The Kiss From a Dragon

by C. D. Pennington

  “I need a room for the night, with a bathtub,” Cerana replied. “And privacy.”

  “Of course,” he said again. “Come with me. Do you require food?”

  “Yes, that would be kind. And please, see to my horse, I’ve left her outside.”

  “Certainly. Marion! Prepare these girls some supper and bring it to the room, and get Maz to sort out the horse,” he barked to the woman behind the bar. “Come, it’s just this way.”

  The man, who had a balding head, an enormous nose and a pot-belly, led them to a passageway leading off from the main bar area, down a narrow corridor and into a vacant room. The room was narrow but long, and had two single beds with grey blankets next to the far wall. A dressing table, wooden chair, empty bookcase and metal bathtub were the only other items of furniture in the room, which was well lit by large candles and an oil lamp.

  “The chair,” Cerana said sternly, and they placed Jana gently down on it.

  “Is there anything else I can do for you, miss?” the innkeeper asked.

  “Do you have moon syrup?” she asked.

  “Err, yes, I believe so.”

  “Please bring me a dose. And clean bandages.”

  “Your friend, is she okay?” he inquired, a look of concern etched on his fat face.

  “Please, just get me what I need,” Cerana snapped at him.

  “Right away miss.” He nodded and scurried out of the room.

  Moon syrup was a medicine that Alleran had mentioned once. It was said to have good general healing properties, and as Cerana knew little of Jana’s actual ailments, it seemed like a good place to start. “Right, let’s get you cleaned up,” she said to her sister, who had slumped in the chair beside the bathtub.

  By the time the innkeeper had brought the moon syrup and a generous portion of bread, cheese and cold meat, the bathtub was almost full of hot water, and the room smelled of peaches from the bath oil. Cerana forced Jana to drink the moon syrup despite her protests, but within minutes of taking the thick white liquid, she improved beyond recognition. Her eyes regained their usual sparkle, and she felt well enough to eat again, which she did with gusto. Jana cleared her plate as if she had never eaten before, every last crumb from the bread disappearing rapidly. Cerana ate little, instead letting her famished sister eat her fill.

  Cerana had managed to remove Jana’s stinking clothes, and she sat there naked, although this did not bother her as she attacked her meal greedily. Once finished, the bathwater had cooled sufficiently for Jana to enter and she moaned with ecstasy as the soothing waters enveloped her filthy, sore body. Jana had never taken a bath that felt so good, and she gently sank into the hot, soapy water gratefully. Cerana scrubbed her with a soft sponge, the grime and dirt washing off Jana and quickly darkening the bathwater.

  As Cerana scrubbed, Jana told her the whole story: from the bear attack to her kidnap and Alleran’s murder. Cerana listened with horror to her sister’s account of her waking nightmare, her regret and guilt for letting her go increasing by the minute. Jana’s ordeal had been horrific, and Cerana wondered if she would ever fully recover from it.

  Almost as soon as she had left her bath, clean once more, Jana fell asleep on one of the soft beds. Cerana took the time to bandage her injured ankle whilst she slept, not quite able to comprehend the horrors she had gone through. But her sister was alive, and just about in one piece, Cerana thought, shortly before falling into a deep sleep herself.

  The next morning, Cerana woke first. Jana still slept, snoring softly. As much as she did not want to disturb her sister, who now needed rest above all else, they needed to get back to Esteri. The Proudstones needed to reunite as a family, all of them needing to recover in one way or another.

  It had only just dawned on her that Jana would not be able to wear the stinking clothes she had discarded last night, but the thought had never occurred to her that they had no change of clothes. Leaving Jana to sleep a while longer, Cerana left the room and went to find the owners of the inn. Luckily, they were both up and preparing the inn for opening. Even luckier, Cerana acquired some clean clothes for Jana. The innkeeper’s daughter had recently left home but had left some of her old clothes behind, and fortuitously for Jana, the girl had been around her age and build. The mother was more than willing to exchange some spare clothing for some extra coin, so for another gold piece on top of the night’s board, Cerana purchased a soft white linen shirt, green woollen breeches and white silk undergarments for her sister.

  Once awoken, Jana felt immeasurably better for a good night’s sleep, the first she had managed in days. Cerana gave her the remains of the moon syrup for the journey home and Jana changed into the daughter’s clothes which fit her perfectly.

  Thanking the kindly innkeepers, the sisters returned to Winter and began the trip back home. It was a beautiful morning, not a cloud in the sky, and the birds sang sweetly in the trees. Jana and Cerana even managed a smile and a laugh as they recounted some silly antics Esteri had gotten up to as a small child. They could hardly wait to see her again, Jana especially.

  Cerana explained to her of Esteri’s continued improvement since Jana had left, but she did not mention anything about the mysterious woman she had met in the forest on her way to Mallam. She thought it best to keep this to herself, for now. Cerana had pushed the encounter to the back of her mind during Jana’s rescue, but now she was safe and sound once more, Cerana’s thoughts returned to the beautiful female and her ominous warning.

  “Cerana? Are you okay?” Jana’s voice snapped Cerana from her daydream, and she saw her sister looking back at her from the horse. “Where were you then? You were miles away!” Jana merrily asked.

  Cerana did not know how she could seem so relaxed so soon after her ordeal. “Sorry love, I was just thinking.”

  “That I can see! Look, we are almost home!” she said happily. “Oh, I cannot wait to get home. When they had me in that room all alone, I thought I would never see this day again. I thought I would never see you and Esteri again. It was awful, C. I never want to leave Barnesbay again.”

  “I know, my love,” Cerana said. “Well let’s hope we never have to.”

  “Yes,” Jana agreed as they trotted around the last corner of the path that led to the cottage, their home coming into view as they approached. Both girls were desperate to see their youngest sister again, especially Cerana after leaving her alone. She hoped that Esteri had listened to her and kept the door bolted. And mostly, she hoped that she had kept well, or as well as could be expected given her condition.

  Cerana urged Winter onwards, and they were home at last.

  CHAPTER 32 – The Wrongful Arrest

  As their front garden came into view, Cerana immediately knew something was wrong. A black horse was tethered to the branches of the large tree, and a person emerged from behind it, almost as shocked to see them as they were to see him. Anxious and now frightened, Cerana rode towards the garden and its unexpected inhabitant. They passed the side of the house only to see three heavily armed and armoured men outside their home.

  “Who are you? What is going on here?” demanded Cerana as she swiftly dismounted Winter.

  None of the guards spoke, they just watched her. The men all wore silver breastplates with matching leg guards and greaves. Polished silver helms covered most of their faces, and each wore belts that housed shortswords.

  “What are you doing at my house?” Cerana continued. “Where is my sister?”

  The front door opened, and another man exited the house. This man wore no helm and had a stern, steely expression. He had cropped grey hair, a trimmed grey beard and wore ornate gold shoulder guards and a flowing crimson cloak. “Cerana Proudstone?” he asked with a deep, commanding voice.

  “Yes? Who are you?”

  “In the name of King Talis Breanth, I hereby arrest you for the murders of Pelan Corr and Alleran Goldthorn. You must come with me. Now.”

  Cerana stared at him with disbelief, her mouth opening and clos
ing without words coming out. “What?!” she eventually managed.

  “Guards, take her,” the man commanded. Two of the guards marched towards her.

  “Wait! This is a mistake!” Cerana blurted. “Where is Esteri?”

  “Who?” the leader responded.

  “My sister!” Cerana yelled as the guards manacled her wrists and removed her dagger.

  “There is no-one else here. The house was empty when we searched it earlier.”

  “Cerana! Where is she?” cried Jana, still up on Winter’s back.

  “I don’t know, Jana.” Cerana turned to the leader. “Look, this is some mistake. I didn’t kill them! I need to look for my sister, and Jana is not well, she needs medical attention.” The guards held her by each arm and marched her to the grey-haired man.

  “I am sorry, Miss Proudstone, but I have my orders,” he said. “You will be taken to prison awaiting trial for your crimes. We must leave.”

  “Crimes? I have done nothing but rescue my sister!” she cried.

  “It is true!” Jana yelled. “I was kidnapped, and Cerana saved me just last night!”

  “Last night, you say?” said the leader. “From where, may I ask?”

  “Mallam!” yelled Jana.

  “Which is where the murders were committed. Thank you, Miss. You have provided vital information.”

  Jana recoiled in horror as she realised she had just inadvertently implicated her sister by placing her at the alleged murder scene. She tried to make amends. “That is where I was held prisoner!” she argued. “Of course she was there, she rescued me from those men!”

  “That is enough,” the leader said sternly. “The court will decide your fate.” He turned to Cerana. “Take her away.”

  The guards escorted Cerana to the back of the house, where a large black and white horse pulled a wooden prison cart with metal bars in the small windows.

  “Jana!” she yelled to her sister as they led her away. “I’ll sort this, don’t worry! Stay here, I’ll be back soon!”

  The guards bundled her into the cart and bolted the door shut behind her. What the hell is going on here? Is this nightmare ever going to end?

  Cerana felt as though her family’s lives were being turned upside down with the events over the last few weeks; it was just one thing after another. And now she was being accused of murder!

  From her mobile prison, Cerana grasped the window bars with her manacled hands and shouted to Jana, “Look around the area for Esteri, but stay safe! I’ll return shortly!”

  One of the guards appeared at the prison window in front of her and regarded her coldly. “I wouldn’t bet on that. Know what the penalty for multiple murder is in this realm?”

  Cerana shook her head nervously.

  “Death.”

  CHAPTER 33 – The Southstorm Dungeon

  There was nothing to illuminate the cell other than the torches from the corridor. Through thick iron bars, flames danced in their sconces and cast long shadows into the dungeon, deep below Southstorm City’s enormous castle.

  Cerana had been taken directly to Evorene’s largest city and chained to the dungeon wall awaiting her trial. Five other prisoners sat chained in the gloomy cell, all males except for Cerana. They were spread out around the three solid walls of the cell, just far enough apart so they could not reach or help each other. Cerana suspected this was more to protect the guards that brought them in and out more than to protect each other.

  Cerana sat on the east wall of the cell, closest to the iron bars. From her position, she could see two guards further down the corridor who were sat at a small table, playing some sort of gambling game.

  Most of the other inmates were arguing and babbling between themselves, but she sat quietly, staring out of the cell bars and trying to fathom just exactly how she had got into this position. It must have something to do with Tavlor Corr, although she had been bundled away so quickly and ordered to be silent before she could ask the leader any further questions, or be given any more details. In a way, she could see why she may be held accountable for Pelan’s death, but Cerana prayed that once she explained the full story at the trial, anyone could see that it was not her fault.

  But where the hell was Esteri?! Cerana knew her sister, and she knew that she would not venture far – especially on her own. Maybe she had left a note, and Jana would find it. Perhaps she had been taken really ill and been forced to leave the house to search for help. Whatever had happened, Cerana was furious with herself for leaving her on her own. But then again, if she hadn’t, then she would never have rescued Jana. This whole thing is such a mess, she thought. And all the time I am sat here chained to a stone wall awaiting trial for crimes I did not commit, I can do absolutely nothing about it. The sooner this trial was over, the better. She needed to get out of here.

  “Time will pass a bit easier with someone to talk to, you know,” the man chained next to her said. She turned to him and smiled but said nothing in reply. Instead, she turned away again and resumed staring at the torches in the corridor. The two men at the back wall muttered away to each other, and the old man directly opposite her snored as if he were tucked up in his own bed. The man next to him just sat there staring at the ceiling, slowly rocking backwards and forwards.

  “Name’s Nissar. What you in here for?” he continued, unabated.

  Cerana decided she may as well pass the time with him. After all, it probably would pass the time better than staring at a flame. “I’m accused of murder, but I didn’t do it,” she said.

  “Course you didn’t,” he scoffed. He was a few years older than Cerana and had long dark hair, a bushy moustache and an unkempt beard. His dark eyes twinkled in the light from the torches. “Not that it matters, we’ll all end up the same.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked, puzzled.

  “We’ll all be swinging from the gallows this time tomorrow.”

  Cerana frowned. “What about the trial?”

  “Trial. Some fucking trial it’ll be,” Nissar spat. “We’re good as dead already.”

  “Why? What do you mean?” she was getting worried by his words.

  “I’ve never heard of anyone getting off from a trial,” he said sarcastically. “It’s the so-called king’s justice, and it stinks. Don’t matter if you did or didn’t do it. You’ll still be hanged. They’ve already made their decision, that’s why you’re here now. The trial is just for show. They have to be seen to do it, so it looks all official.”

  “How do you know this?” Cerana asked, worry growing by the second.

  “Seen a few folks hang for stuff I’ve done before. Quite a feeling, watching someone hang for a crime you know you did,” he answered with an air of gloating. “Happens all the time. There’s murders, rapists, thieves and all sorts getting off free whilst some unlucky bugger hangs for them. Just because they was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Bit like you, I would guess. If you didn’t do it.”

  Cerana was horrified. “I didn’t! But how is any of this fair, if it’s true?” she blurted.

  “It ain’t fair one bit. Not on the poor sod who’s hanging from the gallows anyway. You see, though, the king’s making an example of them. He wants a swift resolution. Don’t want no unanswered crimes hanging over him, so to speak. He wants to be seen to resolve the stuff as soon as possible, and be as harsh as he wants to try scare people into not doing it no more. Works, too. Well, mostly. If folks think that’s what they gonna get for doing wrong, might make them think again.”

  Sitting open-mouthed, Cerana tried to digest what she had just learnt. Of course, this man she had only just met could be wrong or lying, but why would he lie? Surely there had to be some justice in the realm!

  “I find it hard to believe what you say, sir,” she managed to say. “If what you say is true, surely just by being in here then you will be hanged too?”

  “Yep, sure as sunrise.”

  “You seem awfully err, err...”

  “Fine about it?” he f
inished for her.

  “Yes!”

  “I am. Nowt I can do about it, so there’s no point in worrying. I’ve had my fun now anyway, and maybe next time I’ll come back as a woman. Always fancied it, for some reason. Never understood why, mind.” With that, he sat back against the wall and closed his eyes, abruptly ending the conversation.

  Cerana’s head was spinning. She didn’t know whether to believe him and accept her life was over whatever happened at the trial, or continue to hope that she could make her interrogators see sense.

  Her ponderings did not last long as a loud rumble of thunder clapped overhead. Even in the depths of the Southstorm dungeons, the clap could be heard clearly.

  “Storm comin’,” one of the chained men in the far corner said.

  “Yep,” another agreed.

  “Else it’s t’dragon,” the old man directly opposite Cerana commented, awoken from his slumber. She wondered if she had heard correctly. Two of the men laughed.

  “Fuck off, dragon!” one of them said in a mocking tone. “Go back to sleep, old man!”

  “I saw it! Saw it plain as day!” The old man said confidently.

  “Course you did! After a bottle of whisky, was it?” More laughter.

  “Ahhh fuck the lot o’ ya. I know what I saw.” He spat on the stone ground.

  “Where did you see it, sir?” Cerana asked politely. The others scoffed and laughed.

  “In his dreams!” one yelled to raucous laughter.

  “In’t mountains, miss. Big fucker flew right o’er.”

  “Mallam mountains?” Cerana asked, intrigued.

  “Aye, that’s it. Huge it was, scared the shit outta me.”

  “More like the piss,” one of the men scoffed. “You’ll have ‘ad plenty o’ that in ya, ya old drunk!” the others laughed again. It was like they were all in a bar, not a prison cell.

  I was right, Cerana thought. Someone else has seen it too. But I’m stuck in here!