Tears of War (17 page)

“Am I ever anything other than careful with little ones?”
Namir sent back.

As the little girl gazed up at the dragon, a loud meow broke the silence. She looked up at Namir’s back and squealed, “Kitty!” Cat, sitting in the saddle, meowed back.

The girl tugged on Namir’s nostril and started walking back to her mother. At first Namir didn’t move, but when she gave another tug, he took a step forward. Another tug and another step. Slowly, the dragon followed her until they stood directly in front of her mother. Vaddoc started to worry the woman might faint with the infant in her arms.

“Momma, looky what followed me home! Can I keep it?” She beamed up at the woman.

Her mother slowly sank until she sat on the ground. She stared at her daughter with wide, dark eyes. “Lenya…we cannot…” her words trailed away.

“But Momma, he is nice. And he has a kitty.” Large tears welled in the eyes of the toddler. Her mother reached for her but she retreated until she stood under Namir’s chin. “I want him,” her little voice wailed.

Namir settled his bulk on the street and crooned to the little girl. Her mother looked up at the dragon, her expression showing she was at a loss as to how to handle the building temper tantrum.

Vaddoc strode across the street, coming to the rescue of the young mother. When he reached Namir, he knelt down next to the little girl. “You like this dragon?”

She turned tear-filled eyes on him. Not real tears, but the kind small children use to drive guilt into their parents. Lenya nodded. “I wants to keep him. He will keep the bad ones away. I know it.”

Vaddoc smiled. “Yes, he will keep the bad dragons away. That is his duty. His name is Namir. The red one is Syrakynn. She will keep the bad ones away too.”

She gripped the edge of Namir’s nostril again and leaned over to peek at the big red dragon with a smile on her face. “Is Sykynn and Mir married?”

Vaddoc laughed and Namir snorted in amusement, the wind from it blowing the young mother’s hair and ruffling her dress. In her arms, the infant stirred. Vaddoc shook his head. “No, little one, she is not Namir’s wife, although they do care for each other.”

“What is kitty’s name?”

“That is Cat, he is Namir’s kitty, although he likes me too.”

She gazed up at him, her eyes little dark pools full of trust. “Can I keep Mir?”

“Not in the way you want. You see, Namir is bonded to me; we share each other’s emotions and thoughts. It would be very hard for us to be separated. Beyond that, Namir is not a possession. He is his own being, with his own thoughts and feelings. He is more intelligent than a person. You cannot keep him anymore than you can own another person. It would not be right.”

Lenya looked down at the road and a single tear rolled down her cheek. “Will he go away now?”

“Only for a little while. We have to go to Marden so that other people can know there are good dragons. You do not want other people being afraid do you?” She shook her head. “And you want other people to know they are not facing the bad dragons alone, right?”

She nodded and looked back up at him. “Will he come see me again?”

“Absolutely. Our horses are here, remember. Besides, he says he likes you.”

“Do you ride on him when he goes up into the sky?”

He smiled again. “Yes, I do. It is very exciting.”

“Can I do it?”

Vaddoc glanced at her mother’s face and her alarm. He winked at her and turned back to the little girl. “Yes, someday. You see, there are special straps that hold you in the saddle and you are not big enough yet. They would not fit on you and you would be in danger of falling off.”

Lenya pouted and hugged the tip of Namir’s snout. “Momma, can I go see Sykynn before they go?”

Her mother looked at Vaddoc, Namir, Kirynn, Syrakynn, and finally back at her daughter. “Y…” she cleared her throat, though her voice still came out thready, “Yes.”

With a squeal of delight, Lenya ran across the street to the big red. Syrakynn happily lowered her nose to the girl. Vaddoc stood up and watched her with one hand laid against Namir’s neck.

Kirynn knelt down so she was level with the girl, while Lenya plied her with questions about the red.

“Vaddoc, would you please assure the mother that I would never hurt her or her little ones? Fear is still rolling off her.”

Vaddoc turned to the woman and offered her a hand. “My name is Vaddoc. My dragon, Namir, would like me to relay a message.”

She glanced at the dragon, slowly took the offered hand and Vaddoc helped her back to her feet. She stared at the great golden dragon. “What message?”

“He would like to reassure you that he would never hurt you or your children, or anyone else in the village. He asks that you please not fear him.”

The woman gave a shaky laugh. “My name is Anly and I will do my best, but I am afraid it is not so easy to turn off.”

The older girl who had been holding Lenya stepped forward. She was probably a year or two older than Loki. “My name is Tenyi. Can I meet your dragon too?”

Vaddoc nodded. “Of course, he will be very happy to meet more people.”

A boy, a little older than Tenyi, edged out into the street. “I want to meet them.”

Slowly, more children stepped forward. The adults, although more hesitant, eventually followed the lead of their more adaptable offspring. A touch on Vaddoc’s arm made him turn.

The innkeeper stood smoothing his thin hair. “I must apologize. I never knew there could be dragons like this. When those black dragons and their riders came, all I saw was confirmation of the tales.”

Vaddoc laid a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Medar, there is no reason to apologize. How would you have known?”

Medar nodded. “Can I…can I meet your dragons?”

Vaddoc dropped his hand. “Of course. I think Namir would like that.”

K
ellinar glanced up as they reached the castle gate. The wall, topped with flags bearing the standard of Haraban, rose high above them. Beside him, Taela still rode with the cowl of her cloak pulled forward. How she could stand it was beyond him. The heat of the late afternoon, combined with the heavy humidity, created an oppressive blanket over the area. Sweat dampened his face. As soon as he wiped it off, it was back.

Ten uniformed men, five on either side of the steps leading up to the open heavy doors, stood guard. Three of the guards stepped into their path.

The oldest of the three, his hard face creased with experience, glanced at them. He barely registered Kellinar or Serena, but his eyes hardened with suspicion as he took in Taela with the hood of her cloak pulled forward. Backlit by the sun, the shadow of her hood effectively hid her face. “What is your business here?”

“We seek audience with King Bahar of Haraban,” Taela said softly, her voice belying the anxiety Kellinar sensed underneath. She wanted to get in without being recognized. None of them knew her status in Haraban. Was she a desperately searched for daughter, or the shamed female member of the household wanted for the crime of using magic?

“The king is not accepting audience today. Leave your name and if possible, he will see you when he can.”

Taela reached up and hesitated. A mixture of fear and irritation flowed through their bond. He sensed her inner struggle. With resignation, she lowered her hood and lifted her chin. “Then inform him that his daughter is the one who seeks audience with him.”

All of the guards dropped to one knee. The older man glanced up briefly. “Princess Taela! Please, accept our apologies.”

She rolled her eyes. “Apology accepted. Stop kissing the paving stones, it’s annoying.”

They stood as a group. The older man stepped forward and offered his hand. “Allow me to assist you off your horse. Your father will be most anxious to see you.”

Kellinar leaped down from his saddle and pushed between the guard and Taela. “I will help her down.” He reached for her but paused when he heard the whisper of steel against leather. Turning slowly, he eyed the guard who stood with his sword drawn.

“The princess is not to be touched by those not of the king’s house without permission from the king himself.”

Kellinar chuckled. “I assure you, I have done more than merely touch her.”

He watched as the guard turned a fascinating shade of reddish purple. The others behind him scowled. Taela grumbled under her breath and Kellinar sensed her exasperation. She leveled a look at the guard. “He is the only one allowed to touch me. The king’s permission no longer applies.”

“But, Princess—”

“It is not your place to question me. Now put your weapon away.”

With a glower at Kellinar, the guard complied. Kellinar flashed him a smile and reached up to help Taela down, not that she really needed it, but it would needle the guard. As Taela straightened her divided riding skirts, she looked up at him with narrowed eyes. “You don’t have to antagonize them.”

He grinned. “I know I don’t
have
to.”

Serena dismounted and walked over to them. “You will likely never break him of it, Taela. Old habits die hard.”

Kellinar ignored her comment and held his arm out for Taela. “My lady.”

The sweet smile she gave him held a hint of poison. He was testing her temper and he knew it. “Try to behave,” she whispered.

The guard’s eyes flicked between them but he voiced none of the questions that seemed to lurk behind the look. Without a word, he turned and led them up the stairs.

Once inside, they followed him down a column lined hall. The polished stone floor reflected the fading light pouring through the tall glass windows on both walls. Kellinar glanced at the large, manicured gardens visible through the windows. Beyond, the inner walls of the castle threw deep shadows over the flowerbeds and bushes. More tall windows lined the inner castle walls. Occasionally, a light breeze brought the mixed scents of blooming roses, wisteria, magnolias, and honeysuckle into the hall.

They stopped at a set of ornate doors. While the guard rapped on the door, Kellinar looked at the designs of fish and flowers carved into it. Although beautiful, the carvings didn’t compare to those in Galdrilene. Once these would have seemed exquisite, but over two years spent seeing wood and stone carved by mages had educated him on the true beauty of such things.

The doors swung open and the guard walked forward. “Your majesty…”

Taela walked past the guard, her eyes sharp on his. Without a word the guard turned and left. Kellinar glanced at his bondmate. What had she done to the poor man?

She brushed past the other guards inside the doors and strode across the massive room. An angular man, dressed in fine clothing, turned from a conversation with two other men. A neatly trimmed, silver-white beard and mustache covered his face below dark brown slanted eyes. That must be Bahar.

Bahar’s eyes widened as he left the other two men standing there and walked toward Taela with long strides. “Taela,” he breathed. “Thank the Fates.”

She smiled and ran the last few steps into her father’s welcoming hug. Kellinar hung back. Being this close, his shield should help protect her from the discomfort of touching, although he still monitored the bond to be sure. He kept an eye on the few other occupants of the room, watchful for any who might not welcome her return.