Amane of Teravinea - The Crown (The Teravinea Series Book 3)

by D. Maria Trimble

  He thrust his blade at me. I dodged, dove to the ground, rolled and leaped to my feet. Footsteps sounded at the doorway.

  “Amáne, catch!” Ansel tossed me a sword. It flew in an arc toward me. I reached up and took hold of the hilt. Darqin lunged again. I parried, leaving my sword against the inside of his. Stepping in I raised my blade to vertical. Wrapping it around to the outside of his, I slid it down and jerked hard. In a matter of seconds I’d disarmed him. His blade clattered to the ground several feet away.

  I pressed the point of my blade on his chest with just enough pressure to where it wouldn’t break the skin, as long as he kept backing up. I followed until he came against a work bench. I could have run him through, but I spared him. I would not draw blood in an uneven fight with an unbalanced boy.

  He put up his hands in surrender. His eyes bugged out in anger, mixed with fear.

  Ansel leaned against the door jam, arms crossed.

  Darqin shot a glance at him. “Don’t let her kill me.”

  Ansel smiled, then looked at me. “I’ve seen you dispatch grown men in armor faster than that. What took you so long?”

  “I could ask you the same question.”

  “My apologies. I was under the impression you had everything under control, rider.”

  “My error. Apparently I still haven’t mastered my understanding of male behavior, my Lord.”

  “I concur.”

  I scowled at him.

  He stepped in, grabbed Darqin by the scruff of his shirt and roughly escorted him out to face the Healer.

  I stood in the barn and watched as Ansel dragged Darqin away. Tears of frustration welled up. Once again my stupidity had gotten me into trouble. Why can’t I understand males and their way of thinking?

  My fists clenched. I wanted to scream. I stomped toward the rear of the barn, kicking Darqin’s sword as hard as I could. It hurt. My rage increased. I passed the donkey’s stall and the Healer’s horse, Thunder. He snorted as I stormed by. I made my way to the very last stall, in the farthest corner of the large barn.

  Turning my back to the wall, I slid down and sat in the hay. I tilted my head back and stared at the rafters above. My shoulders jerked with sobs.

  I felt Eshshah’s soft hum. “Eshshah, please, I don’t want to be consoled. Can you just leave me alone to wallow — just for a bit? Thank you.” I knew she wouldn’t condone it for long.

  My misery absorbed me. I didn’t hear Ansel’s approach until he stepped into the stall. He lowered himself beside me, stretching his long legs in front of him. Taking my hand, we sat in silence.

  Ansel turned my hand over in his, intently examining my palm, and tracing my fingers. It was distracting. I couldn’t fully concentrate on my sour mood.

  I finally broke the silence. “That whole incident could have been avoided if I’d listened to you. You were right, I am naive. I didn’t have it under control like I thought. I guess I just don’t understand your kind.”

  “My kind? You make us sound like some sort of bizarre animal or something.”

  “You are. And, I’m ignorant. I have no idea how you males think.”

  “Allow me to explain something, Amáne. Besides your formidable position as a dragon rider, you’re a beautiful girl with weapons skills any male would envy.”

  He ignored my confused reaction, and continued. “Most have never met anyone like you, and no one knows quite how to deal with you. Add to that, your innocence, and truthfully, you drive men crazy.”

  “Is that a compliment or an insult?”

  “Neither. I’m just giving you a lesson on the way my kind thinks about you.”

  “Why can’t they just accept who I am — a trainer? Just a trainer. Not a female, or male, or anything other than a trainer. Is that so difficult?” My voice rose.

  Ansel sighed, let go of my hand, and turned to me. “Is that difficult? Let me think. How do I answer that question?” He reached over and pushed back my dishevelled hair. His other hand held my face. He tilted his head and pressed his lips against mine.

  “Hmm. Yes, to answer your question, it’s very difficult,” he whispered. Pulling me closer, he cradled me in front of him, and kissed me more fervently. He held me tight as my heart beat out of my chest. A warmth spread through me.

  He pulled away to gaze at me. I became lost in his intense green eyes. They were on fire. A nervous twinge went through me as I tried to read his face. He leaned in, hesitated, then stopped. My lips burned for more. I felt he could read that in my eyes.

  Ansel started to say something, but stopped. He shook his head slowly and bit his lower lip. His eyes closed and he seemed to struggle with his thoughts. Opening them, a resigned look rose on his face. He kissed my forehead, gently moved me out of his way, and rose to his feet.

  Reaching his hand down to help me up, he said, “Come on. Let’s go before you get another lesson on my kind that you don’t need to learn yet.”

  Leaving the stall hand in hand, I trembled. As we turned the corner, we practically ran into Gallen. He looked at Ansel, then at me, still flush from Ansel’s kisses. A disapproving look flashed in his eyes.

  In a controlled voice, Gallen said, “The Healer is looking for you, Amáne. You’d better get that straw out of your hair before she sees you.”

  I think I must have gone beyond red. My jaw dropped. I gasped. Before I could defend myself, Ansel spoke up.

  “Gallen, no need for alarm. Your girl is safe with me. Her honor is my first priority.”

  Relaxing, Gallen replied, “Thank you, Lord Ansel. You do understand my concern?”

  “Completely. I’m no longer that same person you once knew.”

  I wondered what it was about Ansel that had concerned Gallen. I shook my head and headed out to find the Healer, picking the straw from my hair as I went.

  I found the Healer in her library just as she signed off with Rider Calder.

  “Are you all right?” she asked searching my face.

  “Yes. But I feel like such a fool. I should have been able to read him better.”

  I slumped into a couch and put my head in my hands. The Healer sat next to me and pulled me to her.

  “Amáne, you’re not expected to know how to read people. That will come with time and experience. You’re a beautiful young lady with exceptional skills. It throws a lot of people off, especially men.”

  “So I’ve been told.”

  “Then your best option is to start believing it.”

  I nodded.

  “What will become of Darqin?” I asked.

  “Dorjan is holding him until Calder arrives. Calder has the facilities to keep Darqin while his fate is decided. He’s a three-day ride from here, on horseback. I just spoke with him. He’s leaving shortly.”

  “Again, another waste of time because of me,” I complained. “Somehow, I think I should have been able to do something to avoid that situation.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Some things you can’t control.”

  Several days later, the Healer found Ansel and me at target practice.

  “I’ll be heading to Dorjan’s in the next hour. Calder is leaving to take Darqin back to Glinfoil,” she said.

  “I’d like to join you,” said Ansel.

  “Me too,” I added.

  “No. You’re not going, Amáne,” Ansel said, abruptly.

  “Yes. I have to.”

  “What reason could you possibly have?” Ansel asked.

  “I have two reasons. One, I want to be a witness to his leaving — I want to see him ride out, hopefully punished and put away, so he’ll never seek me out again. And, two, I want to try to forgive him. If I could remind myself what a miserable wreck he is, I think it would help.”

  Ansel’s jaw dropped as he stared at me. The Healer tipped her head, eyebrows raised.

  “I’ve learned a lot about forgiveness these last few months,” I said.

  Ansel continued to stare.

  “Forgiving my father was the most libe
rating feeling I’ve ever experienced. I have a father now instead of a man I would have gone to my ancestors hating. Then there’s you, Ansel. How many times have you forgiven me for my thoughtlessness and anger?”

  “That doesn’t even compare to this. It’s as different as sun and moon. That man tried to kill you.”

  “But he didn’t. I just need to try to forgive him.”

  With an exasperated look at his aunt, he said, “Healer, are you going to help me out, here?”

  “Ansel, while I see your point,” the Healer said, “I’m going to have to concede to Amáne. This is for her own resolution.”

  His jaw tightened. “Fine. But you’ll not even get near him. Do you understand?”

  “Thank you, Ansel. I have no desire to get near him.” I slipped my arm in his.

  We stood out front at Dorjan’s house. It was time for Calder to leave with his charge. Dorjan fetched Darqin and led him out. His hands were secured in front with leather manacles. Much more humane than the iron I’d worn on more than one occasion. Dorjan helped him onto a horse tied behind Calder’s.

  Ansel pulled me further away, a protective arm around my shoulders.

  Darqin swung his gaze around to me. His eyes swept over Ansel and then back to me. I was taken aback by the hatred that burned in his eyes. His features twisted into an angry grimace. He spat in my direction.

  “That was uncalled for, boy,” Dorjan boomed.

  Darqin shouted at me, “I swear you’re gonna regret what you did to me, Sir Amáne. You and that ugly scaled creature of yours. And that ...”

  I heard a thud as someone struck him.

  Ansel ushered me into the house. He pulled me close and wrapped his arms tightly around me. I buried my face in his chest.

  “Do you still want to forgive him?” Ansel asked.

  “I’m trying to.”

  He squeezed me tighter.

  “I’m worried about Calder,” the Healer said as she joined us in the kitchen. “It’s a three-day ride to Glinfoil. He should have arrived last night at the latest. I’ve tried to contact him. He doesn’t answer.”

  “Maybe Sovann and I should fly there and check,” Ansel said.

  “You may just have to if we don’t hear from him by tonight. Gallen can go with you.”

  I sat up straight. “Wouldn’t it be better if Eshshah and I went with them?”

  They both turned to me. My hopes fell. “I just thought that ...”

  “It would take a lot more than a delayed dragon rider to get you in the saddle, Amáne. Put it out of your mind,” the Healer admonished.

  I pounded the table. Fighting my tears, I rose quickly and made my way to the library. Maybe I can distract myself with some of the Healer’s books.

  The communication disc buzzed as I stomped into the room. I grabbed the knob and watched as the glass shimmered into an image.

  “Calder!” He looked dreadful. Barely recognizable, his eye was swollen shut; he had a cut across his cheek; his lip was cracked and bleeding; blood stained his shirt. “What happened, Calder? Healer, come in here, quick.”

  Calder waited until the Healer arrived, Ansel and Gallen on her heels. The Healer groaned when she saw the rider’s condition.

  “Darqin’s gotten away,” Calder said. “I let my guard down. I’d found a spot to stop for the night and decided to start a fire before I tied his feet. He found a branch and beat me good with it. If I didn’t have my dragon, Bade’s, venom running in my veins, I’d be a dead man. I’m sure he thought he’d finished me off. By the time I came to, he was long gone. Took the horses. I tracked him for a while. He must have had some tracking experience. He did a pretty good job trying to cover his trail. Didn’t look like he headed back to Dorsal. I followed him for a long time, then lost him. He’s heading north. I’m sorry.” His shoulders slumped with defeat.

  “It’s all right, Calder. I’m worried about you. Get yourself taken care of,” the Healer said.

  “I came to Glinfoil to contact you. I plan to replenish my supplies and leave soon to continue the search.”

  “No,” put in Ansel. “We need you there. You can’t be going on a wild chase to find an angry boy. We’ll put the word out to keep an eye open for him. If he’d headed in this direction, it’d be a different story. Amáne’s safety would be at stake. You sound sure he’s headed the opposite way. Get your injuries tended to. We need you healthy. Thank you, Calder. You did everything you could.”

  Calder nodded.

  “Contact us tonight,” the Healer said.

  We all saluted and signed off. I took my hand off the knob.

  “Where do you think he’d go?” I asked. “I doubt he’d head back to Anbon.”

  “No idea,” said the Healer shaking her head. “Hopefully somewhere he can think about his life and start making something better of it. At this point it’s headed in the wrong direction.”

  Late one afternoon I wandered into the Healer’s library after a particularly hard workout. It had became more difficult for me to fight off my wretchedness from being grounded. Eshshah suffered with me. My declining disposition was not lost on Ansel. My temper shortened.

  Dorjan and Ansel happened to be there pouring over a map of the kingdom. I’d hoped to have the room to myself.

  I slumped down on a bench and removed my boots. The cool tile felt good on my hot, tired feet.

  “So, Amáne,” Dorjan said, “I haven’t gotten a chance to ask you if you saw any two-headed dragons in Orchila?”

  “You’re funny, Dorjan.” I didn’t make any effort to look amused.

  “No, I’m serious. Did you see any?”

  “Sure, they were all over the skies,” I said.

  “Do you mean in all of your studies you’ve done, you never heard of Diacephal?”

  “What are you talking about? Who’s Diacephal?”

  “He was a two-headed dragon that lived ages ago. Before Leyna, even before Ansel’s great grandfather, King Eadrid.”

  I gave Ansel a look, silently asking is this true?

  Ansel offered a slight nod. Since he was an expert in dragon lore, his confirmation of this incredible creature peaked my interest.

  “You’re serious, Dorjan? A two-headed dragon?”

  “Absolutely. He was a white dragon.”

  “His scales so bright, they were nearly transparent,” Ansel added.

  Completely drawn into the story, my frustration melted. “I don’t know why I never found any account of him in all of the manuscripts I studied. Where can I find more information on him — maybe some illustration?”

  “Drawings are rare,” said Ansel.

  Not only did I forget my troubles, but my excitement rose. This would give me something else to occupy my mind.

  “Eshshah,” I said in thought transference, “what do your memories tell you of the two-headed dragon?”

  “The two-headed dragon?”

  “Yes, Diacephal. Dorjan and Ansel told me about him.”

  A low rumble of her laughter echoed in my head. “Amáne, I’m afraid Lord Ansel and Dorjan are having their fun with you.”

  “What!?” I said out loud.

  I turned on the two men, who suddenly looked guilty.

  “You horrible men!” I shouted.

  They burst into laughter, which made me even more mad. The heat rose in my face. I picked up one of my boots and hurled it at Dorjan catching him hard on the chest.

  He grunted. “We really had you going. A two-headed dragon? Really, Amáne?” His booming laughter filled the library.

  “You really are that gullible,” Ansel laughed.

  I picked up my second boot and launched it at Ansel. He ducked. The boot crashed against the wall.

  “Then you shouldn’t be so proud of your success if I’m so easy to fool.”

  “I believe my wife will be expecting me home, soon,” said Dorjan. “I’ll be leaving now. Good luck Lord Ansel. You’d be wise to come up with something to appease her wrath.” With that he
slipped out of the room.

  “Coward!” Ansel shouted after him.

  My anger eased up. Laughter had a tendency to become contagious. I could hear Dorjan still roaring as he left the house. Ansel snickered.

  “Yes, you’d better come up with something good to appease my wrath,” I said, trying to keep an angry edge, but failing miserably.

  “I might just have something that will do the trick.” He paused and met my eyes.

  “Well?” I demanded.

  “Well, how would you and Eshshah like to go with Sovann and me tonight on a small, easy, safe, simple quest?”

  I gasped. Am I dreaming?

  “What? A quest? With you and Sovann and Eshshah?” I couldn’t believe it. Then I froze. “Ansel, are you playing with me again? Because if you are ...”

  “No, I’m serious. But I’m not talking about the kind of mission to which you’re accustomed. It won’t be life threatening. No danger, no breaking into castles, just a simple trip — hardly what you’d call a quest. Dorjan has to assemble a large supply of lightning balls. He needs more scales from Eben’s late dragon, Salama. We’ll fly to Nicobar, where Eben lives. He has a bag ready for us. Would that appease your wrath?”

  I threw my arms around him. “It would absolutely appease my wrath. Ansel, you have no idea how this makes me feel.”

  “Oh, I think I do.”

  “I love you, Ansel.” I kissed his lips three times.

  “So that’s what it takes to buy your love?”

  I hit him in the chest. “Don’t be ridiculous. When do we leave?”

  “As soon as it gets dark, which will be soon. Go get ready.”

  I charged out of the library and headed to my chambers.

  “Eshshah, we get to fly tonight!”

  “I know, Amáne. At last!” Her excitement mirrored mine.

  I threw on my breastplate and riding gear, grabbed my helmet and cloak and rushed back to the library for my boots. Ansel was still there rolling up the maps left scattered before Dorjan’s hasty retreat.

  He noted my attire. “Why the breastplate? We’re just going for a simple ride to Eben’s, not a skirmish.”