But by the time he reached closer to the ground, there was no sign of her anymore. As though she had been swallowed up by the ground.
The scene had changed yet again. Nothing was as it had been.
Scorched earth. Blackened stone. The smell of burning flesh stinging the inside of his nostrils.
He had lost her. He had lost everything.
Again, Saras was close to waking. It would just take a little resolve on his part.
Open your eyes! It was a female voice that spoke to him. Not his Gillian, but someone else.
But he didn't. He turned over again, grumbling under his breath.
What was the point, anyway? These memories of a distant past had punished him for so long. He could neither change it nor make up for his transgressions. All he could do was stay down here, alone, until the world crumbled around him once and for all.
We need you! You're our only hope!
Again, that voice!
"Lies!" Saras roared into the darkness. "I'm not the bearer of hope! I bring only death and destruction."
The mind played strange tricks, especially on those who found themselves stuck between consciousness and sleep. But he wasn't going to be so easily misled by his own delusions. He had learned his lesson all those years ago, and every day and night since.
Chapter Four
Rhea did not fear a great many things. As a warrior, she was no stranger to pain. Neither did she fear death itself.
It was failure that she worried most about.
Previously, as head of the Royal Guard, her biggest concern had been the king's safety. And now, the safety of everyone on these Isles had become her responsibility. It was a lot to bear.
It had been all of three days since the Council meeting. Her newly appointed squad of lookouts had patrolled the skies for only a day when the news came.
An enemy sighting. Despite sending out a boat to hunt them down, they did not manage to capture the intruders. It would have been too good to be true, anyway. Sea Folk did not allow themselves to be caught easily, or at all.
Confirmation, in Rhea's mind, that King Weiland was on the lookout once again for his daughter. The threat was imminent now. The next time his armies arrived, they would show the Isles no mercy. Truce or no truce.
She should not have rejected Uri's idea so quickly. The old tales had scared her too much to consider things logically. A dragon would be a formidable ally. That might be the only thing causing King Weiland to think twice about ordering an attack. The state Teaq's mermaid had been in after mere days in a dry dungeon… heat would be devastating to these beings.
But if Uri was right, it would take some convincing on her part to get the dragon to cooperate.
Was it too late already? Was this war already lost before it even began?
Still, Rhea had no other choice. As she saw it, the Sea Folk's next attack would leave them in ruins. At least with a dragon on their side, they had a chance.
A chance was all they could hope for at this point.
She brought her case to the king, who agreed with her assessment. It was worth a shot. He even sent along one civilian companion, Queen Kelly. In case the dragon proved hostile, her protective magic would keep both of them safe.
And so on this damp summer's day, she found herself travelling down the spiral staircase deep down into the belly of the castle. Deep beneath the part of the dungeon reserved for regular prisoners was a special cell nobody ever visited. There was just one narrow shaft hewn straight into the mountainside that led to this place.
Rhea felt like she was marching toward her doom. Only, she was not alone. Kelly remained right by her side. She had grudgingly agreed to her presence here, but Rhea's inherent dislike for the witch still weighed on her mind. She could only hope that bringing her along wouldn't prove a mistake.
A heavy gate secured by numerous chains blocked their way at first. Rhea ordered the guard stationed down here to open the locks. Beyond it was another door, covered in brass, which was also unlocked for them. And finally, one made of solid iron, with only a small window from which Rhea could see inside the dark cell.
What a godforsaken place. Even the light from Rhea's torch could not illuminate all of it. There was no sign of movement. Not even a shadow or silhouette to tell Rhea where the prisoner was. Unusual. Rhea's eyesight was ordinarily very keen. To not be able to see something in the dark was unheard of.
"Anything?" Kelly whispered.
Rhea raised her hand in a gesture to silence her.
"It's too dark. We're too far underground."
One might almost be led to believe that it was all just a myth after all. That there was nobody down here. But Rhea wasn't so easily fooled. She could hear faint breaths, even a heartbeat. There was something down here. Something which had survived for centuries without food, water or company.
Stuck in a place so terrible, no doubt he'd beg, borrow and steal his way out. That was the thing she'd tempt him with: his freedom. Of course he'd jump on the idea. Who in their right mind would want to be stuck down here any longer?
She nodded at the guard, whose face had turned ashen with fear.
"Open it. And lock it again once we're inside."
"But, General! There's no knowing what he'll do once it's open," the man stammered under his breath.
She could not blame him for being afraid. Hell, she was afraid herself.
"That was an order, soldier! I'm not going to tell you again."
He finally did as he was told, then cowered behind the two women. What a hero, Rhea thought to herself.
It took considerable force to push the door open. These hinges hadn't been used for so long, the door groaned in protest.
Rhea held her breath and raised her torch up high, which finally earned her a better look of the cell. Still, no dragon.
She was about to turn and question the guard, when a voice echoed loudly against the granite walls of the cell.
"I've been expecting you."
Rhea had already been holding her breath, or else it would have been taken away by the sheer majesty of the dragon's voice. Behind her and Kelly, the door creaked yet again as the fearful guard secured it behind them.
"I am General Rhea, commander of the armies of Black Isle. I'm here to offer you your freedom, in exchange for your help in defeating our common enemy, King Weiland of the Deep."
The voice laughed. "I have but one enemy, and he's already in here with me inside this cell."
Rhea's heart started to pound and grabbed for the sword on her hip. Oh hell, he thinks we're a threat.
Kelly, on the other hand, did not flinch at all. She took a step forward, even.
"This is your queen speaking. Why don't you come into the light so we can speak properly?"
Rhea shot a surprised look in her direction. She had some guts, this witch.
"Be careful, Broc will never forgive me if you get burned to a crisp on my watch," Rhea warned.
Kelly turned and smiled briefly as her presence entered Rhea’s mind. I'm not sensing any hostility. Treating him as an enemy will only make this negotiation harder.
Rhea grudgingly remembered the discussion they'd had about her so-called leadership style. She wasn't about to let Kelly's opinions change how she dealt with her soldiers, but this was uncharted territory. Nobody alive today had ever interacted with a dragon before, and Kelly's powers did provide certain insights Rhea did not have.
"Please come out." Rhea rephrased Kelly's earlier request. "We mean you no harm."
Laughter erupted from the darkness. "Well, that's a relief."
Rhea's fears turned to frustration. Kelly might not have sensed hostility, but Rhea did not need mind reading skills to pick up on the arrogance in the dragon's words.
Still, they’d made progress. There was movement in the shadows.
Rhea held her breath as she waited for the dragon to reveal himself.
What she saw shocked her greatly. She had expected scales and talons and a
pair of great big wings. But she saw none of that. In front of the two women stood an ordinary man.
Well, perhaps not entirely ordinary.
He had been down here in this dark hole, asleep, for hundreds of years; even the Elders could not be sure exactly how long. Without reprise, without even nourishment. And yet, before them stood a young man in excellent physical shape.
His features were flawless, even boyish. His body… it rivalled even the fittest fighters on the Isles, with one major difference. There was not a single mark, not even a smudge of dirt on him.
He was perfect.
Rhea couldn't stop staring at him, until she realized he was smirking at her.
"I must have been asleep a long time," Saras spoke. "I see they have girl soldiers now. Interesting."
The mockery in his tone pissed Rhea off immediately.
"A little respect would be nice. After all, we're offering to let you out of here," she hissed.
Saras laughed again. He was even more gorgeous now, infuriatingly so.
"If I wanted out of here, I would have left a long time ago, dear."
Rhea stepped forward, her hand still gripping the General's Sword. "You'll address me as General Rhea. Not dear, darling, sweetheart, or any other such nonsense."
Kelly's mind infiltrated Rhea's again for a moment.
It might be best to play along with his game, Kelly suggested.
Rhea frowned. What game is that?
He's been down here on his own a long time. Plus, he's from a different time. We can't expect him to know the rules as they are now. If he wants to play, let him.
Rhea folded her arms and sighed. So her esteemed queen wanted her to allow him to treat her as a mere piece of meat. Charming. She preferred to try a different tactic. "Here's the thing. We're at war and our weapons alone cannot defeat the enemy."
Saras took a couple of steps forward, until he was standing right in front of Rhea. He gazed down into her eyes for a moment.
"So? What does that have to do with me?"
She didn't want it to, but his presence shook her. He was within her reach. She would just need to reach out for him. Smooth, sculpted flesh, a feast for the eyes, and so much more.
And his eyes… For a body so young in appearance, his eyes reflected the sorrow of a thousand lifetimes. She couldn't stand looking at them for too long.
"Your powers could turn the tide for us. If you'll help us," Rhea spoke. Her voice sounded just a bit thinner and breathier than she would have wanted it to.
"And what's in it for me?" he asked. The corner of his mouth rose in a subtle grin as he glanced down at her lips.
"Your freedom. A full pardon from the king," Rhea said.
Saras shook his head. "You said that already. Plus, the king isn't here. Why should I trust a word you speak?"
"I speak for my husband, the king," Kelly spoke up. "What is it you want?"
Saras glanced over at the queen, then back at Rhea, his expression thoughtful. Then he abruptly turned away and slowly walked back toward the darkest part of the cell again. "I'm not interested. This isn't my war."
Rhea couldn't believe his reaction. "Like it or not, you live on these Isles just as we do. If Black Mountain falls…" Rhea couldn't bring herself to complete that thought. It wasn't a matter of if but rather, when.
When Black Mountain falls…
Saras paused with his back turned. "Let them come. It makes no difference to me. Their weapons couldn't even scratch me if they tried."
Just like that, Rhea was furious again. "There must be something. Something that'll change your mind?" Rhea called after him.
"Now that you mention it." He looked over his shoulder back at her. "I might do it for a kiss from you, beautiful."
Rhea was aghast. "How dare you speak to me like that! I've fought men bigger and stronger than you for less!"
Saras chuckled, then vanished into the darkness. "I very much doubt that. Good luck, General Rhea. With the war, and everything."
Rhea shook with anger. She ought to go after him, teach him a lesson. Kelly placed her hand on Rhea's arm, which infuriated her further, so she shook it off.
Uri said it wouldn't be easy, didn't he? Let's give him some time to think it over. Another day in the hole might make him see the benefits of what we're offering, Kelly suggested.
Rhea scowled. "Guard, open the door! We're leaving."
"Farewell, Rhea and Kelly of Black Mountain," Saras spoke.
Rhea shook her head in frustration as the two of them left in silence. Through the iron door and the brass covered door, as well as the gate.
"That went relatively well," Kelly mumbled.
Rhea shot her a furious look. "How on earth did that go well?"
Kelly shrugged. "At least he didn't attack us. It was a discourse, not a fight."
Rhea scoffed. "If you say so."
"So what are you going to do?" Kelly asked. "Will you consider his demand?"
Rhea just stared at her blankly. How presumptuous of Kelly to assume that she'd discuss her strategy with a witch. Especially when it concerned something so personal and intimate.
"That's none of your business."
Chapter Five
Curious… When the door to his cell opened, Saras had not been sure if he was waking or dreaming. He wasn't even sure what had woken him up, except a persistent feeling that it was time.
And boy, had he been rewarded for his efforts.
Not one beauty, but two of them. Women of nobility, even. A queen, with radiant red hair, outdone only by the fine clothes she wore. She was pretty in her own right, but it wasn't she who had enchanted him.
No, it was the other one. Rhea. She'd said she was the General of Black Isles’ armies. Whether he believed that, he wasn't sure. Maybe things had changed a lot since he had gone underground.
Back in the day, females were not enlisted in the army.
Why any man would stand by and watch the fairer sex get slain in battle, he did not know. He wasn't noble or chivalrous, but even he would lay down his own life in her stead.
Rhea. Dressed in a tight armored bodice and knee high boots. Her outfit was clearly designed to allow for maximum movement and flexibility. It left little to the imagination; still, his imagination was working harder than ever.
She would fuel many a dream. In fact, ever since she had unexpectedly stumbled into his cell, Saras couldn't think of anyone else. Not even his love, Gillian. Was Rhea to be his new love? Was this finally a sign from the Gods that his crimes had been forgiven and he was offered a second chance?
Of course he hadn't accepted her terms. He was least interested in fighting a war.
Perhaps it was a mistake to dismiss her so quickly. If she was going to be his redemption, he couldn't make use of it down here. All he could do here was drift in and out of consciousness, dreaming now of a new woman.
The trouble with dreams was that they had a pesky habit of returning to the same events that had haunted him for so long. Fire and smoke sullied the image of beautiful Rhea. He had to keep on reminding himself that that hadn't happened yet.
But it so very easily could, though. If he wasn't careful, he could hurt her, even kill her too.
And then what? Dream of the event for eons to come, full of regret over yet another senseless death? Like he had been doing all this time for Gillian?
Perhaps it was better to stay here. The dreams would come and torment him, of course. But they were just dreams in this case. She would be safe from him as long as he was here.
Saras reasoned and argued with himself on this. Round and round in circles, his mind went. And it kept on arriving at the same two conclusions: as long as he was locked up, she was safe from him. And yet, he wanted her. He yearned for her so badly it made his bones hurt.
What was a lonely dragon to do?
As the hours passed, the latter of the two realizations started to overshadow the first. He was first and foremost a creature of instinct. As an immortal he ha
d but one instinct to guide him on his journey through life. It was the same one that had led him astray with Gillian all those years ago…
Above all else there was one thing Saras desired. One thing his inner beast needed.
And that was a mate. One companion to share eternity with.
Perhaps if he answered this call, he could prevent any further madness from taking hold.
The next time anyone visited, he'd act accordingly. He would agree to their terms and leave this cell. And then he would work tirelessly, day and night, to make Rhea his.
If she put up a fight, he'd take it as a challenge. He'd been waiting for a thousand years for a second chance. This time, he wouldn't give up so easily.
This war she kept harping on about was but an obstacle getting in the way of what was really important. She would be his, and he would be hers, and everything else could go to hell.
Why else would the Gods send her his way, if it wasn't meant to be?
Rhea could not get over the man's arrogance. She had offered him everything within her power, a way out of the hopeless conditions he found himself in. A chance to redeem himself. And he had laughed at her.
She did what she usually did when faced with an impossible dilemma. After leaving Kelly behind on the lower level, Rhea wandered aimlessly around the castle. Through the maze-like hallways, up and down the various steps. Once she reached the Viewpoint and breathed in the refreshing sea air, she paused for a moment. She couldn't believe Kelly had suggested she take the dragon up on his offer. Who was she to advise her, anyway?
The witch was the last person Rhea would turn to for such advice. She needed someone she could trust. Teaq would have been the obvious choice, but since he wasn't here…
Broc… Maybe he would know what to do.
Rhea turned on her heel and marched back down the hallway she had just come from, heading for Broc's quarters. She didn't even stop to think about whether it would be inappropriate to visit him at this hour. These were desperate times.
Rhea paused in front of the door and knocked twice.
"Yes?" he answered.
Rhea pushed the door open and entered without hesitation, only to be faced yet again by an extremely attractive topless man.
A Dragon's Treasure Page 3
