Mindbender (6 page)

“It’s kind of a tight fit,” Wren said. “And we have to douse the light, so it’ll be really dark until we get to the hatchery. Please be as quiet as possible so they don’t hear us.” With that, she squatted down and made her way into the darkness.

The passage led through the solid stone of the fortress island for several dozen feet and made a sharp turn before opening onto a ten-foot-wide natural stone shelf that jutted six or seven feet out from the wall. Past the edge of the shelf, the stone sloped down at a steep angle into a large chamber about forty feet below. It was a natural cave that had been adapted to the purpose of birthing wyverns.

The circular floor was about a hundred feet across. The walls sloped up and away from the floor to the ceiling nearly eighty feet above. Oil lamps on high posts formed a ring around the entire chamber. In the center was a clutch of very large eggs surrounded by a ring of stones. A number of hopeful trainees stood around the clutch of eggs, waiting for the next one to hatch.

At the entrance to the room on the far wall stood a number of Sky Knights, handlers, and a woman who wore the same rank insignia as Mistress Constance. They watched for a few moments before one of the eggs started rocking back and forth. A crack formed and the egg toppled over, abruptly widening the crack and releasing the baby wyvern within.

It flopped around as it tried to make its legs work, then stumbled out of the ring of stones and past the first hopeful trainee. He shied away as the baby wyvern squawked at him. The other trainees shifted position to form a circle around the hatchling. They kept a distance of about ten feet and were very disciplined in their behavior. They didn’t try to draw the wyvern’s attention but instead waited for the wyvern to choose. They didn’t have long to wait. After a bit of clumsy stumbling around, the baby locked eyes with one of the trainees. The young man smiled with pure joy and walked straight up to the wyvern. The baby nuzzled him on the chest and he led his new steed to the entrance where he was congratulated by the Sky Knights and assigned to a squad. He led his wyvern out of the hatchery, and the remaining trainees returned to their posts around the clutch of eggs, waiting for another to hatch.

Isabel shared a look with Abigail and they both looked over at Wren. She had an expression of pure joy. Her eyes sparkled and she was smiling gently.

Two more eggs started to move. The trainees held their positions, waiting for the hatchlings to emerge. As the first egg cracked, Isabel and Abigail both heard a noise behind them. They turned and saw a man with a sword. He said nothing as he lunged at Abigail.

She was sitting cross-legged, close to the edge of the stone shelf. As the tip of the blade came for her, she twisted and lay over to avoid the strike. At the same time, she grabbed the man by the wrist and pulled, remembering Anatoly’s training in hand-to-hand combat. He always told her to use an enemy’s weight and motion against them. She pulled with all her might and spun her feet around to kick at the man’s shins. He toppled over on top of her and went over the edge, but not before grabbing a handful of Abigail’s tunic and dragging her over with him.

They slid down the steep sloping wall of the hatchery, struggling to right themselves so they would land on their feet instead of their heads. As they slid, two eggs cracked open and two baby wyverns stumbled out into the world. The trainees were torn between the two new hatchlings and the commotion at the edge of the chamber.

Wren sat in wide-eyed shock at the suddenness of the attack.

Isabel drew her knife and slipped over the edge, sliding to the floor below so she could stand with her sister.

Abigail and her attacker regained their feet at the same time. He still had his short sword. She drew her knife and backed away from him toward the center of the chamber. There was shouting off in the distance. Sky Knights started running toward the intruders.

The attacker charged Abigail. She blocked his slashing strike, but just barely. Rather than engage, she spun away from him and ran for the center of the chamber, hoping the onrushing Sky Knights would protect her from the sudden attack.

Isabel landed and rolled to her feet. She didn’t call out to their attacker but instead charged him from behind. He heard her footsteps and whirled to meet the attack but was just a moment too slow. Her attempt to stab him in the lung from behind slashed his arm as he spun. He couldn’t get his sword around fast enough but he was able to land a hard backhand.

She went down but regained her feet quickly, coming up in a crouch to face him. Abigail stopped and whirled around to see Isabel and the man squaring off. She heard the shouts of running Sky Knights and the squawk of a baby wyvern behind her as she charged back toward the enemy.

He turned to face her rather than expose his side by attacking Isabel. Isabel circled as the man with the sword lunged at Abigail. She blocked the stabbing strike with her knife but left herself open for the thrust-kick he delivered into her abdomen. She fell backward, doubled over and gasping for breath. Isabel charged again but she was just a step too far away to land a solid blow. He raised his sword for a kill strike against Abigail when the entire chamber filled with brilliant light. The Flight Commander stood at the edge of the ring of stones with her hand outstretched. A bolt of white-hot fiery magical energy stabbed out from her hand and burned a hole three inches in diameter through the man’s chest where his heart used to be. He stumbled backward and collapsed.

There was a moment of stillness. Isabel sheathed her knife and raised her open hands as she started forward. One of the hatchlings had stumbled through the ring of trainees and clumsily made its way straight toward Abigail. When she opened her eyes, the baby wyvern was looking straight at her from a distance of about a foot.

Her vision cleared and they locked eyes. A sudden and unexpected feeling of protectiveness and love for the hatchling washed over her. In spite of her pain, she rolled onto her knees and smiled at her new steed. It nuzzled her and she gently hugged its head to her breast. When she looked up, there was a cordon of Sky Knights surrounding her and Isabel.

The Flight Commander strode through the circle of armored men and stopped a few feet from Abigail. The commander was tall and stocky for a woman. Her hair was dirty-blond and braided. Her eyes were dark brown and her face was tan and weathered. She appraised the situation for only a moment before she nodded.

“I am Mistress Bianca. You have much to explain, but right now you must feed your hatchling. This is Knight Raja. He is your squad leader and will teach you how to care for your wyvern. The first days of a wyvern’s life are critical. Go with him and do as you’re told.”

Abigail blinked in surprise but then she looked at her hatchling. He was ugly and gangly but she realized she loved the beast and would do whatever she could to protect him. She looked at Isabel, who nodded for her to go with the Sky Knight.

She got to her feet with a wince from the pain in her gut and turned to Knight Raja. He stood about six feet tall and had a stocky build. His arms and chest were muscular and he wore a neatly cropped beard on his strong jaw. He appraised Abigail for a long moment.

“Come with me,” he said. “Your wyvern will follow.” He turned on his heel and strode off with Abigail and her hatchling in tow.

Mistress Bianca turned and faced Isabel. “Explain your presence here.”

“We were watching the hatching,” Isabel said.

“From where, exactly?” Bianca asked. “This chamber is supposed to be closed except for the main entrance.”

“There’s a stone shelf about forty feet up the wall,” Isabel said pointing. “Abigail and I were watching the eggs hatch when we were attacked by surprise.” Her mind was racing. The attack could not have been random. He had to have followed them. Then there was Wren—Isabel had given her word that she would keep the young woman’s secret.

“I see,” Bianca said looking up to the platform above. “How did you get there?”

“There’s a crack leading from a storeroom to the platform,” Isabel answered without elaborating.

“How did you come to discover this in the few days you have been permitted to roam our halls freely?” Bianca asked.

Isabel looked her directly in the eye and said, “I prefer not to say.”

Bianca frowned like a woman who was unaccustomed to being refused. “Ah,” she said with sudden understanding. “Mistress Constance told me you’ve befriended your serving girl. She will not be punished, although her secret passage will be sealed.”

“Who is this man?” Isabel asked, pointing to the dead man who had tried to kill them.

“He is one of the trade class,” Bianca said. “I don’t know his name, but I will before nightfall. You will be required to provide a full report of this incident to a constable. She will determine if any sanctions are warranted.”

Isabel nodded. “I will honor your law. And what about Abigail? What happens to her?”

Bianca shrugged. “She will be trained as a Sky Knight.”

“I don’t understand,” Isabel said. “We’ve been treated like pariah by the Sky Knights since we got here and just like that you accept her into your ranks?”

“She’s bonded with a wyvern,” Bianca said. “Our law is clear. Wyvern hatchlings choose their riders. The circumstances of the bonding are unimportant. I suspect there will be those who object, but short of intervention by the triumvirate, the hatchling’s choice is final.”

Isabel smiled. “Good. I’m confident that Abigail will make an excellent Sky Knight. Thank you for saving her life. I’m afraid I was a step too slow to stop him.”

“You’re welcome,” Bianca said. “I’m told you are a queen and Abigail is a princess. It would not do to have either of you murdered while you are guests of the Reishi Coven.”

A Sky Knight escorted Isabel back to her quarters. Abigail wasn’t there, but Wren was waiting in the sitting room. She shot to her feet when the door opened. The look of panic and worry on her face turned frantic when only Isabel entered.

“Where’s Abigail?” she said. “Is she hurt?”

Isabel smiled reassuringly. “Abigail’s fine, maybe a little beaten up but she’ll be all right.”

“I was so worried,” Wren said. “I don’t know how that man knew where we were or why he tried to kill you.” She looked down. “I’m sorry I ran. But I didn’t know what I could do to help you.”

“Hush, it’s all right,” Isabel said. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m afraid Mistress Bianca figured out your secret passage though. I suspect they’ll seal it off.”

Wren nodded. “I don’t care about that, I’m just glad you and Abigail are okay.”

“I do have good news,” Isabel said. “At least I think it’s good news. Abigail bonded with a wyvern. Mistress Bianca says she’ll be trained as a Sky Knight.”

Wren looked at her with stunned amazement. “That’s wonderful! I’m so happy for her.”

“Me too,” Isabel said. “Now, it’s late. Your parents are probably wondering where you are. Go home and we’ll talk more tomorrow. I’m sure Abigail will have some stories to tell us about her new friend.”

Chapter 6

Alexander strode into the permanent encampment with Conner Ithilian at his side and a throng of people following behind. It was a well-ordered and clean camp. Roads were clearly marked and well traveled. Oilskin tents were lined up in neat rows and organized in clusters. The soldiers were well equipped with serviceable-looking weapons and armor that was well maintained. These men were disciplined soldiers who took their profession seriously.

Conner led them to the center of the camp and ordered an officer to provide tents for Alexander’s Rangers and offered Alexander his father’s tent. Apparently it was customary for deployed legions to maintain a well-appointed command tent in the event that the King arrived unannounced. It was a comfortable tent easily big enough to house a dozen men or more. A large bed sat opposite the entrance and the floor was lined with carpets. There was a table and furnishings but the place was cold and unused. Clearly it had sat empty for many months. Alexander had Lucky put Anatoly in the bed and ordered Boaberous to remain with them. Then he and Jataan and Jack went to the command tent to talk with Conner.

Conner was waiting with the mage and another man dressed in full battle armor.

“Please, share a meal with us,” Conner said, motioning to the table as they entered. “I’ll have food delivered to your tent for your men, and my healer will see if he can assist your injured friend.”

Alexander took the seat at the head of the table which drew a look from the older man in plate armor, but no objection. Jataan and Jack took seats to his right. Conner sat at Alexander’s left, followed by the mage and general.

“Lord Reishi, allow me to introduce Mage Dax, my chief advisor, and General Brand, my Second,” Conner said.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Prince Conner,” Alexander said. “This is Jataan P’Tal, General Commander of the Reishi Protectorate, and Master Jack Colton, the Bard of Ruatha.” At the mention of Jataan P’Tal’s name, Mage Dax stiffened perceptibly and his colors flared with anxiety. Commander P’Tal was known to the man. Alexander decided to ignore the concern for now in the hopes that their conversation would ease any tensions.