The Dragon and the Dreamwalker (Elemental Series) (22 page)

“Asad will instruct you in how to care for weapons in the armory today.”

Drake felt dazed as he walked out of the weapons room, out into the sunlight. He hurried down the steps to the courtyard, with Asad running after him talking as he tried to keep up with Drake’s pace.

“To where are you headed, my lord?”

“The stables,” he answered. “Is Gollimer saddled?”

“He is. I made sure to brush and feed him too.”

“Good,” said Drake making his way toward the stall. “I’ll be gone most the day, so keep Calais out of trouble. Tell my steward to give the head cook orders to serve the meals without me if I’ve yet to arrive in time.”

“Shouldn’t I tell Lady Brynn to give the cook the order? After all, she is in charge when you’re away, now that she is your wife.”

“Lady Brynn can’t seem to show up regularly for a meal. I can’t count on her. Tell the steward as I’ve instructed, and if I’m not back by nightfall, raise the drawbridge anyway. The Klarens may still be lurking about. They won’t give up until they have what they want.”

“Which is what?” asked Asad.

“The witch,” he said. “They killed Brynn’s parents trying to get to her. They’ll be back as soon as they get word she’s my wife.”

“Aye, my lord.”

Drake found Gollimer in the stables and took the reins and mounted. “Don’t let Brynn leave the castle while I’m away.”

“I’ll watch after her, my lord. You can count on me.”

Drake nodded, and mounted Gollimer. He couldn’t shake the bad feeling about Calais. There was something about Calais that had to do with his nightmare, he was sure, but just couldn’t remember.

“Asad?”

“Aye, my lord.”

“Keep an eye on Calais as well. Let me know everything he does and everywhere he goes. Especially if it’s anywhere near Brynn.”

“My lord? Are you suggesting . . . ”

“I am  not suggesting anything. I don’t know why I feel this way, but just keep an eye on him and find out anything you can about his past. If the man’s to be my squire I have to know that I can trust him.”

“Aye, my lord.”

Drake felt an urge to get away. None of this made any sense and he needed to be alone to think for awhile. He knew exactly where he had to go to do it.

Chapter 17

Brynn watched from her chamber window as Drake charged over the drawbridge on his horse. Everything about him said he was angry. The way he kicked his heels into Gollimer, the way he leaned forward on his mount, and even the way his cloak billowed behind him in the breeze said his anger was peaked again.

It was a dreary day as usual, and Brynn felt dreary inside herself. When would they see the sun again? When would the birds fill the air with song and the flowers fill her senses with soft, sweet scent?

Her home wasn’t a home anymore. Everything had changed since Drake stormed the castle and its occupants gave up their lives. This was no longer her sanctuary. This was now her prison. She was trapped in a relationship with a man they called
Dragon’s Son
and she knew nothing about him.

“Hold still, my lady,” instructed Birdie as she braided Brynn’s long hair. Brynn continued to watch out the window until Drake was no longer in sight.

“Birdie, you’ve been my handmaiden for a while now. Not to mention, my friend.”

“Aye, my lady, I have.”

“You’ve also been under the command of Lord Dunsbard since he’s claimed the castle.”

“Aye.” Her fingers slowed in her work as she listened.

“You hear the talk around the courtyard and in the bakehouse, I’m sure.”

“You know I do.”

“Then tell me, what do you know about Drake?”

Birdie finished the braid which hung down Brynn’s back. She anxiously joined Brynn on the bed, her eyes wide with information.

“Everyone fears Lord Dunsbard, as well as myself. He has a reputation of being mean, demanding and uncompromising.”

“That I know, Birdie. Isn’t there anything else you can tell me about his past?”

“I don’t know much, my lady. Except what I heard from the old woman who works in the kitchens who used to be Drake’s mother’s servant at one time.”

“His mother?” Brynn turned abruptly and looked at the girl. For some reason, she’d never thought of Drake as having a mother. When a man was as dark a warrior as Drake, no one even considered he had a kind, gentle mother somewhere. It just didn’t seem right. “Where is his mother? Is she still back in Dunsbard?”

“Nay, my lady.” Birdie shook her head furiously.

“Then where is she? Did something happen to her?”

Birdie’s face reflected terror and she just shook her head.

“Birdie, you can tell me. You don’t need to be frightened.” She laid a hand on the girl’s shoulder.

“Nay, we cannot speak of the lord’s parents or we will perish. Please do not ask me again.”

“Parents?” she asked. “So he has a father somewhere too. He’s never mentioned either one of them. I just assumed they were dead.”

Brynn walked over to the fire, careful not to step on the burnt pieces of her father’s banner that still lay placed together on the hearth. The fire burned and she held out her hands to the flames. She regained her strength and energy from the flame. After last night’s
dreamwalking
, she felt she needed to be recharged.

“You don’t need to fear him so, Birdie. He has a kind side to him - an amusing humorous side he doesn’t let many see.” She stared into the fire when she spoke, thinking of how hard he tried to woo her. “He also has a gentle, caring side he keeps hidden. Under that warrior armor there is a man who can love, if only he’d try.”

“My lady!” Birdie jumped from the bed and joined Brynn near the fire. “You almost sound as if you’re falling in love with Lord Dunsbard. Is this true?”

Brynn’s heart jumped at the thought. Could Birdie be right? Could she actually feel love for a man as horrible as
The Dragon
? She shook her head, willing the feeling to leave and her senses to return. She had to remember what he’d done. She had to remember she planned on overthrowing Drake somehow and reclaiming her father’s castle as her own.

“Of course not,” Brynn scolded her. “I know what kind of man Lord Dunsbard is, and I will never allow myself to be taken in by the likes of him. Now tell me, Birdie, do you know why they call him
The Dragon’s Son
?”

“Nay, my lady, I do not. I believe a few of the servants know, but they are too frightened to speak of it.” Birdie’s voice trembled, and Brynn knew the girl was probably too frightened to listen to it, if it had been told. After all, she believed if she spoke of
The Dragon’s
parents, she would perish. She couldn’t blame Birdie, because Drake’s reputation was indeed frightening. She decided not to question her further, but to try to find out about Drake on her own.

“Thank you Birdie, you are dismissed. I don’t believe I’ll be needing you for the rest of the day.” Brynn unbraided her hair, liking the way it felt loose.

“My lady, a married woman is supposed to wear her hair up or braided, never loose.”

“I don’t care,” Brynn said, running her fingers through the tangles. “I like it this way.”

“Aye, but I fear Lord Dunsbard will not.”

“Do not worry what Lord Dunsbard will think.”

“But….he will be angry, my lady. He will reprimand me for not braiding your hair.”

Brynn could see Birdie was truly upset by the idea. She lived in fear of the man.

“Birdie, has Lord Dunsbard ever hurt you?”

Her eyes met Brynn’s in the process. “Well, no, my lady.”

“Then perhaps his growl is worse than his claws.”

“Aye, my lady.” The girl’s eyes were downcast, and it was clear she didn’t agree with Brynn.

“You are dismissed.”

“Thank you, my lady.” She threw the hairbrush down on the bed and ran from the room.

Brynn turned back toward the fire, wondering what secrets Drake held in his past. She had to find out, but she’d never get information from any of his servants. They feared him too much to even speak of him behind his back. Even Birdie, who couldn’t keep a secret, wasn’t going to give Brynn the information she needed.

She reached into the fire and held up a glowing ember. Its orange cast warmed her hand and gave her the strength she needed to try to accomplish her task.

“I wish to know where Drake is headed,” she said, looking into the ember. Scrying was an ability her mother had used often, but of which Brynn had little experience. It still didn’t work for Brynn as it had for her mother. She saw nothing but the glowing wood in her hand. She put back the ember, unburned as always. She looked at her father’s torn banner and knew it was her duty to find out all there was to know about the man who was responsible for so many deaths. Why did he come to find her? Why did they call him
The Dragon’s Son
? She had many questions and it was time they were answered. But first she had to find Drake.

She brushed off her hands and headed outside. She would borrow a horse and look for him herself. She would have taken her own horse or that of her father’s, but they were stolen by the Klarens when they attacked. She made her way to the stables where she ordered a stable boy to saddle up a horse. Drake had left and she’d be free to go where she pleased now.

“Lady Brynn? Where are you going?” Asad walked up with Calais at his side. Not at all what she wanted to see. She had the sinking feeling that Asad would be the one to stop her.

“Out for a ride,” she smiled.

“By yourself?” He studied her intently. A woman was supposed to have an escort. It wasn’t safe to go out alone and she knew Asad was probably under instruction from Drake not to let her leave.

“Oh, that’s right,” she laughed, looking out to the courtyard wondering what she was going to say. “I did see Drake leaving earlier, however I know the woods like the back of my hand. I’m only going out to collect some herbs. I’ll be fine alone.”

“I’d be happy to escort her,” Calais told Asad. “After all, if I’m to be the lord’s squire soon, I should start protecting his lady.” He smiled, and Brynn sickened when she saw his rotting teeth.

“I’m still his squire,” said Asad. “I’ll escort her wherever she needs to go.”

Brynn knew she’d never be able to leave the castle’s walls now. If only she’d been a little earlier.

“I think I’ll stay after all. I wouldn’t want to upset Drake if I go riding without him.”

Asad looked at her suspiciously and she wondered if her lie was that obvious. Yet, she couldn’t very well follow Drake with them along. She’d have to find another way. She needed to find out where he went so she could find out more about him.

“Where is my lord husband off to this day?” she asked with the reverence of a doting wife.

“He didn’t say,” answered Asad. “But he did say he may not be back for awhile.”

“Oh?” she prodded. “Then mayhap he’s traveling far? On a mission from the king perhaps?”

“I don’t think so,” said Asad. “If that was so, he’d have taken me along. I do believe he’s gone up to the cliffs of Lornoon again. He tends to spend time there when things are bothering him.”

That’s all Brynn needed to hear. Now she just needed to find another way to leave without Asad noticing.

“I do believe I’ll wander out to the orchards,” she said nonchalantly.

“Hungry?” Calais asked with a grin.

“Disgusted,” she answered, directing her comment to Calais. “The stench of these stables seems to have gotten quite strong all of a sudden.”
 

* * *

Drake stopped his horse when he’d gotten to the top of the steep crag. The cave was just up ahead. He could see its open mouth waiting for him in the distance. Gollimer didn’t like being so close to the cave and showed his displeasure with a snort and a stamp of the foot and a tug of the reins.

“Then stay here,” said Drake tying him to a tree. “I never asked you to like it.”

He made his way to the cave opening, gripping the hilt of his sword for reassurance. He’d always come here to find solace, though there was always an air of danger about the place. He never understood it, but knew this was somewhere he had to be.

He glanced over his shoulder, searching the cliffs for anyone who may have followed him. This place was secret and he couldn’t risk that one of his enemies may find it. He looked at Thorndale Castle far in the distance, wondering if Brynn was awake yet. A dark cloud seemed to be hanging over the castle and he couldn’t help but feel he was to blame.

He slipped inside, sword at the ready, making his way past the stone gargoyles that guarded the entranceway. His father had put them there long ago. This cave was a favorite place of Aurelius Pendragon. That should have been enough to make Drake want to stay away, but it wasn’t. This place was his mother’s favorite as well, and that would override any of the evil his father had done.

It was cold and dark inside, and Drake wished he’d had thought to bring a torch. He remembered the bathing pond inside, fed by a hot spring. His mother had always gone there when things bothered her. She’d talk to ghosts or the dead or something of the sort, saying she could see them in the water. Drake never once questioned it. He’d been seeing her do it since he was a young boy, and it seemed natural to him.