Crown Jewels

by Katherine Kingston, Mlyn Hurn

  As he watched the way Syranna idly patted one dragonet and then another, he realized that she was carefully paying equal attention to each one. That was when he recalled that the last time he’d touched one of the little critters the skin had not felt the same. It had seemed softer, less scaly. Shaking his head and smiling, he pondered over the fact that he was watching two dragonets tumble one over the other as they played on the table, their tummies full. Perhaps even more shocking was that he enjoyed the little show they put on!

  “Time for one last drink, babies. Then it’s time for bed.” Syranna set AnnaBelle in front of the water dish, gently pushing her head down to the water.

  Marcus stood and separated the wrestling brothers and carried them to the water, duplicating Syranna’s move. Instead of going back to his chair, he paused and rubbed each of the males the same way he had seen Syranna rub AnnaBelle. Both of them immediately lifted their heads and began making the same purr as their sister did. From a short distance away, while he continued to rub them some more, he heard Darmand snort and then speak.

  “Uh oh.”

  Marcus looked up and saw that Syranna was watching him with near-horror on her face. “What? What’s wrong? All I did was rub them like you did.”

  Syranna sat down in her chair and buried her face in her hands. Marcus took a step toward her as he saw her shoulders moving and he was afraid she was crying. Suddenly she looked up and he could see that she was laughing…and then he realized she was laughing at him!

  “Damn it all! What is going on?” he demanded, anger and frustration evident in his voice.

  Darmand chuckled from his side of the table. “I’m afraid you’ve just made the number one error on why most normal people don’t keep dragons as pets. When you rub one like that and they purr…well, you just became their mama.”

  Marcus could hear William laughing as well as Uther. He turned to glare at Syranna. As he glared at her, she shrugged quickly.

  “I’m sorry, your lordship. But you gave no indication that you might be developing any kind of fondness or attachment—” She stopped as her voice nearly broke with the choked back laughter. “Tender feelings for the babies. I’m not completely sure how they will adjust to life on Vikalla. I might not in all good conscience allow you to take them with you unless you can prove your ability to protect them.”

  Marcus turned from her smiling face to where William was laughing so hard he was holding his stomach. William looked up at him and managed to say, in between bouts of hilarity, “Good thing you aren’t required to nurse them.”

  Even old Uther couldn’t resist that one; his wheezy laugh joined William’s. “Any man who survived a war should surely be able to survive two baby dragons.”

  “Enough!” Marcus roared at the top of his lungs. He got everyone’s attention, including the dragonets. Too late he remembered about little AnnaBelle’s tendency to being startled. His yelling certainly scared the little green dragon, and she let loose with a tiny roar and a three-foot length of flame.

  “Mmmrrraaaawwwrrrrhhhhh!”

  “Mmmrrreeeeooouuuuwwww!”

  Whether it was Fitzwalter or Marcus who got singed a little, he had no idea, because both had hopped toward him and were frantically crawling up his shirt. A few seconds later, one was on his shoulder and the other was on his head, scrambling back and forth from one foot to the other.

  “Ow! Damn it! Ow, that hurts!”

  Syranna was busily attaching AnnaBelle’s harness and petting her at the same time. “I’m sorry, my pet. I know you didn’t mean to scare your brothers. They’ll forgive you.”

  Marcus bit his tongue about who should forgive whom, as Syranna reached for the dragon on his shoulder to step down. Watching as Syranna began reattaching his harness, he shook his head. This unbalanced the one that sat up there, and he dug his claws. Marcus growled in frustration, which only increased as Syranna spoke to the little dragon.

  “Come down, Marcus. You poor baby! Are you scared too?”

  Marcus turned and stomped back to his chair and sat down. He drained his cup of wine and banged it on the table. His glare told William silently to refill it, but as he went to drink, he realized that Fitz had flown back to him and was settling once again upon his arm. Groaning, he tilted his head back to rest against the chair.

  Across the table, Darmand spoke softly. “Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials, your lordship. If you survive to your first anniversary, I’ll come and visit you.”

  Marcus opened his mouth to reply, but Syranna stopped him. “Don’t be ridiculous, Darmand. You never go anywhere, so you know that’s a safe bet. Besides, I’m not marrying his lordship. And I’m not letting him have my dragonets, either. They wouldn’t be happy away from here.” Syranna stood and picked up the tray of empty plates, but left the water bowl. “I’ll go and check on your supper.”

  She stopped by the door and trilled. All three dragons flew across the room and followed her.

  Chapter Ten

  Moerana, the cook and another servant came out about ten minutes later and served them a very delicious dinner. Marcus enjoyed the food, but was more interested in how both Uther and Darmand kept on praising the dishes, and how unusual they were.

  “I don’t see why the old bat can’t cook like this all the time,” Uther muttered in between shoveling huge bites into his mouth.

  Marcus stopped Moerana. “Where is your mistress?”

  “She took the babies to see their home.” She curtsied and hurried away, blushing at being directly addressed by his lordship.

  William shrugged, murmuring in between bites. “I thought they lived here, as pets.”

  “Syranna is taking care of them while their mother is recovering,” Uther answered as he filled his fork with more food.

  “I beg your pardon,” Marcus said slowly, setting his utensils back onto the table. “I assumed they were orphans, or weaned, or whatever it is that dragons do with their young.”

  “I think we should eat them,” Uther added before he called out to Moerana for more wine.

  “So Syranna went by herself to find this dragon?” Marcus started to push his chair back.

  “She’ll return soon, your lordship. Unfortunately, Zudu is not very motherly. Sometimes she is quite unwelcoming of her visitors.”

  “Come on, William. We’re going after Syranna!” Marcus shoved his chair back. “What direction is this cave? Perhaps you should come with us, Uther.”

  “I’ve not finished eating!” Uther protested until Marcus settled his hand upon his weapon. “Very well, but I’ll only slow you down. I don’t move as quickly as I used to.”

  “I’ll carry you if I have to, you old fool! Let’s go!” Marcus turned angrily, but stopped abruptly as he saw Syranna standing just inside the entryway.

  “Not leaving without saying your goodbyes are you, Lord Marcus?” Syranna walked over to the table, smiling. “Moerana, please bring a plate of something warm. Tell cook I’m sorry for being gone so long.”

  Syranna took her seat and smiled at Marcus. “You haven’t finished eating.”

  Marcus pulled his chair back to the table, glaring at her as he sat down. “I was coming to rescue you.”

  “From what? I just took the babies home for a bit.” Syranna smiled. “Oh, thank you, Darmand,” she added when he passed her a glass of wine.

  Marcus glared at Syranna for acting as if this was all normal and commonplace. Clearing his throat, he reminded himself to stay calm. “I assumed the ‘babies’, as you call them, were orphans. I had no idea that you had a fully grown dragon here.”

  “You can sleep easily tonight, sir. The dragon is not inside the castle grounds. The babies will be back soon, though.”

  William leaned back in his chair, a huge grin on his face. Even before he spoke, Marcus decided his old friend was enjoying this fiasco entirely too much! “Perhaps Marcus would enjoy walking with you when you go back to fetch them.”

  Uther laughed out loud at the su
ggestion. Marcus noted that Darmand had the discretion to hide his own amusement behind his napkin. Turning to look at Syranna, he paused as she accepted a plate of food from Moerana. “I’ll go with you, of course,” he told her decisively.

  “No need, your lordship.” Syranna shook her head. “Zudu will bring them home.”

  Uther got so flustered he juggled his fork before it fell to his plate with a long clang. “I’m not going up there!”

  “Up where?” William asked.

  Darmand volunteered quickly. “I’ll go with you, Syranna. That would give us some time to talk.”

  Syranna was shaking her head when Marcus turned to look at her before he began objecting about the other man’s suggestion.

  “I don’t need anyone to go with me. And don’t fret, Uther. After the last time you went, I’ll never have you do that little task again. I promise.”

  Uther glared at Syranna from the far end of the table. “I don’t consider standing on top of the castle tower, leaning out of the window to reach the part where you can haul your…never mind. I’ll be happy to never go again.”

  “Yes, Uther. You never, ever will have to do that again.” Syranna tried to reassure him, but Marcus could see the old man had it set in his head.

  “If you go away again—”

  “I’m not going anywhere, Uther. Now, please, wouldn’t you like to have some dessert?”

  Marcus looked from Syranna to Uther. He wouldn’t have believed it if he had not seen it. The old man slowly relaxed and smiled.

  “Yes, indeed, princess. I’ll go ask cook to send it in.”

  As Marcus turned to look accusingly at Syranna, he saw the speculative look appear in Darmand’s face as he glanced from Syranna to the old man and then back to her seemingly placid face. It was almost as if he could see the wheels turning in the other man’s head as he considered what he had just witnessed. Marcus assumed Darmand was familiar with both Syranna and Uther, and could see just as easily as he had just how out of character the old curmudgeon’s sudden acquiescence and good nature were completely beyond his norm. Syranna’s voice distracted him a moment later.

  “I assume you will be leaving shortly, Darmand. I didn’t invite you to spend the night this time.” Sipping her wine, she stated it as if there were no question or other option open to the man.

  Marcus coughed slightly as he suppressed a laugh. For a princess, and a lady, Syranna had a decided tendency to speak her mind, no matter what. Living quietly in Mystonia, isolated on this moon world, it was most likely that such behavior mattered little. But as queen and wife she would need to hold her tongue. Marcus paused as he considered the likeliness that Syranna would even care about such things. Most likely, she could not care less about pleasing the demands of proper etiquette or upholding the protocols of his position. What surprised him the most was that he all of a sudden didn’t really care either!

  * * * * *

  Syranna stood between the two men, disgruntled that she’d not been able to shake either one of them. Marcus insisted on accompanying her, and Darmand had decided that he’d enjoy the walk to the top of the castle’s tower. Finally she saw the dark object coming toward the castle slowly. It was the mother dragon bringing her babies to Syranna.

  “You two must stay here. I’ll go to the top alone. She doesn’t like strangers.”

  Quickly, Syranna darted up the narrow stone steps that led up and around the tower to the roof, twenty feet higher. Grateful for the time alone, she leaned against the stones, which comprised a small wall approximately three feet high. Wishing she had wings so she could just fly away, Syranna chided herself for wanting an easy way out of this situation.

  The more time she spent with Marcus, it was becoming as plain as the nose on her face that what she wanted was even more of the same! Unfortunately, she was experiencing some communication problems. So she kept reminding her body that her brain was saying “no” and to stop listening to the drum beat signaling the resoundingly loud “yes.” Not that it seemed to matter, because her body kept reacting to him more easily, deeper and with greater intensity with each smile and gesture. Each time he touched her, even in a casual, offhand manner, her body reacted in a way that betrayed her conscious mind.

  Taking a deep breath, Syranna admitted that if Marcus didn’t leave soon, she might not be able to let him leave. There was little doubt in her mind that she could keep him with her. She could probably get him to renounce the liege lord position and the coronation he justly deserved, if she wanted to. But eventually the spell would begin to diminish and he would remember everything that had gone before. Of course, he’d be angry with her. What man would willingly submit to being controlled by a woman?

  Syranna admitted that it was more than just submission to her wants above his. This was mind control and manipulation, which attacked and removed his most basic human right, that of free choice over his body. Submission was choosing to give your control to another. If she used her power to manipulate his thoughts, and therefore his will, his submission would be wrong, no matter whether he enjoyed the end result or not.

  “What the hell!”

  “I admit that is the biggest one I’ve ever seen as well. Syranna!”

  The two men yelling below her drew her attention back to the present time and situation. The dragon was coming close enough for Marcus and Darmand to finally assess its true size. That was one of the main reasons she’d told them to stay below. Zudu was probably the largest dragon she’d ever seen too, but once Syranna got to know her, her size had not mattered in their relationship.

  “Zudu!” Syranna called out, waving her arms to attract the mother’s attention. There was not really enough room for her to land and avoid crushing Syranna, but it was as if she understood that. She hovered just above the tower, and reaching her head back with a twist of her neck Zudu caught each dragonet with her mouth and then lowered it to Syranna.

  Finally Syranna had all three babies with her and she lifted both her arms until the mother lowered her head toward Syranna. Smiling into the dragon’s perceptive and all-knowing eyes, she rubbed the sensitive place beneath her mouth until Zudu made the unmistakable noise of her pleasure.

  “Mmmmmmrrrrrrruufffffffffff, mmmrrruuffff, mmmrrruff!”

  It changed a little each time the dragon made the noise, but Syranna knew that she truly liked being rubbed in that one spot. Then Zudu seemed to wink at her and slowly flapped her wings to rise higher in the sky. She circled the tower three times; each time she made a slightly different roaring noise, to which each baby dragonet responded with its own distinct answering sounds. Finally she flew away, back in the same direction she had come from minutes earlier.

  “Come along, babies! If you want to ride down with me, climb aboard.”

  Syranna didn’t need to offer more than once and immediately all three dragons hopped or flew to find a spot to perch and dig their claws in slightly to gain a sturdy foothold. Climbing down was always a bit more of a challenge, but it was nice to feel them all back under her protective wing, metaphorically speaking. As she turned toward the two men a few seconds later, she found them both staring at her angrily. Shrugging, she walked right past them. It was getting late and she was running out of patience quickly.

  As she moved through the castle, she spoke to Darmand. “I imagine you are going to want accommodations for the night now?”

  “You are most kind to offer me a comfortable bed to rest my weary head upon, milady. And the fact that you do so most charitably and graciously honors your family.” Darmand bowed to her.

  Syranna stopped walking and all three of the dragons took the opportunity to jump ship. Resting her knotted fists on her waist, she grinned at him. “I ordered the spare bedroom across from mine made up earlier. Somehow I knew you’d manage to still be here at nightfall. Come along.”

  “I imagine Sir William and Uther have already retired. There is your room, Darmand, and that one is yours, Lord Marcus.”

  Quickly, b
efore she let Marcus catch her guilty eyes, she turned away. “Good night, gentlemen. I shall see you in the light of morning.” Walking back toward the stairs that led to the main hall, Marcus’ hand shot out and grabbed hers, stopping her abruptly.

  It was Darmand who spoke first. “Then we will talk tomorrow, Syranna. The future needs to be decided.”

  Marcus nodded his head. “And I need to talk with you tonight, Syranna.”

  Somehow she had known Marcus would not be dismissed so easily. “Very well. I am taking the babies down for a snack before bed.”

  “I have a better idea. I’ll go down and get a plate of food and bring it back up to you.”

  Syranna wanted to refuse, but his logic was undeniable. Finally she nodded and started toward her bedroom. Closing the door behind her, she moved across the room and filled a bowl of water. It only took a few seconds to release their harnesses and soon all three dragonets were drinking eagerly from the bowl she placed on the long wooden chest at the foot of her bed. While they slurped loudly, she walked across the room and undressed quickly, pulling her silky robe on and knotting it firmly at her waist.

  As she started back across the room, she caught sight of herself in the long mirror. Her cheeks flushed as she saw how the silken material draped and clung to her breasts and to the fuller curves of her hips and thighs. If her intention was to seduce, then this was the right choice.

  Abruptly Syranna spun away from the mirror. She had no business thinking about seductions, or broad shoulders and muscular arms, either. Her life was here, not on her father’s home world. She belonged here, on her mother’s home planet, where the mist was thick and heavy, clouding nearly everything in mystery and shadow. Her grandfather had convinced her that she had much more of her mother’s blood running through her veins than her father’s, and therefore Mystonia was the only place she would ever truly feel at home and be at peace.