Heir of Dragmoore- The Veiled Haven

by Jennifer Ann Schlag

  She can’t fall asleep. She gets up and leaves the tent.

  “Done so soon? I guess being a royal…”

  “Don’t say another word,” Desmond says.

  Talen walks away towards the sound of a river.

  Logan is about to follow until Desmond sits him down in front of the fire. “You watch this.”

  “Oh, so you get to have fun and I don’t?”

  “I can control myself.”

  Desmond catches up to Talen. “Did Remy hurt you?”

  She turns to him and looks like she’s going to slap him.

  “If he touched you in a way you didn’t want to, I’ll gladly beat the shit out of him.”

  She falls into his chest and inhales his scent. It’s woodsy, wild, and it’s driving her crazy. She pushes off from him.

  He hates feeling inadequate. She breaks him in every way.

  “When will your eyes go back to normal?”

  “When I rid myself of druid magic again.”

  “Do you want to do that?”

  “I have to do that. I will do whatever I have to, to keep you safe. I don’t care about Dragmoore.”

  Goosebumps bite at her skin. It’s a bit chilly, but it’s more about Desmond being close to her. Is what her aunt said true? Will she rule the elf city? Can she rule with Remy or would Desmond be the better choice?

  The way they are looking at each other, one of them is about to crack the wall in half and take the other into their arms. Talen isn’t sure if she’ll be the one to break first. She turns from him and takes in the melody the river makes. The way the water rushes along rocks, splashes here and there against the land. It’s both ominous and invigorating. She can’t see where the water begins and ends. She could walk right into it, be swept away by its current. If she did, would it bring her straight into the mouth of the Veiled Haven?

  “Talen, look at me.”

  She turns to him, reaches for his hands. He takes her hands into his. “What happened to you when you walked the dark path?”

  “I saw death.”

  “Whose death?”

  He grabs the sides of her face. His emerald eyes glow. Brighter and brighter until they light up the space around them.

  “Why are your eyes green and Logan’s eyes turned a milky blue color? You’re both sea druids.”

  “My mother came from a druid and a sea druid. Her father’s eyes glowed like this. It was passed along to my mother but she handled the power better than her father did. My father’s sea druid ways calmed her. Until he killed her.”

  She hugs him. “Desmond.”

  He can’t hold back. He lifts her chin to him. He plants a small kiss on her lips. She feels his tears wiping off onto her face. “I truly love you, Talen. When you walk the dark path, please don’t be angry with what you see.”

  “What will I see, Desmond?”

  “Everything. Everything that exists in here.” He touches her chest where her heart lies.” Touching her breast, he has to push down the urge to touch it more, touch her more, feel her beneath him, him moving inside of her.

  She places her hand over his hand. “You know what’s going to happen?”

  “Mm-hmm. Logan does too. If the Grecians catch us, they’ll take you to their prison. They’ll torture you. The only safe place is the Veiled Haven. Once you are named Master, if the Grecians dare to take a Master prisoner, they’ll risk war. They may be bold to threaten a Master, but they know the consequences. Their island will be destroyed.”

  His hand quivers. She places her lips on his hand and kisses it.

  “Let’s get back to the camp.” She walks him back.

  “If Remy displeases you in any way, I’ll take care of it.”

  She has to be careful with her words and how she gives looks from hereon in. She can’t give Desmond any reason to believe that Remy is treating her badly. Not that he would, but he may try to force something to happen between them again. She just won’t say anything or give off the impression something is wrong.

  Felp docks his boat at the South Port. The gossip on the docks catches his attention.

  “It was terrible. The Aster is gone.”

  “At least the captain made it out alive.”

  “Thanks to Captain Buckman.”

  Felp jumps off the boat and walks into the Port Master’s building. The elf looks up and almost shits himself. “My lord.”

  “I am looking for Talen Dragniss. The girl that has the dragon.”

  “Yes. She left with three men.”

  “Did they say where they were heading?”

  “No.”

  Felp grabs the elf by the top of his robe. “Because you have never failed me in the past, I am going to give you a chance to escape.”

  “Escape, my lord?”

  “You can watch this place burn from the bluffs if you wish, or you can watch as the fires spread across your body. Choose.”

  The elf runs out of the building.

  “Mage, get in here now.”

  Jexxer comes across the threshold. Shrinks below Felp’s piercing stare. “You’ve asked me to betray my kingdom, my king, and the people my father swore to protect. Why?”

  Felp waves his hand and smacks Jexxer across the face. “Do I need to remind you about what happens when mages don’t do as they are told? Look what happened to your face from the last time you stood up to me.”

  “No. I don’t need reminding. I remember very well what you did to my father… and me.”

  “Good. Now, send your little orbs out and finish the job. Make sure Queen Galaria knows who did this.”

  Jexxer walks out.

  “Let the Waking Ripple strangle this world.”

  The smell of burning corpses and the wood on the dock fill the air and seep into the Glistenberry Forest. Fire dances across the entire seaport, igniting the brush near the bluffs. The fire climbs up, sucking the life out of every piece of vegetation that decorates the rocks.

  Fire slithers along towards the Glistenberry Forest. It stops, as if smacking into a solid wall. More fire comes. None can enter the forest.

  Felp looks on from the beach. “Why aren’t you burning down?” He walks towards the forest.

  Felp stands off to the side as the fire continues its bombardment and is getting nowhere. “Mage?”

  Jexxer lumbers over. He is drained. Using so much magic is weakening him.

  “This won’t burn.”

  “You can’t harm it. This isn’t elf or druid magic holding it together. It’s the life-force. It’s part of the darkness that the Waking Ripple is part of. You can’t have evil destroy itself.”

  “Really? I can’t?”

  “There is no mage, elf, or druid that will burn this forest down.”

  “A Master could.”

  “Yes. A Master can destroy the world.”

  “Only need one Master?” Felp rubs his chin. He hums as he walks away.

  Jexxer mutters some words and the fire disappears. “Forgive me. His day will come.” The mage turns a dark eye on Felp. He signals to a few elves behind them. “Run and tell Galaria what has happened. Then wait for me on the main road. I shall take you to Dragmoore.”

  Logan grabs the map from Talen. Turns it around a few times. “Desmond, you would be a fine sailor. Your navigational skills are excellent, as well as your map making.”

  “Thanks. I prefer to live on the land.”

  “After living on Welsa during your early years, I guess you did crave land.”

  “Welsa is an island. There is land,” Talen says.

  Desmond reaches for the map but Logan pulls it away. “But on Welsa you are expected to spend the majority of your time in an animal form. Aside from a temple and homes scattered along the middle of the island, there is not much to entertain yourself with.”

  Kip spots a raccoon and leaps onto it. He tears into its flesh.

  “When can we rest again?” Remy asks.

  “If you’re tired, shift into something that can h
andle the long walks,” Logan says.

  “I’ll still be tired.”

  “I question his stamina in all things, dear Talen.” Logan must find himself hilarious, however his comrades do not.

  Kip runs over to Talen with blood on his face. Her face wrinkles up at the sight. She knows he has to eat meat, sometimes fresh off the bone, but she still finds it disgusting.

  You see how much of a beast I am. It frightens you.

  “I’m curious about the other six sacred beasts.”

  I don’t know the others. Dragons don’t normally interact with other animals like we do with humans. We tend to eat whomever is smaller than us.

  Logan stops. He points, a little too forcefully. There is a tavern up ahead with an impressive stable. “We need to replenish our food. So let’s buy bread, cheese, and maybe a few pieces of meat. That’ll hold us over for the rest of the journey. How are we on drink?”

  Talen checks the wineskin bags. “I filled them up before we left camp. We should be okay for a few days if we don’t drink a lot.”

  “After we rest here for a bit, our journey will come to an end. The Veiled Haven is near those twin peaks.”

  Talen looks up, high above the treetops. Two mountains sit close together. Their peaks are covered in snow with a glowing pink around it. Up and down the snow moves like it is a person jumping for attention.

  “How long before we reach it?”

  “We have to climb?” Remy asks.

  “You don’t reach the mountains until you pass through the dark path. Come on, let’s rest up. We need it.”

  Logan enters the tavern first. Followed by Desmond and Remy. Kip is about to go in when Talen stops him.

  “Kip, you should stay out here. Hide in the stable.”

  Why?

  “I have a feeling that it’s safer for you to stay in the stable.”

  She walks him over to the stable. There’s a few open stalls. “Horses, my dragon is going to stay here with you for a few hours, maybe a day. He promises not to eat you.”

  That dragon is small enough to where we could kick him to death.

  “Please, get a long.”

  Master, we will not harm him as long as he behaves himself.

  She pets one of the horses. “Thank you.” She guides Kip into the stable and into one of the empty stalls. “I’ll bring you out food in a few minutes.”

  I’m fine for now, Talen.

  She hugs him and then goes back to the front of the tavern. She walks inside and Remy waves to her. It’s so busy. Hardly anyone tosses a glance at her. She makes her way through the dancing and singing drunks, to the table that Logan secured for them. She sits down in between Remy and Desmond.

  “I need a bath,” she says.

  “Me too,” Remy says.

  “We can take a bath together,” Logan says.

  “I have enough money to secure us rooms, if any are available.”

  A bar wench comes over with three goblets. “Here you boys are.” She sets down the goblets and purposely leans over so her cleavage can be seen fully. She must have put powder or some kind of lotion on them for they appear glossy. Made to get all the attention they deserve. Talen has to admit they are a fine pair of breasts. She looks down at her own. They aren’t huge like this woman’s, but they are enough.

  “Is the dragon secured?” Desmond asks.

  “Kip is fine. He’s with the horses.”

  “Excuse me.” Desmond gets up and goes over to the bartender. He exchanges smiles and handshakes.

  A drunk woman dances over to Logan and loses her balance. She falls onto his lap and laughs. She gets up and he smacks her ass. She pretends to be bashful and embarrassed but judging by how many others are smacking her ass, she is besotted by it.

  “Reminds me of the Nightborne Inn,” Remy says.

  “How many times did you go in there?” Talen asks.

  “There were a few times that my pretend noble friends dragged me in there. They were hell-bent on finding me a woman to use. I refused every single one.”

  “I enjoyed your inn,” Logan says.

  “You would. I prefer to remain a gentleman.”

  “Oh, stuff it. I saw plenty of gentlemen in there.”

  Talen’s face flushes. She remembers when she went in there looking for the Marksman—Desmond. The way he captured her underneath him. She was so close to being kissed by him.

  Desmond comes back over to the table. “I have secured us a single room. It’s all they have. I told the bartender we only need it for one night.”

  “So, we are all going to share a bed,” Logan says, rubbing his hands together greedily. Like a madman counting his limitless fortune.

  After consuming their liquor, they all agree it’s time to retire. One by one they go upstairs with Talen stopping by the washroom. It’s the only one on the second floor. Strictly for guests. There are fresh towels inside the room.

  “You want help washing your back? I’m very good at washing backs.” Logan leans against the doorframe.

  He is plucked from her side. “You will wait your turn.” Desmond motions for Talen to go into the room. “I’ll be outside the door. No one is getting in here. Not even Remy.”

  “I promised Kip some food. Can one of you bring him some?”

  “I’ll do it,” Remy says. He is stopped from going into the washroom. “She’s my wife.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “Desmond, you can’t keep us apart forever.” Remy goes downstairs with his money purse.

  Talen closes the washroom door and stares at the round bathtub full of steaming water. Desmond must have asked for the bath to be made ready. There are vases full of lilacs for a calming atmosphere. There are essential oils for bathing and for the skin afterwards. Talen takes off her clothes and gently lowers herself into the water. It’s hot but it feels so damn good. A knock on the door interrupts her good mood.

  “Desmond, I don’t need your hands either.”

  “Sorry miss?” a sweet young woman’s voice says.

  “Oh, come in.”

  The door opens and a maid comes in. She is wearing a red corset over a white, long-sleeved shirt, with a dark-brown skirt that is ruffled at the end. Desmond slips in a peek before the maid closes the door.

  “My name is Freida.” She goes to the table with the bathing oils. She chooses one with pink liquid in it. She pours some onto her hands and rubs them together. It creates a foam in her hands and she quickly goes to work on Talen’s back.

  Talen has never been washed by anyone but her mother. And that stopped when she was five. Being an adult and having another adult wash you is both creepy and unsettling.

  “Which of those fine men are you with?”

  Talen hesitates to answer her. She doesn’t want to see any of them getting the idea to fornicate with all of the available women. Really she should only concern herself with one man doing so. “The shortest one. With the very nice eyes.” They all have nice eyes. At least Desmond used to. “His name is Prince Remy.”

  “Oh, are you a princess? You seem skittish to have your body washed. Don’t all royals have servants who wash them?”

  “I am not a princess. My father is a Hunter at Dragmoore city.”

  “Dragmoore. We hear tales about that place but very few visit there. Tell me about it.”

  “Nothing to tell. It’s like a prison. A pretty prison.”

  Remy enters the stable with a plate full of meat. “Kip, I’ve brought you food.”

  The horses start tossing their heads around, bucking in their stalls.

  “Kip, are you antagonizing the horses?” Remy searches each stall and can’t find Kip. He drops the plate of food and runs into the tavern.

  Freida brushes Talen’s hair. “There must be something you can tell me about your city.”

  “I barely interacted with anyone beyond the farm. If you want stories, Remy and Desmond can tell you plenty.”

  The brushing stops.

  “Tha
nk you, Freida.”

  Talen feels a coldness come over her. A darkness. Her eyes grow large. A hand full of talons is at her throat.

  “Scream and I’ll slit you in half.”

  “What are you?”

  “You should have stayed in the South Port, little dragon whisperer.” Freida’s eyes are replaced with burning red eyes and a serpent’s tongue comes out to lick the side of Talen’s face.

  The door opens and Remy rushes in. “Unhand my wife!”

  “Your time is coming to an end, boy-king.” The top half of the woman turns bare chested with seaweed covering her breasts. The sea witch crashes through the stained glass window.

  Remy pulls Talen into his arms. “Are you okay?”

  Desmond and Logan rush in.

  “Where were you?” Talen asks them.

  “The bartender wanted to talk to me about a group of bandits travelling on the main road. I told Logan to watch the door.”

  “Where were you?” she asks Logan.

  “I nodded off. I was sitting in this chair outside the door the whole time.”

  “And you?” she asks Remy.

  “I went to give Kip some food. Speaking of.”

  “Where is my dragon?”

  “He’s gone.”

  Talen gets out of the bathtub not caring who sees her naked and throws her clothes on.

  Talen heads straight for the stable. “Kip?”

  “I’m sorry, Talen,” Remy says.

  “You three are going to find my dragon. I want you all to shift and sniff him out. Do you hear me?”

  They all nod.

  Talen?

  “Kip?” Her head whips around.

  Kip comes out of the forest with his right back leg dragging across the ground.

  She runs to him. “What happened?”

  A sea witch grabbed me. I tried to fight her off but she was so powerful. Strange that a sea witch could defeat a dragon. But I managed to get loose and then she grabbed my leg. She twisted it and I heard a crunch. It may be broken.

  “Who would send sea witches after me?” She glares at the three men. “You sent the Gracken after me. Was it you?” she asks Logan. She hopes not.