The Dragon's Soul: Xan (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Kalissa Wayne

  “Jeanae, you’ll need to cut my dress along the seams. I think it will be easier if you cut it into sections. Lorann, let’s cut it around the waist and then down the middle of the back. Once we get the skirts and underskirts off, we can slip on the pants and then work on the top half. I’ll need to maintain at least one hand on the king at all times.”

  Remi moved her hand down along the king’s arm until she was holding his hand, allowing her room to move around while the ladies removed the voluminous skirts and eased the pants up her legs. Once that was done, she placed her free hand on the front of the blood-stained bodice while Jeanae snipped the seam under her arm and down the bicep of the arm holding the king’s hand.

  “Jeanae, don’t touch the front. Grab a towel or some material from the skirt, and I’ll drop the bodice onto it. The whole dress needs burned, along with the king’s clothing.”

  As she dropped the bodice onto the towel Jeanae held out, Lorann gasped and nearly dropped the bowl she was holding. Remi already knew what the problem was. Lorann had caught sight of her arm and shoulder. She had already guessed that the stinging she had felt during the attack had been the second arrow slicing along her skin. She didn’t know how anyone, especially Xan, had missed it, but as soon as Ad’har had displayed the second arrow, she had known. She could feel the poison as it seeped into her system but knew it hadn’t been enough to be lethal.

  “M’lady! Your shoulder!” Lorann rushed to her and attempted to touch her.

  “Don’t! Not yet.”

  At Lorann’s cry, all three men had spun around. Remi turned sideways, throwing her free arm across the tops of her breasts as they threatened to spill out of her corset. Reggie turned away once more. Ad’har placed his hand on his hip where his short sword should have been and was looking around the room. Jarok first looked to his father, then to Remi. Lorann grabbed a towel and held it in front of Remi before both men turned their backs to her.

  “What’s wrong, Remi?” Jarok asked.

  “Nothing major. We’ll take care of it in a minute. Let me finish dressing.”

  Lorann cut the ties to the corset and carefully pulled it off and tossed it on the pile of destroyed clothes. When Jeanae held up Xan’s shirt, Remi motioned for her to turn it around. “If I put it on backward, you’ll be able to tend my shoulder better.”

  “M’lady, what’s wrong?” Ad’har asked, his back to her.

  As Remi slid first one arm into a sleeve, then switched hands touching the king to slide on the other arm and let Jeanae button the shirt up halfway, she replied. “The second arrow sliced across my shoulder as the king and I went backward off the bench.”

  This time all three men turned and began speaking over each other, demanding answers. Remi held up a hand and tried to answer.

  “I’ll be fine. I didn’t get that much of the poison. Right now I’m concentrating on regulating the king’s heartbeat and breathing. If I had gotten a larger dose, I wouldn’t be able to concentrate.”

  “I thought you said Father was out of danger.” Suspicion had entered Jarok’s voice again.

  “I said he was in no danger of dying from the poison. There is still poison in his system that I couldn’t purge, and the aftereffects are still dangerous. The poison is made from the root of the Tiberous tree. When boiled to a certain temperature, it creates a neurotoxin that can be applied to an arrowhead, causing serious nerve damage. To make a long explanation short, your heart and lungs need muscle movement to work, but a neurotoxin acts as a paralyzing agent. I got the majority out of your father, but as I said, some had already seeped into his cells. His heart and lungs are struggling to work right, and I’m helping him as best I can.”

  Just as she was getting ready to explain further, there was shouting and a commotion at the door. Even as Remi turned to look, a short man forced his way in the door. The newcomer was at least six inches shorter than herself, twice as big as her and he sweat just from breathing heavily. He had been yelling in a grating voice until he saw Jarok.

  “My prince, I am so sorry! I heard the king had need of me and I came as soon as possible.” He spoke in a greasy, wheedling tone that grated more on Remi’s ears that his prior yelling. “I have brought all I could possibly need to assist your father, our king, in his time of need.”

  Funny, Remi thought to herself, he had yet to even look at the king. She continued to watch him, feeling Jeanae finishing buttoning the shirt up the back. The man fawned and simpered over Jarok, even while mopping the sweat from his brow with a fine lace handkerchief. When he moved closer to Jarok, who was trying to step back from him, Remi noticed a young man standing behind him. He couldn’t have been over thirteen or fourteen summers, tall and gangly with what seemed like hunched shoulders. Whenever the man got particularly loud, the boy would flinch, keeping his head bowed at all times. Over his bone-thin shoulders, he carried two extremely large bags of what was probably the “all the king could possibly need” items.

  Finally, the odious little man seemed to realize the king and others were in the room. When he paused to look around, Jarok made the introductions. “Onus, you know Commander Ad’har, Reginald, and Lorann. This is Remunada Summers, True One to my brother, Prince Anaxandros.” Gone was the suspicious tone from Jarok’s voice when he spoke to her, his voice instead was flat and toneless. It sounded like the tone one would reserve for a casual acquaintance.

  So, this was the physician Onus. She had been wondering what he was like from the prior insinuations about him. Now she knew why Beb said the Royal Family needed a true healer. Through her magic, she could feel this man was nothing more than a charlatan. And, just maybe, he had heard of her because he looked through her and rushed to the king’s side. She stopped him as he started to touch the king.

  “No, please don’t lift the bandage. We’re trying to draw out anything that might harm him before doing a proper bandage.” She saw Jarok and Ad’har step closer in her peripheral vision. She refused to take her eyes off Onus. Something just didn’t sit right with her.

  “Who do you think you are, telling the royal healer what he can and cannot do? I am a healer! I am the best there is!” Spinning around, Onus spoke to Jarok in a much more sugary-sweet tone. “My prince, if the king is in need of having something drawn out, I need to use my leeches to relieve him. This…this…female doesn’t even know how to dress. How can she know what needs to be done?”

  Jarok looked at Remi as she opened her mouth to dress down Onus and raised a brow. She clicked her teeth together and waited to see what he would say.

  “As I was saying, Lady Remunada Summers, Healer. She was present when the king was…injured, and was gracious enough to help with the wound.”

  Remi looked at Jarok and just raised her eyebrow. Apparently Jarok didn’t like the physician either. She was going to refuse to use the term healer for the little toad.

  “Nevertheless, I must assist the king at once.” Onus walked past Jarok and started snapping his fingers at the youth toting his bags. The young man set down both bags, opened one, and gently removed a jar filled with a squirming mass. As Onus began opening the jar, Remi stepped forward, running her hand down the king’s body until she was grasping his ankle.

  “If you take so much as one step toward King Minos with one of those leeches, I will personally make sure you have plenty of up close and personal time with them.” Remi’s resolve was absolute. She would let nothing happen to Xan’s father, let alone her loyalty to the king.

  Onus sneered at her and stepped forward, causing Ad’har to also step forward. “You have no say in this, girl. If the king has been poisoned, then he needs it out of his system.”

  A deadly voice spoke from the side of the bed. “Who said my father was poisoned?” Jarok asked the question as he stepped toward the toad himself.

  Onus must have realized he’d made an error, as he backpedaled and stammered. “You did, Your Highness. You said that this girl helped when your father was poisoned.”

 
Jarok stopped when he was face to face with Onus. “No, I said my father was injured, and Lady Remi assisted. Never did I say he was poisoned. Commander Ad’har, perhaps some of your soldiers would be kind enough to entertain the healer until I get a moment to talk to him.”

  Ad’har opened the door and barked an order. Four soldiers came to the door and stood at attention. “Gentlemen, take Mr. Onus to the guest room one level up from the dungeon and keep him comfortable until we get a chance to talk to him.”

  As one of the soldiers went to touch the young man, Remi interfered. “Not him, he stays for the moment.” The soldier nodded to her and followed the others, closing the door on Onus’ loud squalling.

  “Young man, what is your name?”

  “M-mm-Marcus, m’lady.” The young man left his head bowed and began twisting his fingers together.

  “All right Marcus, you can put the leeches away since they won’t be needed tonight. What all is in the medical bags?”

  Marcus peeked up at Remi, but when he saw she was looking at him, he ducked his head again. “J-just th-th-the usual, m’lady. Herbs, salves, ointments, tinctures, unguents, basic s-s-s-supplies for wounds.”

  “Do you have sage?”

  “Aye, m-m-m’lady. I put some fresh in there this morning.” Marcus dug into the second bag and stepped forward to hand it to Remi.

  Lorann stepped forward and took the bag, opening it and sniffing the contents. Raising her eyes to Remi, she nodded once and went back to her small mixing bowl.

  Remi moved back toward the head of the bed, always keeping contact with the king. She opened her connection to him all the way and steadied his heart rate and breathing again.

  Lorann quickly brought over the pot of salve and held it while Remi gently eased it around the half-healed wound. “He should be past the danger of dying from the poison, but until we get some of the antidote into him, I’m not taking any chances. Jeanae, the drawing salve should pull more of the poison out, so we need to be checking it and replacing it as needed.” When she finished, she had a small amount of salve left.

  Remi leaned across the king and grabbed a pillow, throwing it on the floor beside the bed. Kneeling, she leaned against the bed and used her free hand to sweep her hair over her shoulder before looking at Lorann. “Use the rest of the salve on my shoulder. When Nic comes back, make another batch. In about an hour, we’ll need to check the king’s bandages and reapply the salve. Keep his temperature down and continue doing that until Xan returns.”

  “When he brings the Starflower back, if there is fresh, grind some up and add it to the salve. If he brings dried or powdered, add a little to the salve, but use about a teaspoon per pot of water and make a tea. Let it steep for at least fifteen minutes before you force the king to drink some.”

  Remi felt her head starting to get cloudy, and she felt faintly dizzy. Between her exhaustion, the poison, and using a lot of power to regulate the king’s body functions, she knew she would be of little use in the next few hours.

  “M’lady? Why are you telling me this? You’ll be able to help him better than I.” Lorann sounded as if she were far away as Remi laid her head on the bed.

  “I may not be conscious for much longer. Whatever you do, do not let my hand fall from the king’s skin. I will continue to aid him even though my body is asleep.”

  Even as her eyes closed and she began to drift, she felt the shirt on her back open and heard Lorann speaking to someone.

  * * * *

  “My lords, I think we will need more ingredients for the salve making.”

  “I’ll see to it.” Ad’har raised his voice and summoned a guard from where he stood next to Remi. He moved to block the guard’s view of her as best he could while ordering the man to see that more medical supplies were obtained. As the guard left, shutting the door, Marcus spoke up from near the fire.

  “Sirs, I-I-I…have s-s-s…some supplies in the bags.” Marcus lowered his head as both Jarok and Ad’har turned to him. Jarok went to the bags on the floor near the door, grabbed them and placed them next to the young man.

  With uncharacteristic gentleness, Jarok placed a hand on Marcus’s shoulder. “You may stay and help Lorann with anything she requires. We’ll still acquire more supplies in case we need them, though.” The young man nodded and moved to begin making a new batch of salve.

  Jarok turned and caught Ad’har’s eye. “What?”

  Ad’har just nodded and turned back to help Lorann.

  “Sir, we need to tend to Lady Remi’s wound. Could you move to the other side of the room, please?” Lorann appeared flustered because of his presence so near Remi.

  “Lorann, I stay where she is. I promised Prince Xan I would not leave her side, though I will turn around.”

  This time it was Jarok who caught Ad’har’s eye.

  “What?”

  “Something I should know, Ad’har?”

  “No.”

  Ad’har stood at the foot of the bed and crossed his arms. Jarok began cursing under his breath and turned toward the door as it opened. Nic walked in and handed Lorann a huge bundle of sage. Turning, he looked between Jarok and Ad’har, seeming to realize even more tension was in the room. He looked toward the bed and noticed Remi slumped over the side.

  “What happened?” Nic hurried toward Remi only to have Ad’har step in front of him. Nic looked up at Ad’har’s soft growl. “What’s your problem?”

  Ad’har refused to break eye contact, but a slight flush did suffuse his face. “My dragon is feeling…protective at the moment. I promised your brother that I would protect the Lady.”

  Both Nic and Jarok paled at this statement, and Jarok returned to cursing under his breath.

  “Your…dragon? I thought…” Nic seemed confused but reluctant to speak. He looked between Remi and Ad’har, then between Ad’har and Jarok. Nic rubbed his forehead before sighing. “One massive situation at a time. Let’s get these two on their feet, then we’ll deal with…whatever…is going on with you two…three…whatever…” Nic moved toward the balcony door on the other side of the bed and split watching out the window and the action in the room.

  Chapter 18

  Xan huddled closer to his brother’s neck, hanging on as Rizon circled the southern edge of Merket. Rizon circled lower to the ground and landed just outside a small garrison stable. Soldiers in worn uniforms rushed to formation as Xan slid to the ground and Rizon shifted back to human form. Xan handed him his clothes and turned to speak to the sergeant who hurried to greet him.

  “My lord High Princes. It is an honor to have you here. How may we serve you both this evening?” The sergeant looked extremely nervous and very ill-prepared for an official visit.

  “Where is your lieutenant of the shift?” Rizon asked before Xan could.

  “Uhmm, Your Highnesses, he’s…uhh…indisposed at the moment. How can I be of service?”

  Xan was beginning to understand what Remi had been saying at dinner. The farther from the capital, the more lax the soldiers seemed to be. “We require directions to a healer named Borjeet. We’re told he lives in the southwest quadrant at the edge of the city. Do you know of whom we speak?”

  “Oh yes, Your Highness. Borjeet is a very good healer. He ain’t no physician like those in the city. He actually cares…uhmm…uh…” The sergeant’s ears turned red as he stumbled over his words.

  “It’s all right, Sergeant. We know there are good and bad in all places. We’re on an urgent mission, and need to get to him immediately. Can you help us?”

  The sergeant didn’t even answer Rizon but turned and began barking orders to the men lined up raggedly behind him. Shortly, all the men, as well as Jarok and Rizon, were mounted on horses and riding through the nearly deserted residential streets. Here and there Jarok saw lights on in windows or heard voices speaking from behind house walls, but the distant sound of music and raucous voices came from closer to the city.

  This area appeared to be a lower-middle class area, occasion
al shopping areas but mostly small, well-kept houses that, while neat and clean, were nothing fancy. About ten minutes later, they approached a large lot that contained a small cottage with a vast garden planted behind it. A small light was left lit on the front porch near the door.

  Xan quickly made his way to the door, Rizon right behind him, as the soldiers kept watch from the road. Xan pounded on the door and heard a shuffle from the back of the house.

  “Brother, let me do any talking if he complains about the price. I don’t want you to kill him just because you’re in a hurry to return to your True One.” Rizon tried to keep it from his voice, but Xan could tell he was worried about their father.

  “Don’t worry, he’s a tough old dragon. And I’m kind of scared of my little one now. She may be too tough for me!” Xan shared a quick grin with Rizon as footsteps stopped behind the door and the locks were opened.

  “Yes, yes! I’m coming! No need to knock my door down. Give an old man time to get here!”

  As the door creaked open, Xan and Rizon had to lower their gazes and lower, and lower.

  “Are you Borjeet, the healer?” Xan asked. The man in front of him couldn’t be more than five feet tall, bent and gnarled like an ancient oak. The man twisted his head to the side to look up at Xan and Rizon, one hand shoving his long gray hair to the side. A bright blue eye seemed to assess them both in a quick second before the little man spoke.

  “Yes, I’m Borjeet. Neither of you look injured, so whoever it is, bring them in quickly. I need my beauty rest.” As the old man turned away, he pointed toward a room to the left of the door that had a table standing in the middle of it. Various tools and implements were laying on a tray next to the bed and several shelves and glass-fronted cabinets held items Xan couldn’t identify along with containers of medicines and what had to be medicinal components.

  “I’m sorry, good sir, but we don’t have the injured party with us. We’ve come to gather a certain ingredient that I’m told only you possess.” Rizon stepped up to speak with Borjeet as Xan just stood looking into the room. Xan had a tenuous connection with Remi, their bond not fully complete, but he was getting some strange sensations from her. He had the overwhelming urge to return to the Keep immediately, and his dragon was pacing inside him demanding the same. Rizon gave him a look before continuing.