Keeper of the Flame (6 page)

“I mean no one of this land any harm,” Hugh unbent enough to explain.

“But you do mean harm to people of other lands?” One slim eyebrow rose as she picked apart his wording. Hugh had to chuckle.

“Only the people who would threaten Draconia.”

She sat back in her chair, a slight smile gracing her lovely face. “Now we come to it. You are a soldier of Draconia. It is no use denying it. You carry yourself like a warrior.”

“A warrior I am. I make no effort to hide it.” He had given up trying to hide his stature when he’d taken Miss to the inn. He hadn’t been very good at subterfuge anyway. Nico would be disappointed, but he’d also be the first to acknowledge that being a spy just wasn’t in Hugh’s nature.

“No, someone of your size and stature would have trouble pretending to be anything else. Unless maybe you wanted to pose as a blacksmith. You have the muscles for it.” Hugh noted with interest the way her gaze roved over his body.

He had little doubt she liked what she saw. Most females liked his shape and appreciated a well-built man. He took that as his due. But the flare of something more volcanic in her gaze heated his blood.

Was he imagining that little frisson of heat that went from her to him and back again? It almost felt like a caress…the way her energy reached out to him.

Her magic.

Damn. She was probing him magically and he hadn’t done anything to stop it. Well, that would end. Now.

As before, Hugh absorbed her magic, not allowing the energy to return to her with whatever information she had sought. He didn’t slap her down, merely allowed her energy to seep into him where it would not return. Her eyes widened and he grinned. She knew she’d been caught, so she backed down for now. He got the distinct impression she was only forfeiting this minor battle, not the war.

“Not fair, lady. I have made no effort to use my magic on you, yet you persist on trying your luck with me and those I protect.” He wagged a teasing finger in her direction.

She shrugged and sipped her tea. “You can’t blame a girl for trying. You pose a unique puzzle to me, sir. One I would solve before I leave a child such as this in your care.”

“And what right do you have to decide her fate?” Hugh really wanted to know. It was clear this woman held some kind of authority other than her high birth. The fact that she’d come here to investigate Miss’s circumstances and the way the Hobsons deferred to her said as much.

“I work for the government. Specifically, it is part of my duty to right wrongs where the magical creatures of this land are concerned.” She looked with compassion on Miss, who was dozing on Hugh’s lap. “We have heard rumors of this little one for more than a week now. We’ve been searching high and low for her. Finally, today, Mr. Hobson was able to send word she was here and safe. I was greatly relieved.”

“Then you are one of the caretakers of the gryphons in this land.”

She looked uneasy, but nodded. “Yes, that’s one of my responsibilities as Keeper of the Flame. I oversee those whose calling it is to help our feathered friends.”

“And find those they reject,” he said softly, saddened by Miss’s situation. “You’ve come to take her away?”

“No! Sstay wif Hoo!” Miss hadn’t been sleeping after all. Hugh grimaced at the fear and tension in her furry body. She was trembling again as her paws dug into his thigh. Her claws wouldn’t damage him too much, given his own magical nature, but it did sting a bit.

“It’s okay, little one. I won’t let anyone take you anywhere against your will.” He was quick to reassure her, stroking her neck and drawing her close against his chest. Even her wings bristled, the feathers sticking up at a low angle as he tried to soothe her.

The lady watched them closely, a small glint of kindness in her expression. It gave Hugh hope that Miss’s fate would be good, not bad. Of course, he would take the child away before he’d let anything bad happen to her.

“There are others like you, little one. Not many. Just a few. They serve the Doge directly and live in the palace. You could live there, with them.”

“Want Hoo.” Her front paw kneaded his forearm.

“And what does Hugh want?” The lady’s attention focused on him once more.

“I want her safe, no matter what. If it means taking her with me on my travels, then so be it.”

“You would adopt her?” The lady seemed truly shocked by the idea.

“If that’s what it takes, yes.” Hugh was firm in his decision though it had only just crystallized in his mind.

Sure, he’d decided almost from the first to take her in and bring her to Draconia, if that’s what had to be done. But adoption? How could a dragon shifter adopt a gryphlet? Then again, who better? At least he could teach her to fly and there was none better to guard her in the sky or on land.

“She will have special needs as she grows,” the lady sputtered.

“I know all about it. Remember, I hail from Draconia. Baby dragons are common enough in Castleton and around the other Lairs. I know what mischief little things that can fly can get into.” He smiled to soften his words, petting Miss indulgently.

“I have never seen a dragon—fully grown or otherwise. Aren’t they quite different from gryphons?” She seemed embarrassed by her lack of knowledge.

Hugh could have taught her a thing or two about dragons. Heaven knew his body wanted to show her
everything
it could do to hers in bed…or on this table...or anywhere he could get her naked beneath him. Maybe on top of him. He wasn’t choosey. He’d take her standing up if he thought she’d go for it.

“The flight characteristics are almost identical,” he said, trying to get his mind back on business. “Large, long body mass with central wings. The only real difference is the feathers.” Hugh ran his hand along Miss’s folded wings. “Dragons have scales. Gryphons have feathers and fur. And Miss is not the first gryphon I’ve met. There are some nesting above Castleton now. They are frequent visitors to the city, curious as any tourist in a new place. Much of Castleton was built with dragons in mind—wide streets and oversized doors so they can join their knights in an evening’s entertainment. The gryphons have found this to their advantage as well.”

Hugh spoke no less than the truth any visitor to the growing city would note. The new gryphons were celebrities and flew often with the dragons who called the land home.

“You seem to know much of dragons. Are you a knight?”

Hugh laughed out loud at her suspicion. “No, milady. If I were, there would be a great hulking dragon lurking outside somewhere and I doubt any such thing could happen with your feathered friends all around. Someone would have noticed.”

“Knights do not travel without their dragons?” She seemed truly interested.

“Once the bond between dragon and knight is formed, it cannot be broken except by death. They are closer than friends. They are family. They do not separate for long periods of time for any reason. It would be too great a handicap to both dragon and knight.”

“I didn’t know that.” She seemed both intrigued and surprised. “There are many rumors about Draconia but little actual proof.”

“Rumors go both ways, milady. To be honest, I wasn’t certain of my welcome in Alagarithia. Until this little one ambushed me, my intention was to keep a low profile about my origins.” That much was true at least. He wasn’t going to divulge his real identity, but perhaps he could learn a few things from this highborn lady that would help his brothers.

“Helios has long been a friend of Draconia politically.” Her tone was firm as if she truly believed what she was saying. That was good, as far as it went. If she’d shown the slightest hesitation, that would have been worth hearing.

“Then what has you worried about my origins? I assure you, dragons are honorable creatures. As are the folk they choose to associate with. They would not suffer evil magic to inhabit the land they have sworn to protect. This I know for fact.”

“Strong words.” She sipped her tea. “And you sound as if you truly believe them. Perhaps you should come back with me to the palace. There are people there who would like to learn more about your land, if you’re willing to speak of it, and you could meet the others like your friend here and see that they are not ill-treated.”

Hugh was surprised by the offer. Surprised…and suspicious. This was way too easy. Did this woman—highborn or not—have the authority to invite guests to the palace? Or was this some sort of trap to get him and Miss out of the comfortable inn and into a place where she could spring some sort of ambush? Miss was just a baby. Though she had formidable claws, she couldn’t fly yet and didn’t know how to defend herself. She was small. A big enough man could subdue her. She wouldn’t stand a chance.

Hugh could defend her, of course, but not if he were badly outnumbered. Dragon he may be, but if the lady had a platoon of guards out there ready to fight, he’d have a hard time getting Miss and himself free. If it were he alone, he would have jumped at the chance to get into the palace. But Miss was depending on him.

At that moment, as Hugh debated internally, he noticed the door bang open and a harried-looking woman run over to Hobson. A quick conversation ensued before the woman ran back out, shutting the door behind her. Hobson practically ran himself, approaching their table at a brisk trot.

“Milady, there are Eyes on the street. Mathilde from across the way saw a man in her alley and he had the tattoos.” Hobson’s tone was low and urgent. He sounded truly frightened.

“Did she see what kind?”

“Snake Eyes, milady,” Hob answered in the gravest tone. “Where are your guards?”

“I did not bring them.” She paled in shock.

“Snake Eyes? What does that mean?” Hugh asked. Something was going on. Something dangerous if he was any judge.

“Assassin. Stars!” She seemed near ready to faint. “I am dead.”

“Not yet,” Hugh said calmly, lowering Miss to the ground as he stood, ready for action. “Are you certain they’re coming for her?” Hugh asked Hobson as the lady sat frozen.

“Of course. There have been too many mishaps of late. We all assumed someone was trying to kill her, but to hire Eyes!” Hobson seemed as shocked as the lady was, but at least he was able to move. He grabbed Hugh’s sleeve. “We must save her. What can we do?”

Hugh looked around the common room, noting the defensive spots again, as he had when he’d chosen to stay at this inn. It was better than most, but still a civilian building. It hadn’t been built with true defense in mind.

“Close and bar the shutters for a start.” There were a few windows that had been opened to let in light now that the freezing rain had stopped. “Tom,” Hugh called to the boy. “Go to my room. Under the mattress, you will find a sword. Bring it here with all haste. And bring the pack at the foot of the bed as well.” The boy ran off to do his bidding.

“Is there a door to the roof?” Hugh knew there was, but he wanted Hobson to feel as if he was helping and didn’t want him to know Hugh had been prowling all over the building. Just in case he wanted to come back here someday.

Hobson nodded vigorously. “This way.” He bustled toward the hall that led to the guest rooms. Hobson escorted the lady as if she were made of glass and Hugh made sure Miss kept up, playing rear guard to their little parade.

He sent his senses out to the limit of his abilities. The building was quiet for now, no intruders. Or at least, none that he could sense. Perhaps the woman across the street had given them the head start they’d need.

Tom met them in the hall and handed the heavy sword and pack to Hugh. He took them as he walked and Tom joined the little group, helping Miss up the stairs that would lead eventually to the roof.

The inn was a two-story structure. The innkeeper and his wife kept their family rooms upstairs. They passed through a modest living room to a locked closet that held another set of narrow stairs that led to the roof. This time, Hugh went first. Hobson handed over the key to the door at the top of the stairs without comment.

Hugh ascended soundlessly and paused by the door to listen before opening it. The rest of the group had stayed at the foot of the staircase, just in case. Pausing only a moment, Hugh opened the rusty lock and peered out over the roof. The inn was taller by several feet than the buildings around it. Its height was one of its main advantages as far as Hugh was concerned and a large part of why he had picked this particular place to stay.

Night had fallen, the days being shorter at this time of year. The darkness would work to their advantage. If worse came to absolute worst, Hugh could always shift shape and fly them out. He could carry the woman and Miss with no problem. He’d have to get them to agree, of course, but faced with certain death versus a fire-breathing dragon protector, he thought both females would choose wisely.

Hugh crept out onto the flat roof and looked over the edge. He checked all four sides, though two bordered on shorter structures on either side of the inn. One had a steeply pitched roof that would not be easy for an assassin to climb. The other was clear for the moment. He checked the back of the inn, where the open courtyard led to the stables. It was clear. That left only the front.

Sure enough, Hugh sensed danger before he spotted the cleverly hidden man in the shadows of the alley between two buildings across the street. The man looked up once but did not appear to have seen Hugh. His attention was mostly focused on the doorway and the barred windows of the inn two stories below.