Path of the Flame (The Dragon Thief Book 1)

by D. K. Holmberg

  Ty flicked his gaze over to his back room door. There were, indeed, dragon pearls.

  More than that, Bingham had known.

  The dragon pearls must have been encircling the egg. But why?

  He wished the expedition site would’ve still been intact when he went up to look. He wished he would’ve had an opportunity to see what they had found, if only to know what all of it had looked like.

  A prize like the egg and the pearls had been there all this time, and no one had been the wiser. It had taken chance to reveal it to the world. Then again, the king had expeditions digging around the mountainside all the time. Mostly they came back empty-handed. This was the first find of any real significance that Ty had heard of—the first one that seemed as if it could truly be life-changing.

  And now he had the pearls.

  But what he needed was the egg.

  He could keep both. Gayal wouldn’t have to know he had found the pearls.

  Bingham was staring at the ground for a moment. “Were you hurt?” he asked.

  Ty blinked, pulling his gaze away from his back room, and tried to pay attention to what Bingham was going on about. “What do you mean?”

  Bingham pointed to the stain on Ty’s floor.

  “Wine,” Ty said, before motioning to the cupboard. “It’s from when they tossed my home.”

  Bingham pressed his lips together tightly, frowning. “Forgot about that. I guess I shouldn’t have though. Of course they would come through here, searching your home. It’s a damn good thing you don’t keep anything here. Well, other than wine.”

  Ty nodded slowly.

  “What about those bones you tried to sell me?” Bingham asked.

  “I tossed them in an alley. Dragon Touched were tracking me.”

  “Maybe that’s for the best. I know you would’ve been able to sell them eventually, but you wouldn’t want to give them any more of a reason to hold you.”

  Ty laughed softly. “Anything more than breaking into the palace? I’m pretty sure they had plenty of reason to hold me. A bundle of dragon bones stolen from the expedition wasn’t going to change that.”

  Bingham snorted. “I suppose so. Why don’t you head back to the shop with me? We can regroup and figure out how we’re going to get the egg. At least now we know where it is.”

  Ty nodded. “Maybe.” He looked up to Bingham. “We just had to find the egg. Nothing else. And now that we did, I can let the Tecal know where it is. We can get Eastley, then we can get moving.”

  Bingham regarded him for a moment. Ty could see he was thinking something else. He had known Bingham long enough to recognize that look.

  He wanted the egg.

  Not to exchange it for Eastley, not to escape, but for himself.

  Ty sighed.

  “Meet me back in my shop,” Bingham said. “We can talk about the next step. What else we might have to do.”

  Ty didn’t think there was anything else for them to do. He only needed to find Gayal, tell her where the egg was, then get Eastley so they could leave the city. They still had time.

  And with the dragon pearls, he thought they might be able to negotiate safe transport.

  “Go ahead of me. I’m going to make my own preparations here,” Ty said.

  Bingham stopped at the door. “Don’t take too long.”

  “Olivia will be waiting for you there,” Ty said.

  Bingham frowned. “You don’t have to sound like that when you mention her name.”

  Ty had been staring at the floor, looking at the wine stain. “How did I sound?”

  “I don’t know what happened between the two of you, and to be honest, I don’t really care to know. If she hurt you, so what? You’re a grown man. You choose to take these jobs, and you choose whatever consequences come with them. Anything that you and Olivia have done has been between two consenting adults.”

  Ty snorted. “I know.”

  “Well, we might need her over the next couple of days as we escape the city. Don’t go burning any bridges,” Bingham said.

  “I won’t.” Ty waved for Bingham to leave. “I need to gather a few things, then I’ll meet you back there.”

  When Bingham stepped out into the night, Ty remained transfixed for a few moments. He was tempted to go and gather his coins and the dragon pearls, even though he had just buried them, then find Gayal.

  Or he could find Gayal first.

  That was what he probably should do anyway.

  She had told him to find the egg, but she had not said he had to recover it. He didn’t need to be the one to break into the temple, steal it back, and return it to her—at least, he didn’t think so.

  All he wanted now was to get Eastley back and be done with all of this. He was finally ready to leave Zarinth.

  He looked around his home again before stepping out into the darkness and the shadows.

  How was he going to find Gayal?

  It meant going to the palace, he suspected, but if he did that, he was likely going to draw the attention of Roson James.

  But if he asked for Gayal specifically…

  He moved carefully along the street, making his way toward the palace. He had to pause at one point as he approached, steering clear of the caravan making its way along the street. It was late enough that he knew his presence outside would draw attention, and he needed to be careful. He was still a few streets over from the palace, and he found himself looking over at the temple, noticing the bright glowing light of the Flame atop it, wondering how many others had noticed the same slight change in color—and intensity—of the Flame that he had. Maybe none. Maybe it had only been him.

  The Dragon Touched guarding the caravan didn’t seem to pay any mind to the temple. They couldn’t detect anything, and no one else seemed to pay any attention to the Flame—not when Ishantil continued to tremble, producing an ongoing rumbling all around them and the occasional spurting of power as it exploded, threatening to erupt.

  When Ty started forward, he realized there was somebody trailing after him.

  It was a dark-cloaked figure, and he started smiling to himself. Gayal.

  She’d tailed him after releasing him, so he shouldn’t be surprised that she was still out there looking for him. Maybe he should even be relieved.

  Ty turned, making his way toward the palace, moving more slowly now. If she was coming after him, it would be so much easier. All he had to do was tell her where to find the egg, and he could be done with it.

  The figure approached, and Ty realized they were too large to be Gayal. When they started pulling the hood of their cloak back, he froze in place.

  “Roson James,” Ty said.

  Roson stopped across from him, flicking his gaze over to the palace then back to Ty. At night, it was easier to ignore the darkness in his eyes. This was the Killer of Wyn, after all. Ty suppressed the urge to shiver.

  “Are you going back to break in?” Roson asked.

  Ty ignored the comment. “You don’t seem surprised to see me out.”

  Roson frowned, the darkness in his eyes even deeper than before. “Do not make the mistake of thinking that I am not aware of the agreement she made with you.”

  “And what agreement is that?”

  “To bring the egg to her.” He took a step toward Ty, and Ty resisted the urge to step back. Roson seemed to glow softly, as if he were catching some firelight, or using the power of one of his dragon remnants. “I am fully aware of what you have done. And fully aware of what she has done. And I will have it first.”

  “I don’t have the egg,” Ty stated.

  “But I do have your friend. Think about that.” He managed to somehow make the word friend sound almost distasteful.

  “I am,” Ty said, wishing he could react differently. He had to be careful here. This was one of the king’s Dragon Touched, and Ty was attempting to undermine his power, so he knew Eastley was in danger.

  “You think you can trust her?” Roson asked.

  “I don
’t think I can trust either of you,” Ty said.

  “Then perhaps you should trust the king. Trust those who actually serve the king, and know the danger of his wrath.”

  Did that mean Roson had actually seen the ghost king?

  There were rumors of the ghost king, rumors that spoke of him floating through his palace but never outside. As far as Ty knew, no one besides a select few groups had ever seen him. Only his servants. The Dragon Touched. The Tecal. It was almost enough for Ty to believe that the ghost king was little more than a myth. Maybe there was somebody else ruling.

  “I’m not trying to risk the wrath of the king,” Ty said carefully. “I’m doing what his Tecal asked. Maybe you should ask her about it.”

  Roson stepped back and tapped the side of his own face. There came a strange stirring deep within Ty, almost a burning sensation. It started to build, and Ty realized Roson was using his Dragon Touched magic on him.

  He had felt it before. It had held him. Burning.

  Ty feared what would happen if it came at him again. He feared the way that burning might consume him, and he feared what Roson might do to him.

  Gayal had warned Ty not to get caught. And here he was standing in the street with Roson James.

  Finally, the burning began to ease. “You don’t even understand what it is, do you?” Roson asked.

  “It’s a dragon egg,” Ty said. “And I’m sure the king wants to see it hatched, much like the other dragons he has hatched.”

  Would Roson tell him otherwise? Ty wasn’t sure, but Gayal had suggested that maybe the egg was different from the ghost king’s other dragons.

  Roson sneered at him. “You sound disappointed.”

  “I’ve seen the dragons,” Ty said.

  “And you are not impressed?”

  “They aren’t like the ancient dragons.”

  “That power has faded, thankfully,” Roson said. “Otherwise, the world would be a much more dangerous place. I can’t imagine that you would want to live in a world consumed by such terrors.”

  It seemed to Ty that Ty had to deal with enough terrors as it was. “Without that power, what would you have been?”

  “I would not be needed as I am now.”

  “I’m sure you would find a way to make yourself useful,” Ty stated.

  He had to be careful here. He was antagonizing one of the king’s Dragon Touched. What was he thinking?

  He was thinking that he was not going to help Roson James.

  He wasn’t even sure if he could help Gayal, but at least she had made an agreement with him. She had promised to help Eastley. He wasn’t sure if Roson would do that.

  But it was more than that.

  It had to do with Ty’s parents—with the promise Gayal had made about helping him find information about them.

  And all he had to do now was find her.

  That seemed easy enough—at least, it should be easy enough.

  He could practically feel Roson’s gaze on him, the heat burning from it, the energy of his Dragon Touched magic pressing out from him.

  “I will have the egg. You may have your friend,” Roson said, once again practically spitting the word friend. “In exchange for the egg, I will see to it personally that he is released.”

  “Why?” Ty asked.

  “Because the king demands it of me. And because your Tecal has already departed. She fears the volcano.” He laughed, his voice sounding dark, drifting off into the night, and Ty suppressed a shiver. “Though perhaps for good reason. It will erupt soon. And you had better hope I have the egg in time; otherwise, your friend will find himself caught beneath the coming fire.”

  There was another surge of darkness from him, and Ty couldn’t help but feel as if Roson was not telling him the whole truth.

  “I don’t have it, but I will make sure I tell you the moment I do,” Ty said.

  “All you must do is ask for me at the palace. They’ll know to send for me when you come.”

  Roson strode away, heading toward the palace, and Ty stared after him.

  Ty wanted to think he could get word to Gayal, but there would be no way. Not any longer. Not if Roson was already aware of the deal he had made with her. It meant he had to find her another way. He wasn’t sure what that would take. Maybe looking through the city, wandering, trying to find some other strategy, but how?

  He didn’t know, yet he kept coming back to the harrowing truth: he had two days.

  Regardless of what Roson claimed, Ty didn’t believe Gayal had already left the city.

  He would wander through the streets until he had an opportunity to find her.

  He turned his attention back to the temple. He would watch it and make sure no one moved the egg in the meantime. And he would find Gayal, save Eastley, and get out of the city before Ishantil destroyed it.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The street was darkened as Ty stared along it. His mind raced, trying to work through different scenarios. He hadn’t been willing to return home in the hope that he could find Gayal, but he was starting to question if he would actually even be able to.

  A distant part of his mind kept telling him that he had the dragon pearls, which meant he had enough wealth to escape the city, get to freedom, and start fresh. It was the part of him that suggested he go and not worry about Eastley, that he simply run.

  But that meant abandoning him.

  Ty didn’t know what Eastley had here in the city. He didn’t know if he had family or friends other than the people he worked with. Eastley was a colleague and a competitor, but not a true friend.

  Ty just couldn’t force himself to leave him behind though.

  Bingham would probably be worrying about Ty now, wondering where he had gone and why he hadn’t joined them in the shop to continue planning, but Ty was determined to find Gayal, tell her about the egg, and be done with this. It was time.

  Shadows drifted around the street, moving as if a thing alive, and Ty stared into the distance, focusing on the palace. Ty wanted nothing more than for all of this to be over, and to no longer have to fear the Dragon Touched—or the king’s Tecal—chasing him.

  And not just chasing him, but chasing those he had some affection for. They were doing it intentionally, trying to force him into service, and he didn’t care for that. He turned a corner and was nearly ready to return to his home and get some sleep when a shadowy form appeared before him.

  Ty darted back, reaching for the dragon-bone dagger, then stopped.

  He recognized the strange, swirling movement of the cloak, and stared at Gayal. “Did you sneak up on me to surprise me?” Ty asked.

  “You shouldn’t be out so late,” she said, pulling back the hood of her cloak.

  “I can be out wandering, can’t I?”

  She swept her gaze around, tipping her head back slightly, as if sniffing at the air. There was something unpleasant about the way she did it, almost animal-like. Then again, she was the king’s Tecal, and she probably did have something animal-like about her.

  She also had a terrifying beauty, apparent even in the darkness. Ty wasn’t sure how to proceed, and as he had been hoping to find her, practically waiting for her, he had thought he would immediately tell her about the egg in the temple, but something made him hesitate. It was his only bargaining chip at this point. He needed Eastley, then he could tell her about the egg.

  “I was out for a walk,” Ty said, turning and smiling at her. He tried to be charming, disarming, but he wasn’t sure he managed that quite as well as Eastley did. He certainly didn’t manage to flirt nearly as well as Olivia did.

  “A strange use of time, isn’t it?” She glanced behind her, her gaze lingering briefly on the palace, and she tilted her head, sniffing briefly, before glancing up to Ishantil. “I believe we are down to only a few days remaining.”

  He nodded. He knew that, and he knew he shouldn’t challenge her on this.

  “The Dragon Thief was the one who had gone after the egg,” Ty said.


  She turned and looked at him.

  Ty looked over to the temple. It was something that had been bothering him, though he hadn’t really known how to put words to it quite yet. “We only went in for gold and jewels.” And Bingham may even have sent them in for the dragon pearls. “But I think the Dragon Thief knew the egg was there.”

  “It is possible,” she said.

  “How many on the expedition knew about it?”

  “Only two archaeologists.”

  “And where are they?”

  She smiled tightly. “That information is not part of the terms of this agreement, Tydornen.”

  Someone must have given up his full name.

  “I’m just trying to understand how the Dragon Thief learned of it. If only the archaeologists knew…”

  “One of them died,” she said. “An unfortunate accident, and the other returned to Carn shortly after the find.”

  “Any guards?” Ty asked.

  “No.”

  “How many Dragon Touched?”

  “Only Roson James.”

  “Which is why you want to find the egg before him. You don’t know who he shared that information with.”

  She tipped her head. “Very good.”

  “But somehow, he heard about it from either a dead man, or a man who returned to the capital.”

  She nodded.

  There was something that he wasn’t quite getting.

  “How do the priests feel about the expedition?” Ty asked.

  She looked over to him, and the shadows moved around her. They seemed almost alive, which he knew was only his imagination. “I am not sure that it matters what they feel.”

  “I’m sure the priests feel differently. I’m just curious to know how they feel about the find. They believe the dragon relics are sacred.”

  “Relics, but not remnants.”

  “It’s a fine line of distinction. How many relics were found versus remnants?”

  She was silent.

  Increasingly, he started to wonder if perhaps this was less about finding the egg, and more about some issue between the king and the priests.

  The Priests of the Flame had a strained relationship with the king. They had their own sort of power, and they often viewed themselves as not beholden to the king’s rule. It was one of the few weaknesses the ghost king had.