The Dragon and the Dreamwalker (Elemental Series) (39 page)

“That’s not true!” she cried. “Drake cares naught for me. He won’t come.”

“We’ll just see about that,” snarled Calais. “Now let’s find a messenger to take the news to Drake that his bride is in peril.”

Just as he said that, the old addlepated man stirred from under the hay. The Klaren holding the knife to Brynn’s throat removed it, pulling the old man out into view.

“How’s this?” he asked, holding the bony man up by the scruff of his tunic.

“That’ll do just fine,” said Calais, laughing and nodding his head. “Just fine.”

* * *

Drake threw the last pile of dirt onto the grave and handed the shovel to Asad. Burgess had always been one of his strongest knights. Drake thought he, himself, would die before this man did. Funny how fate took a rotten turn.

“My brother was frightened by you, my lord,” said the younger knight, Broderick. “He always respected you, but your anger is what turned him against you.”

“What do you mean? How could that be?” asked Drake, plummeting the wooden cross into the ground.

“If you’ll pardon my brashness, my lord, may I speak freely?” asked Sir Broderick.

Asad and Drake exchanged glances. To speak freely was seldom requested of one’s lord.

“Aye, please do.” Drake was still leery of the man. Though he’d released him to help bury his brother, Drake had every intention of putting him back in the dungeon when they’d finished.

“Burgess always thought you were connected to Dracus somehow. He said your anger is what fed the beast. I never believed him, my lord, honest I didn’t. But his words made sense when the dragon always appeared at your darkest disposition.”

Drake wondered how he had been so blind for so long. Brynn had told him the same thing. How was it that so many others could see the truth, but yet Drake was oblivious to the fact that his father, Dracus, acted only through Drake’s own emotions?

“Your brother may have spoken more truth than you believe,” Drake told him.

“Then you are connected to Dracus, my lord?”

“The dragon is my father. I plan to kill him off soon. My men and I have been waiting for him to appear throughout the night.”

“Then may I come with you to prove my loyalty, my lord? I’d like to fight at your side to defeat Dracus.”

Drake’s head told him not to trust the man. He’d betrayed him once, what was stopping him from doing it again? He looked to the ground at the grave, and felt the waste of a good knight. In a way he was responsible for the man’s death. Had he helped him with his wounds instead of throwing him into the dungeon, Burgess might have lived.

“For your brother’s sake, I’ll give you another chance.”

“Thank you, my lord. You will not regret your decision.”

“Would that I could be so certain.”

“My lord?” Birdie, shyly walked up to meet them.

“Yes, Birdie? Are you here to inform me as to where Brynn has disappeared?”

Birdie nodded and looked to the ground. “She’s gone to Lornoon. To find you, I believe.”

“To Lornoon? By herself?” he asked. “Doesn’t she know how dangerous that is?”

“The three of them went,” she told him.

“What three? Explain yourself.”

“Juturna and the old addlepated man.”

Drake just now realized that the old man hadn’t been in the cell when he removed his dead knight. Brynn had released only one prisoner. The one she’d told him wasn’t involved in the conspiracy against him. The old man who spouted nonsense about the dragon - about his father.

“Asad, I’m going to go find them.” Before his squire could answer, voices shouting from the courtyard announced the arrival of the old man driving the hay wagon like he was possessed, straight for them. He shouted nonsense at the top of his lungs which Drake couldn’t decipher.

“Whoa, whoa,” said Drake, holding his arms out to stop the horse. Asad and Broderick ran to help. When they’d gotten the horse calmed, Drake reached up and pulled the old man from the driver’s seat.

“What is it that possesses you, old man?” Drake growled. “Don’t you know there’s children that play in the courtyard? No one drives a wagon that fast through here.”

“They call the dragon,” the old man yelled, arms waving in every direction. “They wait for him. They have Brynn. They send me to bring the dragon to them.”

“They?” asked Drake. “They who? What is this nonsense you’re spouting, and where is my wife?”

“She waits at your jaws. She will be consumed unless you can stop it.”

“I think he means Lady Brynn,” shouted Birdie.

“Yes,” agreed Asad. “I believe she’s in trouble.”

“Is this true old man?” Drake grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. He swore he heard the man’s teeth rattle in his head. “Who has her? Who has Brynn?”

“His talons are three, so they be. But his sword he can wield with the claws that are free.”

“Talons are three?” asked Broderick. “That doesn’t make sense. Is he speaking about the dragon?”

“Nay.” Drake released him, looking out over the hills toward the sea. “He’s talking about Calais. The man missing two fingers. He’s using Brynn as a lure, and I think I know exactly where to find him.”

Drake stormed off toward Gollimer, jumping into the saddle and pulling back on the reins. The horse neighed and reared, pawing the air with his front hooves.

“Where has he taken her, my lord?” asked Asad.

“He’s taken her to Lornoon. He plans on sacrificing her to the dragon to try to break his curse, I am sure of it.”

“You’ll never get to her in time,” shouted Broderick.

“Yes, I will,” Drake said with certainty. “Calais won’t kill her until he knows I’ve arrived. He thinks he can feed me to the dragon as well.”

“I’m at your side,” said Asad, mounting his own horse. “If he’s with the Klarens, you may need help.”

“So am I,” said Broderick. “Just tell me what to do.”

“Alert the rest of my men to armor up and don their weapons,” he instructed the knight. “They know the way. Tell them I’m at the sacrificial stake among the cliffs of Lornoon.”

“I will, my lord.” Broderick ran off toward the bunkhouse.

“My lord, is it wise to leave your orders with a former traitor?” asked Asad.

“He was once loyal to me, having taken the vows of knighthood,” Drake reminded him.

“But he did betray you. How do you know he’ll even give the men the message?”

Drake watched Broderick running through the courtyard, making his way to the knights’ bunkhouse. Everything Asad said was true. He should never leave a command of going to battle with a traitor. But people could change. Brynn had showed him that. She had the opportunity to set the prisoners free and she didn’t. She’d once wanted to kill him, but now she risked her life to try to save him. He never believed in second chances before, but he, too, was starting to change.

“That’s the chance I’ll have to take,” he told Asad. “Now let’s be off. I need to save my wife.”

Chapter 32

Drake saw Brynn atop the rock, tied to the sacrificial stake even before he made it to Lornoon. Calais was standing next to her like a survivor, showing off his spoils of war. He spied them as soon as he started up the cliff, and when he got closer, he heard Brynn screaming to him.

“’Tis a trap, my lord. Go back! ’Tis a trap.”

Calais slapped her hard across the face and proceed to poke her in the side with the stick he used as a cane.

“Nay! Don’t hurt her.” Drake noticed the sky darkening and the wind picking up. He felt the urge to kill Calais for touching Brynn.

“I’m not alone,
Dragon’s Son
.” Calais laughed and gave a signal. Suddenly, they were surrounded on all sides by fierce, rugged men. Most were on foot, but the leaders were on horseback. Each one carried a dangerous weapon, be it a double-edged sword, a mace, spiked ball on a chain, or stick and sharp staves.

“Klarens!” cried Asad. “We’re surrounded.”

“Aye,” answered Drake, turning Gollimer in a circle to survey the situation. “I know them well.”

And indeed he did. He, at one time was the leader of the fierce Klarens. He had trained each of them personally, making them the vicious murderers they were. He had taught them to not only fight and conquer, but to hold no mercy for prisoners. He was the one who led them to battle, killing, pillaging, thinking the more possessions he gained, the more power he held. He wasn’t so certain anymore these beliefs were worth fighting for. Mayhap the
Dragon’s Son
had a change of heart. He didn’t want to follow in his father’s footsteps, as Brynn so generously pointed out he’d been doing all these years.

“What are we going to do?” Asad drew his sword, ready to protect his lord.

“We could use some archers about now,” remarked Drake.

“I told you not to trust Broderick. I knew it was a mistake.”

“It wasn’t a mistake, Asad. Every man needs to be trusted and respected at some time in order to have faith in himself. If I made the wrong choice, then I’ll die by that decision. I only regret that my decision will bring about your demise as well.”

Asad sat a bit straighter on the horse, proudly if Drake wasn’t mistaken. “Nay, my lord. I’ll fight to my death protecting you by my own wish.”

“Your loyalty is admirable, Asad. But I don’t think we’ll have to die after all.”

“My lord?”

“Hit me, Asad.”

“I could never.”

“Hit me, I say or I’ll strike you down dead where you sit.”

“I don’t understand. Why would you want me to do that?”

“Don’t ask questions. Now hit me hard. I want to feel your knuckles in my face to know I’m still alive.”

Drake angered when Asad was about to refuse, and reached over his horse and cuffed him with his own fist instead. Asad moved his head at the last minute, but was still grazed by Drake’s fist.

“You are serious, my lord.”

“I wouldn’t jest at a time like this. Now, damnation and hellfire, do as I say.”

“As you wish, my lord.”

Drake wasn’t expecting the fast, hard blow, as Asad reached over his horse and crashed his knuckles into Drake’s jaw. Drake went off balance, almost falling from Gollimer in the process. He brought his hand to his mouth to find his lip split and bleeding.

“I apologize, my lord. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Drake was impressed with his squire’s punch, but wouldn’t let him know it. “You hit like a woman, Asad. I don’t even know why I chose you to protect me. Now hit me again, and this time I want to feel it.”

Asad did as asked, this time knocking Drake from the horse entirely. Drake did nothing to stop his fall. He picked himself up, eyeing the Klarens who were still waiting to attack. The distraction had worked. The Klarens watched curiously, holding off their attack. He only hoped he could hold them off until his men arrived - if they arrived at all. Drake still had faith in Broderick. He needed to give his men more time. Suiting in armor wasn’t done quickly. He and Asad should have suited up also, but he hadn’t wanted to waste the time. He had to save Brynn.

The Klarens laughed at him, and he felt it down to his soul. Never would a one of them have laughed at him while he was their leader. Had they done that, he would have run them through with his sword two at a time. He felt the embarrassment and the rage brewing within him. His body ached and he hated Asad for making a fool of him. It was just the way he wanted it.

Asad stood at his side, reaching out a hand to help him to his feet. Drake took his hand, kicking him in the stomach before flipping him over his shoulder. Asad fell on his back with a thump, knocking the air from his lungs.

“My lord, had I known following your orders would make you so angry, I wouldn’t have obeyed.”

“Yes, you would. I want to be angry, and you haven’t made me angry enough. If we’re going to get out of this alive, we need Dracus to help us strengthen our odds.”

“Ah, I see your point.” Asad pushed up to his knees. “You want me to make you angry because you think Dracus may be connected to your emotions somehow. You think the dragon won’t come unless you’re angry and that’s why you’re asking me to hit you.”

“Your idle chatter is making me madder than that feeble attempt at a punch you dished out.”

No sooner had the words left his mouth, than Asad’s foot came up and smashed into Drake’s jaw.

“A sheik knows how to use his legs even better than his fists,” he told him.

Drake rubbed his jaw, seeing this was true, and bit his tongue in the process. His mouth dripped blood.

“Come,
sirrah
, is that the best you can use your legs? And you tell me you have a way with bedding a woman? I think it was all a pack of lies.” He gritted his teeth, feeling his anger growing with each punch from Asad, and every laugh from his former men. Brynn watched from atop the post, tears streaming down her eyes with every punch he took. Calais reached up to the post, rubbing his hand up and down Brynn’s leg. He then looked back to Drake to make sure he’d seen his action.