Heart of the Dragon's Realm

by Karalynn Lee

  In the darkness her imagination was all the more vivid. She thought of Tathan and the wonder that had sometimes slipped onto his face when he looked at her.

  When Leden next came, the image gave her the strength to tell him what to do with his scheme. She shocked him with her coarse soldier’s language so much that he didn’t notice the quaver in her voice. He let a bundle fall and was quickly gone. She only managed to hold back her shouts for him to come back because she had to fight with the rats to reach the food first.

  She came to dread the glimpses of light, for they heralded Leden’s arrival. “Well, Princess?” he would ask, and she would somehow force herself to say, “No,” and he would drop some dry bread and a slack waterskin that never held enough to slake her thirst. Then he would shut out the light again and she would spiral back into renewed panic.

  The constant darkness destroyed her sense of time. The sun she lived by was the square of light from which Leden asked his wretched question, and she lost track of how many times it rose and set. How many more times can I say no? She would stay silent the next time he came, hoping he would descend and investigate. He couldn’t afford to kill her.

  But when the hole was next uncovered, something immediately landed next to her with a soft thump. She felt herself seize in fear. He’s not even bothering to ask anymore. He was simply assuming she would choose to stay another day. She would never be released.

  But the light didn’t vanish and a different person’s voice called down to her. “Kimri?”

  It took her a long moment to remember his name. “Herrol?”

  “Climb up.”

  Her words came out ragged. “I won’t marry you.” She had to fight not to start begging him to let her out at any price.

  “I know.” His words were like another rope thrown down to her. “You don’t have to. Please come up.”

  She believed out of desperation. She groped toward the sound she’d heard earlier, and her fingers brushed against the coarse fibers of a rope ladder. A sob tore from her throat. She clutched at it and summoned the strength to lift her hands and her feet up one rung at a time. When she finally neared the top, someone clasped her wrists and pulled her up.

  The light hurt her eyes, but she was glad she couldn’t see Herrol’s expression when he said softly, “Oh, Kimri.” She must be a revolting sight, but he didn’t let go of her as he helped her stand and guided her away. “I had no idea you were in there. I avoided the tower entirely after the last time I saw you. But Leden came across me while I was in my cups and I told him about what we talked about, and he took it into his mind to do this.”

  “I know you weren’t a part of it. He asked me to lie to you.”

  “My dear brother,” he said bitterly. “Zayen was in love with a woman in Anagard, did you know? That’s why he crossed the border the night he was killed by your soldiers. I’m sure I disappointed Leden when I told him I wanted to wed you—yet another Anagard woman wreaking havoc on our family. What did he want you to do to put me off?”

  Her voice came out sounding strangled. “He wanted me to say I loved you.”

  He came to a halt. “That would have been even crueler.” He didn’t look at her, just pushed a door open. “Here. I ordered a bath to be ready in my room. There are clean clothes too. I’ll stand guard outside. Take as long as you need.”

  She stumbled into the chamber alone and stood there shivering for a while after the door closed behind her, letting her vision slowly readjust. The sight of the bath stirred her into action. She stripped off her clothes and sank into the water.

  She scrubbed furiously, determined to get every last bit of grime off. The color of her skin under the dirt was unfamiliar, and it took her a moment to realize she needn’t rub any more. She moved on to her hair, but it was a hopeless tangle. She yanked fruitlessly at one particularly stubborn knot until tears sprang to her eyes, then found herself huddled in the tub, arms wrapped around her knees as she sobbed out her frustration. She couldn’t help thinking, If he tries to put me back down there, I will marry him on the spot. She cursed her weakness even as she wept.

  The cooling water roused her back into dry eyes and brisk scrubbing. She refused to waste this bath, this chance to rid herself of that filthy cell. Herrol wouldn’t have taken her out only to return her to that dungeon. She’d survived imprisonment, and it would not be a snarl in her hair that overwhelmed her.

  She finally got out and dressed herself in the garments neatly folded on Herrol’s bed. She threw her old clothes into the fireplace.

  He’d also left a tray with simple fare, a piece of summer fruit and some nuts and wine that she devoured in minutes. The wine, thankfully, was rich and strong and helped dull a little of the horror of the past several days.

  At first she perched on the edge of the tub, reluctant to go near Herrol’s bed, but her entire body ached too much to stay there for long. So she roved around his room. Is he waiting for me or I for him? She wasn’t ready to deal with him yet, so instead of calling out to him, she picked up one of his books. It was a dry history of Kenasgate, a poor distraction until she found a section on how a past king had unified his warring lords through the careful distribution of his seven daughters in marriage. She read on, hoping to find the gory details of that king’s death.

  Eventually a knock came. “Kimri, it’s me.”

  She set down the book. “Come in,” she said, a little too aware of the irony in inviting him into his own room. As soon as he slipped in the door she held out her hand. “Give me your dagger.”

  He studied her, then slowly pulled the weapon from his belt and handed it to her.

  She leaned to one side, gathering her hair in one fist, and sawed through it all. The shorn strands fell to the floor in matted knots.

  “What are you doing?”

  She gave him back his dagger, her head feeling curiously light. The ends of her hair brushed her shoulders in an unfamiliar caress. “It was never going to be clean again. Did you think I was going to stab you?”

  “I wouldn’t blame you for it,” he said in a low voice.

  And he’d let her have the blade anyway. “You’re not the one who put me in there.” Her voice only trembled a little at the end.

  “No, but I knew that you weren’t safe, and I didn’t realize my own brother would be a danger to you. I’m the one who brought you to Kenasgate. I’m so sorry, Kimri. Now I’m going to take you back out.” He held out a cloak he’d had draped over his arm.

  She took it and wrapped it around herself, not yet daring to hope. “Back out where?”

  “To Anagard. I would give you more time to rest, but I don’t want you to stay here any longer than you need to. I don’t trust my brother anymore.”

  She couldn’t quite believe it. “You’re sneaking me out to Anagard?”

  “It’d be fitting, wouldn’t it? But no, that cousin of yours offered ransom for you.”

  “He did? What did he offer?”

  “There’s a set price for you, remember? A hundred Helsmont-forged swords and ten thousand arrows.”

  “You’re willing to take it? And your father?”

  “I am now.” He cupped her cheek. “I told my father I wouldn’t marry you.”

  She was too surprised to move away from his touch. “Why?”

  “Because you don’t love me.”

  She lowered her gaze. She didn’t know what to say. How do I thank a man for accepting a rejection?

  His hand slipped away. “Come on.”

  She followed after a brief hesitation. As grateful she was for the reprieve, she was suspicious of what awaited her back in Anagard. Peramin’s offer to ransom her was unexpected. Will he send me back to Helsmont? He’d been dubious of the alliance from the start, and he might say that the mountain-king had already misplaced her once.

  Dereth had told her that none of their cousins had sons. If she married into one of the noble houses and bore a boy, he could be used to claim Dereth’s vacant throne. Perhap
s one of the lords was pushing for this exchange. If that was the case, she’d at least be in her homeland—But Anagard isn’t home anymore. She missed the riverlands, but she’d never quite fit in. With Dereth gone, it would be even harder.

  Anagard would be better than Kenasgate. But not better than Helsmont.

  Why hadn’t Tathan offered to pay her ransom, even by messenger? Did he no longer want her? Can I blame him? In his eyes she had spurned him and broken their betrothal. Few men could withstand that humiliation.

  When they reached the courtyard, she almost shied away when she saw the procession that had been assembled. Dozens of soldiers crammed the area, some on foot and some on horse, all armed and grim-faced. One glared at her before abruptly turning away.

  Herrol noticed her pause. “They’re our escort.”

  “There are so many…”

  She found out why when someone behind her said, “Princess.”

  She turned to see the king of Kenasgate standing there in full armor save for his helm, as she’d seen him before in his map room. His countenance was different this time, though. Almost diffident.

  “I apologize for your disgraceful treatment,” he said gruffly. “Prince Leden is being disciplined, and we’ll return you to Anagard as quickly as we can ride.”

  So he has some buried sense of honor after all. “And my brother?”

  His face darkened. “He was cared for properly. My own physician saw to him during his illness, and he recovered fully. He suffered nothing of what happened to you, which is why I’m releasing you.”

  “He sickened in whatever wretched cell you put him in. As for me, I came to Kenasgate freely, King, bringing your son. My release is no proper recompense for what was done to me. It should have been granted as a matter of course.”

  He drew himself up. “You presume—”

  “Do I?” She looked him squarely in the eye. “Or did you?”

  Herrol had gone still beside her. Without looking at him, she felt him relax when the king finally said, “I set a ransom-price. It hasn’t been met,” and she knew she had gained the upper hand.

  “Let it be negotiated. Ten thousand swords is preposterous. Think of what you would give and take not just for Dereth, but for peace.”

  “You can’t give me back my son.” He turned away.

  She couldn’t hold back her exasperation and followed him, raising her voice. “I did give you back your son. You have two living sons, at least one of whom seems suited to become king after you. Perhaps you’d like to leave him a kingdom worth ruling over instead of the war-torn mess that was my brother’s worst inheritance from our father.”

  “Kimri!” Herrol frantically tried to jerk her back, but the king turned around and held up a hand to stay him.

  He studied her with remarkable calm. “I’d heard you were an unruly sort.”

  She became suddenly conscious of his sword and the dozens of armed men surrounding her. “You heard right, I’m afraid. You see why my brother tried to marry me off.”

  “I’m a little sorry you won’t be marrying Herrol,” he said and then strode off, leaving her blinking. He pointed to one of his commandants. “Is the king of Anagard well enough to travel?”

  The commandant looked around a little wildly until another man, this one not in armor, nodded to him. Relieved, the commandant said, “Yes, my king.”

  “Bring him.” He gave Kimri a long look, then moved away.

  She sagged in relief against Herrol. “He’s bringing Dereth!”

  “My father may not actually release him.” But the warning was halfhearted. He looked after the king in amazement. “I think he must be tired of this war, as well. He never would have yielded this easily before.”

  “He’s outlived two consorts and a son and he has yet to have grandchildren.” She was still a little stunned to hear that there was one man in the world who would have welcomed her as a daughter-in-marriage. “That can weigh on a man.”

  “I think he’s realized how much growing up with this war has twisted Leden. All of us.”

  She sobered at the mention of his brother. “Is he coming too?” Her fingers twitched as she considered taking Herrol’s dagger again.

  “No. He’s been ordered to stay behind. He’ll be mucking out the oubliette you stayed in.”

  “Ah, so at least the next prisoner won’t have to deal with the rats and filth in that hole. Only the darkness and isolation.”

  “He had some twisted reasons for choosing the place, since the dungeons were full of sick men.”

  “Oh, so it was out of concern for my health?” she mocked.

  “I don’t think he realized how bad a state it was in. It hadn’t been used for years, and I hope it won’t be again. Cleaning it isn’t meant to be useful for anything but punishing him. Let it go, Kimri. He doesn’t deserve to dwell in your thoughts any more than necessary.”

  It was easy for him to say that, but she was too weary to argue. She took the reins he handed her in silence and busied herself with befriending the gelding—a nervous type, but a far improvement over the spiritless village nag. When the order came to ride out, she swung herself into the saddle and followed the soldiers who gestured at her to do so. She spied Dereth on the other side of the courtyard, being helped onto a horse of his own.

  To her disappointment, she wasn’t allowed near him. It might present too much temptation for the two of them to escape together. Instead he rode ahead of her beside the king of Kenasgate, and she took heart from how earnest her brother’s face was as the two of them spoke. The stiff set of Dereth’s shoulders relaxed as they rode on. She hadn’t believed that the king of Kenasgate would take her exhortations for peace so seriously, but it looked as though the two were truly negotiating.

  At night they offered her the use of a tent, but even cloth walls felt too constraining to her. One look at her pale face and Herrol ordered soldiers to prepare a clearing for her and to stand perimeter guard at night. He silenced any grumbles by taking the first shift.

  In an early sign of summer, the night was pleasantly warm. But she felt restless, even with Herrol’s presence nearby, the stars bright above her and the soft hoots of an owl to reassure her she was safe and out in the open. It was only when she heard a rustling and saw the eagle settling itself in a tree for the night that she drifted to sleep.

  Chapter Nine

  After several days’ riding they reached the dragon’s spine. The plain wooden bridge had arched high over the river for as long as anyone’s memory stretched back, weathering several floods and the feet of countless supplicants. It served well as neutral ground, given how much reverence people held for the creature said to dwell in the waters underneath.

  Soldiers gathered in ranks on both banks while river-birds wheeled and called out from above. Was there an eagle among them? She squinted upward hopefully, but quickly brought her gaze back down when the king of Kenasgate motioned for her and Dereth to accompany him to the bridge. He was allowed guards by tradition, but he didn’t look at any of the soldiers, only nodded to Herrol to ride next to him. It was a gracious gesture of trust, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Dereth, judging by his thoughtful look. She wished she’d been able to hear their conversations during their journey here.

  As they drew closer, she scanned through the faces on the other side, searching for any that were familiar. There was Peramin, coming forward to meet them on the bridge. Beside him rode one of Anagard’s commandants, and on the other side a woman, her hair short and her horse mountain-bred. It was Beatris.

  Her heart seized for a moment. She looked to see if anyone else accompanied Beatris, perhaps a large man with steady hands and watchful eyes, but of course the mountain-king wasn’t here, away from his kingdom. Still, he’d sent his commandant. That must mean something. What it meant, she didn’t know.

  Herrol recognized Beatris too. Disregarding protocol, he rode forward to meet her even as Peramin and the king of Kenasgate greeted each other. Herrol spoke in a
low voice so as not to interrupt the rulers, but Kimri edged as close as she dared and strained her ears to hear them talk. A friendly breeze carried their words to her.

  “Commandant. What are you doing here?”

  Beatris shook her head. “Commandant no longer. The regent of Anagard allowed me to attend as a courtesy.”

  Kimri drew in a quick breath—she couldn’t imagine the woman in any other position—but Herrol was swift to recognize the opportunity. “I’ll hire you,” he said, and she shook her head again.

  “I may not be in the mountain-king’s service, but I am still loyal to him.”

  “I wouldn’t ask you to fight against Helsmont.”

  “You have already brought him the greatest grief I have ever known him to suffer.”

  Kimri pressed her fist to her mouth to stifle the sound she made.

  Herrol glanced back at her. “She left with me willingly.”

  “Is that how she became a ransom-prisoner? I expected to find her in Anagard.”

  Herrol was quiet for a moment. “She would’ve gone there, but I forced her to stay in Kenasgate. This isn’t how I wanted it. But my father—”

  She snorted.

  “Don’t tout your loyalty and mock others for the same,” he said tightly.

  After a moment, she inclined her head. “Forgive me, Prince.”

  Peramin coughed. Kimri started guiltily, but so did Herrol and her brother, who had also been listening in on the furtive conversation. Beatris, naturally, looked unperturbed.

  Peramin’s attention was focused on Dereth. Her brother gave a sheepish smile and rode forward to join the negotiations. Despite the embarrassment he had to be feeling, it lifted her heart to see that he was not always the wholly serious king and still could be caught in moments like this, eavesdropping like an overcurious boy.

  She wondered if she dared try to talk to Beatris herself while the negotiations continued. Beatris had gone to Anagard looking for her. Was that why the guards hadn’t caught her and Herrol during their flight down the mountain? Perhaps they’d been looking along the paths to Anagard instead of toward Kenasgate. Had that failure caused Tathan to remove Beatris from her position? She felt lost in a forest of questions, and longed to put them to Beatris. Perhaps she could inch her horse forward and to the side just a few steps.