Feel the Burn

by G. A. Aiken

  Especially after spending these last few months with Brannie, who, unless in battle, was inherently sweet; and the Mì-runach who, except for Aidan the Divine, were not exactly scholars.

  So while Kachka thought she was annoying him with her talk of politics, Gaius was enjoying every second of it.

  “One day,” she said, “all those . . . what do you call them?”

  “Plebes.”

  “Yes. All those plebes will rise up and kill all of you slave-owning royals in your beds.”

  “Perhaps. Although we no longer allow slaves within the Empire.”

  “So you killed them all?”

  “No. Just made them freemen.”

  “And free dragons?”

  “Dragons are always free. We make very poor slaves.”

  “It’s the flames,” Brannie piped in while eagerly cleaning a rib.

  “All dragons under royal rule are slaves. They are slaves to their kings and queens and gods.”

  “I see,” Gaius said. “I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

  “Because it’s the wrong way,” Caswyn argued, well into his cups after indulging in the Rider ale. Foolish boy. “Dragons can never be slaves. We are much too powerful and mighty.”

  “Really?” Kachka asked.

  “Aye, Rider female. Really.”

  Marina, who sat beside Caswyn and was steadily working her way through half the ribs on her own, suddenly brought her greasy fist back. Not too hard. But it did connect with Caswyn’s nose and dropped him to the ground like a felled great oak.

  “Aye,” the Rider females all said in unison, their voices deliciously flat, “much too powerful and mighty.”

  As her comrades taught Brannie and the still-sober Mì-runach old songs of their land, Kachka went into the surrounding forest, far from the priests’ temple. She walked for a good ten minutes, finally stopping by a large tree.

  She rested her back against it . . . and waited.

  It wasn’t long before Gaius passed her. She watched him, not moving or making a sound. He abruptly stopped a few feet from her, his head lifting a bit. She realized he was sniffing the air, searching for her scent.

  If he were human, she’d say he was a proper tracker. But it was the dragon in him that searched for her. Probably did the same thing when looking for sheep to devour.

  “I never go back,” she told him.

  Gaius faced her. Smirked. “Really?”

  “Once I have man . . . I have no need of him again.”

  “Yes,” he said, moving toward her. Stalking really. She kind of liked it. “I learned that about you from the way Dagmar wants you dead. You clearly broke that poor nephew’s heart.”

  “Clearly,” she replied, certain she’d done no such thing because his reputation had grown substantially among the unattached females of Annwyl’s court.

  Gaius stood in front of her now, reaching out and taking a lock of her hair. One of the braids. Twirled it around his index finger.

  “I didn’t know I’d find you here in my lands, Kachka. But I’m glad I did. I missed you.”

  “Why?” she asked, curious.

  “You’re so . . . difficult. It makes me hard.”

  Kachka laughed. She hadn’t expected that, but she liked his honesty.

  Gaius had the braid wrapped around his finger until his fist was near her ear. She expected him to grab her by the hair. But he didn’t. Instead, he just rubbed his thumb against it and stared at her mouth until she finally demanded, “Are you going to kiss me or not, dragon?”

  The grin that spread across his handsome face told her that was what he’d been waiting for.

  He pressed his free hand against the tree behind her and leaned down, his lips touching hers.

  But in that second, in that split second—everything went . . . weird.

  The light went from dark to bright. As if the suns were out. But when Kachka pulled back from an equally confused Gaius, she looked up and saw only one sun.

  And it was warm. Summer warm.

  “What is happening?” she asked.

  Gaius released her hair and stepped away, turning in a circle to see everything around him. The beautiful grass, the lovely trees, the bright blue sky.

  “I have no idea,” Gaius finally replied.

  Kachka heard a soft cough and walked around the tree she was now against. “The weepy brown girl.”

  “I prefer Rhianwen.”

  “And Brigida the Most Foul.”

  “I kind of like it,” the She-dragon shot back.

  “We are so sorry,” Rhi said. “We didn’t mean to interrupt you two.”

  “I can’t believe a Rider would lower herself to fuck an Iron,” Brigida scoffed.

  Gaius nodded at the female. “Brigida. Nice to see you again, too.”

  “Liar like your father, I see.”

  “Auntie Brigida!” Rhi snapped. “Please.”

  The dragon threw up her claws, and fell silent. But then neither female spoke.

  Kachka glanced between the two, little Rhi and Brigida in her dragon form, which was as disturbing as her human one.

  The two females continued to stare at Kachka but said nothing else.

  Finally, Kachka couldn’t stand it anymore. “Do you have actual words for me, witches, or do I just walk back to camp? Because already I grow bored with both of you strange bitches.”

  Brigida snorted. “Yeah. She’ll do.”

  “She’ll do for what?”

  Brigida’s milky white eye turned on its own to stare at Gaius before her head slowly swiveled around in the same direction. He worked hard not to flinch, although he doubted he was fooling her. The witch lived off others’ fear. Craved it the way he often craved fresh, unburnt lamb.

  Brigida the Foul was still talked about by the old guard. The dragons who, in their youth, had fought during the wars against the Southland dragons. Even now, centuries later, they still feared her. Rarely mentioning her by name and always talking in low tones, as if she could hear them from whatever hells she’d been dropped in. Little did any of them know that the She-bitch still walked this plane, quite alive, and just as unpleasant as ever.

  “You’re going to let this dragon speak for you, Daughter of the Steppes?” Brigida asked Kachka.

  “I am already bored with you, old She-beast. So talk to him or do not. I do not care.”

  “Well, this is off to a great start,” Gaius joked.

  Talwyn came out of the beautiful green trees, moving toward them. But when she spotted Gaius, she stopped.

  “What’s he doing here?”

  “And always a pleasure to see you, too, Princess Talwyn.”

  Talwyn ignored him, instead focusing on Rhi.

  “What’s happening?”

  “I was waiting for you?”

  “Why?”

  “And more bored,” Kachka sighed.

  “We need you to retrieve something for us, Kachka,” Rhi said.

  “I am not thief.”

  “It’s not really a stealing situation.”

  “Then get it yourself, lazy royals. I am not workhorse for you.”

  “That’s it,” Brigida growled. “I’m gonna bite the bitch’s little tits off.”

  Unwilling to let that threat possibly come to pass, Gaius immediately stepped between the females, both arms raised. “How about we discuss this calmly? Yes?”

  Looking between all the parties, Gaius realized that “calm” was maybe the wrong word. There was little calm here. There were just different levels of dangerous.

  Except for Princess Rhi. She may not have been calm, but that was because she didn’t want any fighting. She wanted everyone to get along. A born peacemaker.

  Gaius focused directly on her. “What do you need, Rhianwen?” he asked.

  “The eyes of Chramnesind.”

  Gaius’s arms dropped to his sides. “Pardon?”

  “You heard,” Brigida sneered.

  “You want the eyes of Chramnesind?”

>   “I thought he had no eyes,” Kachka said.

  “Apparently, he once did.” Talwyn leaned against a nearby tree.

  “And what?” Gaius had to ask. “He wants them back now?”

  “No. His cult wants them. Salebiri wants them. And they’re not going to stop until they get them.”

  Kachka crossed her arms over her chest. “Is that what they have been doing at all those temples? Trying to find this . . . this . . . artifact?”

  “I’m sure that’s been one goal. Along with the terror the attacks cause. The message they send.” Talwyn took in a breath. “These people have a very . . . large world view. There’s little they do that doesn’t impact as many lives as possible. If their whole agenda didn’t involve destroying me and everyone like me . . . I’d be impressed.”

  “Will you help us, Kachka?” Rhi asked.

  “Yes. I will help.”

  Gaius faced her. “Wait . . . what? Why would you do that?”

  “That has been my job from beginning. To stop this cult from attacking temples on Annwyl’s land. And if they are looking for this thing . . . then I will find it.”

  “But is there a reason none of you are doing it?” Gaius asked the others. He pointed at Talwyn. “She’s perky and likes to destroy.”

  Talwyn smirked. “Do you really want to see me, Iron, with the unlimited powers of a god? Is that what you really want?”

  “No, Talwyn. You with unlimited power is the last thing I want.”

  “Kachka has to go,” she explained. “She has no magicks in her blood. She can handle the item without fear of it having repercussions except perhaps revulsion. The three of us can’t say that. Even Annwyl can’t. Not with the way the gods are constantly around her. They must be drawn to something about my mother.”

  “But you can go with her, King Gaius,” Rhi said, an adorable smile on her lips.

  “That’s sweet, Rhi, but I can’t.”

  “Since I do not need you?” Kachka tossed in.

  “No,” Gaius replied, glaring at the Rider. “Because I have magicks in my blood.”

  Brigida leaned her giant, misshapen dragon head close to Gaius, looked him over, sniffed him, then said, “No, you don’t.”

  Shocked, Gaius insisted, “Yes, I do. I don’t use them, of course. I leave that to my sister.”

  Brigida snorted. “You have no magicks, foolish boy, because your twin sister leeched them from you before hatching. She left you with the brawn and some brains, but that was about it. So go with the Rider or not, no one cares.”

  “What about team?” Kachka asked.

  “They can travel with you, but keep Chechneva and the Mountain Mover away from it.”

  “Zoya Kolesova? She has magicks? There are no shamans in her tribe.”

  “Do you think her size comes naturally?” Brigida asked with a laugh.

  “And where is this thing?”

  “That’s the fun part,” Talwyn said with a smile. “It’s with the Dwarves of the Western Mountains.”

  Gaius’s head dropped back. “Oh, fuck.”

  “What? I get along fine with dwarves.”

  “With Outerplains Dwarves, I’m sure you do great, Kachka. But these are the Dwarves of the Western Mountains,” Gaius pointed out. “And they are assholes.”

  “Gaiussssssss!” Brannie called out, quickly beginning to panic. She’d assumed Gaius had snuck off to spend some time fucking Kachka Shestakova, since she’d heard before leaving Garbhán Isle that the king had spent the night with the Rider. So she wasn’t being nosey necessarily. She had just wanted to make sure everyone was all right.

  What? It was her job!

  And when she hadn’t found the king right away, she still hadn’t been too worried. But after a half hour of searching, she was moments from completely freaking out!

  Where could they be?

  “Brannie?”

  Brannie glanced back at Aidan. “What?”

  “What are you doing?”

  “Looking for Gaius.”

  “He’s probably off fucking the Rider. He could barely keep his eyes off her through the entire meal.”

  “But where could they be? Would you travel that far away from camp to bang a Rider up against a tree?”

  “That’s quite . . . descriptive, and if she was a screamer, probably.”

  Brannie snarled at the Mì-runach. “Why are you bothering me?”

  “I was making sure you’re okay. You wandered off—”

  “I didn’t wander. I’m not a hatchling.”

  “No, but you are a tad nosey. Is that what you and Izzy do when you’re not destroying nations? Follow young lovers around and gossip about them?”

  Brannie was about to answer that with a fist to Aidan’s big, giant, stupid, handsome face, but then there they were! Suddenly. Walking and talking. Coming from absolutely nowhere!

  “You can’t do this,” Gaius was telling Kachka, which seemed like a bad idea if he really didn’t want Kachka to do something.

  “I am over one hundred. I have killed many enemies. And I have never been slave. I can do as I like, lizard.”

  “Not with the Western Mountain Dwarves.” He caught Kachka’s arm, pulling her up short. “I know them, Kachka. They will not help you. They won’t even see you.”

  “No,” Aidan piped in. “But they’ll help me.”

  Gaius raised a brow. “Really?”

  “You forget who my kin are, King Gaius. The House of Foulkes de chuid Fennah are sworn to protect the Western Mountains from the invasion of the awful Irons. That would be you, my lord,” Aidan finished on a whisper.

  “So?”

  “That requires a healthy relationship with the Western Mountain Dwarves. One I’m not above exploiting. If I’m asked nicely,” he added, leaning a little too close to Brannie.

  “Do it, imperialist dog,” Kachka ordered. “We leave in morning.”

  “This discussion isn’t over,” Gaius called after her seconds before he realized the Rider was clearly not listening to him.

  “That woman is frustrating,” he growled, stomping off after her.

  Aidan smiled at Brannie, and she snapped, “Shut up.”

  The dragon threw up his hands. “I didn’t say anything!”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Kachka woke up just as the suns began to rise. The others were still asleep, all of them with weapons at hand, ready to be grasped and used.

  But she quickly noticed that Gaius was not among them, his bedroll empty.

  She stood. Stretched. Then followed his tracks down to a small stream. A stream he was pissing in while yawning.

  Kachka bit her lip and eased up behind the dragon, being sure not to make a single sound or—

  “Stop that,” Gaius said without even turning around.

  “Senses like wolf.”

  “Senses like a dragon.”

  “Why do dragons need such senses?” she asked, curious. “You are so large and have fire and talons and wings.”

  “You humans can’t help yourselves. You always have something to prove, and killing a sleeping dragon seems to bring you the highest honors.”

  “Not humans. Men.”

  He put his cock away, adjusted his chain-mail leggings, and crouched down to wash his hands in the stream.

  “You don’t have a very high opinion of males, do you?”

  “Of course I do. I love them. But they have many flaws. It is not their fault, though. They are born with weakness. It is the weakness of their sex that makes them so hysterical and egotistical.”

  “You do understand that none of the races can survive without both genders? We need each other.”

  “Yes. Of course. Who else would take out our trash? Lift heavy things?” She grinned, and the dragon shook his head, but still laughed.

  “I’ve truly missed you, Kachka.”

  “You have?”

  He ran wet hands through his hair. “Yes. I have. I’ve thought about you often when I was traveling the l
ast few months. Especially,” he sighed out, “when Caswyn and Uther would have . . . debates.”

  “Debates? About what?”

  “Whatever their tiny little brains would deem interesting.” He looked up at Kachka. “It’s been a long eight months. You helped keep me sane.”

  “And I was not even there. I never knew I was so gifted.”

  “Well, you are female.”

  “Very true.”

  Gaius stood and took a step, moving close to her. “Did you think about me?” he asked, gazing down into her face.

  “Not often,” she admitted. “Mostly just when I masturbate.”

  Gaius closed his eye. “You do that on purpose, don’t you?”

  “Do what? Tell truth?”

  Sliding his hands into her hair, he tilted her face up. “Evil harpy.”

  “Imperialist dog.”

  His grip tightened and he leaned down as Kachka went up on her toes, their lips a hairsbreadth awa—

  “Morning, my friends!”

  Kachka gritted her teeth and growled, “I will kill her.”

  Gaius massaged Kachka’s skull with the tips of his fingers, as if he was trying to soothe a dangerous animal. “Morning, Zoya.”

  “Such a beautiful day!” she announced.

  “Looks like rain, comrade.”

  Gaius, laughing, kissed Kachka’s forehead before releasing her.

  “Do you come with us, Rebel King? To retrieve these eyes of god?”

  “Yes.”

  “No.”

  Gaius shook his head. “Really, Kachka? Really?”

  “I am the one who needs to retrieve this thing. You need to return to your kingdom and your royal life.”

  “My sister reigns with a fair claw and hard heart. She’ll be fine without me. This is more important.”

  “And why do you believe that?”

  “Because I’m here. And I don’t think that’s by accident.”

  While Zoya used the stream to scrub her face and neck clean, Gaius explained to Kachka, “Two days ago, my only plan, my only goal in the world, was to track down Vateria, with the help of Branwen and the Mì-runach, and cut her throat. That was it. I’ve hunted down every cousin or blood relative still loyal to my Uncle Thracius in order to find her.”