Cursed (2 page)

“No.” Markus whispered. “Please no.”

The dragon roared again and Markus could now see strips of the same cloth dangling from its teeth.

He was no stranger to death. He’d seen it take both youth on the battlefield and the elderly after long illness, but this? His Adrienne had never harmed a soul. There had been no reason for her death. Dragons remained in the mountains, leaving civilization in peace unless provoked. And why was it alone? Why had it attacked? Why this particular building? Why this particular room? Nothing about this made sense.

Something inside of him burst. Th
is
 monster would not escape.

Raising his sword arm, Markus lunged the blade toward the beast’s eye, but ran into something solid and the metal sparked as it glanced off the dragon’s scaled hide. Mottled green and brown eyes stared as it held him back, watching him as he swung his weapon again and again, knowing it was futile, not knowing what else to do. It sniffed him, looking almost scared, though Markus
couldn’t care less
. He spotted pink skin showing just behind the dragon’s shoulder. Removing his boot and throwing it at the dragon’s face, he seized the distraction and plunged his blade into the weak point, twisting for good measure and not caring if the beast crushed him in
its death throes
. It would serve him right for failing his wife.

The dragon howled and snapped at Markus, its teeth crashing so close to his face he could smell the blood and sulfur in its breath. Unfurling a pair of canvas wings that filled the
room
 and diving through the opening in the wall, the dragon slammed him into the hot stone and left him in a bruised heap on top of Adrienne’s gown. Footsteps echoed in the hallways and several guards burst into the chamber. Clutching his wife’s bloody dress, he struggled to stand and meet them.

“Are you harmed, your majesty?”

Markus registered
 Captain Gaius’
 face. Everything felt numb. He closed his eyes and grunted, the only sound he could manage.

“Where’s Queen Adrienne? Is she-?”

He opened his eyes to see the captain’s gaze drop to Adrienne’s bloody gown before closing them again, gritting his teeth to hold back the sobs that threatened to rise. “If I’d… been here… sooner…”

“It would have killed you, too, sire.”
Gaius
 grasped his arm, offering his shoulder to lean on.

Markus shoved him away, standing on his own and adjusting his uniform. “You don’t know that, Captain. I found a weak point, but I doubt it was enough.”

The chamber still smoked,
though
 the soldiers had put out all of the flames. A cool breeze blew in from the hole in the wall, sweeping away the smell of burning fabric and sulfur for a moment.

In that small respite, Markus imagined the room as it had been. Red drapes surrounding the black comforter on their bed, reading a book with Adrienne in his arms and the discussions they would have on life. Listening to her gush about how she would heal the divide between classes, not knowing how far she’d already come and wanting to push further.

Tonight was supposed to be her celebration. Her victory. How had it ended this way?

“The servants have drawn you a bath, sire. I recommend that you rest.”

“Send for Eivonne.”

“Sire?”

“Adrienne’s sister, Princess Eivonne. Send for her.”

“Yes, sir.”

Markus watched the captain head down the hall before holding up Adrienne’s gown and examining it. Something felt off about tonight’s events. Either there was a connection between the attacks or this was the most unfortunate day in their lives. Gripping the sticky fabric as if it was a lifeline, he passed the other chamber already prepared for him and strode
toward
 the armory.

Perhaps he was letting his emotions get the better of him, but something told him finding either the dragon or Councilman Havard would bring answers… and he didn’t trust himself handling Havard. Besides, who knew what other damage a crazed, flying, fire-breathing reptile would cause?

“He’s in mourning, Princess, what did you expect?”

“And I’m not? She was my sister, captain! But do I go gallivanting off to hunt down the mindless creature that killed her? No. Because I have a responsibility to maintain order, to set a good example for the people.”

Markus
glowered
 as he entered the room, marching
toward
 the throne in
 such a way that Captain Gaius reached for his sword
. It took all of his self control to not
bark at his subordinate
. He’d thought, out of all people, his sister-in-law would at least support his decision.

“The dragon went rogue, Eivonne. The only logical reasons for it to come here are it getting kicked out of the mountain flock or it’s sick. Either way, it’s a danger to the people. You know I grew up near the mountains. No one here knows dragons better than I and no one else handles the people better than you now that Adrienne is… gone. It’s why I asked you to come.”

Eivonne’s face turned almost as red as her hair. “I’m sorry, Markus. You
’re right, of course,
 I just… didn’t ever expect to have to do this. Will you keep me posted? The sooner that monster is eliminated, the better for all of us.”

Markus nodded. He noted that his captain wouldn’t look him in the eye and frowned. That was never a good sign among ranks.

The great doors to the throne room burst open, slamming against the walls with a crack that made hi
m wince
.

The guards lowered their spears
toward
 the unexpected guest, but pulled them back up again, bowing to Councilman Havard as he raised a brow and strode forward.

“Security has improved since last night, I see.” His voice rubbed like sandpaper in Markus’ ears. Havard walked past him as if he’d turned invisible, a stark difference to when Adrienne had been there to keep the Council members in tight rein. “Good. Ah, Eivonne!
You look m
ore glorious than ever, my dear.” He bowed to kiss the princess’s hand, flourishing his coattails and bowing so low his long nose almost bumped into his bent knee.

Eivonne smiled. “This is not the appropriate time for flattery, Councilman.”

“But it is always the appropriate time for truth, Your Grace. I merely wish to brighten your day after the horrors I heard of last night.”

“Horrors in which I’m sure
you
 had no part.” Markus crossed his arms and leaned against one of the pillars.

Havard smirked, taking on the tone of a father explaining simple matters to a young child. “I must confess I don’t know what you mean, your majesty. Though I applaud your take on suspecting all around you. We must be ever vigilant and consider all possibilities, no matter how ridiculous, mustn’t we?”

Eivonne snorted. “Surely you don’t think Havard would be able to control a dragon, Markus? You know better than most that none have accomplished such a feat.”

Markus shrugged. “Just because it hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean it’s impossible. I was born common and am
now king
, aren’t I? Of course, it might be easier if the person who did manage to control a dragon were, say, part reptile themselves, no?”

Havard’s black eyes glinted, but the anger soon faded into a slippery grin. “Such ideas. It’s no wonder her late highness found you amusing, my lord.”

Eivonne pursed her lips. “Watch yourself when you speak of the deceased, Havard. I know neither of you like each other, so you won’t have to put up with the other’s company for long. Markus, I believe you have a hunt to prepare for. Havard, I’m glad you answered my summons. I could use someone to give me a leg up among the Council, perhaps some insight into my sister’s projects before…”

“Don’t dwell on it, Princess. The news of Adrienne’s untimely departure from this world pains us all, but I couldn’t imagine how much it tortures you.”

Markus watched Havard step in to comfort Eivonne as she wept, stroking her hair and muttering to her. He narrowed his eyes, debating whether to leave. The dragon did pose an immediate threat to the people, but sometimes he wondered if the greater danger lay in things and people they trusted rather than what they knew to be perilous.

Something didn’t add up with Havard, either. He’d been the last Council member to see Adrienne and the first to see Eivonne. It had to be more than coincidence. Adrienne had never liked him, he knew that much. How many times had he stepped in to prevent too much unnecessary and unwanted interaction between the
 two
?

Of course, the man might be a nuisance, but the obvious suspect wasn’t always the true perpetrator. Markus sighed as he watched Eivonne cry. He’d done it again. Letting his logical side overlook the pain of those for whom he cared.

He placed a hand on Eivonne’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Ivy. I can send a
few knights
 out instead. You should take some time to yourself, process everything. I know this isn’t easy.”

Eivonne sniffed, regaining her composure and opening her mouth to reply, when metallic footsteps clanked against the stone floors of the entryway. Spears lowered once more and the messenger almost impaled himself upon them in his haste.

“My liege! My liege, we’ve found the dragon! A farmer reported it landing near the outer village.”

Markus stepped forward. “Anyone injured?”

“Not that have been reported, sire. It disappeared into the
 desert
. We found the landing sight, but it seems to have… vanished, sir.”

That sounded about right. An idea formed as old knowledge awoke. “Question the folk surrounding the area. See if anyone new has moved in or if someone has been behaving strangely.” The soldier bowed and clanked out of the throne room. Markus turned to his sister-in-law. “I’d forgotten dragons usually bond to a person in their adolescence.”

Eivonne lifted a brow. “What a strange instinct.”

He shrugged. “No one knows why. The people they bond to have never told us and no, they still have no control over the animals. Some kind of cult secret, I should think.”

Eivonne eased into the throne, though she looked uncomfortable in it, and checked to see Markus’ reaction. He smiled at her in an attempt
of
 reassurance. Havard smirked. “You don’t think this… cult…
ordered
 Adrienne’s death, do you?”

He bit his lip. “I don’t know.”

Havard scoffed. “There’s only one way to find out, don’t you think, your highness?”

Markus sighed. As much as it made him grind his teeth, the politician was right. “Sorry, Ivy. I’m going to have to go myself. I know these people best and if there is a valid threat to the throne, we need to uproot it before it gets out of hand. A cult of bonded soldiers could do a lot of damage.”

Eivonne nodded. “We do what we have to. I’ll see you when you return, but Markus-” He turned back to her. “Make
sure
 you return. I’ve already lost a sister. I’d rather not lose a brother as well.”

He nodded, glancing at a too-happy Havard for a moment before marching
toward
 the great doors. He caught the eye of one of the guards, not Gaius, and beckoned him to follow.

“Double security around the princess and keep an eye on the Council.”

The guard frowned. “Sir?”

“Just a precaution, until the threat is neutralized. You understand.”

The guard nodded and Markus continued down the corridor. This whole situation
reeked of conspiracy
, but from whence the source of the odor came, he couldn’t decide. Politics had been Adrienne’s forte, and something told him he’d regret
not honing those skills himself
.

A dry breeze blew across the sandy road as Markus rode into the village at last, grateful that the sun had begun to set. Even after the week-long ride, the world still seemed so small without Adrienne. He dismounted from his stallion and led
the animal
 
toward
 the inn at the center of town. The
horse
 nuzzled his pocket and Markus found himself unable to breathe for a moment. It had done that every night regardless of not getting the typical snack from Adrienne, but the reminder still felt like a bag of bricks had slammed him against the chest.

She’d loved her horses as if they were her children. What Markus saw as only a mode of transportation, she considered her most valuable treasure. After himself, of course… maybe.

He waved the horse away and it snorted in disgust, twitching its tail.

The Inn’s stable hand took the stallion’s reins with a bow. Markus hesitated for a moment before stopping the lad. “Give him a treat or two. He’s earned it.”

He ensured the road stayed clear before bringing out his dagger and carving a single, curved line into the threshold, nodding to himself in satisfaction. That would get the attention of the cultists or his name wasn’t Markus Giles.