Dragon Lords 4-Warrior Prince (21 page)

Over her head, the King nodded at Zoran in approval. Zoran automatically placed his crown back on his head, leaning to do the same for Pia before moving close to her. He wrapped his arm about her waist to draw her to him.

"Pia," he began in question, wondering what was wrong.

Pia glanced up at him, but she didn’t have time to answer.

Zoran glanced down as Agro came to the head table, stepping up to speak quietly to the King. Zoran stood, coming around to hear what he said. Pia watched the beefy warrior’s face. She couldn’t understand what was said, but could tell something was wrong. They stiffened, their eyes narrowing. The men nodded and Zoran came back to his wife.

"What’s happened?" Pia asked. To her surprise, Zoran smiled at her. Though, she could see the hard look in his eyes, his face was pure, deceiving pleasure.

"There has been trouble with the Var. Yusef’s been hurt. I have to go," Zoran said seriously. "I’ll ask one of the men to take you back to the house."

"I want to go with you," Pia said. She naturally gravitated closer to him. "I can help."

Zoran smiled. He raised a hand to touch her cheek. To those who watched on, they looked like a loving couple.

"No," Zoran said. His hard eyes bore into her. She could see he was concerned.

"But," she began, her face turning down in worry.

"Lean into me, Pia," Zoran commanded softly. His eyes dipped naturally to her lips. His hand fell to her arm. "We can’t let anyone see that we’re worried."

Pia obeyed and he was glad for it. Her face came close to his. She felt his breath stirring over her lips as he spoke. Her eyes naturally closed, waiting for his kiss, and not really caring that they were being watched.

"I need you to promise me you will go back to the house and wait for me," Zoran said. "I don’t want to have to worry about something happening to you."

"Nothing will happen," she tried. She naturally slid her hand onto his thigh to rest. The smell of him was luring her forward, making want to nuzzle into his shoulder. His hand slid to her waist and worked over to possessively lie on her hip.

"Pia," Zoran growled low. His lips whispered closer and she shivered. "Promise me."

Her eyes opened and she looked into his. Slowly, she nodded. Zoran visibly relaxed.

The King and Queen had stood and were walking behind them. Zoran felt his mother’s hand on his arm, urging him up. He glanced at her then back to his wife. She was nervously licking her lips.

"Hienrich can take me back," she said. Zoran moved to stand and her hand tightened on his leg. "Try to hurry."

Zoran’s eyes softened and he nodded. He took up his mother’s arm, pausing only long enough to give Hienrich a gruff order. Hienrich’s young face turned very serious and he nodded solemnly. As soon as Zoran was out of the hall, the boy stood and turned to Princess Pia.

"My lady." Hienrich bowed. "I’m to escort you back to your home."

Pia watched him, hiding her smile. She nodded seriously at him. Standing, she let him lead her from the hall, completely unaware of the irritated stares of some of the drunken warriors.

* * * *

As soon as they were clear of the hall, Zoran and his parents ran for the medical ward. Agro hadn’t been able to tell them much, only that Yusef had been attacked from behind while seeing King Attor out of the keep and off Draig land. The man seemed fairly confident that it wasn’t the King and his ambassadors who had dealt the blows, but the Var were not dismissed as suspects in the tragedy.

Hearing Yusef howl in pain, Zoran’s stomach knotted in outrage. None of them had thought the Var King would dare to be so bold. It had been hard not to run out of the common hall when Agro told them of it, but it would do no good to alarm the castle until they knew what was happening.

As they stepped into the medical ward, Ualan and Olek were right behind them. Agro had Yusef pinned to a bed as the doctor’s worked. Ualan and Olek stepped in to relieve the man of his position. Agro backed away, his face strained. Yusef fought like a bear, but he’d lost so much blood that he was weakening quickly.

"They stabbed him in the back. He didn’t have time to shift," Agro said.

The King nodded to the loyal man. Speaking low, he commanded, "Agro, gather the trackers and see if they can’t pick up a scent."

"I’ll lead them myself," the warrior declared hotly. Shifting into his fearsome Draig form, he took off down the hall with lightening speed.

"My wife," Yusef groaned from the bed, nearly incoherent.

Zoran waved over one of the guard’s who’d carried his brother. Lowering his voice, he said, "Get to the Outpost and gather my brother’s wife. Be discreet and tell no one what happened here tonight. Don’t shift unless there’s trouble and do not tell her what is happening. Leave her to us. We will deal with her."

The guard nodded in complete understanding.

Hearing Olek, Zoran turned his attention to his brothers. Olek was bidding someone to go after Yusef’s wife.

"I’ve taken care of it," Zoran broke in. He waved the guard away to do his bidding. Moving forward to watch the doctors, he frowned. Under his breath, he stated, "They go to get her right now."

* * * *

Pia followed the silent Hienrich down the red passageway. If anything happened, she was sure she would end up protecting the young boy instead of vise versa. Feeling her side, she lifted her arm and tried to stretch out the sore muscle. She just hoped it didn’t come to that.

"Here you are, my lady," Hienrich dutifully announced. He turned to stand guard outside the door.

Pia ordered the door to open. Then, looking at the young boy ready to fight to the death for her, she eyed him gravely.

"Maybe you should come inside and wait with me," she suggested.

"A soldier does not run from danger, my lady," Hienrich said, his jaw lifting proudly.

Pia nodded, though inside she thought it adorable that he was taking his new position so seriously. "Would you come inside, for me?"

Hienrich looked at her, his stubborn jaw setting.

Before he could deny her, she rushed, "Please, Hienrich. Prince Zoran is gone and I’m sure to be scared in this big house by myself. You would be doing me a great service if you would come inside and keep me company."

Hienrich debated.

Pia lowered her tone and wrung her hands lightly. "This door will surely hold anyone off who tries to get in. And, if they do get past, well then, I have you inside to protect me. So, please, come in. I would feel so much better with a man in the house."

Hienrich nodded, unable to fight the female logic. He knew well men were supposed to protect women and this woman was a Princess. His duty was twice as important. He walked in ahead of her.

"Maybe you could have a look around and make sure it’s safe," she leaned over and whispered.

She smiled when Hienrich nodded to her, saying, "Stay here, my lady."

She waited patiently by the door as Hienrich made a great show of inspecting the entire house, disappearing into the different rooms. Pia eyed the oak door, knowing no one was getting through it. Seeing the hole she’d dug in the wall, she frowned. She really should get that fixed.

"All’s clear, my lady," Hienrich said.

Pia let loose a long sigh of relief for his benefit. "Thank you, so much."

She began walking to the kitchen. Taking the awkward crown off her head, she set it on the counter. Smiling, she called, "You wouldn’t happen to like cookies, would you?"

She poked her head out of the kitchen. Hienrich’s answering smile of excitement was all the answer she needed.

"Why don’t you have a seat at the table and I’ll get some?" Moving her dress aside, Pia hopped onto the countertop and grabbed Zoran’s hidden bag. Climbing back down with much less grace, she got a plate and poured some out for the boy.

When she came out of the kitchen, he was sitting eagerly at the low table. Pia gave him the plate and smiled at him.

Hienrich ate in enthusiastic silence, before looking up at the Princess. Almost shyly, he asked, "Why did you pick me to be your warrior?"

"Don’t you want to be my warrior?" she inquired.

"Well, yes, of course, my lady," Hienrich said. "But usually the position is fought for in tournament. The others will be a little upset because of it. They are better suited and deserve the chance."

Pia shrugged. "I’ve found that someone is always upset no matter what you do. So what if their feelings are hurt. They’ll get over it."

Hienrich nodded. "I haven’t trained yet. I think I should before taking this position."

Pia nodded thoughtfully, amazed at the boy’s logic.

"If you don’t want me to leave your service, I understand," he said. "But I think the soldiers were getting ready to let me try out for them. They were giving me a test of strength tonight to prove I was worthy."

"Is that what they were doing?" Pia saw the earnest look on the boy’s face and instantly understood that the men hadn’t been picking on him. They were performing some barbaric rite of passage to see if the boy was ready to try out to join them.

"You speak very wisely, Hienrich," Pia said. "Well, stand up then. Let me see what you can do. If you impress me, I’ll speak to Prince Zoran about you. I’ll request that you begin training immediately. But, mind you, you must work hard. If you are to honor my family’s name, I expect the best out of you."

"Yes, my lady," Hienrich said. He was instantly on his feet, standing at attention.

"Stay here," Pia said. "I wish to see you with a sword."

"Yes, my lady," he obeyed, standing at full attention.

Pia went to the exercise room, hiding her smile. Retrieving a small sword, she came back and eyed Hienrich. "Do you know how to use this?"

"Yes."

"Before I give it to you," she began with authority. "I’ll teach you the very first lesson about being a fighter. It doesn’t matter how big or small you are. If you are confident in your ability and can strike fear into your opponent that’s half the battle."

Hienrich nodded.

"Now, let me see your scariest face," Pia said, a smirk starting to curl her lips.

Hienrich did. Pia was stunned.

The boy’s features shifted. His young skin turned dark beneath his clothes, hardening with a natural armor. His eyes turned yellow as a line grew out of his forehead. It pushed forward to make a hard plate of impermeable tissue over his nose and brow. Sharp talons grew from his fingers and short fangs poked out of his mouth.

Pia trembled, not suspecting the literal change. Automatically holding up the sword, she stumbled away from the snarling boy. He growled. A scream worked its way from her startled throat. All traces of the young boy were gone, disappeared into the visage of a monster.

Hienrich, thinking it was a test, roared louder, coming at her. He gave her his most menacing look.

"Back, Hienrich!" Pia yelled loudly. She gripped the sword, backing away. She had no wish to hurt the child, but she couldn’t physically fight off his fangs and claws if he tried to attack. If he lunged for her, she wouldn’t have a choice. She would have to defend herself.

Chapter Fourteen

Zoran sighed, striding through the halls to get home to Pia. Yusef was unconscious and in pretty bad condition. The doctor told them that he hadn’t been given time to shift into Draig and the knife wounds had penetrated deeply beneath the surface of his skin. They were sure that he would pull through, though he was still in danger.

Hearing a scream, his heart gripped in his chest. Frantically, he ran the rest of the way down the hall to his home, yelling for the door to open. He would know his wife’s voice anywhere. As he came through the front door, he saw she was shouting at Hienrich to back away. The unruly Draig roar of a child followed the sound of her rising voice.

Zoran blinked, seeing Pia cornered against the wall with one of his small swords lifted up. She was pointing it at Hienrich who had shifted and was growling at her.

"What is going on?" the Prince bellowed loudly to the boy in their native language.

Pia turned her eyes to Zoran. The wide hazel depths were shaken. Her mouth opened to explain but no words came out.

Hienrich instantly shifted back to human form. He bowed, answering in kind, "My lady wished me to show her my scariest face so that I may prove I’m worthy of training under you, my lord."

Zoran took in Pia’s trembling lips and her death grip on the sword. She kept her gaze steadily on Hienrich.

"I think you were too scary," Zoran said to the boy. "Report to the field for training tomorrow morning. You will start as an apprentice warrior to the men. Now go."

Hienrich nodded and jogged out the door.

"And from now on," Zoran barked to the boy’s retreating back, "be more delicate around the ladies. They are not used to such fierceness."

Pia watched the boy run off. Her limbs trembled. Zoran ordered the door to close and strode over to her. Pia dropped the sword from her shaking fingers. It clattered loudly to the floor, but she didn’t care. She rushed forward into Zoran’s arms, too shaken to do much else.

"He’s not human," she breathed into Zoran’s chest. He folded her into his embrace. "He’s like a ... dragon. I didn’t know."

"Sh," Zoran whispered, holding her close. He stroked the back of her hair. His body was stiff, witnessing her rejection of the Draig form. Inside, he tightened into knots. He had to tell her the truth.

Pia pulled back, looking up at his rigid face. Suddenly, she shook herself. "Some warrior I’ve turned out to be. It’s not like I haven’t seen shifters before, but I really thought he was going to attack and I didn’t relish fighting off a young boy. I was so scared I was going to have to defend myself against him."

Zoran smiled, though it was tight.

Pia pulled out of his arms and he let her go. A thought occurred to her and she rushed, "How’s your brother?"

"Not well," Zoran answered.

"What happened?" she questioned, trying to see past his blank expression. He was searching her, but she couldn’t tell what he sought.