The Dragonslayer Series: Books 1-4: The Dragonslayer Series Box Set

by Resa Nelson

  The men's leader took another step forward while shifting his grip on his short sword. Barely taller than Astrid, his hair fell long, dirty, and tangled. His skin looked rough and weathered. He squinted at the Iron Maidens, his gaze falling upon the weapons in their hands and the determination darkening their faces. He asked a question that none of the Maidens understood.

  When one of his men took a tentative step forward to follow his leader, Thorda lunged forward, criss-crossing her blade in the empty air.

  A warning.

  Astrid remembered the technique Vinchi had taught to her and Margreet.

  Thorda is showing them we know how to fight and we're not afraid.

  The man who had taken the step forward glanced at his leader, who cocked his head in curiosity, gazing at the women as if trying to puzzle them out.

  “Step up,” Thorda called out.

  In unison, the Iron Maidens lunged and criss-crossed their blades in the air, taking their formation closer to the men but still far from striking distance. All of the Iron Maidens now extended their weapons toward the men, showing the edges of their blades, whether ax or sword or knife. It would take little effort for each woman to cast a deadly blow at anyone foolish enough to come close.

  Astrid said, “Are all the commands in Northlander?” She walked to stand between Thorda and Kikita again. Still keeping Starlight sheathed, Astrid took a casual stance while keeping a steady eye on the men in front of them.

  “Vinchi taught us commands in Northlander so you could understand them and try to keep up with us,” Kikita said dryly.

  “Clever idea,” Astrid said.

  The leader held out a calming hand to his men and called out a question to the Maidens.

  Astrid sauntered forward from the line of defense as if she were asking a friend for directions. “Sorry,” she shouted. “We don't know what you're saying.”

  The leader pointed at Astrid while calling back to his men. The one who had stepped forward spoke back in an argumentative tone.

  “Step back,” Kikita said to Astrid. “Stay with us or you'll get hurt.” After a moment of consideration, she added, “Better still, get behind us and stay out of harm's way altogether.”

  Astonished, Astrid turned to look at Kikita. “I'm a dragonslayer. I'm in harm's way all the time. I know how to protect myself.”

  “From dragons. You don't know nearly as much as Vinchi taught us about protecting ourselves from men who mean us ill.”

  The leader called out his question once more, this time gesturing with his weaponless hand.

  When Astrid looked at him, the sunlight glinted off something silver pinning together the pelt he wore around his shoulders.

  “Wait,” Astrid said to Thorda and Kikita. “Stay here.”

  Before they could answer, Astrid walked toward the leader, placing her hand on Starlight's grip.

  The men facing her tensed, but their leader called out to them, again gesturing for them to hold their ground.

  Smiling, Astrid spoke even though she knew he wouldn't understand her words. “Let me show you something that will make everything clear.”

  Slowly, slowly, slowly, she drew Starlight from its sheath. She cradled its blade in her gloved hands, creating a showcase for the men to admire.

  Excitedly, the leader pointed to his own brigand sword. He commanded his men, who grudgingly relaxed and put their weapons away. The leader then pointed to the silver brooch pinning the pelt at his neck, as if showing it to them for the first time.

  Putting Starlight back in its sheath, Astrid strode confidently to the leader, suppressing her urge to run up and throw her arms around his neck in relief.

  Grinning widely, the leader spouted a greeting even though the only thing Astrid understood was her own name.

  “Hello, Komdra,” Astrid said happily, pointing at his brigand weapon. “How's that sword I made for you?”

  CHAPTER 53

  After the Iron Maidens built a fire on the lake's shore, Komdra's men cooked and shared the food they carried with them. As they all sat on the shore and ate lunch together, Komdra chattered constantly to his men, gesturing warmly toward Astrid the entire time. Simultaneously, Astrid told the Iron Maidens of their history.

  “We found the island where the brigands sold Lenore into slavery,” Astrid said. She paused to let some of the Maidens translate for the others. “Komdra owned her, and no matter what I offered, he didn't want to sell her. Finally, I offered him that brooch.”

  Astrid remembered how difficult the decision had been. The silver brooch took the form of a twisting dragon surrounded by two snakes. When she'd first met DiStephan, Astrid had been a child in the company of a childseller anxious to be rid of her. The brooch had been DiStephan's, and she'd cherished it since the day he'd given it to her.

  But the brooch was mere metal, while Lenore was flesh and blood. While parting with the brooch had been painful, leaving without Lenore would have been unthinkable.

  “And he wanted a sword, so I made one for him.” She pointed at Komdra's sword, which he proudly displayed resting upon the knees of his crossed legs for all to admire.

  Komdra grinned, exuberant when he pounded her on the back. He gestured to his brigand sword, half the size of Astrid's dragonslayer's sword, and then slapped his hand to his chest as he beamed.

  “I imagine,” Kikita said, “few men can boast of owning a sword made by a blacksmith who knows the secret of making a dragonslayer’s sword. Especially a blacksmith who also happens to slay dragons.”

  While they continued eating, Astrid struggled to figure out how to communicate with Komdra, who gnawed happily on a roasted chicken leg. “What are you,” she said as she pointed at Komdra, “doing here?” She pointed at the ground.

  While chewing a mouthful of bird, Komdra chattered happily. He dug one heel into the sand of the lake's shore.

  Thorda sat next to Astrid and sipped a cup of broth. “He says what?”

  Astrid sighed. “I have no idea.”

  “Have you ever considered learning someone else's language?” Kikita said, sitting on Astrid's other side and nibbling on a raw potato.

  “I have no knack for it. I used to know a few words of Komdra's language, but it's been so long I've forgotten them.” Astrid waved a hand at him and his men. “They're from one of the islands off the west coast of the Northlands. No one else speaks their language.”

  “Islands?” Thorda said in surprise. “Why are they here?”

  One of the Midlander Iron Maidens asked Thorda a question.

  Although suspecting Kikita’s interpretation of Banshi's blue skin as a portent of her demise was correct, Astrid couldn't help but worry. What if Banshi had been one of Mandulane's women? What if instead of tattooing her skin blue, Mandulane sent Banshi to scout the Southlands for people resisting his takeover? What if Banshi pretended to be one of those people and met Vinchi? What if Banshi infiltrated the Iron Maidens with the intent of destroying them by turning them over to Krystr soldiers?

  Astrid shuddered at the thought. Surely, the rest of the Iron Maidens had better intents. But the thought of what Banshi might have been lessened Astrid's confidence in the rest of them.

  Nudging Thorda, Astrid said, “What did she ask?”

  Thorda hesitated as if trying to figure out how to put the answer into words Astrid would understand.

  Kikita said, “She wants to know what you and Thorda have said to each other.” Smiling at Astrid's surprise, Kikita said, “I speak Midlander, too.”

  One of Komdra's men climbed to his feet and stared at the Iron Maidens. He asked a question.

  Thorda and a few of the Iron Maidens cried out in surprise, while Kikita simply raised an eyebrow. Thorda spoke rapidly, her face lighting up with joy.

  Leaning toward Kikita, Astrid said, “What's happening?”

  Keeping a steady gaze on Thorda and Komdra's man, Kikita said, “He speaks Midlander.” When Komdra's man answered Thorda, Kikita held up a hand telling As
trid to be quiet.

  All the men and women seemed to hang onto every word spoken, although most understood none of it. When the initial conversation ended, each group anxiously absorbed the translations.

  While the Midlander women passed the information to the other Iron Maidens, Kikita told Astrid what had transpired. “His name is Dirin. His mother was a Midlander captured by brigands and sold into slavery, so he learned the language from her. Krystr soldiers have overrun the islands.”

  Astrid shuddered. “But the islands aren't far from the coast of the Northlands. If the islands have been taken over, they'll go to the Northlands next.”

  Kikita nodded. “Dirin believes it's part of Mandulane's strategy. The Northlanders are strong and unlikely to be conquered easily. Dirin thinks it's no accident that Krystr soldiers are taking over the islands and the Midlands at the same time.”

  Astrid felt light headed. “The Krystr soldiers will attack from the south and the west at the same time.”

  “Dirin says they are building their numbers. Once they have enough men, they will attack the Northlands.”

  “When I was in Mandulane's camp, I saw a map. It showed the territories the Krystr soldiers already control. That happened weeks ago and the map showed only the Southlands and Lower Midlands in Mandulane's control.”

  “Perhaps they do not have full control of the Upper Midlands or islands yet.”

  “Then why is Komdra here instead of defending his home?”

  Komdra gave Astrid a quick look and a grim smile at the mention of his name.

  Kikita interrupted Thorda, speaking in Midlander.

  Thorda nodded, passing the question along to Dirin, who seemed to give a long and complicated answer.

  “He tried,” Kikita told Astrid. “But the Krystr soldiers waited to attack until most of the islander men set sail to trade in Northland and Midland towns. When the Krystr attacks began, the few remaining islander men realized their cause would soon be lost. They hid their families in caves on the far side of the island then sailed here in search of help.”

  Astrid looked at Komdra with new hope. “Have they found any?”

  “Dirin says they search for the Hidden People in hope of guidance.” Kikita paused. “Komdra would like to know if we care to join them.”

  CHAPTER 54

  That afternoon, the Iron Maidens rode alongside Komdra’s men. They traveled on a path through the forest by the lake shore. All of the Midlander Maidens, including Thorda, clustered around Dirin and chattered constantly. Even Kikita guided her horse near their group.

  Astrid rode alone at the end of the pack. The path spread wide between sparse trees, making it easy to get a good look at the surroundings. The other forests Astrid had traveled through tended to be denser, making it necessary to listen to every noise surrounding her. Dirin and the Midlander Maidens talked loudly enough to scare off any bears or wolves, and Astrid suspected most lizards would hesitate to attack such a large group of people.

  Still, she made a practice of keeping a close eye on their surroundings and an open ear to the sounds behind her. Thin streams of sunshine threaded between treetops and lit the path in patches. Astrid relished the intermittent warmth on her skin.

  A sudden crack echoed through the woods. She sat up straight, looking ahead for the source of the unexpected sound.

  Astrid saw Kikita dismount and stand by her horse at the edge of the path. She drank from a skin slung across her back. When she shifted her weight, a dead branch snapped beneath her foot.

  When she reached Kikita's side, Astrid pulled up her horse. “Are you all right?”

  Kikita nodded, watching the others forge ahead before getting back on her horse and riding next to Astrid. “Do you trust Komdra?”

  Oh. This was a ruse to speak to me so no one else could overhear us.

  “I suppose,” Astrid said.

  “What has been your experience with him?”

  Astrid thought back to the first time she met him. “He bought one of my friends as a slave.”

  “How did he treat her?”

  “Well enough, I think.” Astrid pursed her lips, trying to remember. “Lenore seemed to be as healthy and well fed as anyone else on the island.”

  “How did Komdra use her?”

  “As a cobbler. Lenore learned the trade from her father.”

  “And he used her as nothing else?”

  Kikita's question shocked Astrid. “No! Of course not. Komdra isn't like Krystr soldiers. Or brigands.” Astrid paused. “Although he's clearly a man who knows how to use a sword and understands its value. I'd say that makes him some kind of warrior when he's not busy farming.”

  Kikita seemed to digest this information.

  Astrid decided to take her turn asking the questions. “Who are the Hidden People? What do you know about them?”

  “Only what I gleaned from listening to the others speak with Dirin. They seem to be a tribe of spiritual people who guard the lake.”

  “Guard it?” Astrid said, immediately thinking of Limru and its decimation by Krystr soldiers. “From what?”

  “Mandulane, I imagine.” Kikita said. “Thorda admitted this lake is considered sacred by some Midlanders. From what I heard Dirin and the other Midlanders say, the Hidden People now move from site to site around the lake to elude the Krystr soldiers.”

  “And Komdra thinks they can help us? How?”

  Kikita offered a wistful smile. “Magic.”

  Astrid stiffened. She'd always believed in rational explanations and logic. She'd seen plenty during the past few years that stretched her belief to the breaking point, but she still preferred to believe in reason before magic.

  Up ahead, Dirin, Thorda, and the Midlander Maidens laughed together.

  For some reason she couldn't quite pinpoint, their laughter made Astrid feel uneasy.

  CHAPTER 55

  Astrid and the Iron Maidens traveled with Komdra and his men through the woods surrounding the lake for several days. The spring green color of the leafing trees darkened as those leaves grew fuller and thicker. Summer insects buzzed loudly, the sound seeming to come from everywhere. The air grew warm enough to encourage sweat. They headed toward the northern shore of the lake, where narrow waterfalls tumbled over cliffs lining the landscape.

  Komdra fell into a routine of leading the pack with Dirin and the Midlander Iron Maidens in tow. Although the other Maidens initially interspersed themselves among Komdra's men, they soon separated and rode behind them.

  Astrid chose to be the last rider, often keeping a good distance between herself and the Iron Maidens in order to listen to the land surrounding them. Most lizards had probably made the swim across the sea separating the Midlands from the Northlands but there might be a few stragglers, like the one whose bite had killed Banshi.

  The lax attitude Thorda and the other Iron Maidens adopted since joining Komdra and his men disappointed Astrid.

  At least one of us is on the lookout for danger.

  Komdra led the group onto a wide section of the shore near a cliff. Young leafy trees jutted out from crevices in the rock face, seeming to hover in mid-air although their deeply entrenched roots anchored them in the cracks. Smooth, round stones littered the ground between the shore and the cliff, looking like a giant's blackened toenails. The lush sound of churning water filled the air, announcing the presence of a waterfall looming around the next corner.

  Astrid felt grateful at the chance to stop and fill their skins with fresh water. When their path turned and brought the waterfall into view, she smiled as the wind blew fine, chilly mist across her face.

  Following the others' lead, she rode to a cluster of trees near the shore, tied her horse, and tip-toed through the stone-covered stretch of land. Even this far away, the waterfall's mist made the stones slick and slippery, so she walked between them. Unlike the others, she preferred getting water at the base of the fall instead of the stream that trickled from it into the lake.

  When Astri
d walked away from the group, Dirin pointed at her and called out as if beckoning her to stay. Thorda piped up, gesturing with her hands until Dirin shrugged.

  With every step, the rushing sound of water grew louder, making it impossible for Astrid to hear anyone she'd left behind. She walked slowly, careful to plant one foot steadily before raising the other.

  Approaching the powerful fall, Astrid eased her way close to its edge. Like many waterfalls in the Northlands, it rained down like a curtain in front of the mouth of a cave.

  Astrid caught a thin stream of the waterfall's edge into the mouth of her drinking skin. Water splashed wildly, drenching her hair, skin, and clothes. She didn't mind. The warm sun would dry her soon enough. The drinking skin bulged full, and she pulled it back, ready to return and join the others as they rested on the shore.

  But before Astrid could turn away from the waterfall, she saw a shift in the darkness behind it. She took time to gaze through the tumbling water that sparkled in the sun. Perhaps she'd merely seen a trick of light, imagining movement where none existed.

  Out of habit, she sniffed the air. This close to the waterfall, she could detect nothing beyond the fresh scent of mist and the heavy earthiness of rock and mud.

  The darkness behind the waterfall shifted again.

  Something was hiding in the cave behind it.

  CHAPTER 56

  Astrid stared through the waterfall and into the cave. Her mind raced, considering what might be lurking there.

  Do lizards hide in caves? Could it be brigands? Or Krystr soldiers?

  The roar of water crashing onto the smooth rock ledge at the foot of the cliff filled her ears. Rogue splashes clipped her, drenching her clothes. Out of habit, she strained to listen for noises that could tell her if the waterfall separated her from man or beast.

  Starlight. She needed Starlight.

  Remaining still, Astrid reached until she felt the familiar grip of her sword. Normally, she'd never remove it from the sheath this close to water in order to protect its iron blade. But she had to be ready in case whatever she faced burst through the waterfall, ready to attack.