Tears of War (53 page)

Medar nodded. “I will see to it that news of what happened today is spread far and wide.”

Mckale stepped forward, a serious look on his face. “I think it’s time to ensure your other tower is up and ready to go.”

K
ellinar strode through the gates of the Trilene District and into the Dellar. He had known the Trilene would never agree to the terms of Galdrilene’s protection. Fates forbid that people other than those born to the High Houses might actually be able to lead the city, or that someone from the Mallay be taught to read. No, the Trilene would rather throw their lot in with the Shadow Riders than be decent human beings.

He glanced at Taela as she walked on his left side, a deep frown on her face. She had truly expected the Trilene to be reasonable. Kellinar had known they wouldn’t be or at least not enough of them. Only two of the High Houses had been willing to accept Dragon Law.

Lord Vesnar of House Vesnar had thrown his support to Kellinar. That wasn’t a surprise since they had a truce that bordered on friendship. Ever since Kellinar had refused to sell Vesnar’s daughter, Arianna, to the boats in Turindar—not to mention Kellinar quietly slipping into the Vesnar’s house with Arianna’s letters so they knew she was safe.

Lord Telain wasn’t too much of a surprise either; the man had always been fair to deal with. Though Kellinar wasn’t too sure how far he could really trust either of them.

The other eight houses, however, had turned out just like Kellinar expected. The only reason Taela, Serena, and he had left the Trilene District with their heads still attached was because of the three dragons who had made their presence known. Anevay had left for Shadereen that morning after being called again to heal wounds inflicted by Shadow Dragons. She’d decided to stay on the border for now and Kellinar couldn’t decide whether he was relieved she was out of Trilene or terrified because she was on the border.

Stupid. The whole thing was stupid. Stupid Shadow Riders and stupid flaming people.

Serena’s touch on his arm drew him from his internal rant. “Kellinar, I know this might not be the best time…I need to talk to my mother. I need to convince her to come with us.”

Taela shifted the shawl she wore over her shoulders and studied Serena. “What about your father?”

Kellinar snorted. “Her father is the south end of a north bound pig. A man with his nose so far up the hind end of the Trilene he will go whichever way they do.”

“Kellinar is right. My father is the main reason I was banished from my home. He has spent his life gaining status though he will never be part of the Trilene. By the time he kicked me out, our house had become high-ranking in the Dellar. My father is unbending and he was beyond offended that I had almost brought unthinkable shame to his house.” Serena toyed with the end of her shawl, staring at it as if it held the answers before raising her eyes to Kellinar’s. “I have to try to save my mother though.”

Kellinar put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her. “Serena, you certainly don’t need my permission. If you want to try to speak to your parents, then do it. If you want us to come with you, we will.”

“Thank you, Kellinar,” Serena whispered.

He linked hands with Taela and followed Serena down the street. It bothered him to see the hurt lurking in the depths of her eyes. Serena had done a good job of moving on with her life, the practical side of her would take nothing less. The other side, the much smaller, much quieter part of her, still longed for the love and affection from her parents that she had grown up with.

No one paid much attention to them as they walked the streets of the Dellar. The soft, well-woven fabrics were dyed in dark colors only Trilene residents or high-ranking Dellars Lord Vesnar of House Vesnar could hope to afford. Their well-made boots and the jewel-tipped, golden Di’shan pendants made their right to be there obvious.

When they reached a large house with a blue door, Serena stopped. The big houses ran in a long row down both sides of the street. Each shared a wall with its neighbor on either side. Serena hesitated so long that Kellinar reached passed her and banged on the door.

“Kellinar!” She sucked in her breath and looked at him with wide eyes.

He smiled and shrugged. “They won’t know you are here if you don’t knock, no matter how hard you stare at the door.”

Moments later a middle-aged maid answered the door. “May I help…Serena?” The scowl on the woman’s face made it clear she wasn’t pleased to see her employer’s daughter.

Serena squared her shoulders. “I wish to see my mother.”

“You aren’t to be here. Leave.” The maid started to swing the door shut.

Serena slapped her hand against the door, using her bond-enhanced strength to force it open. “You will get my mother for me now.”

The maid sent her a tightlipped glare and turned away from the door, leaving it standing wide open. She wasn’t gone long before Serena’s father, Farlain, came to the door. His blue eyes looked like they were ready to pop out of his beet-red face. “What in the name of the Fates are you doing here?”

“I need to see my mother.” Serena glared back at him, her hands balled into fists at her sides.

“You will get your dragon-blasted butt off my front stoop and never darken my doorway again!” He waved a beefy finger in her face. “I made that perfectly clear last time.”

A slender woman with big green eyes moved like a wraith in the room behind Farlain. She came close and laid a frail hand on his thick arm. “Please, Farlain. Please let me speak with her.”

Farlain yanked his arm out of her timid grasp and pushed her away. “Shut up, Sereanna.” He turned to Serena. “This is not your home. You have no parents here. We had a daughter; she died.” The woman sobbed as Farlain slammed the door shut in Serena’s face.

Serena stood for a moment, staring at the door. Kellinar ground his teeth together and felt a gentle squeeze on his hand as Taela tried to flood him with soothing emotions. Serena turned to leave and the sun shimmered on the unshed tears in her eyes.

Kellinar pulled his hand from Taela’s and reached out for his magic. To the void with this load of Shadow crap. The door exploded into the house, tiny splinters flying across the room. Farlain turned with a yell and stared at Kellinar. It didn’t take him long to gather himself up. He stormed toward Kellinar with one meaty hand raised. “Get out of my house, you filthy—”

Kellinar walked into the room, grabbed Serena’s father with a weave of air and slammed him against the far wall. Farlain gasped and sputtered, unable to move anything but his head. Kellinar glared at him. “You will shut up and hang there while Serena speaks with her mother. If you so much as say another word, so help me Fates, I will gag you with another weave.” He smiled coldly. “And yes, this is magic. Yes, Serena can use it too and guess what, it doesn’t drive a person insane. The only thing that drives people insane are pompous, dragon-blasted gits like you.”

Taela curled her fingers around Kellinar’s forearm. “Be careful. Serena is hurt and angry, but she would still be very upset if you killed him.” She looked at Farlain and sniffed, turning away from him with the haughty nose in the air style only a princess could carry off. “Even if he is the flea infested whelp of a back alley cat.”

Kellinar snorted and suppressed a smile. She did have a way of making a man seem less significant than a bug beneath her shoe.

Serena stepped into the room with him. She only glanced once at the man pressed against the wall, his feet dangling a least two paces off the floor, and turned away.

“Farlain, what…?” Sereanna walked into the room.

“Mama?” Serena reached her hand toward her mother.

Sereanna gasped and held both arms out, enfolding her daughter in a tight hug. “Serena baby, what is going on?”

“The Keepers were right. I can use magic. I hatched a dragon, mama. But not one of those evil black dragons. I use my magic to heal people when they are sick or hurt.”

Sereanna stepped back a little and cast a frightened look at her husband. “Why did you come here?”

“There is a war brewing, I want to protect you. Will you come with me? Please?” Kellinar’s heart nearly broke at the tone of hopeful pleading in Serena’s voice.

Sereanna backed further away and whispered, “I can’t. I love you, Serena, I always will, but I can’t.”

“Mama…please.”

Sereanna clasped her hands in front of her and shook her head, tears spilling down her thin cheeks. “I can’t. I’m not strong like you. I never was.” She lowered her head and stared at the floor. “You should go now. Go knowing I love you.”

Serena stared at her mother for a long time before turning toward the shattered door. Kellinar let the weave go, dropping Serena’s father unceremoniously on the floor.

As they stepped out onto the street, Farlain barreled through the door and grabbed Serena’s arm. “You ungrateful little wench, look what you did to my door!”

Kellinar reached for his magic again but never got a chance to use it. Miya landed heavily in the street, her wings whipping the air around them. The street emptied of people as she stuck her snout straight into Farlain’s face, smoke curling from her nostrils. She slammed her thoughts into Farlain’s head with such force even Kellinar could hear it in his mind.
“You will take your hands off my rider.”

Farlain had no choice. He screamed and let go of Serena, grabbing the sides of his head as he sank to the ground and passed out. Even gentle, direct communication from a dragon was extremely loud and uncomfortable for the unbonded. And there had been nothing gentle about Miya’s message.

Serena stared at the man on the ground who was supposed to be her father and walked away. She ran her hand over the yellow’s face. “Thank you, my love. Now fly before they all jump over the city wall and kill themselves. There are terrified enough of dragons. They haven’t been treated well.”

Miya glared at the unconscious man on the ground and then lifted off, as Kellinar pulled Serena into a hug. “Are you alright?”

Serena clung to him for a minute, letting her tears fall. Finally, she stepped back and wiped her face. She lifted her chin. “Let’s go, there is nothing here for me.” She glanced back at the house once. “I was a fool to think there ever was.”

She looked back at him, firm resolution in her eyes. “Time to tear this place apart. It wasn’t what I hoped for; it isn’t what I would choose if there was any other way. Unfortunately, the people of the Mallay will never have anything in life if we don’t.”

Taela nodded slowly, her eyes sad. “There is no other way. Not enough people care here.”

Kellinar linked his hand with Taela’s again as they walked toward the Mallay.