Coal did as ordered and faced Djamel. "I'm sorry about the sleeping powder."
"Sorry?" he repeated in an accusing tone that made Coal flinch. "That stunt got me demoted from number one to number two, and the princess took away my sword."
Coal chanced a quick glance at Djamel's sword. The hilt was different than the one he had delivered to the soldier a few days ago. The position of a shadow was a revered position, and shadow number one was as good as it got. "I didn't think it would get you in trouble."
"Did you think at all? How could you have possibly thought it was a good idea to run off with that girl?"
"Someone had to do something."
"You are nothing. You have no power. What could you have possibly done for her?"
"We got this far."
"With luck. Now your luck is over. Sit down. Don't say another word or I will knock your teeth out."
Coal bit his lip and stayed silent. Guilt sat in his stomach like a heavy stone. Djamel had been one of the few fey who had shown him any respect. He'd lost Chalcedony and Djamel's trust, and it had all been for nothing.
Before Chalcedony entered the tent, she ordered Mahala and Jin, the guards Madoc had assigned her, to stay outside. She expected a protest, but they nodded and stood on both sides of the entrance. Madoc couldn't fool her. They were there to report every move she made. She would have done the same thing if she were him. Being spied on or not, she needed to understand why Coal had betrayed her.
The urge to go back to her tent and change out of the dirty clothes she'd worn for the past two days had been intense. But she'd fought the vain impulse. She was going to meet a prisoner, not a date.
A suffocating anxiety had been crushing her over the past few days, but now breathing came easily again. Coal had put up a good chase, but she'd won. She'd found him. He lay before her on a cot while Djamel stood motionless across from him.
"You can leave," she told Djamel.
He nodded and walked out. She'd hesitated to assign him to guard Coal, thinking his anger might cause Djamel to hurt Coal. But she didn't trust anyone but Djamel to be alone with her prisoner. The elf was the best fighter she had and never questioned her orders.
Avonnah, on the other hand, always second-guessed Chalcedony and had a tendency to act first and apologize later. She was good in a fight, but Chalcedony didn't trust the soldier with delicate matters.
Chalcedony stood over Coal while he lay with his eyes closed. The tailored clothes he'd worn the night of the party were covered in dirt, mud, and blood. Grime filled his nails, and his fingers were bleeding. From what she saw, there was no serious damage. She should have been angry, but she'd won. He was back. Now what?
"You miss me?" Coal finally asked, with a sarcastic grin, eyes still closed.
"Why did you do it?" she asked, kicking the side of this cot.
He sat up and stared at her with bloodshot eyes. "I didn't have a choice."
"There is always a choice."
"The same applies to you. You're about to be queen. You have the power to forgive and forget, but you let Madoc condemn a child," he bellowed.
Chalcedony rolled her eyes. She had nothing to feel guilty about. He was the one who had betrayed her.
"I listen to Madoc because he has served my family for centuries. He is always right, just like he was right about you. I should have left you in the human realm.
"You should have trusted me," Chalcedony continued. "Yes, I was going to send Lizzy to the weavers, but she would have had everything she asked for while she was there. When the door was back in my forest, I was going to send her home."
Coal eyed her sharply. "Why didn't you tell me that?"
She sat next to him on the hard cot. "You didn't give me a chance."
"I thought--" Coal stuttered.
"You thought I would send a child to the weavers to be tortured and worked to death."
He paused, the answer clearly on his face.
"Do you think I'm evil?"
"I-I--" he stuttered. "Well, Madoc--"
"I'm going to be queen. I need to be respected and feared. But you know me. You should have trusted me not to hurt her."
He studied his hands while he thought of the right words. "The Chaley I know is different from Chalcedony-the-would-be-queen. I didn't know what to do." He paused. "I'm sorry. You're right. I should have trusted you. What happens next?"
"I wish I could say that we were headed back to Legacy, and Lizzy was going back to the human realm, but too much has happened."
"Take Lizzy home, Chaley. I'll take the punishment for both of us."
Madoc had told her not to show mercy, but she hadn't thought about Coal's punishment. Not even after Madoc had told her to. "I need time to think."
He nodded. "Why didn't you tell me the door to the human realm moves?"
She chose her words carefully. "No one is supposed to know it exists. I'm used to being secretive about it, so I didn't tell you. Madoc let us go because he thought I was going to leave you there.
"Why did you choose her over me?" The question made her feel weak. She should be above jealousy, but she had to know.
"I didn't choose her over you. We promised to take her home."
"But you were leaving me." Chalcedony concentrated on a stain on the tent's wall while she listened to his answer.
"As soon as she was back in the human realm, I was coming back."
She glanced at him through the corner of her eye. He was looking forward. They were both scared to face each other, to ask questions, and probably more frightened of the answers.
"You were returning even though you knew you'd be punished?" Chalcedony asked.
"Where else would I go? This is the only home I know." He grinned, all teeth and dimples. "And maybe I was hoping that eventually you'd forgive me."
"Did you?" She smiled despite herself. Would I have forgiven him? Have I already forgiven him?
"My turn now," he said. "Why was there a wandering spell on me?"
That was easy. "In case you wandered off or ran away. My mother put it on you the day you arrived."
"You didn't trust me enough to tell me?"
"It was a long time ago. I forgot. It obviously didn't work, if you made it this far."
"It worked." He looked away, eyes distant again.
"Then how come you're not sick?"
"Luck." He motioned towards the sword at her waist. "Why do you have your mother's sword?"
Chalcedony was more than a little curious to find out how he circumvented the wandering spell, but she didn't press it. There would be plenty of time to ask questions later. She'd have a better spell put on him later. "You took my sword. So you gave me an excuse to use my mother's."
"But isn't it still enchanted? Can't it kill you?" He sounded worried, almost like they were friends again.
"I passed out at first, but now it's getting used to me." She'd been practicing with it over the past few days. In each session, she'd increased the amount of time she'd held it. It still fought her, but she hadn't fainted again. Afterward, she'd had a headache for a few hours, but it was worth it. "Why did you take my sword anyway?"
"I thought we might need some protection in the forest and--" Coal hesitated.
"You're in love with it," Chalcedony finished for him. "The same way I'm in love with my mother's sword."
He laughed as he eyed Mischief strapped to her back. Her mother's sword was sheathed at her waist. It couldn't hurt to have two swords. Was it even possible to train with two sentient swords? Would one be jealous of the other?
"Yes, I'm in love with it," Coal said. "Your mother's sword is beautiful, but it doesn't compare to yours."
She shrugged. "Maybe. We'll argue about it after I decide on your punishment for leaving me and taking my sword. Right now, I have to make sure everything and everyone is packed and ready to go."
For the past few days, she'd been working on nothing but adrenaline. Now that the search was over, she was ready to sleep
for a week. She stood and stretched, once again, noticing Coal's scratches. "I'll have someone bring you food and see to your wounds."
"One more question," he said as she was leaving. Chalcedony paused. "How are Astra, Lizzy, and Geric?"
Chalcedony rolled her eyes. "The spidren refused to give up Lizzy, and the girl refused to let go. So I let them stay together on the promise that the spidren wouldn't cause any trouble." She had been more than willing to leave them alone. The damn spidren freaked her and the soldiers out. Besides, Elizabeth couldn't stay attached to it forever. As soon as Elizabeth was free of it, Chalcedony had told Avonnah to grab her.
"What about--" Coal began, but Chalcedony left before he could ask her any more questions. She always liked to have the last word.
True to her word, Chalcedony had a bucket of soapy water and a towel sent to him so he could wash his face and hands. Then a healer came to wrap his wounds and gave him a pungent tea that helped sooth his aching body. Afterward, he sat on a clean cot devouring roasted pork garnished with carrots and apples. The sweetness of the fruit perfectly complemented the succulent, salty meat. It would have felt like home except for Djamel standing near the entrance, grasping the hilt of his sword with the corner of his lip turned up in a sneer.
Coal leaned back and licked his fingers. He should have been scared and nervous, but it was hard not to be optimistic about the future when he was eating so well.
Djamel gritted his teeth. "Princess Chalcedony has done nothing but protect you since you've been in this realm. She has done nothing but ..." He lifted a corner of his lip in disgust. "... love you. But you ran away with that child without a word. And now you sit here eating her food and smiling shamelessly. Tell me, human, what type of person does that make you?"
His appetite suddenly gone, Coal sat back and took a long deep breath. "What else could I have done?" Coal asked. "Chalcedony had agreed to send Elizabeth to a torture camp. I had no other choice."
Just as Djamel opened his mouth to respond, something hit the top of the tent with a wet and sticky thud that made Coal's skin crawl.
"What's going on?" Coal asked, jumping to his feet.
"Shut up." Djamel unsheathed his sword.
Seconds later, a scream pierced the silence.
"Aren't you going to see what's happening?" Coal asked, with a mixture of fear and curiosity.
"You are more important than whatever's happening outside. I'm staying right here." Djamel's eyes were wary as he stared at the entrance of the tent with his weapon ready. But no one entered. Instead, the tent disappeared, and the star-filled sky appeared above their heads.
No, it hadn't disappeared, Coal realized. A dragon had it in its claws while it flew away. The beast landed a few yards away, tearing and gnawing at the tent as if it was a chew toy.
"What's going on?" Djamel asked, his voice filled with dismay and shock.
A quarter of the tents in the camp were being destroyed as dragons tore them apart. The beasts that were not chewing on tents were wrestling with other dragons or clashing with soldiers. Coal peered through the darkness towards the dragon on their tent. Raw bloody meat and entrails covered the tent.
Just as the dragon snapped towards Coal, Djamel pulled him away.
"What the hell are you doing? We've got to find cover. Come with me," Djamel ordered, his grip digging into Coal's elbow. They had almost made it to the forest when Coal saw Haline stalking towards them holding a bucket.
"Haline!" Coal screamed, resisting Djamel's pull. The dwarf wore battle armor that made her bosom ten times larger than Coal had remembered. Carved on each breast was a golden snake chasing and devouring its own tail. Despite the ongoing chaos, both Coal and Djamel stopped to stare. "Eyes up here," Haline said. "It's meant to distract the enemy, not you, Coal."
Coal shook his head and averted his eyes. "What are you doing here?"
No longer enthralled with the enchanting breastplate, Djamel lifted his sword and moved between Coal and Haline. "Who are you? If you've come for the boy, you're wasting your time."
"Really?" Haline lifted her bucket and threw it at Djamel. Blood and innards covered Djamel from the waist down. Gory pieces of raw flesh stuck to his clothes before dropping to the ground. Djamel looked down at himself before he glared hatefully at Haline.
He swung his sword towards her, but Haline, the only person Coal knew that moved faster than Djamel, was already gone. A dragon, attracted by the carrion, charged Djamel before he could find Haline. He sliced the beast's two front legs, and it fell in an awkward thud to the ground as it yelled and screeched in pain.
Before Djamel caught his breath, one of the biggest dragons Coal had ever seen appeared from above. It dug its talons into Djamel's shoulder and lifted him into the air.
Taken by surprise, Djamel dropped his sword. Coal caught his leg, the extra weight preventing the dragon from carrying Djamel away.
"Stupid, boy. Let him go!" Haline shouted from below.
"No! Help me!" Coal pleaded.
"He's a damn soldier. Let him go."
Djamel yelled as the dragon's talons pierced deeper into his flesh. The dragon flapped its wings, trying to gain more height.
"Help me, Haline!" Coal pulled Djamel's leg. "He's a friend." Or at least he had been. They weren't friendly now, but Djamel didn't deserve to be eaten by an out-of-control dragon. "I'm not leaving until I know he's safe."
"Damn it." Haline picked up Djamel's sword, spun three times and then loosed it. It ripped through one of the dragon's wings. The injured dragon gave a bone-rattling shriek before it fell to the ground with Djamel.
Even as the dragon lay writhing in pain, it refused to release its prey. Coal pulled at Djamel's arms, but the dragon snapped its bloodstained teeth at Coal, opening a gash on the back of his hand.
"Damn stupid boy," Haline muttered. "Leave it alone. I'll take care of it." She approached the dragon, stopping near the middle of its head, out of reach of the beast's line of sight. Then she plunged her dagger into its forehead. The dragon seemed as if it was about to let out another angry howl, but no sound escaped. The dragon's eyes closed, its breathing stopped, and Djamel fell from its grip. Coal took his uninjured hand and helped Djamel stand.
"You okay?" Haline asked Djamel.
"Yes." He rubbed his injured shoulder.
Haline cocked an eyebrow. "Don't thank me yet." She pulled back her small fist and punched him in the groin.
Djamel doubled over in pain, and she hit him on the head with the butt of her dagger. The metal made a loud thump as it connected with Djamel's head and sent the soldier falling onto the ground.
"Why did you do that?" Coal asked, eyes wide and mouth wide open in dismay.
"Wasn't he guarding you?" Haline asked.
"Yes, but he was hurt." Coal leaned over and checked Djamel's breathing. Djamel lay unconscious, but he still breathed.
"Was he the type that would just let you walk away?" Haline asked, with her hands defiantly on her waist.
"No," Coal answered reluctantly. Djamel had already told Coal he'd rather die than let Coal escape again.
"I didn't think so." Haline tore a piece of the cloak attached to the back of her breastplate. "Let me see your hand."
"Why?" Coal asked, suddenly wary.
"You're bleeding, dumbass. Let me wrap it."
"Oh."
Fresh waves of pain shot through his hand and up his arm as she wrapped it.
When she had finished, Haline shoved his hand away. "We need to get everyone else."
"But we can't leave Djamel here. We have to at least hide him so he doesn't get hurt."
She cocked an eyebrow. "I'm not protecting him. You go ahead. Waste our time and put this whole rescue mission at risk while you try to save your enemy." She crossed her arms in front of her golden bosom. "I'll wait here."
He tried not to look at her large chest. "It'll go faster if you help."
"No. He's your friend, not mine." She tapped her foot.
Ignoring the pain in his hand, Coal pulled Djamel into to the forest and covered his body with leaves and dirt. He was sure the dragons would smell him, but he hoped the beasts wouldn't want to work that hard to sniff him out when there was easily available food at the camp.
He stood and wiped the dirt from his hands onto his pants. A strong sense of déjà vu suddenly flooded over him.
Djamel was going to really hate him now.
Chapter Fourteen
"Wear this. We need to find the others before the queenling can get her soldiers organized." Haline threw Djamel's bloody cloak at Coal.
Behind the safety of the trees, Coal put on the cloak and surveyed the camp. The once orderly site had turned into a horrific dream. A few soldiers, most still in their nightclothes, were wrestling the tents from the dragons. Some tents were on fire, and a group of soldiers were trying to quench the blaze.
"Where are they?" Coal asked.
Haline shrugged. "I don't know where they are. I'm lucky I found you."
"What do you mean you don't know where they are? What if they're already dragon food?"
"If they're as guarded as you were, then they're okay," Haline said.
"Make sure you keep your head down. If we stay near the trees, we shouldn't be seen."
Coal nodded and followed Haline as she crept along the tree line.
What am I doing? Coal thought as he clambered over tree roots and fallen branches. A few minutes ago, he had been sitting in a tent, comfortable, warm, and safe. Why was he here now? Chalcedony had forgiven him. Hadn't she? No. She had said she needed time to think. But what if he was making things worse?
"Wait," he said to Haline. Maybe they could trust Chalcedony. When Haline didn't stop, he spoke louder. "Haline, wait. We don't have to do this ..."
They both stopped when they saw Geric being chased by a dragon twice the dwarf's size. While they watched, the dragon jumped onto Geric's back and bit into the dwarf's shoulder.
"Distract the dragon, and I'll do the rest," Haline commanded.
"How?" Coal asked, but Haline had already started creeping towards the beast.
Coal: Book One of the Everleaf Series Page 13