by Lyndi Lamont
A shout rang out from one of the men, and she glanced upward to see Kane flying toward them, the king on his back, silhouetted against the setting sun. Men scrambled out of the way as Kane hovered over the clearing, casting them in shadow. His dragon size still amazed her. He’d had no trouble carrying her and Sir Rolf to Klosterlupe.
He landed near her. Tova waited for the king to dismount, then ran to Kane and removed the pouch holding his possessions. “Will you shift now?”
::I must,::
Tova was shocked to see his neck bowed with obvious fatigue, his aura weak. The shift this time was fast, but appeared wrenching and left him collapsed in a heap on the ground. She knelt and took him in her arms, trying to warm his shivering body. “You need food and rest.”
“Clothes first,” he said. “Then food.”
She ignored everyone else as she helped him dress. Reaching into her pouch, she grabbed the bread and cheese she’d packed two days ago. His hands were shaking so much she held the food to his lips, one arm still around his shoulders, hoping to give him some of her warmth. Her care of him caused her magic to grow.
After he’d wolfed down the bread and cheese, he tried to stand, but staggered, uncertain on his feet. She put an arm around his waist. “Lean on me, love.”
He let her take some of his weight, and together, they walked toward the nearest campfire, seeking warmth. Common men and nobles alike scrambled to get out of their way. Tova sent them a scathing glance. “He is not dangerous, not unless provoked.”
Kane laughed as he sank down and stretched his hands toward the fire. “Not in this state.”
She filled a bowl of stew from the communal cooking pot and handed it to Kane, along with a wooden spoon.
The king and Sir Eberhard joined them, discussing the situation. “How many men?” Eberhard asked.
“Not many, perhaps a hundred all told,” said the king.
“Why so few?” Tova wondered aloud. “He cannot hope to take Castle Novita with a hundred men.”
“I fear ’tis more than enough to overwhelm my hunting party,” the king said, a grim look on his lined face. “And once he has me in his power… Well, we know what happened before.”
“Have you no way to fight off his spells, sire?” Tova asked. “You are prepared this time. Last time, he took advantage of your trust.”
“Perhaps,” King Helmut said.
“Sire, you must leave,” urged Sir Eberhard. “We can defeat Bruno without you here. Kane can fly you back to the castle.”
Kane looked up from the stew he’d been wolfing down. “Aye, ’tis a good notion. I can fly you and Tova back to the castle as soon as I’ve rested a bit.”
The king rose to his full height. “Run away like a coward? Never! I will hear no more discussion of the subject.” He strode off, followed by an anxious Sir Eberhard.
Kane turned to Tova. “I must fly you to safety before Bruno arrives. Klosterlupe perhaps. Then I will return to deal with Bruno.”
Before Tova could answer, a nobleman with graying brown hair approached them with a flask and two cups. “Would you like some wine?”
Kane accepted a cup and toasted the man. “I thank you, sir.”
The man bowed. “I am Tancred von Arnwalt.”
“Your name sounds familiar,” Tova said.
He smiled and wrinkles creased the corners of his kind brown eyes. “You may know my son, Sir Rolf.”
“Yes, of course, my lord,” Tova said. “I met him at Castle Novita along with Princess Ilona.” That explained why this man alone had approached them. He had been the first nobleman to acknowledge a shifter as his child. “Sir Rolf is a fine man.”
“Yes, he is, though I can take no credit for it,” Lord von Arnwalt said. “All he has become is because of the knights of Klosterlupe. If we can but hold out until they arrive, Bruno may yet be defeated.”
“So mote it be,” Tova murmured. She took a sip of wine, feeling it warm her insides. After two nights spent aloft, she was tired, though not as exhausted as Kane. “Is there somewhere we can rest? We flew all night to get here from Castle Novita.”
“Of course,” the older man said. “Come inside. You may have my bed.”
The stone keep had a central stairwell that wound up to the top, with several stops along the way. At the second landing, von Arnwalt led them through a door into a small room with a makeshift bed of furs and blankets spread out on the floor. “Hunting isn’t the most comfortable sport, but the furs are warm enough.”
Tova smiled at him. “It looks marvelous. Thank you, my lord.”
“Get some rest, you two. I’ll have my man wake you in a few hours.”
“Thank you again,” Tova said, as she closed the door after him.
His movements slow, Kane removed his cloak, boots and tunic before lowering himself to the floor, where he stretched out on the furs. Though clearly exhausted, he gazed up at her through half-closed eyes. “Are you going to join me?”
Smiling, she straddled him and leaned forward to touch her mouth to his, sucking on his lower lip. He hadn’t shaved, and his black whiskers scratched her skin. When he opened his lips wider, she slipped her tongue inside to explore his mouth. He tasted of wine and wildness.
He clasped one arm around her waist, holding her captive, while his right hand explored her body. Her own arousal crept higher. No man had ever made her feel like this—beautiful, desirable and powerful.
He tangled his hands in her hair and tugged. She raised her head and stared into his exhausted eyes. Much as she wished to make love to him, he needed rest more.
She moved to one side. “Turn over.”
When he obediently turned to lie on his stomach, she straddled him again and began to massage the tight muscles of his shoulders and arms. “My poor tired dragon,” she crooned.
He moaned in pleasure as he began to relax. Her magic crept higher. It felt good to please him in this way, and the act helped her as well. She continued to massage his back, buttocks and legs, feeling the tension go out of his body. Every bit of relief she gave him drove her magic higher.
Finally, she lay down and nestled beside him, wrapping her arms around his torso. “Sleep, my darling dragon.”
A laugh rumbled through his chest, but soon became a snore. Tova yawned twice, comforted by the large male body beside her, but sleep eluded her. Magic thrummed through her body and anticipation heightened her senses. She was as ready as she would ever be to face what was to come.
It would be hard to go back to her old life after this. A part of her missed her comfortable little cottage in the foothills. She’d felt content and safe there, with a large root cellar to shelter in during storms. A place to hide from life and all its challenges. Despite the danger, the adventures of the last few days had made her feel more alive than she had in years. Perhaps she was her father’s daughter after all.
Being around the knights and men-at-arms was a reminder of her early life, when her father was still alive. A fierce longing for him pierced her heart. To her, he’d been larger than life, a big, fair-haired giant of a man with merry blue eyes and a hearty laugh. She remembered riding in front of him on his warhorse, clinging to the mane with her chubby hands. Listening to him singing around the campfire with his fellow warriors, or telling tall tales of imaginary exploits or stories of the Nordic gods. Like the legend of the Lightning Maiden.
A shiver passed through her as she nestled close to Kane’s warmth. She felt safe as long as she was with him, though she knew there were no guarantees. Her father’s presence had made her feel safe, too, until he died trying to protect her. As she drifted off to sleep, she wondered if Kane was correct, if there might be some truth to the tale.
*****
Tova was still sleeping when Kane awoke a few hours later. He lay watching her a few minutes and contemplated waking her to make love. Though she had tried to shield her thoughts from him, he sensed the love in her heart. What would he do without her? As much as he longed to take
her back to his island, he hated to ask her to give up all that was familiar to her—her land, her family. Perhaps they could come to some agreement when this was all over, if they survived.
Gently he brushed a strand of hair off her cheek. “Later,” he whispered. “Gods willing.”
Careful not to disturb her, he rose, dressed silently, and left the tower. Outside, he saw King Helmut and Sir Eberhard had set up a defensive area around the keep. Makeshift fences provided shelter for swordsmen, while archers kept guard at the top of the tower. Unfortunately, the clearing was small and visibility limited.
At the edge of the lake stood a half dozen rafts, ready for flight if it looked like Bruno would prevail. A string of horses were tethered near the water as well. Fortunately, the keep was located by a ford, so mounted knights could cross the river on horseback, assuming their mounts survived the attack. It was clear to him that there were not enough rafts for all of the commoners, but someone had to provide a rear guard to hold off the mercenaries while the king and his knights made their escape.
Sir Eberhard approached him, a concerned look on his face. “Not the best place for a fight, is it?”
“No, sir,” Kane answered truthfully. “Putting archers in trees may help, but once the fighting begins, they will be cut off from the keep. ’Tis bound to be a bloodbath.”
“My men have taken measures to see that some of Bruno’s men never arrive here.”
“Snares and traps?” Kane guessed.
For once the dour knight allowed himself to smile. “Aye, we came to hunt. Only the prey has changed.”
Kane laughed, then another concern occurred to him. “I hope Sir Rolf and his knights are adept at avoiding your traps.”
“We left the path from Klosterlupe untouched,” Sir Eberhard said. “I doubt Bruno will split his forces since he expects to surprise us. When do you think Sir Rolf and his men will arrive?”
Kane shook his head. “I’ve no idea, but I can go aloft and reconnoiter. Will you join me?”
The look of horror on Sir Eberhard’s face was priceless. Kane bit the inside of his mouth to keep from laughing. He hadn’t had this much fun in years.
“I am needed here.” Sir Eberhard’s tone was gruff. “Besides, I was never fond of heights. Being on a battlement is bad enough, but…”
Kane smiled. “Say no more. Flying is not to everyone’s taste. But I tell you, there is no more liberating feeling than to unshackle oneself from the bonds of earth and soar like a hawk.” He shrugged. “Not much else can match the feeling. ’Tis magical.”
“Aye, no doubt,” Sir Eberhard agreed. “Not too fond of magic, either, now that I think on it. Not after Bruno.”
“Understandable,” Kane murmured. He bowed to the knight and headed to the edge of the clearing. He was a little uncomfortable shifting in front of the king’s men, so he walked until he found a smaller clearing by a stream. He knelt to take a drink of the clear water before shedding his clothes. He tucked them them into his pouch and hung it on the branch of a tree for safekeeping.
Still tired, he started the ritual chant. It helped him draw on all his reserves to funnel energy into his astral body, picturing it expanding, growing stronger, taking on the shape of the ancient creature that was the other half of him. His blood grew colder, bones and sinew reformed, and wings took shape until he became drakken again.
Spreading his wings, he rose slowly into the air until he reached the tops of the trees. Then he increased his speed and flew upward, gliding and turning, savoring the joy and freedom of flight. This, this was the one compensation for his existence, the one consolation for not being part of the world of regular people. For not being free to love Tova as an ordinary man would.
Remembering his purpose, he drifted lower to glide just above the treetops until he spotted Bruno’s army. They were yet a half a day away from the Old Keep, meaning they would arrive after dark if Bruno did not make camp. Either way could be to the king’s benefit. Or not.
Turning, Kane flew northwest, looking for Sir Rolf and his knights on the long, winding road from Klosterlupe, but saw no one. Puzzled, he headed back to the Old Keep. Suddenly he detected movement below. As he got closer, he spotted a pack of large wolves loping along a forest path in the direction of the Old Keep. ::Sir Rolf?::
One wolf stopped, looked up, and sent up a howl in Kane’s direction.
::The King awaits at the Old Keep.::
The wolf let out one more howl, then re-joined the pack.
Kane resumed his flight back to the keep. By traveling through the forest, the wolves were making good time, better than men on horseback could manage. Still, they might not arrive before Bruno attacked. Perhaps he could do something to delay the enemy.
CHAPTER 6
Tova glanced anxiously at the sky as she stood outside the keep. Clouds had formed, and fog shrouded the tops of the trees. She knew not whether to pray for rain. It might delay Bruno, but could also reduce visibility for the archers stationed behind barriers on the ground and at the top of the tower. The wind kicked up, making her shiver. Dusk was approaching and there was no sign of Kane. Sir Eberhard had said he’d flown off to reconnoiter, but that had been hours ago. Where could he be?
“Tova!”
She turned and saw Kane walking toward her from the forest. She ran into his arms. “Where have you been? I was so worried.”
He crushed her in his embrace. “Hush, sweeting. I was keeping an eye on Bruno.”
“He is still coming then?”
He drew back to stare at her. “Yes, though Sir Eberhard’s traps are working. I spotted several dozen soldiers caught in snares and nets. That should slow them down a bit. There is yet time for me to fly you to safety at Klosterlupe. Get your things.”
Thunder rumbled in the distance, causing her to shiver. “I doubt flying through a thunderstorm is a good idea.”
He frowned up at the sky. “Damn. The storm is coming from the north. But I am willing to chance it if you are.”
A chill passed through her as she remembered another storm. She could not put Kane in similar danger. She backed away from him. “No, you must keep away from me.”
He reached for her. “Tova, do not speak nonsense.”
She shook her head. “’Tisn’t nonsense. I told you what happened to my father. If the lightning comes for me, no one will be safe.”
Kane opened his mouth, but then closed it, a thoughtful look on his face. “Perhaps…”
She tilted her head. “What?”
“I was just remembering the day we met. When you deflected the lightning.”
“And it struck the tree.” She recalled the moment? She, too, had been surprised. “What is the importance of that?”
He shrugged, as if reluctant to say any more.
Then it struck her. “You think I might be able to use lightning as a weapon.”
“Can you?”
Now she understood why she had been chosen for this quest. “I have no idea. It killed my father,” she said, her voice shaky. “Now it wants me. It has always wanted me.”
What would happen to her if she turned herself over to the elemental force of the storm? Could she manipulate it, or would it simply incinerate her? She very much feared the latter.
She looked at Kane. “Is there any chance we can survive this night?”
He brushed a strand of hair from her eyes, his touch gentle. “I know not what to expect. One thing I do know is this—never have I met a woman as brave as you.”
*****
Kane paced the battlements of the Old Keep, trying not to worry about Tova. She’d insisted on staying on the top of the tower. If only she’d agreed to let him fly her to safety, but she was nothing if not stubborn. And brave beyond compare. She would be a fit mate for a dragonlord, human or not. If they survived this night, he vowed to make her his forever.
Night had fallen and clouds shrouded the moon. Other strange lights glowed in the sky, eerie green and yellow flickers of light am
idst the clouds. Lightning flashed in the distance, threatening a downpour to come.
The king paced back and forth, dressed in his hunting garb, with only his sword to defend him. He must feel naked without his armor, but who would have guessed battle gear would be needed for a hunting party? Damn Bruno. Why could the man not leave well enough alone? He’d escaped with his life and should count himself lucky.
Kane walked to the edge of the battlements to see what was happening. Shadowy figures approached through the trees. Bruno’s army was close now, seemingly intent on a night raid. The king had ordered fires built in a perimeter around the clearing so no one could sneak by unseen, leaving the woods shrouded in darkness. But thanks to his night vision, Kane saw the advance guard creeping closer to the edge of the trees. He called out to alert the archers below, who let lose a string of arrows into the forest. The screams of wounded men rent the night, making Kane cringe.
Where was Bruno? If he could be captured or killed, the battle would be over before it began. Perhaps he should shift. But if he joined the fight, he’d not be able to protect Tova. And in the meantime, he was useful as a lookout.
She came to his side and peered out. “How you can tell where they are is beyond me. I guess ’tis part of your magic.”
“Not magic, heritage. All dragonfolk have keen sight. What do you sense?”
A shiver shook her slender frame. “The approach of evil. It will not be long.”
King Helmut strode to the battlements and looked out toward the woods. “Bruno! Come forth and show yourself a man!”
Bruno appeared at the edge of the clearing, sitting tall and proud in the saddle, and holding his black staff. With his dark hair and clothing, he resembled a daemon from the bowels of Hades. “Surrender, Helmut. You are outnumbered.”
“Surrender to a knave such as yourself?” The king’s tone was filled with scorn. “Never. My men will fight to the death, if need be. You will never take Velosia. My army is on its way as we speak.”