Keeper of the Flame (25 page)

Drake laughed at her teasing introduction and smiled when she did, reaching forward to shake Father Gregor’s hand when he offered it. When he turned to Hugh, they exchanged a more hearty greeting. After all, they’d grown up together. Drake had been friend to all the princes when he lived in the Castle Lair with his parents.

Father Gregor made the official greetings and invited them into the tower. Hugh was glad the older man had apparently picked up on his desire to get them under cover. The two-legged folk entered first, allowing the dragons and gryphon to bring up the rear.

They paused on the wide ramp as soon as everyone was within. Father Gregor turned to address the newcomers.

“It is our tradition that none may enter the temple grounds without first being tested by the eternal flame. The flame rests at the bottom of this tower and you must all pass through it before you may proceed farther. Perhaps your colleague, Prince Hugh, can answer any concerns?” Gregor turned to Hugh and politely allowed him to take point on the issue with his landsmen and their guests.

“I have tasted this flame,” Hugh assured the dragons and knights. “It welcomed me as I have no doubt it will welcome you.”

“It is a magical flame?” Liam asked, his pale face showing only interest.

“It is the flame of the goddess we serve,” the High Priest added helpfully.

“Then we need never fear it,” Reliendor said confidently. “We alsso sserve the goddessss.”

“Thank you for allowing us to conduct the rest of the introductions inside, Father,” Hugh said to the High Priest. “As you know, not all of those circling gryphons may be trusted.”

Father Gregor frowned in agreement and turned to the rest of the party for further introductions. Lera also looked expectantly at the newcomers.

“The pair of bookends you see are two of my many brothers. Collin and Treymayne are just after me in age, fourth and fifth in line for the throne.”

“Our brother, King Roland sends greetings to the Doge, and our compliments as well, to you, milady. And to you, Father Gregor,” Collin started.

“Thank you for making us welcome,” Trey finished. They often finished each other’s sentences. Hugh had gotten used to it over the years.

Hugh went on with the introductions. “Let’s see, the quiet knight back there is Sir Mace and his dragon partner, Sir Nellin. Both Drake and Mace grew up with us in the Castle Lair, so I’ve known them both most of my life, as I know their dragon partners. They are all close friends and newly mated to Lady Krysta.”

As he mentioned her, she stepped forward. “My father, Rulu, former leader of the Wayfarer Clan of the Jinn sends his greetings, milady.”

“Krysta Vonris?” Lera surprised Hugh by asking.

“Yes, milady,” Krysta answered with a smile. “My father will be pleased that you remember our family. He always speaks of his many years in Helios fondly.”

“Where is he now?” Lera wanted to know.

“He has settled in the new part of Castleton. My sister, Malin, leads the Clan now and continues to gather them for the move to Draconia.”

“We’d heard a little about the Jinn disappearing from our land, but nobody seems to know where they’re all going,” Lera said.

Krysta smiled. “All the Clans are gathering in Draconia. Our Queen has been found and a time foretold in prophecy is upon us.”

“Queen?” Lera seemed really surprised.

“My new sister-in-law, Riki,” Hugh put in. “They made Nico King-Consort of the Jinn and his wife is their Queen.”

“So the Prince of Spies is now King of the Jinn?” Lera addressed her question to Hugh.

“A ceremonial title only, so he assures us,” Hugh said, rolling his eyes.

“And soon you’ll be sharing my throne,” she said as their gazes locked. For a moment it felt like they were the only two people in the world.

“Wait a minute,” Trey said.

“What’s this?” Collin asked, finishing the thought.

Hugh was brought back to reality. “Uh…Lera and I…”

“You don’t say.” Trey grinned, as did the rest of the group.

“Another royal sister-in-law?” Collin teased. “You’re putting a lot of pressure on us.”

“Where are we going to find a couple of princesses?” Trey laughed at his own joke.

“None are likely to have you, that’s for certain,” Hugh teased back good-naturedly.

His brothers stepped forward to pound him on the back in congratulations.

“We look forward to getting to know our new sister,” Collin said, grinning from ear to ear.

Lera took their enthusiastic congratulations well, though Hugh noticed neither of the twins were comfortable enough with her to give her a hug or kiss. They’d only just met, of course. And she was the ruler of a country. This older set of twins had always been a lot more aware of what was polite and what wasn’t than some of their other brothers. All in all, they were a good choice for this mission. They wouldn’t inadvertently insult anyone if they could help it, as some of his younger brothers might.

But they’d soon learn that Lera was the perfect mate for their brother. They’d learn to love her and welcome her warmly into the family. Hugh was certain of it. They just had to be around her a bit more to learn more about her.

Providing, of course, they could nullify the threat of the Eyes. Which reminded him…

“Actually, you could be of help. Lera’s life is in danger.”

That got everyone’s attention in short order.

“What sort of danger?” Drake asked, moving closer, Mace and Krysta flanking him.

“Eyes,” Lera answered. Drake and Krysta both frowned. Hugh found their reaction interesting. Both of them seemed to know more about these Eyes than Hugh did.

“What are Eyes?” Collin asked.

“Assassins of the highest caliber,” Drake answered. “They originate in the Kingdom of Talinor, across the sea. They get a new tattoo for each person they kill. The masters of their cult have eyes tattooed on their faces and all over their bodies.”

“We have killed three with those markings already,” Hugh was proud to state.

“Impressive,” Krysta said with what appeared to be genuine admiration. “Do you know who hired them?”

“My cousin, Sendra,” Lera admitted. “But let’s get you into the hall, where we can sit and discuss this more comfortably. I’m sure you’re fatigued from your long trip here. You must all pass before the flame, but I don’t think any of you will have a problem. At least, Hugh doesn’t think you will. The eternal fire welcomed him readily. I believe it will do the same for you.”

Lera turned and started slowly down the wide ramp, indicating that everyone else should follow. Hugh stayed at her side, knowing she was disturbed by talk of the assassins still on her trail. He didn’t want to upset her, but he knew the situation had to be forced to a head so as to eradicate it.

“Did you have a quiet flight?” Hugh asked his brothers, who loped along beside him.

“Quiet enough,” Collin answered with a shrug.

“To think, Rol and Nico were worried about you, and here you’ve been wooing a beautiful maiden all this time,” Trey teased. He could always be counted upon to lighten a situation.

“If you call fighting assassins and fleeing for your life wooing,” Lera answered with a rueful shake of her head.

“Hey, whatever works,” Trey quipped. Hugh punched him on the shoulder, but not too hard.

They made quick progress down the spiraling ramp. Hugh could see the surreptitious looks everyone was giving the flame down below. He understood how they felt. Only the day before he’d never seen anything like the Lady’s eternal fire. Now, it almost felt like an old friend.

“Is it dangerous?” Collin asked, nodding toward the flame they could now see at the bottom of the chamber.

“It can be, if one has evil intent. The Order of Light serves the goddess. The magic of the eternal flame is Hers alone, though it has been entrusted to the priests of this order. If Her flame sees evil in a being’s heart, it can burn. It can injure or even kill, but that happens only rarely. Those of evil intent seldom come voluntarily to the temple. They know the flame will see into their hearts and they avoid its judgment.”

“Good thing we’re on the same side then,” Collin observed.

“It kind of tickles at first,” Hugh told his brothers. He was so glad to have them here. Even if there was danger—no, especially if there was danger—he couldn’t ask for better men to fight at his side than his brothers and the knights and dragons they partnered. “Don’t worry. You’ll all do fine.”

They arrived at the foot of the ramp in short order, and the High Priest demonstrated the path the visitors should take.

“Let the dragons go first,” Hugh counseled.

Nellin was the first to move, walking bravely toward the unknown fire. Jenet followed, with Mace, Drake and Krysta not far behind. As expected, the flame licked out and Hugh watched it embrace Nellin for a moment, seeming to welcome him like a long-lost friend. It did the same with Jenet and she rustled her wings happily before moving along to make room for the others. She and her mate waited by the large, arched doorway for the rest of the party. Hugh felt reassured to have them here. The more dragons to protect his lady, the better.

When Mace and then Krysta walked before the eternal flame, it engulfed them slightly more than Hugh had seen it take any human, but when Drake entered the area, it completely enveloped him. Hugh started forward, but Drake’s voice came to him in his mind.

“Fear not, my prince. The magic meets and feeds my own. All is well.”

For a moment, Hugh had almost forgotten that Drake was a Firedrake, who had the ability to call fire and control it. It was Drake’s heritage, shared among his family. Their visit to the Wizard Gryffid had awakened Drake’s dormant magic—a residue from his ancestry. Gryffid had revealed that Drake was a descendant of the Wizard Draco, who had the same abilities. Draco had been the very first Firedrake.

Apparently the Lady’s eternal flame recognized his fiery quality and reveled in it.

“It likes him and his partners,” Lera observed. “I’ve never seen a man so fully engulfed.”

“Drake is special,” was all Hugh would say in public. It was Drake’s secret to reveal, if he so chose.

“Fire is something gryphons are always wary of. Are you certain this will be safe for my colleague?” Liam asked politely, coming up beside them.

At that point, Hyadror, who had landed behind the rest of the party, moved forward.

“Allow me to demonstrate,” the gryphon said, moving swiftly toward the fire. It sent out a gentle iridescent tendril of greeting to him, which he bravely faced before moving forward to join the dragons by the door.

Not to be outdone, the foreign gryphon followed him. The flame embraced him a little longer than the previous gryphon, with smoky, iridescent wisps of gentle magical glow that did not burn. Reliendor handled it well, shaking his feathers as he emerged unharmed on the other side of the gauntlet. There was no doubt he was a brave creature, willing to take risks, who kept his cool under uncertain circumstances. The eternal fire had showed them that much at least.

Liam went next. He paused before the fire, seeming to examine it as it examined him. Cheeky of him, Hugh thought privately. But the eternal flame kept glowing cheerfully, whirling happily around the fey diplomat before retreating once more. The twins went next, greeted much as Hugh had been by the tendrils of sacred fire. Hugh and Lera went after them, followed by the remainder of the priests who’d been up on the tower as honor guard.

It was a large group that headed across the courtyard into the main temple, but they were soon settled in the great hall. It was the only room big enough to hold all of them—two-legged and four-legged alike.

Before the princes and knights were seated, they shared a more informal greeting with Hugh. A lot of back pounding and manly hugs were distributed among them, and it was clear to Lera that the two knights and her new mate were old friends.

She found herself observing them as Krysta came up beside her. Without realizing it, she had drawn slightly away from the rest of the group, so the two women were essentially alone, off to one side. The priests were busy organizing seating for the newcomers, Father Gregor directing them while speaking privately with the fey diplomat.

“You’ll have to pardon the boys, milady,” said the Jinn woman. “They like to trade war stories when they haven’t seen each other in a while. They won’t say it, but I know my mates have been worried about Prince Hugh. He is not the first of the royal princes to find himself in distant lands, but of them all, Hugh has never been very good at blending in—or so my men tell me.”

Lera had to chuckle at that. “No, he’ll never be very good at espionage, but that’s only part of what I love about him. Far too many people in my life have ulterior motives. It’s refreshing to know that he would never be able to pull something like that off.”

“Then in the interest of full disclosure, I would make it known to you that I am the Spymaster of the Wayfarer Clan.”

Lera turned to her companion in utter surprise.

“Please, milady, this is something I disclose to you alone, since I can be of help in your current situation. Plus, I’ve married into the world of dragons and knights.” She looked fondly at her family—the men and dragons standing a short distance away. “I find my world utterly changed by finding my mates. My cause is their cause. Our purposes run together and if at some point they diverged, my loyalties would be first with my new family, not my old one. But I can’t see that happening. The Jinn are now more strongly allied with Draconia and its inhabitants than they have ever been before.”