by Bianca D'Arc
“But it’s good magic,” Riki insisted. “Not evil. They use it to hide their encampment, for one thing. I felt it as we walked through the barrier, didn’t you?”
Drake shook his head, blue eyes wide. Nico seemed to consider before responding. “I felt a kind of tingle but shrugged it off. Was that the barrier?”
“Probably. It felt like a million butterfly wings tickling against my skin.” She smiled at the memory. “It was friendly and benign.”
“At least to you.” A new voice sounded from the entrance to the tent. In the doorway stood a stately older woman in long, colorful robes. She walked with a slight limp as she moved toward the table and the men rose in respect until she was seated across from Riki. “I am the seer, Arabetta. Welcome, Arikia, daughter of Adora, descendant of Kent. I have awaited your arrival these many years.”
“You see the future?” Nico asked softly, his eyes measuring.
“Sometimes,” the woman shrugged. “Not always in enough time to do anything about what I see, or I would have sent men to prevent the murder of your parents, Prince Nicolas. Please accept my apologies and condolences. Your father was a great man and a true friend to the Jinn. Sadly, the connection was lost when he died, for your brother Roland knew nothing of our bonds, nor did any of the other royal princes. It’s taken us years to reestablish the link that should never have been lost. You, Sir Drake, have been instrumental in that, and for that great service, I thank you.”
Riki looked over at Drake. He looked as if he might object to the old woman calling him “sir”. After all, he was the son of knights, not a knight himself, but just then Estella returned, bringing with her a troop of people with platters of food and flasks of wine. They set them on the wide table and looked over the new arrivals with open curiosity. They placed the items mostly in front of Riki as if seeking her approval. She made a point to smile and thank everyone who sought her eye, flushing a little with the strange attention, but impressed by the friendly eagerness of these people.
Estella sat next to the seer and began to pour out the wine. When she was finished, she raised her cup. “To the Mother of All with many thanks for reuniting the black dragons on this day. Blessed be the Mother of All.”
“Blessed be.” The others repeated the words and Riki followed suit, raising her cup of wine and drinking with the rest of them. The wine was fruity and delicious, tartly zapping Riki’s tongue and making her smile.
“This is delicious.”
“I’m glad you like it.” Estella topped up her cup before sitting back and lifting some roasted meat from a platter. “Please eat. We’ll talk while you refresh yourselves with a meal.”
“Are you the only black dragon here?” Nico asked quickly.
Estella chuckled. “No, Prince Nicolas. We of the Black Dragon Clan are descended of Jintau, the youngest son of Draneth the Wise. He had many children. It was they who founded the Jinn Brotherhood generations ago. Since then, the Jinn have spread out all over the lands, but the black dragons remain the core of the Jinn. Our clan rules all the other clans, and only our clan has the ability to shift. Among our clan, we have perhaps a dozen younger dragons and several elders who do not do much flying these days.”
“You’re one of the latter,” Riki said astutely, her eyes on the seer.
Arabetta nodded. “Sadly, when one reaches a certain age, flying is something that can be painful as well as uplifting. I don’t fly much anymore, but I can still do so if needed.”
“Amazing.” Nico’s whisper brought a smile to the older woman’s eyes.
The seer nodded her head with a gentle smile. “I must tell you of the danger I have foreseen, Prince Nicolas. It concerns all the lands, but most especially Draconia.”
That got the attention of everyone at the table. They waited for the older woman to continue.
“There is a place, far in the northland wastes, known only as the Citadel. It was to this place the last of the wizards sealed their enemies and set a caretaker to watch over their resting place. It is to the Citadel, Lucan prepares to go. You must stop him before he succeeds in waking the sleeping wizards trapped there or our lands will know terror the likes of which we have not seen since the Wizard Wars.”
“I’ve been taught about the Citadel, Lady, but I thought it was only legend.” Nico regarded the older woman with respect and a bit of awe.
“Oh, the Citadel is real enough, as is the hereditary caretaker, though the caretaker’s powers have grown weaker with each successive generation. It is all the current caretaker can do to stem the tide and she has made some…unwise choices on her path as she fought to keep the secret of the Citadel safe.” Arabetta sighed. “But the time is coming soon when we will all be tested. Dragons, humans, and others will unite to hopefully prevent a catastrophe beyond which even I cannot see. The fate of our world lies in the balance. You must leave soon for your homeland. Your brother and his mate must be made aware of what is coming. And you will take with you an honor guard of emissaries from the Jinn to Draconia. Our time of hiding is over. The Black Dragon Clan will fight alongside our cousins in Draconia. You must tell your brother that as well.”
“I will. Thank you, Lady Arabetta.” Nico’s voice was formal and somewhat subdued. “I cannot say how glad I am to find the black dragons will rally together. The dragons of my land will be heartened to know the line of Draneth continues to grow strong, even outside the borders of our land. You will all be welcome among us.”
“Well spoken, Prince Nicolas. But there is one thing that must transpire before you can return to your home.” The old woman looked from Nico, pointedly to Riki and back. “You must marry our new queen.”
“Queen?” Riki could hardly believe her ears. “What in the world?”
“It was foreseen generations ago that a daughter of Kent would come to us, to unite the Black Dragon Clan with our allies. The leadership of the Black Dragon Clan has ever been only a stewardship. Estella’s line holds authority over affairs of state until such time as the daughter of Kent arrived. The leadership of the Black Dragon Clan is at least partly yours, Arikia. Our system was designed so the queen rules over diplomatic affairs, and her steward deals with tribal matters. It has ever been thus, from the beginning.”
“But that’s impossible! I’m not even Jinn. And I can’t shift.” She was near tears as all eyes focused on her.
“You have the soul of a dragon, child. That is all that is required to be Jinn. As for shifting, it will come—or not—in time. In truth, it makes no difference. You are the One who was foretold. You are the One we will follow into battle. Other than that, Jinn royalty serves little purpose, since we are a mostly scattered people. Perhaps that will make you feel better.” The old woman chuckled. “Regardless, our queen you shall be. As it was foretold.”
Estella spoke up, her warm voice gentle and sure. “Bloodlines are very important to the Jinn. Jintau married Jora, a princess from Elderland in the far east. In that land, even today, men are protectors and warriors, but the women rule. That is how Jora designed the Jinn. She ruled over her many children and their mates, plus the other displaced peoples who came to them to form the Jinn Brotherhood. Jora was a strong seer and foretold of this time in great detail. She knew her children would lead the Jinn in battle, but she also knew it would take new blood to reunite the Jinn with the other children of Draneth.”
“Draneth himself, it is said, counseled his youngest son to follow Jora’s vision.” Arabetta nodded wisely as she stated her belief, but Riki could hardly believe what these women were saying. It seemed so ridiculous. So impossible.
Nico’s hand found hers, grasping tightly, lending her his strength. “Say nothing yet, sweetheart. Let’s see where this leads, all right?”
She looked up into his eyes and fed on his surety of purpose, his strength and his conviction. These people were important for their safety and for the safety of all the dragons and people of Draconia. Riki would not let them down out of fear. She’d take Nico’s a
dvice and see what these people wanted of her before giving in to the fear threatening even now, to overwhelm her.
“I need you to help me, Nico. I’m afraid.” Admitting that was one of the hardest things she’d ever done, but Nico was her rock. He would help her. She knew it in her soul, when she would never have said such words, or admitted such weakness, to anyone else in the world.
Nico squeezed her hand. “I will always be here for you, Riki. I will always be at your side, ready to catch you. Don’t be afraid. Together we can handle anything.”
Tears gathered behind her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Summoning her courage, fortified by Nico’s support, she faced the Jinn women.
“I don’t understand any of this, but I’m willing to listen.”
Arabetta beamed at her. “Spoken like a true queen.”
Riki felt pride at the woman’s apparent confidence in her, but it was tempered with fear and bewilderment. How could these people really think she was a queen? Didn’t they know she was a coward?
“Now to the marriage,” Estella said briskly, shocking Riki back to the strange conversation.
“Bloodlines are all important among the Jinn. That is something that’s been passed down from Jora and her Elderland beliefs. You two must marry in our traditions for your union to be fully recognized, and you must do it now, before you leave for Draconia.”
“But—” Riki was cut off by the old woman.
“I know you’d rather have a big ceremony. What bride doesn’t want that? But we cannot afford the time. We’ve already begun preparations for a feast tonight, preceded of course, by the joining ceremony.”
“But—”
“One of our finest tailors is preparing a wedding dress for you as we speak.”
“But—”
“The minstrels are preparing their best songs and representatives of all the Jinn clans are gathering from every corner. This is the largest Jinnfaire in a hundred years. As many as possible have come to witness your joining.”
Riki shouted to be heard, her frustration building as the old woman rode right over all her objections. “But he hasn’t asked me to marry him!”
Dead silence greeted her outburst and frowns were directed at Nico from every corner, raising her protective instincts.
“Don’t you look at him like that,” she scolded. “We only just met a few days ago. How could anyone expect a man to fall in love in so short a time?”
“But a woman could, couldn’t she?” Drake’s knowing words caused heat to rush to her cheeks.
“That isn’t the point of this discussion.” She pointedly ignored Nico, afraid of what she might see on his face.
But Nico tugged on her hand, demanding she face him. “I knew you were mine the first moment I saw you, my love. The dragon in me recognized its mate from the beginning. I do love you, my Arikia, and I want you to be my wife, my lover, my mate for life. Will you consent? Do you love me, even a little?”
His words, for her alone, touched her deeply. She raised her gaze slowly to look at his beautiful face and the tender expression in his hazel eyes nearly made her cry. She saw love shining from his eyes—and this wasn’t the first time, if she were being honest with herself. No, but this was the first time he’d spoken the words plainly.
She reached out, practically throwing herself into his arms. “I love you so much!” she whispered into his ear before pulling back and kissing him soundly.
Nico deepened the kiss, lifting her right off the seat and onto his lap as he devoured her mouth. Riki’s senses spun with the wonder of him and his words of love. She felt the bands stretching from her soul to his strengthen and she knew without being told, of his deep and true affection. She could feel it. Just as he could probably feel echoes of her feelings for him.
When he drew back, she was pressed against his chest, her bottom seated snugly in his lap, and his smile stretched from ear to ear. There was a tenderness in his gaze she had only ever seen when he looked at her and she knew it now for what it was…love.
“Will you be my bride, Arikia?” His tender tone left her breathless.
“Yes, Nico,” she whispered, lost in his hazel green gaze.
“About time,” Arabetta groused good-naturedly, reminding Riki starkly that they had an audience. She tried to straighten, but Nico’s arms held her tight against him.
“Forgive me, Lady,” Nico addressed the old woman. “Riki has not had the easiest life and I wanted to give her time to adjust to me. I didn’t want to scare off my true mate by acting too soon.”
Arabetta’s frown cleared. “You are far wiser than I gave you credit for, Prince Nicolas. I beg your pardon.”
The shock on Estella’s face showed just how surprising the old seer’s words were to her and Riki felt some satisfaction the woman would admit to being wrong about Nico. He was as close to perfect as a man could be, after all.
Riki hugged the knowledge of his love to her heart and crowed like a child inside, where none could hear. Nico loved her and wanted to marry her. It was a miracle of light in her formerly dark, sad, desolate world. Nico brought joy and happiness to her when she thought she would never know it again…and love. He brought her love when she’d despaired of ever feeling such tender emotions for a man in her life. He was a miracle.
Nico nodded, accepting the woman’s apology without comment, letting the moment pass naturally. He was a good diplomat, Riki realized with pride.
“I’d planned to marry in Draconia, once we returned, but if you say the Jinn must be satisfied—and Riki is willing—I’m happy to do so here. The sooner we are joined in the eyes of all, the happier I will be.” He leaned down to kiss her temple, holding her close in his strong arms. Riki felt cherished for the first time in many, many long years.
Chapter Twelve
The wedding ceremony was like nothing Riki had ever seen or even heard about. She realized she’d given up on the idea of marrying or finding love sometime during her imprisonment. She’d lost hope for any kind of future at all, but Nico had returned it to her.
She went into the ceremony without any reservations. Certainly, Riki was astounded by the lovely green silk dress the tailor had made for her. The green was the exact color of her eyes and the skirt swirled around her legs in feather-soft caresses that nearly made her giddy. There were layers to go underneath as well, also in silk, but pale green and gold this time.
Riki had been brought to a private tent to prepare. Several women helped her, all of whom had green eyes like hers and claimed to be cousins of one sort or another. They’d prepared a steaming bath, scented with rare flowers from the southlands. The fragrance was intoxicating and the rich soap they gave her to wash and lotions for her hair were of the finest quality she had ever used.
Riki was overwhelmed by the Jinn women’s generosity. They helped her dress, showing her what pieces went where and laughing at her shy attempts to figure them out on her own. They were kind to her and their welcome nearly reduced her to tears several times, but then one of the women would start singing a happy tune and her mood would lighten.
When she was suitably dressed and prepared, the women brought her to a large clearing in the center of the encampment. There were hundreds, perhaps thousands of people standing all around a raised platform. As they drew closer, she could see Nico and Drake waiting on top of the platform, watching as she came forward. Somewhere a group of minstrels struck up a tune that carried through the happy crowd and smiles lit each and every face.
Riki’s nerves faded away to nothing when she saw Nico there, waiting for her. Eagerly, she climbed the makeshift steps, holding out one hand to Nico as she drew closer. He not only took her hand but pulled her in close for a quick hug. The crowd cheered loudly and she moved back, a little embarrassed to be in front of so many people, but their song was so happy, it did away with most of her fears.
Arabetta strode forward with several other Jinn elders, all standing with them on the large platform. The crowd grew qui
et and the song faded away, leaving joy in its wake. Arabetta stopped in front of Riki and Nico, facing them.
“Who stands witness for this joining?” the old woman asked formally.
“I stand for the bride.” Estella moved next to Riki, smiling as she took a place at her side.
“And I stand for the groom.” Drake spoke from Nico’s side.
Arabetta nodded and began to sing. Or perhaps chant would be a better word, Riki thought, as she felt the magic of Arabetta’s voice like a living thing. This was powerful magic, indeed, channeled through the ancient words. Riki didn’t understand the ancient tongue, but the meaning was clear. She actually felt ethereal bands of magic swirling around herself and Nico, twining them together where their hands were still joined, up and around both of their bodies and souls.
When the chant ended there was an expectant hush in the air.
Arabetta turned to Riki.
“Do you, Arikia, promise your heart and soul to Nicolas?”
Not knowing what else to say, Riki opted for simply answering, “I do.”
Then Arabetta turned to Nico.
“Do you, Nicolas, promise your heart and soul to Arikia?”
“I do,” he stated in a firm voice, leaving no doubt as to his strong intent.
“Then kiss and be one.”
The crowd cheered as Nico bent to kiss her, taking her in his muscular arms. The noise of the crowd faded away as Nico sealed their promises with a binding kiss. Riki felt the magic twining them together, joining their magics and making them more powerful. It was an amazing feeling, and like nothing she’d ever experienced before.
When Nico finally released her some time later, the crowd was singing and cheering happily. Arabetta looked at them both expectantly.
“It is customary among Jinn to wear rings of marriage. The ones we arranged for Drake to acquire in Plinth were made especially for you two. They are plain enough for a spy on the outside, but if you look inside the bands, they bear the mark of the Black Dragon Clan. Welcome to the Brotherhood of the Jinn. We’ve been long awaiting you both.”
