Of Gods and Dragons

by Sherri Beth Mitchell

  Keelan blinked and his hands slid from her hips. “I…”

  Maura had been dismissed from the Queen’s wagon and was currently riding alongside it.

  And Silvia was grateful. Just a few minutes before she had been stroking Quentin’s brow—he was now with fever—and she had felt something strange. It was almost as if her stone, the sapphire she now wore ceaselessly, had started to throb around her belly where it hung from her necklace. Then her charge, who had lain staring at the ceiling without hardly a blink for the past few hours, had suddenly grabbed his sapphire with one hand and grabbed Silvia’s hand with his other. Rivulets of sweat trickled off his forehead and he now stared at her with something like sorrow.

  Then she had heard her husband’s voice whisper something…and a woman answered. “Yes, your goddess has returned to her master to do his bidding.”

  Oh gods, no! she thought. Not again! I cannot bear it!

  She was forced to sit there and listen to his moans and their conversation, for she dared not remove her necklace at such a time. Her heart seemed to be breaking apart inside her body and she hoped, faintly, that it would kill her and ease her pain. Her chest hurt from heartbreak, and she was crying uncontrollably. And then the worst part of the woman’s conversation ensued in her mind: She had asked Keelan—her husband—to be her king! How was he going to answer? He apparently couldn’t physically resist women outside her presence. Thoughts of Venicius swirled in her mind, making the pain more intense than ever. Was every man so easily corrupted by the curves of a beautiful woman? Was their marriage ending before it had truly begun? Silvia began to wonder if all of it wasn’t somehow her fault. After all, the same thing had happened already with her former (and now deceased) lover. Was she that horrible to her men? Did she treat them so badly as to deserve that? What kind of Queen would she be if she couldn’t even keep her own husband in her bed? By the Dark Moon of Eerich, she had lost him to an enemy at that!

  But then her thoughts were banished from her mind as Keelan’s voice gave his answer to the woman.

  “I cannot. My heart, body, and soul belong to my wife, whom I love too dearly.”

  Natosha muttered harsh words in another language and watched his facial expression soften. “Then maybe my Lord could have us both.” She loathed the words as she said them, but after all, wasn’t she used to sharing? “Yes—you could be the King of two great realms, with a gorgeous bride in each. Imagine how wonderful it could be. And your current wife need never know of any of this.”

  “It would kill her if she knew,” Keelan said softly. His hands slid back up to Natosha’s hips and he grabbed her, making her move more roughly.

  The exotic woman moaned with pleasure. “Can you always please a woman this much?”

  Keelan smiled grimly, intoxicated by her powder and her magic. “As long as the woman wills me to do it.”

  “I can visit you whenever she’s not around, you know…or maybe we could let her walk in on us. I could show her many, many things about being pleasured by a man or by a woman. Would you like this, my King? Two women in your bed at once? Or we could have more of them if you wish.” The last part was a lie. She only wanted to bind him to her, to possess him. She ran a hand over his body, speaking again in an unknown language.

  Keelan was beside himself. “That would be nice,” he said. “But for now let us keep this between ourselves. Can you keep this a secret?”

  “That depends. Are you going to join me on my throne and be my King as well? Will you love me in time?” She asked this last question almost desperately.

  “For now I will suffice it to say that you will be my second Queen. Only time will tell if I will ever love you.”

  Natosha bowed her head. “Fair enough, my Lord. It will be as you wish.”

  Just then blinding light filled the small tent and Lord Cambry’s tall form appeared in the opening. He was very surprised to see a naked woman atop the King. Where had she come from? She detached herself from Keelan’s sweating body and turned her well figured body to face him.

  “Who are you?” he asked gruffly.

  Natosha walked towards him, swaying her hips wickedly. “I am the King’s personal goddess, of course.” She was in front of him now, and pressed herself to him, caressing his face. “If the King so wishes I could be of service to you as well.” She moved around to his backside, her hands finding some of his curves.

  Cambry produced a dull laugh. “I’ve no time for foolish games, little lady.” He turned his attention to Keelan. “It’s time to move out now, Your Highness.” He looked back to the woman to get a better look at her, but she had vanished. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing, King Keelan, but it is a dangerous game to play. Remember that your actions affect us all.” He exited the tent.

  Keelan sat up and wiped sweat off his brow. His sapphire shifted on his chest as his muddled thoughts cleared, and with a sinking feeling he realized the seriousness of his situation. What he had thought to have been a dream back at the palace had been a twisted reality. And now it had happened yet again. How had this woman found him? And how could she seduce him so easily? He loved Silvia more than he loved anything else and would never do wrong to her. His breath caught as he thought of his wife...and of the sapphire around his neck. Had Silvia heard him and Natosha? If she had, then so had Quentin and the others.

  “By all the gods in the heavens and in the hells in which I deserve to burn…I am so sorry,” he said miserably.

  He hung his head and began to cry.

  Chapter Seven: A Vow

  Silvia wrapped a piece of Quentin’s cloak around his stone to ensure that they could talk without being overheard.

  “Quentin, what am I to do?”

  He watched as her shoulders shook violently. Tears spilled out of his eyes and he spoke in a hoarse whisper for the first time since his ordeal. “Go to him…”

  Silvia was confused. “To Keelan? I do not wish to see that deceiver! No, no one can make me!”

  “No…Dalton. Talk to…the Prince. Ease…ease your mind.”

  She shook her head. “I cannot, Quentin. I can’t leave you, not now.”

  “You must…leave me. Go to him.”

  After a minute she nodded and leaned over to kiss his cheek. “I love you Quentin. You are a good friend.”

  She called the wagon to a halt and had Rituel brought to her and saddled. Looking ahead, she saw that the mountain pass Rosenda had spoken of was near. Her scouts had already confirmed that the other way was indeed blocked by a mudslide, though they had incurred no rain. Most likely it had been more work of the witches of Rohedon. She had already made up her mind to travel the pass.

  “Milady, is something the matter?” Grant had rode up to her, accompanied by General George and Prince Dalton.

  “Why, my Queen—you are crying!” George said in shock. He dismounted and ran to her, bowing quickly before daring to take her hand in his. “If anyone has harmed you, Your Highness—“

  “No one has harmed my person,” Silvia stated. “I wish to ride ahead to the edge of the mountain pass.”

  “We have already sent scouts ahead milady to look for trouble,” Sir Grant said. “But if you wish this, it will be done and I will accompany you myself.”

  “I will not go alone, my friend,” she assured him. “But if you do not care, I wish for Dalton and him alone to ride with me. I need the advice of royalty.” The last was only a valid excuse to be alone with the Prince.

  The Prince looked startled, but nodded his head in assent. “Whenever you are ready, my Queen.”

  “I am ready now, sir.” She mounted Rituel as her Commander of the Royal Guards mounted his horse. “Sir Grant, keep an eye on Quentin for me. He has started to speak, though not much. I am afraid of this fever he has. If anything should happen tell Zander or Frero to get a hold of me; they know how already.”

  “Yes, Your Highness.”

  Silvia and Prince Dalton trotted to the front of the army and then set o
ut for the mouth of the mountain pass, which was obscured by a large copse of trees, at a gallop. Rituel spread his long legs, enjoying the exercise and trying to race the Prince’s stallion. The Prince of Wexford gave the Queen several questioning glances but said nothing until they stopped at the foot of the pass. They slowed the horses to a walk and led them off the path to find a stream nearby. There, they dismounted and tied the horses loosely to some low-lying tree branches.

  Dalton went to Silvia and took her hands in his. “Please tell me what’s been bothering you,” he pleaded. “If you need advice from me it can wait until later.”

  She broke down, falling to her knees and quickly told him everything. She went back to the beginning and told of her childhood and quickly moved on to Venicius’ betrayal, her struggle for the throne, and ultimately, of her husband’s infidelity. She also told him of the strange man’s voice that had spoken to Keelan, telling him it was time to ‘move out’. But to where, she wondered. Was he on some other mission?

  Dalton listened, closely watching her, even holding her when he felt she needed it. When she was finally finished he shook his head sadly.

  “Have you nothing to say?” she said, sniffling.

  Prince Dalton grunted as he handed her a handkerchief. “Oh, I have a lot to say…to that wretched husband of yours.”

  “Please don’t insult him.” She lowered her eyes in shame.

  “It is my duty as a man and as a gentleman to insult another man for treating a woman in such a way. I would never be able to live with myself if I did such a thing. I sincerely hope that his conscious is wearing him thin.” He paused. “Silvia, I will not lie to you, not now and not ever. I have been strongly attracted to you since we first met, and over the last month I have grown very fond of you. If ever you need to escape, I’m here for you—even if you have to travel to Wexford or if I have to go to Lystia. If ever you need me I will find you. This I promise. I want you to know that.” He looked away, blushing.

  “You are too kind, my dear prince.” Silvia was touched by his words. “Tell me why you are not betrothed to some beautiful woman yet?”

  He laughed. “Too much of an adventurer, I suppose.” He sighed and shrugged. “I am lonely and I have been keeping my eyes open for a woman who seems right for me, and I for her. I am twenty-six years of age and I was starting to believe that there was no hope of finding someone to share my world with. But then I met this extraordinary, mysterious woman who enchanted my heart the first time I heard her speak. Though her face was at first hidden from me, I grew to love her strong personality and her care for other people…for her people. When I found her heart to be taken already I was crestfallen. However I keep the hope that one day I might be able to win her affection.” He lifted her chin to look into the deep green seas of her eyes. “I vow from this moment forth to never love another woman as long as I live. I vow to protect this one that I cherish so much with every moment of my waking life. I vow to love her as no other man could, even if she never loves me back. Her happiness is more important to me than my own breath and I would slay a thousand of Rohedon’s men to make her satisfied. I would pick a flower from every known plant in this world to freshen the very air around her. I would fall flat upon my face on purpose just to see her smile…and I would kill anyone or anything that threatened her honor and peace of mind.”

  “You would do all of this for a woman who may never love you?” Silvia questioned. “What would be the purpose of that?”

  “I believe that she is my destiny, and I will serve her every need unto the end of time, even if she should hate me for it. I belong to her.” He said this last simply, as though it were a fact he knew well.

  He leaned forward, his black hair falling around his face and kissed her bottom lip delicately. “You are more than just a Queen,” he whispered fiercely. “You are the fire in my heart…you are my destiny.” He kissed her lips again, relishing their tenderness and wondering if he would ever get another chance to kiss her this way. He also wondered why she did not stop him. “My destiny,” he whispered again. Then he stood up and helped her to her feet. “We must get back before anyone starts to worry.” He helped her onto Rituel, staring into her fair face with something like reverence. He untied the reins and mounted his stallion, turning the horse back towards their army.

  “Have you seen any of our scouts?” Silvia inquired as the horses walked.

  He shook his head. “No, but that’s not all so unusual, milady. They have probably already passed this way long before us.”

  Silvia followed his lead to the path, but stopped and pointed. “What is that?” she asked.

  Prince Dalton peered into the distance. “I’m not sure, Your Highness. It looks like…well, like people swinging through the trees somehow.” He started to laugh at the thought, but then his eyes widened in shock. “And whomever or whatever they are, they are right on top of your army.”

  “We must ride and be quick!” she shouted, digging her heels in Rituel’s sides to speed him on. “Come on!” She had to warn her people before they were attacked.

  “I’m with you, my Queen!” Dalton yelled back.

  The horses were running so hard that Silvia almost couldn’t grasp her sapphire necklace to warn the others. She didn’t care this time whether or not Keelan heard of the strange creatures that lived in the trees now. She wouldn’t care if he worried himself to death over her. What she did care about was her people…and they were in bad trouble.

  Clutching the stone to her chest she bent forward in order to stay atop Rituel better. She began talking, ignoring the bewildered looks on the prince’s face. “Zander and Frero—alert the army! Those creatures that attacked us in the forest are right on top of you! Be on the ready and prepare for battle!”

  Onward they raced as horns sounded all over the mass. Silvia and Dalton reached the outskirts of the army.

  “Get ready! Prepare for battle!” Dalton roared, sliding his massive broadsword from its sheath at his side.

  The soldiers were most surprised, but began looking around for the danger. Silvia and Dalton headed straight for the Queen’s wagon where Grant was standing guard on her brother-in-law.

  “What is it?” he demanded to know. “What’s wrong now?”

  “The foul beasts that attacked us a week ago have been following our trail,” Dalton told him.

  “We must get rid of these things once and for all,” said Silvia, drawing her sword as well. “But this wagon is not to be left unattended—I want a full Guard around it constantly, even until after we are safe. Nothing, and I mean nothing is to come near Quentin. Understood?”

  “I’ll guard the King’s brother with my sword and my life, Your Majesty,” Sir Grant promised. He quickly gathered two dozen men to guard Quentin with him.

  “Keep going towards the pass on the mountain,” Silvia ordered. “The Prince and I will come as quickly as we can.”

  “Be careful, milady,” Grant warned. “May Geldin, God of War, be with you.”

  Lord Cambry had been watching Keelan closely while the camp made ready to leave. The King was now in a sullen mood, his eyes red and his hands shaky. Cambry let his eyes sweep over their small army, seeing everything except what he was searching for. No, he knew no woman in their party looked anything like the exotic naked female that had been inside Keelan’s tent. Where had she come from, and why had she gone straight to the King? No one else had seen her at all and had given him strange looks when he asked of her. So how did she come by this encampment invisibly? Surely she hadn’t appeared out of thin air, although he had heard of that sort of thing before. But how did she know who Keelan was amidst all these men and how did she know where they would be? His scouts would have reported seeing a stranger anywhere. He pondered on what her business was with the King of Lystia, besides pleasuring him as she had been doing when Lord Cambry had interrupted them. He sensed something bad in her, and suspected that she was involved in some kind of magic. The woman wasn’t good news one
way or the other no matter how he looked at it. If she had been there to help then she wouldn’t have disappeared so quickly. And how had she disappeared so fast anyway? He shook his head.

  Just then Keelan, who had just mounted his charger, tensed up, staring off into the distance. His jaw dropped and his breath became ragged. Little did Lord Cambry know that Keelan was listening to his wife preparing her soldiers for battle.

  He blinked and looked around at Cambry. “The quipas are attacking her!”