Rage of the Dragon (20 page)

She carried a silver cup in one hand and a wine jar in the other. She placed the cup on one of the tables, poured the wine, and then lifted the cup and held it out to Raegar.

“Your journey has been long and difficult,” she said in a voice that was deep and rich and hauntingly melodious. “You should drink this.”

He could only stare at her. Desire welled up in him. Desire strong and urgent.

The woman flushed a dusky rose color. “I am sorry. I should have introduced myself. I am Kea, Aelon’s consort. The god sent me to welcome you.”

Raegar gave an inward groan. Aelon’s consort. He stammered something about being honored to meet her and took the wine and swallowed it in a gulp.

Kea drew near. He tried to back away and bumped into a couch. Her black eyes seemed to swallow him.

“My lord said I was to help you pass the time until he arrived.” Kea’s red lips curved in a smile. “He may be some time in coming.”

Raegar broke out in a sweat. He wanted this woman more than he had ever wanted any woman in his life. He had felt no compunction about enjoying himself with other men’s wives. But not the consort of his god.

He said, in a shaking voice, “I do not mind waiting alone. Though I thank you for your offer.” He made a clumsy, fumbling bow.

“Are you certain?”

Kea lifted her hands and unfastened the golden serpents. The diaphanous fabric slid down her body and lay in a heap at her feet. Kea stood naked before him. She smiled at him, warm and inviting.

Suddenly Raegar was angry. Bending down, he picked up the gown and thrust it at her.

“You should be ashamed to so dishonor your lord and master. Cover yourself and leave!”

Yet even as he held the gown out to her, he dared not look at her. Fearing his resolve would weaken, he stared at the floor. Rippling laughter caused him to raise his gaze. Kea was dressing herself, settling the gown over her shoulders, attaching it with the golden serpent pins.

“I am pleased with you, Raegar. You are a man of honor. You passed the final test. It is good to have a Priest-General in whom I can place my trust.”

Raegar gazed, dumbfounded, his jaw slack, his mouth hanging open.

“Who are you, Lady?” he asked thickly.

She laughed again. “You should know me, Raegar. You pray to me often enough. I am
your
lord and master. My name is Aelon.”

CHAPTER

19

Raegar was in a state of paralyzing shock, unable to absorb the fact that the powerful god he had worshipped was a woman—a beautiful and desirable woman. Aelon had seen that her Priest-General needed time to come to terms with this astonishing revelation and she had mercifully left Raegar alone to recover himself. When Aelon returned, she was dressed more chastely in a gown of soft lamb’s wool.

“Sit down,” she said. “We have a world to discuss.” Reagar learned that his god was still powerful, and that her ambition and hunger for power was as vast as the universe.

Aelon and Raegar made plans for what they would do when Aelon had driven out the other gods and gained sole control of this world and its people. This conversation lasted for days, though Raegar was so busy he never noticed the passing of time. When he and the Sinarians conquered the world, they would build immense cities, using the labor of slave-races such as the ogres and the Cyclopses. Raegar’s armies would destroy the fae, whom Aelon considered undisciplined and dangerous troublemakers. She would banish all dragons who refused to pay her homage and work for her. The rebellious Vindrasi would have to be eradicated.

“They will always be loyal to the Old Gods,” Aelon said. “Even if the Old Gods are dead and gone, the Vindrasi will refuse to worship me.”

Raegar, humbled and reverent, listened to his god in awe, enthralled by her vision.

“I lack one thing in making my dream a reality,” said Aelon. She fixed her gaze upon him. “The power of creation. Torval, curse him, has hidden it away. Fortunately, now we know where. I need the spiritbones of the Five Vektia dragons.”

Raegar’s exultant feeling evaporated.

“I take it then that this is the only reason you chose me to be Priest-General, Lord God,” he said bitterly. “Because I have knowledge of these spiritbones.”

Aelon understood that he was hurt, his pride wounded. She took hold of his hand in hers and drew near him. The scent of jasmine, warm from her body, filled his nostrils.

“Do this for me,” said Aelon softly. “Find these spiritbones for me, bring them to me, and I will reward you. You will
not
be Priest-General…”

Raegar sighed deeply and shook his head.

Aelon squeezed his hand. “You will be Emperor.”

Raegar lifted his head, gazed at her in astonishment.

“Kings of all the nations in the world will bow down before you,” said Aelon. “They will send you tribute, do you homage. As Emperor of the New Dawn, you will dwell in a magnificent palace, high in this very mountain. And there, in a room known only to ourselves, I will visit you.”

Aelon smiled. She was beautiful when she smiled. She lingered on the word “visit” and he saw—or hoped he saw—her true meaning in her eyes. He stared at her in dumb adoration, then, with a wrench, he tore his hand from her grasp, stood up, and walked a few paces away.

“I would give my life to do whatever you asked of me, Lord God Aelon, but I must tell you the truth. I cannot give you spiritbones.” Raegar shook his head. “Four of them are missing and one lies at the bottom of the sea. Recovering it would be impossible—”

“Oh, as to that,” Aelon interrupted with an air of nonchalance, “
two
of the spiritbones are in the sea. Retrieving them should not be difficult.”

Raegar stared at her. “Two?”

“Your wife, Treia, was right when she said that Skylan went back to retrieve the Vektan Torque from the ogres. I like your wife, by the way. I admire her ambition and her ruthless nature. The time may come when she has to be removed, however. Do not worry,” Aelon added, seeing Raegar’s eyes widen in horror, “nothing will happen to Treia until after the birth of your son.”

“My son…” Raegar breathed. “Then I am to have a son?”

“You will need an heir,” said Aelon. “A son with the blood of warriors in his veins.”

Raegar swelled with pride. He could already see himself cloaked in purple, crowned in gold, sifting through casks of jewels.

“Of course,” said Aelon, “all this is contingent upon the recovery of the Five spiritbones. We have or soon will have two. The problem lies in finding the other three. Where they are, I fear, I cannot tell you. The Old Gods have hidden them well.”

“Pardon me for asking, Lord God,” Raegar said hesitantly, “but how am I to gain the two that are beneath the waves?”

“The spiritbone of the Vektia that was in the possession of the god, Sund, is inside the hull of the
Venjekar
. The fae child hid it there. The other, the Vektan Torque, is in the possession of the Aquins, who have also taken your cousin, Skylan Ivorson, prisoner.”

“My whoreson cousin is dead,” said Raegar. “He was killed by the kraken.”

“Ivorson survived. Everyone on board the
Venjekar
survived, including the woman named Aylaen, your wife’s sister.”

Raegar was stunned. “How is that possible? I saw the kraken smash the ship—”

“With the gods, all things are possible.” Aelon said. “The Old Gods are battered and bloodied, but they are not defeated. This time, however, they will not win. I have worshippers among the Aquins. With their help, you can recover both these spiritbones.”

“And I will use them to find my cousin, Lord God,” said Raegar harshly. “So long as Skylan lives, he will be a danger to us. He needs to be put down like a rabid dog.”

Aelon shrugged, a movement of her shoulders that caused her breasts to stir beneath the thin fabric of her gown. Raegar found himself staring at her hungrily and he flushed and tore his gaze away.

“Your cousin is not the danger. Kill him or not as you choose. The one who truly concerns me is the woman, Aylaen Adalbrand.”

“So must I kill Aylaen?” Raegar asked in a low voice.

“On the contrary,” Aelon said coolly, “you must do everything in your power to keep her alive.”

Raegar was relieved. “I will obey your command, Lord God. If I could ask why…”

“When I have the Five spiritbones, I will need a Kai Priestess to summon the dragons.”

“I beg your pardon for saying this, Lord God,” said Raegar. “Though I have tried many times to introduce Aylaen to your glorious light, she has refused. She is very stubborn.”

“Bring her to me,” said Aelon. “She will do my bidding. She will have no choice.”

“I live to obey, Lord God,” Raegar vowed. He hesitated, started to speak, then stopped, clearly uncomfortable.

“There is something on your mind,” said Aelon. “Speak the words in your heart.”

Raegar flushed. “I do not know if I dare, Lord God.”

“Nothing you say will offend me.”

“You test every Priest-General—”

Aelon nodded. “The Test of the Spear proclaims your commitment and courage. The Test of the Serpent reveals your wisdom and cleverness. With the final, the Test of Temptation, I see every man’s weakness and I offer him what he most desires.”

Raegar’s flush deepened at the word
weakness
. He lowered his eyes and spoke in gruff tones. “I know I am weak when it comes to women. A man has needs,” he added defensively. He looked at her, saw her regarding him with cool dispassion. His skin burned, but he stammered on. “You are so … so beautiful, Lord God. The most beautiful creature I have ever seen. You offered yourself to me. If … if I had accepted your offer. If I had tried to make love to you—”

“I would have sent your ashes back to your wife in a very small box.”

Raegar shuddered. He thought how close, how very close, he had come to destruction, and he was sick to his stomach, his body drenched in cold sweat. He feared for a terrible moment he was going to vomit on his god.

“You made a vow in my name to be faithful to your wife,” said Aelon relentlessly. “Yet even now you look at me with lust in your heart.”

Aelon rose to her feet. He was tall, but she seemed to tower over him.

“You will be true to that vow, for by being faithful to her, you are faithful to me. You must learn discipline, control your ‘needs.’”

Raegar sank to his knees and clasped his hands.

“Forgive me, Lord God,” he said wretchedly. “I will be faithful to you. I swear.”

“Bring me the Five spiritbones. Bring me the Kai Priestess of Vindrash. Keep my mysteries. Keep my secrets. Keep every vow you make in my name. Do all this for me, and you will be rewarded.
Well
rewarded,” Aelon said softly. She reached out to touch his cheek. “I might even give you what you want most.”

Raegar fell to his knees and kissed the hem of her skirt. Aelon traced her fingers over the serpent tattoo on his head and then, leaning over him, she kissed the serpent. The touch of her lips swept over him like fire. The tattoo was branded on his soul.

“I am yours, Lord God Aelon!” Raegar cried, and he prostrated himself before her, his large body shaking with sobs.

“Yes, Raegar,” Aelon said, smiling in satisfaction. “You are. And you always will be.”

CHAPTER

20

Raegar returned to Sinaria and this time he was received with all the honors accorded to a new Priest-General. He first went to his home, embraced the astonished Treia, and, lifting his wife in his arms, took her with him in the chariot. As they rode through the streets of Sinaria, people threw flowers and cheered until they were hoarse. When Raegar finally reached the Shrine of Aelon, he assembled the priests in front of the steel door to the treasure vault and, in full view of all, he prayed to Aelon. The steel door rose slowly and ponderously. The priests cheered, some more loudly than others, for there were still those who had their doubts about their new Priest-General. They were careful to keep those doubts to themselves, lest the men in the black cloaks pay them a nocturnal visit.

Finally, late that night, Raegar and Treia entered the magnificent dwelling of the Priest-General. Men had worked feverishly during the time Raegar had been gone to repair the mansion. Raegar dismissed the servants and his guards, saying he wanted to be alone with his wife.

Slowly and ponderously, Raegar got down on his knees before her.

“I ask your forgiveness, Treia,” he said.

“My love! Don’t do this. You’re frightening me,” Treia said nervously. “What is the matter with you?”

“I was wrong,” said Raegar quietly. “I have not been faithful to you, to your love. By breaking my wedding vow to you, I broke my vow to the god. Aelon chastised me and made me see I was wrong. You are my wife and the only woman who will share my bed.”

Treia regarded him intently. Raegar looked different. He sounded different. He sounded like a man in love. But he wasn’t pledging his faith to her. He was pledging his faith to his god.

Treia had always been jealous over Raegar. She had seen the way he looked at other women. She had seen the way he looked at Aylaen, her own sister. At least, Treia had told herself with satisfaction, he would always came back to her bed. Now, even in their bed, Raegar would not be with her.

Treia noticed a subtle change when Raegar referred to the god, not using “he” or “his.” As a wife is said to know in some mysterious way that her husband is having an affair with another woman, Treia knew that something had happened between Raegar and this god of his. If she did not know the truth, she knew him well enough to come close to guessing it.

“I may not win this battle,” Treia muttered beneath her breath, “but I will not stop fighting. He is mine, do you hear me, Aelon. I can give him something that you cannot!”

Treia staggered and seemed faint. Raegar caught her in his arms, lowered her into a chair, and shouted for the servants to bring wine.

“Forgive me, Wife,” said Raegar. “I did not mean to upset you. I thought this would make you happy.”

Treia managed to force her stiff lips into a smile. “You did not upset me, my husband. You made me very, very happy. Especially now. I did not want to say anything, because I am not sure. It is too soon…”