by Bianca D'Arc
“Why are there dragons in my boathouse and knights at my dining table?” His cultured voice carried, though he wasn’t thundering. Not yet, at least.
Seth cleared his throat, standing to face Captain O’Dare. “I’m not a knight, sir. We’ve met before. I’m Seth Nielsson, apprentice healer from the Lair.”
“That only makes this worse, son. You’d better shut up before you dig yourself any deeper into the hole you’re already in.” The sea captain frowned at him.
Gowan had stood too, and faced the older man with a bit more spine. Livia feared what might happen if they clashed.
“I am Sir Gowan. It is my dragon partner, Lady Genlitha and her friend, the blind dragon, Sir Hrardorr, whom Seth tends, in your boathouse, sir. They are guarding the diamonds.”
Now that got her father’s attention. Livia hoped he’d cool down and listen, though talk of diamonds seemed to have sidetracked him from his initial fury. She’d always privately thought her father had just a bit of pirate in him, always on the lookout for treasure.
“What diamonds?” he demanded, his voice going just a bit softer, though his eyes still gleamed with fury.
“Father, the weapons the enemy was trying to use against the dragons were tipped with diamond blades. Sir Hrardorr has been diving into the battle wreckage in the harbor and salvaging them. I spent most of the night taking them apart so that the spears could no longer be used against dragons. We’ve got a basket full of huge diamond crystals in the boathouse and I’ve already lined up a few of our best, and most trusted craftsmen to start cutting them today. We intend to finance the rebuilding and updating of the harbor defenses out of the proceeds, as well as pay our artisans, of course. The rest will go toward any damages to the town, but father…” She paused to let her words sink in. “There are a lot of diamonds.”
Captain O’Dare looked closely at all three of them, and his eyes narrowed.
“I suppose you two stayed here last night to safeguard my daughter, as well as to be near the loot and the dragons.” It wasn’t quite a question, but both men nodded.
Livia saw Rosie scuttling up the stairs behind her father out of the corner of her eye. If the stars were aligned, Rosie was going up there to erase all evidence of the debauchery that had taken place in her bedroom the night before. Stars bless Rosie!
“After the battle there were many tasks,” Sir Gowan said, his expression tight. “Your daughter offered us hospitality when it was clear the dragons would stay to guard the diamond weapons. Otherwise we’d have had a long walk back to the Lair. Plus, we wanted to be near in case the dragons needed us.”
Captain O’Dare made a scoffing sound. “I can’t imagine what they might need you for.”
“Sir.” Seth’s tone was both respectful and firm. “Despite his bravery and ability to navigate underwater, the male dragon, Hrardorr, is newly blind. He needs aid on land that another dragon cannot provide. It is my sworn duty to help him.”
Finally, her father unbent a little. He came over to her and took her into a fierce hug that she wasn’t expecting.
“I came home as soon as I heard there was danger. I ran into the scout ships you sent out, my clever girl,” he told her, letting her go slowly.
“I’d wondered what happened to them. We never heard back from them. I feared they were lost to the enemy.” Livia retook her seat as her father went around to the head of the table opposite her and sat down.
The captain gestured for the men to retake their seats as well, which they did.
“No. Not lost,” the captain replied. “I sent them on with my cargo while I came directly here. Alas, I find myself too late to help. Will you, Sir Gowan, tell me what occurred? I’ve heard garbled reports from those I saw on my way here, but I was in haste and couldn’t really stop to elicit details. What news of the enemy fleet?”
Gowan gave a concise report of the battle, including Seth’s leadership of the pitiful harbor armament and Hrardorr’s amazing underwater acrobatics. He kept a bit in reserve. Some things were best kept secret—especially as related to Hrardorr’s particular abilities—but otherwise, Gowan gave a very complete account to the Captain.
Livia’s father looked at Seth with new respect and even went so far as to thank him for his work on behalf of the town. He then asked how the dragons had decided on his boathouse to stash the loot.
At this point, Livia decided to speak up. Better that her father hear about her surprising ability to speak to dragons from her than from someone else.
“I’ve been fishing, as I usually do, since you’ve been gone, father,” she began. “Sir Hrardorr and I first made acquaintance on the water. He has been instrumental in decreasing the shark population near the harbor and fishing grounds for the past months, and somehow…” She cleared her throat, trying to find the nerve to tell her father. “Well, it turns out, I can hear him. I can bespeak dragons and we’ve become friends.”
When her father made no comment, Livia went on, feeling a bit braver.
“There was a very bad storm a few days ago and Hrardorr was caught out in it, unable to return to the Lair. I offered the boathouse to him as shelter and he was able to pass the night in safety there. When it came time to store those dangerous weapons somewhere, he seemed to think our boathouse was a safe place. Plus, he wouldn’t have to rise out of the water until he was in the shed and nobody could see what he was doing. As far as we know, nobody knows about the diamonds yet but us. I only told the craftsmen to be ready in their workshops, but I didn’t say who would bring the stones or where they were coming from. Of course, after today, the secret will likely be out.”
“But it will be too late, because all the stones will be in the hands of the craftsmen under lock and key,” Gowan put in helpfully. “And someone from the Lair will be stationed with the craftsmen all day and all night, until the task is complete. We have a vested interest in making sure not one of those blades survives intact. They are that dangerous to dragonkind.”
Rosie had come back at some point during Gowan’s debriefing and set out a place setting for the Captain. All four of them were eating breakfast now and the mood had gone from tense to something a bit less emphatic. The Captain still wasn’t happy to find his daughter entertaining two men at her breakfast table, but he was willing to listen to the extraordinary story of yesterday’s events.
Captain O’Dare gazed from Livia to Gowan and back again before speaking.
“I respect the need for Lair presence down at the craft shop once the diamonds are moved there. That makes sense. And I can possibly understand why you two—” he glared from Gowan to Seth and back again, “—saw the need to stay in my house last night. But I am home now, gentlemen, and there will be no further incursion into the sanctity of my home. Is that understood.”
Gowan nodded once, as did Seth. Neither seemed to feel the need to speak, which Livia understood all too well. When Captain O’Dare gave orders, everyone hopped to it. He wasn’t known as one of the most cunning captains on the high seas for nothing.
“I must say, Livia, your being able to speak with dragons is an unexpected thing. And I understand why there will, no doubt, now be a parade of young knights seeking your favor, but I will not have you cavorting with not just one, but two men, under my roof, without the benefit of marriage!”
His voice was thunderous by the end. Yes, the captain had not lost one bit of the fury that had claimed him when he walked into his home after a long voyage to find two men at breakfast with his only daughter.
“Father…” Livia tried to say something, but her father glared her into silence.
“Don’t say another word, young lady. I have made my feelings on the matter perfectly clear. I am your father and you will do as I say. You may have become used to doing as you will while I am away, but I’m here now and by the stars, you will obey me in my own home.”
She remembered this mood. He wouldn’t hear a single word she said if she tried to argue. He’d only grow colder and colder. She didn’t relish
that, so she wisely stopped talking except to give him a meek, “Yes, father.”
“Now, if you gentlemen have no further business here, you should both go.”
Everyone stood except Livia. Gowan looked coldly formal, as if he understood the captain’s mood and knew he would get nowhere by arguing. Gowan was a man of strategy. Livia figured he knew when it was wise to retreat and live to fight another day. That thought almost made her smile, but she held it back.
Seth, on the other hand, looked as if he wanted to argue. She caught his eye and shook her head as vigorously as she could without drawing her father’s attention. Seth, thankfully, caught on and said nothing further, though she knew he wanted to defend her…or himself…she wasn’t sure which, but neither would gain any traction with her father in this mood.
Gowan paused by her chair and bowed respectfully to her.
“Thank you for your courage and bravery, Miss Livia. And thank you for putting us all up last night.”
She was about to reply that it had been her pleasure, but that was skirting a little too close to the truth, and her father would probably blow up. She merely smiled and nodded at her lover. Her knight.
Gowan walked out without further comment to the captain, which was probably wise.
Seth too, stopped by her chair. “Thank you, Livia. I’m sorry,” was all he said, which made her want to cry, but she stopped herself.
Seth walked out and she could hear them both leaving through the front door, Rosie closing it after them. That left her father to deal with. Livia didn’t know how much more she could take without breaking down and sobbing. Her heart was fracturing. Her soul had just walked out the door, along with her two lovers.
Captain O’Dare paused by her chair, not looking at her, his voice frigid with anger.
“You are grounded, of course. You will limit your movements to the house, the office and I will allow you one visit per day to the craft shops to oversee the disposal of the diamonds. Other than that, you are not to spend any time in town, or anywhere else, until I say otherwise. Is that quite clear?”
“Yes, father.” She dared to ask a single question. “May I still go fishing? I fear Sir Hrardorr will miss me otherwise. He has few friends.”
“I will not begrudge a blind dragon his fishing companion. Your soft heart does you credit, Livia, but it can also get you into trouble. You may fish with the dragon, but you are to have no further contact with those two young men. Do you understand?”
“Yes, father.” She was subdued, but already in her mind, she was thinking of ways around his edict.
She had always longed to have her father home when he went on his endless voyages, but for once, she wished he’d just leave. Go off on one of his adventures and leave her be. Couldn’t he see, he was breaking her heart?
At least she could still see Hrardorr. She loved that dragon almost as much as she loved her men.
Impossible as it all was…
To read more, get your copy of Dragon Fire by Bianca D’Arc.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bianca D’Arc has run a laboratory, climbed the corporate ladder in the shark-infested streets of lower Manhattan, studied and taught martial arts, and earned the right to put a whole bunch of letters after her name, but she’s always enjoyed writing more than any of her other pursuits. She grew up and still lives on Long Island, where she keeps busy with an extensive garden, several aquariums full of very demanding fish, and writing her favorite genres of paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi romance.
Bianca loves to hear from readers and can be reached through Twitter (@BiancaDArc), Facebook (BiancaDArcAuthor) or through the various links on her website.
OTHER BOOKS BY BIANCA D’ARC
Paranormal Romance
Brotherhood of Blood
One & Only
Rare Vintage
Phantom Desires
Sweeter Than Wine
Forever Valentine
Wolf Hills*
Wolf Quest
Tales of the Were
Lords of the Were
Inferno
Tales of the Were ~ The Others
Rocky
Slade
Tales of the Were ~ Redstone Clan
The Purrfect Stranger
Grif
Red
Magnus
Bobcat
Matt
Tales of the Were ~ String of Fate
Cat’s Cradle
King’s Throne
Jacob’s Ladder
Her Warriors
Tales of the Were ~ Grizzly Cove
All About the Bear
Mating Dance
Night Shift
Alpha Bear
Saving Grace
Bearliest Catch
Guardians of the Dark
Half Past Dead
Once Bitten, Twice Dead
A Darker Shade of Dead
The Beast Within
Dead Alert
Gifts of the Ancients: Warrior’s Heart
Epic Fantasy Erotic Romance
Dragon Knights
Maiden Flight*
The Dragon Healer
Border Lair
Master at Arms
The Ice Dragon**
Prince of Spies***
Wings of Change
FireDrake
Dragon Storm
Keeper of the Flame
Hidden Dragons
Sea Dragon
Science Fiction Romance
StarLords
Hidden Talent
Talent For Trouble
Shy Talent
Jit’Suku Chronicles ~ Arcana
King of Swords
King of Cups
King of Clubs
King of Stars
End of the Line
Jit’Suku Chronicles ~ Sons of Amber
Angel in the Badlands
Futuristic Erotic Romance
Resonance Mates
Hara’s Legacy**
Davin’s Quest
Jaci’s Experiment
Grady’s Awakening
Harry’s Sacrifice
Print Anthologies
Ladies of the Lair
I Dream of Dragons Vol. 1
Brotherhood of Blood
Caught by Cupid
The Beast Within
* RT Book Reviews Awards Nominee
** EPPIE Award Winner
*** CAPA Award Winner
