Talen announces herself as she walks into the throne room. The king is already sitting down on his throne seeing to matters concerning a noble. The king dismisses the noble and as he is leaving he sees the dragon walking alongside her. He almost soils himself.
“My king, she has a…” The nobleman can’t finish his sentence. The shock is too much. He releases himself right there.
“Barbin, you should be ashamed of yourself. Get out of here.” The king whispers to his advisor then looks upon Talen. “Talen Dragniss, back so soon? Have you already found your proof?”
“I have.” The dragon comes around her leg and shows off his tiny but impressive wingspan.
The advisor gasps. The king remains silent and transfixed on the dragon.
“It appears the infant wasn’t killed. Whoever found my father with the mother dragon certainly didn’t do a good job at looking around for the infant.”
The king barely shifts on the throne. “This changes nothing.”
“This is the proof that shows my father didn’t kill the infant. You should be incline to believe that he didn’t kill the mother either.”
“Don’t presume to tell a king how he should think.”
Kip jumps into Talen’s arms.
The king walks towards them. “How long has this dragon been in your possession?”
“A few days.”
Guards move in towards her. The advisor whispers into the king’s ear.
“Who else knew of this?”
“No one. Not even my uncle was aware of it.”
“Talen Dragniss, you are found guilty --”
“Wait a minute. Guilty? Guilty for doing what?”
“—of harboring a sacred beast. The punishment is imprisonment for life.”
“Majesty, you are being absurd.”
Kip snarls at the guards and the king. A puff of smoke comes out of his mouth. Then he sucks in a breath. He lets out a small ball of flames. It travels only inches but it puts the guards in their place. The king raises his hand and snaps his fingers. It echoes throughout the throne room. They halt their pursuit.
“It’s all right, Kip.”
“You… you talk to the dragon?” The king grips the back of the advisor’s shoulders. “Does it talk to you? Can you hear it?”
Talen gets an idea. It’s a crazy one. But she has no other choice. “My king, I wish to leave Dragmoore and seek the Masters. They are the only ones who can speak to this dragon and find out the truth. If you don’t let me do this, you are never getting this dragon.”
Kip looks at Talen and feels regret for trusting her. Then he sees her wink. He doesn’t really understand what that winks means but he can sense that she is at complete ease. If she were worried about his feelings towards her statement, he would feel her tense.
The king grunts. “You are going to travel to the Veiled Haven, alone?”
“Yes.”
“Out of the question. I will send the Marksman with you. He is a skilled warrior and can protect you.”
“The infant comes with me.”
“No. I will not yield.”
“He does not trust anyone but me. He will not stay behind. Plus, I want to ensure his safety.”
“It’s a dragon.”
“He has already lost his mother. You think he feels safe in the city that his mother died in?”
The advisor whispers into the king’s ear but the king doesn’t want to hear what he says. “All the more reason to send someone along. The Marksman goes with you. To keep you and the infant safe.”
“Fine.”
“You will leave when I say you can. You can’t just go off to the Veiled Haven without doing some research on the journey. The Marksman can help you there.”
“I will not delay more than a few days. It’s not just my neck I’m worried about.”
“Your father has been treated better than he deserves.”
Talen puts Kip down and he circles around her legs.
“Don’t try leaving before I allow you.”
Talen leaves the room with Kip walking right next to her leg.
“Everyone leave, except Jexxer.”
The guards make a hasty exit. The advisor wipes away the sweat from his face. “That infant lives. I thought you said…”
“Shut up. I must go and see my son.”
The king bangs on Remy’s bedroom door.
Remy answers it with a tired look. “What do you want?”
“I have good news.”
“Careful, Father. Don’t want to get me too excited.”
He pushes his son out of the way and enters the room. Remy closes the door.
“I have decided to give you your task to prove your worth.”
“Really?”
“Will you accept it, no matter what it is?”
“Of course. I look forward to this.”
“I feel this will bring us closer.”
Remy smiles. Finally, part of what he desires.
“Talen Dragniss is venturing to a faraway place in search of people that can prove her father’s innocence as well as her own.”
“What crime has she committed?”
“Oh, that’s right. You don’t know. We had a dragon in the city.”
“A dragon?” Remy’s excitement deflates. “What happened?”
“Gavin killed the mother but left the infant alive. Talen found the infant and kept it a secret from everyone. She faces imprisonment for life.”
“Father, really?”
“She should have told me.”
Remy plays with his hair. “Father, what is my task?”
“You are going to accompany her on her quest. See that the infant dragon remains safe, as well as make sure that she reaches her destination.”
“Is that all? Father, I can’t fight. If we run into trouble, who will protect us?”
“You’re going to be trained, every day, all day, until you are good enough to protect the dragon.”
“And Talen. I am to protect her as well, am I not?”
“Of course. I already said that you will see that she gets to her destination. But if something should threaten the infant, I don’t want you to hesitate about letting her die. In fact, her not returning alive would be a good thing.”
“You want me to kill her?”
“She is a danger to us. She can talk to animals. They talk back to her. Imagine what she could do with the beasts in the Wilderness if she wanted to rebel against us.”
Remy shakes his head. “That’s insane. She’d never do that.”
“Aww, you’re sweet on her.” Remy blushes. “You genuinely like her?”
“It’s not that.”
“I’d prefer you killed her, but if something else should do it, make sure you bring the body back. However many pieces you can find. As a kindness to her father, I’ll have her remains buried next to her mother.”
Remy is not afraid that he is being asked to kill someone. He’s afraid because his father is serious about it. “A kindness to her father?” His father doesn’t see it but Remy does. His jugular is exposed now. “Okay. I will do as you say. But I have a condition. Gavin goes free, regardless of the events that transpire after this moment.”
The king eyes his son curiously. “Impressive. You’re finally becoming a king. And you wanted to run away from this life.”
Remy grins. “Do you accept my condition?”
“Yes. Whether she can prove his innocence or not, I will release Gavin upon your return. But she better be dead. By your hand or not.”
“Yes, Father.”
Talen pulls the blanket over Kip. Her bedroom door flies open. In comes the Marksman. “You. Harboring a dragon. Why am I not surprised? Only you have to be a pain in the ass.”
“Oh, shut it already.”
“I heard that I am to accompany you on this quest to the Veiled Haven. Silly girl.”
“I am a woman.”
“You are acting like a little girl right now. Playing with a
sacred beast and wanting to become a Master.”
“I can talk to the animals of the woodland and the Wilderness. That isn’t a common profession for a normal human. And yes, when I find the Veiled Haven, I am going to prove my worth to the Masters and become one of them. Then I shall return here and put the king in his place. He won’t dare harm a Master.”
“Unbelievable.”
“Where were you? Who was it that found my father with the dragon?”
“It was me and a few guards.”
“I don’t trust you.”
“Silly girl. If you ask me, I shall tell you.” He moves so close to her that at any moment he is going to pull her into his arms and do something naughty, and she may like it. “If it comes down to saving you or the infant, I won’t hesitate to save you.”
“Who is asking you that? Why are you bringing that up? What did the king say? Who killed his mother?” She gets out from under his stare and his reaching arms.
Kip peeks his head out. He looks from Talen to the Marksman.
The Marksman can’t look Kip in the eyes. He runs from the room.
“Kip, I’ve caused trouble for both of us.”
He purrs as he nudges her hand. He’s hiding something.
“Did he kill your mother?”
Kip hides under the blankets. If only she can get him to tell what happened.
Talen stands before the solid iron door leading to the dungeon. She knocks, not expecting to be let in. The door opens to a seven foot guard. His face is covered by a fuzzy brown and blonde beard. “I wish to see my father.”
His eyes barely reach over the hair. He moves out of the way and lets her pass. He slams the door behind her. He leads her down a poorly lit staircase and they are greeted by a row of cells. On the other side of the large room sits a group of more tall guards sharpening their swords. The sound makes Talen worry that they are getting ready to execute someone. The smells are horrible. A combination of human feces, body odor, and vomit. The middle of the dungeon is thick with chains hanging from the ceiling. Blood puddles sit under the chains. Talen is brought to her father’s cell. She wraps her hands around the bars.
“Father.”
Gavin picks his head up from the barely put together bed. He has a rag for a blanket. “Talen?” He limps towards her. Kisses her fingers. “How did you get the king to let you visit me?”
“I just came. Father, I have something to tell you.”
“What did you do?”
“I found the infant dragon. You didn’t kill the mother or the infant. Tell me what happened?”
He pushes back from her. “Talen, you shouldn’t have went into the Wilderness.”
“Tell me what happened with the dragon?”
“I found the dragon and I showed it that I meant no harm. The dragon was down before I realized what happened. I didn’t know it had an infant.”
“I’m going to the Veiled Haven.”
“No.”
“I am going to find one of the Masters and they will take care of the dragon. Also, they will prove your innocence.”
“Talen, you are not going there.”
“The king wants the Marksman to go with me.”
“The Marksman? He was there with me. When they found the dragon dead.”
“He was with you before the guards found you?”
“He followed me. He knew I couldn’t resist the temptation.”
“Then the Marksman saw what really happened to the dragon.”
He sees where this is going. “The Marksman would not kill a dragon.”
“Can you be sure?” Talen leaves the dungeon.
She has no idea where the Marksman hangs out. Most of his time is spent in the palace but what he does for fun, she has no clue. She scolds herself for not stalking him better She goes into the city center and tries the inn. When she steps inside, she is repulsed by the sight. She knows what goes in here but she doesn’t approve of it. There’s ladies and men of the night wearing next to nothing. Slobbering all over the palace guards and those men and women from the city that crave the affection they don’t receive at home.
One of the male whores comes up to her. He is wearing see-through pants. “Hi.”
She can’t help looking. She regains focus. “Is the Marksman here?”
“You can’t do business with someone who isn’t part of the establishment.” He turns and walks away.
She grabs his arm. It’s soft and smooth and smells like roses. The ladies and gentlemen who provide their services must always look pristine. Any sign of a cruddy appearance and they risk losing their job. “I am looking for him because I have other business to discuss with him.”
He points upstairs.
Talen goes upstairs. There are rooms on the left with a giant parlor on the right that is currently empty. There are a few tables and chairs set up for the employees to get fluffed up for work.
She knocks on the first door. “Marksman?”
Nothing.
She moves to the next door. Repeats her actions.
Nothing.
“Could have told me which room.”
The third door opens and out steps the Marksman. He adjusts his pants and tucks in his shirt.
“You’re disgusting,” Talen says.
At first he feels ashamed for her seeing him like this. Then the side of him that everyone knows him for shines through. “A man has needs. What are you doing here?” His eyes are penetrating every part of her body. How does he do it?
“I needed to find you.”
“Really? What for?”
There is a lingering lust in his eyes. She doesn’t like the way he is looking at her. “My father said you were with him before the guards came. Who killed the mother dragon?”
“You’ve asked me this already.”
“And you didn’t answer me.”
He backs her up against the wall. The few inches between them separating his mind from what his body wants. He takes his hand off the wall and she comes forward. He walks around her. Heads downstairs. She follows, all the way downstairs and outside.
“Go away.”
“Not until you tell me what happened. Did the king order it? If you acted on your will, I am reporting you to the king.”
He turns on her, almost touching body to body. She feels his tension. Does he truly want to ravage her right here? “I have a lot of respect for Gavin. But I don’t have respect for you.”
“If you lay one finger on me, I shall send a herd of animals upon you that not even your arrows can stop.”
He grins at her and then walks away.
That got her nowhere. She is so angry. She almost wants to send a herd of animals on him that will rip him limb from limb. Also, she has never felt lust before. Why is she lusting after such a disagreeable man?
The king meets with both of the advisors in his private chambers. “You think that the Marksman can be trusted?” the prince’s advisor asks.
“No. He is loyal to Gavin.”
“But he is loyal to the sacred beasts as well,” Jexxer says.
“I am sending Remy.”
“The Marksman should go too. He can protect the prince.”
“Tell my son that he should prepare. His training starts soon.
The prince’s advisor bows then hurries off towards the prince’s chambers.
“Do you trust him?”
“What makes you think that I care if I lose my son or not?”
“Who will ensure that the dragon is returned?”
“Who says that I care about the dragon? It is our thoughts, our emotions, which determine our course of action. Let their thoughts and emotions tear them apart out there.”
“Don’t forget about your illness.”
Suddenly the king grabs him. “On second thought. The infant must live.”
Jexxer nods. “So should Talen. So should Remy. You aren’t thinking clearly. The curse is deteriorating your brain, sire.”
“Yes. Jexxer, we have
to hurry.” His eyes start to twitch. His fingers start making weird gestures. He is slipping away into the dark void. He is thankful that he has one person to make him see clearly.
Later in the night, the Marksman is delivered at the king’s bedroom door. It opens to the king looking flustered. His hair is in disarray, his sleep clothes are ruffled. He is quite the ragged mess for someone who always look clean and tidy.
“Why have you summoned me?”
“I think you know.”
He nods. “I have kept your secrets. Gavin has as well. And you treat us like the enemy. I will not tolerate it anymore.”
The king gets down on his knees. “I am dying. Desmond.”
The Marksman turns away from him. “You sealed your fate when you made that deal with her. Why should I continue to feel sorry for you?”
“What choice did I have? He is my brother.”
The Marksman brings the king’s head against his belly. “You should have more faith in your heir. Unless you want the other one to rule. Who would be worse, my king?”
The king looks up at him with tired eyes. “You’re right. Protect Remy. Guide him. I will make you his advisor.”
The Marksman gently caresses the king’s face. He does feel pity for him. Doing all that he could for family, only to be cursed in doing so. The Marksman understands all too well about family being a burden.
Chapter Five
Remy begins his training. The guards are hard on him and he takes it like a man, although deep down he wants to cry.
First up is hand to hand combat. The prince is not sturdy on his feet. He keeps losing balance, getting hit by every punch. His face is bruised up, a few minor cuts here and there. Goodbye to the pretty faced prince.
“My prince, you must learn to push away the pain and pull strength to the front,” the captain of the guards says.
Remy gets up, goes to brush himself off, then thinks how the guards would never care to brush themselves off. The captain of the guards sends a man with Remy’s height and build after him. He swings a punch which connects with Remy’s face. Then he comes with a kick, which Remy dodges. He throws a punch of his own and connects with the guard’s head. It’s weak but effective.
Heir of Dragmoore- The Veiled Haven Page 7