Gideon snatched it back. “Thanks,” he mumbled.
The warrior inclined his head, not bothering to conceal his amusement.
“We don’t have time for games,” Valkyrie was scolding Magnus when Gideon joined the group once more. “This was a waste of our time and energy.”
Gideon was glad to see he wasn’t the only one who had found the whole thing pointless.
“I was under the impression Harvesters enjoyed tests,” Kyros stated with a hint of mockery that made Gideon bristle. True he had no love for Harvesters, or their ways, but he didn’t like others talking that way to her.
“Harvesters also like to tear out the hearts of their victims and feed it to the leader,” Valkyrie countered. “A Harvester tradition I doubt your queen will appreciate considering how many of your men we overcame.”
Kyros’s smile wasn’t so arrogant now. “They were under direct orders not to utilize their full strength, or I assure you, Princess, they would not have so easily been overcome by two mere casters.”
Every muscle in Valkyrie’s body seemed to stiffen at the statement, as though he had personally insulted her, which, Gideon decided, he had. To tell a Harvester they had won by mere technicality, or default, was the lowest insult. But now that Kyros said it, it made sense. Gideon had been too busy trying to stay alive to wonder how he was able to fight so many Draconian so effortlessly.
“Are you insinuating that I could not have defeated your warriors, Draconian?”
Kyros inclined his head in what was probably a bow, but it was stiff and derisive. “I would never make such a claim, Princess. No matter what my thoughts may be.”
Valkyrie’s nostrils flared. “You arrogant ... I demand—”
“No, no!” Gideon quickly took her arm before she declared war on principle. “Let’s not do that.”
Valkyrie shook him off, her blue eyes sparking like lit flames. “I will not let this be forgotten, Warrior. We will finish it.”
Kyros smirked, inclined his head again. “As you wish, Princess.”
Gideon glared at his brother. This was his fault.
Magnus seemed unperturbed, even amused as the scene unfolded. He clapped Kyros on the shoulder lightly, drawing the bigger man’s attention away from Valkyrie. The two turned and started further south without waiting, or indicating they be followed. But the warriors shuffled after them, now that the fun was over. Gideon and Valkyrie remained until the last warrior had trudged off.
“He should die,” Valkyrie decided with barely suppressed fury. “He is a foul, arrogant ... insufferable...”
“Shhh,” Gideon whispered. “We’re still in their territory and the Draconian are not known for their leniency.”
“I do not need their leniency!” she seethed, rounding on Gideon. “I am as much, if not more of a warrior. How dare they look down their noses at me? I am a Harvester. I am the child of angels and I have been in battle before the rise of man. They are filthy animals who nearly brought their kind to extinction over a pile of shiny metal.”
He knew there was no appeasing her. If Valkyrie had any true flaw, it was her pride and it had been wounded.
“I will have his sword!” she finished, breathing hard.
“Then you will have it,” he assured her. “But not today.”
She sucked in air that lifted her chest, pushing out her generous breasts to strain against the flimsy material of her damp, white shirt. It took everything in him not to look.
“You’re right,” she muttered at last. “Today’s not that day.” She met his gaze. “Come. We have work to finish.”
Without waiting for him, she stalked over to where her coat lay on the ground. She swung it on without shaking the dirt off it and stomped in the direction the others had taken.
Gideon watched her a moment, watched her long, purposeful strides, the sway of her locks along her back and shoulders and the way she seemed to be muttering silently to herself. He wondered if she knew she did that. Possibly not. It would be considered a weakness. Yet he found it endearing.
“Are you coming?” she demanded when she turned her head and found he hadn’t moved.
“Are you offering?” He jogged to catch up.
Her cheeks pinkened. “Insufferable.”
But there was a grin she was trying badly to conceal when she turned away.
They walked in silence until the roar of voices broke through the trees. The dirt path they were on widened and cut an opening in a wall of bush. They passed through with a touch of hesitance. The last thing either wanted was another ambush, real or fake.
The tangled knot of branches that had darkened their path parted to an endless stretch of flawless blue that yawned majestically over looming structures of solid gold. Soft, pale sunlight spilled along straight lines and sparked almost blindingly off sharp corners. It wove through shallow grooves cut into square golden slabs that ran the length of the streets. Next to him, Valkyrie gave a soft gasp, and without looking at her, he knew she was in as much awe as he was.
“El Dorado,” she mumbled dully. “I suppose it is fitting they live in the only city made entirely of solid gold.”
“Is it real—?” His words broke off when a boy of five, naked except for a pair of dirty shorts, bolted out the side door of a building and shot between Gideon’s legs.
A woman in a beautiful blue sari hurried after the boy. Her dark braid swung the length of her back as she laughed, calling for him.
“Ra, where are you?”
The boy giggled from behind Gideon.
“You can’t see me!” he announced.
The woman smiled and rolled her dark eyes. “Come here,” she told the boy. “You are bothering these people.”
“He’s not a bother,” Gideon assured her, but he stepped aside as the woman bent to scoop the boy up.
With a squeal that was a toss between a giggle and a scream at finally getting caught, the boy threw himself at his mother. The blades of his shoulder tore at the seams and long, leathery wings burst forth. One clipped his mother in the cheek and she scolded him as she carried him back towards the house.
“I told you not to play with your wings like that.”
Then the door shut behind them and Gideon and Valkyrie were alone on the street once more.
Gideon had some reservations about leaving the dirt path, but Valkyrie had no qualms about marching forward, ice pick heels cracking carelessly. Gideon set his steps a little more gingerly; his mother would kill him if they had to pay to repave the Draconian streets because he scuffed the gold with his blood and mud encrusted boots.
They must have been brought through the back entrance of a small city, because the closer they drew to the center, the more extravagant the structures became. Each block stopped at a four way broken by a beautiful fountain, or a cul-de-sac garden. There were no cars, no bikes, not even a single kid on roller skates. People walked and, Gideon noticed, no one wore shoes, so Valkyrie’s boots were getting a lot of attention.
“Maybe we should...”
“No!” Valkyrie slapped down his idea of taking their shoes off before he even finished.
Gideon let it go. He may not be overly smart most days, but his parent’s marriage had taught him one thing: never tell a woman what to do when she already had a head of steam going, not if you cherish your sanity. So instead, he walked alongside her as they traveled straight through. At one point, he glanced at all the square buildings towering high above them with their windowless square holes cut into solid gold walls and wondered if they were going the right way.
“Hold on.” He closed his hand on Valkyrie’s elbow and pulled her to a stop without glancing in her direction. He scanned the road ahead of them. “I don’t think this is the way.”
Her lips thinned. “Why are there no signs?”
“Because it is not needed.” Kyros was back and standing behind them. He glanced from Gideon to Valkyrie. “And you are right. This is the wrong way.”
With a slight
bend in his waist, he swept his arm dramatically in the direction he’d come from. Valkyrie shot Gideon a quick glance before stalking forward. Gideon followed silently.
They hadn’t exactly gone the wrong way, but they had gone one full block too far. They turned left through an alleyway and followed the buildings to a market with wood stands offering everything from meat, to vegetables, to fabrics. Gideon noted that most of the men were topless. Some wore only loincloths with swords strapped to their hips while the women wore light, airy dresses that showed off their backs and shoulders.
He eyed a woman they passed in a sheer purple dress. Her dark nipples were visible through the fabric, as was the patch of hair between her legs. What caught Gideon’s eye was the thinly woven threads of gold that ran lengthwise through the fabric. They were so fine that it was impossible to tell if the shimmer was from the material itself, or some trick of the light. He noted all the dresses were designed in the same fashion, all had gold hoops around the neck that held up a loose front that flowed down to cinch just around the hips. The rest fell to the ground in a flurry of skirt. All the women had their hair piled atop their heads in riots of curls and they all had dark, almost colorless eyes, like the pupils had diluted to the point where all the color was swallowed. They stood seemingly everywhere, in groups, watching passerbies. In a lot of ways, they reminded him of hookers on a street corner waiting for a john, especially when they flushed at every eye that came upon them. They became a little straighter, thrusting their breasts out and their cheeks flushed as though aroused. What really made Gideon pause was the varying ages. There were women anywhere from sixteen and up.
“It is the eve of awakening,” Kyros explained, catching Gideon’s wary glance.
Like the other three houses, the Draconian had a tendency to keep their ways and traditions secret, but there were a few Gideon had heard about. The awakening was one of them. It was like a coming of age party when women were expected to find a mate. The actual process was still a mystery, but it happened during the spring when most feral animals went into heat, which explained why the air smelled of sex.
“So we came at a bad time,” Gideon decided. He paused before adding, “No pun intended.”
Kyros tossed Gideon a glance from over a wide shoulder. “Draconian bare children in the winter. The awakening continues well into the summer. There is no right time.”
“Certainly not all these women want to have children,” Valkyrie mused. “Why are there no warrior women?”
“Women are required to bare sons who will protect our people,” Kyros said simply. “They are regarded with respect and cherished. It is our duty, as warriors, to protect our women from danger, not place them in it.”
This sat well with Valkyrie about as much getting her appendix removed with a rusty fork.
“If you respect your women, then it should be their decision whether or not they want to be used as cattle.”
Kyros stopped. He turned slowly until he was a hulking figure looming over Valkyrie. Even with her towering heels, she came to the center of his chest, but her aura was formidable.
“We do not ram them into the nearest wall and rape them, Harvester,” Kyros said in a quiet tone that rang with chilling warning. “They choose the man they want and that man will care for them and the children they bear. Neither will want for anything.”
Valkyrie narrowed her eyes. “Sounds a great deal like slavery with a hint of prostitution.”
Gideon placed a hand on her elbow, forcing her to stop. “I think we can all agree to disagree on the whole thing,” he said, attempting to break the frigid tension snapping around them. “Shall we continue?”
Kyros continued to scrutinize Valkyrie and nothing in his gaze stated he was thinking anything kind. Valkyrie stared back, unflinching. It was a Mexican standoff with neither wanting to blink first.
Finally, Kyros tipped his head a fraction of an inch back so his already narrowed eyes became thin slits that peered down the length of his nose at Valkyrie. He turned wordlessly and resumed walking.
He brought them to the foot of an extravagant stairway that led, no less than six stories, up the side of a steep incline. Gideon couldn’t make out what was at the top, but he didn’t think it would be a taco stand. His stomach gave a whimper, reminding him he hadn’t had lunch.
The sun glinted hot and piercing off every step they climbed. It was all so polished and kept so clean despite being surrounded by wilderness. His mother used to keep the front porch of Final Judgment clean by sweeping it every morning only to return an hour later and find it littered with pine needles, leaves, and the occasional bird shit. She had eventually given up, but the Draconian took hygiene to a whole new level. Not that Gideon could blame them. If he had a city of gold, he would probably spend all his time polishing it too.
They came to a landing that stretched in a wide arch around yet another set of stairs, although not as high. Gideon scowled at the three tiers. There were warriors with spears and swords patrolling the landing. Two stood at the top, over the stairs, glowering down at them. But it was the palace that made Gideon pause.
It was enormous, a sprawling structure of endless gold that gleamed stubbornly. The highest peak disappeared into the heavens. Next to it, Final Judgment was a gingerbread house. Even Arild’s palace seemed infinitely inadequate.
Their faces reflected in the walls as they entered a grand foyer. A worn carpet paved the way to a dais on which a majestic throne shone as brightly as the woman upon it. Gideon recognized her immediately, even though they had only met the once, decades ago. She was as beautiful now as she had been then with her dark, flawless skin, intimidating ochre eyes and riot of curls the exact color of blackberries. She wore a gown of gold that shimmered down her elegant frame and spilled in a pool down the dais steps. More gold dangled from her throat, her ears, and glinted at her wrists. She sat tall and regal with her hands resting comfortably on the throne armrests. She watched them approach with a calm that gave nothing away.
Kyros bowed and Gideon followed suit. Valkyrie inclined her head.
“So it is true,” Tiana mused, her tawny gaze fixed on Valkyrie. “Harvesters bow to no one.”
“We bow only to our king,” Valkyrie replied.
Tiana regarded Valkyrie with a look of dry amusement. “And what would your father say to your blatant disrespect of another’s kingdom?”
“That he would not expect your people to bow to him for he is not their king.”
The corner of Tiana’s full, red lips quirked. “Is that so? I do confess, I am disappointed.” And just like that, she dismissed Valkyrie with a simple flick of her gaze towards Gideon. “And which son of Liam are you?”
“Gideon, your highness,” Gideon replied with another bow.
While Valkyrie may have been taught not to bow, Gideon had been taught to respect others whilst in their home.
“Magnus’s twin brother.”
Gideon gave a nod. “Yes, your highness.”
“Where is Magnus?”
Gideon opened his mouth to respond that he had no idea.
Kyros beat him to it. “He has gone to see Miana.”
The Draconian queen actually smiled and it was filled with the sort of warmth a mother held for her child. “Be sure Miana behaves.”
Kyros inclined his head. “Right away, my queen.”
But rather than do it himself, he looked to one of the guards by the door, gave a brisk nod of his head and that was all it took. The guard left and the matter was settled.
It was on Gideon’s mind to ask who Miana was, because Magnus had never mentioned any such person, but opted to ask his brother directly.
“So what has brought you, little caster?”
Inwardly, Gideon grimaced at being called little anything, but he kept his outer expression respectful and perfectly blank.
“As her highness may be aware, veil creatures are being hunted in their homes and slaughtered—”
“I am aware,” the q
ueen replied evenly. “What has this got to do with me and my court?”
Gideon opened his mouth.
Valkyrie broke in. “You are a keeper of the south,” she retorted with just a little too much sharpness. “Your warriors are casters. It is your duty—”
“My duty is to the angels,” Tiana replied shortly. “Not to you.”
“We mean no disrespect, your highness,” Gideon cut in before Valkyrie started a war. “We simply require information.”
The queen turned those cat-like eyes on him. “I have a fondness for your brother, caster. Because of this, I will hear you. But should the Harvester open her mouth again, I will have her thrown into the dungeon. Is that understood?”
“Yes, your highness,” Gideon said quickly before Valkyrie could open her mouth. Her anger was a physical force wafting through the chamber. Thankfully, she kept her mouth shut. “Thank you.”
The queen inclined her head. “Continue.”
Gideon chose his words carefully before speaking. “Your highness has men in the deepest parts of every realm and it is our hope that you may have come across the name of those responsible, or any information you may have at all.”
Tiana was silent for several minutes while she digested his words. Ever so slowly, she lowered her gaze and studied the intricate design on her dress. Unlike the women in the town, her dress was solid and a waterfall of gold and silver. But it too contained the hoop around the neck and an exposed backing.
Finally, she looked up, met Gideon’s gaze. “I will tell you what I know,” she said. “In exchange for single night.”
Gideon stiffened. Next to him, Valkyrie did as well.
“I ... I beg your pardon, your highness?”
Tiana broke into a booming laughter much too big for her slight frame. Behind Gideon, Kyros also snickered.
“Do not look so aghast, Caster,” she teased, sobering slightly.
Gideon was smart enough to keep his features relaxed when all they wanted to do was tense.
He inclined his head politely. “Never, my lady.”
“While you are quite handsome and I would not object to teaching you a thing or two, I do not mean in my bed.” She continued to smile a smile that suggested she was laughing at him. “As I am sure you are aware, it is the eve of the awakening. It is the night before the beginning of many lives. It is a night we celebrate above all else, for this is the night our girls become women and our village is blessed with future warriors. And I wish for you to stay.” Her gaze flicked almost dismissively in Valkyrie’s direction, lingered a second before shifting away. “Both of you.”
Gideon's Promise (Sons of Judgment Book 2) Page 30
