dragons breath 02 - dancing with flames

by Illene, Susan

  Anticipating his landing would disturb his hip, he was careful to slow his descent, but not so much that it would draw suspicion. At the last moment, he flared his wings. His feet touched the ground with a soft thud. The landing was not without discomfort, but the pain was not so great he couldn’t bear it.

  He began shifting into human form, his body taking longer than usual to finish. Ruari was forced to feel each and every cell altering as his skin and bones reshaped themselves. He was grateful the flames surrounded him and hid the agony that would have shown on his face. By the time it was over, he was panting heavily. Dear Zorya, that had been one of the worst shifts he had ever experienced. This was why he avoided fighting in battles as much as possible.

  Ruari pretended to study his surroundings while he waited to catch his breath. To his relief, not a soul appeared to be paying any attention to him. A group of young warriors trained farther afield, but they faced the opposite direction. The guards in the sky had roamed toward the woods and didn’t look his way, either. Even the males on the fortress walls kept their gazes beyond him.

  When Ruari’s pain finally subsided to a more tolerable level, he made his way past the gate and inside the keep, ducking his head down as much as possible. It was a good thing his tunic had a high collar to help hide the healing wounds on his jaw. If not for that, he’d have had some difficulty concealing them. The main thoroughfare was crowded with people he could not avoid. While clansmen might move out of Zoran’s way without hesitation, they did not do so for Ruari. He was forced to weave his way through the throng, getting bumped and jostled with almost every step. A woman hit him directly in the hip and he had to bite his tongue to keep from crying out. Why couldn’t the fools just watch where they were going?

  Honestly, the first thing he’d do once he became pendragon was send a third of these people to live outside the walls like some of the other members of their toriq already did. He swore their numbers seemed to grow by the day, especially the humans. Why did his father keep giving them sanctuary anyway? A few dozen was fine since they made good servants, but any more than that was a nuisance.

  Ember appeared ahead of him on the path. The woman had trained as a warrior and still dressed herself as such, but it was her feminine wiles that she used as her best weapons. She was a temptress who had managed to seduce and hold his attention for a while before he’d realized she carried an evil streak unlike anything he’d ever seen. Sexual relations with her were exciting, but the experience left one wondering if they might find a dagger in the heart before the end of it.

  The female shifter had soft, black hair that she kept cut to just above her shoulders, so it framed her delicate face. Her skin was a darker olive than most others in the clan, but common within her family. She was also shorter than most, only reaching his chin. If there wasn’t a glint of malevolence in her yellow eyes, one might be inspired to protect her. Ruari had thought she would prove useful at one time, but he’d soon learned that nothing good came from being near her.

  When their gazes met, he considered turning the other way. She had already seen him, though, and he could not let her think he feared her. Ember made her way toward him, studying every inch of him with such sensuality he hardened against his will. Ruari took a few more steps toward her, and false concern touched her gaze.

  She closed the distance and took hold of his arms. “You’ve been injured!”

  “Not here,” he hissed. Damn the woman. She hadn’t spoken loudly, but one couldn’t be too careful. He never said anything in public that he didn’t want overheard.

  Ruari took the hand gripping him and pulled her down a narrow alley. Gritting his teeth against the pain of his injuries, he rushed past several small residences—all of them carrying a human scent—until they reached a small garden. Few knew about this place other than the residents, and he did not worry about them overmuch. As that young girl, Kayla, proved the other day, they were too scared of Ruari to cross him. It was the closest place he and Ember were going to find for privacy without going to their homes.

  He turned on her. “I told you weeks ago that we are finished.”

  “But you’re injured.” She lifted a hand and grazed his cheek. “How can I not worry for you?”

  Ruari was surprised she did not ask how his face got marked. He needed to finish this conversation quickly before she did get around to it. Ember had a way of drawing information out of him if he gave her the chance.

  “Don’t,” he bit out, pushing her away.

  “You are concerned about the Bitkal coming up. I understand,” she said, bleeding sympathy into her voice.

  For Zorya’s sake, could she not take a hint? “Stay out of my business.”

  Ember composed her features. “I can help you. Just tell me what task your father gave you and I will make certain it is done.”

  “No.” Ruari shook his head. “I don’t want any more of your help.” The price was far too high, even for him.

  She had already gone behind his back and drugged Donar a couple of months ago with an herb Ruari had obtained because she said her brother needed it while he recovered from an injury. Instead, she used it on his cousin, impairing Donar enough that he fell from the fortress walls while he was working on them. It was a small miracle he had survived.

  All he’d said to Ember was that it would be better if his cousin was not in the running for candidacy, but he hadn’t told her to murder him. After Ruari had discovered what she had done, he ended his relationship with her. Weakening a competitor was one thing, attempting to kill them another.

  Her gaze hardened. “You won’t become pendragon without me, you know.”

  Ruari wasn’t fooled in the least. She wanted him to owe her, and she would do anything to make that happen. Her family was so far beneath most of the others in the toriq that it would take strong allies for her to rise higher.

  “Enough. I do not want your help,” he growled.

  “But…”

  He grabbed her by the shoulders and shoved her against the nearest stone wall. “Do not do anything. Do you understand?”

  Ember bit her lip, then nodded. “Yes.”

  Ruari let her go and walked away, hoping that was the end of it.

  Chapter 14

  Aidan

  Aidan and Falcon sloshed through the river, rinsing themselves off after finishing their dinner. They’d captured a deer after they woke for the day and ate it together. There weren’t many occasions that required them to stay in dragon form for long periods and shifters rarely chose to live that way. Their warrior training included a few field exercises where they couldn’t do anything as humans, and it sometimes happened during protracted battles. That was about it, though, other than the annual clan hunt just before the first snow. Needless to say, he and Falcon had made a bit of a mess of themselves.

  They dipped and rolled in the water, doing the best they could to clean between their scales. Once finished, they moved onto the bank to dry in the sun. There wouldn’t be many warm days left. Aidan could almost feel it in the air, and some of the leaves on the trees were beginning to change color. He didn’t much care for autumn, but mostly because it meant the cold would soon come.

  The shape of a dragon appeared in the gray sky. Falcon and Aidan monitored its approach, judging its flight path. The Faegud clan had sent patrols regularly to check on them from the air. With each sighting, they hoped it was Lorcan returning instead. It did not sit well with them to remain in the open for so long without proper shelter and a storm approached from the west. It would likely reach them within an hour.

  A minute later, Aidan identified the shape and coloring of the beast, confirming Lorcan was heading toward them. He skimmed the trees and came in low, landing a dozen paces away. Aidan attempted to judge his old friend’s mood, but the dragon gave away nothing. He stomped toward them, his orange eyes somber.

  Loran directed his attention to Aidan. The pendragon has accepted your request. Our toriq will need time to pre
pare for the treaty process and associated activities, but I’ve convinced her to begin the negotiations sooner than she first proposed. You may return here in three days with two other members of your clan and I will escort you to our jakhal.

  Aidan was surprised the Faegud pendragon would invite them to their seat of power. It was rare outsiders were allowed near a jakhal. In all his life, the only time he could remember a delegation being allowed inside their fortress was when the Straegud, a clan of shape-shifters from the east, sent several members of their toriq to revive relations with the Taugud. That had been when Aidan was thirty years old—almost two centuries ago. Something had happened to the Straegud since then, and they had not been heard from in almost two decades. The few scouts his toriq had sent were unable to locate them.

  Please tell your pendragon that we thank her for her consideration. Aidan dipped his head. We will look forward to the opportunity to visit and rebuild peace with your toriq.

  Lorcan bowed his head in return. Rest well in the meantime, friend. There will be little time for sleep once negotiations begin.

  May Zorya be with you, Aidan said.

  And you as well.

  Aidan and Falcon left, taking flight into the sky and heading north. He waited a few minutes before opening communications. What does he mean there will be little rest?

  Falcon let out a mental chuckle. You’ve never attended treaty negotiations between toriqan before, have you?

  No. What should I expect? Throm had given him minimal guidance on the matter, likely testing his ability to handle such a difficult task without the pendragon’s help.

  Ceremonies, contests of strength and prowess, and bountiful feasts. It is custom for the host of the event to include a variety of festivities before negotiations begin. To do otherwise would mean they expect the talks to fail. Falcon glanced over at him. You will be exhausted afterward, but it will be great fun for your inner beast.

  You do realize you’ll be joining me for this as well, don’t you? Aidan pointed out.

  The older dragon flapped his wings hard, surging ahead. I wouldn’t miss it for all the clan’s gold and jewels.

  ***

  The thunderstorm slowed their travels midway to the fortress, but Aidan and Falcon managed to return home a couple of hours before the midnight meal. It was full dark outside, and thick clouds concealed the moon’s light. They landed near the gates where torches burned, breaking through the darkness.

  Did you see the crowd near the standing stones? Falcon asked.

  He referred to the clan’s mystical stones around the other side of the fortress, just beyond the walls. There were seventeen dark gray blocks in all, set in a wide circle. Their power was most often used by the healer to repair grievous injuries. With so many clansmen there now, something dire must have happened.

  Aidan looked at the two gate guards who stood in human form, holding spears in their right hands. They would have to know something. What has happened?

  “Our captain was found with his throat cut in the east bathhouse,” the one on the left answered, speaking aloud with a pained expression on his face. He could have communicated telepathically in human form, but it took more concentration. “Nanoq was found near death and immediately taken to the healing stones.”

  The image of the captain being attacked in such a brutal way twisted Aidan’s gut. He could only pray to Zorya that Nanoq survived the assault. The shifter was a good man who Aidan had always respected—most of the toriq did. He did not want to think his last memory of the captain would be that night Zoran assaulted and threatened Nanoq upstairs. That was not the way to remember such a fine warrior. But could it have been Aidan’s eldest brother who did it?

  Do you have any idea who attacked him? Falcon asked.

  The guard shook his head. “No one saw anything.”

  Aidan and Falcon exchanged glances and took off in flight, heading around the fortress to where the standing stones were located. They landed in the open field nearby and shifted into their human forms before joining the crowd of onlookers. The pendragon was already there. Throm’s face was red and steam puffed from his nostrils as he paced near the stones.

  The clan healer, a wizened old man, came out and pulled the pendragon aside. They did not speak aloud, but by the expressions on their faces, they were communicating by telepathic means. This went on for several minutes before they turned to face the crowd.

  The healer cleared his throat, and everyone quieted to listen to him speak. “Nanoq did not survive. I am afraid his throat was cut too deeply, and I could not heal him in time before he bled out.”

  Aidan’s chest tightened. Dragons died all the time in battle, but not like this. Not while sitting in their bath, surrounded by the protection of the fortress walls and their clansmen. The very thought of a coward sneaking in to take the honorable shifter’s life when he was most vulnerable made Aidan sick.

  Murmurs ran through the crowd around him and one woman screamed—Nanoq’s mother. Her mate pulled her close, anguish reflecting in his eyes as well. The healer did not allow anyone inside the circle of stones while he worked, so the captain’s parents had been required to wait outside the same as everyone else. They’d lost those final precious moments with their son.

  The mother pushed away her mate and marched toward the pendragon. “I demand justice!” she said, tears streaking down her cheeks as she shook her fist. “Whoever did this must be punished!”

  Throm took her by the shoulders. “I vow the killer will be found.”

  Nanoq’s father nodded at the pendragon. “We expect no less.”

  The captain’s parents met with the healer next, no doubt to discuss the burial ceremony. According to toriq custom, it would have to take place within the next twenty-four hours. The family would decide whether it was private or if guests were allowed attend, but first, the healer would clean and wrap the body. He took great pride in ensuring the families would not have to perform that burden themselves. For all that shifters were fierce, they took death very hard.

  Throm ran his gaze across the assembled crowd until it caught on Phoebe. He beckoned her forward, waiting until she stood in front of him. “Your new task is to find the killer before the Bitkal. Do not fail me.”

  “I will not,” she said fiercely and bowed her head.

  Aidan’s sister would have a little over one week to manage it, but from past experience, he knew if the killer wasn’t found by then, it was unlikely it would ever happen. It was rare for new evidence to turn up after that. For Nanoq’s sake, Aidan hoped she succeeded. He wanted the bastard who did this captured and executed.

  Phoebe turned toward the crowd and spoke, her voice loud and authoritative, “I want to speak to everyone who has been in or near the east bathhouse tonight, and anyone who saw the Captain of the Guard today. Meet me in the great hall in one hour.” She marched through the crowd, heading straight for Aidan and Falcon. “You two, come with me.”

  Since she didn’t stop, they hurried after her as she stormed toward the fortress gates.

  Aidan quickly came alongside his sister. “What is it you need?”

  “You and Falcon just returned from your trip, correct?” she asked.

  “Yes,” he confirmed.

  She stopped and turned around. “Then at this time you two are the only ones I can rule out as suspects. I need you to help me identify the scents in the bathhouse and search for any evidence.”

  Aidan lifted a brow. “You do realize a hundred or more people may have been in there today, don’t you?”

  The only reason Nanoq had been caught alone was that, as the Captain of the Guard, he had a one hour block of time in the bath house in the evenings. It was a privilege of his position, which everyone knew about. Dragons loved baths, but few had the luxury of washing alone. They had always used communal baths to save on water resources.

  “Which is why I need your help.” Phoebe glanced over at the standing stones. “Three sets of eyes are better than one,
and I’ll be damned if anyone thinks our family had anything to do with Nanoq’s death, so I’m going to make certain I find the actual killer.”

  Aidan gave her a confused look. “Why would they suspect us?”

  “Ruari was seen in the keep earlier this evening, acting suspicious. Someone saw him slip away with Ember—who is linked to countless crimes, though there isn’t enough evidence to try her yet. No one has any idea where Zoran has been since this afternoon. You and I are the only ones with solid alibis.” She sighed. “Everyone knows this is a time when potential candidates for the Bitkal are most likely to turn up dead—usually killed by their competition.”

  Aidan found it rather interesting that Phoebe had been keeping watch over their brother. Did she have spies on Ruari as well?

  “I overheard Zoran and Nanoq speaking in private the other day,” Aidan admitted. “Our eldest brother was taunting the captain and telling him that he should not try to become pendragon.”

  Phoebe let out a frustrated noise. “Oh, that’s just great.”

  Falcon spoke up, “Though I do not trust Zoran, I’m not certain slitting a man’s throat in the bathhouse is his style. He seems more likely to challenge a person openly instead.”

  “Perhaps,” Aidan snorted. “But I’d like to know where Ember has been since her meeting with Ruari.”

  “I’ll look into it,” Phoebe said. Her eyes rounded as she saw something behind Aidan and Falcon. “Look!”

  They turned and caught sight of Zoran in his dragon form, landing nearby with a large sack hanging from his mouth. He dropped it and shifted to human form. As soon as the flames died down, Zoran grabbed the sack and headed in their direction. There was a look of complete smugness in his expression. Aidan noted the crowd near the standing stones watching his arrival as well.

  Zoran stopped about a dozen paces away and gazed around to make certain he held everyone’s attention. Then he opened the bag and pulled a green dragon head from it. Aidan had no doubt whose body the head belonged to or which clan.