This was given to you as a . . . punishment.
He wondered at the pause. Was she not familiar with the word? Either way, she was not wrong. Garathel would not have chosen an easy task for him. True enough.
+ + + + +
Korrie smiled. She couldn’t help it. And it wasn’t just because she was watching Nelli and the other young dragons practicing. Terry had been just as nervous as she had last night.
“A–Are you sure you’re ready?” Terry’s cheeks had been very red.
They sat next to each other on the edge of Korrie’s bed, having come here after dinner.
She had to clear her throat, so tight was it from nervousness. She swallowed and nodded. “I’m sure.”
“A–As much as I’m keen to try this, I won’t do anything you don’t want to, so please tell me if you don’t, alright?”
Her heart melted and she smiled. “I’m the one who asked you about it, remember? But this is one of the reasons I think you’re so amazing. You always take my feelings into consideration.”
She put her hands on his shoulders. “Now shut up and kiss me.”
They took it slow. His lips were a little chapped but surprisingly soft, and the tip of his tongue— the tips were all they were comfortable trying—was softer still, yet firm. The faint taste of the apple juice he’d had with dinner had been a little strange at first, then the more she thought about it, the closer to him it made her feel.
She wasn’t really sure how long they’d kissed, so lost in everything had she been. After, they hugged and lay back on the bed in each other’s arms. She’d been silent, as had he, thinking over the experience. Terry murmuring while dreaming woke her some time later. A little surprised that they’d fallen asleep, she cuddled closer to him and closed her eyes.
The memory made her sigh and then chuckle quietly. Kissing had been better than she’d thought it would be. Then again, perhaps it was because it was with him.
As daughter of the Lord of the Caer, she’d not had many opportunities to be alone with someone before. Not that anything would have happened. The idea of sexual contact with another person had never held much interest for her, and from their discussions, it didn’t seem to appeal much to Terry either. They couldn’t understand the very strong attraction it held for some.
Kissing, however, was something she recently felt she might be able to do. Curiosity about it and a desire to grow closer to Terry eventually drove her to ask him what he thought.
Because he was like her, he also had to take some time to work up the courage. They talked about it for days, about exactly what they would do and how far with the kiss each of them were comfortable going. Then, yesterday, they agreed to give it a try after dinner.
Kissing was fun.
Korrie held in the chuckle and glanced up at Nelli. Yes, it was.
It was by sheer luck that she’d met this boy who felt as she did about intimate things like this. Having her first kiss be with Terry had been absolutely worth the wait.
“And what are you thinking about?” Sharrah sat next to her at the table. “Your cheeks are pink as roses.”
Korrie’s cheeks grew hotter and she looked anywhere on the balcony except at Sharrah.
“Wow. That must be some memory. You’re almost beet red, now.”
She braved a quick glance at Sharrah, then stared at a spot in front of her on the table. “My first kiss.”
“Really?” Sharrah quickly scooted her chair closer. “How was it? Was it good?”
Korrie, horribly embarrassed, felt her lips curve in a smile anyway. “It was.”
Sharrah glanced at Terry, then back at her. “That’s great! So many don’t take their time with kissing, only using it as a quick stop on the way to other things. But if you take your time with it, if you’re there with the other person, it can be amazing.”
“Neither of us are very interested in ‘other things,’” Korrie said. “Even the idea of it used to be faintly repulsive, to be honest.”
“Used to be?”
Korrie shrugged. “I’m ase—” She hesitated. Sharrah might not know the word. “That is, physical intimacy isn’t something I’ve ever desired much or been very comfortable with. It’s only recently, with Terry, that I’ve felt it might not be so bad.”
“And he feels the same?”
“He does.” Korrie glanced at him, then back at Sharrah, and chuckled. “It took us days of talking just to be sure we were both ready to try a kiss.” Her cheeks warmed again.
Sharrah smiled. “I had a friend in Caer Tengish who was like that, too. While I was still there, he never found anyone of like mind to—” She blinked and looked up at the dragons. “Hmm.”
Why was she looking at the dragons? Korrie found Nelli in the sky. “What is it?”
“I’ve often wondered at the fact that dragonlinked don’t seem to remain single for very long.”
Korrie looked at her. “You don’t think the dragons influence their bond-mates, do you?”
“No, no.” Sharrah looked at her and smiled. “But think about it. You don’t fall in love with a person’s hair, or the shape of their nose, or their genitals, for that matter.” She tapped her chest. “You fall in love with what’s in here. And dragons,” she looked up again, “are fairly good at judging what’s in a person’s heart.”
“They knew that I would like Terry?”
“I don’t know that I’d go that far, but what if right now they’re choosing candidates who have a high probability of liking each other?” Sharrah scrunched her nose. “Of course, I could be completely wrong. After all, nice people may just end up liking other people who are nice.” Sharrah leaned in and whispered, “Or who are good kissers.”
Korrie’s eyes widened and her cheeks burned hot once again.
“Hmm.” Cheddar eyed them as he walked over. “My ‘I just missed something’ sense is tingling as if a nahual were nearby.”
Sharrah raised a brow at him. “We were just talking about candidates and ideas on how dragons choose them.”
That was technically true. Korrie looked at Cheddar and tried not to give anything away.
“Mm-hmm.” Cheddar winked at her and pulled a chair next to Sharrah. “Gregor,” he called out. “How goes practice?”
“Pretty well, actually.” Gregor walked over from the handrail, Terry following behind. “They’ve got a lot of the maneuvers down. Once they learn them all, it will just be a matter of coordinating when to switch over between them so they all do it together.”
Korrie looked at Terry. He smiled at her, cheeks a faint pink. He must be thinking about last night, too.
“Well,” Cheddar said, glancing at her and then at Terry, “it appears that at least some people took their time to do something right, though I’m not entirely sure what.”
Eyes wide, Korrie turned to Sharrah.
She poked Cheddar in the ribs. “You, mister, better hold your tongue.”
Gregor looked from Sharrah to Cheddar. “What?”
“Never you mind,” Sharrah said. “Why don’t the dragons use short-range group speak to determine when to switch to the next maneuver? We could have one of them be a team leader and call out changeovers.”
“That’s genius,” Terry said. “But which one will be leader?”
“Kisa is the eldest,” Korrie said. “She can be the leader.”
Kisa is a good choice.
Korrie chuckled. “Nelli thinks she’d be great.”
“Tenoch does, too.” Terry smiled at Korrie.
“As does Xoc,” Cheddar said.
“Citlali, as well.” Sharrah smiled up at the dragons flying past.
Gregor laughed. “It’s unanimous, then.”
A dragon comes.
Everyone looked up at their bond-mates.
Korrie frowned. A dragon?
Zyanya.
Korrie grunted. Why was Zyanya coming back? She’d heard that the dragon had once brought some plants for the garden. Perhaps she’d brought
more?
It wasn’t until later while they were all eating dinner in the cafeteria that Korrie and everyone else learned the truth. Zyanya had decided that she would lay her eggs in the clutching room.
The candidates were all abuzz with the questions on everyone’s minds. How many eggs would Zyanya lay, and who would her children end up bonding with?
+ + + + +
The leather of his desk chair creaked as Lord Koen leaned back and swirled the amber liquid.
Tomorrow was the last chance he would have to acquire the funds for the devices and remain on schedule. He generally built in extra time or alternate paths in his plans as a precaution. They had rarely been needed, until now.
The Korovite would have been perfect. When he learned that someone was looking for a buyer for quite a bit of the crystal, he immediately had Cadoc put a bid in. There had been plenty of time left before the devices needed to be ordered in quantity, and the counterfeit currency made from the Korovite would have easily generated enough money to cover the cost of the devices and then some.
They won the bid for the Korovite, of course. He’d made it large enough to ensure it. And it was enough that they were able to insist that Cadoc be allowed to inspect their operations, ostensibly to verify that National Transportation could deliver on their promises. That was part of the reason, to be sure, but it also allowed Cadoc to learn where those operations were, knowledge that proved crucial when that fool Tiberius got caught.
Lord Koen took a sip of whiskey.
As soon as he learned of their failure, he began plans to obtain it himself. At least Tiberius seemed to have kept his mouth shut even unto death. Not that anyone at National Transportation knew who the real buyer was. Cadoc served as an unparalleled middle-man. But Gella was not to be underestimated. The High Lady’s lapdog was very good at following even the faintest trail. It might take her some time, but she was a relentless pursuer. No more evidence of that was needed than the fact that she had somehow disrupted his own attempt at a shipment of Korovite, putting his schedule in danger.
All his recent plans had taken her into account. Facades and shell companies and two or three layers of separation between him and anyone or anything outside of the inner people involved with the plan. His care had served him well.
Alas, Gella was no longer the only thing he had to account for. Those damn dragons seemed to interfere with everything, lately. But he’d planned for them. The largest expense in tomorrow’s exercise had been to thwart them should any arrive on the scene.
Another sip of the drink went down smoothly.
He glanced at the small glass dome sitting on the desk. It was perhaps six inches tall and half that wide. Under it stood the brass key that was all that remained to him of his family’s home, all that remained of his family. His father had killed himself shortly after their home was taken from them and the family accounts seized. His mother only lasted until he finished school. Illness took her from him, but if not for her broken heart, she may have been able to overcome it.
All his life, everyone took from him. The government, fate, his so-called friends when he was training in his craft, and later, even his devotees. Thirty years passed before he’d built himself back up and even surpassed where his family had once stood. Then, ten years ago, much of that, too, had been taken away. If he hadn’t learned from what had happened to his father, he’d have been left near-destitute.
He downed the last of the whiskey and set the heavy glass down, staring at the glittering lump of ice within.
If tomorrow went well, the taking from him would end.
Chapter 14
Hemday, Diamy 9, 1875.
Early Morning.
Fillion frowned as he made his way back to their rooms. The only advantage to getting up as early as he had was that the men’s bathing room had been completely empty. He’d had his pick of the showers. A flimsy benefit, perhaps, but it was the only positive thing he could come up with.
We get to help Master Gella again.
He sighed. I know, big guy, but why couldn’t she have taken care of this yesterday at a reasonable hour?
You will have to ask her that question.
At least she had the decency to let us know with enough time for me to bathe.
The knock on the door at that horrible hour had awoken him but not Gregor. The adept healer had slept through the delivery of the message as well as Fillion grabbing some clothes and leaving for a shower.
Back in their room, Fillion noted with humor and mild annoyance that Gregor still slept. He chuckled quietly. No matter, a short note explaining that he and Coatl had been called away again would suffice.
He grabbed his satchel and stuffed a change of clothes inside. Master Gella’s message had been sketchy, as they always were, so there was no telling how long they’d be away. That complete, he put pen to paper and scratched out a short note. He placed it in a prominent spot, returned to the bedroom, and then watched Gregor for a moment.
Everyone looked so beautiful when they slept. Relaxed, unguarded, and at peace with everything. A little guilt tightened Fillion’s chest.
Leaning over, he gave Gregor a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you,” he whispered. “Thank you for letting me chase my dreams.”
He hastened to the den to saddle Coatl.
The sun had yet to peek over the horizon in Delcimaar. The mostly dark city spread below them for miles in every direction. Innumerable street lamps formed curved or straight lines in its darkness and cast soft illumination throughout.
He’d complained about having to get up so early, but he’d forgotten that the time here was an hour earlier even than the Guildhall. He grunted. Perhaps he’d keep his gripes about early rising to himself.
Let’s get to the gardens.
With an affirmative rumble, Coatl beat his wings once more and angled down in a steep glide to the palace.
Fillion hadn’t really noticed them before, but there were light fixtures similar to street lamps, though a bit fancier, in the gardens. They lit up the terraces and paths, and the soft illumination of their lightglobes lit the area around the dragon shelter.
Master Gella smiled at them as they landed on the flagstones. “Prompt as always.”
“We aim to please.” Fillion grinned.
With a laugh, she took the riding belt he offered and snugged it on. After she climbed up and attached the safety straps, Coatl lifted them into the air.
“Police headquarters?” he called over his shoulder.
“Yes. I’ll direct you to our destination, once there.”
Fillion grunted and faced forward. So, it was more than mere cab service then. Excellent. He opened the portal.
Coatl took them through the glowing sphere of mist, a bright blue sky at its center.
On the other side, he had to squint and use a hand to shield his eyes from the sun. Its piercing rays once again reminded him of the three hour difference between the coasts.
Master Gella called out where to go. In the end, she had them land behind a large building that reminded him of the bank in Delcimaar. There were two guards at the rear door, one on each side.
He eyed them while dismounting. If those guards get too close, or if anyone bothers you, let me know.
I will. Coatl walked in a circle and then lay down.
As they headed to the door, he asked, “Why the back yard of this place?”
“Security here is a bit more tetchy,” Master Gella said. “They don’t like commotions, and people stopping to ogle a dragon could be problematic.”
Once inside, he was certain that this place was a bank, too.
“Can I help you?” The woman sat behind a desk at the side of the lobby.
Master Gella handed her some documents. “I need the records for all accounts Insurgo Industries has with you, including account information, transaction histories, and the names of all the people and entities associated with the accounts.”
“I see.” The clerk looked over the
forms carefully.
With everyone waiting for Quillan to learn what he could of the strange device, Master Gella was continuing her investigation of that company. While her people used their own methods, she’d had Fillion return her to Delcimaar last night, apparently to obtain the documents which would allow her access to this bank’s records on Insurgo Industries. Learning how that company spent money and where it got money from could definitely lead to more clues as to what it was doing.
“All seems in order.” The clerk handed the documents back and stood. “If you’ll accompany me to a meeting room? Gathering this information will take some time. You can take your ease in there until we have everything brought to you.”
“Thank you.”
Fillion scowled as they followed the clerk down a hallway and up a flight of stairs. This was just great. It was going to be another hurry up and wait day. What could he have accomplished in the time he’d be sitting in the room?
+ + + + +
Cadoc set the cup of coffee on the saucer before Lord Koen. “All is prepared, sir. The look-outs are in position, the team is at the first transfer site, the drivers are ready, the runners are waiting at the second transfer site, and our people are ready at the receiving site.”
“Who is at the first site for the feint?” Lord Koen lifted the cup to his lips.
“Ambrus. He’ll likely be queried by police because of the ruse, but they shouldn’t have many questions for him before he’s allowed to go about his business. He’ll remain there until the police leave, in case something is noticed and he has to address it.”
“Excellent. I want you waiting at the receiving site. As soon as enough runners arrive, put together the first payment, leaving the rest of the marks to be dealt with as per the plan. We agreed to pay half up front, and I want you to see that payment sent off personally. We need those devices as soon as possible.”
“Of course. I’ll prepare to leave immediately.”
He bowed and left the room. A glance at the wrist chronometer showed that he had a little over an hour. Perfect.
Once in his room, it took only moments to put on the extra clothing over his own. A few sizes too big, the clothing procured the last several days had been selected to not stand out. The wig took a bit longer to put on and attach properly. The hair color was a great deal lighter than his, and longer, too. The disguise, initially intended to allow him to observe the ruse, would serve well in his new capacity.
Of Gods, Trees, and a Sapling: Dragonlinked Chronicles Volume 4 Page 42
