In the Shadow of the Dragon King

by J. Keller Ford

  “Hello, David. My name is Slavandria. Welcome to my home. Welcome to Chalisdawn.”

  David forgot to breathe for a moment, and his heart hammered against his ribs. “H-hi.”

  The elegant woman motioned to four overstuffed chairs that hadn’t been there moments before and took a seat. “Pease, sit down. We have much to discuss.”

  David stood rooted to his spot, unable to peel his gaze away from the woman.

  “Hey.” Charlotte nudged. Her voice hovered near a whisper. “I appreciate beauty as much as the next person, but can you stop gawking? It’s embarrassing.”

  He nodded and broke his gaze. “I’m sorry. It’s just she looks so much like—”

  “Like Lily, yes, I know. I thought the same thing when I first saw her, but trust me, she doesn’t sound or act anything like Lily.” She clasped his hand in hers and guided him to the chairs.

  David stared down at Slavandria, the nerves twisting his gut into knots. “I-I’m sorry,” he said, his gaze flitting around the room, looking at everything but his host. “I didn’t mean to stare. It’s just you remind me so much of my godmother.”

  Slavandria smiled. “As well I should. She is my younger sister.”

  David’s lungs deflated. He put his hand out to the mast to steady himself.

  Charlotte patted the cushion beside her and pleaded with him to sit. He gripped the edges of the chair to keep from falling to the ground and eased into the seat.

  “I-I don’t understand,” he said. “Lily never mentioned a sister.”

  “There are many things she never mentioned, David, things neither of us ever wanted you to find out. Unfortunately, our father sees things differently and felt it was time for you to be educated.”

  “W-what do you mean, educated?”

  “My father feels it is time for you to know who you are and why you’re here, but before I enlighten you, I’d like to introduce you to someone. He will be overseeing you and Charlotte during your stay in Fallhollow.” Slavandria called Twiller to her side. He’d been standing near the gangway, his hands clasped behind his back, waiting. She whispered something in his ear, and the little man disappeared below deck.

  David turned the ring on his finger as his garbled mind worked to sort out the unbelievable mess going on inside. After a few moments, heavy booted footsteps sounded behind him. He turned as Twiller emerged from below deck followed by … the Renaissance dude from the library?

  The man was bigger than David remembered, huge, with a square, angular jaw, piercing, aquamarine eyes, and shoulders so wide they barely fit through the doorframe. He wore an outward expression that said don’t mess with me. Beneath it, he wore another almost humorous one that said, come on, I dare you.

  Slavandria gestured to the human tank. “David, this is Mangus Grythorn. Mangus this is David Heiland and his dear friend, Charlotte Stine.”

  David stood and locked stares with Mangus. The man circled him, rubbing his chin as if in deep thought. A chill crept down David’s neck, and he swallowed with difficulty, certain the man could eliminate him with a whisper if he wanted to. He steadied his nerves. “What are you doing?”

  Mangus ceased pacing, his gaze pinned to David’s face. “So you’re the one. He’s a little scrawny, don’t you think, Van?”

  “Nothing you can’t remedy, Mangus,” Slavandria said with a teasing smile.

  The man narrowed his eyes and laid a hand on David’s shoulder, the weight of it like a boulder. “Tell me, young man, do you always eavesdrop on conversations that don’t pertain to you?”

  David sputtered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  The man furrowed his brow. “The library? You were there, weren’t you? Upstairs?”

  A flush crept up David’s neck and into his cheeks. He’d been so careful. So quiet. “H-how did you know?”

  Mangus chuckled and released his grip. “I didn’t, until now.”

  David gazed at him, openmouthed. “What? You mean you tricked me?”

  “I gathered information, and you tilted when you should have withdrawn.”

  David swallowed the cotton lump in his throat, unsure at what angered him the most: being suckered into revealing a secret or not seeing the trap coming.

  “Don’t look so dejected,” Mangus said. “You learned a valuable lesson just now. In the future, when prodded, keep your mouth shut. Never admit or deny anything. Understood? Good. Now, how are you with a sword?”

  “Swords?”

  Mangus turned to Slavandria. “Is there an issue with his hearing?”

  Twiller chuckled.

  David spoke. “No, there’s nothing wrong with my hearing. The question caught me off guard.”

  “Well?” Mangus peered at him, his blue eyes penetrating David’s core. “Can you use a sword or not?”

  “I-I don’t know. I-I’ve never tried. Not much call for them where we come from.”

  “You can say that again,” Charlotte snorted, her arms crossed over her chest. “We use bombs instead. Why kill one when you can kill a hundred at once? Boom! Nothing left other than a bunch of mangled body parts to send home in a box.”

  David winced. Charlotte never talked of her brother’s death or that his plane was shot down halfway across the world. He shifted his stance. “Charlotte, I don’t think now is the time—”

  “It’s never the time, is it, David?” Charlotte snapped. “Ever since Daniel died, you’ve been tiptoeing around me, not wanting to talk about what killed him.” Charlotte stood, and pulled her hair into a ponytail, and tied it into a knot. “Don’t you see what’s happening? This man is talking to you about fighting with swords, and you’re not even questioning why? How dense can you get?” Charlotte turned on Mangus, one hand on her hip. “And you. I see what you’re doing, and you can forget it. I already lost my brother to one stupid war that wasn’t his to fight. I’m not going to lose my best friend to another one.”

  Mangus inhaled sharply and narrowed his eyes. “Young lady—” His voice had a dangerous barbed edge.

  David stepped in front of Charlotte. “Leave her alone.”

  Mangus pushed David out of the way. “Stay out of this, boy. This is between this saucy lass and me.”

  Slavandria touched the man’s arm. “Mangus. Stop. Be nice. They don’t understa—”

  The word froze in her throat. She clutched her chest, folded in two, and collapsed in Mangus’ arms.

  He guided her to a chair. “Van, what is it? What’s happened? What do you see?” He caressed her cheek and brushed the hair from her face. Worry lines creased his brow.

  She glanced up at him, her eyes brimming with tears. “Oh, Mangus. It’s happened. A tear, followed by another, trickled down her cheek. “Gyllen castle has been attacked. So many are dead.” She gripped his arms. “I have to go, Mangus. They need me.” She turned to Twiller, who stood beside her, his face contorted with concern. “Escort our guests to their quarters at once. Go. Waste not a minute. Mangus, stay here and keep them safe. Protect them with your life.” She wiped her cheek and stood. With a flick of her wrist, a green velvet cloak appeared out of nowhere.

  Mangus held her shoulders. “With all due respect, my lady, you aren’t going anywhere.”

  “I have to, Mangus. Don’t you understand? Everything I feared has come to pass. The vision was there for just a moment, but it’s gone again, hidden by a shime weave. I’m certain of it. They’ve woven it so tight it is impenetrable by my magic. I have no choice but to go.”

  “You have no choice but to stay. You are the only one who can protect these children. They are your priority, now. They need your protection as only the protector of the realm can give them. My skills would be better service to the people of Hirth.”

  “But—”

  “This is not open for discussion.”

  “Mangus, please. At least let me speak with the Council, beg their intervention.”

  “Do you think
they will rush to your aid? Unless the order to intervene comes from Jared, they are bound by our laws, as are you, to remain neutral.”

  “I can’t stand here and do nothing!”

  David jumped up. “What are you talking about? Who’s been attacked?”

  Mangus shoved him down, his gaze never leaving Slavandria. “Yes, you can. You have to. If Master Camden suspects even a smidgeon of rebellious blood in you, no matter how noble, he will throw you into the mage prison at Eisig faster than I can spit. You have to stay put. I’ll contact you as soon as I have secured the royal party.”

  “But—”

  Mangus touched a finger to her lips. “I’ll see to it the king and queen are safe. Stay here and do what you do best.”

  Slavandria searched Mangus’ face as more tears fell. Her shoulders slumped forward in defeat. “Very well. Go.”

  Mangus brushed the stains from her cheek, kissed her forehead, and bolted from the room using the way David entered.

  Slavandria inhaled a sharp breath and righted herself. She disembarked from the ship and motioned to David and Charlotte. Come with me, please.”

  David linked his hand in Charlotte’s and crossed the trestle connecting the boat to land. “What was that all about? Who attacked? What’s going on?”

  “All will be revealed soon,” Slavandria said without turning around. “Right now, I must get you to safety.”

  “Safety from what?” Charlotte rubbed her arms as if chilled.

  Slavandria cupped Charlotte’s chin and said, “War.”

  ***

  A moonlight glow lit the twisting passageway into the heart of the mountain. David ran his hand along the cold stone walls, counting doors as they went. Were there others like him and Charlotte hidden behind them, kids removed from their homes, waiting for someone to rescue them? Behind him, Charlotte ooh’d and aah’d at the living murals of sea life on the walls. Whales, dolphins, and weird creatures with odd shapes and breathtaking colors swam by only to disappear in the distant blue. After several minutes of walking, they reached an arched wooden door carved with mermaids, selkies, and hippocamp. Slavandria ushered David and Charlotte inside, into a round chamber where artificial stars twinkled in a fabricated indigo sky. Brown and green roots and vines wove together, covering the walls in intricate, braided patterns. A carpet of bright green moss covered the floor.

  “There are two bedrooms,” Slavandria said, pointing to the left and the right, “and, of course, all the food your heart desires.” Trays of meats, bread, fruits, and tea appeared on a low table surrounded by plush cushions. “I’m sorry I can’t stay and talk. I promise to explain everything, but for now I have to go. You’ll be safe here.”

  “Safe from what?” David asked.

  Slavandria walked from the room without an answer and locked the door behind her.

  Charlotte folded her arms to her chest. “Well, that was rude. No explanations, no nothing, just here’s your room, we’ll talk in the morning.”

  “Uh-huh,” David mumbled as his eyes honed in on a round table beside the sofa, more specifically a carved wooden statue of a bull raised on its back legs, an eagle with wings spread perched on its head. He knelt beside it. “Charlotte, do you see this?”

  “Yeah, I see it.” Her voice came from the other side of the room. “There’s one over here, too. Are they making anything weird happen, to the, you know—”

  “No, but this stinking tattoo has been throbbing like crazy ever since I fell through the rabbit hole.”

  “It does feel a bit like that, doesn’t it? Alice in Wonderland? Everything I see is more curiouser than the one before.” She plucked a handful of grapes and sat on a green overstuffed sofa. “What do you think about that Mangus dude? He gives me the creeps.”

  “Yeah, me, too.” David sat beside her and popped a few grapes in his mouth. His stomach grumbled with appreciation.

  Charlotte ate a few more. “You know he’s sizing you up for something dreadful, right?”

  David nodded. “Yeah. I got that.” He paused for a moment, then turned to her, his arm on the back of the couch. “Char, I’m sorry about what I said about Daniel. If you ever want to, you know, talk about it—”

  Charlotte waved him off. “Don’t worry about it. No biggie. I’m sorry I snapped. It’s just, this is all so weird, and I’m irritated, and I want to go home. All I can think about is Mom and Dad and how scared they must be right now.”

  David grinned. “Your dad’s probably already called the cops.”

  Charlotte snorted. “Cops? Try the military police and FBI.” Charlotte nestled up to David and rested her head on his chest.

  Tingles rippled through him.

  “There is one good thing about all of this,” she said.

  “What’s that?”

  “Our crazy neighbors can’t kill you.”

  David smiled. “True.”

  Her fingers drew circles on his chest; opening that secret place inside him he didn’t want to go. Did she know what she was doing to him? She couldn’t. They were just friends. They’d always been just friends. But her touch was so gentle. His heart fluttered. He snuck a glance at her lips. So full. So beautiful.

  Her fingers moved to his neck. David froze. That was not a playful touch. She raised her gaze to his face, her blue eyes holding him hostage, her touch tantalizing every inch of him.

  “Char?” he whispered, not sure what he wanted to ask her.

  She smiled, and her lips replaced her fingers at his neck, gently dragging across his collarbone.

  His eyes fluttered. A low moan escaped as her fingers crept into his hair.

  An unbelievable pressure built up inside him. He pulled her closer, wanting her, needing her. His skin ignited, melting beneath her touch. He trembled as his heart thudded. Boom, boom, boom, boom. All of him ached. Everywhere.

  “David.”

  Her breath fell over him like a warm, sweet embrace. Her lips pressed closer to his. He inhaled her intoxicating scent.

  Her hand slid beneath his sweater, her skin like fiery satin against his. “David,” she whispered in his ear.

  His fingers traced messages only he understood on her body. His hands glided down her sides and slipped to the small of her back, her hips, her thighs.

  Their lips touched, and he knew any moment he would explode.

  Her hands wove through his hair, her body pressed tight to his he could feel every contour, every muscle, every heartbeat pounding in time with his.

  He gasped, her lips hot on his neck. He pulled his sweater over his head. He could hardly breathe. His eyes closed. “Charlotte.”

  Her lips moved to his chin; her hands searched the slopes of his body.

  He pulled her to him, his kiss urgent. Searching. His hands slipped beneath the thin fabric of her shirt, her skin hot and soft. She moaned.

  He frayed and fell apart. She wanted him as much as he wanted her.

  Sweet pleasure spread through him. He could hardly breathe. His heart had taken flight without him. He was soaring. Floating.

  He rolled her over, his hands firm on her hips. She wrapped her legs around him. “David.” She tilted her head back and moaned as his lips found her neck.

  Something like a leather strap snapped his brain. No! This isn’t right. What are you doing? He leaped off her as if burnt, and scrambled away.

  “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he said, looking around, stammering. “Oh, God. What was I thinking?” He pressed his palms to the sides of his head. “I wasn’t thinking.” He stood with his back toward her, gasping for breath. His body shook in agony. “That will never happen again, I promise.”

  “What are you talking about?” Charlotte said. “I’ve wanted you to kiss me like that for years.”

  He closed his eyes, the ache for her unbearable, but he couldn’t risk losing her. He’d lost so much already, if he lost her to a stupid moment of lust, he could never live with himself. Yes, it m
ight be perfect now, but what if this messed it up? No. He wasn’t going to risk losing the best thing in his life.

  His voice was thick when he finally spoke. “It went too far, Charlotte. We’re scared. Life is weird and if I—we did, you know, it, I think we’d regret it. I also think there’s something in those grapes.”

  Charlotte looked at the table and laughed. “Are you kidding?” She got up and strolled over to him. “Don’t be silly. I’ve never heard of a grape that makes you horny.” She touched her fingertips to his back.

  He shivered under her touch and jerked away. “No, Char. I care too much about you to screw things up. I can’t do this.”

  Charlotte stared at him as if he’d lost his mind. She scratched the back of her head and sighed. “I don’t believe this. You’re serious, right?”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “You’re sorry? We both ran to second base, almost third, and you’re sorry? What’s up with that? You didn’t like what you felt?”

  “No. Yes. It’s not about that.”

  “Then what is it about?”

  “It’s—I—I shouldn’t have touched you. I can’t allow—I can’t—”

  “You can’t what?”

  David snatched his sweater from the couch. “I can’t lose you like I did my parents. I would die. Is that explanation enough?”

  He stormed off, barged into the bedroom to his right and slammed the door. He fell onto the canopied bed, the billowy mattress so soft it seemed to swallow him whole.

  I’m such an idiot. What is wrong with me? What am I so afraid of?

  Charlotte knocked gently on his door.

  “David. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just,” her voice choked with emotion, “I love you so much. There. I said it. I love you. And if you’re worried about me leaving you, don’t. I’ll never leave. I promise.”

  David’s insides twisted and jumped. Tell her you love her, idiot! Give her something for spilling her guts! He wiped the tear from his cheek and said, “I’ll never leave you either, Char.”

  He squeezed his eyes tight. Waiting. Listening.

  Finally, her voice slipped through the door. “Good night, David. Sweet dreams.”