Warrior Lover (Draconia Tales)

by Karilyn Bentley

  A mystery. Good. It gave him something else to think about besides his reaction to his mother and Lily’s panic-stricken face as he’d left her with Ayla. He’d almost turned into a sap like Thoren, but despite the ache in his chest—bloody idiot, he’d forgotten to ask a priestess about those pains—he’d managed to leave Lily behind.

  As a claim, she should reside in the Claims’ House. Not with him. No matter what he wanted. What kind of a Watcher would he be if he stayed with his woman? All the teasing he received as a child would seem like nothing compared to what would happen if he took Lily away from the Claims’ House to live with him.

  No, it was better she stayed put. He’d learn to deal with missing her curves snuggled against him, her smile in the morning, the way she touched him like she cared for him.

  And his mother. Their relationship was tense, to put it mildly. He wished he could take her away, take her back to her own people, but Viktor’s claiming necklace hung around her neck, prohibiting her from leaving. At least his father had stopped visiting her, had stopped hitting her years ago. Viktor’s hate toward Ayla filtered down to her son.

  Putting those not-so-happy memories out of the way, Enar focused on the door.

  And waited.

  Before long he heard light steps followed by the rustle of a lock being picked. The door cracked open and a small body snuck inside, looking up and down the alley before shutting the door.

  Enar sat forward, the weight shift causing the chair legs to hit the floor with a loud crack. The boy jumped, spinning around, flinching when his back pressed against the wooden door, his breath hitching in his throat.

  “Have you been keeping care of my place for me?”

  The boy gulped and one hand tried to crawl upward to the doorknob.

  “Stop. Sit.” Enar pointed to the bed.

  Face pale, the lad inched to the bed and sat upright, his gaze dropping to the floor.

  “I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t take anything. I just wanted a place to stay.”

  “A lad like yourself should be with your father.” Enar pulled the chair so it faced the bed and sat, watching the minute movements of the boy, the way his breath caught, his upright posture.

  The boy’s knuckles whitened. “Yessir.”

  Enar reached forward to lay his hand on the boy’s shoulder, his fingers encountering wetness as they touched his back. The lad jumped, his already pale face taking on the complexion of the recently dead and Enar saw the flutter of his shirt as his heart thudded in his chest.

  Poor lad. A sudden memory surfaced, one of himself as a boy, hiding from his father in another Watcher’s empty room, breath shallow from the pain clawing at him.

  Enar dropped his hand and sat back. “What’s your name, lad?”

  “Galvin, sir.”

  “Well, Galvin, why are you not at training?”

  “I finished early.” Galvin’s gaze skittered across Enar’s face before resting on the fireplace.

  Enar waited, not moving, knowing a lie when he heard one.

  The boy sighed. “He said I was worthless and should leave his presence. He’ll forget about it by tomorrow and never tells my father so I do as he says and come here.”

  Nice to know his internal lie detector still worked. “And you go home when training is over and your father is none the wiser?”

  Galvin swallowed. “Sometimes. Sometimes I stay here. Like tonight. But I can’t now that you’re here. I’ll just be going.” He tried to stand, but Enar placed a hand on his arm.

  “Not so fast.” Enar took a deep breath, remembering his own childhood until his father banished him to live with Thoren. “You may still stay here if you’d like. Unless I have Li—my claim here, then you must stay away. Agreed?”

  “But what do you get out of the deal?”

  Enar shrugged one shoulder. “Doesn’t matter.”

  Galvin’s lips turned up in a ghost of a smile. “Thank you. I won’t be no trouble. I promise.”

  “I know, now take off your shirt and let’s see to those stripes.”

  The boy’s mouth fell open. “How’d you know that?”

  “Observation. Go on. I’ll get this salve the Draconi priestesses gave me for healing wounds.”

  “Draconi?”

  Enar heard the sound of the boy’s shirt dropping onto the floor as he rummaged in his pack looking for the salve.

  “Yes. Here it is.” He showed the jar to Galvin as he sat next to the boy on the bed. “Go on and lay down and I’ll put this on.”

  Galvin stretched out on his stomach, his face to Enar. “So you like the Draconi?”

  Pausing with his fingers halfway dipped into the jar, Enar stared at the lad. “What kind of a half-brained, silly question is that? Of course I like the Draconi, I protect them. That’s what we’re supposed to do, what Watchers are bred for. What are they teaching you children nowadays to have to ask that?”

  Galvin blushed, but didn’t turn away. “Some think Watchers should stop caring for Draconi. Why do they need us anyway? They’re powerful sorcerers and don’t need guardians.”

  “That’s just crazy talk.” But he wondered the same thing. Why did a race of sorcerers who had the ability to blow a person into pieces with a word even need warriors to guard them? Not that he would mention those thoughts to Galvin.

  A half-shrug flitted across Galvin’s frame. “Some say we are more powerful. That Draconi have lost the ability to become sorcerers.”

  Enar snorted and rubbed the cream against the welts on Galvin’s upper back. The boy flinched but plodded along.

  “Well, some think that. No one ever sees Draconi work magic. You say you’ve seen a priestess, but no one else has. They sit on the Council with our elders, but the elders do not talk about Council activities or about if Draconi still work magic. Some say that’s because the Draconi no longer practice magic, that they aren’t as powerful as we are and that we should overthrow their oppressive regime.”

  Enar stopped spreading the cream, too shocked to move. Of all the crazy things he’d heard in his time, this one had to be the most insane. How could anyone think Draconi didn’t work magic? Worse was the overthrowing part of Galvin’s statement. “Are you saying Watchers are planning to kill Draconi?”

  Galvin nodded.

  “And when is this killing supposed to start?”

  “I don’t know. Father won’t tell me. He doesn’t like me.”

  “And what do you think about the Draconi?”

  “I’ve only met the one who is supposed to be my assignment once. He didn’t talk much.”

  “So you agree with your father?”

  “I dunno. I mean, it doesn’t really make a lot of sense, does it? For us to be guarding them if they’re so powerful?”

  He’d wondered the same thing, but it didn’t mean he wanted to overthrow the Draconi. As if he could. If the Watchers continued on this path, they would be slaughtered and if the Draconi got angry enough, the village of Watchers would be razed. A chill passed through him, shaking his fingers as he spread the salve across Galvin’s back. Although he had been teased without ceasing as a child, and to some extent remained shunned, it didn’t mean he wanted to see his people destroyed.

  “Draconi are more powerful than you can imagine. Your father and his cronies should know better. Don’t they guard their assignments?”

  “They do, but they’ve never seen one work magic. No one Father has met has seen a Draconi work magic.”

  “He hasn’t met the right people. The Council members see magic worked. I’ve seen it worked and let me tell you, you don’t want to be on the receiving end of an angry Draconi.”

  “If you say so.”

  Enar wondered who he should tell about this. His father? Maybe not his father. He didn’t plan on speaking to his old man until he had Lily on his arm.

  But someone needed to be told and quick.

  Thoren? Thoren sat on the Council now. The next time he returned to their stone chamber was one minut
e too soon. But who better to counter a threat?

  He cursed. He’d need to report to the Council one more time. Just when he thought he’d never had to see those thirteen carved chairs anytime soon, a threat occurred.

  A thought struck him, curving his lips. He could take Lily. Spend some time with her. Erase the memory of him leaving her with his mother. Good idea. He would take Lily to see Keara and Thoren would know what to do about the Watchers’ insane plan.

  But first he needed to show Lily to his father if the old man was in the village. Prove to him Enar was worthy of being a Watcher. See what he said when Enar showed up with the Watchers’ ideal claim.

  And then, after he shocked his father into acceptance, he could take Lily to the Temple and tell Alviss what half-brained plans the Watchers had percolating in their spare time.

  In order to leave, though, he’d have to ensure Galvin didn’t get suspicious and return home to his father. Tomorrow would be best as Enar doubted the Watchers would attack tonight.

  He finished smoothing the cream on Galvin’s back, remembering being caned for not paying attention in class. Another thing he liked about living with Thoren as a boy, no canes.

  “Well, son, you’re all patched up and ready for action.”

  Galvin pushed up to a sitting position. “Thanks. It feels much better.”

  “It should. The priestesses are great healers.”

  “You keep talking about them. What are they like?”

  Since he asked, Enar decided to give a lecture of his own. One on the benefits of working for the Draconi.

  ****

  “Lily!”

  The bellow thundered through the fountain room like an enraged boar, rattling the white-robed women sitting on colorful pillows. Eyes wide, the women shrunk into themselves, scared despite the bellowing boar not being their Watcher.

  Lily smiled. Enar had come for her.

  She ignored the aghast looks as she leapt from her colored floor pillow and raced to the antechamber where Enar waited.

  Once they were alone he’d get an earful about leaving her here, but for now excitement at seeing him reigned.

  The air expelled from Enar’s lungs in a loud oomph as Lily smacked into him, wrapping her arms about his waist as tight as she could. His arms tightened about her ribs in return, clasping her against his chest. She refused to release her grip. Under no circumstance was he leaving without her.

  “Enar! Thank goodness you came back. You have to get me out of here. They—”

  “Enar! You’re back so soon.” Ayla walked into the room, her steps so quiet, Lily missed hearing their sound.

  Then again, seeing Enar occupied her thoughts to the exclusion of all else.

  She felt the subtle switch in Enar, the tenseness in his muscles as he turned to Ayla. She refused to look and see the coldness she knew had crept into his eyes. Why did he act this way around his mother?

  “Greetings, Mother. Please gather Lily’s clothing and put them in this bag.” Enar tossed a brown knapsack to Ayla. “We’re going on a journey and she can’t wear the white dress.”

  Thank the Goddess. Lily hated the white dress almost as much as she hated staying in this house with haunted women and Marshene’s evil whispers. If Enar wanted her to go live in the woods and eat ants, it beat staying in this place. As long as she remained with him, he could go wherever he wanted.

  “A journey?” The knapsack dangled from Ayla’s hand as she stared at Enar.

  “I have business with the Draconi.”

  Lily pressed her ear tighter to Enar’s chest, the steady thump-thump of his heart a balm for her nerves. Ayla continued to stare at him like he had sprouted another head.

  Enar cleared his throat. “And I wanted to take Lily along. And she needs to be logged in.”

  “You didn’t take her yesterday before you dropped her off?”

  “What?” Lily looked from Ayla to Enar. Yet another custom in this place she didn’t understand.

  “I wanted to wait until today.”

  Pity flickered across Ayla’s face. “As you wish, but it won’t help. You must accept that. I will have this,” she shook the knapsack, “ready when you return.” Nodding to Lily, Ayla turned on her heel and marched out of the room.

  “What do you mean logged in?” Lily asked as Enar escorted her through the door.

  Lifting the iron bar on the outside of the door, he spoke with a grunt. “All claims must be presented and logged in.”

  The bar fell into its metal brackets with a clang and she felt the reverberations in her bones. Who was he presenting her to? What would they do when they saw her coloring? Lily swallowed. Why had she eaten so much for breakfast? One more swallow and she managed to look Enar in the eye when he grabbed her hand.

  Emotions flashed through his eyes, almost too fast to read, a mixture of nervousness, excitement and fear. Fear? Since when did Enar, her fearless savior, show fear?

  “Listen to me, woman. In this town, you are nothing but mine. You will walk behind me, you will keep your eyes down. Do not speak to anyone, no matter what they say. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, but why?”

  “I will explain later. Please, follow the rules.”

  He looked so serious, so fearful she might not follow his rules that her breakfast turned into a leaden weight. She gulped at the bile sticking in her throat and tried to get her panting back into a normal breathing pattern. What would happen if she didn’t do what he said? Although she knew Enar would never lay a hand on her, she saw the bruises left on the other women. Her time in his village showed her a side of humanity she wished she’d never seen. Living here frightened her more than life in her village with fanatical priests.

  At least then she knew the rules. Here, she didn’t understand why women were kept sequestered, why they were abused, why Enar left her in a house with other claims instead of keeping her with him. Why did the other Watchers need to see her? A chill darted down her spine and lodged in her gut, adding more threat to her tenuous hold on breakfast.

  Taking a deep breath and wiping her hands on her washed-so-much-by-its-previous-owner-it-was-now-almost-see-through white dress, she followed behind Enar, eyes focused on the beat of his boots against the packed dirt. If only she had her cloak to pull the hood over her head. What if the men here found her as appalling as the priests in her own village had?

  Despite Ayla’s introductions, Marshene’s views spread around the house of women like a foul odor on a hot day. So far only Ayla had talked with her.

  If women in the same predicament as she wanted nothing to do with her, what would the men do?

  In through your mouth, out through your nose, Lily.

  Self-talk didn’t help much when her breakfast wanted to reappear and her body shook despite the warmth of the sun.

  Get ahold of yourself.

  Enar walked with her. He might leave her in a house full of women who hated her, she doubted he knew their feelings, but he would never let anyone harm her. Time and again he’d proven that.

  She had nothing to fear with him by her side.

  Despite the knowledge, the fear remained, weaving a path through her marrow, charging her heart until it pounded an erratic rhythm. Buildings passed by as they marched along the dirt road and she managed to venture little glimpses, daring to raise her eyes. Nothing exploded, no one yelled at her, nobody came running to reprimand her for those stolen glances.

  Maybe Enar was being overly cautious when he told her to keep her eyes on the ground.

  They entered a courtyard ringed by white stones similar to those of the women’s building, but standing only a man’s height. Men sat in front of the stones. Cold men, with eyes frozen and unrest flowing out of their pores like blood from a wound.

  After one brief glimpse, her gaze dropped to the ground. Maybe a hole would suddenly appear in the dirt and she could dive in. What were the chances of that happening? Slim to none. No escape for her. She’d rather face Marshene’s villai
nous stories than stand before these men.

  How dare Enar bring her here. Couldn’t he have left her where she was and logged her in by himself? What was wrong with the man? He brought her into the midst of a bunch of misogynists.

  Despite her lowered gaze, the nape of her neck tingled from the stares of the Watchers. Questions like stones flew at them as the Watchers shifted to ogle her.

  “Hey, Enar. You have a claim?”

  “Never thought I’d see that.”

  “She’s the perfect claim. Are you sure she’s yours?”

  “Of course she’s mine. You think she’d be following me around if she wasn’t?” Enar came to a halt in the middle of the courtyard, Lily stepping as close to him as she could.

  If she melted against him, no one could see her.

  One hand reached for her, pulling her to stand beside him, dashing her plan of hiding. He ran a hand through her hair, caressing her spine, his hand resting on her low back. The gesture should have felt comforting, instead she felt like a slave on display.

  “This is Lily, my claim.” Pride laced Enar’s voice as some of the men stood to peer closer at her, like she was an animal for sale. Please Goddess, let her not be for sale.

  Lust like a palatable wave smacked into her. Enar must have felt it too judging by the way his hand stiffened on her back. Lily raised her eyes enough to note the men shifting toward her. What would keep them from killing Enar and taking her?

  Now why did she have to go and think that lovely thought? As if being brought to stand in front of these men wasn’t scary enough, she had to go and add to the fright.

  “Where did you find her?”

  “Cautasia.” Caution replaced the pride in Enar’s voice.

  “Any more like her there?”

  “We’ve never seen one like her before, only heard about them.” Yet another voice.

  Some of the tension eased out of Enar as his hand relaxed. At least one of them felt better. “Only saw her.”

  “Maybe we should go check it out.”

  “Check it out yourself, I already have a claim.” This new voice received laughter, although Lily didn’t understand the humor.