3- Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World

by Love, Dianna

  “Not until ya heal. Did ya think to distract me from sendin’ ya to Garwyli?”

  “To be honest, yes. What if we both go? Maybe he can draw the venom out of your body.” Tristan straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin. His pale brown hair stuck out in every direction from the quick toweling.

  Daegan sighed. “To also be honest, I am not sure I can teleport to Treoir right now. I would rather ya preserve your teleportin’ power.”

  Shoving an agitated hand over his wet locks, Tristan said, “Then we need you fixed before anyone.”

  “I have a feelin’ the only way to affect the venom is in the grimoire volume that opened the rift,” Daegan admitted.

  “Let’s ask Adrianna, boss. I heard she pulled venom out of Evalle back when Adrianna first came on the VIPER teams. She was just a Sterling witch then, long before any of us had even heard of Witchlock.”

  Daegan walked over to look out the window, taking time to figure out his next move. Could Adrianna really help him? “How did Evalle get the venom?”

  When Tristan didn’t respond, Daegan turned to him.

  Expelling a long breath of air that ended on a growl, Tristan admitted, “It was back when I’d first escaped from a spelled prison in a jungle Macha had locked me inside. I wasn’t happy with Macha, the Beladors, or anyone. I had no idea what an Alterant was, but Evalle was so damned determined to bring me over to the Belador side, she and I tangled up. While we were arguing, a ghoul jacked up on something nasty stabbed a claw in her leg. She ended up with poison attacking her body.”

  “One day, I should like to hear more of that time in your life over mugs of ale.” Walking back across the room, Daegan sorted his thoughts out loud. “I must have my powers for any hope of trackin’ down Luigsech and returnin’ in time to save Devon and the others. Go to Treoir for Garwyli to heal ya, if he can. Then ask Adrianna if she would come to try removin’ the venom. ’Tis a good suggestion.”

  “I’ll do that, but let’s see if Isak can figure out where that Luigsech woman went while I’m gone.”

  Daegan’s hope jumped. “He can do this? Quinn has Luigsech’s mobile phone.”

  “Isak’s ability to track down information is nothing short of majik for a human.” Tristan walked over, studying the desk phone, which had a wire running to the wall. Nothing like Daegan had become accustomed to seeing in the human world.

  Nodding as he spoke, Tristan flipped around and sat on the edge of the desk. “Isak’s network of resources is scary if you’re not on his side. I’ll be surprised if he can’t get his hands on the call log of this desk phone. You said you left Luigsech hunting the grimoire. If she found something in her library here, she might have called someone who could help her research deeper or she could have made travel plans to go out on her own. Either way, we can start hunting her with the phone history.”

  “Excellent idea.” Though Daegan wanted to rattle the woman if she’d just taken off without waiting for him. “While ya are with Garwyli, I shall teleport to her cottage in case she went there from here, though I would be greatly surprised to find her at home.”

  “Think you’ll make it okay?” Tristan frowned.

  “’Tis a short trip, not like goin’ to Treoir or Atlanta.” A headache pounded and his leg ached, belying his confidence. Still, Daegan would test his powers while Tristan was gone.

  Tristan stood, his face in a thoughtful expression. “I need Adrianna’s number, because my mobile phone is gone. Hang on. I’ll reach out to Trey.” Tristan searched the desk belonging to Fenella for a business card and stilled, probably using telepathy. He stared at nothing for a minute, then nodded and glanced at Daegan. “Trey is relaying my message to Adrianna. She should call—”

  The desk phone rang a shrill noise.

  Tristan snatched it up, sparing their ears. “Hey, Adrianna. Yes, thanks. I’m free and with Daegan again. We need some help.” He explained their request for Isak’s help, then asked if she could do anything about the venom in Daegan.

  When he hung up, Tristan explained, “She’ll get Isak’s people busy with this phone number, she’ll pick up a new mobile phone from Trey for me, then she’ll ask Brina to teleport her to Treoir to meet me.”

  “’Tis valuable to have allies.”

  “Yes, ’tis,” Tristan teased with a grin. “I’ll bring Adrianna here when I return.”

  Good to have Tristan sounding like himself, too. Daegan confirmed, “I shall be gone no longer than the time required to inspect the cottage.”

  “I’m sending a message to Trey to have Brina teleport me so I can conserve energy. See you in a bit, boss.”

  When Tristan disappeared, Daegan sat down heavily behind Luigsech’s desk. Why would she run? He had promised to help her find Fenella.

  Ruadh spoke in his mind. She does not trust you. You do not trust her. She will not stay unless she needs you.

  His dragon had a point.

  Hard to build trust when he had no idea what she was or where she placed her allegiance. Just as she had no reason to put herself in jeopardy for him, but she did need him to find Fenella.

  Did she no longer care about her friend’s wellbeing?

  Or ... had Luigsech found Fenella?

  That would destroy any motivation on her part to work with him.

  Daegan stood and walked around as he thought then decided to visit the cottage. As soon as he began teleporting, he groaned at the pain shooting through his body from doing this so soon again when it had never been a strain.

  Ruadh complained not, but his dragon suffered whatever Daegan suffered in human form just as he felt every injury inflicted on Ruadh’s body.

  When he reappeared outside her cottage, he leaned over with his hands on his knees to support himself. He’d fought long battles that had not taken so much from him.

  Catching his breath, he straightened. Water clung to the flowers from a recent shower, but not even a drizzle fell at the moment. Just fat black clouds hanging close to the ground as a clear warning.

  He rushed inside, checking the secret passage beneath the bed first. No recent sign or scent of Luigsech.

  Ruadh snarled, Druid.

  Daegan had noticed Cathbad’s scent in every room. The druid had come looking for her at some point.

  Tristan had not had a chance to share all the details of his escape with Brynhild, but Cathbad could not have anticipated that happening.

  Brynhild. Just seeing her dragon took Daegan back so many years. He first saw her dragon when flying with her siblings. A mighty show of force for all below.

  Would life have been different if he’d accepted her father’s proposal to mate with her?

  Back then, he’d felt too old for a woman so young and had thought to free Brynhild from an arranged mating for a chance at a love match. Clearly she had not seen his action as honorable. Now, her hatred knew no bounds.

  Daegan wandered around the cottage, following the robust scent of Luigsech, but not recently. She had gone elsewhere.

  Had he frightened her in spite of her show of confidence?

  Where was she right now?

  You miss the woman? Ruadh asked.

  What?

  His dragon made a noise Daegan took to be a sigh. My words are clear.

  I understood your words, Ruadh. I do not know why ya would think I miss the prickly woman.

  His dragon withdrew and went to sleep.

  What the devil had brought that on?

  Angry at himself now, Daegan called up his power to teleport. This trip had taken far longer than he’d expected. He should have returned to the centre by now.

  The whirling of colors continued when he expected the teleporting to be over.

  Panic pricked at his neck.

  He pushed forth more energy, straining muscles. Ruadh rumbled to life, threatening to break free. That could be a very bad idea.

  Tristan’s voice came from afar. Boss? Daegan? Where are you?

  Gritting his teeth, Daegan couldn’
t let up on his power to send back a word. He and Ruadh were in a hideous spin, hurtling somewhere.

  Boss? Call me. I’ll come get you!

  The power snapped loose, sending Daegan tumbling like a feather in a storm.

  Chapter 10

  Dizziness stole Daegan’s ability to think or speak.

  Ruadh roared and pounded. Free me!

  As his teleporting ended, Daegan slammed down on his back and rolled over.

  He could barely breathe and had no idea where he was. He laid there, feeling his dragon pound to be released, but the sensation dulled and slowed.

  Daegan whispered telepathically, The venom is gaining strength. I would find a place to free ya if I could, but ... breathing is difficult.

  Ruadh rumbled over and over.

  Daegan rolled onto his stomach, took a breath, and forced himself to push his chest and head off the ground. He’d landed in the middle of a field, but had no idea if he remained in Ireland or had gone somewhere else. With his ability, he could have teleported wildly into another realm.

  In all his years, he’d never had this happen.

  Boss! Tristan’s voice barreled into his mind.

  Daegan sent back, I am fine. I need a moment to determine where I teleported.

  I might be able to find you, Tristan offered. Daegan’s second-in-command did not possess the same level of teleporting to an unknown point, because of how he’d gained that ability. Tristan needed to know a specific location to find Daegan.

  Wait, Daegan replied and struggled to his feet. He took a couple more breaths and searched the rolling land. As he turned to look farther down the hill from where he stood, a forest ran around a pasture with sheep grazing. He turned back and walked up the hill to a high point.

  In the next valley sat the small town where the ancestral centre was located.

  He wiped sweat off his brow, glad to have remained not only in the same country, but also in the area he’d been trying to reach.

  Opening his mind, he called to Tristan. I am not far. I can see Luigsech’s building from here. I shall walk.

  Actually, I’ve got Adrianna with me at the ancestral research centre. She said she’d rather be outside than risk working on you in a building.

  That sounded ominous. Very well, Tristan. Teleport a hundred feet behind the buildin’ ya stand in. ’Tis all open and I shall see ya.

  Tristan and Adrianna appeared close enough for Daegan to gain their attention by waving. They disappeared and showed up closer to Daegan.

  Adrianna had a constant put-together look in Atlanta, but wisps of hair flew loose from where she’d woven her blond locks into one thick braid. She had a cut across her cheek and blood on her pale blue blouse. Her arms were hooked through straps to a small backpack. Now that he took all of her in, her boots were splattered with blood and her jeans ripped.

  Not stylish clothing tears as he’d seen in Atlanta, but earned in a battle.

  Smoky blue eyes took him in. “Yep. You don’t look much better than us.” She angled a head at Tristan to include him in her comment.

  “Thank ya for comin’, Adrianna.” Daegan cast a look at Tristan who had shoved his damaged hand in a pocket. “Was Garwyli able to help ya?”

  Withdrawing the hand, Tristan now had an index finger fully formed and a thumb close to full size, plus three more nubs. “It’s coming back faster than anything I could have done on my own. He said maybe a day or two to have it fully regrown.”

  Adrianna admired his hand. “Not bad.” She paused to look around. “Any chance of us finding a less-exposed place?”

  “Yes. Follow me.” Daegan led the way down the backside of the hill. He walked past sheep who took a few steps away, but were unconcerned, then into a thick stand of trees. He’d rather not use power to clear a spot, plus he didn’t want to disturb trees that had been here a long time.

  Every piece of this land mattered to him.

  After walking for a bit, he saw sunlight pouring into an open spot and hurried forward. He emerged into an area where a stream filled a pond.

  “Garwyli sent a message to you, boss.”

  Daegan finished opening up his senses to insure only natural animals were nearby and turned to Tristan. “What message?”

  “He said he believes you are right about the grimoire possibly having a way to remove the venom. It might only be in one volume or it could require using all three.” Scratching the back of his neck, Tristan asked, “What do you want me to do while Adrianna does her witchy thing?”

  “Witchy thing?” She pfft at him.

  Tristan opened his arms. “What would you call it?” He waited a beat and said, “See? You don’t have a better answer.”

  Shaking him off as if a fly had buzzed her head, she told Daegan, “I still don’t have full control of Witchlock. I may never have that even with a lifetime of experimenting, but I’m willing to try. I just want you to know I have no idea what my power will do when engaged with yours.”

  Tristan piped up, “Should be fine because you used Witchlock to end the curse on him when you broke his dragon free from the shape of Queen Maeve’s throne. Right?”

  “True, in theory. But we had to go to the Treoir realm to break the curse. He was in his most powerful element.” She looked down then up at Daegan. “I don’t think I can kill you, but I really don’t know what Witchlock might do when engaged with another ancient power. I’m only using a quarter of the energy available on days I push it as far as I’m willing.”

  “Do not worry, Adrianna. I shall not hold ya responsible for anythin’.”

  She chuckled. “Yeah, but I can’t return to the Beladors having turned their dragon king into a charcoal critter.”

  Now Tristan looked worried.

  Daegan shut down all the potential death conversation. “I shall tell ya if ya need to stop. Tristan, would ya keep an eye on our perimeter?”

  “Sure thing, boss.” Tristan muttered to himself as he walked off.

  “He’ll be the first one unhappy with me if I screw this up.” She released the most delicate sigh Daegan had ever heard.

  “Adrianna.”

  She lifted her gaze to him. “Yes?”

  “I trust ya. Do your best. ’Tis all I ask. I endanger everyone if my powers are out of control or if I am unable to depend upon them.”

  Nodding, she pulled off her backpack and got busy unloading a mix of candles and stones. Once she’d created a pentagram with candles at each tip of the star, she pointed at the center. “Sit there.”

  He stepped in. “I can stand.”

  “Maybe now, but you might not if this works. Once I start, don’t move, don’t speak, don’t do anything.”

  “Understood.” Sitting, he pulled his knees up and wrapped his arms around them to remain in the middle area where his boots would not dislodge a stone.

  “I wish it was closer to twilight, but it’s almost that dark with the clouds. If it rains ... ”

  “If it rains what?” Daegan asked quickly. Would that set off her majik in a bad way?

  “We’ll get wet.” She smiled, clearly trying to lighten the moment. Then her face changed to serious and she began speaking crisply, uttering an incantation. As she spoke, he felt a surge of power rush past him and head for her.

  He wanted to stand and protect her, but her warning had sounded as if any movement could be disastrous.

  Energy swam around him.

  She opened her right hand and a glowing orb spun just above her palm. He’d heard about how she had been born into a dark witch family known as the Sterling witches, but had turned her back on them. She’d forged her own path, not exactly dark or light, but had proven her integrity and good heart.

  She possessed Witchlock, a power as old as his, maybe older. Though she’d never wanted to hold such a force in her hand, she had accepted the weighty responsibility without complaint. From all he’d heard, she wielded the power with honor.

  He’d been mesmerized by the spinning white orb, bu
t now it began to grow from the size of a fist to a ball larger than his head.

  Her eyes rolled up in her head.

  Hell. Was she in distress?

  She pointed her empty hand at his chest and raised her voice, pushing power into her incantation.

  His body felt pulled by an invisible rope toward her orb.

  She’d told him not to move.

  Ruadh had become alert, remaining observant.

  Daegan called up his dragon’s power enough to have long claws shoot out from his fingertips. He gouged the ground, digging hard and clinging with all his might.

  Razor sharp pain tore through his chest.

  He bit down to keep from shouting.

  A tangle of yellow lines began to stream out of his body as a plant stalk would grow from the dirt. More lines smoked out of his leg where he’d been bitten. The yellow lines thickened. Spikes shot out, now looking like twisted vines with roots dangling down trying to reach him again.

  Adrianna’s body shook hard. She put a foot forward, using it for support to allow her to lean back, holding her body in place.

  She opened the fingers on her free hand and reached for the leading edge of the yellow tendrils.

  More thorns spiked along the long bands.

  Daegan’s butt slid forward an inch. He shoved his claws deeper, gripping to stay put, and pushed in his heels.

  The tip of the first yellow tendril inched closer to her open hand.

  No. He couldn’t allow that Imortik venom to jump into Adrianna. He tried to call out for her to stop. His voice wouldn’t work.

  Her fingertip touched the leading tendril. She latched onto it, closing her fingers in a tight grip.

  The tendril bulged thicker and glowed. It wrapped her arm from wrist to elbow, thorns stabbing her.

  She slapped her spinning orb on top of the nasty yellow tendril.

  It screamed and snapped in half. The stench of sulfur filled the air.

  She kept the orb pinned to the trailing tendril on her arm, igniting the vicious venom that wailed and burned a brilliant blue color.

  That part turned to ash and fell from her arm. The rest of the tendrils sucked back into Daegan’s body.