Mercy's Prince (41 page)

Valerian
awoke in the predawn stillness. The air was cold but pure, and he inhaled
deeply to clear his head.

He
had no fear. Instead he felt detached, knowing there was a good chance he was
going to die and so was already letting go of this present world. A profound
sadness came over him at the thought of never seeing Merry again. He forced
himself to set aside the memory of their love in order to focus all his
attention on the upcoming confrontation. As long as he
was
alive, there
was still some hope he might succeed.

The
sky lightened in the east. Valerian stood and rolled up his sleeping furs. He
hadn’t wanted to wake Kieran, but he needed to wear the royal surcoat, and he
could not possibly tie the lacings by himself. When Valerian pulled the garment
from his saddle bag, he held it up, staring at the dragon on the front. Would
they remember Alden? Did dragons pass down stories and legends as humans did? If
not, how could he convince them to help?

Kieran
jumped up, suddenly awake. He did not speak, as if he too felt the import of
the day. Valerian hated to disturb the quiet.

“I’m
sorry, but I need your help with this blighted surcoat.”

In
silence, Kieran adjusted the garment with sure hands. Valerian tried to breathe
evenly and deeply to still his apprehension. It was difficult to keep his
imagination in check, for all his imaginings had one end—his death.

When
Kieran finished with the lacings, he stepped back to examine his handiwork.

“I
dinna see how you could look more royal, Your Highness.”

“Thank
you, Kieran.” He
Saw
his squire’s admiration and respect. It was
humbling.

“Did
ye dream in the night?” Kieran asked.

“If
I did, I don’t remember. I hope that means the dragons know I have come.” Valerian
grasped Kieran’s arm. “If I don’t return, promise me you will ride to the Keep
and make sure everyone knows they must leave Levathia.”

“I
hope I won’t be needing to keep that promise, Val.” Kieran’s face was solemn.

“One
more thing.” Valerian shut his eyes as the grief stabbed him a final time. “Tell
Merry that I love her. Keep her safe.”

“I
want ye tae tell her yourself. That’s what I’ll be praying for while you’re
over there.” Kieran pointed toward the circle of stones.

The
sun peered over the horizon, bathing the stones with a reddish light. Valerian
glanced at Kieran, who nodded. Then Valerian turned and walked toward the
dragons’ sacred place.

It
was much farther than it appeared from their campsite. Eventually, he entered
the stand of giant oaks. They could have been a thousand years old, gnarled and
twisted by wind and weather. Beside them, Valerian felt like an
insect—insignificant and short-lived.

Just
as he was about to step out in the open and enter the stone circle, a bugling
call pierced the air, resonating down his spine. While he watched, an enormous
dragon spiraled down from the sky and landed in the center of the circle. It
stood on four legs and folded back leathery wings. Its scales shimmered
blue-green in the sunlight. As it walked, the dragon’s long tail carved a
trench in the dirt, marking its passage.

Other
dragons answered as they flew toward the circle. Valerian saw why the stones
were spread so far apart. He counted at least threescore of the great beasts,
and more were coming down to land within the confines of the holy place.

Valerian
drew Alden’s sword to make it visible. Instead of holding it to the ready, he
gripped the blade just below the hilt and held the point downward to show his
peaceful intentions. Then, praying he could at least enter the circle before
dying, he stepped out from the cover of the trees and walked the rest of the
distance to the stones. He paused between two of them and opened his mind and
his heart to hear the dragons.

I
am Valerian, son of Orland, of the house of Alden
.

With
the absolute calm of one who has accepted death, he stepped into the circle. Though
Valerian sensed the stares of many dragon eyes, he focused on the summoner, who
must be the leader. When it brought its terrible head down close to Valerian, he
could smell sulfur coming from its nostrils. Each of its great eyes was larger
than his head.

You
are of Alden?
The
dragon’s voice sounded loud and majestic in Valerian’s mind.

Yes,
my lord dragon. I come bearing his sword
. He held the blade higher, hoping the dragon
might recognize it.

Other
voices spoke in Valerian’s mind:

This
human has profaned our holy place
.

Burn
him!  Kill him!

The
leader rose up on its hind legs and roared at the others. Valerian almost
dropped the sword at the deafening sound. His legs began to shake
uncontrollably. He drew in a ragged breath to calm himself.

The
dragon dropped back to all fours and lowered its head again, close enough that
Valerian could have reached up and touched it.

Why
have you come to our sacred place?

I
saw you in my dreams. You bade me come
.

I?
I do not remember.
The
dragon narrowed its eyes.
You are a Seer. Perhaps it was a Seeing dream
.
It tilted its head to better inspect Valerian.
You wear Alden’s dragon. You
carry his sword. What do you want of us?

Valerian
went down on one knee and set the sword before him.

I
humbly ask, for the sake of the covenant which you made with Alden, that you
renew that covenant with me, his descendant. The land is threatened with
destruction by the Horde. We need your help to defeat them
.

The
voices began again:

Why
should we help humans? They want to destroy us!

Let
the Horde annihilate them, so we may have the land to ourselves once more
.

This
time when the leader reared up, he flamed two lesser dragons nearby. They
crumpled in pain, keening. Valerian held up a trembling gloved hand to protect
his eyes from the searing heat. Sulfurous fumes assaulted his nostrils.

Which
of you challenges my authority?

No
other dragon dared speak. Once more the leader turned to Valerian.

Are
you king, then?

No,
my lord dragon. I am son of the present king, Orland
.

Has
he had no visions or dreams that he might find our holy place?

None,
my lord dragon. The Sight only came to me upon the death of my elder brother by
the Horde. My dreams of you and this place began then, as well
. He showed the dragon,
as Merry had shown him, the great numbers of the swarm.

The
Horde has been our enemy for millennia. They will destroy everything that is
good
.

The
dragon turned again to address those assembled.

I
was young when we swore allegiance to Alden, but I remember the goodness of his
heart. This descendant of Alden, son of the king, also has the gift of Sight.

While
the dragons discussed the matter mind-to-mind, Valerian stared at the
magnificent leader. He had known Alden, had been part of the original covenant.
Valerian shivered to think of that connection with the past and prayed it would
be enough to enlist the support of the rest of the dragons.

He
glanced down, and the gold threads of the dragon blazoned on the surcoat
glinted in the morning light. For all his life, he’d been surrounded by
representations of dragons, but had never realized their significance until now.
His was an unbroken line from Alden the Dragon King, and now he had the great
responsibility to continue that line. With Merry, he remembered. She was also
descended from Alden, and she had gifts vital for Healing the land and its
people. Together they could bring peace to Levathia, if the dragons agreed to
help.

We
have made our decision
, the leader spoke to his mind. Valerian held his breath.
I
have been reminded that humans have tried to deceive us in the past, claiming
to be of Alden when they were not, and my own sire devised a test to prove a
human’s worthiness. Will you submit to this test, Valerian, son of Orland?

I
will
.
Beside the leader, one of the lesser dragons lashed its tail and opened its
mouth, revealing long sharp teeth. Valerian shuddered. What had he just agreed
to?

Then
his attention was drawn back to the leader. The great dragon’s eyes glittered
as its powerful mind pierced Valerian’s, pressing so hard Valerian gasped at
the stabbing pain in his temples. It seared much worse than when Merry sent an
overload of images, as if the dragon flamed the inside of his head. But his
experiences with Merry helped him bear the onslaught without losing consciousness.
He panted, and a moan escaped him, but he stayed on his knees, gripping the
sword and swaying.

Without
warning, the dragon withdrew from Valerian’s mind, and at the sudden absence of
pressure and pain, he collapsed. Beneath him, the ground shuddered from the
movement of dragons all around him.

The
human is false! Burn him!

No!
The great dragon
leader reared up and roared.
The human survived the test
.

Valerian
pushed himself unsteadily to his feet. He met the dragon leader’s gaze. Between
them was a new rapport, and Valerian bowed as profoundly as his shaky balance
allowed.

You
are the first to ever survive the test
. The dragon inclined his massive head.
I am
Albinonix, First of the Great Dragons
.
For the sake of the land, and to
honor the covenant we once made with Alden, we will renew that covenant with
you, Prince Valerian, Son of Orland, of the House of Alden
.

And
then Valerian fully understood his dreams and visions, as every dragon present
reared up on its hind legs with a mighty roar that shook the ground. Exultant,
Valerian grasped the hilt of Alden’s sword and raised it with both hands. He
lifted his face heavenward.

“To
the honor of Lord Alden and the glory of the Most High!”

***

Merry
lingered in the great hall, waiting for King Orland. Many of the nobles
introduced themselves, but she could not remember most of their names. Some
asked her questions about the Horde nest and the swarm. One heavy-set man even
wanted to know more about how her Healing gift had revealed that information to
her. She answered their questions, but she was growing weary, and her belly
growled with hunger. Finally, the assembly dispersed, and Orland approached her
with a quiet smile.

“That
was a productive session, thanks to you. Siege preparations are begun, and most
of the nobles have agreed to evacuate their families to the coast.”

“I’m
glad, Your Majesty.” Merry recalled Valerian and Sir Gregory talking about the
need to leave the country, if nothing could be done to stop the swarm. She
suddenly became light-headed, and Orland caught her arm.

“Are
you all right, Lady Merry?”

“Only
tired, Sire, and hungry. I did not eat before I came.”

He
helped her to a chair and gestured for a page to attend him.

“Run
to the kitchen and bring the lady a cup of nectar. Bring food, too.” The page
bowed and rushed from the room.

Nectar.
Merry
had forgotten about its restorative powers. Orland sat beside her in another
chair, watching her closely. She was touched by his concern when he had much
weightier matters on his mind.

“Having
seen the Horde with your eyes and with your mind, do you think we should
attempt to fight them here? Or would it be the better part of valor to build
ships and take the people elsewhere?” Orland’s eyes pleaded with her for
reassurance just as Rafael used to do, and Merry felt great sorrow for him.

“I
have no experience in matters of war, Your Majesty. I only know that time is
short, too short to move an entire land of people. I have faith that Valerian
will come and bring the great dragons with him.”

“I
would like to share your faith, Lady Merry.” He fell silent.

The
page returned with a tray of food and a flask with two cups. He set it upon a
small table and placed it between the king and Merry. Then he bowed and moved
back.

Merry
ate bread and cheese and winterfruit, but did not touch the meat. If Orland
noticed, he did not mention it. He poured nectar in both cups and handed one to
her. Then he touched his cup to hers, and they drank in comfortable silence.

When
Merry’s strength returned, Orland stood and offered his arm. After they climbed
the stairs to the royal wing, he turned to her.