Dragon's Keep: The Complete Dracengard Series

by Christopher Vale

  Anne began slowly walking toward the Wizard, each step like a lioness stalking her prey. She stared at him seductively, her green eyes glistening in the candlelight. She took her final step and stood in front of the Wizard and then lowered herself back down to her knees and laid her head in his lap.

  “I am so glad you are here, Your Majesty,” she said with a sigh.

  The Wizard brushed her hair back from her neck with his long pale fingers. “Why is that my dear?” he asked playfully.

  She lifted her head and looked up at him. “I feel so much safer now than I did before,” she said. “Your power washes over me and I feel its protection like a winter cloak upon my shoulders.”

  The Wizard let out a boisterous laugh at that last bit. Anne was taken aback by it. She stood and stared at him.

  “Come now child, why don’t you tell me what you are really doing here. What is it that you want Lady Anne?”

  Anne stood staring at him as he stared back at her. He sipped his wine. She crossed her arms in front of her breasts, but said nothing.

  The Wizard cocked his head and looked at her. “Well?” he asked.

  “I want you,” Anne said.

  “I believe you do,” he said. “But only as a means to an end.”

  She paused and straightened majestically. “I want to be Empress,” she said. He stared back at her without a word and his eyes narrowed. She suddenly felt like she had gone too far. Perhaps he would not be interested in her now. Perhaps he wanted a real lady—a proper little meek thing—like Sephene Greynault. The Wizard took another sip of wine and stood, setting the glass on the arm of his chair. He placed his hands on her smooth shoulders. She uncrossed her arms and let them drop to her sides as he gently stroked them. “Becoming Empress is simply the vehicle to give you what you really want,” he whispered. “What is it that you really want?” he asked her.

  Anne swallowed and then licked her lips. “Power,” she said. The Wizard smiled down at her.

  “Yes,” he said. “What kind of power?”

  “Complete,” she said. “Like yours.”

  “Ah. And what are you willing to do to gain complete power?” he asked her.

  “Whatever it takes,” she said.

  He sat back down. “I was not born with this power,” he said. “I had to kill for it. Conquer for it.”

  She nodded. She knew this. Everyone knew this. But wasn’t that how all powerful families became powerful?

  “Tell me Anne,” he continued. “Are you willing to kill for it?”

  “Yes,” she said in a breathy whisper.

  He smiled at her. “Good,” he said. “I have someone I want you to kill.”

  “Who?” she asked. She was beginning to get excited. She had often dreamed of being able to take the life of another human. To kill them was, after all, the ultimate power over their life.

  “Theron Greynault,” the Wizard said taking another sip of wine.

  “Theron Greynault?” Anne repeated.

  “That is what I said,” the Wizard laughed.

  “But why?” she asked.

  “He is a threat to me, to your brother, and, therefore, to you.”

  “That is true,” she began but he cut her off.

  “Kill Theron Greynault and I shall make you my Empress and you shall have more power than you could ever dream of,” the Wizard promised.

  Anne bit her bottom lip and nodded slowly.

  “Will you do it?” he asked.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “I will kill Theron Greynault.”

  The Wizard smiled wickedly. “Excellent,” he said as he drained his glass and tossed it toward the fireplace where it shattered into a thousand shards upon the stone. “Now, remove that gown,” he said to her as his fingers played with the strings just below her collar. Anne smiled back at him and reached up to untie the silk strings and lift the light gown off of her delicate shoulders. She let the gown drop softly at her feet and stood before the Wizard completely naked. He smiled as another conquest was secured.

  Chapter 15

  Captain Dillan stood on the deck of the Vagabond sipping a cup of bitter coffee. He continued to watch the royal ship of Avonvale, docked not far down the quay with its colors still flying high. He had returned to his ship hours before and ordered his first mate, Starron, to make sure all of his crew had made it back aboard and to make ready to sail at dawn. Dillan did not know how many draks were lurking about Lattingham and he did not want to find out.

  Starron was surprised to see Verdid accompany Dillan back to ship. When Dillan returned to the ship, Starron could see he was visibly shaken. Dillan called Starron and Verd into his quarters. Dillan sat at his desk and Verd sat at a small table in the corner. Starron stood before the desk, hands clasped behind his back. Dillan stared at the desk for a few moments before speaking.

  “Did you…speak with the men?” Dillan asked Starron, his voice shakey.

  “Yes, Captain,” Starron replied.

  “So you have heard about Riversmeet and Avonvale?”

  “Aye.”

  “We saw drakmere,” Dillan said.

  “In the tavern?” asked Starron.

  “No, on the royal ship docked just up the quay.” Starron looked at him quizzically. “There are no royal sailors, they must have all been killed. As best as I can figure, the Wizard sent draks swimming down the river ahead of his invasion of Avonvale with orders to take down any Avonvale forces and seize ships.”

  “But why not just seize the entire port?”

  “Most likely, because that would mean an unnecessary battle with those not your enemies, such as pirates and the like,” Verd explained.

  “What happened?” Starron asked Dillan.

  “Prince Erec was captured,” Dillan said.

  Starron’s eyes widened. “How do you know?”

  “We had him. Well, Verd had him, but he escaped and ran onto the royal ship and was captured by draks.”

  “Well, right now we have more things to worry about than Prince Erec,” Starron said.

  “There’s more,” Dillan said looking up at Starron. “Erec told Verd that his sisters had escaped as well and were heading here. And once they arrive, where do you think they will go?”

  “To that royal ship, where the draks will seize them,” Starron said nodding.

  “Not if we catch them first,” Dillan said.

  “What is your plan, Captain?”

  “We’ll set sail at dawn. I’d like to get the Princesses, but I do not intend to risk my ship and my entire crew on the chance that they are still alive and free and heading for that ship.”

  Starron nodded.

  “Check our provisions, but remember we can stop again at Elwood for more if necessary.”

  “Aye, Captain,” Starron replied.

  “And let the men know to be on the look out, that we intend to set sail at dawn, but we might be shoving off earlier.”

  “Aye, Captain,” Starron replied again.

  “Thank you, Mr. Starron. That is all.”

  Dillan wanted to set sail as soon as possible, but did not want to take a chance on the Princesses slipping through his fingers. Now he stood on the foredeck of the Vagabond watching the royal ship. Verd stood beside him. The sun would be breaking soon. As Dillan stared out into the early morning darkness, Starron walked up behind him.

  “All of the men are aboard, Captain,” Starron said.

  “Very good, Mr. Starron,” the Captain replied without turning to face him. “Tell them to make ready.”

  “Aye, Captain,” Starron replied and turned to relay the orders to the crew. Dillan heard him begin to shout orders and breathed in heavily. He was just about to turn back toward the ship when he saw a carriage riding down the quay. It stopped beside the royal ship.

  “It’s them!” Dillan shouted as much to himself as to anyone aboard.

  “It’s who, sir?”

  “The Princesses,” Dillan replied as he turned and ran across the ship as fas
t as he could. Dillan dashed down the gangplank past a confused crew member and darted to shore.

  Starron watched as the captain ran off down the quay. He then looked up toward the royal ship and saw where the captain was heading. “Get the bows!” Starron shouted to the men. “And make ready to sail. We are going to be leaving in a hurry.”

  Verd left the deck and made his way below to the armory to retrieve a sword.

  ***

  Terrwyn felt the carriage stop. She peered out of the window into the darkness at the massive royal ship docked at the quay. Taite looked up at her. “We’re here,” Terrwyn said with a smile. She heard Joss and Leon climbing down from the driver’s seat above. Terrwyn’s door opened to reveal Joss offering her his hand. She took it and stepped down, out of the carriage, gripping the brown satchel which carried the Dracenstone in her other hand. She slung the satchel over her shoulder and then turned to assist her sister. Valko panted beside them.

  Leon strode toward the ship. The others followed. Terrwyn heard shouting coming from down the quay and turned to find its source. She saw Dillan sprinting toward them waving his arms frantically. The guards immediately took up defensive positions between the Princesses and Dillan. Leon drew his sword and Joss lowered his lance. Dillan came to a sudden stop and held his hands up. Terrwyn could not help but think he was quite handsome, like a swashbuckler from the stories she read to Taite, complete with tricorn hat and cutlass.

  “Don’t get on that ship, My Lady,” Dillan said to Terrwyn as he looked past the guards. He pretended not to know who she was as he feared that might spook her into fleeing.

  “Ignore the pirate,” Leon instructed Terrwyn, dropping her royal title to protect her identity.

  “It has been taken by drakmere,” Dillan said. Then he looked at Leon, “And I am no pirate.”

  Terrwyn hesitated in moving toward the ship.

  Joss stepped up to Terrwyn and whispered in her ear. “There is likely a bounty on you and your sister. This pirate probably recognizes you. We need to get aboard, quickly.”

  Terrwyn nodded, and taking Taite by the hand, began moving toward the ship. However, before they reached the gangplank, Valko began to growl as he stared up at the ship. Taite stopped and clinched her sister’s hand tightly. “Valko said there is danger on board.”

  Leon heard this. “Nonsense,” he said, but realized he would not convince Taite with words. “I shall go aboard first to check it out to put your mind at ease.” He then turned toward Joss, but his eyes stayed on Dillan. “Keep a close eye on this one. If more of his sort come, get them up the gangplank quickly.” Joss nodded and held his lance pointed directly at Dillan.

  Leon quickly dashed up the gangplank shouting at the sailors he assumed were aboard. He reached the top and disappeared onto the deck of the ship and out of view of those below. Leon took several steps onto the deck of the ship before he realized it was completely deserted. In his rush to get to safety he had not paid attention to the obvious signs, and even ignored a warning. Now he realized that the pirate was telling the truth. He saw the hatches opening and the drakmere erupting from below deck even before he was fully turned around. He screamed and ran as fast as he could to the gangplank.

  Terrwyn and Taite watched the ship as Joss kept his eyes on Dillan. They all heard a shrill scream and a scant moment later, as Joss turned, he saw Leon running for the gangplank. Just as Leon reached it, long reptilian arms grabbed him and yanked him back on board.

  “Run!” Joss shouted to the Princesses as draks poured down the gangplank.

  “Follow me!” Dillan shouted and led the way along the quay toward his ship. Terrwyn held Taite’s hand pulling the younger girl along as fast as she could run. Joss fell in behind them watching the draks as the monsters reached the quay and began chasing after them.

  A dark figure stood at the top of the gangplank. Lord Rayfen watched the Princesses run and his drakmere gain on them. He saw the guardsman turn to face the draks. Joss turned toward the draks and thrust his long lance forward impaling the center of the closest beast. He released the lance and quickly drew his sword slicing the legs of another drak. The third drak upended Joss with a mighty blow from a long war hammer, knocking Joss six or seven feet away and unconscious, if not dead. Many of the draks halted their pursuit to eat the guard, ripping off his armor and sinking their giant fangs into his flesh.

  Rayfen suddenly disappeared from the ship and an instant later he seemed to simply appear in front of Dillan, blocking his way to the Vagabond. The captain stopped and drew his cutlass and short sword, holding a weapon in each hand. Rayfen stepped forward and Dillan attacked. It all happened in a flash, but all Terrwyn saw was Dillan standing one moment and the next he was lying on the ground and a knight dressed completely in black had appeared seemingly from nowhere.

  The Black Knight began to walk toward Terrwyn and Taite, but stopped short before reaching them. He let out an inhuman shriek and turned to feel a sword sticking into his back. The sword was removed and Verdid stood defiantly challenging Rayfen. With one smooth motion, Rayfen drew his sword and sliced Verdid’s head off of his shoulders. Verd’s body fell to the ground in a clump as Rayfen turned back to a stunned Terrwyn, and slid his sword back into its sheath. He reached out with a black gauntleted hand to grab Terrwyn, but before his grasp reached her Valko leapt upon him knocking him to ground. Terrwyn heard the knight give a squeal like a dying rabbit as the wolf forced his snout underneath Rayfen’s skull-shaped visor and pushed at Rayfen’s helmet until it came off, rolling a few feet away. Then the wolf went for the face.

  Rayfen slammed his right arm into Valko and the large wolf went sailing through the air landing a few feet away with a yelp. Rayfen was immediately on his feet. The drakmere stopped cold in their tracks staring at the Black Knight’s face. His back was to the Princesses, so they could not see it, and Terrwyn could tell by the look of horror she saw on the faces of the drakmere that she did not wish to see it. Suddenly, Terrwyn felt someone grab her by the arm. She turned to see Dillan tugging at her.

  “Come on!” he shouted. She nodded and, pulling Taite behind her, followed Dillan along the quay, their boots clacking on the wooden planks.

  Taite turned and saw Valko slowly rising to his feet. She shouted for him to follow. The wolf shook his head and then his entire body as if shaking water from his fur. That seemed to help clear his senses and he rushed after them.

  Rayfen reached down and picked his helmet up off the ground. He pulled it back onto his head and turned toward his prey. He smiled to himself as he saw the Princesses running away with the pirate. He enjoyed the chase. It gave his prey hope and made the kill that much sweeter. Suddenly, arrows began to rain down on him and his drakmere from a ship down the quay. Rayfen, amazed at the sailors’ audacity, drew his long black sword from its sheath. He decided then and there that he would kill every member of the crew once the Princesses were captured. Perhaps he would force the girls to watch as he slaughtered the sailors. However, before he could take a step toward the Princesses, he noticed the horizon had turned orange and light began to fill the sky. Dawn was breaking. He shrieked a blood curdling scream that echoed down the quay and across the river. Rayfen disappeared just as quickly as he had appeared. It was as if he had never been there. The drakmere, now leaderless and facing a hail of arrows from Dillan’s crew, turned back and ran down the quay to return to the royal ship.

  Dillan led Terrwyn and Taite up the gangplank of the Vagabond. “Set sail, Mr. Starron!” he shouted to his first mate as he came aboard. A sailor began to pull the gangplank up and jumped back as Valko leapt upon it. The sailor fell onto his rear in terror as the giant wolf ran past him and onto the ship.

  Dillan still held on to Terrwyn’s arm as the crew began to make sail. She pulled away from him with a jerk and looked around at the crew of sailors. Leon and Joss had claimed this man was a pirate and from the look of things, they were probably right. She pulled Taite close to her and placed a hand on
the hilt of the dagger hidden in her belt beneath her cloak. Valko came to stand beside them panting.

  Dillan looked back at her. “Who are you?” she asked, her eyes staring sharply at the Captain.

  He stared back at her and then his eyes dropped to her hand hidden in her cloak. “I am the man who just saved your life,” Dillan replied and walked away barking orders to his crew. The ship sailed away from the port and southward, down the Ehren River. Terrwyn did not move from the spot where she stood. She remained still, clutching Taite and watching as the crew went about their duties, ignoring her as if she were not even there. It was more difficult to ignore Valko and the crew kept a watchful eye on the large gray wolf. Valko laid down at Taite’s feet and yawned as if he did not have a care in the world.

  Chapter 16

  The sun was beginning to rise in the morning sky as Lady Anne checked her saddlebags which were secured to her mount. She had three days worth of food, a change of clothes, and a sheepskin water cask. She carried a long dagger with a black twisted blade and a vile of white powder given to her by the Wizard. Anne placed her boot in the stirrup and climbed into the saddle of her palomino palfrey. Her father had given her the riding horse years earlier before he died and she had named it Isabella. Her long blue cloak draped over the hind quarters of the horse. She thought it would be wise to wear the colors of Avonvale for this particular mission, so she also wore a light blue riding dress and black leather gloves. Upon her head was a blue headband crested with a silver eagle. She held the bridle and patted Isabella on the near side of the neck. The palfrey nickered as if to say “hello” to Anne and the girl said hello back.

  Isabella snorted as two drakmere approached. Each wore light chain mail and had long swords strapped to their backs. Anne patted Isabella on the neck and shushed her. The draks came to stand on either side of the horse and it was all Anne could do to keep the palfrey calm.