"Excuse? Mother, half of the staff is lying dead right outside the castle. The Guild had them murdered in the middle of the day. That is more than an excuse. That is reason enough for us to attack them!"
"We can't. We are no match for them."
"We are now," Draco pipped up.
"What?" James turned toward him.
"The dragons are aiding in the battle. They will begin to take on more riders."
My mother's eyes grew wide as saucers. "The dragons are coming out of hiding?"
"Not necessarily. The riders will be hand picked and the battle will have to be where the Guild is hiding. They're isolated and not far from here."
"Not far? How not far are they?" Father asked.
"St. Andrews."
"What?" James sounded exasperated.
He almost sounded defeated.
"They moved shortly after the escape. A few of the dragons have been keeping an eye on them for me and giving me updates on their movements. They are planning something. While Evelyn was able to free a lot of girls from captivity, quite a few have remained loyal and they called back all those from kingdoms world wide. All the royalty is without protection right now."
"It's all my fault." I sunk to the ground, burying my face in my hands.
When I thought I was helping out everyone, I was actually hurting them. I was ruining everything in the world. If anyone died it would be on my hands. How could I have been so stupid to believe I could change anything.
"No, it's not Evelyn. This battle has been raging since before you were born. I started this by disobeying the Guild in the first place. Had I just been the obedient servant and protected your father instead of marrying him, nobody would be dead right now."
"And we wouldn't have such an amazing daughter. Do you want to know who is to blame for all of this?" my father asked.
I wiped at the tears flowing down my cheeks. "Who?"
"The Guild. They shouldn't force any of the girls to do what they're doing. Royalty survived for years before The Guild came into existence. They can survive without it."
"Wh-what happened?" Charlene asked sitting up.
"You fainted," I muttered, my head hanging low.
"This place is a graveyard," she mumbled.
"It's not a graveyard. Something terrible happened is all." James's voice betrayed how he really felt. It trembled with each word spoken.
"Who did this? Who killed all these people?"
"It was The Guild. They are always responsible."
"Are you certain?" she questioned.
I stood and walked to one of the burnt corpses. Near the neck a piece of charred metal in the shape of the insignia. I tossed it on the ground in the middle of the group of people.
"What's that?" my father asked.
"Something they give to their elite assassins." Mother knelt down and scooped up the burnt broach. "When I was an assassin there were six girls that were made elite assassins. The Guild could call upon them at any time and retrieve them from their kings."
"How do you know this?" James asked.
"I was one of them. I have a broach just like this. I don't wear it anymore though."
"I sure hope not, mother."
"That is neither here nor there. What we need to do now is make a plan. When do we attack?"
"Attack? Attack who?" Charlene questioned.
"The Guild. I'm going to end them."
"You're not doing it alone, Evelyn," James said, grasping my hand and kissing the back of it.
"Perhaps not."
"The dragons are aiding in our cause. They're being affected by this situation now. which is why you saw me glowing all blue like. Draco and I grew in our bond."
"Amazing," she muttered.
I climbed onto Draco's back and nudged him. He nodded and turned toward the sky.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"St. Andrews. Don't worry, we're not attacking yet. I need to see what we're dealing with myself. Then I'll meet with the dragons to find out how they want to aid and how many want riders."
"I'm going, too." James stepped forward. His shoulders back and his head held high.
"How? Draco only carries his rider."
"My dragon. He's not far, and he gave me a special whistle to call for him."
"He did? When?"
"You're not the only one who sneaks off, Evelyn."
He held a shiny, golden whistle to his lips and blew. No sound emerged. The thing was broken.
"James, I hate to tell you, but that doesn't work."
"Shh," he said, watching the sky.
After a few moments a dust cloud blew up as a loud thud came from behind. A large, old dragon shimmered into view.
"You called?" he asked.
"We're going to St. Andrews. I want you by my side."
"Of course, majesty. Does this have to do with the whispers amongst the dragon elders? About The Guild."
Draco nodded his massive head.
"You've changed," the old dragon said.
"We've had a bit of a new thing happen."
"The great bond?"
"Is that what it is?"
"You have much to learn, young one," the elder dragon said to Draco.
"So it seems."
"What that means is you've found your one true rider. The missing piece of who you are."
"Yes. I do feel different," Draco agreed.
"As do I."
"We will discuss this more at a later time. For now, let's see what The Guild is up to."
"We are also going to Kirkcaldy to meet with the elders."
"A wise idea."
As James mounted Draco, we waved farewell to those being left behind. I had to remember that I promised my mother I wouldn't attack yet. Of course I knew it would be a poor decision. They seemed to be growing in numbers despite my debacle with them. The ground vanished beneath us as we zoomed through the clouds. We quickly left dry land behind and saw nothing but the blue of seas all around. I took to flying quite quickly, James though clung on for dear life.
I smiled, hoping this wouldn't be the last time we'd fly together.
Chapter 34
St. Andrew's was a lush green place with a large castle sitting on a sea side cliff. The towers offered defense from the surrounding land and any ships that may come. We remained high above the bustling activity below, watching in anticipation at what may occur. My heart sped up as I spotted Agnolo emerge from the fortress. I could feel the heat rising in my body. A blue light emanated from my finger tips as the anger bubbled in my gut.
"Calm yourself, Evelyn," Draco said.
Reginald snorted a plume of dark smoke. "I do not like this."
"What's wrong?" James asked.
"It is entirely too easy for us to get close."
I let my fingers play with the vial of mortal potion the witch gave me. I kept it on me at all times waiting till the moment I could use it on Agnolo, Berard, and Githa.
A swarm of assassins ran out from every door of the castle, gathering in the center court yard. An uneasy feeling clenched my stomach as a large catapult was dragged from beneath on of the towers.
"We need to move. Now!" I shouted.
A large fire ball whizzed past my head moments after saying it, singeing part of my hair. Sweat beaded at my forehead from the heat as Draco flapped his massive wings taking us higher into the clouds.
"How did they know?" James asked, shouting over the wind.
"Who knows. They know everything!"
"It doesn't matter. They know we're planning something. We must get to the elders."
"To Kirkcaldy."
As another fireball emerged from the clouds, we left the place. The assassins vanished just as quickly as they'd appeared. There were too many for us to destroy on our own. My visit to Italy had done nothing to stop the Guild.
As we neared the two sheer white walls, I held tightly to Draco.
He held his wings in as we dove toward the ocean. Once he was a few feet from the water he released his wings and glided over the choppy ocean. Reginald and James followed close behind. At the base of the cliff wall, Draco stretched out his talons and grasped the rock, climbing slowly. I tightened my knees about his neck and clung to his scaly shoulders with all my might. A low rumble seemed to erupt from the earth, shaking the very cliff we climbed. Reginald and Draco replied with the same deep rumble. A large white head emerged from the top, smoke billowing from its nose.
"Who is that?" I asked.
"The oldest of all dragons. That is mother dragon. Syrrith."
"Mother of all dragons?" James asked.
"She is the first of us," Reginald responded.
A second dark blue head emerged, smoke billowing from it's nose as well.
"And that is?"
"Father of all dragons. Fafnir. They are sun and moon. Day and night."
"Wow."
Draco let out a high-pitched yelp which seemed to cause my insides to jiggle about my body. A fireball from Syrrith was reply to his call.
"What did that mean?" I whispered.
"They are not pleased."
"Why?"
"The situation of the world."
"Oh." I pursed my lips and took a deep breath. "Are they going to eat us?"
Reginald let out a low chuckle. "No. The dragon elders will not eat you."
We finished the ascent up the side of the cliff, emerging to a flat grass circle. Large white stones scattered the area as other dragons went from one to the other turning them and letting out soft, throaty gurgles.
"What are they doing?"
"Singing to the babies."
"Those are eggs?" I asked surprised.
"Of course. We're in the nesting grounds."
Draco followed Syrrith and Fafnir to a far wall and into a cave. The narrow tunnel led to a large, open cavern. Dozens of other dragons sat on rock ledges facing us. I felt small and insignificant in front of such majestic beings.
"Why do you bring humans here?" Syrrith asked.
"They are our bonded riders."
"The girl. She is different," Fafnir replied, sniffing the air.
"We had something interesting happen."
"A deep bond occurred," a red dragon to the left of Sayrrith said.
"Yes, Sirrush. Before we departed Edinburgh we bonded again. I've never heard of such a thing."
"The girl is a dragon heart," a yellow dragon below them answered.
"A dragon heart?" Draco asked.
"Yes. Once every few hundred years one is born of dragon to humans. We have not seen on in a thousand years."
"What is a dragon heart though?" I asked.
"You, child, are not fully human. When you were born you were born with dragon in your heart."
"What does that mean?"
"When you perish you shall become an elder. The last who was sits before you now."
"Who?" Reginald asked.
A large dragon the color of the night sky emerged. His golden eyes bore into my soul. He wasn't wholly dragon. He was something entirely different.
"Who are you?" I asked, sliding from Draco's back, walking toward him.
"My dragon name is Vasuki. When I was of your form, they called me Edward."
"Edward?"
"Yes, child. I am of your lineage."
"My..."
"Is there anything your family isn't?" James whispered.
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Our family is always destined for greatness. Whether to simply rule a country, become an assassin, or are a dragon heart."
"Why?"
"It is one of the great mysteries of the world, child."
"What happens now?"
"You must defeat the Guild. You must stop them before it is too late," Syrrith said.
I shook my head. "It's not possible."
"It is," Fafnir replied.
I pursed my lips and stared, waiting for them to tell me what to do.
"The potion the witch gave you mixed with your blood will be lethal enough to end them," Vasuki said.
"My blood?"
"The blood of a dragon heart. It is a toxic blood."
"I am toxic?"
"No, sweet girl, you are not toxic. Your blood is though when mixed with that potion. Used any other way, it could heal wounds and save lives."
"Like I saved Draco?"
"Yes."
"We must bond other dragons," Reginald interrupted.
"Agreed," Fafnir answered.
"I'm not so sure," Syrrith responded.
"Not sure?" James asked. "If we do not have bonded dragons and riders, we'll never win."
"I do agree with that," she replied. "But a bond cannot be forced. A dragon must choose to bond. If one does not find a human that matches their soul, a bond will be tragic."
"How so?" I asked.
"An ill bonded dragon and rider are sure to meet their demise."
"Draco's first rider."
Syrrith nodded her majestic head. "Yes. He was not meant to be Draco's true rider. You were always meant for him."
Draco hung his head low, a solitary tear sliding down his rough face.
"Do not trouble yourself, Draco," Fafnir told him. "The boy was meant for his destiny. The stars unfolded his story in such a way. He died as he should have."
Draco nodded, I wasn't entirely sure he believed it. A sadness tugged at my heart.
Is that Draco's feelings?
"How do we find out if they can bond?"
"We shall send out a few to scour the lands. A matching soul will sing to them."
"Sing to them?" James asked.
"Yes. If a soul matches a dragons, it will sing to their hearts. Then they will know."
"Will the human?" I questioned.
"Sometimes. Sometimes they will hear the dragons heart song."
"I didn't hear Draco's."
"You don't have to. He heard your soul sing to him. Which is why his bond stuck and you have the deep bond."
I nodded and climbed back onto his back.
"Fly. Return to Edinburgh. We shall send word once the dragons return. If they have bonded we will continue sending out groups until there is an army large enough to fight the Guild."
We departed from the cave. A deep sense of awe and a lot of confusion filled me. I wasn't sure what to do with the newfound knowledge or even if anyone else in my family knew of it. No other dragon heart had been born of the world in a thousand years. I would become a dragon when it was my time to perish.
When was my time?
Would Draco also perish? Or would he become stronger?
The trip back to Edinburgh was silent as tons of new questions filled my mind. The sun had set by time we returned. I slid off Draco and rubbed his neck. He pressed his forehead to mine before retreating to the barn. James wrapped his arm around my waist and led me to the castle. I didn't bother dressing into an night gown. I laid on the bed and drifted to sleep within moments. James's arms wrapped about my body, no cares who found us in the morning.
Chapter 35
I rolled over and stared out the window. The grey morning was something I'd grown used to. Rain pelted the window as I lay there watching. The words of the elder dragons were fresh in my mind.
A dragon heart. I'm a dragon heart. I'm not even human. Not completely.
James's arm wrapped snuggly about my waist, pulling me closer. It was both wonderful and sad. He was my love. The man I wanted to be my king. The man I trusted to rule my country by my side. I'd already made up my mind he would be king of England in his own right. Deep down I knew I would live longer than he would. At least part of me would. I'd have to live for eternity without the man that I love. I would have Draco though.
"It's going to be alright," he whispered.
"I know."
It wasn't going to be alright though. A
bad feeling took over and made everything seem uneasy. I sat up and stretched my aching, sore body.
"Come back to bed," James called.
The bed looked like a better option than getting up and getting dressed, but it would never be allowed. Somebody should be in the room at any moment.
"We can't, James. We do have our duties."
"Hmm. I suppose."
As he lay back with his hands behind his head the doors to my chamber flew open and my mother strode in.
"I thought I'd find the two of you here."
"Do you ever knock?" I questioned.
"Is there reason for me to?" She glanced between the two of us.
I shook my head and sighed heavily. "No, Mother. But I would like a little privacy occasionally."
"When you're married you can have privacy." She paced the room like an anxious puppy. "Your father and I were speaking."
"Yes?"
"We feel the wedding should proceed as planned."
"Wedding? With the threat of the Guild at the doorstep you want us to get married?"
"There is no guessing when the battle will occur. It could be tomorrow, next year, or ten years from now. No sense in wasting anymore time."
"I don't find preparing for a battle to be a waste of time, Mother."
"No, Evelyn. I agree. I don't think we should postpone," James said, sitting up.
"What? You're agreeing to the crazy notion?"
Charlene shut the connecting door to her room quietly, appearing beside my mother. "I concur. It's been quite long enough. It's time for the wedding."
"I don't know. There's so much we have to do."
"Are you stalling for a reason? Do you not love me?"
"James! I love you dearly. You are most precious to me, besides my parents and country of course."
"Of course." Mother nodded.
"Then why hesitate? We will be strong as one. We will be strong as the Prince and Princess of England and Scotland. Whether we marry now or later, it will happen."
"Yes, I know this and I want to marry. I just don't want the possibility of the Guild ruining our day."
"They can't. They've already done so much to harm our very way of life, this will just show them that they cannot divide us."
"Nothing will ever divide us," I mumbled, sitting on the bed in my undergarments. "I just don't want any surprises."
The Defender's Daughter: The Defender's Book 2 Page 20
