A Skin of a Dragon (The Guild of Gatekeepers Book 1)

by Frances Jones

  'The guard has asked him to take us to the Prince,' whispered Rupert.

  For a few more moments, we waited patiently for the guards to finish their conversation, then the second man gestured for us to follow him. He led us across the courtyard, in the direction that he had come from, and into the largest and grandest-looking of the buildings.

  Inside, I caught a glimpse of a hall decked with flags emblazoned with intricately woven coats of arms which hung from the ceiling, but the guard walked briskly past the open doors and led us up several flights of stairs to a long, dark corridor. He stopped before a door and knocked softly upon it. Almost at once, the door opened, and a young man stood in the doorway. He spoke to the guard in Dutch as he glanced over us. His expression turned to one of great joy when he saw Rupert and recognised his face, but then he closed the door.

  'Who was that? Are we permitted to see the Prince?' I whispered.

  'Yes,' replied Rupert, 'that was one of the Prince's advisors. The Prince does not answer to visitors himself. His advisor has gone to notify him that we are outside his apartments. He will decide whether or not to see us.'

  'What if he chooses not to?' asked Eliza anxiously.

  'I don't think we need worry about that,' replied Rupert.

  At that moment, the door opened once again, and the advisor stepped aside to allow us to enter.

  Chapter 74

  The room behind the door was one of unbridled luxury. A roaring fire and many candles illuminated it with a cheerful light; tapestries and paintings adorned the walls, and the furniture was upholstered with the finest silks and fabrics. It was most certainly a room fit for a prince.

  Seated upon a couch beside the window, I saw a young man with dark hair and a ready smile. His immensely long legs were stretched out before him, and when he stood he looked down even upon Rupert.

  'Rupert,' he cried, stepping forward to greet his cousin. 'It has been too long.'

  'It has indeed, your majesty,' replied Rupert, embracing the young Prince. 'Please accept my sincerest condolences for your loss. Your father showed courage and dignity right up until the very moment of his death, and may that be of some comfort to you.'

  'You were there?' asked the Prince in amazement.

  'Yes, your majesty,' replied Rupert. 'It is indeed my reason for coming here. Please allow me to introduce my companions, Tom Wild and Eliza Ellery.'

  I bowed, and Eliza dipped a shy curtsy. The Prince gazed at us with curiosity, no doubt wondering what brought two ordinary English youths to the Binnenhof in the company of his father's greatest cavalry officer.

  'A pleasure to meet you both,' said the Prince, politely trying to conceal his incredulity.

  ''Tis a long tale, I'm afraid,' said Rupert.

  'No matter,' said the Prince. 'Please be seated. Are you hungry? You look in need of some refreshment.'

  'You are right,' said Rupert. 'We have only lately arrived in The Hague from London.'

  'Johann!' called the Prince.

  The young man who had conducted us into the Prince's apartments appeared at the door leading into an adjoining room.

  'Yes, your majesty?' he said in heavily-accented English.

  'Bring my guests food and wine so that they may take refreshment as they talk with me.'

  Johann bowed. 'Yes, your majesty,' he replied.

  A few minutes later, he returned with three other servants carrying trays laden with food to rival even Ambrose Ruddle’s table. Eliza and I hardly ate a thing, so enamoured were we of the beauty of the food and our surroundings, but Rupert spoke and ate freely, and the Prince listened intently to everything he had to say.

  Rupert recounted the history of the dragonskin and our journey to find Other England. Referring to me and Eliza now and then to confirm certain points, he told of how our ship was wrecked and how we began the arduous trek across the south-western counties before reaching London. When he was done, he looked to me and gestured for me to present the dragonskin to the Prince.

  'Here, Your Majesty,' I stammered, bowing before Prince Charles and presenting the dragonskin to him with trembling hands.

  The Prince received it carefully and gazed upon it as it lay in his palms. A flicker of sadness showed in his face for a moment and then was gone.

  'This was intended for my father?' he asked.

  'Yes, Your Majesty. I'm sorry I didn't reach him in time.'

  Prince Charles shook his head. ''Twas already too late for him,' he said sadly. 'I loved my father dearly, but his rule was reckless and unjust. I don't see that his son will ever be welcomed as King. England has already set its feet upon a crooked path, and it seems to me that there will be no turning back.'

  As he spoke, he held out the dragonskin to give back to me, but a surge of unexpected emotion suddenly gripped me, and I spoke with passion.

  'No, your majesty, I cannot accept the dragonskin. You are England's only hope. I am just a simple boy from a poor family of fishermen, yet somehow, I found myself mixed up in things that I never would have believed to be true. I have learned a lot of both the good and evil of magic, and it seems to me that it has a dual nature, for it harms as well as it heals. Yet it also seems to me that the harm has now been done, and it is left to you to heal England's woes. Take the dragonskin, and maybe one day you will be the wisest King ever to rule, perhaps surpassing even King Solomon.'

  I stopped and blushed from ear to ear. 'Pardon my speaking out of turn, Your Majesty,' I mumbled as I set the dragonskin on the table before the Prince and bowed before returning to my seat.

  Prince Charles looked closely at me. 'Perhaps you have not been untouched by the dragonskin's powers,' he said.

  At that moment, there came a sharp tap on the window, and two ravens alighted on the ledge. In its beak, the larger bird carried a piece of folded parchment.

  ‘Those are Ambrose’s ravens,’ I whispered to Eliza.

  ‘I do believe the bird carries a message,’ said Rupert rising from his seat to open the window.

  At once, the ravens hopped in and bowed before the prince. The larger raven dropped the piece of parchment at his feet before joining its mate a respectful distance from the prince.

  ‘From Ambrose Ruddle of Other England, Greetings, Your Majesty,’ Prince Charles read aloud. ‘May I extend my sincerest condolences upon the loss of your father, His Majesty the King. However, from the blood of the father, hope springs. I foresee that the shadow of despair that has fallen across England will not extend beyond eleven years. Therefore, let you keep the dragonskin as the most precious of your Kingdom’s treasures when you return to claim your throne. England shall have need of its power, so I send to you two of my ravens, Bede and Branwen, to offer up their humble service, and while they and their seed guard the dragonskin, the Crown shall never fail, nor England’s enemies triumph. I hope that your reign will be a merry one indeed.’

  Outside, the snow upon the ground was whisked up by a sudden gust. It swirled in the air, rising up into the sky where it formed itself into the likeness of a crown. In that moment, I understood.

  'I do believe it was meant to come to him after all,' Eliza whispered as the Prince gazed in wonder at the sight outside his window.

  'Something quite extraordinary appears to be at work,' he declared. 'I know not what it is, but I give you my word that when the time is right I will return to England as her King. And the dragonskin, the greatest of all the treasures of England, will be guarded in the White Tower by Bede and Branwen and their seed for posterity.’ He glanced over at the ravens sitting upon the window ledge, their heads inclined towards him as though listening intently. ‘Aye, and mark this, I shall ensure my reign is a just and merry one.'

  Chapter 75

  'I don't know what came over you,' said Eliza as we followed one of the servants up to the rooms that had been prepared for us for the night. Rupert had stayed behind to talk with the Prince. 'You really impressed the Prince.'

  'I don't know what came over me either,'
I replied, flushing at the reminder. 'I'm just glad that the dragonskin is where it belongs.'

  The servant conducted us into our respective rooms, and we bade each other good night. For a long while, I lay gazing out of the window through a gap in the curtains. The moon looked just the same as it did in England, and I wondered at that. I had always imagined it looked different in other countries.

  I knew I should feel relief that the dragonskin was with the Prince and that he would one day be King, but I didn't. My thoughts turned to the Guild, to Devere and Emerson and my own fate once I returned to England. Besides that, Edward's words to Rupert concerning the Shade's appearance to me in the mirror still haunted me. I couldn't shake the feeling that a dark and dangerous time still lay ahead for me.

  I rolled over and tried hard not to think of such things. The bed I lay in was the most luxurious I had ever slept in, dressed with the finest bed linen and real feather pillows. It was hard not to be lulled towards sleep when lying in such comfort.

  For two days, we stayed in the Binnenhof as guests of the Prince. Rupert was quite at home amongst its splendour, and Eliza and I were disheartened to learn that he would not be returning with us to London. Indeed, he was quite shocked that we hoped to leave imminently when we were finally able to speak alone altogether without one of the Prince's distinguished friends or relatives collaring us for an introduction.

  'Surely you don't intend to return to London?' gasped Rupert. 'It would be suicide! Why don't you stay here at The Hague with me? Cromwell rules England now, and the Prince will not be able to return for a long while yet. Until then, you will still be in danger from Devere and Cromwell. The Prince has much to learn and prepare for before he is able to return as King, but you both are high in his favour. You'll lack nothing here.'

  'That is most kind of him,' I said, 'but I for one am not used to such splendour. I feel quite out of place, and I need to get back to Dorset and at least see that my family are safe, even if I can't stay with them.'

  'Me too,' said Eliza. 'I'm dreadfully worried about my father and George. It won't be long before Devere finds out that the dragonskin is with the Prince, and then there will be nothing to stop him harming them.'

  'Very well,' replied Rupert, 'but you will always be welcomed back here- you and your families. I will speak to the Prince's brother in law, Prince William, about arrangements for you to return to London as soon as possible. I shall be sad to see you go though. I am extremely fond of you both.'

  'And we are of you,' said Eliza, taking Rupert's hand and squeezing it.

  The next day, Eliza and I boarded a specially commissioned ship bound for London. Rupert and Prince Charles had escorted us to the port and stood before us as we made ready to board the ship.

  'I will owe you my throne if ever I return to claim it,' said the Prince, 'but it is for your faith and belief in both me and my father that I am most grateful. If I am ever crowned, you can be sure I will be the best King I can be.'

  I bowed, and Eliza curtsied to the Prince, then we turned to Rupert.

  'We couldn't have done it without you,' said Eliza.

  'I merely helped along the way,' said Rupert. 'It has been a privilege to accompany you. George has two very wise and loyal friends in you, and I shall tell him so when I see him again. It grieves me to see you go now that the time has come for us to part.'

  Eliza and I embraced Rupert for the last time and bowed once more to the Prince before boarding the ship.

  'Farewell, Your Majesty, and farewell Rupert!' I called from the deck as the ship's anchor was raised and the vessel glided out into open sea.

  We watched Rupert and the Prince grow gradually smaller until they were little more than two specks on the edge of the dark line that the dock had diminished to as the ship retreated over the sea. Overhead, the sky was blank, but clouds rolled low and threatened snow. We sheltered below deck, eager to be out of the wind, and peeped through the cabin window.

  'I think we're in for a storm,' I said.

  'I hope not,' said Eliza. 'I've had quite enough of storms at sea to last me a lifetime, and we don't have my father's sails this time.'

  We watched as fat clumps of snow fell from the sky and clung to the windowpane, but to my relief the sea remained calm and the wind gave us little trouble. We played cards for the rest of the day to while away the hours until the oil in the lantern overhead burned low. Then we slept fitfully in our cramped cabins as the ship rolled over the waves.

  Chapter 76

  By dawn on the second day since leaving The Hague, the eastern coastline of England was in sight; a darker grey smudge on the edge of the grey sea. A few hours later, we had entered the mouth of the Thames. I thought of our journey by sea months before along that very tract of river. The familiar towns and landmarks were now hidden under a coverlet of snow while the river wound its way through the sleeping landscape. Now and then, we would catch a glimpse of a lone fox prowling the snowy fields for food, or a horse and cart leaving great ridges in the snow behind it as it ploughed through the lanes, the driver swathed in a thick cloak to keep out the icy blasts of the wind. The land all around appeared somehow muted, as though viewed through a glass, and seemed to mourn in sympathy with us for the passing of the King.

  It was late in the afternoon by the time the docks appeared through the frozen river haze, the masts of an assortment of vessels rearing up into the dull sky.

  'Well, we're back,' said Eliza, as the ship moved slowly through the brown water towards the docks. It dropped its anchor, and we disembarked onto the wooden platforms, now covered in frozen sludge where the recently-fallen snow had been trampled by the constant foot traffic. 'What now?'

  All around us, the sailors, merchants and dock workers went about their business with their heads bowed against the wind and intermittent snow flurries. I looked about and thought of the first time I had set eyes upon the place on a very different afternoon back in September.

  'We should find George,' I said. 'He should know what has befallen.'

  We had avoided making anything more than vague plans for our return. In truth, neither of us really knew or wanted to consider what lay ahead as we trudged through the frozen docks in silence. Now that we had reached London and Tabatha and Rupert were gone, the danger that had dogged us since we first left in October seemed more immediate. The dragonskin was with Prince Charles, but Devere was still Keeper, and Cromwell now ruled England.

  'Tom! Eliza!' whispered a familiar voice.

  I spun round to see Tabatha wrapped in a thick blue cloak, the hood drawn up over her head, almost obscuring her face.

  'Tabatha!' I cried.

  'Shh! You are wanted! 'Tis not safe for you to be here. Follow me, and put up your hoods.'

  We followed Tabatha without question, suddenly acutely aware of the danger we still faced.

  'How did you find us?' I asked as we walked briskly, trying not to appear in too great a hurry.

  'I have been watching the docks day and night for the past three days,' Tabatha replied. 'All of London is abuzz following the King's execution. Devere has sent out spies in all directions to find you and bring you to the Gatehouse.'

  I shuddered and chided myself for not considering more carefully the inevitable danger that awaited us on our return. We had defied Devere and robbed him of the one great treasure he sought. Of course he would not give up pursuing us.

  Beyond the ceaseless activity of the docks, London was peculiarly quiet, all but the hardiest or most desperate of its residents remaining indoors out of the cold. The street we walked down was deserted except for a coach parked a little way ahead.

  'I feel very afraid and alone,' said Eliza in a small voice.

  'I know what you mean,' I replied. 'I would that I knew what will become of us.'

  'Perhaps I could enlighten you,' said a voice that made my blood run cold upon hearing it.

  'The Venatorian!' I gasped. Beside me, I sensed Tabatha and Eliza stiffen with fear as he and the M
etallician leapt from the coach and grabbed us each by the arm. They had bound and gagged us before we had chance to scream or fight back, then flung us roughly onto the floor of the coach.

  I glanced up as far as I could towards the window as the coach rattled through the empty streets. I could tell from the speed with which the buildings flashed past that it wouldn't be long before we reached the Gatehouse. There was little hope of escape now and even less once we reached our destination.

  The coach slowed as it rounded the corner of the lane where the Gatehouse stood and then stopped. The Venatorian climbed down from the basket and opened the door, dragging us to our feet. He was grim and silent as he marched us up the steps to the door of the Gatehouse. It opened soundlessly then closed again behind us with an ominous bang.

  Chapter 77

  As my eyes adjusted to the dimness of the hall, I saw Devere standing before us surrounded by the rest of the Guild. Emerson stood at his right hand. The flicker of the candles cast a sinister glow upon each of them and sent jagged shadows dancing across the walls.

  'We meet again, young Wild,' said Devere, a satisfied smirk playing upon his lips as he looked from me to Eliza. 'I feared evil would come of Emerson nominating you as his successor, but Eliza, I expected more of you. Your disobedience has sorely grieved your father.'

  'Don't pretend to care for my father!' cried Eliza. 'He knows just what you are about, Devere, and locking him away won't change that fact!' Her voice was choked with emotion, and tears of anger pooled in her eyes.