Keeper of the Flame (35 page)

“Reconciliation?” Sendra laughed, and it wasn’t a pretty sound. “The only way there can be peace between us, cousin, is if you are dead. Then we’ll be reconciled.”

“I’m sorry to hear you say that.” Lera’s voice held her sorrow and Hugh knew it to be real.

He signaled Mace, Drake and Krysta silently and, quick as a thought, Sendra was surrounded. No one from the manor seemed to want to come to her rescue or pit themselves against the warriors and chaos in the courtyard. The few that had fled were most likely in the custody of the perimeter guard gryphons and priests. The rest seemed to have taken one look at the dragons and decided to stay hidden inside the manor house.

Sendra was trapped outside, in the open, surrounded by armed and dangerous warriors. She looked around as if for some route of escape but seemed to understand that she was well and truly captured.

Hugh felt the gathering of Lera’s power behind him and knew she was calling the eternal flame. It felt warm at his back and tickled his own inner dragon magic in a friendly way.

But the flame would not be so friendly to Sendra. That he knew for a fact.

“As Keeper of the flame, I have several questions to ask you, Sendra, traitor to your Doge and your land.” Lera’s voice held the power of her magic.

“I should be Doge,” Sendra raged. “Not you, Valeria. You were always too weak for it. You didn’t deserve it.”

“Perhaps not. Nevertheless, I
am
the Doge and you will obey me. If not, you will suffer the consequences,” Lera snapped, her temper clearly gaining the upper hand for the moment. Hugh didn’t blame her. This cousin of hers was truly a nasty piece of work.

“I’ll hire more Eyes. You’ll be dead!” Sendra shrieked, clearly irrational in her anger.

“How many, Sendra? How many Eyes did you send to kill me?”

Hugh felt an odd shift in the magic of the flame and was surprised to see little tendrils of that purple, pink and orange phosphorescence develop around Sendra’s body, seeming to come out of nowhere to wrap and twine around her body in loose wisps.

This, then, was what it looked like to be questioned under the influence of the eternal flame. Hugh had heard about it but hadn’t seen it done to a human being before. The way the magic wrapped around Sendra was fascinating. He could almost feel it compelling the truth from her lying lips as she struggled against it.

“Three!” she shouted suddenly, seemingly against her will. “I paid three. And you killed them all. Somehow.” Sendra seemed both enraged and puzzled at how Lera had managed that amazing feat.

Hugh was gratified by the true number of assassins. They had indeed killed them all.

“Did you contact any others to do the job when those three failed?” Lera persisted asking her questions as the little licks of flame still enveloped her cousin.

“I tried, but with no success. I will hire more Eyes given the first opportunity.” The words were coming easier now, less shrill as the eternal flame did its work and compelled the truth from Sendra’s lips.

“How long have you wanted my position, Sendra?” Lera’s voice was less powerful as she momentarily succumbed to her own emotions.

“From the moment I first understood what it meant. You were seven and I was twelve. Foreign ambassadors gave you gifts. The old man from Jirahal gave you a pony and I wanted it. Nobody ever gave me things like that.”

“Sendra, your family was wealthy. You are one of the richest women in the land. You could have anything you want.” Lera’s voice cracked.

“I want the throne.” Sendra’s avarice sounded in her nasty words, for all to hear.

Lera paused and seemed to gather her strength. Hugh wanted to go to her, to put his arms around her and support her, but there were many reasons that would be the wrong move. For one, he was her main line of defense should someone find a way to attack her in this dangerous situation. He also had to let her stand on her own against her cousin.

He hoped she knew he would be there for her if she needed him, but he didn’t want to rush in and appear to be doing her thinking for her. She was the Doge. She had to be strong. He would be the silent strength that supported her when she needed it. Just as she was his. It was for her to decide how publicly she wanted to acknowledge that fact, considering some might see it as a sign of weakness in a woman in her position. He would take his cue from her. So far, she was holding up remarkably well.

“You cannot have the throne, Sendra,” Lera said at last, regret clear in her tone. Regret and fatigue. “You will stand trial for what you have done.” Lera released the magic that held her cousin in place, calling it back.

Hugh nodded at Mace and Drake. They moved forward to take Sendra into custody, binding her hands and leading her away.

Hugh turned to Lera just as one of the gryphons managed to claw Jenet in the one vulnerable spot on a dragon—the softer skin where the wing joined the body. The scales were smaller and less dense there to allow freedom of movement for flight. Jenet roared as her blood spilled over the ground and moved just enough for the male gryphon, Ylianthror, to escape her hold.

“Col! Trey! Where in the hells are you?”
Hugh shouted in their minds as he went to Lera, transforming his body into that of his dragon.

Hugh sheltered Lera under his wings while the male gryphon made a run at Lera, talons outstretched. He didn’t make a sound when sharp claws tried to make a hit on his shoulder, much like they’d done to Jenet. Hugh’s body shuddered, but he kept Lera out of reach of the feathered menace.

“We were checking the barn in case there were more gryphons,”
Collin answered.

“Shit!”
Trey added as the twins reappeared and saw what had happened.

It was already too late. Ylianthror dove on the male dragon, Nellin, as he tried to hold the struggling female gryphon. The emissary interceded, putting herself between Ylianthror and Nellin, but Xerata managed to roll unexpectedly and claw her way free. Nellin wasn’t as damaged in the escape as his mate had been and he launched into the sky after the two gryphons, flaming as he went.

The twins jumped skyward after them, as did the emissary, and between them, the three dragons and cat-faced gryphon managed to herd the two traitorous gryphons with flame and flashing claws as the sky began to lighten from the east.

“Bring them back if you can,” Lera said, peeking out from under Hugh’s wing.

“We can fight them in the sky. They can’t be faster than my brothers and they’re susceptible to our flame.”

“They need to be questioned and then judged by the eternal flame, Hugh. That’s the only way to do this. If they fall in battle, we’ll never know if they’re the only two involved with Sendra. And they must answer for what they did to Miss. They are her parents.”

“And they threw her away. As far as I’m concerned, they lost all right to call themselves her family when they threw her out into the storm to die.”

Hugh was wary as he kept a careful eye on their surroundings. Krysta and Mace had charge of Sendra while Drake did his best to help his dragon partner, Jenet. Hugh couldn’t see much, but Jenet’s wound looked bad. It had to be. If it were a flyable injury, she would be in the sky with the others.

“I can help the dragon,” Lera said. “She is badly injured.”

Hugh kept vigilant, scanning the skies and the ground, keeping one eye on the chase and one eye on those around them. Sendra struggled, but Mace and Krysta had her under control. Mace was tying her hands and feet while Krysta held her still. Or as still as possible. Drake was trying to stop Jenet’s bleeding. He had been raised with the dragon. They were siblings and Hugh knew Drake would not rest until he was sure Jenet would survive. If Jenet were to die of her wounds…Hugh didn’t even want to think about it.

“All right. Stay as close as you can to me. We’ll go over, but don’t run out ahead of me. Got it?”

“Got it,” Lera agreed. “Let’s go.”

Hugh took a quick glance at Lera’s expression. Her face was filled with resolve and a calm sort of seriousness that boded well for how she was dealing with this chaotic situation. He was still concerned for her safety, but she was handling each new curve of this evolving situation better than he’d expected.

They made their way to Jenet and Drake with deliberate, coordinated steps. Hugh didn’t want Lera exposed to the air for even a moment, if he could help it. Those damned gryphons could dive like raptors and if they saw her as a target, they just might make a try for her. Hugh wouldn’t let them succeed.

“Drake,” Lera called out as they neared the struggling dragon and frantic knight. “Let me help her.”

Hugh kept watch as he felt Lera draw upon her magic and send it into the grievous wound on Jenet’s shoulder. He wasn’t surprised when the magical flame manifested around them all, coming from he and Lera and going to the injured dragon. Hugh felt the intention of the outpouring of energy and knew if Lera had anything to say about it, Jenet would live to fly again, regardless of how much blood she’d lost or how grievous her wound.

Even before the magical flames had fully done their work on Jenet, a horrible screech sounded above them. Hugh looked up to see one of the gryphons falling from the sky, its tail feathers on fire. Nellin or one of his brothers had gotten close enough to singe that one badly and it was having a hard time staying in the air.

In fact, the air flowing over the embers only made things worse. The gryphon—the female, Hugh could see now—was spiraling downward at an alarming rate. She landed in the courtyard with a crash and the unmistakable crunch of bones. He could tell without even examining her that she wouldn’t be flying again anytime soon. If ever.

As the magical flame around them faded, Jenet stretched her wing cautiously. She was weak from losing blood but whole once more, Hugh was glad to see. Drake looked relieved for a moment before his gaze turned to the fallen gryphon.

“We should not fly, but I think we can secure the female. What do you say, sweetheart?” he asked his newly healed dragon partner.

Jenet agreed and the duo walked slowly over to the unmoving gryphon. Hugh wanted to keep Lera away from the female gryphon in case she was still dangerous, but Lera followed and wouldn’t be dissuaded.

Hugh kept an eye on the sky. The dragons were able to herd Ylianthror more effectively now that their attention wasn’t divided, but the gryphon was proving a more difficult capture than he’d expected. He evaded the dragons’ fire skillfully and to Hugh it looked like the emissary was holding back, observing. Perhaps she was judging her best angle of attack? He wasn’t sure, but she was observing more than participating. Hugh found that interesting.

“Xerata,” Lera called in a strong voice—the strongest Hugh had heard yet from her. This was the Keeper, calling one of the gryphons she was responsible for to task.

The female gryphon’s head lolled to one side, responding. Incredibly, she was still conscious. Hugh kept Lera well away from the gryphon’s claws and out of reach of her wings—though he strongly suspected both wings were broken in several places after that horrific fall.

“I accept your judgment, Keeper.” The gryphon’s pained whisper surprised Hugh. She was conceding victory?

“I haven’t judged you yet, Xerata. There can be no judgment without a few answers first.”

The gryphon whimpered as she tried to lift her head, then gave up the effort.

“I will ansswer,” she replied as her breath came in pained pants.

Hugh felt the magic build again. The flavor of it was different this time. More intense.

“Did you conspire with your mate, Ylianthror, against the Doge?” The question had the force of Lera’s unique magic behind it.

“Yess. I could not sstop him.” Xerata’s pain was evident in every ragged breath.

Her answer made Hugh pause. Lera too. It was unexpected.

“Did you want to stop him?” Lera asked in a much softer voice.

“I…” Xerata gasped. “I don’t ssuposse it matterss anymore. I did not want any of thiss.”

“You didn’t want to get caught? Or you didn’t want to turn traitor against me?” Lera’s questions became more impassioned.

“Neither.”

Lera paused, taking a step back both figuratively and physically. She bumped into Hugh’s shoulder, as if for support. He wished he dared change back to his human shape so he could hold her in his arms, but this form was safer for now. With so many large creatures about, being in human form was a distinct disadvantage.

“They why?” Lera’s voice was weaker now, showing her emotion more than before.

“Ssendra sstruck a deal with my mate. He wanted power. He wanted to lead all gryphonss.” Xerata grew more fatigued with every word, her eyes showing the intense pain she was in. Hugh felt sorry for her, but he wouldn’t let Lera near the potentially dangerous creature. “He would be king of our kind,” Xerata added with disdain in her voice that Hugh felt could not be faked.

She was being questioned under Lera’s magic. The flame didn’t touch her volatile feathers, but its magic influenced the gryphon. She could not lie. Not under this kind of questioning.

“Did you not want to be his queen?” Lera persisted, stronger now.

“I could not dissobey my mate. I jusst wanted him to be happy. When the egg wass warming, he began to get ideass about a dynassty. Then, when it hatched and it wass…wrong, he ssaid…missborn…” The gryphon’s voice trailed off painfully.