Dragonvein - Book Three

by Brian D. Anderson

  She turned and walked over to the door. “I hear he is not exactly the kindest of men. Particularly when it comes to his treatment of women. The violations and degradations they suffer are well known. I’ve seen the women who have returned alive. Broken - completely broken. A pity. It will break your father’s heart to know what will happen to you.”

  Having dispensed this final thought, she left the room.

  Even with Umbra gone, the collar continued to hold Kat fast to the bed. She tried to summon a spell, but found that she was cut off from magic entirely. Briefly, she considered trying to remove it, but rejected the idea. Umbra would certainly not have been lying about its effects.

  The doll's jeweled eyes stared at her constantly, it’s masterfully crafted features a taunting reminder of how helpless she was. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Only the knowledge that Ethan still lived kept her from falling into utter despair. There must be a way out, she kept telling herself. There simply had to be.

  She lay there for what felt like hours, hearing only occasional footsteps outside. Her thoughts turned to her father. She was a child the last time she'd seen him. She had heard through the Corvali in Miltino that he had scoured the land searching for her after her flight from home. But the fact that he'd not been arrested and executed by the Emperor's men almost certainly confirmed that he had disowned her. Her mother had died only a year later. Try as she might, Kat had been unable to find out how this had come about.

  The room she was in was unfamiliar, though there were many rooms in her father’s huge palace she had never seen before. Not that it mattered. Wherever she was being held, she was sure she would know her way around well enough if only she could find a means of escaping. The thought drew a sigh. As long as this cursed collar was around her neck, any possibility of breaking free seemed a remote hope.

  The light in the window on the far side of the room told her that the day was waning. Her anxiety grew each time she heard people outside the door. If Umbra was telling the truth about her father being at the garrison, would he simply bring soldiers to take her away without even bothering to see her? Of course, she wasn’t really sure that she wanted him to see her. Especially like this.

  The next series of footsteps she heard approaching were made by a group of heavily booted feet. Their pace was urgent and purposeful. Even before they arrived, she knew who it was. The door flew open, and there stood her father. His jaw tightened the moment their eyes met.

  Kat was shocked by his appearance. His once ruddy complexion was now pale, and his eyes were dull and sunken. His raven hair, so loved by her mother, had become gray and thin. Even his broad shoulders and thick powerful arms now seemed withered and frail.

  He took a step inside. Behind him lurked Umbra, a smug little smile on her face. Three guards followed, but the king dismissed them with a wave of his hand.

  “As you can see,” Umbra said. “I was telling the truth.”

  King Yularian glared at her accusingly. “All I see is a grown woman bound to a bed. My daughter is but thirteen. What is this nonsense?”

  “Just check the back of her knee,” Umbra said quickly. “The truth will then be plain.”

  The king sniffed, but crossed over to Kat anyway. She averted her eyes, unable to look at him as he gripped her ankle and lifted her leg. She knew he would now have no choice but to accept what Umbra was telling him. The teardrop birthmark was unmistakable.

  Yularian dropped her leg as if it had burned his fingers and staggered back.

  “It can’t be,” he whispered, tears instantly welling in his eyes. “Katyana? Is it really you?”

  Kat still couldn’t force herself to look at him.

  “Of course it’s her,” insisted Umbra.

  A tear fell down the king's cheek. “But how?”

  “Obviously magic has somehow aged her.”

  Kat glared at her cousin. “Magic did not age me, you bitch. So just shut your goddamn mouth.”

  “She was traveling with Lord Dragonvein,” Umbra continued, ignoring Kat’s outburst. “And an elf woman.”

  Yularian knelt beside her. “Tell me it’s you, Katyana.”

  Kat turned away. “I’m not who you think I am. She’s lying. I’m just a thief from the streets of Miltino.”

  “You know it’s Katyana, uncle,” Umbra said. Her voice quavered. “The birthmark proves it.”

  “My daughter had an identical mark,” the king said to Kat.

  Steeling her wits, she turned to at last fully face her father. It took all the strength she possessed not to burst into tears. “I can’t explain it,” she said. “It’s just a birthmark. But I’m not who you think I am. The Corvali believe I murdered one of their own. That’s why they turned me over.”

  “She’s lying!” cried Umbra.

  King Yularian shot her a severe warning look. She backed away, but her face was red with fury.

  Her father's voice was kind and gentle, just as Kat remembered. “Young lady. This is a most serious matter. If you are my daughter, I must know.”

  The pleading look on his face was tearing her apart. But still she forced herself to stay strong. “I am not your daughter. Just a thief from the streets.”

  Yularian’s back stiffened. “I see. Then I have no choice. As you are accused of using magic, I must turn you over to the Empire to be tested.”

  Kat nodded slowly, unable to stop a tear from falling. “What about Ethan?”

  “If he really is Lord Dragonvein, then you will both be brought before the Emperor.”

  “So you dare to call me a liar?” seethed Umbra.

  The king stood, his eyes fixed on hers. “I am still the king. And you will mind how you speak to me, Umbra. I have not accused you of lying. I say only that the truth must be investigated. Is that understood?”

  She returned his stare defiantly. “Yes…uncle.”

  After a final, lingering look at Kat, Yularian strode out of the room.

  “Do you want to know how your mother died?” Umbra asked, once his footsteps had faded away. “I'll tell you. I turned her in to the Empire.”

  Her words instantly erased all of Kat's tears that were about to fall. Instead, her heart was filled with sheer loathing and hatred.

  “I knew you must have inherited your magic powers from someone,” Umbra continued, a wicked smile on her face. “Certainly not from my dim-witted uncle. I heard they tortured your mother for days. Naturally, your father never knew that I was the one responsible.” She opened the door. “Of course, you could always tell him if you want to....mage. Though he will never believe what you say. And even if he does, he won't care.”

  The door closed behind her. Kat screamed with primal rage. She vowed to kill her cousin, repeating the oath again and again in her head. She would somehow get free. And even if she died in the process, she would cut that bitch’s throat from ear to ear.

  More hours passed. Eventually, Kat was unable to keep sleep at bay any longer. Her dreams were filled with visions of her mother screaming and begging for mercy while shadowy figures beat and tortured her mercilessly. Throughout it all, Umbra looked on, smiling.

  The clank of the door handle being turned roused her from her sleep. The lanterns had not been dimmed, so she could see clearly who was standing there. It was her father. He looked at her for a painfully long time before stepping fully inside.

  “I’m so sorry this has happened to you, Katyana,” he said, his voice filled with sadness. He gave her a frail smile. “I know it’s you. Please don’t bother lying any longer.”

  Kat could not hold back the tears. “Please forgive me, father,” she sobbed. “I…I never wanted to…”

  Yularian stepped closer and removed a key attached to a chain from his pocket. Kat recognized it immediately as the key Umbra had shown her.

  “If I let you go, what will you do?” he asked.

  “I will try to free Ethan,” she admitted.

  The king nodded. “I thought you might say that. Well, you need
n’t worry. I’ll see it is done.” He removed her collar and shackles.

  Without thinking, Kat leapt up from the bed and threw her arms around him, her tears soaking his shoulder. “I've missed you so much, father.”

  Yularian held her tightly, his own tears now flowing. “I've missed you too. You cannot imagine how deeply.”

  Kat had no idea how long they remained in this embrace. Eventually, her father released her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “I have so many questions,” he said. “There is so much I want to know. But for now we do not have the time. Umbra will discover her key is missing soon enough. When that happens, I need you to be well away from this place.”

  A flare of rage washed through Kat. “Where is she now?”

  “Asleep. But she is known to wander the halls at night. So I need you to hurry.”

  “She killed mother,” Kat told him through gritted teeth. “She turned her in to the Empire.”

  Yularian leaned back. “Don’t be ridiculous, Katyana. Her father was the one who reported your mother to the Emperor. The commander at the garrison showed me the letter he sent. It was written in his own hand and bore his seal.”

  Kat shook her head. “No! No! That's wrong. Umbra told me herself that she did it.”

  Her father's jaw dropped. “You heard this directly from her own lips?”

  “Yes. She told me earlier today, right after you left this room. She enjoyed every moment of it and even dared me to tell you what she'd said.”

  “But...but...”

  All the color gradually drained from the king's face. He sat back on his heels, his expression mortified. “I…I killed my brother. I ran a dagger through his heart for betraying me. I don't understand. Why would Umbra do such a thing?”

  Kat took her father’s hand. “I don’t know. But she won’t get away with it.”

  “My poor brother.” His voice was a mere whisper. “He swore to me it wasn’t true and I refused to believe him.”

  Kat’s heart ached to see him in such torment. “It wasn’t your fault,” she said. “None of this was.”

  She embraced him again. This time he felt fragile in her arms - old and defeated. The pain of what had been done to them both was almost unbearable, and the need for vengeance consumed every fiber of Kat's soul.

  Almost as if the spirits had chosen to answer her plea, the door then opened to reveal Umbra. She pulled up short at the sight of them both, mouth agape and eyes widening as fear struck her.

  Kat reacted instantly. “Vinstat!” she spat out. A green line of smoke shot forth from her right hand, coiling itself around her cousin and lifting her completely off the floor.

  King Yularian stared in astonishment as the coil of magic gradually tightened its grip on the trapped woman.

  “You see?” gasped Umbra. “This is what I was protecting you from.” Her face was turning crimson as she twisted uselessly against the power holding her.

  “Close the door, father,” said Kat. When he didn’t move, she looked at him beseechingly. “Please.”

  Slowly, he did as she asked. “I never believed you were capable of such magic,” he said in a hushed voice. “But now I see it for myself.”

  “She’s a monster!” cried out Umbra. “Kill her!”

  Kat tightened the grip on her even further. “You killed my mother. And knowing that your father had done nothing, you allowed my father to take revenge on him. It’s not me who's the monster.”

  “Release her,” said Yularian.

  Kat looked at him questioningly, but his eyes reassured her that he had not been turned against her. With a flick of her wrist, the smoke vanished. Umbra crumbled to the floor, wheezing and coughing while she clutched at her throat.

  King Yularian knelt and helped his niece over to sit on the edge of the bed. Kat's glittering eyes followed her every move.

  “Are you hurt?” the king asked.

  Umbra shook her head. “You stopped her before she could do her evil.”

  “So you think she’s evil?” he asked.

  Umbra met his eyes. “I do. I know she is. All magic, and all who use it.” Her eyes shot to Kat.

  The king placed his finger on her chin and turned her head to face him. “And was my wife evil?”

  “No! Of course not! She was a kind and gentle woman. I never believed she was one of those…well…” She pointed to Kat. “Someone like her.”

  “But she was,” said Yularian. “She was exactly like her. She was able to use magic from a very young age.”

  “And you knew?” A disgusted frown formed.

  The king smiled. “Of course I knew. How could I not? She was my wife. Your father knew as well. Which is why I believed he was the one who'd betrayed me.” He took hold of her hands. “But I was wrong. It was you…wasn’t it?”

  “No! It wasn’t me. It was my father. You saw the letter yourself.” She tried to stand, but Yularian held her easily in place.

  “I did indeed,” he replied. “I saw the letter that you forged. The letter which sealed your father’s…my brother’s fate. He had told me of your constant disapproval of him for relinquishing his right to become king, even though he was the elder brother.”

  By now Umbra was trembling violently.

  “I will explain something to you,” Yularian continued, his steady tone not yet betraying the deep anger burning inside. “He did not wish to be king for a very good reason. Rumbol was arrogant and impulsive. More than that, he could never learn to hold his tongue. If he had taken the throne, sooner or later he was sure to have said or done something foolish enough to incur Shinzan’s wrath.” He lowered his head and chuckled. “No one knew that better than Rumbol himself. He used to say that I had saved his life by accepting the crown in his place.”

  The king's smile suddenly faded and his eyes darkened. “What bitter irony. In the end, it was I who actually killed him. Not Shinzan.”

  Tears streamed down Umbra’s cheeks. “You must believe me. I would never have done anything to hurt –”

  “No more lies,” warned Yularian, cutting her off in a deep growling tone. “You tell me now why you did it, or I will send you to the Emperor myself as a gift, stripped naked and gagged. Of course, there's always a chance you may talk him into releasing you. You might even be able to convince him that I am a traitor. But then again…I am a king. And you? Well, I suppose Shinzan will have to decide for himself what you are. His decision might not be to your liking.”

  Never before had Kat seen such fear in a person’s eyes as was now showing in Umbra’s.

  “Please, uncle,” she wept. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”

  Yularian released his hold and stood looking down at her, stone faced and silent.

  “It’s true,” Umbra admitted, unable to meet the king’s eyes. “I did write that letter. After I discovered Katyana could use magic, I knew her mother had to be the source. So I stole my father's seal, copied his hand, and sent it to the garrison.”

  “And yet even after I accused your father of being the culprit, you still allowed me to carry on believing that he was the one who'd betrayed me.” Yularian shook his head. “You must have known what would happen.”

  Kat thought that the emotionless, even tone in her father’s voice was far more chilling than anything she had ever heard. He was allowing his fury to build behind a cold stare.

  “Yes, I knew,” Umbra replied. “I knew how much you loved her. And I knew you’d kill my father in retaliation. I hated him for never wanting the throne.”

  “He didn't want it, but you did,” said Yularian, finishing her thought. “I see it now. You calculated that with Katyana out of your way, and with both my wife and brother dead, I would name you as my heir. All that's left to ask is: How did you plan to rid yourself of me?”

  She shook her head wildly. “I didn’t. I swear it. I love you as if you were my real father.”

  “Not a comparison I deem flattering,” he remarked.

  Umbra finally l
ooked up at him. “Please forgive me, uncle.”

  He took a deep breath. “You stole my daughter, my wife, and my brother, all to have my crown. A crown I would give to you gladly to have them all here now. That my daughter lives and has returned to me is the only comfort I have left.”

  He paused to give Kat a loving smile. “And though I am king, I am not the only one you have wronged, Umbra. As my anger is too much for me to think clearly, I will leave your fate in Katyana’s hands.”

  A look of sheer horror appeared on Umbra's face. She threw herself at Yularian’s feet. “Please, Your Majesty, don’t do this. She’ll kill me. I know she will.”

  He looked over to Kat. “It is your decision.”

  Kat stared down at the pitiful heap groveling on the floor. “In the stories my mother told me as a child, the wise king always showed mercy. Even when he had been terribly wronged.”

  Umbra lifted her head. Though her eyes were red and soaked with tears, for a moment the fear in them subsided.

  “But my mother is dead,” Kat continued, her voice hardening. “What's more, I’m not wise. And I’m not a king.”

  For several seconds Umbra's lips quivered. Then, in a flurry of motion, she reached into the folds of her dress and produced a small silver dagger. Leaping to her feet, she charged headlong at Kat, teeth bared and snarling viciously.

  Kat’s hand shot out. “Vinstat!” she shouted a mere instant before her cousin's blade would have pierced her heart.

  It was as if Umbra had run into a solid stone wall. The green smoke then shoved her hard back, slamming her into the far wall and forcing all of the air from her lungs. The dagger dropped from her hand and she slid to the floor, utterly dazed.

  Kat wrapped the magical coil tightly around her cousin's neck and spat in her direction. “This is for my mother, you bitch.”

  “Katyana, no!” Yularian called out. He placed a restraining hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “You have made your decision. But it is for me to carry out the sentence.”

  Kat paused, but did not release Umbra. “I can do this, father,” she said. “I want to do it.”

  Yularian bent down to meet his daughter’s eyes. “I know. I truly do. But please. Be my little girl just one more time and let me take care of it.”