Pseudo-Dragon (The Blue Dragon's Geas Book 4)

by Matthynssens, Cheryl

  "You already know something of me that could cause me harm," Alador pointed out. "It seems fair if you wish to breed trust that you offer me something in return." Alador did not like that anyone knew that he had been home. The anxiety boiling in him made him consider for a moment if he could kill the man. He knew he could pull lightening as fast as the man could pull a sword. Perhaps, if he were casual and brought forth the power quickly, he could send the spell before the man could react.

  Levielle’s words cut into his thoughts like a knife through butter. "You aren't fast enough to pull it off. Besides, what would you tell the guards?" Levielle placed a hand on each arm of the chair.

  Alador frowned. "Fast enough to what?" Damnation could the man read minds? He eyed the soldier with even more concern.

  Levielle shook his head with a grin and laughed lightly. "Never play cards, your face and eyes hide little." Levielle leaned forward a tad. "You were considering if you could kill me before I could protect myself. I assure you that I have been sparring mages far beyond your birth. It is really not a path you wish to take. I applaud your consideration of it, but it will avail you little of my trust and end poorly for your own plans."

  "I am sure that you know nothing of my plans." Alador indignantly defended. The man was completely unsettling him, and he was struggling to regain his composure.

  "Let me see how close I can get?" Levielle put both arms on his legs and leaned forward, clasping his hands together casually. It was the sign of a man who knew he would not have to defend himself. His eyes were trained on Alador. "You have made ground with Lady Aldemar. She is a known dissenter of your uncle's and yet one with a great deal of influence within the city." He smiled at Alador's look of surprise. "You have somehow endeared the trench lord to you despite his attack upon your father. A fact little known as it has remained well hidden."

  Levielle looked down at Alador's feet then back up to his eyes. "You have enough power, despite being a half-breed, to cast a travel spell, and will be the first half-breed allowed in a tier test. One, by your own boast at your uncle's ball, which you will succeed at, or at least you believe you will." Levielle sat back clearly relaxed as he spoke. He stroked his beard a bit before speaking again.

  Levielle held up one finger as if remembering a small detail. "Oh, and let us not forget your sweetheart here in the caverns. She is also a known to me as a dissident in regards to your uncle and moves amongst those with like feelings." Levielle sat up clasping his hands across his stomach. "When we add all that up with a knowledge of your father's feelings, clearly you plan to move against your uncle in some manner." Levielle looked very pleased with his assessment.

  Alador managed to keep his face schooled this time. "A far stretch since you have made it clear that I do not do well at deception," he pointed out. The man's summation had been too damn accurate. He was struggling with how to divert the man’s account. Alador ran a hand across his face and returned his eyes to Levielle, knowing that a lack of confidence right now could be deadly.

  Levielle nodded, considering Alador's point. "Which means either I am so far from correct that I have put myself at risk, or you are skilled when not caught off guard. You are an intelligent young man and I am usually right in my observations, so I am going to guess the latter."

  "What could I possibly gain by going against my uncle?" Alador was using every ounce of control that he had. This man could see to his undoing with a simple word.

  "Now, that is where you gain my interest," Levielle admitted. He stood and went around to the back of the chair, resting his hand upon the top. "It seems to me that you have everything to gain by staying within the man's graces. I can see no personal gain in going against the High Minister. I am a man who likes to make connections and at this moment, you have me completely perplexed."

  "Perhaps you should consider that you have made inaccurate connections." Alador stated, looking for that leaf in his hair and fingering it curiously as he removed it. There was a long silence, and Alador looked over at the man to see the teacher staring at him with deep calculation.

  Levielle shook his head. "No, I truly do not think I am far off. You have neither denied nor shown any indignation at the charge that you act against your uncle. A fact that would be treasonous at the worst, and ill-advised at the best." Levielle shook his head. "No, there is mischief afoot. I am sure of it." Levielle grinned broadly.

  Alador glanced at the door then back at the discerning man behind his chair. "Let us say for the moment that you are right. What would you do with such information?" If he could kill him, he could use the amulet to remove the body. However, there was the matter of the two guards at the door. Levielle had been accurate in that he would have no way to explain the man’s disappearance. Levielle was not known for any use of magic that he was aware of. The shielding spell has been Alador’s first knowledge that the man was anything more than a skilled tactician and swordsman.

  "Well now, that is the crux of this conversation, is it not?" Levielle grinned, his immaculate groomed image seemed so non-threatening in that mere instance. "Do you trust me enough to confirm if I am correct? Do I trust you enough to tell you why I am interested? One of us is going to have to take that first step."

  "I can assure you that my experience in this city has made it very clear to me that I can trust no one. Even my father said it was unwise to do so." Alador rose, moving between Levielle and the door. "In fact, he has never mentioned you as a friend at all." Alador's eyes narrowed as he considered this and turned back to face the man. "It seems to me he would have told me who was a friend if he had dared to trust one."

  Alador's movement was followed by the soldier, a tension increased in the man's posture at having his avenue of escape blocked. "Then I suppose that I shall have to be the one to offer a small gift of trust. It is doubtful your father would have thought to mention me as we have little contact. What little we have shared has shown that we both have ... shall we say, disagreements... with the way the Lerdenian ruling class does business. I am often a guest of Lady Aldemar, and have answered many of her questions in regards to your progress." He put out both hands in a peaceful gesture, being sure to remain behind the chair. "I would not be saddened to see High Minister Luthian Guldalian eat a bit of humbleness. He has moved unchallenged for far too long. To see it come from within his own family, well that is a gift one just cannot ignore." Levielle crossed his arms. "The move is yours."

  Alador held Levielle's gaze for a very long time. To the man's credit, he given Alador time to work through his thoughts and make a decision. "Your connections are far too accurate for my comfort." He finally conceded.

  "Ah, now we have a conversation of interest. Shall we sit back down and discuss this like civil gentlemen, or do you wish to stand staring at me with continued consideration of my death?" Levielle congenially offered.

  "I prefer standing for now." Alador crossed his arms across his chest. He felt cornered at the moment, and did not like the position that the soldier had put him into.

  "As you wish. I will sit." Levielle lowered himself back into the chair with a slight sigh of frustration. "Now the question I want to know. Why?" His demeanor became much more serious, and his voice took an edge of authority.

  Alador shook his head. "There is too much at stake for me to tell you my motives."

  Levielle frowned. "Let me take another tact. Is there truth that Luthian plans to force the Daezun under Lerdenian rule?" At Alador's look of surprise, Levielle waved a dismissive hand. "Not all the council is tightlipped with a glass or two in their gut."

  "Yes," Alador tersely confirmed.

  "Mmm, now we are getting somewhere. There is rumor that he has a powerful storm mage at his beck and call. Are you this storm mage?" Levielle continued to press.

  "Yes," Alador admitted.

  "I see this is going to be a game of a thousand questions." Levielle sighed considering. "You went home. Unlike most Daezun half-breeds, that means you expected to be welcome. So
I am going to guess that you do not wish to act against your Daezun kin."

  "You would be right again. Which concerns me." Alador finally moved to the bed and sat down heavily. "If you can guess so much, who else is guessing as well?"

  "Well, not as many people in the world enjoy puzzles as much as I do." Levielle's tone was reassuring. "Add to that, even fewer have access to watch you as I have."

  "My uncle does." Alador's concern was laced into his words. "He has far much more to gain or lose if he evaluates the situation incorrectly."

  "Yes, a good point. One you had best keep in mind," Levielle said wagging his finger. He began to speak as the teacher that Alador had come to respect. "However, sometimes men see what they expect to see. Perhaps your uncle has not thought to check your own motives too closely." Levielle tapped the side of his head pointedly. "Which leads to my next question, why act against your kin? Does he hold something over you?"

  "No, he does not." Alador admitted. "My motives I prefer to remain my own. Let us leave it at the fact that I have a bigger goal in mind, and my uncle's good will at this time is necessary to that end."

  "You realize I will continue to puzzle the matter out." Levielle stated with a genuine smile.

  Alador shook his head and answered that smile with one of his own. "Of that, I have no doubt."

  A heavy silence fell between them as both men were considering the conversation. "Let me help." Levielle offered suddenly.

  "Why would you do that? You hold a commission in the High Minister's army. You are a preferred instructor. What could you possibly gain by helping me?" Alador eyed him. "I have not even been willing to tell you my own motives."

  "I am a man of action. While matters of schooling and study do interest me, I prefer my hand on the battlefield. Whether it is one of arms or one of intrigue..." Levielle leaned forward again. " ... My skills are far more useful there then in a classroom of half-breeds, half of which are not even listening."

  "For all you know, I could be planning some malicious act of war for my Daezun kin." Alador pointed out.

  Levielle shook his head. "Doubtful."

  "For a non-trusting man, you seem to be strangely trusting with me," Alador stated somewhat petulantly.

  "It is not a matter of trust. Well, perhaps it is on a deeper level." Levielle admitted. "However, it is a trust of one's self."

  "What do you mean?" His words truly confused Alador.

  Levielle shrugged. "I have always been a man with a good judge of character. You don't strike me as one who would get himself tangled up with nefarious plans."

  "By your own conclusions, I am aligned with the trench lord." Alador shot back.

  "Yet, when one observes our current trench lord, you see a genuine concern for the people in his care." Levielle crossed his own arms as his eyes met Alador's. "A man who came into power as you seem to be rising in your own. I, for one, do not believe in coincidences."

  Again, a pregnant silence rose up between them. Finally, Alador shifted uncomfortably and broke the silence. "I will need to think about it."

  Levielle rose to his feet. "We both have something that could harm the other. My questions, if wrong, could be my own death." Levielle eyed the younger man evenly. "I think that your secrets would mean the death of more than just your own life and plans. I have no fear of your breach. I want to assure you that you have no fear of my own." Levielle moved towards the door as Alador rose. He stopped as his hand was on the door handle and looked at Alador.

  "Oh, Lady Aldemar wishes to dine with you when you have your confinement lifted. Shall I take her your agreement?"

  Alador nodded wordlessly, his mind racing with the new turn of events. He had a million thoughts, but they were falling over one another in his own head to the point that he could not even begin to verbalize them.

  "Good, I look forward to speaking to you soon." Levielle pulled the door open. His parting comment was clearly more for the guards than Alador. "Be sure to think upon this lesson, we will speak again of it soon." Levielle’s words were authoritative and confident.

  Alador stared at the door as it closed behind Levielle. Slowly he moved to the desk and sat down. He began to eat his now congealed and tepid breakfast, but he did not seem to notice. His mind was on the last ten minutes, and what the contents could mean to his plans.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Alador dressed in the warmest clothing that he could conjure. Even with his ability to handle temperatures to higher and lower extremes, he felt sure that he would need additional protection on the mountain top. In two days, he would go to his uncle’s for his half day, and during that time he would attend his tier test. He needed his strength, and he needed to be able to tell his uncle that the first spell had been cast. He had to do the spell today. Fortunately, with the amulet and Renamaum’s memories, he had a fairly quick way to get there.

  He thought back to this morning. Alador had wanted to wait until he had received his breakfast before leaving so that someone had seen him that morning. The mage considered the conversation that he had been fortunate enough to hold as he was filling his tray. He had seen Nemara holding back in the line when she saw him, she let others pass her so that she was just in front of him. Alador caressed the amulet as he considered her words.

  As they moved down the line filling their trays, she had whispered urgently to him. “We need to talk.”

  He had not been sure her choice of place had been wise, but his guards also left little opportunity. He had glanced back to find them only casually watching him. “I will be off this restriction of movement soon. Can it wait?”

  “No.” She had insisted, “There has been a development. I have a letter from Jon.”

  Even now the fear of the contents of that letter filled him. She had told him she had not broken the seal on an enclosed note that had been addressed to him. That Jon had sent it to Nemara rather than himself gave him hope that Jon was worried his uncle would find out the contents, but there could be other reasons as well. Nemara had seemed reluctant to share the contents of her own letter and had insisted that they talk privately. She had whispered this into his ear, flashing a coy look for the benefit of his guards.

  He had told her to meet him tomorrow night at the secret pool. Alador knew that he had no idea how long it would take him to cast and hold the spell at the level that would be needed. He also did not know how quick of mind or body he would be after such a spell. He was expecting it to be draining. The mage had decided to wait until tomorrow to meet her to ensure he was not late, and that he had defenses available to him. When it came to Jon and himself, he was not quite sure whom Nemara would side with if a choice had been presented.

  Alador took a deep breath and worked to center himself. He could not allow this matter with Jon to distract him right now. He was going to use the amulet to go somewhere that only Renamaum had seen, and he was not sure how accurate his interpretations of dragon memory were going to be. The mage slipped into meditation for a short time. He was getting better at it. It was something that Nemara had suggested to help with his anger a few weeks ago.

  He spent a great deal of time replaying the memory of the mountain top. Dragons seemed to remember a remarkable amount of detail. He chose a spot that was relatively flat. In his mind, he could see the slant of the ledge, the rocks that surrounded it. Even the flittering kiss of snow that the dragon had experienced at the time. Working to hold this image in his mind, he whispered the words as he clutched the amulet. The familiar feeling of the world falling away filled him as did the swirling melding of the colors of his room.

  He hit the ground harder than he should have and he realized as he looked around that the place he had imagined had held a deeper snowfall than what he had arrived upon. He must have materialized a few inches above the actual ground he stood upon. Even now there was hard ice and snow beneath his feet rather than the direct rock. He pulled his cloak closed as he looked around. The sun hovered somewhere behind the rock face that he
had chosen. It had not yet risen enough to cast its warmth on the shelf.

  Alador took a deep breath and realized that the air was different here. There was pressure and a need to almost gasp for air. Despite the few clouds in the sky, the air here was so cold that it knifed into his lungs. The wind howled through the rocks, swirling loose snow about him.

  He looked out over the lands below. While the nights had grown colder and some snow had fallen, the land below still held the colors of the season’s change. The melding of the gold, red and orange leaves of the trees stood out in contrast to the deep rich brown of harvested fields. A surge of homesickness filled him as he glanced at the familiar landscape below him.

  He had seen Daezun villages from above before. One did not mine for bloodstone without opportunities to rise high above the valley floors. This was the highest he had ever been, and from here he could see more than one village.

  There were many Daezun villages across the land. Unlike the Lerdenian people, the Daezun did not live in cities. Therefore, their villages often lay close to one another. In some places, the outer fields of one would lay within a short walk of the next. It was a beautiful sight from the position that he stood now. It reminded him of the closeness and helpfulness of the Daezun people. There were always bad seeds, but for the most part, the Daezun were a people as rich in familial connections as the ground they worked.

  He eyed the lands about him. He had to weave this spell carefully. If he erred too far to one side, he would have a thunderstorm and rain. If he went too far the other, he would have hail. While hail would work, he wanted to create deep snow to prevent having to come out here too often. It was cool enough that any snow melt over the day should freeze over during the night. It would be a deep and early snowfall, disrupting the final harvests and preparations for winter.

  He realized that was his first task. Alador had to slow the air stones at the ground level, or when the sun crested the mountain top, he would have rain. He began to cast and weave starting north of his position. Alador slowly worked to slide the slowing air stones south. He noted with pleasure that as he did so, the faster ones outside his spell were rising up over the mass he was working to create.