Kat huffed. “Are you out of your mind? You want me to convince him that he should actually allow you to take over his body? After what you did and all that you’ve told me?”
“And do you know of another way? If Ethan does not learn what he needs, Shinzan will kill him. Only I can help. This way, you will also get the benefit of learning powerful magic that can help protect him. You want that, don’t you? You want the power to keep your love safe?”
Martok let his words sink in while Kat regarded him in silence. She hated the man, not just because he had so nearly caused her to lose control and betray the love of her life, but because he was right. More than anything she wanted to possess the power to keep Ethan alive and safe. As things were, she would be all but useless if Shinzan were to come.
“I cannot forced this on you,” he continued. “You must allow your love for Ethan to guide you. You are wondering if there is a danger that I may completely possess his body. In truth, I do not know. So far, I am only able to maintain my influence over him for short periods. With each minute that passes, I become weaker and he stronger. This might change over time, and it might not. But regardless of all that, one thing remains undeniably true. Ethan is going to die unless you agree to accept my help. Nothing can stop this. Even if you survive Shinzan's minions, sooner or later he will overcome the dragons and venture forth himself. And when he does, he will find Ethan and kill him. He will flay him alive while you watch your love screaming and begging for death.”
His voice had become as hard as granite. “Understand that the being you are facing is not of this world. He does not care for life or concern himself with love. His sole purpose is to consume Lumnia and all who dwell upon her. He cannot be reasoned with. He cannot be contained. He can only be destroyed. And even with my knowledge and power, this may be impossible. But I am our only chance of salvation. So you must decide now. Will you help me?”
A tear fell down Kat’s cheek. She opened her mouth. At first nothing came out. Then she managed to whisper a single word.
“Yes.”
Martok’s features softened. “Good. Then there is hope.” He rubbed his temple. “It is now time I was leaving. You have my apologies for disturbing your evening.”
He gave a playful grin before adding: “And for anything else I may have done that was not to your liking.”
* * * * *
Ethan sat bolt upright. His head was pounding and his eyes blurry. A pair of soft hands touched his chest, easing him back down.
“Be still.” It was Kat’s voice. “Give yourself a minute.”
He rubbed his eyes and shook his head. “That-son-of-a-bitch!”
“So you know what happened?” she asked.
“Yeah. I sure as hell do. And that will be the last time. That much I can promise you.”
As his vision cleared he could see the dark expression on Kat’s face. Struggling up into a seated position, he took her hands and kissed her fingers. “Are you all right?”
She forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just a bit shaken.”
“Did he hurt you?” he asked, trying his best to keep the anger out of his voice.
Kat shook her head. “No. But there is something I have to talk to you about.”
She went on to recount what Martok had said, diplomatically leaving out any mention of his attempted seduction. Halfway through the telling, Ethan spotted the sleeping Maytra wrapped in the blanket and took a moment to check that she was still alive.
“I don’t think he would hurt her,” Kat said. “He seemed pretty angry that Renald hadn’t removed the curse.”
Satisfied that the dragon was unharmed, he gestured for Kat to continue.
Once she was done, he stood and turned his back, head lowered in contemplation. “Do you want me to allow Martok in?” he finally asked.
Kat’s heart ached. She could detect the fear in his voice. If she said yes, she might doom his spirit and enable Martok to take permanent control of his body. But if she said no…
Ethan turned to face her. “Well? Should I?”
She stepped in and wrapped her arms around him in a gentle embrace. “Yes, I think you should. I don’t see any other way we can win.”
Ethan leaned back just far enough for their eyes to meet. He gave her a reassuring smile. “I don’t trust him. But I do trust you. And if you think it’s the right thing to do, I’ll do it.”
His words caused a knot in the pit of her stomach. “It’s the only thing we can do.”
Ethan moved in to kiss her, but an agonized screech from Maytra shattered the moment. Quickly, he dropped down to examine the tiny dragon. She was thrashing her head about wildly, clearly in severe distress.
“We need to get her to the cabin,” Ethan said. As carefully as possible, he scooped her up and cradled her in his arms. Before setting out, he paused to give Kat an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry the night got ruined. I really am.”
She touched his cheek. “It’s all right. We can try again.”
He tilted his head and kissed her hand. “And next time…no interruptions.”
On arriving at the cabin, they found Jonas helping Renald to clear the table. Markus and Lylinora had already left for their customary after-dinner stroll by the lake. The moment Renald caught sight of the bundled up Maytra, he rushed over.
“She’ll be fine,” Ethan told him before he could say anything. “No thanks to you though.”
He walked over to the hearth and gently placed the dragon near the fire.
“What happened?” Renald demanded. “And just what do you mean: No thanks to me?”
Ethan glared at the old mage. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. Tell me. How did you justify it to yourself? How many years passed before you stopped thinking about it altogether?”
Renald locked eyes and squared his shoulders. “You had better tell me what the hell you are talking about, right now.”
“The curse,” Ethan told him. “You could have lifted it. You could have freed her. Yet you allowed her to live some stunted half-life, just to ease your loneliness.”
Renald looked stricken. The color drained from his cheeks. “It…it wasn’t like that,” he stammered. Averting his eyes, he pushed his way past Ethan to where Maytra was sleeping. His joints cracked as he knelt down beside her and touched her head with the tip of his finger. “You…you removed it? How?”
Ethan flicked a hand. “It doesn’t matter how. What matters is that she's free.”
Renald gazed down at his longtime companion, tears welling in his old eyes. “I know I should have freed her,” he admitted, choking back his sobs. He stroked her neck. “But it took years and nearly all the strength I had to set the wards that protect this place. By the time I was finished, I was already getting old and weak. Not that I was a young man even when I arrived here. Maytra and Jafari were the only companions I had in all that time. I kept telling myself that I needed to regain some of my strength. That removing the curse on them before that would kill me.” He bowed his head to his chest. “But you are right. In truth, I let them remain as they were because I feared spending all the long years alone. And for that, I can ask no forgiveness.”
Jonas knelt beside him and placed his hand on his shoulder. “We have all done wrong in our lifetime, my friend. Because of you, the dragons can return. You kept this place safe and hidden. I think that earns you forgiveness.” He looked over his shoulder at Ethan. “Wouldn’t you say so?”
Ethan felt no pity. Only anger. His bond with the dragons was fueling his fury to such a degree, he wanted to throttle the old man. “He deserves to suffer,” he growled. “Just as he has allowed them to suffer. Renald has betrayed a trust only he and I can understand.” He turned and started toward the door. “But it is not me who will be his judge.” With this said, he stormed out of the cabin.
Kat was quickly behind him. “Aren’t you being a bit harsh on the old guy?”
Ethan sighed wearily. “Maybe. But if you felt the dragons the wa
y my family does…” He shook his head. “There is a bond between us. A duty. And Renald abandoned it.”
He wrapped his arm around Kat. The feeling of her skin soon helped to drive away most of the anger. But this was only replaced with a feeling of extreme fatigue, making the walk back down to the boat seem like a much greater distance than it actually was.
By the time they arrived, he was nearly out on his feet. Kat helped him on board and stripped off his clothes. As she crawled into the bed beside him, the thought occurred that they were at last alone again. But the warmth of her body had him dozing in seconds. The last thing he heard before sleep took him was Kat’s tender voice saying: “I love you.”
He tried to reply, but the world of dreams beckoned him away.
Chapter Five
Ethan was startled from his sleep by a loud crash that shook the entire boat. He scrambled to his feet, searching for his sword, then realized that he had left it back at the cabin. Kat was nowhere to be seen. Before he reached the door, he heard loud voices raised over the whir of an engine.
Outside on deck, squinting against the early morning sun, he could just make out the form of another boat identical to his own. A sigh of relief slipped out as two dwarves leapt from this onto the dock and began tying off. Their lack of beards told him they were likely from Borgen.
One of the dwarves spotted Ethan and raised an arm in greeting. “Lord Dragonvein is here, Your Highness!” he called out.
A moment later King Ganix emerged and flashed Ethan a friendly smile. He responded with one of his own, but the sight of a tall elf woman with dark brown hair and piercing eyes coming into view behind the king quickly had him wide-eyed in surprise.
Ganix chuckled at his reaction. “I seem to attract all manner of traveling companions these days,” he remarked.
At this point, Ethan became awkwardly aware that he was wearing nothing but his underclothes. Excusing himself, he ducked back inside to get properly dressed. By the time he re-emerged, six more dwarves aside from Ganix were standing on the dock, along with a human boy Ethan recognized as the lad they had left behind in Borgen.
Ethan approached the party and exchanged a fond embrace with Ganix. “I wasn't expecting you,” he said. “Has something happened?”
“Much,” Ganix replied. He gestured to the elf at his side. “This is Keira, daughter of King Lotheri. Keira, may I present Ethan Dragonvein.”
Ethan bowed. “I’m pleased to meet you, Keira.”
She regarded him for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. “You’re quite different from what I expected.”
He smiled. “Let me guess. I look too young and skinny to be the son of Praxis Dragonvein.”
“Actually, I was going to say that your face is kinder than I would have imagined,” she corrected. “And your manner is not as stiff and formal as the stories I've heard about the mages.”
Ethan couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ve been described in quite a few ways during my time. But stiff and formal…never.”
“Where are the others?” asked Ganix.
“Probably at the cabin,” he replied. “Though I imagine Renald is already on his way here. His wards would have warned him that someone has arrived.”
“Renald? You mean someone lives here?”
“Believe it or not,” said Ethan. “He’s my uncle.”
Ganix was completely taken aback. “Clearly there is much for us to talk about.”
Ethan’s eyes darted over to Keira. “You can say that again.”
After instructing the crew to remain where they were, Ganix followed Ethan up the path leading to the cabin. As expected, Renald was just cresting the hill when they reached the edge of the wards. Kat, Markus, and Lylinora were close behind him. The two women visibly relaxed when they saw King Ganix, but Markus' hand shot to the hilt of his sword at the sight of the elf woman.
“I can guess that the old man is your uncle,” said Ganix. “But who is the young woman with Lylinora?”
Ethan gave him a sideways grin. “Kat, Your Highness.”
Ganix eyed him incredulously. “Kat?”
Before Ethan could explain, Renald halted and spread his arms wide. “Who have you brought here?” he demanded, his voice booming with startling intensity. “And how did they find this place?”
Ganix stepped forward and gave a low sweeping bow. “Forgive the intrusion. I am King Ganix.” He reached inside his pocket to retrieve a small stone, which he held out in the palm of his hand. “I arrived here by using this. I gave Ethan its twin in the event we ever needed to find one another.”
Before Renald was able to respond to this, Keira unexpectedly pushed her way past Ethan. “There is no need to be afraid, Onidel. Even a blind man should see that an elf has come. Or have you forsaken your friendship with my people.”
After a second, Renald lowered his arms and nodded. “Pardon my caution. But these are strange times.”
“Indeed they are if Onidel still walks in Lumnia,” she said.
“You know him?” asked Ethan.
“Not personally,” she replied. “But his name was marked onto his spirit by my people.” She could see that Ethan was confused, but gave no further explanation.
“Come and be welcome then,” said Renald.
Kat burst down the hill. After throwing her arms around Ethan, she turned to King Ganix. “It’s good to see you again, Your Highness.”
“Indeed. It is good to see you too. Though I must admit it is hard to believe what I am seeing.”
“I’ll tell you all about it once we are in Renald’s cabin,” Ethan promised.
They set off together, though Markus walked several paces behind the rest of the group and his hand never strayed far from the hilt of his sword the entire way.
“Why do the elves call you Onidel?” Ethan asked Renald, just as the cabin came into view.
“When I was among them, it was the elf name they gave me,” he explained. “It means blind one.” Seeing Ethan’s amusement, he added: “It was because I was never able to understand magic in the same way they do. It was not meant as an insult.”
“You are correct,” Keira confirmed. “To give you an elf name marks you as a friend to my people.” She glanced at Ethan. “Were you an elf, you could see it as I do. The name he was given surrounds him.”
Renald sighed. “It was abilities such as that which I sought. But in the end I came to realize that although each race boasts its own talents, they cannot be shared directly. Such a pity.”
Jonas, Jake, and Val came outside as the party stepped onto the porch. Though Jonas was clearly astonished to see an elf among them, it was Jake and Val who reacted the most forcefully, displaying a combination of fear and utter amazement. It occurred to Ethan that neither of them had ever seen anyone who was not a human before. He recalled his own reaction and stepped forward to make introductions. Once the siblings were told who the two newcomers were, he looked at them and smiled.
“I know it’s odd,” he said. “But there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
Val returned the smile. But Jake puffed out his chest and stepped back toward the door.
“I’m not afraid,” he blustered. “I just wasn’t expecting it.”
“Your friend lies poorly,” remarked Keira. Though her words were insulting, her tone was matter of fact. “Is he considered a child among your race?”
“Fuck you, lady,” snapped Jake.
Keira laughed softly. “I was correct then?”
Jake’s top lip curled up into a snarl. “Look here you pointy-eared bitch –”
Val gripped her brother’s arms. “Please, Jake. Calm down.”
“I meant no insult,” said Keira. “It was only a question. I myself have recently come into adulthood. My father tells me I am still both reckless and impetuous. Were you to notice this and remark on it, why should I take offense? The truth is the truth.”
The veins in Jake’s forehead and neck were bulging; his face had turned a bright crimson.
“Why don’t you and Val go for a walk?” Jonas suggested, placing a hand on Jake’s shoulder.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he snapped back.
“Then you will hold your tongue,” Renald told him. “You were accused of being a child, then you prove it by behaving like one.”
The truth behind these words shocked Jake out of his fury. His expression quickly melted into one of humiliation. “Maybe I will go for a walk,” he muttered, glancing at Kat, who was plainly amused. With head down to avoid any further eye contact, he set off toward the lake.
“I’ll go see that he’s all right,” Val said, starting after him.
“He’s really not all that bad,” said Jonas. “Just a bit hot headed. Considering everything he’s been through, he’s actually handling things quite well.”
Renald shook his head, grumbling incoherently while ushering everyone inside. Once they were all seated, Ganix asked for their attention.
“I am sorry, but I am forced to omit the usual pleasantries and get straight to the point. Ethan must return to Elyfoss as soon as possible. There is now an alliance between the elves and the dwarves. One of the conditions to this was that I must send Ethan to meet with Keira’s father and ruler of her people, King Lotheri.”
Renald immediately shook his head. “Impossible! He has too much yet to learn. And I cannot leave this place.”
Ethan's face turned to a stone mask. “I don’t need you to teach me any longer.”
Renald was only able to maintain eye contact for a brief moment. “If you are saying what I think you are, then I urge you to reconsider.”
“I am saying that I don’t need you,” Ethan said firmly. He looked to Ganix. “But I think everyone else should stay here and keep studying.”
Kat, who was sitting alongside him, stiffened. “If you think you’re leaving me behind, think again.”
He took her by the hand. “I wouldn’t dare try.”
“I assume you intend to allow Martok to aid you,” said Lylinora.
Dragonvein - Book Three Page 7
