Dragon Blood 2: Wyvern (18 page)

Rian rested a hand on Amber’s shoulder and she immediately shrugged him off. “What was the test?”

“To avenge an insult,” Ronan said.

“To what?” Amber couldn’t believe she’d heard correct. “An insult?”

Ronan nodded.

“An insult?” Her voice was louder.

“We were only kidnapped. That is considered an insult.”

Anger swirled through Amber and her hand tightened on the grip of the sword. “An insult.” Each word was clearly spoken.

Ronan smiled. His predator smile. “Do you still reject the castle?”

Amber tried to fight the anger that filled her. She had to think clearly. It was impossible. The blood coating her hands and arms reminded her of the nightmares she’d suffered. An insult! What she wanted was to tear Paili apart with her hands. To tan her hide and wear it so everyone could see what would happen to anyone who tried that again. She felt the panther almost pace in her. When someone started to take the sword from her she turned angrily on them, only to let it go when she saw it was Rian. She turned to Ronan. What was the question again? “Was that your plan?”

“It was always a consideration.” Ronan shrugged. “You need to learn not to blurt out the first thought that comes into your head.”

“How kind of you. Were you worried I wouldn’t learn enough today since I cut school to be here?” She eyed Ronan. “You don’t look anything like my usual teachers.”

“What about the castle? That is the issue here, not any other crap,” Flinn said.

“Shut. Up.” Amber glared at Flinn.

Flinn ignored her. “Kade, do something with your mage. She’s starting to annoy me.”

“You’re the one annoying everyone, Flinn.” Amber held her hand out. “Give me my sword back, Rian.”

Ronan started to laugh. “How about we share it?”

“You’re to have nothing to do with this land or we don’t need to gain you the other lands you want,” Flinn said.

“I didn’t have to help you with Paili,” Ronan said.

“Yes, you did.” Kade crossed his arms over his chest. “And you know it.”

“Why did he?” Amber asked.

“Because Paili didn’t want Ronan to gain any power. To prevent it, she targeted you, Amber,” Kade said.

“This was all because of you?” Amber turned to Ronan. When he didn’t answer, she stepped close to him. “Your fault?”

“If you want to get right down to it, we could blame my son Tory. Or do you prefer to make me the bad guy?”

Amber didn’t know what to think. She was tired, hungry and the blood was drying on her arms and making her even more uncomfortable. “No,” she said softly. She turned away and started to pace. “But what are we going to do with a castle?”

Crystal grinned. “Live in it?”

Amber paused in front of her friend. “Seriously?”

Crystal excitedly grabbed Amber’s hands then made a face, dropping them the moment she touched the blood. “Yuck! You need a bath.”

“Can’t anyone around here focus for more than a second at a time?” Flinn threw his hands up. “I’m surrounded by goldfish.”

“Do you think it has a ballroom where I can have my seventeenth birthday? I really want a castle,” Crystal said. “Pleeeease.”

Amber grinned, her anger starting to fade in the face of Crystal’s excitement. “I thought I’d already given you a lifetime of presents.” She heard Flinn start to talk again and then the sounds of scuffling behind her, but decided to ignore them. She didn’t want to know what was going on as long as someone kept Flinn quiet.

“Well, I need somewhere to keep my pretty rock. Flinn complains if I carry it around.”

Amber laughed. “And you think a castle will be big enough to keep it in?”

“This is my dream.” Crystal waved to the walls around her. “Ever since we stayed at Kade’s family’s castle I’ve wanted one. Can’t you picture me as a princess?”

“We don’t have princesses or-” Flinn’s words were cut off with a grunt and more scuffling.

Crystal giggled as her eyes were drawn to the scene behind Amber. “Say yes before Flinn ends up more battered by his allies than he was by his enemies.”

“I guess-” Amber started to say.

Crystal squealed, throwing her arms around Amber. “Eww.” She drew back. “I forgot about the blood.”

“Finally,” Flinn muttered from behind Amber.

“But how can we live here and in our world at the same time?” Amber asked.

“We don’t. We finish off the year in your world and our first warriors run things while we’re away,” Kade said.

“But I don’t have any warriors,” Crystal said.

“It doesn’t matter. Flinn and I will have our warriors take care of things,” Kade said.

“No! You’re not leaving Maira in charge of things,” Flinn ordered.

“Can we forget the castle for a minute and discuss this egg?” Jasper asked.

“No,” Flinn said at the same time as Ronan said, “Just scramble it.”

Both Amber and Crystal cried, “No!”

“Well, you can’t let her be born here. I’ll take her if you want,” Ronan said.

“I don’t trust you with her,” Crystal said.

“How do you look after an egg?” Amber asked.

“Can anyone do it?” Jasper moved forward to join the group now the arguing had stopped.

“They just have to be kept at the right temperature,” Rian said. “Are you thinking of becoming a father?”

Amber grinned at the expression on Jasper’s face. She decided to rescue her brother. “What about Isleen?”

Rian grinned momentarily. “Maybe I should have chosen something larger if you are planning on turning your house into an orphanage.”

“Can we finish sorting out the castle now?” Flinn’s words were filled with exaggerated patience.

“Can’t we do that later? I really need a shower and something to eat,” Amber said.

Ronan shook his head. “We have to be united once we step out that door. The slightest hint of weakness and we might as well slit our own throats.”

“What do you want, Ronan?”

“How nice of you to ask, Amber.”

“Now who’s making everything a drama?”

Ronan smiled as she reworded what he’d previously said to her. “I’m guessing if I say a share in the castle someone is going to complain.”

“I will,” Flinn said.

“We can still claim it as our lands for the test at the end of a year. Even with this amount of Golds owning it,” Kade said.

“Don’t I share my mage with him? Why should I have to share my lands with him too?” Flinn demanded.

“What does holding the lands involve?” Jasper asked.

“Killing anyone who tries to take them,” Ronan said.

Rian shook his head. “Preventing others from getting them from you. And if Flinn and Kade hold the lands for a full year, they pass the highest Gold Warrior test. It will mean they can become head of their own clans once they have passed a total of ten tests.”

“You’re starting to confuse me.” Amber looked from Rian to Ronan. “You’re not Gold and yet you can hold land.”

“I can hold as much land as I want, but I can’t have my own clan or even be one of the two hundred Representatives or part of the Assembly or Council. And I can never be one of the twenty-five Elders. Not without Gold or at least a child of my own with Gold.”

“Can’t you adopt?” Amber asked.

Ronan shook his head. “They have to be of my blood too.”

“Well, that sucks for you,” Amber said.

“Apparently,” Ronan said dryly.

“Can we focus for five bloody minutes?” Flinn demanded.

“Why do you need this castle?” Amber asked Ronan.

“So I can recall all the warriors Paili has supporting other people,” Ronan said.

“We can recall them and allow you to talk with them about what defences are on your lands,” Rian said.

“I never said there were any on my lands. I just want to reduce the support she has in different places,” Ronan said.

“Playing games isn’t going to get this dealt with quickly and if we take too long I’m going to start thinking you’re dinner,” Amber warned Ronan.

“She has a mean bite,” Rian said.

Amber ignored his comment. “What exactly do you want? No games. Forget about all your stupid negotiating. If it’s reasonable I won’t argue it.”

“Why should we give him everything he wants?” Flinn demanded.

Amber and Ronan turned on Flinn at the same time. “Shut. Up.”

Flinn turned to Kade. “Do you really expect me to listen to someone who’s exactly like Ronan?”

“I’m not warning you again,” Ronan growled.

“You promised not to harm any of us,” Flinn said.

Ronan slowly smiled as he stalked close to Flinn, standing in his personal space. “It’ll only harm you if you struggle. If you’ve been warned and you still chose to struggle I’ll believe you want that harm.”

Flinn met Ronan’s eyes, but he remained quiet.

Ronan let the silence stretch out for a full minute. “All troops recalled to this castle. If we move quickly we can claim some of them that have been stationed at this castle previously, but actually belong to other castles owned by Paili. I reserve the right to interrogate any warrior here, be able to reside here when I wish until my own lands are returned to me and use the resources of this castle to help gain that result.”

Amber looked towards Rian, unsure what she should say.
“Think you can help out here?”

Rian smiled fleetingly. “Interrogation will not cause pain or harm to the warriors. You will be respectful to the owners of the castle when residing here and access to the resources to help regain your own lands will not negatively impact upon this castle.”

“Those amendments are bearable,” Ronan said, still in Flinn’s space. “What do you say, Flinn?”

“Whose names will the castle be in?”

“Mine. Oh, it better be mine too.” Crystal was just about bouncing on the spot.

“How about everyone in this room except myself and the egg?” Ronan asked.

“Rian isn’t Gold,” Flinn said.

“You don’t have to be Gold to hold a castle,” Ronan said.

“He’s your son.”

“He’s Amber’s warrior.”

“He was your son first.”

“Are you saying he didn’t help capture this castle? That he didn’t put in as much effort as you, Flinn?” Ronan demanded.

“He’s just a warrior.”

“No, he’s not.” Amber strode forward to stand beside Ronan, sick of the class distinctions in the dragon lands. “I want him to have a share too.”

Flinn turned to Amber. “He’s trying to trick you. Rian will no longer be your warrior. He’ll have land. Who’ll serve you then?”

“Amber-” Rian began.

She waved Rian quiet and met Ronan’s eyes. “He’ll still be one of mine. You won’t be able to harm him.”

Ronan grinned. “Is that all that’s worrying you? What about less land to own? Who’ll guard your back while Rian is seeing to his affairs here?”

Amber matched his grin. “I’ve got a business card at home of a Gold who’ll be looking for a job in less than three months.”

Ronan laughed. “Done. He’s yours. Paid in full for the rest of his current service.”

Amber’s grin evaporated. “But I didn’t want another warrior,” she wailed.

Ronan slung an arm around her shoulders as he turned her to face the rest of the group, lowering his voice. “I know.” He raised his voice. “Is everyone in agreement now?” When everyone nodded, said yes or, in Crystal’s case, squealed excitedly, Ronan said, “Then lets find some food for Amber. I’m too old to make a decent main meal.”

Amber tried to follow everyone from the room, but Ronan held her back. Kade paused in the doorway, waiting for her. She waved him on when Ronan said,
“Chase him away, or should I?”

When they were alone, with the door closed, Amber pulled away from Ronan. “What now? Don’t tell me you’ve found another assassin who is trying to track me down?”

Ronan shook his head. “Within days everyone will know Paili was behind that offer and you personally killed her.” He strode towards the dead dragon.

“Then what do you want to tell me?”

Ronan’s predatory smile slowly formed and he drew a dagger from his boot to kneel in front of Paili. He removed the heart and laid it on the floor. It was cut nearly in two. “I once said I’d bring you the heart of the next dragon I slayed. But this is even better. It is the heart of the one you killed.” He started cutting the heart into even pieces.

“What are you doing?”

Ronan held up a piece of Paili’s heart. Blood stained his hands as he rose to his feet. “What does it look like I’m doing, Amber?”

She tried to ignore the wave of nausea that returned. “Are you sure you don’t want a fork and a dinner plate as well?”

“One twentieth. It’s all you need.” He continued to hold the piece of heart out to her.

Amber shook her head, looking away as Ronan ate it instead. “One-” she turned back to face him. “You tricked us!”

“Not at all. I said one entire heart and you were all happy to agree. I’ve just had one twentieth of that heart.”

“But that wasn’t what we meant.”

“Then you should have said what you meant.” He grinned slyly. “Surely you didn’t expect me to read your minds.”

“Damn it, Ronan. This is going to piss off a lot of people. They didn’t expect you to live forever.”

“Then don’t tell them. Let them find out on their own.”

“Are you telling me I can’t tell them?”

“I’m suggesting you don’t. No one likes the bearer of bad news. I’ve even been known to kill the messenger before and I know I’m not the only one. But it’s completely up to you. As I said, they’ll find out eventually.”

“How?”

Ronan gestured towards the heart. “Unless they can’t count.”

Amber’s eyes narrowed. “And everyone thinks I go looking for trouble. What are you planning, Ronan?”

“Sometimes I like to roll the dice and see how they fall. Just to keep things interesting.”

“Well they’re far too interesting without random dice rolls.” Amber spun, throwing fireballs at the heart. She increased the heat until she had it hot enough to turn the heart to ashes. The room was filled with the stench of burnt flesh when she turned back to Ronan. “Sorry to ruin your fun.”

Ronan shrugged. “I’m sure there’ll be more.”

Amber stared at him certain he spoke the truth. “Where did you get the sword from?”

“I brought it with me.”

“Did you plan for me to kill her? How did you know it’d be me?”

“Sometimes a gamble pays off.”

“Are you annoyed you didn’t get a share of the castle?”

“Are you so certain I didn’t?”

Amber thought over his words for a moment. “Is Rian still yours?” She almost dreaded the answer.

“No. He’s definitely your man. But he’s still my son. And that’s what will stay in most people’s minds.”

Amber smiled. “And you’ll make use of their belief.”

Ronan nodded. “Of course. Why waste an advantage?”

“If you feel that way, why not let people know you have some Gold in you?”

“Because I can’t currently prove there’s Gold in my lineage.”

“I saw it.”

“I wasn’t born Gold.”

Amber frowned. “Then why are you starting to go Gold? Is it age?”

“No. Experimentation. And until I’m completely Gold I won’t let anyone know.” Ronan smiled slowly, excitement lighting his eyes. “Can you imagine the amount of people who’ll want to see me dead then?”

Amber started to speak but was interrupted by her brother.
“Mum will ring in a second. I’ve just convinced her I left my phone behind in the library and someone thought it was funny to ring my last called number and tell them I was in hospital. When you asked if Mum had been informed they said she was on the way and said not to bother you about it. You’re at the hospital, I just got my phone back and rang you. Maira, who you convinced to give you a lift, will bring you home.”

Amber pulled her phone out of her jacket pocket when it started to ring.
“Thanks. She’s ringing now.”
She didn’t know where her phone went when she changed form and she really didn’t want to know. “Hi, Mum.”

“How could you be so stupid?”

“Don’t start. What was I to expect? It was Jay’s phone. Of course I thought it was real. I’ve spent the last four hours worried about him and thinking you were being an even bigger bitch than usual.”

“I want you to come straight home.”

Amber sighed heavily, making sure her mother could hear her. “We’ll have something to eat first. And a break. You can’t expect Maira to drive nearly eight hours with no rests.”

“Very well. Give me a call when you’re leaving.”

“Okay. Bye, Mum.”

“Next time, ring me first before you go racing off. Or ring the hospital and make sure it’s a real call. I’ll see you tonight.”