Fight And The Fury (Book 8) (13 page)

“No,” he groaned.

“Yes,” she insisted. “Get up. Take off that vest.”

He did so.

Sasha’s eyes grew two times.

“It’s swollen. Festering.” She laid her fingers on it and pressed.

“Ouch,” he said, “please don’t do that.”

“Well, I must do something,” she said. “That must be fixed. What happened?”

“Nothing,” he said. “I’m surprised Bayzog didn’t tell you about it.”

She blanched and said, “He doesn’t tell me everything.”

“Funny,” Nath said, slipping his vest back on. “I thought he did.”

“Would you tell me about all the terrors in this world if you didn’t have to?”

Nath shrugged. “I suppose not, but you’re his wife. I’d think you would know.”

“Well,” she said, “he protects me. Especially after all that has happened since you were gone.” She patted his hand. “Nath, you need to get that wound looked at. It’s only getting worse.”

He leaned back with a groan and said, “I’ll think about it.”

“You do that,” she said. “Now, if all goes well, I’ll convince Selene to give you your own quarters.”

CHAPTER 26

Another week went by. Sasha had been in and out, but had no luck getting Nath his own quarters. He was alone now. Standing on the balcony hundreds of feet above the streets of Narnum, he counted dragons. Dozens had become less than ten. The armed forces of Barnabus had moved on, leaving an oversized garrison of soldiers. Sasha had explained that it was all in good faith. He couldn’t allow himself to believe it.

The massive door to the main chamber popped open.

Nath peered over his shoulder.

Selene and Sasha came in side by side, wearing white and golden robes. Two men, bald, tattooed, and crimson robed, accompanied them from behind. Their eyes were content, and they carried a smoking incense urn by the chains.

“Are you ready, Nath Dragon?” Selene said, pushing up the sleeves of her robe. She had black scales on every exposed part but her head. She waited for his reply and said, “It won’t take long.”

Sasha glided over and locked her arms around his.

“You need to do this, Nath. I can’t stand to see you in pain any longer. Come.”

With hesitation, and a little stooped over, Nath sauntered to the table, grimacing. The shard inside him used to feel like little more than a pin prick. Now it felt like a hot nail digging deeper and deeper.

“Lie down on the table,” Selene said, touching his shoulders.

Nath stayed her with his hand and said, “Easy now.”

The last few days, he had been more open to conversations. Selene and Sasha talked, and Nath listened. He spoke more, asked questions, but didn’t delve too deeply.

Against his will, Selene fascinated him. She was radiant. Dark. Exotic. Her voice could be soothing like a warm bath or piercing like a knife. He wanted to figure her out—without appearing to be interested.

He got up onto the grand table and lay flat on his back.

“I’ll need to restrain you,” Selene said. “The extraction will be painful.”

Nath propped himself up on his elbows and said, “I don’t think so.”

“Nath,” Sasha said, coming to his aid, “nothing will happen to you. I promise. Let’s get this thing out of you. I can cast a spell and relax you, if you like?”

“I don’t need shackled,” he growled. “I’m no mere mortal. I can take the pain.” He lay down on his back, clenched his fists, and closed his eyes. “Do it, before I change my mind.”

He could feel their tension. Hear the rustle of their robes. Smell their soft breath. If there was a whisk of a knife, he’d know it. Or another presence in the room.

But his chest rose up and glided down, easy. The scent of Sasha’s perfume eased him. He had to trust someone, and Sasha had always been an excellent confidante. He felt her warm hand on his head and heard her whisper “I’m here, Nath.”

His breathing eased even more.

The acolytes began to chant. A bright light flared.

Selene placed her hands over his ribs.

“Be steady,” she said, and began her own chanting.

Her hands turned hot. He felt a fiery spade in his side. His jaws clenched. Every muscle tightened. An anguished moan came from his mouth.

“Be strong, Nath. Be strong,” Sasha said.

The incantation became louder. The pain excruciating.

“Argh!”

“Hold on, Nath! Hold on!” Sasha said.

Deeper and deeper Selene’s powers dug, through muscle, bone, and flesh.

Nath shuddered. His forehead beaded in sweat.

Be still
, he told himself.
Be still.

A hot poker plunged inside him and ripped something out. A burst of fire exploded in his head.

“Aaaaaaaah!”

He lurched into a sitting position, golden eyes wide with horror.

Selene stood away from the table, hand aglow, holding a bloody fragment of steel in her hand. The splinter he believed was inside him was no splinter at all. It had branched out with jagged talons as big as his fingers. Blood dripped from it onto the floor.

“That thing was in me?”

Selene nodded.

Nath glanced at the oozing hole in his side.

“It will heal up,” Selene said.

Nath’s head became light and woozy. He collapsed headfirst on the table.

***

“You are well now,” Sasha said, seated at the grand table. It was just the two of them.

It had been over a week since Selene extracted the shard from Nath’s body.

“I am,” Nath said, smiling. “And I’m almost ashamed to admit that I am better off for it. The poisoned barb took a toll on me, it seems. But now, my head is clear. My stiff scales have loosened.” He glanced around. “But don’t tell you-know-who about it.”

Sasha giggled.

“You know I won’t. I’m as much a prisoner here as you are.”

“But you can leave,” Nath said. He adjusted the robes he wore. Well-knitted sleeveless garb with intricate designs.

“It looks great on you,” Sasha said. “Fitting for a prince. A Dragon Prince, that is.”

“It’s not bad,” he said.

“Well, you will want to look your best among the people. They’ve been talking about you, you know,” she said.

“About what?”

“They see you standing on the balcony. They know who you are: Nath Dragon, the legend. Your presence here has brought peace to the city. To the world.”

He liked the sound of that. But it couldn’t possibly be true.

“I haven’t done anything,” he said, heading for the balcony.

“Exactly,” Sasha said, eyes trailing after him. “The truce. The agreement. You kept your word. Selene kept hers. Officers and soldiers return home. You are The Peace Maker. They credit you with that.”

“It makes no sense,” he said. Beneath him, the Narnum he had known had become revitalized. Windows were open. Doors unlocked. Colored banners and flowers were in ample display. The sweet aroma of seasoned meats and delicious sweets filled his nose. Heads were lifted and fingers pointed at him. Many of them waved. He made the slightest gesture. An excited clamor rose.

“What are they doing?” he said to Sasha, who had slipped over to stand by his side.

She peeked over the balcony holding her ear and said with a smile, “Cheering.”

He could hear them. He watched more gather. It was a far cry from the days when they had called him a demon. Now they chanted his name like a hero.

Nath! Nath! Nath! Nath! Nath!

He rose his arms up high in the air.

The cries of the citizens exploded. His dragon heart swelled.

Sasha wrapped her arm around his and leaned her head on his shoulder.

He liked it. All of it.

***

Later that week, there was a soft knock at the door of Nath’s new quarters.

“Come in,” he said, setting down his comb and closing the doors to the mirror.

“Nath,” Sasha said, slipping inside and closing the door behind her. Her pretty smile was upside down. “It’s time for me to go now.”

“What?” he said, clasping her hands, heart racing. “How come? Why now?”

She dangled her amulet in front of his eyes and said, “I need to return to Bayzog. You didn’t forget about him, did you?”

“Uh, no. Of course not.” His blood went cold. He felt ashamed. He’d become so fond of Sasha that he’d lost himself. He released her hands. “He misses you. Certainly. I just hate to see you go. How long will it be?”

“A month. Maybe two,” she said, taking him by the hand and leading him over to a sofa and sitting them both down. “I think Selene is getting a little jealous of me and you. I don’t think she understands what friendship is. I feel sorry for her.”

“Don’t,” Nath said, shaking his head. “She is still our enemy, and the truce won’t last forever. I don’t think she can hold her forces back another year. She’s temperamental.”

Sasha giggled.

“And you aren’t?”

“No. Thanks to you, I’m not.” He grabbed and tickled her.

She erupted in laughter.

“Stop it! Stop it!” she squealed.

“Oh, alright.” He pulled her up from the bed. “I can’t have your thrashings messing my hair up.”

“I’m glad you’re back to your old self again,” she said. She stood up, leaned over, and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll miss you.” She made a bead for the door.

“Sasha!” he cried. “You’re leaving
now
, just like that?”

She popped open the door, looked back into his eyes, and said, “I must, Nath. It’s hard enough to leave as it is.”

“But,” he said, trying to object, but the door clanked shut, and he was all alone. He plopped back down with a hundred emotions coursing through him. “Sultans of Sulfur.”

CHAPTER 27

Robes hiding her feet, High Priestess Selene glided through her throne room. Having it to herself again, aside from the drulture and feline fury, was soothing. The coddling of Nath Dragon had become a bore, and she needed some entertainment.

On the grand table a box lay, wooden and trimmed in colorful paints. The hinges squeaked as she opened it. The shard she had extracted from Nath lay inside on a lavender bed of cloth. The steel, now corroded and stained with blood, throbbed inside the box. She grinned and closed the lid.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The knock on the grand doors echoed in the chamber.

“I need more curtains,” she said to herself, then louder, “Enter.”

A large figure donned in dark crimson robes entered with two draykis on either side of him. They all kneeled, and he bowed.

“You summoned me, my queen.”

“Yes,” she said, “yes I did, Kryzak. Your old friend Nath Dragon is getting quite comfortable.” She snickered. “Arise and walk with me.” She eyed the draykis. “Depart from us and send in the changeling.”

With a bow, the pair retreated.

Outside on the balcony, the feline fury basked in the sun. Its eyes locked on Kryzak, and its lips curled back over its teeth. Selene walked over, sat on its back, and toyed with its mane of hair.

“Are you ready, my dear, dear, servant?” she said to Kryzak.

Kryzak slipped his battle scepter out from underneath his robes.

“I’d wait a hundred lifetimes for this,” he said, pulling back his hulking shoulders. “A thousand just to see a glimpse of your face.”

“You’re so sweet, Kryzak,” she said, rubbing the purring tiger-dragon, “but my lifetime is many of yours. Fortunately for you, I’ve become bored with this charade. I’m ready to put Nath Dragon to the test. And I want to test my favorite servant as well.”

“Anything for you, Selene,” he said. “What would you have me do?”

“Your test shall be a reward for you. I want you to kill Nath Dragon.”

Kryzak dropped his hood from his oversized head. The tattoos all around it glowed with fire. He smacked his battle mace into his palm. His throaty voice could not contain his excitement. “It will be an honor. It will be my pleasure.”

“I knew you would feel that way. And if you win, an entire kingdom will be yours.”

He dropped to a knee and bowed.

“You
are
my kingdom, my queen.”

His eyes glanced up. Sasha entered the room. Her eyes were weak and drained.

“Ah,” Selene said, “if it isn’t my little sorceress.” Her belly chuckled. “Tell me, Sasha, are you ready to depart for your trip? Is our guest Nath Dragon well?”

“Everything is as you please, my queen. He suspects not a single thing.”

“Are you certain?” Selene said.

“I am, but I am weary as well.” Sasha pressed her palm onto her head. “This deception is draining.”

“Come now,” Selene said, getting up and putting her arm around Sasha’s shoulder. “You may rest. The hard part is over, and you’ve done exceptionally well.”

“I’m not so sure I could have pulled it off without this,” Sasha said, holding the amulet hanging from her neck. “But what is done, is done. For now.”

“So it is,” Selene said. “So it is. Now, go, back to your room and take your rest. The next time I need you will be soon enough.”

Sasha nodded, and with her chin dipped down she said, “May I go now?”

“Certainly.” Selene glanced at Kryzak. “I always find this so fascinating.”

Sasha’s face shimmered and contorted from a splendid woman to the bald, pale pink form of Gorlee the Changeling. His lids fluttered over his bulging eyes. He swayed and steadied himself against the wall.

“Ah,” he said, rubbing his head, “that’s better. Being a woman is hard.” His eyes blinked rapidly in the direction of Selene. “I’m not sure how you manage it.”

“I’m no ordinary woman,” she assured him. “I’m a dragon.”

CHAPTER 28

Bayzog’s apartment was cold. Empty. He sat on a stool, elbows propped up on his round table, his head resting in his hands. He cracked his weary eyes open and thumbed through the pages of his tome. The pages of the grand book bound in dark hide leather flipped on their own, each folding slowly over the other, suspended through the air. Bayzog uttered a sigh, grabbed the book, and flung it through the air. It smacked off the wall and fell on the stone floor.