“You can’t do anything with a dragon egg. Are you that ignorant?” I blurted out.
The head guard, who stood to my right, backhanded me so hard, my sight darkened. I would have fallen if they hadn’t held so tightly to my chains.
“You don’t talk to the king like that!” my assailant said.
How could they still think he’s the king?
Galtero snickered. “No, I believe you are the ignorant one. Of course I know that old myth about how a dragon will hatch only for its Chosen One. But that no longer holds true.” His eyes swung toward the lady. A smug look passed between them. “Lady Ravana can bend the will of the weak little dragon to choose me for its rider.”
She’s a sorceress.
“I will become immortal.”
I flinched at his grin. “Dragon riders are not immortal.”
“Oh, I am aware of that, child. You may not have noticed, but I am along in my years. As a dragon rider, with dragon venom running in my veins, I will live another one or two hundred years. That would be sufficient immortality to accomplish what I need.”
Anger sent heat rising up my neck. “If you succeed in forcing a dragon, I hope he uses the full measure of his venom when his fangs sink into you in the linking.”
I felt Eshshah groan.
Before I could duck, a guard slammed the palm of his hand into the side of my head. Stars exploded before my eyes.
The black widow let out a low laugh.
Galtero kept his eyes on me and waited for me to recover from the blow before he continued. “I assume your faithful creature has followed you here?”
I didn’t respond.
“You’d better hope it won’t do anything stupid. That would only assure your demise. And, I wager your beloved husband had to stay behind? His duty to the kingdom and all that rubbish.” He made a swiping motion with his dagger.
I stood silent.
He paced back and forth in front of me, his eyes never ceased their inspection. As he moved, his left arm swung uselessly.
I pressed my lips together, my eyes narrowed.
Galtero tipped his head. “Your non-response is as good as answering. You haven’t yet mastered deception, girl. Your mate did not accompany you, and your dragon did. I thought that much. It will enable negotiations to proceed at a quicker pace. He can take my proposal back to Teravinea.”
“She. Eshshah’s a she. And I won’t take part in enslaving a hatching dragon,” I said.
The man who’d hit me jerked his head in my direction, but didn’t strike me again.
“I don’t care what gender it is, you don’t have a choice, my dear. Negotiations will begin immediately. Your betrothed, I’m sure, is anxiously waiting to hear from you. Safe at home in his castle, longing to get you back into his arms. Newlyweds.” He made it sound like a curse. “I’m sure he’s not yet tasted enough of your passion.”
I dropped my eyes.
Galtero stopped in front of me, a shark catching scent of his prey. Bending forward, he brought his face closer to mine. He grabbed my chin and lifted. The stench of his rotting teeth couldn’t be masked by the mint leaves he chewed.
If he tries to kiss me, I’ll bite him.
“Amáne, please control yourself,” Eshshah urged. “I fear for your safety. Don’t antagonize him.”
Trying to hide my fear, I raised my eyes to meet Galtero’s. I caught him studying my attire. His eyebrows lifted.
“What? Do I detect you have not, as yet, seen a sunrise with your husband? Were you taken directly from your ceremony?” A glint of black pleasure reflected in his eyes.
Ravana barked out a rude laugh.
Flinching involuntarily, I squeezed my stinging eyes shut before they filled.
Wicked laughter echoed in the room. It sent my heart to my throat.
“All the more urgency on Drekinn’s part,” Galtero said. “He will make the right decision. Whether he wants you back piece by piece or relatively whole.”
My stomach twisted. Wrestling for control, I opened my eyes. Galtero’s evil ones pierced mine. He turned and strode to the end of the table, then spun and faced me. His useless arm continued its momentum like a pendulum before it slowed to a stop.
A corner of his mouth turned up. “Oh, I do believe he would prefer his bride intact.”
I called again upon Eshshah in thought transference.
“I’m with you, Amáne.”
Her strength filled me. It gave me courage to face whatever Galtero had in mind.
“Bring her forward,” he commanded.
The men jerked my bindings, pulling me close to where Galtero stood. I thrashed and struggled. A brief sense of satisfaction washed over me as I noticed how they had to strain to drag me to the tyrant.
Six men.
“Thank you, Eshshah.”
The guards forced me forward until I was pushed up to the edge of the table.
Ravana slid in beside Galtero, a disturbing anticipation written on her face.
“Her hand,” he ordered.
The head guard grabbed my left hand. I resisted with all my might, and Eshshah’s. Two more men joined in to assist him. My captors forced my hand flat on the table. Bile rose in my throat as Galtero tested the keenness of his black dagger on his sleeve. Its perfect edge sliced through the fabric.
“Your king will know how inflexible I am. Your life for a dragon egg.” He smirked, then continued in his oily snake-like voice, “Just a small token of my seriousness. It’s not much — this time. You should be thankful I will not be taking your entire arm. That would actually satisfy me as an even trade.” His eyes darted to his lifeless arm. “If Ansel Drekinn does not grasp the weight of my demand, then I will be happy to show him larger proof.”
I bit back a scream as his blade hovered over my end finger.
The lady leaned in. Her tongue passed lightly over her lips. A spider anticipating the trouncing of her prey.
Galtero jutted his face into mine. His vile breath nearly made me gag. “Now, you can make this easy and fast, or, if you continue to fight it, believe me I will take delight in cutting slowly through the joint, sawing at the tendon, taking all the time I want. Either way, I will have the proof I need to send a meaningful message.”
I shot him my most defiant glare, clenched my jaw and held my hand immobile on the table.
My lips pressed together as I called silently to Eshshah.
Galtero bore down on his blade and sliced it through the first joint of my little finger. Eshshah suffered with me.
Having obtained the ‘token of his seriousness,’ he handed me a rag and said, “Don’t bleed on my rugs.”
I couldn’t help but be angry at myself for the tears that escaped as I wrapped his dirty cloth around my mutilated finger and pressed it to my chest. I didn’t look at Galtero or Ravana, but had no doubt they found pleasure in my pain. Eshshah gently reprimanded me for my self-reproach, but I considered my tears a failure in self control, a show of weakness.
A small wooden box, with long leather straps attached, was brought to Galtero. In it he placed the piece of my finger and a sealed parchment.
“Now, girl,” he said, “call to your dragon. I know it is close and can hear you. Tell it to land near the west wall. It must allow this to be strapped to its leg.” He held up the grotesque box. “The message will be taken back to Teravinea. I know Ansel Drekinn will follow the instructions enclosed. I will give the dragon three days to return with an egg. Plenty of time. You’d best appreciate my generosity.”
He brought his eyebrows together and said, “You make sure your dragon understands he will take no action against my men, or his next delivery will be your entire arm, or perhaps your head. Make certain he heeds my words.”
“I told you before, Eshshah is a female.”
The head guard backhanded me.
CHAPTER TWELVE
My captors escorted me from Galtero’s throne room. I paid sharp attention to the route we took.
“Amáne,” Eshshah said, “let’s hope they deliver you back to the tower. It would be the most accessible part of the castle. I believe it should be possible to reach you there once darkness falls.”
Hope threw its light on my desperation.
To Eshshah’s and my disappointment, they didn’t bring me back to the tower, but to a different cell. They led me into a tiny room. The guards turned and filed out, the last being the vulgar man who’d harassed me earlier. He puckered his lips at me and exhaled a lascivious laugh before he turned and strode out of the room. The lock clicked in place.
A quick survey of my new cell told me it would have been used as a storage closet at one time. Wooden bowls and tankards filled the shelves that lined the walls. All useless to me.
Eight strides made up its length, and maybe three wide. I paced the room, holding my injured finger tightly. Closing my eyes, I summoned my powers. After linking with Eshshah, I had acquired some of her healing gift. Relief spread as my hands heated. The severed end of my finger began to mend.
Healing always took a toll on my strength, but my skills had improved. I knew when to stop before I became light-headed. I also had to consider if anyone happened to check my finger, I didn’t want to raise any suspicions. I quit before the damage was completely repaired, then rewrapped it with the bloody rag. My powers did not include regeneration. I would always have part of my finger missing. My only hope was that more of me won’t be lost before this ordeal ended.
“Eshshah, before you deliver that box to Ansel, could you please ask Sovann to get a message to him?”
“Of course, Amáne. Sovann told me King Ansel’s been asking about you. He’s overwrought with worry.”
I closed my eyes and pictured Ansel. The thought of him suffering on my account proved almost worse than what I just went through.
“Please tell him I’m alright, but I need him to know what Galtero just did. I think if we tell him what is about to be delivered, it would go easier for him.”
“I believe you’re right,” Eshshah said.
I waited while the message was conveyed to Ansel, through Sovann. My tears welled up.
“Amáne, I explained to Sovann as gently as I could what King Ansel will be receiving. There’s no easy way to prepare for that. The king promises you’ll be out soon. They’re working on a plan. Avano, Braonán and the other riders are making trips back to Teravinea to bring supplies and troops. There’s not enough time to transport many, but he’ll make good use of the soldiers they bring. He said to tell you a local merchant has allowed us to use a building of his, outside of the village. It had been an inn at one time, built to accommodate dragons.”
“Please tell him that gives me a lot of hope.”
“King Ansel was pleased to hear Galtero believes he is still in Teravinea. It’ll buy us some time. He said he may send one of the other riders to choose an egg. He didn’t want me to leave you. I wouldn’t have wanted to, either.”
“Eshshah, he can’t actually be thinking of bringing Galtero an egg?”
I waited for his response through our dragons.
“The king hopes an egg won’t be necessary. But as a last resort, he’ll do what he must to get you back.”
“Tell him I can’t be responsible for enslaving a dragon.”
I paced the tiny cell as our conversation went back and forth through Eshshah and Sovann.
“He said he can’t be responsible for the loss of his queen, his love, his wife. Truthfully, Amáne, I agree with him. I too will do what must be done to get you out of there.”
The day dragged on. The temperature in the enclosed cell increased to sweltering proportions. Sweat ran down my forehead and burned my eyes. My mouth and throat became dry as my thirst increased. This was a tropical island. Buildings constructed of bamboo and thatched roofs made up the norm in architecture, not an airless castle of lava rock.
Who built this place? Probably a tyrant like Galtero who didn’t know anything about the tropics.
The turnkey visited only once. He brought a bowl of a purple mush-like porridge and a small cup of water. The porridge was made from the underground stems of a local plant. I gagged it down. The small amount of water hardly quenched my thirst.
I dozed on and off for an interminable amount of time. The noise of the door opening startled me awake. Several heavily-armed men yanked me out of the cell and pushed me through another series of confusing corridors. I noted with relief, the greasy-haired man was not among this group. Judging by the light filtering down from the windows high above, it was probably midday. The closet had been so dark, I didn’t realize the night had passed.
The men ushered me into a dining chamber where Galtero sat at the head of a heavy table. His sorceress occupied a chair to his right. Two large plates of juicy roasted meat with vegetables steaming in bowls sat before them. I inhaled the aroma. If I weren’t dehydrated, my mouth would have watered.
The head guard shoved me down into a seat across from the two. He secured my wrists to the arms of the chair, my feet to its legs. After they bowed to the despot, the guards left. I was certain they were not far away, should Galtero need to summon them.
I swallowed, staring at the food across the table.
Galtero picked up his dagger, the same one he’d used to cut off my finger. A twinge coursed through my hand. He turned the dagger in different angles in front of his face, studying its edge.
As I watched his movements, knowing they were meant to provoke, I concentrated on my breathing, slowing the beating of my heart. Galtero’s eyes narrowed as I held his gaze. I refused to squirm or make known my fear. His jaw tightened.
“Eshshah,” I called in thought transference.
“You’re doing well, Amáne. Hold your anger.”
Galtero exhaled audibly before turning his attention to his meal. He directed the blade to his plate and began to slowly slice a piece of meat, using his one good hand. Stabbing a bite, he made a show of putting it in his mouth and chewing. He put his knife down, grabbed a golden goblet and took a noisy gulp, then burped.
I pressed my lips together in disgust. Focusing on a spot on the table in front of me, I forced my countenance into a neutral expression. I felt Galtero’s eyes boring into me. He sliced another piece of meat and repeated his previous sequence, chewing with the manners of a pig. I couldn’t muffle the sound of my stomach as it called out for a share.
All the while, Ravana took dainty bites from her plate, also making a show of enjoying her meal.
Galtero taunted me with his third mouthful, and said, “Don’t get the idea I invited you here to idly watch me dine.”
Invited? I’d hardly call this an invitation.
“I’m going to make good use of your time while I await my dragon egg.”
My eyes raised to his. My brows furrowed.
A wicked smile twisted his face. He spoke around the food still in his mouth, “You will instruct me.”
My chest constricted in anger. I opened my mouth to respond.
“Amáne,” Eshshah entreated.
“Thank you, Eshshah. I’ll control my tongue.”
With a deep breath, I gathered myself, then exhaled. “Instruct you?” I said in an even tone.
“You will tell me all I need to know about linking with a dragon. I want to know how long the hatching takes. What the dragon does first. If the dragon bite is painful. If so, what have they found that will alleviate the pain? How long before I can fly on it — I want to know everything.”
My nostrils flared.
Before I could respond, Galtero shouted over his shoulder, “Girl, bring me more wine.”
A young native girl carried out a pitcher. I noted the hobbles on her ankles. She wore a sarong-type garment that wrapped around her body and tied behind her neck. Her hair fell forward, veiling her face.
As she bent to fill both Ravana’s and Galtero’s goblets, I got a better look.
Impossible!
It was Lia’ina, the daughter o
f a chief from a local tribe. The same tribe that, some time ago, intended to use me as a human sacrifice to the Ancient Ones in the Valley of Dragons.
How is it that she has become a serving girl?
Her eyes caught mine and opened wide. I gave a minute shake of my head, and was relieved to see her quickly mask her shock. Even though the circumstances of our last encounter were quite traumatic for me, I held no animosity toward her.
Galtero dismissed Lia’ina with a wave of his hand. She backed away and disappeared through a door.
The self-appointed king turned back to me after a noisy slurp of his wine.
“Now, begin. What is first thing that happens when a dragon hatches?”
I remained silent.
“If you value the next joint of your finger, you - will - talk.” He shook his blade at me in time to his last three words.
“Amáne,” Eshshah said. “No harm will be done by telling him some simple facts. Much of the linking rite is common knowledge, anyway. Please make this easier on yourself.”
Eshshah was right, as usual. Reluctantly, I told Galtero how a dragon egg starts to vibrate and hum as it draws in its Chosen One. I didn’t get far in my narrative, when one of his men rushed in and whispered in his ear. I caught something about a dragon.
Galtero raised an eyebrow and called out, “Guards! Quickly. Come take the dragon rider. Take her to the old kitchen in the abandoned wing.”
He snickered at me. “Don’t be thinking you will be held in the same cell twice. Escape will not be within your grasp, this time.”
I was led through the partially-destroyed section of the castle I’d seen from the air. The guards shoved me into a large room that at one time must have been a busy kitchen. The hearth lay cold and unused. A layer of dust blanketed the tables that still stood. The other furniture in the room had given in to wood rot and wood-boring insects. Part of the roof and the top of the far wall were missing. The heavy tropical air replaced the dead air of the lower levels. Although, still stifling, it was an improvement.
My chains were secured to a metal structure that had once been used to hold a spit. The men inspected my irons, vigorously yanking at them, testing their strength before they rushed from the room.
Amáne of Teravinea - Black Castle (The Teravinea Series Book 4) Page 7
