by K. E. Young
Durra had deflated during his rant. "I received the message, my lord. A seamstress will be here in a few hours. On the other item, the maids watching your Lady have been receiving threats. There are few who will help any longer."
Kaio's ire collapsed. Of course, they were. He should have expected it. He could feel the urgency of the situation increase. Every time he took a breath, it seemed he slipped a little more behind leaving Sara a little more vulnerable and the situation a little more desperate. His dragon's rage and anxiousness were driving him to distraction. Kaio felt overwhelmed for a handful of heartbeats. He badly needed people he could trust. He needed a proper household here for Sara's sake.
You must handle the situation, Kaio. There isn't time for dithering. Tightening his grip on his dragon side, he forced calm before replying. "Very well, I will act as my lady's maid until one arrives from Drakken. I am glad a personal servant was on the list of people I asked my family to procure for her. When can I next expect Master Bedin to attend her? He hasn't said she can do without a watcher yet."
"He said he would be back this afternoon."
Kaio nodded heavily. "I have tasks I must take care of today. If I must handle Sara's care, then I must delegate them to someone else. Could you ask Girru to come and see me?"
"Yes, my lord. Is there anything else?"
"The sheets need changing. The ones on the bed are bloody." He should look for the secret passages Dagresh used to get in and out of the palace. They were an unacceptable hole in their defenses and a threat to Sara. He needed to brief Dragos on the valbore too. Perhaps Girru would help watch her while he briefed Dragos then take over the search.
"I'll see it's taken care of, my lord, even if I have to do it myself."
"Thank you."
He wandered back to the bedroom and watched Sara eat. The bath had removed the dirt disguising her bruises and her movements were slow and stiff. She looked so helpless and fragile, but she was anything but. The Goddess had tested her in a crucible that could have killed anyone else. She still needed help though. "Sara. I need to ask for your permission to do something I'm not sure you'll like, though it's for your benefit."
There was a flash of wariness in her eyes before her gaze turned thoughtful. "What is it?"
"I must give a few others additional detail about what you went through, not just with Fanul, but before the Goddess brought you here. It's so they can instruct and help me in your care. I assure you, I won't tell anyone who would harm you."
She mulled it over. "Who?"
"Dragos, my mother, and possibly Lord Istanetlu. He can teach me about how he treats battle cursed soldiers. I would tell no one untrustworthy."
She stared silently at her now empty plate for a long time before she looked up at him. "Okay. I know it shouldn't matter who knows because I have to stop hiding from people. I can't live in fear of everyone who might hurt me for the rest of my life. They can't get to know me if they know nothing about what happened to me. I'll trust you to know who you should tell and how much." Her words were brave even if the quaver in her voice revealed her inner fears.
"Thank you, My One. I will not betray your trust." He stepped closer and didn't like the exhaustion he could see in her eyes. "The seamstress will be here in two hours. Perhaps you should lie down for a while. The sheets on the opposite side of the bed should still be clean. Someone will come by in a while to change them."
She smiled. "That's a good idea. I tire more easily than I expected."
He supported her when she wavered as she stood up then tucked her into bed. He pulled the drapes so the light didn't disturb her and left her to rest.
Girru arrived a few moments later. "Durra said you wanted to talk."
"I need help. This thing with Dagresh is more complex than we thought and it's imperative I brief Dragos and Sano. Unfortunately, I have reason to believe I can't trust the guards with Sara's safety."
"Tell me." Girru had always been short with words.
Kaio's summary of the situation had Girru's brows knotted in dismay before he swore. "I'll guard. You brief. Tell him I'll take the message to Drakken when it's ready. The Emperor needs to know."
"Agreed, but I was hoping you could help me by tracking down the secret passages Dagresh used to kidnap Sara in the first place and to get into the palace last night."
Girru shook his head. "This is too important. Get the guard to look. You can't trust them to guard Sara, but you can trust them to search for passages used by a valbore's servant. They can't get word of the valbore to Drakken."
Trust Girru to see what he had missed. He had all the subtlety of a hammer, but he wasn't stupid and had a deep unflappable pragmatism that was invaluable, even if he liked fighting too much.
Kaio sighed in relief. "Thank you, my friend. Keep My One safe. She's asleep now. A servant should come to change the sheets though. I'll try to be quick."
Girru snorted and shooed him towards the door. "Go."
Kaio hurried to Dragos' office and waited impatiently while he finished dictating a letter to a weedy-looking secretary. "So, Kaio. Something has you disturbed. Sano told me about your night's efforts. Good to know the immediate danger to your Lady is settled."
"Unfortunately, it isn't. I got additional information this morning. Dagresh said last night that Sara did his master no good in our hands and could lead us to him. This morning, when I told her of his capture, she was glad she didn't have to worry about becoming the steed of the thing Dagresh fed the little girl's blood to when he skinned her."
Dragos took a long slow breath. "That explains why Dagresh suicided in his cell before Sano could question him. He ripped his own tongue out of his mouth with his fingernails and shoved it down his windpipe. Messy." He sighed. "If he's been feeding it, the valbore could be nearly strong enough to break free. I need to let the Emperor know."
"Girru says he'll go as soon as the message is ready. Meanwhile, he's guarding Sara."
"So, is the valbore the master he spoke of, or is there someone else behind this mess?" Dragos' expression was fiercely thoughtful.
Kaio rubbed his neck in a futile attempt to relieve his growing headache. "Sara says there was another man there Dagresh called Master. Fanul was merely a tool."
Dragos looked tired. "There's too much we don't know. See if you can get the rest of Sara's testimony. There may be more we're missing." He took a deep breath. "Sano told me about the marines. I had hoped with Dagresh neutralized she would be safer. I'll be glad when the dragonkin guards get here."
He paused, seemingly unhappy about his next words. "Kaio, I know you have feelings for her, but maybe it would be better to have Girru take her to Drakken with word of the valbore. If it's targeted her to be its steed then she's in far greater danger than a few miffed Therysi lords."
Kaio's dragon rumbled a warning. "I can't Dragos. I might as well sign her death warrant if I let Urash have her."
Dragos cocked an eyebrow in surprise. "That's a little melodramatic. Surely it can't be that bad."
Kaio sat and told Dragos everything, from the death of her father to her final decision to kill herself. After he finished he sat rubbing his neck for a minute. "Dragos, I can't send her to Drakken. I swore an oath to her I wouldn't let anyone harm her that way again. She wouldn't stand up to Urash. As a result, she would be back to being a prisoner and if you think what Urash would do to her is anything but rape in her eyes then you aren't the man I think you are. She was at the end of her strength before the Goddess took her. It won't take much for it to be too much. Urash is a good man, but he wouldn't allow her needs come before the needs of the Empire. He can't."
Dragos rubbed his face with both hands. "You're right. It would be a death sentence — of her spirit if not her body. I knew that making her Empress was a bad idea but I didn't realize exactly how bad." He sat looking into the middle distance for a while before speaking again. "Do the bonding. We'll wait a week for the wedding itself as expected, but if things look dangerous
she needs to go to Drakken immediately. If she's bonded to you, then Urash won't have any choice except to back off — publicly. Privately, he'll try to convince her to reject the bonding, but your mother is formidable and would guard her against even you if it were to Sara's benefit."
"Will you witness?"
Dragos' smile lit up a face Kaio thought was too often serious. "Of course! We've been friends since we were children. I'd be hurt if you didn't allow me to witness." Dragos' grin was bright with humor.
"Tonight then. After dinner." Once again, Kaio faced having to explain something to Sara when he wasn't sure how she would take it. He couldn't force her. That would make him no better than any other man in her life had been. She deserved better.
"Good. Anything else I need to know before I write yet another letter to the Emperor?"
"Someone has been threatening the maids who've been caring for Sara. They are unwilling to help her now. I asked my mother to find her a dragonkin servant, but I wonder if one will be enough. I've been thinking of forming a proper household. Sara deserves one. I've already invited Calum. He's trustworthy and I like him."
Dragos let out a heavy exasperated sigh. "We use the locals for our servants because it's convenient, not because we have to. It's reasonable for you to have a proper dragonkin household for the safety and comfort of your mate. We may be younger than those who usually build a household, but given the circumstances, I doubt anyone can complain. I'll write a note to your mother. We can trust her to make the proper arrangements.
"Meanwhile, I'll look into the issue here." His voice held a steely note. "I dislike that someone has already forgotten yesterday's lesson, damned rabid animals. I believe letters to Vallen and Istanetlu are in order too. Vallen is the neighbor most directly threatened even if they aren't allies. If the valbore breaks free, they'll be in nearly as much danger as we are. Perhaps they can pause their little threat display until this is over. Regardless, we'll need Istanetlu. He's the only one of us with any experience with a valbore.
"Now, if that's all, then you should get back to your Lady. We must keep her safe. If they already tied her to the valbore, and I suspect they did from what she said, then her soul will go to the valbore on her death. It would lose a steed, but gain a lot of strength. Enough to break free and we aren't ready for it any more than they are. However, as long as she's still alive, the bond can lead us straight to it. Leave your investigations to Sano. Sara is your first priority. If danger threatens, get her to Drakken yourself. She may be the best chance we have for defeating it."
Kaio's mind raced. "Thank you."
"Bah. We both know I can't order you to do anything that isn't in her best interests or takes you away from her for too long right now. I'll admit I'm rather jealous of you. You found someone to love. I don't expect I'll have the option myself."
Kaio smiled. "Have faith, my friend. I didn't expect to find anyone either."
Kaio hurried back to his quarters and relieved Girru. "Dragos is writing to the Emperor now so I expect he'll call for your services shortly. Thank you for watching over her for me."
"Glad to help. I heard what happened to her. Couldn't pound anyone at the mansion so it's the least I can do to help her." Girru's grin was sheepish. "Always felt sorry for her. Figured the best I could do was try not to scare her."
"There is a reason Dragos chose you as his enforcer. Next time I need someone beaten I'll call you first." Kaio laughed.
"Please." Girru stalked out and Kaio wandered into the bedroom to check on Sara.
She was awake. Barely. New sheets were on the bed and Sara tucked in again. He sat beside her. "Hello sleepy."
She smiled and blinked up at him. "Hello. You missed Durra. He changed the sheets himself. I would have thought a maid would to it. He's normally too busy to do menial stuff."
Kaio sighed. "The maids have received threats for helping you. They're scared to serve you now. Dragos is looking into it. He feels anyone who can forget yesterday's lesson so readily is a threat to more than just you. They're the people who've made Therys into the mess it is now. The people we need to get rid of. They'll never admit they're the problem. Dragos called them rabid animals."
Her eyes were dark with worry. "He won't let them get away with it, will he?"
Kaio's tone was firm. "No. It's that exact behavior we need to stop."
She smiled in relief. "Good. They may be servants, but they're always kind to me. They helped me stay away from Fanul while you were in Drakken. I don't want them hurt."
"I don't want them hurt either." He took a deep breath as he sorted his thoughts. "I told Dragos about your life before the Goddess brought you here. He agrees that letting the Emperor claim you would be bad for you. He's advised me to bond with you even though the wedding is in a week. It will give you protection if we must send you to Drakken for your safety before the wedding."
"Bond?" She was trying not to show anxiety but it was still clear to him.
"It's merely a part of the wedding ceremony. The most important part I think. We exchange blood and join our magic together to bind our souls. It will allow you to sense my feelings and know where I am at all times just as it will allow me to sense your emotions and location. It should help you know you can trust me. As long as we're bonded, Urash must treat you as if we're married. Publicly at least. Privately, he can try to convince you to sever the bond, but I doubt my mother will let him try. Even the Emperor finds her formidable."
"So we'll be doing part of the wedding ceremony early? That's all?"
Kaio didn't like the worry still creasing her brow. "That's all. We'll do the full ceremony in a week as planned. Dragos and Sano will act as witnesses tonight. Nothing for you to worry about."
Sara's expression was still uncertain. "Exchange blood. What precisely do you mean by that?"
He took her hand to show her. "We make a small cut on the back of the hand and a few drops are drunk from it. It doesn't take much and the cut heals quickly. Once we have exchanged blood my dragon and I raise unformed magic and push it towards your own. With the blood exchange, it causes the magic to forge a link between us that settles in our souls." He rubbed her hand and let her think it over.
She gave him an anxious glance. "And if the valbore catches me will it be able to take you through this bond? Or vice versa?"
He had hoped she wouldn't make that connection. It explained her anxiety though. He should have known it would be in vain. She was smart. "If the bond is strong enough it may be possible. Which is why, if it truly gets dangerous, I have orders to get you away and take you to Drakken myself, although I would have done that anyway even without the orders. Valbore cannot control dragons so the task wouldn't be easy for it."
His next words came out brightly. "If it helps any, Dragos has ordered me to pass the investigations off to others. You and your safety are officially my highest priority. Dragos said it would have been useless to order me to do anything else anyway." He smiled in an attempt to reassure her.
Fortune favored him as she gave him a small smile. "All right. Be careful though. I don't want the valbore to get you too."
As if it mattered. If the valbore took Sara there would be no reason for him to go on. Dragons pined and died after losing their beloved mates. If Kaio lost both Sara and his dragon, he would soon follow. "Yes, My One. Now, I must talk to Sano about the secret passages but then I'm all yours." He stood briskly and went out to the main room. He rang for a servant and started a list of what he would need for a proper household here in Therys.
When the servant arrived, he said, "I need to speak with Lord Haradis. Unfortunately, I cannot leave here. Could you ask him to visit me please?" The servant nodded and bowed out as Kaio continued his self-appointed task.
Sano arrived with a squad of guards on his heels. "Kaio! Dragos told me about the valbore. He said he tasked you with Lady Sara's protection and I was to take over whatever you need me to."
"It's the sewers I fear. It turns out the rou
te Dagresh took into the palace last night might be one of several. Sara told me the night Dagresh took her, she had been sitting facing the door so she could see anyone who came into the library. Yet Dagresh came up behind her when he drugged her. When she woke he was carrying her through a stinking tunnel and had to go up a long flight of steps to get into Fanul's mansion."
Sano thought for a time. "So, we have a secret entrance in the library so he could get behind her, a passage into Fanul's mansion from the sewers, and our sewer entrance into the palace at the least. Unfortunately, it still leaves too much leeway for locations to weaknesses in our defenses. May I ask your Lady a few questions so I can pinpoint it a little better?"
Kaio nodded agreeably. "I think so. Let's go talk to her. I'll be bonding with her tonight in case she needs to go to Drakken. Will you witness?"
Sano grinned broadly. "Yes! Considering how many times I've helped you foil your father's plans to get you married, I think it's fair that I'm present when you foil his plans permanently. When?"
"Tonight after dinner." Kaio stood and peeked into the bedroom.
Sara was awake and looked unhappy. It gave him a twinge. "Ready for some company? Sano has a few questions. I hope you don't mind."
She perked up. "Anything. I'm bored out of my mind. You never did get me a book."
Kaio had to laugh. "Shall I leave Sano here to watch over you and ask his questions while I go get a book or two?" He paused at her sudden shyness.
"I assure you, my Lady, I don't want Kaio angry. He can take me in a fight easily, much to my dismay." Sano's grin was friendly. "I have an entire squad out there. I'm certain we can hold off any attacks until Kaio gets back." He suddenly became serious. "I promise, I would do nothing to harm or endanger the lady of my best friend."
