by Mary Auclair
Nyra came back.
Henron is gone.
Nyra laid an egg.
Henron is gone. Gone.
Fedryc blinked at the diminishing forms of Nyra and the brown dragon, now so far away they looked like flies in the sky. His heartbeat drowned out the shouts of the guards invading the platform like ants. They were useless now, would have been even more so before. A few dozen guards would not threaten two dragons. A few thousand were barely a challenge.
In his arms, Marielle collapsed, her screams turning to wails of grief and rage. He held her close as the tiny speck of the brown dragon vanished in the sky. His best friend, his only friend apart from Nyra, was gone. Henron was gone. And he wasn’t going to come back. Henron had sacrificed himself to save Marielle.
There was a black hole in his heart, gaping and bleeding, pulsing with pain.
Fedryc crushed Marielle against him as the pain of loss washed over him like a tide of lava, scorching everything else. In his arms, Marielle protested, pushed against his hold, but he held on. He had nothing else but her now. A pained whimper reached his ear and with great effort, he loosened his hold on his Draekarra.
Then his mind circled back.
Henron hadn’t just sacrificed himself to save Marielle. He sacrificed himself to save Marielle and something else. Something that Fedryc should have realized as soon as he saw the shimmering surface of the blue egg cradled against Nyra’s chest.
He pushed Marielle away, holding her by the shoulders. He locked gazes with the gray eyes that looked up at him with pain and fear. She exhaled, then bit her lower lip.
“You are with child.” Fedryc spoke low, like saying it any louder would break the spell that held him tethered to the ground. Tethered to reality in the midst of the worst pain of his life.
“Are you pleased?” Her eyes were red and her cheeks wet, her voice shaking with doubt, but also with a hope that ripped at the remnants of his heart.
Fedryc went to his knees at her feet, wrapping his arms around her, carefully burying his face in her belly. Her dainty fingers ran through his hair and he inhaled the scent of her, the female, lush scent of his mate.
“My heart,” he whispered against her. “You are my heart.”
Marielle wrapped her arms around him and they stayed like that, indifferent to the guards around them who were watching with surprise in their eyes, but too scared to approach.
“So you are happy?”
“Happy?” Fedryc chuckled without humor. “There is no greater gift. You mended me from the inside out, Marielle. Yes, I am happy. More happy than I could say.”
Then he got back to his feet and wrapped a protective arm around Marielle, turning to his men. They stared at him, wide-eyed and uncertain.
“Officer Brandlo, you are my new Captain of the Guard until Henron comes back.” Fedryc looked at Henron’s second in command. “Take the Lady Marielle to—”
But Fedryc’s words were cut short as one of the guards shouted.
“Lord Fedryc!” A Delradon woman, one of the servants, rushed to the platform. Her eyes were glassy and her face was flushed. “You need to come. There are too many, we can’t contain them.”
Fedryc frowned and, still holding Marielle close, walked into the castle. He knew he should send Marielle back to their apartments but the very thought of being away from her made him want to rip things apart. In the hallway, he walked past Silva and her gold dragon, who immediately started walking behind them.
“What happened, Cousin Fedryc?” The girl looked at him with wide eyes as she tried to keep up with his long strides. “I heard dragon roars. Is Nyra back?”
“Yes.” Fedryc tilted his head sideways to look at the teenager. He had nothing to gain from lying to her and the girl was in as much danger as he. “And no. She has a mate now. But I don’t think she will stay gone long.”
“A mate?” Silva’s disbelief was understandable, but Fedryc had no time to discuss it with his cousin. “How could that be?”
“What do you know of the disturbance?” Fedryc ignored Silva’s question and addressed Captain Brandlo.
The captain spoke fast into his commu-link, then looked up at Fedryc with disbelieving eyes.
“It seems we have refugees at the castle’s door.”
“Refugees?”
Fedryc didn’t have time to ask more questions. They emerged in the main courtyard to face what seemed to be a hundred people, closely holding on to each other in small groups. Women, children and men huddled in what were obviously family groups, dirty and weak.
Fedryc’s eyes caught on an old woman, who held a small child of two or three years to her breast. The child was almost naked, its shirt ripped to ribbons, the fabric stained with blood. An angry red sign covered the tiny shoulder almost entirely.
The circle with the cross. The mark of evil for those of impure blood.
“Sordied sangui,” Captain Brandlo whispered. “Mors abomina.”
Fedryc turned his head to see the captain staring with eyes full of superstitious awe as the group of people—mostly humans but not exclusively—started to cry and call out, having noticed Fedryc up on the higher level.
“Captain Brandlo.” Fedryc’s harsh voice seemed to shake some reason into the man and the Delradon officer looked back at him, standing to attention. “Bring the Lady Marielle and Lady Silva back to my apartments. I will personally hold you responsible for her health and the health of our unborn child. Do you understand me?”
The revelation made the man open his mouth like he was gasping for breath. All color deserted his face as he looked back at Marielle, a new reverence in his eyes. He bowed deep, then straightened.
“I will protect her with my life, my Lord.” Captain Brandlo extended an arm for Marielle, then motioned to two more guards.
As Marielle looked at him, her eyes full of fear but also full of trust, Fedryc locked gazes with the Delradon guard.
“Yes, you will. Because if anything happens to any of them, there will be nowhere for you to hide.”
With one last fearful look, the Delradon guard led Marielle and Silva away, and Fedryc turned to the people who had come to him for protection, wondering if he would ever be able to cleanse his land of the threat of the Knat-Kanassis.
Chapter 24
Fedryc stood in the middle of the courtyard, the refugees all around him, their bony, desperate faces on him with reserved expressions. Reserve, despair and hope radiated from the refugees’ faces, from the refugees’ eyes, mixing with the strong stench of unwashed bodies and disease.
“Who leads you?” Fedryc asked, turning around to see the old woman clutching the toddler step outside the circle.
She had the weathered face and bent back of a woman who had worked all her life just to survive. In her arms, the toddler slept, the mark on his shoulder even more horrible now that he was nearby. She wore her weariness in every wrinkle but her clear orange eyes peered at him with acute assessment. She was Delradon, but the child she held against her chest was human.
Fedryc didn’t ask why.
He frowned, staring as the old woman held his gaze without flinching despite her age and fragility. She forced his respect instantly.
“My name is Aifa. I led them here.” The old woman spoke, her voice raspy with dehydration. “I told them the High Lord would protect us if we just could get to him alive.”
Fedryc paused at the challenge in the old woman’s voice. Like she was daring him not to protect her and the other people who had come to him for protection. Like she hadn’t really expected him to care.
Because she didn’t know him, but she had known the man who sat on the throne before. Maybe Lord Aymond would not have helped these people, not have cared for their suffering. He couldn’t be sure, but he could be sure of one thing.
He wasn’t letting these people down. They were his, and he would protect every single one of them.
“You did good to come to me.” Fedryc addressed the whole assembly. “You
are welcome to stay in Aalstad castle for as long as you need.”
A current of relieved whispers went around the assembled people, most of them human, but also mixed blood and Delradon.
“We have walked a long time, my Lord. Our town is called Alwar, it’s all the way over at the border with Virhot, the first town at the end of the desert when it becomes Lord Anion’s kingdom.”
“You crossed the entire desert?” Fedryc brought his attention back to Aifa. “All this way with children, elderly people like yourself? That is at least four days’ walk. How did you survive?”
The old woman looked down at the child in her arms, then her old eyes clouded with pain.
“Not all of us did.” Her voice was softer, fainter than before, and the weight of her years showed in the way her shoulders slumped. “Those of us who made it out of Alwar—some were injured, some were just too weak or too scared to keep going. Many turned back after the first day. I have no idea what became of them. But of those who kept going, fifteen didn’t make it. Fifteen were left at rest in the desert. Four children, and most of those I considered my friends. The older ones.”
Fedryc locked gazes with her. So much suffering, so much loss. All for the ridiculous belief that the Draekons were meant to rule the world and that their fertility problems were caused by those impure of blood. An illusion. No, more. A delusion.
And it stopped now. Before it destroyed more innocent lives under his care. Fedryc cast a circular glance at the assembled people, locking eyes with as many as he could.
“You are welcome in Aalstad castle. Each one of you will be provided with all they need until peace is restored.”
“The children are hungry, they need water.” Aifa spoke again. “The adults can wait, but we will repay the debt if you could just feed the children.”
For the second time, Fedryc didn’t know how to answer. He had ordered food and water for the group as soon as he saw them huddled in the courtyard. Not just for the children, but all of them. And they would not repay any of it.
Just then, a group of Delradon servants entered the courtyard, transporting goods for the refugees. Water, food, blankets, extra pieces of clothing.
The refugees turned at the sight and relief gave way to a few giggles. A child shouted as a loaf of bread found its way into his hands and a mother grinned as she handed biscuits to wide-eyed kids who pushed the food into their mouths greedily.
These people hadn’t eaten in a long time. They had faced death, fled violence and horrors, but still, he had to extract information from them. He only wished Henron was there with him. He could use his friend’s sharp wits and intense focus, his ability to talk to people, make them trust him.
But Henron was gone, and he had to reach these strangers somehow.
“There is no debt.” Fedryc spoke loudly enough to be heard everywhere in the crowd but not enough to startle them. Whatever trauma they had been through, he needed to get through to them if he wanted to squeeze the Knat Kanassis’ threat out of their lives. And he really wanted to. “I am your Lord now, protecting you is my responsibility. Those of you who require it will receive medical attention. You will drink, you will eat, and tonight, all of you will sleep knowing you are safe. But to keep you that way, I need to know who did this to you.”
Fedryc pointed at the mark on the toddler’s shoulder.
Behind him, a woman cried out, a man cursed, but none stepped forward. Fedryc turned, meeting the eyes of the people all around him. But no one spoke. They either were terrified or knew nothing.
Then whispers sounded behind him and he turned to see a Delradon girl stepping through the crowd. She was young, maybe twelve years old, painfully thin, and her dress was torn so badly at the shoulder that she had to hold the sides of her bodice with her hands. As she approached, the edge of the hateful mark could be seen on her pale skin.
“I saw her.” The girl’s voice was small, but strangely steady. “When the men in hoods came, my mom hid me in the closet, but she didn’t have time to find a place for herself. Then they came in. They said our family had to pay for the treachery to our blood because her husband was human. After they were all dead, and the bad men were gone, I ran.”
The girl swallowed, her eyes overflowing with tears, but she didn’t break. There was steel in that tiny person, more than there ever would be in the cowards who called themselves the Knat-Kanassis.
“I tried to hide under the garbage in the alley. That’s when I saw her. The Draekon Lady who controls them all—her and her dragon.”
Fedryc became very still and at his side, the guards did the same. He watched her face as the girl struggled against her pain. It looked like she was losing the battle.
“Can you describe her to me?” Fedryc knelt in front of the girl, still towering over her, but at least not as much. “Tell me who hurt your family, little one, and I will make sure no one has to suffer like you did ever again.”
The girl bit her lower lip. She must have done so a lot over the past days, because it was raw and immediately started to bleed. After a while, she nodded.
“She was very beautiful. Tall, skinny with dark hair.” The girl’s eyes overflowed with tears. “But her dragon was all wrong. It was small, and it looked like a jewel.”
Fedryc’s ears began to ring and he got to his feet. He shot a short glance to the guard on his left. “Make sure she is seen by Dr. Ylco and has enough to eat.”
The guard nodded silently, his face twisted with anger.
Fedryc cast another wide glance over the assembled people. They had come all the way from Virhot because they thought he could protect them. Because their own High Lord had betrayed his sacred duty and had turned against his own people.
Because a woman under his own roof had let insanity enter her heart and turned to evil to fulfill her greed.
“Secure the Lady Isobel in her rooms.” Fedryc turned to another guard. “She is under arrest for the murder of Lord Aymond, for murdering the human, Delradon and mixed blood population of Alwar, and for being a Knat-Kanassis acolyte. Have word sent to Captain Brandlo.”
The guard stared at Fedryc with wide eyes, but turned around and ran to do as he was instructed.
Fedryc moved, leaving the girl with her big, broken heart behind. Leaving Aifa and her frail, resilient soul behind.
With death on his mind Fedryc walked to meet with his father’s murderer.
The guards stood on either side of the door to Isobel’s bedroom. They knocked, again, then waited politely. Fedryc stared at them with a scowl. No matter the accusation, the guards would always see Isobel as the Lady of the castle, not a murderess. Not until he had proof and not just the accusation of a traumatized human child.
But at least he had evidence enough to lock her up for a short while, until he could find out some more.
The door finally opened and Isobel stared at them, her silver eyes wide and uncomprehending.
“Isobel Haal.” Fedryc locked gazes with his aunt and she frowned in return. “You are under arrest. Stand aside so my men can search your rooms.”
His aunt’s aristocratic brows rose halfway to her hairline and her mouth gaped open. She froze for just a short instant, then it was gone and her features twisted with outrage as Fedryc motioned for the guards to move in. They brushed past Isobel, their gazes down but their eyes full of resolve as they began to search her large rooms, fully furnished with the woman’s expensive belongings. Furniture from the far corners of Dagmar, ancient paintings from masters of years long gone. Jewelry adorned with precious stones stolen from planets dead long ago.
She loved precious things, rare, expensive things, things that reminded her how special she was, being born a Draekon.
How could I have not seen the evil that lay in her heart?
“What are you doing?” Isobel turned around, grabbing a fistful of her red evening gown. “You have no right!”
“I have every right,” Fedryc corrected her, cutting her short as she started yell
ing at a guard who stepped into her bedroom. “This castle is mine. You live under my roof, under my rules. And now, I am searching your rooms. Goddess protect you if they find what I fear they will.” Then, turning to the young guard, “Proceed. Leave nothing out.”
The guard shot a short, suspicious glance at Isobel, then disappeared inside the room.
Isobel stomped in front of Fedryc, her face flushed and her eyes shooting flames.
“How dare you?” Her voice shook with anger, but also with fear. “Your father would never have acted this way!”
“Then I suppose you shouldn’t have murdered him.” Fedryc could feel the beast writhing inside him, pushing to break free, but he held on tightly to his control because he knew that if he didn’t, he was going to murder his aunt.
“Murdered your father?” Isobel took a step back, then blinked multiple times. “Are you insane? He was my brother!”
“Yes.” Fedryc’s voice morphed, and Isobel’s eyes grew fearful. “He was. Neither he nor Nissar would have been suspicious of you, his only sister, living with him here on Earth for over a decade since her mate’s death. He trusted you.”
Isobel exhaled, then her eyes went wildly around her room, now unrecognizable with everything strewn around on the floor. She frowned, the very picture of hurt and outrage. Her mouth opened and closed, like she wanted to say something, then forgot it before it left her mouth.
“You can’t be serious.” She looked back at him, the pain on her face clear as day, her beautiful silver eyes full of tears. “I would never hurt Aymond. He was the only one who stood by me when my mate died, offered my daughter a home. I loved him.”
Fedryc stared at her and doubt insinuated itself inside his mind. She looked so sincere, so hurt. Could he have misinterpreted the young girl’s words? But how many small dragons looked like jewels? There simply was no one else.
Just then, the guard stepped out of Isobel’s bedroom, his face as white as a sheet. “My Lord.” His voice was heavy with fear and he stepped sideways, motioning for Fedryc to come closer. “We found it.”
