Quest Of The Dragon Tamer (Book 1) (22 page)

The Nolands, the lands north of the Sierra Mountains, consisted of rocky soil with sporadic, spindly, knee-high plants displaying exquisite purple flowers. Despite the land’s rugged beauty it held no promise of water, food or shade. The Nolands went for leagues only to end abruptly where the coastal mountains became low enough to allow the moisture of the Neoteric Sea to escape the mountains’ peaks and settle in to replenish the dry soil. But the Nolands were vast and she was sure she had yet to cross half their length.

When she had left Stardom she was in such a hurry she had neglected to grab water skins, food or any other item she might need. She chastised herself for being so stupid. No matter how hard she rode she wouldn’t arrive in Ketes for days. What if she got lost? She had no weapon, and she knew nothing about catching game. How was she supposed to survive?

Tears stained her eyes before she blinked them away. She couldn’t give in to her emotions. She had to focus, not only for her brother but also for Ren and the Newlan nation.

When Paul had seen the gates of Stardom swinging open after Ren’s escape, he had ordered her to flee to their father. She had pleaded with Paul to come with her but he insisted on staying behind. Their conversation wasn’t long, but Paul’s eyes said it all: their cousin was fighting for his life and they would be too if they stayed inside the gates of Stardom.

Sass blinked back her fear and prayed to the Maker to keep Ren safe. Her father would know what to do. Bostic always knew what to do.

The sun beat down with a vengeance and as the day progressed she began to see water that wasn’t there. She chased after streams that turned out to be nothing more than barren earth, and soon she had little idea of where she was. All she could do was try to stay north, hoping she moved in the general vicinity of Ketes.

The day turned to night, and although she found relief from the sun the darkness did nothing to help her thirst. Her roan pushed on, but Sass could tell the animal was tiring. She would have been afraid if she weren’t bone weary. As the night deepened Sass leaned on the horse’s neck, letting its movement lull her into a fitful sleep.

Just as dawn broke and the scorching sun rose to scrape her blistered neck, the roan lurched into a gallop. Sass jerked awake and yanked the spirited animal to a halt. Sass gaped at the vast expanse of trees rising before her, jetting from the rocky soil in stark contrast to the landscape as if daring the thistles of the Nolands to violate their domain. She could see no end to the trees to either side or ahead.

Although they weren’t wide, they were tall, and because their branches were only as long as a man’s arm and climbed the trunks in a ladder-like fashion they appeared to be prodigious even in width. Their rich bronze bark soaked up the sunlight and sparkled with alluring charm. Their bare branches ended in a bud of three long, thick, dark leaves, almost two hand spans in length. The vision was almost too magnificent to believe.

The cool breeze from the depths of the trees continued to hit her face, and after blinking a few times the image became even more vivid.

Sass dismounted and cautiously approached the trees, sure their image would soon disappear. It did not. She heard running water in the distance as her horse pawed the ground in irritation. Sass touched the closest tree with a tentative hand. The bark was smooth, not rough like most trees, and a slight tingle shivered through her fingers and up her arm. Sass jumped back, startled.

She yearned to plunge into the shadows and find the water she so desperately needed, but the forest hadn’t been there on her way to Zier. No forest existed in the Nolands. Sass chewed her lower lip as she peered through the trees. Her mount continued to paw the ground, snorting in annoyance at her hesitation. She cooed to it, trying to calm its anxious movements.

The forest stretched endlessly in both directions. It almost appeared as if the ground had cracked and a whole new world had erupted with its breaking. Tears of frustration stung her eyes. Traveling around it would waste days, possibly weeks. She had no food or water. She couldn’t risk being in the Nolands for that long.

The bronze trees shimmered in the sunlight. The longer she looked at them the less apprehension she felt. Why was she so fearful? It was just a forest. And it had water. When a small doubt tickled her mind the forest’s cool breeze touched her face and the doubt floated away. She stepped forward, leading her horse by the reins, and touched one of the trees. This time the tingle that shivered throughout her body was welcoming. She smiled. Her apprehension was silly.

As soon as she made her decision to enter the forest, she felt elated, almost drunk. Stepping into the trees she saw a path she hadn’t noticed before. It was well worn, with only a slight amount of grass and clover dotting its dusty trail. The sunlight filtered through the treetops and lit the path in a golden glow. Sass smiled and quickly mounted the roan. There was nothing to fear.

The roan cantered down the path without instruction. The smell in the woods wasn’t unpleasant but it was different from the open air. It smelled of heat, almost a burning, and was tinged with a trace of honeysuckle. She found that odd because she saw no honeysuckle, but the dense trees made it impossible to see beyond the path before her. The sweet-smelling vines were probably prevalent away from the path.

A clear stream appeared in the distance. Its echoing caress on the rocks made her shiver with delight. Her mount surged forward and soon they were both gulping the water as if it would soon disappear. When she finally took a breath Sass laughed with pleasure. Water had never tasted so sweet! It even tasted of honeysuckle! She couldn’t get enough. As soon as her thirst was quenched, she bent to drink again.

The sunlight brushed her skin with comforting warmth. She leaned back against a tree and let the sounds of the woods drift over her. Every few heartbeats she brought a handful of the sweet water to her lips. Her back tingled with the same sensuous sensation she had experienced before, and the soft breeze on her bare neck whispered for her to give in to sleep. Her brows furrowed as a wisp of a thought escaped her. There was something she was supposed to do, wasn’t there? Her eyes became heavy as she allowed her body to melt into the tree.

Sleep came quickly, and she dreamed of Paul riding with her on the roan. Paul sat behind her, humming a tune, but then Paul became Ren and –

Sass’s eyes flew open. Her mission crashed over her with the force of the ten winds. She had to reach Ketes! She had to warn her father!

The day had almost escaped her. She had been asleep for some time. The tingling in her body became a dull pain when she moved from the tree. The faster she walked to her horse the more severe the pain became. When she finally reached the roan she had almost lost consciousness, but the roan seemed to know her thoughts and quickly trotted down the path. She had to dismount frequently to get sick in the trees. The sweet smell of the water was now replaced with the other smell of the forest, a burning. Sass gagged time and again, hungering for more water, but passing every stream she happened upon with grim determination.

The breeze began to feel rough even though it moved without force, and the shimmering trees taunted her to give in to her desires of rest and sleep. Sass began to panic, spurring her horse faster, wondering how far the woods continued. She had been riding for what seemed like days, and the path just went on and on, but she knew she traveled north. She kept the setting sun at her left shoulder.

She slowed her mount and tried to calm her rising sense of dread. When she noticed fresh tracks on the path her hopes lifted. She followed them, hoping they would lead her out of the forest. Luckily, they were bearing north as well.

Another stream came into view. The craving began again. She leaned over to heave what little of the water remained. She slowed the roan to a stop and tried to regain her composure. Her body trembled, hungering for the sweet liquid, yet she was determined to push on. When her eyes landed on the large tree beside the stream her breath caught.

It looked familiar. Her throat tightened as she looked down. Hoof prints dotted the bank. They continued through the stream to the other side. She jumped the creek, stifling a cry, and forced the roan into a gallop. She continued until she reached another stream.

Sass looked at the tracks. They were fresh tracks on top of fresh tracks.

They were her tracks.

She was going in circles.

A rustling sounded next to her. She spun, peering through the dense trees. Although she knew it was still light out it was darker than death in the woods.

Without warning her horse reared, releasing a shrill wail, and she was thrown. Her horse galloped onward down the path.

Something knocked her down. She turned and jerked on instinct, tossing whatever it was off, and quickly regained her footing. Plunging into the heart of the forest, she tried to lose whatever had attacked her.

Something caught her ankle and she fell. Her attacker locked its arms around her neck and squeezed. A scream escaped her lips but it was truncated by the creature’s tightening grip. Sass flailed on the ground, trying to tear free, but the creature held on. She felt the tingling warmth of the trees flow through her body, making her weak. She collapsed, sobbing into the cool earth, knowing it was hopeless to resist.

“Calmed thee, haven’t we?” came a raspy voice.

Sass didn’t want to look. She didn’t want to know what kind of creature had that voice. The burning smell had become more potent. She realized it seeped from whatever spoke.

“Up then and look at me,” the creature whispered in her ear.

The creature moved off, but Sass remained frozen on the ground, face in the dirt.

“Look at me now!”

The creature’s shout echoed through the forest with such force Sass turned to defend against the blow she knew would come. When her eyes fell on the being above her, her screams followed. The man was small, only about waist high, and he was burnt an ebony black, with wrinkles covering his naked body. He had waist-length white hair and white eyes. His lips bared fangs bigger than any creature she had ever seen.

His thin body leaned closer. She pushed herself backwards, but she couldn’t move fast enough. The creature straddled her chest, locking her in place. Sass closed her eyes and turned her head.

The creature’s hot breath exploded in her ear. “What do you hunger for, my lust?” he asked, lips brushing against her skin. “I can grant you anything you wish, anything at all. You’re a beauty. I can give you all.”

The creature began to sing, softly at first, but then his song escalated into a high pitch that drifted through the air with a life of its own. It was the most beautiful voice Sass had ever heard. She felt it weaving its way through her, caressing her body from the inside. She twisted in the creature’s grip, trying to resist the seduction of the song, but soon her inhibitions gave way. She leaned back into the earth as the man sung of her beauty and shape. His hands brushed her bare neck. She forced her eyes shut, not wanting to end the feelings inside her by looking at the small, wrinkled man. An ache began to burn in her loins and she stifled a cry when the song took her to heights she hadn’t known existed.

The breeze sent a shiver over her as the creature’s hands explored her. Sass tried to focus on her mission but quickly shoved it aside. The song crashed over her, praising her shape, referring to parts of her body she yearned to know better. When the explosion came her eyes flew open, but instead of the blackened horror she remembered, the man standing above her was the most exquisite being she had ever envisioned.

The last of the sun’s rays fell behind him, caressing his taut form. Blond hair fell around his face, tickling his shoulders. His movements were fluid, graceful. He studied her with the most beautiful green eyes she had ever seen. Still humming the tune he engulfed her mouth in his own. The song moved inside her with more force. She almost lost consciousness as the pleasure heightened.

“Do you want me, my desire?” he hummed into her neck.

“Yes, please.” Sass tried to say more but it took all her strength to pull him closer.

He smiled as he caressed her cheek and moved his lips to her neck. She neared the apex and remained there, almost touching, close enough not to care about anything else. All that mattered was the apex. She had to have it. She heard herself begging, pleading for him to begin. And then he did. She broke through the apex, and climbed higher and higher – soaring. There was no end.

When he tore away she was unprepared. The tingling became a searing pain. The song seemed hollow as he rose above her, face masked in shadow. She writhed on the ground, frantic.

“Please,” she whispered.

He stepped back, letting his voice fade to nothing. The pain inside her was breathtaking. She reached for him but he retreated, and when the moonlight stole over his face, his green eyes shone with rabid longing. His smooth chest heaved, muscles rippling. “I want you now,” he sang.

She nodded, unable to find the words to respond as the need welled within her.

“Will you give me all of you?”

His song began again as he engulfed her lips in his own. The song inside her was moving high, but remained just below the peak, tantalizing. She moaned in confusion.

“Can you give me your life, my love?” he sang.

She struggled to grasp his words. She clawed at him, shaking with need. She would give him anything, do anything to see how high she could go.

Something tugged at her mind, something she had to do, but she lost sight of her other aim as she allowed the magic of him to seduce her – magic. She had to do something about magic – and Ren. Ren was in trouble.

“I just need to give my father a message,” Sass said. “Then the rest of my life is yours, is ours.”

“Give your father a message?”

She pulled him closer. “Yes, just give him a message.”

“I can send you to your father,” he whispered in her ear, “if you will give me the rest of your life.”

She reached the peak. “Yes,” she mumbled. She crested the peak, rising higher and higher until she forgot everything else. Higher she went, so high her screams were silenced by her own lips as the pleasure sucked her dry of everything but breath.