Tears of War (13 page)

Taela watched Kellinar and Shryden come back through the Slide and land. In the gathering darkness, the small mountains to the north rose into the last pale pink stain in the sky. In the distance to the west, the trees of a large forest stood like silent sentinels. A light, warm breeze rippled across the grass, their newly formed seed heads bobbing. The first blooms of the wildflowers swayed as if waving in welcome.

She took a deep breath, the familiarity of the air bringing a mixture of comfort and fear. A little over a week of travel on horseback would bring them to Haraban, her birthplace. Would her father accept what she was? What about Sehlas? What had become of him? That was a wrong she fully intended to right if there was a way.

Serena stood a few paces away staring at the horse. Tall and sleek, its bay coat shone in the fading light. The other woman took the reins. “I really hoped that with Miya, I would never have to ride a horse again.” She sighed. “Oh well, I guess at least this time I will know what I’m doing when I get in the saddle.”

Taela suppressed a laugh. Serena had never been comfortable around horses and in the time she’d known her, she had never seen her ride. She always managed to avoid it. Kellinar wasn’t so nice. He let his laughter loose as he walked to his own horse. “You were never all that great at riding. At least this time, you should be able to get both feet in the stirrups.”

Serena scowled at him and stuck her tongue out. Another thing she’d never seen Serena do. In Galdrilene, Serena was always careful to behave in a certain manner, only occasionally joining in the goofing around the others did. But here, with just the three of them, Serena was finding her playful side again. Kellinar said she could be quite fun; now she saw where that belief came from.

Serena gave a snort and turned to her horse with her nose in the air at a comical angle. “I seem to remember you riding like a half-empty potato sack in the beginning, sliding all over your saddle and only staying on because your scruffy little horse was too lazy to toss you off.”

“Ah, but I got the hang of it and I am now quite good . You on the other hand will be lucky if you don’t end up sitting in the saddle backward.”

Serena’s laugh floated on the breeze like wind chimes. Taela stayed silent, enjoying their playful and friendly banter. Serena swung into the saddle and cast a haughty look at Kellinar. He smiled back and leaped into his saddle without even using a stirrup. His horse danced sideways as he settled the reins. Serena rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Miya snorted in amusement and Shryden rumbled his dragon laugh. Taela climbed into her saddle without any display. She was an accomplished rider, but she didn’t feel the need to show off the way Kellinar did. Besides, they only had an hour or so of riding before they would have to stop for the night. Just because they saw extremely well in the dark didn’t mean the horses were able to.

When the last shred of light had faded from the sky and only a blanket of stars shone above, they stopped for the night. Taela lay next to Kellinar in her sleeping roll. Miya’s and Paki’s slumbering rumbles drowned out most of the nighttime sounds. Above, Shryden glided on updrafts, keeping watch for anyone who might approach. Sometime during the night he would switch off with the other two dragons. They insisted on keeping watch and had a schedule of their own.

Taela stared up at the stars, her mind miles away. Anevay was up, researching again. Quiet loneliness clung to her bondsister’s mind, held at bay by the connection to her dragon and because she could still feel the other two thirds of the bond. Taela sent comfort and love to Anevay and felt an immediate change in her bondsister’s mind. The simple mental touch had cheered her up.

“Paki,”
she sent to her silver.
“Make sure Latia reminds Anevay to get some sleep.”

Paki’s rumble lightened as the dragon woke.
“I have already done so. Anevay pushes herself too hard. Latia will do her best to make sure Anevay takes care of herself.”

“Thank you, love.”

“Anything for you, Taela.”

Kellinar rolled over and put his arm around her. “You checked on Anevay?”

“Yes, she is awake, researching still.”

He frowned. “She needs to get more sleep than she does.”

“Paki already spoke to Latia and she promises to do her best to make sure Anevay gets what she needs.”

“I guess that is all we can do until we can be together again.” He tightened his arm around her. “Maybe you should go back. Serena and I can handle all of this.”

She stiffened. “Kellinar, don’t even start with this again. I will not go back. And if I did, how would you get into my father’s palace to speak with him?”

Kellinar snorted and his tone held disbelief when he said, “Do you really think so little of my abilities? I could steal half your father’s possessions and be gone before he even knew I was there.”

She shook her head, still having trouble imagining that he used be a thief. “But you aren’t going there to steal anything. You are going there to talk to him and you would have trouble getting him to listen if he caught you breaking in.”

He shrugged. “I could bind and gag him with Air until he was ready to listen.”

She couldn’t help laughing. “Your diplomacy leaves something to be desired. I think you had better let me handle that part.”

“Not like you are going to give me a choice anyway.”

“No, I’m not. So you might as well go to sleep and stop trying to think of ways to make me go back to Galdrilene.”

He burrowed his face into her hair. “I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”

She rolled over and pressed her lips lightly to his before pulling back to look into his eyes. “Nothing is going to happen to me. You worry too much.”

He yawned and closed his eyes. “That’s what Shryden says.”

She snuggled closer to him, letting her eyes drift shut. “You should listen to him more often.” A soft snore from him answered her.

As the week passed and the countryside became more populated, the dragons hung back more and flew higher. There were times when they were nothing more than tiny specks in the sky. High enough to be unnoticed, but still close enough to reach the ground within a few moments if need be.

They rode past farms where dogs ran out to the road barking their challenge, and through villages where children dashed among the houses and wives hung laundry to dry. The familiar land unfolded around them; a sense of a warm homecoming mixed with dread filled her mind until an anxious knot formed in her stomach. A knot that no amount of comfort from Kellinar or Paki could undo.

The road curved along the slope of a large hill. Taela’s palms began to sweat. She shifted the reins and wiped her hands on her cloak. Warm humidity hung heavy in the morning air and a soft breeze carried the sweet scent of wild honeysuckle and roses. She wore a light cloak in spite of the warmth and kept the hood pulled well forward. Taela didn’t want anyone to recognize her before they reached the gates to the palace. She had no idea what her father believed or what had been said about her.

If her fears were true then he knew she could use magic. She would be wanted but not for a reunion. It wouldn’t help their cause if they had to battle the people of Haraban to keep them from killing her.

“I hope it doesn’t come to that,”
Paki sent.
“It will be difficult to convince them we are not evil if I have to set half of them on fire to save you.”

“You will not do that,”
Taela sent back.

“I don’t want to, my instinct is to protect them, but my need to protect you is greater. I will do my best to hold off on killing anyone as long as possible if things don’t go well. I will not allow them to kill you though.”

Taela sighed. She really couldn’t expect anything less. If she died, Paki died with her and they had survived too much to allow themselves to be killed because magic and dragons were misunderstood.

They came around the final bend and there stood the city of Haraban, the white castle walls riding atop the massive hill and the city spreading out over the hillside. Houses filled the countryside beyond the city walls. A few were even built into the edge of the forest to the west.

Taela gazed at the towers of the castle and the knot in her stomach tightened. She tugged at the hood of her cloak nervously, glancing up at the three tiny dots soaring with the high, thin clouds and drew some comfort. Even from that height, Paki tracked her every move.

Kellinar reached over, squeezing her hand. “It’ll be alright.”

“Of course it will.” Serena nodded. “But we do actually have to go there. We can’t just sit on our horses staring at it. Either it will go well or it won’t. But if it’s going to go badly, it’s best best to swallow nasty medicine quickly and get it over with. The not knowing is what has you all tied up and anxious. Let us get a move on and get to knowing.”

Taela smiled at the other woman and took a deep breath. “You are right. Good or bad, it will be better to know. Let’s get it over with.” They rode forward, Kellinar in front and Serena bringing up the rear.

It was late afternoon by the time they passed through the city gates. So far, no one had given them more than a passing glance. This was a large city and strangers were not uncommon. The guards at the gate barely looked at them. Their horses and clothing both showed a quality that spoke of wealth and prestige.

K
ovan looked up from the roughly sketched map on the table in front of him. A servant stood in the doorway. Already a small woman, she appeared to shrink in on herself when his icy gaze settled upon her. He hated being disturbed. “Are you here for a reason or did you just plan to stand there and try my patience?”

“Sadira requests your presence in the main cavern.” The servant shifted uncomfortably. Her timid voice conveyed that it was nothing more than a request, but he caught the undercurrent of her desperation.

Failure to return with him would likely earn the woman time spent with Sadira’s shadows. He rubbed his hands over his face and stood. Sadira frequently used the female servants against him in this fashion. A male servant would likely receive a painful meeting of Kovan’s own magic for interrupting his thoughts. But he couldn’t bring himself to use his magic on the women.

They all possessed some quality that reminded him of his mother. This one’s voice was quiet and timid, just as his mother’s had been when his father was home. He hated that tone, especially since it was aimed at him. He had never lifted a hand or used his magic against any of the female servants and still they slunk around him like beaten dogs. It irritated him. He was not his father.