he removed his royal crown. His expression turned sour, and he glanced up above the massive archway to his screaming mother. Although Kai could not hear their words, he imagined that Nola demanded his loyalty. The young man’s response came as he tossed the unwanted symbol aside and ran away from the gatehouse.

  Soundless shouts chased after the runaway prince, but he did not stop. The Queen waved her hands in anger, but he would not turn back. Through the men, Kai searched for Seth when he caught a glimpse of his brother darting away from the protection of the King’s men. The twins, two halves of one soul, shouted and cried desperately, trying to close the gap between them.

  Worried about his brothers and their exposure on the open field, Kai pushed through the soldiers when an uneasy feeling washed over him. Thoughts of death surrounded his brothers and gripped his chest, forcing him to run toward the unsettling moment. When he saw Regent Maxwell and a line of Milnos soldiers nock their arrows and take aim from the parapet, Kai gasped at the sight and increased his speed.

  The arrows let loose, arching high before gliding downward. Kai’s heart pounded in his ears, and his mind warped forward in time, showing the possibility of the next moment. The edges of his vision blurred. Only his brothers remained in focus. As he took his next breath, three arrows pierced Aaron—one in the shoulder and two in the back, straight through his heart, dropping him on the field. Seth reached Aaron’s dead body and wept as the Regent’s men let loose more arrows. The fierce projectiles cut through the air, arching high in the sky, striking Seth. It was as if the arrows had stabbed Kai through his own heart as tears streaked down his cheeks.

  Then Kai’s mind cleared and he snapped back into the present moment. It had to be a vision of one possible future. He looked to the sky and saw the arrows reach their peak above Seth and Aaron. As gravity took over, Kai held on to the moment, altering time, which slowed their descent. Propelled by fear and anger, he begged fate. Please let me stop this. With the perception of time within his grasp, Kai held his breath and pushed against the thick temporal distortion. There was little distance left between the deadly arrows falling toward Aaron and Seth. Kai struggled, holding every second close to his chest, unwilling to take a breath lest a deadly fate befalls his brothers.

  Knowing he, no better than Aaron, could survive the piercing arrows, he had to consider the only part of him that could deflect such a blow—his dragon. These were no dragon killer bolts from a giant crossbow, merely average arrows. As he leaped into the air and dove over his brothers, Kai took hold of his crystal and focused on the golden braid of his dragon. While taking a needed breath, allowing time to commence, he transformed.

  Thick dragon scales erupted across his back seconds before the arrows struck his spine. The metal tips plinked against the hardened skin bouncing off into the grass, useless and broken. Wings expanded and curled around the twins, protecting them from the Queen’s hatred. Head angled around his wing Kai, glanced at his father. Roark was holding Iver back as the King anxiously shouted for his boys.

  Kai raised his head ever so slightly, hopeful he had blocked every arrow. He opened one wing to find Seth staring at him in shock. Seth reached up, almost able to touch Kai’s dragon chin; his eyes filled with tears, his mouth agape.

  “I . . . I always knew you were special, Kai.”

  Opening his other wing, he uncovered Aaron, who looked at him with speechless wonder and a touch of fear. Kai wanted to let go of his magic, and tell them he was sorry for keeping secrets, but they were still in danger. Shouts and threats rang in his ears along with an audible thud, causing Kai to turn his head as the deadly dragon killer clicked into position. In one vast spray of fire, he engulfed the weapon in a blaze of flames. Fury and rage at the attempted murder of his brothers overtook him, and he turned his head, continuing to spit fire down the long line of men armed with arrows. Nola was no longer among them.

  Enraged with the Queen, Kai rammed his head into the blazing gatehouse. Men shouted and ran, the stone groaned and cracked but did not break. Shouts from Roark and Iver caught in Kai’s ears. His father touched his wing. “Hurry, son. We must save the city and stop the Queen. Let’s do this together.”

  Understanding his father’s request, Kai extended his wing to Roark, hoping he would join them. Roark did not hesitate. He ran up the offered wing and jumped from Kai’s head to the fire consumed gatehouse. Within moments, the thick wooden gates partially ablaze began to open.

  All sounds of the outward attacks fell silent, and a new battle within the city slipped through the opening gates. Who was fighting whom? Ducking his mighty dr
agon head, Kai peered into the city and caught sight of the Queen fleeing on horseback.

  Unable to speak with his father as a dragon, he transformed back into his natural form. Letting go of the final bits of magic, he heard a familiar voice beside him. “So, this is your secret?” Dresnor stepped beside Kai but kept his eyes focused on the departing queen and her Milnos men.

  “It is one secret,” Kai responded as the Queen disappeared in the haze of the rolling city streets. Realizing this was one battle he should not fight alone, he turned to see who was with him.

  Roark exited the city gatehouse. “The Queen and Maxwell will pay for their crimes, but we must hurry. With the gatehouse on fire, it will not stand long. We will need to get as many men inside as we can before it collapses.” At the Admiral’s command, men slipped through the fiery gates.

  “Your Majesty, we dare not risk attacking the city until we know the conditions inside,” Cazier said, approaching Iver. “My scouts report skirmishes along the south wall, but if we hope to capture the Queen, we must act now. We need to get to the palace.”

  “King Iver,” Benmar bowed ever so slightly as he approached, “I believe we can help by landing on the other side of the city. We can keep the Queen and the Regent from escaping.”

  Roark muscled in and took the measure of Benmar, who did not flinch under the glare of the Red Warrior. “Sire, who is this man?” he asked, still overly protective of his King.

  The sight of Benmar softened Iver’s expression. “Benmar, thank you. Roark, this is Kai’s grandfather, the man who saved my life. He is the silver dragon who brought me here.”

  The Admiral took a step back and offered a nod. “We are most grateful for your heroics in saving our King, but . . .”

  The hand of the King stayed Roark’s inquiry. “Benmar, I am most appreciative to have your support. Anything you can do to help, we thank you.”

  Before his grandfather left, Kai whispered to Benmar. “You showed him our secret. Why now?”

  “There is no time for questions, grandson. We all do what we must. But understand the strongest relationships require trust.” Benmar hurried away down the hill to Raijin.

  Simone dropped from the sky, landing behind Cazier, startling the Master General. “News of the King spreads,” she spoke to Kai and Iver. “Diu soldiers turn on their would-be allies, your city has erupted into civil war, but they needed reinforcements. Milnos men stir chaos in the streets, setting fires across the city, while citizens hide in fear. We must get the Admiral’s army inside now. Since the gatehouse is on fire and is going to collapse, we need a second entrance, say fifty feet down from the gatehouse.”

  “How exactly are you going to open a section in the wall?” Dresnor asked, looking between Simone and Kai.

  Rayna laughed. “There is so much more you do not know, Dresnor, but you will see.”

  Liam stepped forward. “We three Stonekings—Jin, Rochelle, and I—can make short work of your wall if Yulia and the other Weathervanes can squelch the fires.”

  “Thank you, Liam,” Kai said. “I will fly Iver, Dresnor, and Drew to the palace as Roark and his men take back the city.”

  “No, you are not leaving me behind,” Roark insisted. “I have little wish to fly, but I go with my King. Dante can lead my army into the city.”

  Dante nodded and ran along the wall as the two Elders and Liam touched the stone. Thunder rumbled from the ground, followed by a plume of dust as the wall slowly wobbled into the ground. Followed by the shouts of men, the Grand Duke led the men through the gap into the city.

  From the sky, Kai surveyed the city and the spreading chaos below. Hundreds of Fort Pohaku soldiers flooded the town, overrunning the Regents' men. Random fires burned, and, in the distance, three dragons faded into the horizon, bound for the other side.

  A fierce draw on his magic drew his attention moments before a flash of light bloomed on the city's far side. Sabastian. Kai worried about his friend, who would only use his special Lumen gift in dire situations. Although he wanted to help, he knew the other dragons would be there well before him and could undoubtedly contain the problem.

  At the center of the palace grounds, Kai landed in the courtyard. Milnos men attacked with swords drawn—their metal blades sparked across his scales. They did not have the force to pierce his thick hide. Using his spiked tail, he swatted the men away or crushed them where they stood.

  Iver, Roark, Dresnor, and Drew jumped into the fray, swords at the ready. Men on the inner walls fought amongst themselves—Milnos versus Diu. Blade against blade they battled until a row of archers fired, Milnos men willing to kill both sides to ensure victory. Kai spat fire at the projectiles, burning them in mid-flight.

  The sound of metal striking metal drew Kai back to his father. Engaged in battle against Milnos warriors, Iver’s fluid movements were swift and precise, and he fought like a much younger man. He deflected attacks from one man then delivered strikes against another. It made Kai wonder if his father’s time in Katori and the water-infused healing had sparked his dormant Katori bloodline.

  At first, they made quick work and dispatched most of the men surrounding the palace. There was no sign of the Regent or the Queen, but soon more and more men flooded into the courtyard. From where Kai stood, he saw them fleeing to the inner gatehouse. Something or someone was forcing them back.

  Their escape cut off, the Milnos men swarmed back to the palace, presumably forced back by Sabastian and the arrival of Benmar and the other dragons on the far side of the city. Milnos men poured through the gatehouse like rats.

  A barrage of arrows plinked off Kai’s back, and he turned his head to a cluster of fearless Milnos archers on the palace wall, who were taking aim and firing another volley. Three men heaved a dragon killer into position, while a fourth cranked the bolt into place and fired. The bolt flew straight and true but only scraped Kai’s neck, taking shards of dragon scale with it but drawing no blood.

  The second round of arrows bounced off his wing and neck, a mere distraction for the next oncoming bolt they intended to launch. In response, Kai screeched in anger at the unwanted invaders, but the archers did not yield or run away. Instead, they nocked another arrow as if unaware their tiny sticks were useless against his armor-like scales.

  As the giant crossbow turned for better aim, it cranked into position with a new bolt positioned to fire. An immense heat rolled up Kai’s throat, and he blasted fire, consuming every man around the lethal weapon. Set ablaze, the Milnos warriors still managed to launch the bolt, aimed at his head. Shrinking his dragon form, Kai managed to dodge the bolt; but it struck the crowd behind him, running through four men before striking the ground. With the threat dispatched, Kai turned back to the courtyard.

  The next round of Milnos soldiers pouring back through the palace gatehouse contained the Queen. Surrounded by loyal Milnosian men, Nola looked like a damsel in distress backed against the wall. Her once elegant gown, now trimmed in mud, sagged under its burdens, and her stylish blonde curls contained bits of dirt and ash and blew in the angry breeze. Kai almost felt bad for her.

  Surrounded by a new swarm of men, Roark moved closer to Iver. In response, Kai took hold of his inner dragon, and like a cleaver, he hammered his tail down across the palace courtyard. In seconds, he crushed dozens of Milnos men and sent the rest scurrying against the walls, dropping their weapons and exposing their queen.

  Nola stood in proud defiance, her chin held high. Strolling toward Iver, her expression appeared happy to see him after a long voyage. Without hesitation, Kai transformed and landed a foot in front of his father, blocking her path. Joining him, Dresnor handed him a sword, which he quickly pointed at the Queen.

  “You have gone far enough, Nola.” He stepped forward and raised his blade, stopping her advancement. He scanned the Milnos men but did not see Maxwell. “Where is the Regent?”

  Everything in the courtyard fell silent, and all eyes landed on the Queen. Despite her coy demeanor, Kai did not tru
st her getting close to his father.

  “What a difference a day makes, my dearest Kai.” Nola removed her gloves and cloak, letting them fall to the ground. “Are we no longer friends? Look at you, redeemed in the eyes of everyone because your father stands here, but you held the blade the same as I, willing to do as I asked and kill your father. Any clarity you might have found in those final moments did not change the fact. Part of you was willing.”

  Her words stung, and Kai let his eyes wander to those next to him. Dresnor and Roark on either side glanced out the corner of their eyes but never lost sight of the Queen. “Enough talk, Nola. You are under arrest for treason and the attempted murder of your King.” Kai held his blade, tracking her movements.

  Trapped, Nola screamed at the top of her lungs. “I hate you—I hate you all. You killed my father, and you must pay.”

  “You nearly killed our son, Nola,” Iver shouted back. “In fact, you have been killing me for years. Slowly, but you were killing me. My mind, body, and soul. And now it is time you pay for your crimes.”

  Tears ran down her face. “ME!” she screamed. “What about your crimes against my father and me? You killed him.”

  The confusion on Iver’s face prompted Kai. “Nola is the illegitimate daughter of Milnos King Bannon Penier, the man who murdered your father and uncle. She is a half-sister to Landon Penier.”

  Memories of loss washed over Iver. “Bannon was a murderous, twisted man, filled with hate for every nation but his own. I loved you, or at least I believed I loved you, and all this time, you plotted to kill me and take my kingdom for vengeance?”

  Nola laughed. “Love? What do you know of love? Men love money, power, and control, but nothing else. No, there was no love between us. I spent years tricking you into gaining the wealth and power I needed to crush you. It was not enough to murder you; I wanted you to suffer. I wanted to take everything from you.”