by Rinelle Grey
If he hadn't already found her by then.
“What’s your plan?” Urster’s voice at his elbow reminded him of the mission his father had sent him on, one that needed as much attention as finding Brianna, if his father’s news was true.
“A magical illusion.” Lyall considered the possibilities for a moment. “A dragon I think. That should demonstrate our magical prowess and the town will surrender without bloodshed.”
Even though the magically assisted journey had been short, he’d had more than enough time to be sure that if he had to do this, had to conquer and control villages that had no wish to be controlled, then he would at least do it without bloodshed.
“You need to be sure they’re really afraid of you,” Urster said, his disapproval evident in his stiff stance, if not in his words. “The chances of the mages being right here, this close to Isla de Magi, are slim. You can't risk people leaving this town and warning the others, or you could have a full scale war on your hands. A few judicial deaths can be quite effective at keeping a population under control.”
“No!”
Lyall could feel all eyes on him. There were even a few indrawn breaths. The magical wind faltered enough to cause the boat to dip alarmingly. His only consolation was the fact that he managed to remain on his feet, while Urster stumbled against the railing.
“No,” he repeated in a normal voice, but one that could be heard clearly by all the ship’s occupants. “We will keep the town contained with a magical barrier around the outskirts. There will be no deaths. Anyone who kills any of the townsfolk will be dealt with severely. Is that understood?”
Urster scowled, but after a brief moment, inclined his head slightly. “As you wish.”
Lyall looked back to the shore. They were close enough now to be able to make out individual faces in the crowd. It was time.
He held out his hands, focusing on the image in his mind. In front of the swiftly moving boats, a dark blue dragon rose out of the waves. Its ear splitting roar drowned out the screams on the beach as the crowd scattered in all directions.
“Frightening them away isn’t going to achieve much.” Urster’s sarcastic voice at his elbow broke his concentration, and the dragon shimmered.
Lyall frowned, but didn't respond. He used magic to project his voice. “People of Bymere, you need not be afraid. As long as you do as I say, you will not be harmed. You have my word, as Prince of Isla de Magi.”
He ignored the snigger behind him, instead focusing on making the illusion of the dragon landing on top of the guard tower look natural.
When he looked back at the shore, the people were no longer running. They huddled in small groups, alternating nervous looks at the approaching boats and the dragon.
“Bring us in,” Lyall said quietly.
The boat slid alongside the dock, just as the Mayor of Bymere arrived.
“Just what is going on here!” he demanded.
He didn't look up at the dragon, but Lyall was sure he was aware of its presence.
“We can discuss that in private, in your offices,” Lyall said, still projecting his voice slightly.
Urster signalled to two mages, and stood behind him. Lyall resisted biting his lip in frustration. “In private,” he repeated pointedly to Urster.
“I do not believe that is wise,” Urster began. “Sir,” he added, as Lyall stared angrily at him.
How was he supposed to intimidate a whole village, when his own second in command openly defied him? If the mayor or the townsfolk saw even a moment of weakness, there was a risk they might attempt to resist. Even though they outnumbered the mages fifty to one, a resistance would be easily contained.
But it wouldn’t be without casualties.
Was that what Urster wanted?
Frustration welled up in Lyall as he stared at Urster’s narrowed eyes and jutting chin. He couldn't do this job with this man questioning every move. If he gave in now, he would never really be in command. He needed to earn everyone’s trust, and perhaps a little fear. And he might as well start with Urster.
He reached out his magic towards the man, shocking him so much that he had him dangling above the head of the mayor before Urster gathered together his own magic to resist.
The magical tussle was invisible to the townsfolk, but there was a nervous silence anyway. The mages didn't move, though Lyall kept an eye out for any indication that some might attempt to help Urster.
Urster’s magic was strong, he would never have kept his position as his father’s second in command if it wasn't, but it was no match for Lyall’s.
He pushed back every attempt the man made to either escape from the magical hold he had on him, or reach Lyall’s person himself. He felt Urster’s struggle weakening and smiled. To rub it in, he pulled his consciousness back enough to connect with the dragon illusion, still repeating the occasional roar he had set.
He sent silent thanks to the magic increase he had gained when he bonded with Brianna. Without it, he would never have been able to control the two separate strands of magic at once.
With it, he was able to bring the dragon down, hovering over Urster’s head, extending its magical claws to pluck him out of the air.
Urster’s eyes almost bulged out of his head. Even though he knew the dragon was only an illusion, it demonstrated Lyall’s magical strength clearly. Lyall could see him trying to evaluate how far the prince would take this.
He was impressed that the man said nothing, made no move to beg for release.
That caused him to move the dragon slightly lower over the water before he released him into it.
The splash was loud in the silence.
“In your offices,” he said to the mayor, not even looking back at the hovering dragon.
The man swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Yes, of course.” His voice was an unmanly squeak. He cleared his throat. “My offices. Right this way, Your Highness.”
The town’s submission was inevitable, but the slowness of the process, the mayor’s insistence on drawing up a treaty of surrender, claiming protection for his people and continued observance of the current laws, was an irritation.
Lyall itched to get out of the office and to leave this mundane business to someone else. But despite his impatience, he made himself stay until the last paper was finalised.
Only then could he head out to the town streets.
He ignored the sidelong glances and the mothers who quickly ushered their children to the other side of the street, his attention focused only on attaining his destination as quickly as possible.
The familiarity of Syrid’s inn was comforting. For a moment. Until he realised that everyone was staring at him. “Where’s Syrid,” he said roughly.
“I'm right here.” Syrid strode into the room, scowling at him. “And you’re not welcome here. I can't believe we trusted you all these years, when really, you were scoping out the town, just figuring out the best way to control it.”
Lyall was so shocked, he took a step backwards. “I...”
He stared at all the other faces watching him, his heart sinking. He couldn't relent from his earlier demeanour, the risks were too great. He needed to plough on the way he’d started.
“Where is Brianna,” he demanded, hiding his wince at Syrid’s disappointed expression.
“She’s not here,” Syrid returned defiantly. “And I wouldn't tell you where she was, even if I knew.
Lyall considered. Was Syrid bluffing, or did he really have no idea where Brianna was? Surely she would have stopped to borrow a horse at the very least? She wouldn’t get very far on foot.
As soon as the thought entered his head, he whirled around and strode out of the inn. Back at the mayor’s office, where he had set up his own base, it took only moments to order his men to check every path out of the town and bring back anyone who was attempting to leave the city. He didn’t even have to mention Brianna’s name, since the terms of surrender included no one coming or going from Bymere.
But his hopes fell as each batch of stragglers was dragged in. There was no sign of Brianna to the west, to the east, or to the north. She had vanished.
Was she really in league with the other mages? Was she one of them? What other explanation was there for the fact that she had managed to disappear so thoroughly? It was possible she was hiding somewhere in the city and hadn’t attempted to leave, but that would disprove her story about needing to get home to her village just as completely.
“Sir, we need to question some of the townsfolk, see if there has been any sign of the mages or their magic, here.” Urster’s voice, more respectful this time, interrupted his thoughts.
Lyall sighed. “Round up a selection of people, from the ordinary workers, to the higher up officials, we will question them all. And bring me a map, so that I can plan our next move.
But no matter how many people he asked, none had seen Brianna, nor any sign of the mages. And the map, when it arrived, didn’t help him either. So many small villages, spread out so far.
It would take years to search them all.
Lyall kept his horse on a tight rein. He watched every shadow, his magical senses taut. He was exhausted, as were the eighty other mages following behind him, but he couldn't afford to let down his guard. Not now. They must be getting close.
Mustn't they?
It had been a long two years. Two years since he had been home. Two years since he had seen his mother or father.
Two years since Brianna had left.
He'd seen no sign of her in any of the villages he had conquered. And there had been so many of them he'd lost count. Each moment he’d spent questioning the people from every village and town had only been made bearable by the fact that it gave him a chance to ask about her.
But no one knew anything. Or if they did, they weren't telling him.
He wasn’t really surprised. He had decided early on that to reveal his true objective, to find the enemy mages, would achieve little. To the ordinary townsfolk and villages, he appeared to be a dangerous and invading mage army. How would telling them he searched for others change their opinion of him?
His mouth twisted in a thin line. It only eased his conscience a little when he told himself that his invasion was the better option. He prided himself on having taken countless towns without a single casualty, on either side. It was far better than anything the other mages would do when they returned.
“Well, well. What do we have here?” Urster urged his horse up until it was level with his, drawing his attention ahead with a wave of his hand.
Lyall frowned. He’d seen many towns and villages in the last two years. This was the first one surrounded by a wall. The hair rose on his arms. Had he finally found the mages?
And if so, would he find Brianna with them?
“We need to be careful,” he told Urster, even though he could sense no magic at all. He glanced up at the fading sky. It would be dark within the hour.
“Should we wait until morning?” Urster said.
Lyall shook his head. “Our display is far more intimidating in the dark. And we may need every edge we can get.”
Urster simply nodded. He hadn’t argued with Lyall since that first day on the boat, after which they'd come to an agreement of sorts. Urster would voice his concerns, Lyall would listen, then he'd do what he chose. It was working well.
Lyall rode up the long straight road towards walls. No trees or bushes lined the edges, no shadows concealed their approach. Whoever controlled this village had some knowledge of tactics. The wall wasn't just for show. It took all his courage not to call this attack off while he considered his options.
But they were nearly at the wall. And the sentries, he could see now, watched them, unmoving, though arrows were nocked in their bows. Arrows didn't frighten him, they could be easily stopped. It was the thought of less obvious defences that had him concerned.
The only warning he had was a slight tingle on the edge of his senses. That was enough. Lyall reached for his magic to defend himself.
Only to find it was not there.
He jerked back on the reins, his fist jerking up automatically. He heard other horses halt behind him. He reached for his magic, moving nothing but his mind, straining for the familiar scent, or the swirling colours. Still nothing.
“Can you still touch your magic?” he asked Urster under his breath.
“Sir?” Urster sounded confused and concerned.
“Can you?” Lyall asked again, his voice tight.
“I.. Yes, sir.”
“Then begin the display.”
“Are you sure? If there is a problem...”
“Just do it,” Lyall said tightly, his eyes never leaving the guards on the walls. “And keep every part of the illusion behind where I stand.”
He felt the heat from the flames as they flared in a line behind him. The guards on the walls scurried back. Lyall took the chance to pull his horse back. Painful step after painful step.
He heaved a sigh of relief when he felt the magic. Automatically, he began his part in the sequence, creating the image of a black and red dragon, roaring loudly, breathing flames.
The screams of fear from the guards on the walls were a relief. If they knew anything about magic, the simple fire and illusions wouldn’t cause them fear. Especially if they knew they couldn't reach any closer to the walls.
“Surrender now and no one will be hurt.” Lyall projected his voice, hoping the sound would carry through whatever prevented his use of magic. He settled the dragon on the tops of some nearby trees, where it cost less energy to maintain the static display.
There was silence from the walls. Lyall waited patiently. They would have to fetch whoever was in charge and relay the story. But he didn't think he would be refused entrance. No village had held out more than an hour.
And he was very curious about what he would find inside.
*****
Mianna was putting the girls to bed when she heard the commotion outside. Her heart froze, then sped up when the screaming started.
“Mama, what dat?” Kylis asked, in her baby voice.
“Wha da?” Lylis repeated. She always repeated everything Kylis said.
Mianna took a deep breath. She didn't want the babies to be afraid. “It's time for us to get up,” she said as cheerfully as she could muster.
She met Ryla, Terion’s mother, on the stairs. Her face was as fearful as Mianna’s. She didn't say anything, just held her arms out for the two little toddlers.
“Take them down to the basement and stay there until I come for you,” Mianna said firmly.
“Of course,” Ryla said. “Come on girls, we can play eye spy.”
Kylis reached for her. “Want Mama.”
Mianna reached out to hug her baby. “Mama will be back before you know it. Be good for Ryla, okay?”
Kylis looked at her, her eyes dark and solemn. Lylis sucked her thumb. Mianna gave them both a hug, then ran the rest of the way down the stairs, stopping only to rip her sword out of its scabbard near the door.
The silence outside was almost more frightening than the screams had been. What was wrong? Were the trolls back? There hadn't been a troll attack since the one in which her mother had been killed, but Brianna hadn't trusted the peace. She insisted they fortify the village, and not just in the direction of the ridge, and remain ever alert. If only she wasn't out on a scouting mission to a nearby village tonight.
The door opened as she touched it. One of the warriors stood there, his face ashen. “There are men on horseback outside the gates. Lots of them.”
Relief surged through her at his words. Men she could deal with. “Well what was all the screaming about?” she said firmly. “Since when are we afraid of men?”
“Since they set half the countryside on fire and m
ade a dragon appear out of thin air.”
“Don't be silly, there's no such thing as dragons,” Mianna said automatically.
“That's what I thought, Mianna, until I saw it with my own eyes. The man, their leader, is saying if we surrender, no one will be hurt. And the other guys are saying we should listen.”
“You trust someone like that to keep their word?” she said sharply. “Take me to the tower and show me this dragon.”
She followed the warrior to the lookout tower, not quite sure what to believe. But the field of unmoving flame, crowned by a dragon sitting on a tree, was hard to dispute. So was the man who stood in front of them all, unafraid.
The dragon roared—an unnatural sound that echoed off the ridge behind her. Mianna jumped and swallowed the automatic scream that rose in her throat. Hopefully that sound didn’t carry over the ridge.
Where was Brianna when she needed her? She would know what to do.
But Brianna wasn't here and who knew when she would be back. Mianna had to make the decision herself.
“Surrender now and no one will be harmed.” The voice was unnaturally loud.
The dragon roared again, and Mianna’s heart jumped into her throat as it leapt into the air and flew towards the very spot she stood. It took all her courage to stand her ground and stare at it as it flapped its wings a mere thirty yards from her.
“What other choice do we have?” Terion’s voice said quietly at her shoulder.
She wanted to turn and bury her face in his shoulder. To let him take care of her and make the decisions that seemed impossible. But Terion wasn't in charge of the village, she and Brianna were.
“We could refuse,” she said.
“Look at them, Anna.” He waved his hand at the army outside. “They come close to outnumbering our warriors as it is. With command of fire and a dragon on their side...” He shook his head. “They could raze the village without a thought. We have no choice but to surrender.”
“And what if they're lying? What if they kill everyone as soon as we give in?” Mianna demanded.
“They don't need to get inside our walls to do that,” Terion pointed out. “If they wanted us dead, we would be.”