“Where should we go, Amber? Lady Lissett? I need some ideas.” Drake was having a hard time convincing the women that he was serious about not knowing what to do.
“There is no place for us. Not anymore.” Lady Lissett sat with her head down, tears occasionally dripping from the tip of her nose. “We have no people anymore.”
Starla, an impressive woman of about twenty, spoke next. “We are lost, Lord Drake. All of us were palace raised. We are yours to do with as you please.”
Drake frowned and shook his head. “Well, there has to be someplace we can go. What of all of this?” Drake waved his hand at the trade goods. “Didn’t you say that all of this became mine as reward for killing the bandits?” Drake was looking to Amber for an answer, but a woman named Morlan answered.
“What good does it do you out here?” she asked. “Aside from the food, you need a good market to sell the rest of it.” Morlan was a fiery redhead with a brooding nature. “You need a market to sell us, too.”
Drake had said a number of times that he was not going to sell the women, but they all seemed stuck on the same track. “Morlan, I am not going to sell you,” he said once again, this time with a hint of impatience in his voice.
“Then you are going to keep us all for yourself?” she asked with a slight grin.
“Morlan, I keep trying to convince you all that I don’t think that way. Men do not own women in the Darendian Empire. Why can’t you accept that?” Drake asked with a gusty sigh.
“None of us can. It’s not proper.” Lady Lissett never looked up from the fire as she spoke. “I have heard tales of life in your empire, Lord Drake. Of men who do not care for their women. Of women who do not have anyone to direct them. Of those who are masterless, roaming the streets, selling their bodies for a piece of bread. Is that the life you intend for us?”
“No, of course not!” Drake cried, shocked. The picture the lady was painting of his homeland upset him. “I just don’t know what to do with you. I mean, what does one man do with six women?”
Amber looked Drake in the eye and said, “Anything he wishes to.” Then she smiled.
Drake was horrified to find himself blushing. “Amber, I don’t, that is, I think that we need to get to a town. There is a small village at the foot of the mountain. I saw it when I was flying in.”
“As you wish, Lord Drake.” All the women stood and waited expectantly for Drake to do something. “The village is Harley Point,” Amber volunteered. “We stopped there the night before we were captured.”
Drake took a moment to cause the trade goods to bundle together and float along behind him. The women seemed impressed by this, and clustered behind the bundle. The walk down the mountain took three days, and by the time the town walls came within view Drake was longing for the freedom of the sky.
A crowd of people came out to greet them. An elderly man stood in the middle of the road with crossed arms, staring at the women as Drake approached. “We have no need of the services of a bunch such as this. Be gone.” He waved his hand back the way that they had come.
Drake was startled. “What do you mean?” he asked, tilting his head to the side as he looked at the man.
“There aren’t enough single men here to need this many extra women. We have enough women of our own.” The man had a sour face and his manner spoke of a foul temper.
Drake felt his anger rising as the old man spoke. “These women are not for sale,” he said softly. “I defeated the bandits up on the mountain, and rescued them. Now I have a supply of trade goods to sell. Is there anyone here who wishes to buy?” Drake was trying to put up a front of competence, but the old man saw though him.
“You? A boy defeated Larsen’s Band? Don’t make me laugh.” The man was laughing at Drake now, as were a number of the town’s folk who had gathered behind him.
“Then don’t laugh,” Drake snarled, really angry now. He had always hated being laughed at. Power coursed through his body as he transformed once again into Amberdrake, his clothes shredding as his body expanded. Massive wings blocked the sun as he mantled and hissed at the crowd. “Now who’s laughing?” his great voice boomed.
The villagers ran screaming from the sight of the dragon at their gates, while the man who had confronted him fell to his knees, staring up at the massive creature that loomed above him.
“I have run out of patience. We have been traveling for days, and we’re tired.” He transformed back to Drake in a moment. “Show us to an inn,” he commanded, and the man backed away, bowing repeatedly.
“Yes. Yes, of course, lord. Anything you say, lord.” The man was staring at the indentations where Amberdrake’s feet had been, especially at the furrows where his talons had dug into the packed dirt of the road. “This way, if you please, lord.”
Drake led his ragged band of women to an inn called the Red Sun. They were shown to the best rooms, not that they were all that good, and given instructions as to where the bathhouse was located.
Drake turned and spoke to Amber. “Amber, see to Lady Lissett and the rest. I am going to try and find someone to buy the rest of this stuff.”
Amber nodded, and there was a hint of humor in her eyes as she answered. “Yes, Lord Drake.”
The village was all abuzz with talk of Amberdrake, and the women with him. Everywhere Drake went he received stares of outright fear, but no one wanted the goods he was selling. Finally, he returned to the Red Sun feeling dejected. “This has got to be the strangest town I have ever seen. No one will even buy the cloth.”
Amber nodded. “That’s because they recognize it, and us, Lord Drake. We stopped here before heading into the mountains. They know that it was supposed to be going to Duke Manrel. They’re afraid of what will happen if he comes after it.” Amber was acting as Drake’s servant, bringing him his meal from the inn kitchen.
Drake’s eyebrows drew together in puzzlement. “But you said that everything was mine for defeating the bandits. I don’t understand.”
Amber’s mouth took on a bitter twist as she answered. “Duke Manrel received a ransom demand for Lady Lissett and the trade goods. His reply said that he only wanted the trade goods. Lissett was of no value.” She continued to serve Drake as she spoke, laying beef and bread in front of him with care.
“So she wasn’t wanted even before she was raped?” Drake asked in a tone that conveyed his disbelief. I cannot understand how anyone could think like that. She’s a lovely girl.
“That was why she was raped. And not just the time you saw, either. The bandits had thought to make their fortune off her, and when they were denied, they decided to get their value another way.” Amber was obviously angry, and her voice carried a harsh rasp that set Drake’s neck hairs on end.
“But you think he will come after the cloth,” Drake said, making a statement rather than asking a question.
Now Amber looked him in the eye as she spoke. “The Duke is a very possessive man when it comes to things he values.”
Drake shook his head. “But he does not value Lissett. He doesn’t sound like the type of person I want to deal with. In the morning, after we have all had another chance at the bathhouse, we will go on. I gathered enough coin from the bandits to buy a wagon and donkey, or a mule. Either way, we will be leaving.”
That night Drake was awakened by the sound of someone moving close to him. A body slid into his bed, and cool hands touched his skin. “It’s Amber,” a voice whispered. Drake was no virgin, but all his experience had been with the neighbor girls in a hayloft. Sharing a bed with Amber was a new and completely different experience.
Amber took the lead, guiding his hands and mouth, encouraging him when he hesitated. They coupled slowly, hesitating as Drake learned how to pleasure her, and be pleasured in return. The crashing orgasm left him drained and shaking with reaction. Amber was in better shape and massaged his chest. “Well, Lord Drake, are you glad you kept me now?”
Morning found Drake in a bout of hard bargaining with the local wainwrig
ht and horse merchant. “Gentlemen, I do not want a fine coach and a matched brace of thoroughbred horses. I just want a wagon and a donkey.”
“Lord Drake, a wagon is no way for such as you to travel. You must show your importance. Show that you are someone to be reckoned with.” The wainwright was lovingly stroking the sides of a coach that would have done credit to the High Laird back in Chanders.
“The proper way for such as I to travel is on the wind. If I am to be stuck on the ground, then I am not going to waste my time on such as that.” The reminder of his other nature brought about a fast end to his bargaining. He left the wainwright and horse merchant seeming profoundly grateful to be rid of him.
At the Red Sun, Amber met him at the door. “We are ready, Lord Drake.” The women filed out and climbed into the wagon, arranging themselves among the bales of cloth and finished goods. Amber motioned Lissett to the bench beside Drake, and he smiled at her. She was having a hard time adjusting to not being a lady anymore.
“Where are we bound for, Lord Drake?” Lissett asked. She was becoming more animated as time passed.
“This is your duchy, Lady. Where would you suggest?” Drake looked expectantly at her, but she just shook her head.
“This is not my duchy anymore, Lord Drake. Not since my father gave me away.” Her eyes began to shine again, and Amber laid a hand on her arm.
“Lord Drake, it would be best to head south. The southern coast is hospitable at this time of year. There are also men there who are not friends of Duke Manrel.” Amber had a closed expression on her face that puzzled Drake, especially after last night.
Drake nodded, then clicked his tongue at the mule. They headed southward, toward the port city of Free Harbor. The trip took several weeks, and Drake spent the time getting to know the women in his care. All were servants in the Ducal Household except Lissett. They had been sent along with Lissett to care for her in the house of Duke Manrel.
Free Harbor came into view as the sun was setting one fine day. Lissett had slowly come back to life, rebounding from her ordeal with the natural resiliency of youth. The city was impressive to Drake, even with the memories of the cities he had flown over the year before.
“My Uncle Gillean is Lord here. He won’t accept me, but he won’t drive me away either. And he hates Manrel, so he won’t help him try and take the cloth and things from you.” Lissett sat on the seat next to Drake, indicating points of special interest. A small inn on the outskirts of the city proper had room for the wagon, and the innkeeper was very interested in some of the goods.
“Well, Lord Drake, I would be quite happy to trade room and board for you and your women for some of that fine cloth. Yes, indeed. Quite happy.” The innkeeper, Daras Ventran, was smiling broadly until Lissett spoke.
“That cloth is worth more than your inn, Daras. I imagine you would be happy to trade room and board for it,” Lissett said as she looked down at the man. She had remained on the wagon, and Daras had disregarded her until she spoke.
“Lady Liss? But how..? Why..? I don’t understand. How are you here? And like this?” Daras was obviously shocked and confused by Lissett’s presence.
“I was taken by bandits. Lord Drake rescued us all, and then we came here.” Lissett was climbing down, and Daras rushed to assist her. “The bandits left me unfit for marriage to Duke Manrel. Lord Drake has claim on us all, and the goods that I was taking to Duke Manrel as my dowry.”
Daras was looking back and forth between Drake and Lissett. “But, Lady, your uncle..? Does he know?”
She simply shook her head. “No word was sent. No word was necessary.”
“Innkeeper Daras, perhaps we should discuss some other arrangement for payment?” Drake was confused by Lissett knowing Daras, and was trying to cover it.
Daras waved him away and snarled, “Not now.” Lissett allowed him to guide her into the inn and they both disappeared.
“Amber, what was that all about?” Drake asked. He was staring at the door where Lissett and Daras and disappeared.
Amber was smiling broadly. She had known where she had wanted to go, and what she had wanted to do once she got there. “Daras Ventran is a former Captain of the Guard at Duke Jander’s estate. He used to play horsy for Lissett when she was a baby. He retired two years ago, and was pensioned out here.”
Drake was eyeing her closely. “You guided me here, didn’t you?” Amber looked at the ground, but Drake was sure she wasn’t in the least contrite. “You knew he was here. And you knew that, even if her family would not accept her, he would. That’s why you suggested Free Harbor, and directed me to this inn.”
“Yes, Lord Drake. I had to do something for her.” Now Amber was starting to look genuinely contrite.
Drake put her at ease. “Well, it’s probably for the best. I certainly don’t know what to do with her, or how to care for her. Why don’t you go along and help her? I can see to the rest of this.” Drake was looking pointedly at Amber, and she went to find Lissett. The other women stood back at his order, and he unloaded the wagon using magic.
A woman was standing on the back steps of the inn when Drake started moving things about. Once he was finished, she approached him. “Lord Drake, a moment of your time, if you please? As to paying for your stay, if you are a Mage, we can work out a good deal for us all.”
Drake nodded. “I am a Mage. What did you have in mind?”
“We need a new Anti-Pest spell, and an Anti-Rot spell as well. How about a moon room and board for the two spells?” She was looking anxious, so Drake suspected her of trying to get a better deal than it sounded like she was getting. After all, Spells could be expensive.
“I will have to think on it.”
* * *
Inside the inn, Lissett and Amber were relating their story to Daras. “...So, you see, we weren’t even worth ransoming. But he did offer to ransom the dowry. They were furious with him, and took it out on us. Then Lord Drake came storming out of the sky and burned them all to death. He didn’t understand that we were his at first, but he is starting to.”
“Lady, forgive me, but did you say he came storming out of the sky? How is that possible?” Daras asked. He was sitting with Lissett and Amber at a sunny table, well away from the rest of the room.
“He’s a dragon, Daras. A real dragon: wings, teeth, claws and all. He transforms back and forth at will. He is also a Mage. A good one.” Amber sat with her back to the wall. She was a servant of the lady, but she was also her bodyguard.
Lissett nodded her agreement. “He is also naive. He didn’t know we belonged to him until we told him, and even then, it took time to convince him.”
“Strange. Very strange. But you are here now. Lady, I am going to ask Lord Drake if he will sell you to my care. I can offer him a good price. If you approve, of course.” Daras was well aware that he could beggar himself and still not come up with the price Lissett would fetch, but he had to try.
“Ask him, Daras. Please ask him.” Lissett was beginning to smile at last, and Amber joined her.
That night, Daras approached Drake. “Lord Drake, I would like to speak to you about Lady Lissett. Would you consider selling her to me? I know she’ll fetch a fine price, but she means so much to me.”
“Then make me an offer, Daras. Lissett needs more than I can give her, but I don’t want her to be stuck in some bad situation.” Drake was feeling quite good about the entire situation. A little inconspicuous peeking had revealed that Daras was treating Lissett like a favorite grandchild.
“I can offer thirty gold crowns now, and pledge another thirty next year. That will make sixty gold. A fair price, even for Lissett.” Daras was sitting forward on his chair, tension written clearly in his posture.
“Very well, Daras,” Drake agreed, though he was shocked by the amount. The most money he had ever even seen was three silver crowns. Having even two sparks to rub together was an accomplishment in Chanders.
“Thank you, Lord Drake. Thank you ever so much.” Daras
bent and lifted a heavy bag of coins on to the table. “Thirty gold now, and again as much next year.”
Drake stared at the bag, dumbstruck by the sight of so much gold. Amber had been waiting for the chance and came forward. She seated herself beside Drake and caressed his hand. “Lord Drake, are you all right?”
Drake simply shook his head and then reached out a finger to touch the sack. “Amber, this is more than I can handle right now. I need to go lie down.”
Amber led Drake and his gold upstairs to the room that had been set aside for him. She helped him undress, then undressed herself. “Lord Drake, I want you to know that I had hoped Daras would do exactly what he did. Lissett needs him. She needs to be loved by someone who has no other motive behind that love.”
“Someone who treats her like a granddaughter? I noticed how he reacted to her, Amber. But what about you and the others? What am I going to do with you?” His hand caressed her hair, and she sighed.
“I have an idea.” Then she proceeded to show him what he could do with her.
Summer turned to Fall in the inexorable cycle of the seasons. Drake found himself more and more restless as the days passed. The fine adventure he had thought to have was sliding into boredom. ‘His’ girls had settled down, and were supporting not only themselves, but him as well. The sack of gold sat in his room, mocking him. Rich and powerful, he could not buy what he most needed. What he most wanted. Amber was his, as were Morlan and the others, but it was not what he wanted. He wanted a normal family, not women bound to him. He wanted children. He wanted the life that his wish would forever deny him.
As the leaves fell, he grew restless. The only place he would feel at home was at home. If not in Chanders, then at least in the Empire. Late one night after he and Amber had made love, he brought the subject up.
“Amber, if I went away, what would happen to you?”
“It would depend on what you did before you left. If you arranged our care, then we would be fine. You are thinking of leaving, aren’t you?” Her head was pillowed on his shoulder, and he felt the muscles in her back tighten.
The Chronicles of Amberdrake Page 25
