Authors: M. R. Mathias

Blood and Royalty (18 page)

A streak of energy the color of blood shot down at Clover. She clenched her eyes shut and curled into a ball, anticipating her end.

It never came. Instead, she heard a loud clacking sound followed by a slow building scream. She opened her eyes to see Zekker still standing over her. He was looking at where his right arm used to be and screaming. Behind him was Crimzon, his left wing splayed at an angle that was painful to look upon. Dangling from his maw was the stump of Balin Zekker’s arm, the dragon tear still in its hand.

Clover scrambled away from the wizard. The sudden lack of Dour in his body was causing him to shrink. The process looked so terribly painful that Clover asked Crimzon to end it. The dragon spat the wizard’s arm toward her. Only after she had the teardrop in her hand did he comply. A searing gout of dragon fire consumed Zekker. The smell of fresh, cooked meat competed with the brimstony smell of the dragon’s breath, but the terrible sounds of the tricky wizard’s agony faded into the sizzling of his flesh.

***

Over the next few days, Clover built a crude room with the broken block from the tower. She used the hammered sheet metal from Zekker’s spire for a roof and actually constructed a comfortable place of shelter. She’d even salvaged most of the wizard’s stores and books, as well a decent bow and some good hickory tables. This was good, because they were going to be there for a while.

Crimzon was in no shape to fly. Setting his wing back into shape was a gruesome happening that tested the limits of their friendship, but it was done. Even with the aid of the teardrop’s Dour, only time could heal Crimzon now. Feeding him became a full time chore for Clover, but she hunted as often as the weather would allow.

The mutant fae somehow survived the destruction. The first few weeks he stayed around the rubble, but would only venture close at night. Clover tracked him to a hollowed out tree trunk in a neighboring valley, but couldn’t bring herself to shaft him with an arrow. He was pitiful and afraid. When fall set in, and the nights grew cold, he disappeared altogether.

It was late in the winter when Crimzon finally braved the pain and took his first flight. By spring he was fully healed and ready to go feast on the antelope and mountain goat herds that roamed the mountains outside of Vell.

Clover was ready, too. She’d read most of Zekker’s books and practiced casting the easier of the spells she found in them. She understood magic quite a bit better now, but knew she needed guidance. After she brought her new designs to the saddler and Crimzon sated his hunger, she intended for them to fly to the distant city of Harthgar to find a wizard to teach her. For now though, she was happy to nestle between Crimzon’s spinal plates and feel his muscles churn as the wind whipped through her hair. Her luck was holding true. Her dragon was well healed and she was thankful for it.

To be continued...

Crimzon & Clover III - The Grog

Crimzon & Clover IV - The Wrath of Crimzon

Crimzon & Clover V - Killer of Giants

Crimzon & Clover VI - One Bad Bitch

Crimzon & Clover VII - The Fortune’s Fortune

M. R. Mathias has several other titles available from Amazon, including:

The Legend of Vanx Malic

The Legend of Vanx Malic Book One - Through the Wildwood

The Legend of Vanx Malic Book Two - Dragon Isle

The Legend of Vanx Malic Book Three - Saint Elm’s Deep

The Legend of Vanx Malic Book Four - That Frigid Fargin’ Witch