If Morgan had not
already seen Ebens home in the Forsaken Mountain, the council chambers might
have been overwhelming. But she had seen it so she knew to expect the
priceless gems embedded in the walls and the magic that swirled through the
air, coloring everything in shimmering waves. At least that's what it looked like
to her. Maybe a normal human would just see the raw gems in stonewalls. Even
if that were all they could see, not having magic in their blood, they would
have still wanted to gawk here. But they would have forgotten about all the
rest the second they saw the dragons.
They glowed with
beauty. Seeing so many and all together like this was almost overwhelming.
That was the only word for it. They glowed, shimmered, and sparkled as if the
jewels themselves had come alive.
There were four
council members, one for each house, competing for the most ostentatious
display. The rest of the dragons were warriors, obviously there as security,
or possibly just tradition because the council members breathed magic. Morgan
couldn’t imagine anyone challenging them. Besides Eben and one or two of the warriors,
they were the oldest dragons, not in physical appearance but definitely in the
press of their power.
Suddenly I
don't feel so overdone.
Told you.
Ladon
laughed in her thoughts.
I believe they
are becoming more ostentatious with age.
Eben said blandly from close
behind Morgan.
Ladon laughed
again and then pulled Morgans hand up to kiss the inside of her wrist.
Used
to be dragons slept on their treasure, now they just wear it.
Eben sniffed his
agreement and then pulled Morgans other hand to his lips to kiss the back of
it.
Come Shameaa, let’s show them what true treasure looks like.
He kept hold of
her hand as he led her inside the main chamber. Ladon followed close behind
them. As soon as they cleared the door, every eye in the place rested on them.
Why do they all
look familiar to me?
You have seen
our memories. I’m not sure how much of them you will retain but many things
may seem familiar.
The council
chamber itself was cavernous, especially considering how few dragons occupied
it.
They were not always going to be in human form
. Morgan thought.
She recognized Ryall from earlier, when he had come with his mate to heal
Milly. He was guard here and stood lining the wall with a dozen others dressed
in simple pants and tunics. Those dragons were armed with swords and knives.
Why do dragons
need weapons?
Some foes must
be fought as men rather than dragon. It is tradition to know all manner of
battle. What you see here are the elite. Dragon Knights sworn into service to
the Light. They carry out the laws of the council now, but in times of war, it
is General Solan who leads the dragon army.
Eben nodded to a man behind
the council members. All dragons were big imposing men but he was something
all together different.
Like Eben, he
favored black from head to toe. If the council members were jewels come to
life he was obsidian, all sharp edges and hard planes. His black hair seemed
to swallow the light that touched it so that it felt like you could get lost in
the dark cloud. He held it back from his face in a severe style that accented
his sharp cheekbones and slightly slanted eyes. Eyes that were quicksilver and
saw everything. Even for a dragon, he was scary. The only part of him that
seemed remotely soft was his lips, which looked surprisingly lush. Like all
the guards, he wore no amulet of his house.
He is of the
warrior house now. They give up their house when they take vows. He was born
into my house originally.
House of water
then. Morgan thought
. Vows? Like priests?
Ladon snorted
beside her. But it was Eben who continued to answer her.
Nothing so
severe as all that. They are warriors of the Light.
That fuck
everything that moves.
Ladon added blandly. Then pulled Morgan into his
side when he noticed she had started to draw a great deal of attention
herself.
Try to worry less about General Solan’s lips and more on our
business here.
I can do both.
She assured him, but turned to study the council members themselves. There
were four dragons sitting in throne like seats behind a slab of gold veined
marble. Each wore garments so covered in precious gems that they must clank
when they walk. They were dressed to emphasize their house so it was easy to
tell which was represented and by who.
Lord Bochus is
the great beast in red.
Ladons thoughts were filled with distaste. But it
was a good description as he was dripping in red gems and was as wide as he was
tall. Not fat exactly but stocky and with his gold hair and blue eyes he was
still lovely, but there was an arrogant pinched look on his face that
distracted from that beauty. She didn’t like him, and she wasn’t sure if that
was her own quick decision or the influence of Ladons emotions. He really
didn’t like him. Then she caught something else.
You think he
was the one who betrayed you?
The thought
crossed my mind. Everyone knows Bochus hates me and the fact that I will one
day take his place on the council.
A preemptive
strike? To keep his seat?
It’s one
possibility.
Eben said noncommittal even in his thoughts.
There are
others.
Yes.
Lord Bochus sat at
the end of the table. Beside him was a dragon dressed in sapphire. He sat
tallest of them, though he lacked the girth of Bochus he made up for it in
sheer perfection of feature. He was almost too pretty actually. Too perfect,
like you couldn’t really touch him. He had brown eyes the color of a good wet
earth. Though his house was water.
Fahlion. A
distant relation of mine.
He sleeps
through most of the council meetings.
Ladon added drily.
I always
wondered why you never took the seat.
Because then I
would have to come to the meetings.
Air was dressed in
diamond, his hair white; his eyes were a silver fog. He looked older that the
rest, though not in years. More serious somehow, as if he knew the answers and
they weighed heavy on his mind.
The man next to
him was obviously earth with its abundance of gold. Besides the others, he was
almost nondescript, at least for a dragon. Brown hair with veins of red
running through it and green eyes. He was beautiful and powerful and seemed to
disappear among his flashier council cronies.
Is he trying to
do that?
I have often
wondered that myself,
Ladon stated
. He is always looking so harmless.
It makes me wonder what he’s up to.
Very wise.
Eben said the surprise obvious in his thoughts.
I believe it is Lord
Graedon that plays the deepest game. He has fooled many into thinking him
harmless but I see him as the most dangerous.
Dangerous to
whom?
Morgan wondered.
Before either
could form an answer, Lord Bochus spoke.
“Prince Ladon. We
had given you up for dead until Shehar gave us the happy news.” He didn’t
sound happy. “Perhaps you could explain why you have caused all this fuss by
running off to begin with and now this mate business. You've always been quite
the young prankster but this is taking things too far."
Eben answered
mildly. "Since you've heard the news from Shehar, you must have also
heard that we share this 'mate business'. Are you suggesting that I am prone
to pranks as well?"
Lord Bochus looked
from Ladon to Eben and paled visibly.” My Lord? You do not usually grace us
with your presence." He looked confused for a minute. "Then, if
it’s true, where is your mate?"
"Perhaps it
would be best to have this discussion without a human present?" Lord
Graedon suggested mildly.
"Might I
present our mate Morgan, mage and newest member of houses fire and
water." He looked directly at Graedon. "And she stays as this
discussion involves her as well.” Then he went on. "Prince Ladon was
abducted from his house after someone drugged him, he did not run off. He was
taken and bled then left to die among the humans. If Morgan had not found
Ladon and saved him, he would even now be dead. This same someone gave dragon
blood from the house of fire to the blood mages for use in their spells. Blood
mages that destroy the earth we have vowed to protect. I have been past the
gate and seen the destruction. They kill the earth to fuel their greed for
power and destroy potential mates with their drive to drink mage blood. I have
called you together because this cannot stand."
The silence echoes
after that little bomb was dropped. Either the council had not shared with the
warriors or no one had believed it because everyone was looking at Morgan with
new eyes. Not all of them were happy.
"Are you
suggesting that you mated a human and intend to desecrate our house by breeding
her?" Lord Bochus' bellow was loud but not nearly as loud as the tension
that followed.
That's what he
heard in all that?
Eben and Ladon
seethed beside Morgan, she expected any moment for the anger to burn. But
since he had addressed Ladon it was Ladon who answered, though she could feel Ebens
desire to rip and shred right beside him.
"Speak of my
mate like that again old man and you won't have to wait for the next new moon
to face challenge."
"Challenge?"
Bochus blustered.
"I have
reached my adult molt Lord Bochus. As prince of my house I have the right to
take my place on the council."
"Your
father..." He began, only to be interrupted by Ladon.
"My father
chose not to claim his place, rather desiring seclusion with his mate. He
trusted you to uphold the family honor. I am not my father, nor am I so
trusting. Not if that is your only concern after what Lord Eben just
said."
"Perhaps we
can table the family business until this other matter is settled." Lord
Graedon stated benignly.
"Quite
right." Bochus rallied. "A human mate has never been accepted into
a dragon house. With all due respect Lord Kinkaid but even for you I do not
see that changing."
Did he just say
what I think he said?
Morgan was not the only one wondering that.
"Are you
saying, Lord Bochus, that mates have been found among humans before?"
Ebens voice was low and intense.
"A few here
and there among the magic users over the eons. The family leaders have dealt
with the matter privately. It has certainly never been brought before the
council in such a public way."
"Dealt
with?" Morgan asked. But it was as if she didn't speak because Bochus
refused to acknowledge her question.
"My mate
asked you a question Lord Bochus. How were they dealt with?"
"I don't
answer to human’s prince Ladon, no matter how you dress them up to ape their
betters."
"Then answer
to me." Eben said his voice gruff with rage. "Are you actually
saying that you knew some of our mates could be found among the humans and you
not only kept that secret but killed them when it was discovered?"
"As I said.
It was house business how they dealt with their embarrassment. The council was
not involved."
"Besides the
issue of mates,” Lord Topa interjected before the room imploded. "We
cannot allow the blood sworn to kill the Earth, nor let stand the attack on
Prince Ladon. Dragons have always been the protectors of the natural earth and
all its magic. To ignore this pestilence is to court our own doom."
"Melodramatic
clap-trap. We protect our lands, the humans have always had dominance over theirs,
or we would have wiped them out long ago for their abuse of it." Bochus
brushed a hand across the problem as if it was insignificant. "We will
deal with this problem when and if they ever cross the dragon gates and come
here to try their filth."
"You are a
fool."
The words spoken
in the soft voice of a human mage was loud and the silence after the
announcement frozen.
"What did you
say?"
"I said
you're a fool." Morgan repeated. "The Blood mages drink power.
Their whole purpose is to bleed it from the land and people. Do you think when
they are bloated from destroying the rest of us that they will sit quietly in
their black castles and be content?" She was not aware that her control
was slipping as she continued, but both Eben and Ladon stepped closer as the
power built around them. "You think they aren't already after the magic
in your blood? One of your own has betrayed you to the blood mages already.
They are using dragon’s blood to further their dark cause and you prattle on
about human inferiority. Are you arrogant enough to let this wound fester
until the whole of the body is infected?"
"That is
enough of that. You are a human barely old enough to be called adolescent in
our culture. You think to lecture and insult us?"
"I think to
lecture and insult you." She said distinctly, her magic rising further.
"Your warriors would back Eben on this. I have seen the dark and cold
they live in waiting for the warmth of a mate that may never come." She
stepped forward and looked at the assembled nobles and their elite guard.
"Young I may be, but I am mated to Ladon and Eben Kincaid. I have seen
your warrior history through his eyes and your government through the eyes of
Prince Ladon. And I am mage, with the stories of my people passed down."
Her hair beginning to float around her building power. "I am not an
insignificant thing. The Earth moves through me, wind speaks, and fire and ice
answer my call. The blood mage is an abomination but they are not powerless.
Ignore them; ignore
us,
at your own peril."