Alliance (11 page)

“Of course.” Ryneq reluctantly shuffled back a little and let Faelon take his place. He watched closely as Faelon raised his hand above Nykin’s leg, whispering softly, and the air around his fingers shimmered with a faint purple glow.

“The wound is clean of magic, Your Highness.” He pulled his hand away and stood up. “Whatever spell she cast left nothing behind.” He stepped back out of the way. “With your permission, Your Highness, we’d like to return to the palace to aid Glaevahl.”

“Of course. Thank you for your help.”

Ryneq watched them leave before turning back to see Djilak wiping Nykin’s leg with a white cloth from his bag. It smelled like alcohol, and Nykin twitched when it touched his skin.

“Despite how it appears, Sire, the wound itself is fairly superficial, and he hasn’t lost enough blood for us to be overly concerned.”

Ryneq looked down at Nykin’s face. He looked pale, and a slight sheen of sweat covered his forehead. Djilak followed his gaze and sighed. “I said the blood loss isn’t life-threatening, but it is still a significant amount, and the journey back will not have helped.” Djilak finished cleaning the wound and met Ryneq’s gaze. “Sire, although I have limited experience with magic, from what Faelon said I see no reason why Nykin shouldn’t make a full recovery after some rest and sustenance. I’ll also give him a few stitches to aid the healing process.”

Ryneq felt his whole body sag in relief, and he clasped Djilak’s shoulder. “Thank you.” He then sent the two riders to fetch a stretcher and stood up to get out of the way while Djilak stitched and bandaged Nykin’s leg.

“Sire.” Eldin’s voice echoed across the cave, causing everyone to look up. He looked exhausted but thankfully unharmed. Eldin was one of his closest advisors, and to see him safely back at the palace settled Ryneq’s nerves.

He walked over to Eldin and clasped his arm in greeting. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon. Is everything all right with the patrol?”

“Selene has taken over for me. I was going to stay with them all the way to their camp, but Vashek’s wound needed treating. I didn’t want to take any chances with it.”

Ryneq nodded. They had enough to worry about without taking unnecessary risks with the dragons.

Eldin gestured to where Nykin lay, still being tended to by Djilak. “How is he?”

“Not as bad as we feared, thank the Gods.”

“No need for Fimor’s blood this time, then?”

Ryneq glanced at Djilak, who shook his head. “No, he should heal just fine on his own.”

Fimor lowered his head to Nykin’s body, as if checking for himself, and settled back when seemingly satisfied that Nykin would be okay without his help. “What about Vashek?” Ryneq asked, turning his attention back on Eldin.

Eldin rubbed his eyes and sighed. “She caught him in a couple of places. It’s nothing too serious, but flying was making it worse. He’s gone back up the mountain to heal.” He gestured to Fimor. “And you should do the same. Nykin will be well taken care of, Fimor.”

Jaken had already treated Fimor’s tail and removed both the harness and saddle, so Fimor was all ready to go. Ryneq walked over and laid his hand on Fimor’s neck. “Go and rest. I’ll look after him.” A wave of emotion washed over him, stronger than anything Ryneq had ever felt before from one of the dragons. “I promise.”

With one last look at Nykin’s still form, Fimor maneuvered his huge body toward the cave mouth and took to the sky. The cave felt empty in his wake, and Ryneq was eager to get Nykin back down to the palace and in their bed.

“Eldin.” Ryneq kept an eye on the dragon riders as he spoke. They carefully loaded Nykin onto the stretcher under Djilak’s instruction, and only when they had Nykin settled did Ryneq turn to face Eldin. “Go wait for me in the war room. Ask the elves to join you. I’ll be there shortly, as soon as Nykin is taken care of.”

Eldin nodded and left for the tunnels.

“We’re ready, Sire.” Djilak stepped back while the riders lifted Nykin off the ground, and Ryneq followed them out of the landing cave.

The steps leading down to the palace had never looked so steep before, and Ryneq hovered next to the stretcher all the way down, making sure the riders didn’t stumble as they slowly made their way. Maybe he should have insisted on carrying one end, because to watch was torture.

He relaxed a little when they reached the bottom, but the tense, helpless feeling remained until they reached his and Nykin’s quarters. Ryneq unlocked the door and guided them over to the bed, where he pulled back the thick covers and gestured for them to lay the stretcher down. It took all four of them to gently transfer Nykin with minimum jostling of his leg, but he still stirred as Ryneq pulled the sheets and blankets back over him.

“At least two days bed rest, Sire, with plenty of water and a little food.” Djilak spoke quietly before clasping Ryneq’s shoulder and then leaving with the riders.

“Hey,” Ryneq said when they were finally alone. He smoothed his thumb over Nykin’s cheek, watching his eyes slowly flutter open. “How are you feeling?”

Nykin winced as he tried to sit up, and Ryneq stayed his
movement with his hand on Nykin’s chest. “Careful, you’ll pull your stitches.”

Nykin frowned slightly before glancing down at his leg, and then he grabbed Ryneq’s hand, a look of desperation crossing his face. “The witch! What happened? Is Fimor all right? And Eldin and Vashek? Did all the patrols make it back—”

“Nykin.” Ryneq’s voice was loud in the room, and Nykin snapped his mouth shut midsentence. “Calm down. Apart from some minor injuries, which were easily treated, everyone is fine, and all the patrols except the last two—who have now made camp for the day—are safely behind the palace walls.” He reached for Nykin’s hand and entwined their fingers. “You were the only real casualty.”

“Good.” Nykin swallowed, coughing a little.

“Here.” Ryneq helped raise Nykin’s head and passed him a cup of water from the table beside the bed. “And I’d hardly call you being injured good.”

“You know what I mean,” Nykin replied after he’d set the cup back down. “Good that everyone’s safe.” He settled back into the pillows with a sigh and closed his eyes. “Any news on Seran?”

“I don’t know. I’m meeting with the others in a moment to see if there’s been any movement along the border. I’d be surprised if there wasn’t after tonight.”

Nykin squeezed Ryneq’s hand. “You should go, then. That’s—” He yawned, his grip loosening. “—more important.”

Ryneq almost disagreed. His instinct was to say nothing was more important than Nykin, but he had a whole kingdom depending on him and his men to keep them safe. Still, he didn’t want to move from this spot on their bed. In fact, he was desperate to curl up beside Nykin and sleep, but he had no time for that no matter how much he might want it. “I’ll have Kalis check on you in a while, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He leaned down to brush his lips across Nykin’s in a gentle kiss and grinned as Nykin hummed and automatically parted his lips for more. Ryneq kissed him deeper for just a moment before pulling back. “Later. Get some rest now.”

Nykin didn’t open his eyes again, and his breathing started to even out as Ryneq stood up from the bed. Nykin still looked a little gray, and Ryneq hated to leave him like this, but he trusted that Djilak knew best—Nykin should be up and about in no time.

R
AISED
VOICES
came from the room when Ryneq pushed open the doors.

“How can you not know?” Eldin sounded exasperated, and when Ryneq entered, he saw Eldin standing in front of the table glaring at Glaevahl. Faelon and Avelor had also joined them, along with Peros. None of the elves appeared angry or upset, so whatever the issue, it hadn’t escalated yet.

“What’s going on?” Ryneq strode to the head of the table and took a seat.

Before Eldin could answer, Glaevahl held up his hand. “If you’ll allow me, Eldin.” Eldin let out a deep sigh but finally nodded and sat down. “Eldin was just enquiring, quite rightly I might add, how high the magical barrier goes. And whether the Eyrie itself is protected.”

Ryneq thought of the spell damage on Vashek and Fimor and understood Eldin’s mood completely. “And is it?” Ryneq looked from one elf to the other, but their expressions didn’t change.

“Yes, the Eyrie is connected by the palace walls, so the magical barrier will extend all the way up, but possibly not to the dragons’ lair farther up the mountain. I’m afraid we can’t be certain how high the barrier actually is. In Alel the magical border stretches up high above the buildings, but the spell we used here is temporary, and we don’t have access to the magic of the forest.” Glaevahl cast an apologetic look at Eldin. “I’m sorry, but we can’t be certain if the mountain is protected or not.”

Ryneq sighed and reined in any frustration he felt. He was beyond grateful the elves had managed to erect a barrier at all, and his people were now safely behind it, but he needed his riders and their dragons to be safe too. “Eldin, calm yourself. I’m sure Glaevahl is doing the best he can under the circumstances, and we are already in their debt. What about the dragons themselves?” Ryneq rubbed his temples, willing away the headache starting to form. “They pooled their magic to defeat the witch’s spell on our journey to Alel. Can they do something similar here?”

It was a long shot, but Ryneq wouldn’t rule out anything at this point, no matter how farfetched the idea. He knew little about dragon magic. There had been thick tomes about it in the palace library, but he’d never thought there’d be a need to know. Ryneq sorely wished he’d paid more attention when told to read them in his youth.

Eldin glanced over at him. “I’m not sure, Sire, but I’ll ask Vashek if such a thing is possible.” Eldin closed his eyes as he concentrated on contacting his dragon.

Silence settled over the room as they waited for him to finish, and Ryneq stood up and walked over to the large windows. Although the sun had barely risen, the courtyard was awash with people—hurrying every which way as they all worked together to accommodate the newcomers.

“Sire.” Ryneq turned back to the table at the sound of Eldin’s voice. He nodded for Eldin to continue. “The dragons say they can protect their mountain lair, if enough of them remain there.”

Ryneq felt tiredness creeping in, and he rested his arms on the table. He looked to Peros for the first time since he’d entered the room. With Nysad still out escorting the villagers back, Peros was now his most senior guard. “Peros, do we have any idea if Seran has started to cross the border?”

Peros looked as tired as Ryneq felt, but he sat up straight when addressed by his king. “Nysad sent two scouting parties out to watch the border before he left. We’re still waiting for them to return, Sire.”

“Let me know as soon as they report in.”

“Of course, Sire.”

Ryneq slumped back in his chair, his eyes beginning to feel heavy. “The barrier will withstand at least three attacks, yes?” He looked at Glaevahl, waiting for confirmation.

“I believe so, Your Highness.”

“While that won’t hold Seran off forever, it should buy us valuable time to come up with a plan of attack.”
Or escape
, he thought. He’d seen Seran’s troops, and the odds were most definitely in Seran’s favor. “We can’t risk another attack against the dragons, though. So, for now, there will be no riding until further notice.”

“But Sire—” Eldin looked shocked, but Ryneq refused to risk them unnecessarily.

“I don’t know why she didn’t attack before now, but until we know how far up the barrier goes, your riders are grounded. If they need to meet with their dragons, they will do so in the landing caves, but only when absolutely necessary.” Ryneq never thought he’d utter those words, but the witch’s spell had caught Fimor when he was flying. They had no idea if she’d be capable of attacking them while they flew over Torsere or not, and for now it was safer to not do it at all. “Have your riders contact their dragons and inform them.”

“Yes, Sire.” Eldin sighed in resignation and pushed his chair back. “I’ll go see to it right now.” He paused as he got to his feet. “The dragons will need to eat, though, and they will need to leave for that.”

Ryneq didn’t think for one moment he had any real sway with the dragons. If they wanted to leave, then they would. But he also knew they would never risks their lives unnecessarily—if a dragon dies, so will its bonded rider. “Just ask them to be careful.”

Eldin nodded and left the room without another word.

Ryneq looked around the table at the weary faces in front of him. They were all badly in need of sleep. Faelon in particular looked by far the worst, and hardly surprising, considering he was still recovering from the witch’s attack in Alel.

“I think that’s enough for now. We’ll meet in here after breakfast tomorrow.” He looked out the window at the lightening sky. “Nysad will hopefully be back by then. I’ll have someone send food to your rooms in a few hours. Get some rest for now.”

The elves left together, leaving Peros and Ryneq alone in the room. “See that Danek is brought here in the morning.” With the way things were, Ryneq was concerned how the others would react to the traitor. “The fewer people who know about the situation, the better—tempers are frayed enough at the moment.”

They spent the rest of the day going over plans to transfer some of the villagers to the naval barracks near Bahkesh. It would ease the crowding in the palace, and the people would be as safe there as behind the palace walls. If Torsere fell, then nowhere would be safe.

Nykin was sleeping soundly when Ryneq finally returned to their quarters. He quickly shed his clothes and slipped in beside him, careful not to jostle him awake. The sheets were cool on Ryneq’s side of the bed, and he inched closer to Nykin, the heat of his body making Ryneq relax. He closed his eyes and finally fell asleep with one hand resting possessively on Nykin’s hip.

R
YNEQ
MANAGED
a good few hours’ sleep before being woken by a soft knock on the door. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and hurried to open it before it disturbed Nykin.