She refused to believe Fafnir. Enar treated her well, cared about her wellbeing. Just because he avoided telling her what her life would be like in his village, did not mean he didn’t care about her. He cared. She refused to think otherwise.
Fafnir remained silent for so long, Lily thought he dropped the conversation. When he spoke, the words floated like snow flurries across her mind, as if he drifted in memories so deep they disturbed him. Maybe you are right. A Watcher did me great harm once. But even before then, they were not my friends.
What happened?
They walked for a good twenty steps before his voice whispered across her mind. I was betrayed by my Watcher. How do you think I wound up in that cell?
You were given the same drug Keara was?
Fafnir snorted steam. My Watcher told the lord of River’s Run about titanium and its effects on Draconi.
What effects?
It renders us unable to perform magic. Makes us useless. They had a titanium sword when they captured me. He shuddered. I could not fight them with magic. My curse did not kill the bastards, but it did render them not quite sane.
Lily remembered Lord Simon’s father growing insane, escaping his home to run drooling in the streets, screaming about men turning into large beasts. He finally died, but not before inspiring several of her childhood night terrors.
You did that?
The curse was designed to kill, not render the recipient insane. But seeing how the titanium in the sword was supposed to keep my magic at bay, I suppose I shouldn’t complain.
I’m sorry they captured you.
Me too. He shook, a wave-like ripple cascading from head to tail, causing a squeal of delight from Jamie. Enough of past memories. Isn’t the day nice?
And with those words, their conversation ended.
The next day, Fafnir spoke of trivial things, like the weather and her continuing sunburn despite walking in his shadow. And she had yet to discover what Enar hid from her about his people, but she felt his resolve weakening.
If she said that enough times then it would come true.
She hoped.
“Hey, look up there!” Enar shouted, pointing to a dark blob of—was that trees?—on the horizon. “Draconia borders. We’ll be at the Temple tomorrow.”
Did Fafnir just stumble? Lily risked sun exposure and glanced up at the dragon. Apparently not, but tension laced his muscles.
“That’s Draconia?” Jamie asked. “How exciting! I ain’t never been to Draconia, but I’ve heard all about it. Is it true...”
Lily tuned out his rambling, focusing on the blur of trees in the distance. Her life would change once they crossed that border. But would it be for the better or for the worse?
****
The fire spat and crackled as Lily watched the flames jump into the air. Due to Fafnir taking Jamie for an evening flight, she had the fire to herself. Enar patrolled the perimeter of the campsite, checking for intruders as he did every night of their journey. Which left her mulling over things she wanted to discuss with him, things she learned over the last two days from walking in Fafnir’s shadow. Things she thought Enar needed to know.
Maybe then he’d hop onto the sharing wagon and talk to her about her new life.
“You look lost in thought.”
Enar’s voice broke the rhythm of the crackling flames and Lily jumped. His hand landed on her shoulder as he sat next to her. She patted her chest, trying to get her heart to calm.
“Don’t scare me like that!”
He chuckled. “Sorry. So what were you thinking of that you didn’t hear my approach?”
“This and that. Things Fafnir told me.”
“Ah. Listening to gossip, now?”
“I would hardly describe learning how he got into that cell ‘gossip.’”
Enar stilled, his eyes widening. “And?”
“He was captured by Lord Simon’s father who had a titanium sword. Fafnir said titanium causes Draconi to loose their powers.”
“Titanium is a bane to Draconi. The only thing known to render a Draconi’s magic useless. I don’t understand how a mere human would know about titanium.”
A Watcher betrayed him, sat on the tip of her tongue, but she refused to let it fall off. Fafnir and Enar had a hard enough time getting along without accusatory words being added to the mix. She opted for a shrug.
“I’ll have to report it to the Council. They’ll need to send someone out to stop the threat. Humans can’t run around with titanium swords. Look what happens when they do.”
“He doesn’t seem too worse for the wear.”
Enar raised a brow, looking like he feared her mind had taken an extended holiday.
“What? He seems fine to me.”
“Clearly you don’t know Draconi. The dragon is crazy.”
“Just because he doesn’t like you doesn’t make him crazy.”
“What else did you learn? Anything about Jamie?”
Good avoidance strategy, Enar. “Actually, I did. He watched his family get slaughtered! The poor child.”
“What happened?”
“His mother went out to get water and was killed by soldiers, who stormed their house. Jamie’s father got him out and told him to hide, but he saw his father killed by the soldiers. He said his father couldn’t work magic.”
“That’s horrible! I bet those humans had titanium. Although how they knew it would work on Draconi is a mystery. Did he say who his father was?”
“He didn’t tell me. Fafnir’s the one who told me about Jamie.”
“So you have been listening to gossip.”
Lily shrugged. “Learning about things is not gossip.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Seriously. See, you can tell me what your home is like and I won’t consider it gossip.”
Enar’s jaw tensed as he turned to face the fire. She watched him draw several breaths, heard the logs do their snap, crackle and pop routine, and thought once again he would deny her knowledge. “Why do you want to know?”
“Why do you think? I need to prepare myself mentally for what my life is going to be like. I want to know. I need to know. What is so horrible that you are hiding it from me?”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “All right.” He faced her. “In my village, the claims of warriors live in a house, a very large house in the middle of town. The warriors live in surrounding apartments. So you’d live with the other women.”
“So I won’t live with you?” What kind of people were these?
“No.”
“Then what about if I want to sleep with you. What would I do to let you know?”
His eyes widened. “You would send a messenger and I would have you brought to my home.”
“Then why can’t I stay in your apartment? Isn’t that easier?”
“It is not the way of things.”
“Why not?”
He shrugged. “This way was found to work the best.”
“What about wives? Do they still live in the women’s house?”
“There are no wives. Only claims.”
“So being claimed isn’t marriage?” He’d said this before, but that part of her shoving intellect aside in its rush down the road of heartbreak and despair refused to listen the first time around and clearly needed another lesson.
“Right. There is no bonding ceremony. Only the necklace to keep the claim attached to the warrior. Without the necklace she is free to go.”
“But it doesn’t come off.”
“Exactly.”
Lily shivered. Although she now knew what to expect, Enar still hid something from her. And she had a sneaking suspicion she wouldn’t like whatever it was.
“What if I want to visit Keara?”
“I will go with you. I spend a lot of time with Thoren and his family.”
“What about your family?”
A long pause. “I don’t want to discuss it.”
“Why not?” Wasn’t she nosy tonight? Th
en again, she wasn’t about to pass up getting all her questions answered while he was in the mood to share.
“That’s it with the questions, woman. I have a better idea of how to spend time with you that doesn’t include conversing.”
Enar’s lips pressed against hers, his tongue stroking the seam of her mouth, encouraging her to open for him. Sinking into the sensations pummeling her body, she forgot her last question, as the invisible strings drawing them together bound tighter. It surprised her to realize desire, need and longing built the road to heartbreak and despair. And as his hands stroked her skin, his gentle touch a power in and of itself, she didn’t care. In his arms, surrounded by his strength, nothing mattered but him.
Chapter 14
Lily slept, the moonlight dappling shadows across her face. She looked so peaceful lying there, unaware of what the morning would bring.
By all that was holy, he was a bastard. A gutless bastard. He should have told her the whole truth instead of omitting certain things about her life in a Watcher’s village. He wanted to reassure her he would always be there for her.
That much was true.
As was the Claims’ House.
But the rest of it. He had no clue how word would get to him that she wanted to couple with him. Wouldn’t that be an oddity. No claimed woman ever wanted to sleep with her Watcher. No Watcher wanted to be gentle with his claim.
Capture her, impregnate her, take her child when he was old enough to hold a weapon and then repeat the process. To a Watcher, women were good for only two things.
As if he was going to tell her that. He wasn’t a brainless idiot.
And he needed her again. Just to ensure she wasn’t leaving, that her eyes held interest not loathing. But he refused to wake her. Instead he curled against her warmth, throwing an arm over her waist, and breathed in her scent.
At long last, his spirit quieted and he slept.
****
A piercing scream sliced through his dreams, yanking him from sleep. Heart racing, Enar gripped the hilt of his sword before his eyes flew open. Lily! Where...oh, she still lay beside him, one arm moving toward her face. If not her screaming, then who?
The fog of sleep lost in the pounding of his heart, Enar rolled to his feet, staying in a crouch as he scanned the perimeter of the camp. Nothing. Even the birds started singing again.
His skin tingled.
“What is it?” Lily sat up, clutching the blanket to her breasts.
“Shh.” Enar’s ears strained from listening for something other than birdsong. Only one thing he knew made a noise like that, but tree cats were night creatures, fading into their dens before the sun rose. And the sun was clearly rising.
“Where’re Jamie and Fafnir?”
Goddess’s teeth. More than one thing screamed that way. Enar dropped the sword and yanked on his shirt and leathers. He picked up his dagger, unsheathing it in case he needed it, although he doubted he would.
“Jamie!” he shouted.
The birds went silent at his bellow, which was a good thing as it allowed him to hear a low moan. He cursed.
Enar ran toward the sound, his ears picking up small shuffling noises which grew louder the farther he ran. What he saw gave him pause.
Jamie lay on the ground, a broken doll, limbs at odd angles.
Dear Goddess, why him? Enar cursed, sheathed his dagger and dropped to the ground beside Jamie.
“I wanted to fly.” Tears brimmed in Jamie’s eyes, escaping as he blinked.
“You did. Need to work on the landing, though.”
“I hurt.”
“I bet. Let me see.”
Enar didn’t need to run his hands over the boy to know Jamie had a broken arm and leg. One of the bones of his lower leg jutted through his trousers, opalescent white covered in blood.
He let loose with another round of cursing.
“Oh, my Goddess! What do we do?” Enar jumped as Lily’s voice sounded from behind him.
“Willowbark tea. For the pain,” Jamie groaned.
“I can make it. I’ll return in a few.”
As Lily darted back to the campsite, Enar watched her fine arse hustle before Jamie cleared his throat, causing him to focus on what he should be doing.
“Lad, you are more trouble than you’re worth.” Where is Fafnir when we need him?
Gray eyes shot through with a dose of pain turned his way. “My arm hurts too.” Jamie tried to move the offending limb and grimaced.
“Don’t move.” Enar pointed a finger at Jamie and gave the boy his best ferocious stare, the one used to put the fear of the Goddess in others.
Jamie’s face paled even more, his eyes widening as he gulped.
Enar gathered two pieces of wood, strong and thin, and carried them back to Jamie.
“When we get to the Temple later this afternoon, the priestesses will heal you. They will set your arm and leg and you’ll be up and about in no time. For now, though, I need to splint your arm so the bones don’t move.”
Silence greeted his statement, punctuated by the rapid blinking of Jamie’s lids. Maybe the silence meant the boy took the do-not-move order seriously.
“And you’ll need to give up some of your clothing.”
Jamie’s eyes grew in size. “Huh?”
“To bind the splint to you. You think it just stays there on its own?”
“I’ve never watched Keara splint a brokened arm before.”
“Broken.”
“That’s what I said.”
Enar grunted. Using his dagger, he cut through the leg of Jamie’s trousers above the jutting bone, forming long strips of cloth. Picking up the two sticks, he placed one on either side of Jamie’s arm, binding them with strips of Jamie’s clothing.
One down, one to go.
He gathered more sticks, this time choosing longer, thicker ones. By the time Enar finished foraging and returned to Jamie, Lily sat beside the boy, a steaming cup of hot tea resting between them.
With Lily’s help, and despite Jamie’s screams, Enar managed to get the bone back under the skin. It wasn’t set right, but they would be at the Temple later in the day and the priestesses would fix his clumsy attempts at healing.
Where was Fafnir when they needed him? The dragon knew something about the healing arts and Jamie needed more help than Enar knew how to give.
“Jamie, do you know where Fafnir is?”
“Nuh-uh. That’s why I fell.”
“Because you didn’t know where Fafnir was?” Maybe the boy hit his head hard.
“We had a game. I’d climb a tree and he’d go invisible and then I’d jump and he’d catch me. And there’s this bird’s nest that belongs to this ginormous bird up there so I climbed and jumped and how was I supposed to know he wasn’t around?”
“Why did he let you do that? You could have died!” Lily shook her head.
“I told you Fafnir is crazy.”
“He’s not crazy!” Jamie glared at Enar. “He was teaching me to fly.”
“Obviously not well enough.”
“You don’t know nothing.”
“I know you’re hurt and I’ll have to carry you to the Temple. I know Keara,” provided she lived, “will be mad at you for falling out of the tree.”
Jamie blinked and looked away. “I’m sorry,” he muttered.
“Don’t do it again.” As if those words would stop him. But at least the next time Jamie took a dive out of a tree, Enar wouldn’t have to clean up the mess.
Where had Fafnir gone? Enar focused on the thought pattern Fafnir used to talk to him and tried mind-speaking to call the dragon.
Fafnir!
He waited for Fafnir to respond while Jamie sipped his willowbark tea. Despite calling the dragon several more times during the tea sipping, Fafnir refused to answer.
Maybe he had decided to go to the Temple without them. Maybe he flew back to River’s Run. Maybe the dragon completed his journey to insanity and was stomping about the countryside.
“Jamie, are you sure you don’t know where Fafnir is?”
“Do you actually think he would have jumped out of the tree if he knew Fafnir wouldn’t be there?” Lily raised an eyebrow at him.
He returned the expression.
“He didn’t say anything to me.”
“It looks as if he’s gone.” Again. “I’ve tried mind-speaking, but he hasn’t answered. We need to get you to the Temple, Jamie. Lily, stay with him. I’ll go pack the bags.”
Lily thrust Jamie’s empty cup into his hands, and he carried it back to their campsite. He stuffed the cup into a bag and wondered what he’d done to deserve this journey.
Who knew a lad could be so much trouble. Had he been this much trouble at Jamie’s age? He paused, hand on a bag’s drawstrings, and remembered being a child with Thoren. No, they definitely hadn’t been as much trouble as Jamie.
They never fell out of trees.
Not only did he have Jamie to contend with, but Fafnir hopped onto their dysfunctional wagon and whipped the metaphorical horses into a frenzy. Something was off with that dragon. Probably due to all the years he spent locked behind titanium bars. Maybe suppressing a Draconi’s magic rendered the Draconi insane.
Interesting thought. One he’d investigate later.
And then there was Lily and her questions. He knew she would want to know what her new life would be like. Knew she would ask questions he’d rather not answer.
So why was he so bothered when she did?
Because he stupidly hoped if she never knew then she wouldn’t hate him.
And the chances of her continuing to look at him like he was her savior were about to crash into the land of not-very-likely.
The thought of her blue eyes showing fear or hate caused the strange sensation in his chest again. He rubbed at the pain. Think of Lily hurt and he hurt. Why? What happened to him in River’s Run that caused this ache? He needed to see one of the priestesses this afternoon and let her diagnosis the problem.
He froze while reaching for a blanket. Why hadn’t he thought about the priestesses earlier? Specifically one priestess. Aryana. The High Priestess. His former lover.
Warrior Lover (Draconia Tales) Page 13