Chapter Twelve
Ketera awakened to a horrifying scream. A beast or human in the most horrible pain. She jolted upright and found Dane gone. They’d slept against the cold wall all night, his arms cradling her. How had he left her without her knowing? Frantically she glanced around, but saw no sign of him. The fire still burned brightly, keeping the cave from being quite as cold as it would have been. Dawn lightened the cave and sounds of animals coming awake chirped, growled and called. Her heartbeat slammed against her chest as apprehension took hold.
She stood and headed for the cave opening just as Dane appeared at the cave lip. Relief swamped her. “What was that horrible sound? Where were you?”
A smile touched his mouth as he held up a lizard. About three feet in length and two feet thick around, the mottled green creature had an elongated ugly snout filled with razor teeth. Its tail was almost as long as the body.
He strode into the cave. “Breakfast. Sorry it woke you. Makes a terrible sound when killed by a sword.”
“Oh.” What else could she say? “We’re eating that?”
He started to work, staying at the edge of the cave as he drew his dagger and slit the creature from end to end. “Tastes like…well, there are those feathered creatures you saw at the castle that run amok making a clucking sound. We call them chilikins. You know what I’m talking about.”
“We have something similar on Magonia. They’re called chaikins there.”
He shrugged. “Same difference. Anyway. This lizard tastes a lot like a chilikin.”
She wrinkled her nose and rubbed her arms. “Honestly?”
“Yes. You’ll like it.”
Doubt lingered but she assisted with dressing the animal and setting up a sturdy spit over the fire. In no time, pieces of the white meat roasted as they took turns rotating the lizard. Outside the cave, beasts continued to call, their various sounds both fascinating and frightening her.
“How much farther to the castle?” she asked.
“About an hour’s walk.”
“We couldn’t have walked there last night?”
“Even a Daryk One knows when not to travel in this jungle. Pitch-black night is one of those times. Especially not with an innocent.”
That rankled. “I’m not innocent.”
He unhooked the lizard from the spit and placed it on leaves he’d gathered. “In some things you must be. You just came to our country. Even your texts don’t tell you everything to expect here. Did they tell you about all the harmful animals and plants and insects?”
She couldn’t’ avoid admitting the truth. “Some. Please just do not call me innocent. I’ve had to play innocent in Magonia for so long I thought it would kill me.”
He didn’t look up as he used a stick to spear some meat. “Eat up. We need our strength.”
“Not until you vow not to call me innocent.”
He returned her gaze. “As you wish. I’m not certain why it matters so much. Why don’t you explain?”
She took a stick and used it to stab the steaming-hot cooked meat. “Like I said before. I was very good at talking and working with people from all walks of life. Even the very rich and poor ones. Everyone seemed to like me, but I soon didn’t know who I was. Everyone saw Ketera Aldrancos as I wanted them to and to some that meant innocent. I couldn’t tell anyone about the texts. No one. As it is, you and my father are the only ones who know about the texts.”
“And you lost them in the shipwreck.”
Shame and anger rose inside her. “Yes.”
“Then you must go on without them and save your father.”
His practical statement, his sheer hard-nosed response had two effects on her. She agreed and yet she also wanted to slap him. Slapping him sounded more biddable right now. “Agree not to call me innocent.”
Dane’s serious expression was even more unsentimental. “All right. If you wish.”
His voice had that placating tone she’d heard husbands use on wives before, though more often she’d heard wives use it with husbands. It worried her. Though she’d encountered plenty of conflict on Dragonia, she wanted to find some peace soon. Her father back at home with her, her life as it was before. At the same time, she understood the chances of that happening were slim. Now that she’d met Dane, it appeared everything had changed. From the time he’d first kissed her, touched her body in ways she never thought a man would, to their night of wonderful lovemaking, Dane had shown her a new way of seeing life.
Lovemaking had been more than she’d imagined, and she could imagine a considerable amount. Life had turned on its head and brought her adventure, danger, and yes the one thing she thought to never find. Romance. She never would have understood romance if it hadn’t been for the texts. If she hadn’t seen hints that true love existed outside of the rigorous religious views in Magonian society, she wouldn’t have believed it. Surely some things in the texts couldn’t be true. Dane’s lovemaking proved to her that every inch could be true, down to the last detail. A truly odd thing in cultural and anthropological terms. People who wrote great books always embellished the truth, made their mythology far more grandiose. The scribes altered the facts to suit their own needs, which usually translated to power over a people.
Confusion went along with her happiness. She’d given herself to this man and didn’t know what it meant. They had no future when she returned to Magonia, and the knowledge burned inside her like a brand. Resolved not to think about it for the present, she ate her meal and tried to forget what that meal had looked like before Dane killed it.
Soon after, they left the cave. Ketera’s blood ran skittish, her mind spun in a whirl as she tried to keep calm. It took some doing, but she reminded herself what she’d accomplished so far. She’d killed two men to save herself and saved Dane’s life. None of it felt real, but it gave her some satisfaction to know she could still take care of herself. She dared not dwell on Dane’s near death.
After about an hour of walking, Ketera saw the castle donjon at Castle Grimnald come into view as light rose high in the sky from the star above. Almost obscured by the huge gray curtain walls, it promised protection. Her nerves jumped, reminding her they weren’t quite there yet. She was glad they’d left for the castle once they determined poachers hadn’t followed and lay in wait outside the cave. Dane had explained the poachers were more interested in the dragon in the long run.
“I hope the dragon escaped,” Ketera had said.
Just as they were coming into the clearing, the huge drawbridge came down. They’d planned on entering around the side at a smaller entrance, but this worked well enough. Several Daryk Ones ran toward them.
“Dane,” one of them called when ten Daryk Ones arrived in front of them.
All ten men stood at least six feet tall or slightly over, but they weren’t as tall as Dane. They had a couple of days’ worth of beard, and their shoulder-length, thick hair came in shades of blond, red and black or brown. They each wore a huge pack on their backs, as if they expected to be traveling for a significant time.
The one who had called Dane’s name had inky hair and was rough-looking, but that didn’t surprise her. She hadn’t seen one yet who didn’t look tough and capable of serious harm. Involuntarily she took a step back.
Dane’s hand came down on her shoulder. “Ketera Aldrancos, this is Eryk Gauth. Eryk and I have known each other since we were children.”
She held her hand out to Eryk, and he bent over it to kiss the back. “A pleasure to meet you.” He smiled as he released her hand and stood straight. “I see that Charger has found his mate.”
Dane’s grip on her shoulder released and he smiled at his old friend. “I haven’t seen you in a month. Where have you been? You’ve brought others with you?”
Eryk’s handsome face shadowed. “We have two missions.”
“Poachers? We ran into them yesterday. They were hunting a dragon.”
“Minilos told us you went after your lady. We were worried when we he
ard you’d disappeared. A few people came in from the jungle but said they hadn’t seen you, and we were going out to search and then leave the area.”
Dane and Eryk gripped arms up to the elbow in a strange handshake she hadn’t seen him use before. “Thank you, my friend. I ran into Rayder and he helped me.”
Eryk’s eyes, a brown that glimmered with danger, turned darker. “That traitor?”
Dane nodded. “Seems he still has enough integrity to help me find my mate.” Dane looked at the other men in the crowd and acknowledged each one by name. He returned his attention to Eryk. “What else brings you here?”
“There is a restlessness afoot in Imekland and Ithycan. The people at Bardannia Castle and Leadios Castle are in conflict with each other. Leadios’ leader believes that perhaps Drakus Fina is right. We should take Magonian women and breed with them.”
Ketera stiffened under Dane’s hand, and he pressed her shoulder gently. Dane cleared his throat. “What does Bardannia believe?”
“That we should stay the course as we always have.” Eryk shifted on his feet and crossed his arms. His eyes glittered. “That kidnapping and taking Magonian women against their will is a great crime.”
Dane’s hand slipped around her waist and brought her against him. “And what do you and these men believe?”
“We will never follow a man like Drakus Fina. We would rather die fighting him,” a blond man said, pure masculine determination etched on his face.
She glanced at Dane and saw resolve cross his face as well as relief. “I’m glad to hear it, friend.”
“In the meantime, we must hurry,” one of the other men said. “Time is a wasting.”
“We’ve heard that Drakus plans to raid Grimnald Castle again within the day,” Eryk said, glancing at the jungle as if he expected someone to jump out at any minute. “At least that’s the rumor. More of his forces plan to raid Bardannia. We must return there as soon as possible.”
“Raid?” Ketera asked automatically, fear escalating.
Dane’s arm tightened around her. “It’s at least two days’ travel to the edge of Imekland and Bardannia. What makes you think you can make it there before the place is raided.”
“I must return.” Eryk’s gaze traveled over Ketera with keen curiosity she didn’t understand. “My woman is in danger.”
Dane’s eyebrows shot up. “A mate?”
Eryk shrugged. “I’m almost certain.”
“Almost certain?” Dane snorted. “How can you be almost certain? Mates are or they aren’t.”
Eryk’s eyes took on a coldness. “It is complicated, and none of your business, Charger.”
Dane laughed. “Of course, I’m sorry. Good luck to you. In the meantime, will you stay here and fight with us?”
Eryk’s face held conflicting emotions, with regret chief among them. “I wish we could. You have plenty of Daryk Ones to defend this castle. Thirty at least, not including yourself.”
Ketera didn’t want to think they had so few Daryk Ones to take care of this castle. “Is that all?”
Eryk smiled, and it changed his dark eyes to warm and appreciative. “Thirty Dark Ones can kill many men at a single fight.”
“Still…” She tried not to shiver.
Dane released her and shook his friend’s hand again. “I’ll bid you goodbye. I’m grieved we cannot spend more time together.”
Eryk released his hand and nodded. “As am I.” He gestured to the men with him. “Much drinking and joviality would be appreciated at another time, my friend. I’ll hold you to it.”
“Be safe.” Dane waved as the men head off into the jungle at a run.
Another shiver ran over her and she rubbed her arms. Though there were other people milling about on the outside of the castle, most of them were heading for the drawbridge.
She shivered again. “Dane, let’s go in.”
He nodded and they started for the drawbridge. Before long they’d entered the bustle and hustle. People didn’t stop to look at them or greet them—they seemed far too hurried to make the effort.
“Everyone is preparing for battle.” Her voice quavered and she hated that. She cleared her throat and coughed.
“Possibly. Fear makes everyone walk a little faster.”
“Is that why we’re walking so fast?”
He grunted, face serious and unyielding. “We’ll go to my quarters. There we’ll prepare for anything that might come.”
“Why would Drakus attack this castle again?”
Dane’s grim stare as they marched toward his quarters told her only half the truth. “Those poachers were Drakus’ men. They weren’t Daryk Ones or you wouldn’t have been able to kill them.”
That stung a little. She’d taken pride she could defend herself. “And? He’ll want revenge?”
“Not because he cares about the men. Because his pride’s been hurt.” A small smile touched his mouth then vanished. “The dragon probably did get away.”
She laughed, but there was no real mirth in the sound. “He’d attack this entire castle just for that?”
“More likely he’s angry because Bantu died at my hands. At Rayder’s hands.”
“How would he know that?”
“Word will filter through that Bantu had a woman and someone got her back. He may guess it was us based on the way we fight.”
“He would know how each Daryk One fights?”
“Long years of being a Daryk One himself. Don’t underestimate Drakus. He is very clever. Evil just happens to be a part of his intelligence.”
They reached the stairs that went up to his quarters and started upward. He stopped on the stairs when she didn’t follow him. “What?”
She continued past him and headed to his door, eager to get there. “We need to get in touch with Minilos, and I need to leave Dragonia before the siege. Time is running out for my father.”
She expected him to argue, but instead he drew her inside their quarters and locked the door behind them. “I don’t know if there’s time for that.”
“What do you mean?”
He cupped her face in one hand then drew her into his arms. “I doubt there’s time for us to get out of here and make it to the beach before Drakus lays siege to the castle.”
She sighed. “No.”
“Yes. Look, as soon as the siege is over, I’ll get you out of here. There are a few things we absolutely have to do first.”
She drew out of his arms, her frustration returning. “You’re not just saying this to keep me here.”
“Of course not.” He looked unhappy that she’d questioned him. “You don’t trust me?”
“I know you want to keep me here.”
“Of course I do. You are my mate.”
Red glowed in his eyes and reminded her of the primal urges that ran through him. Through her, if she would admit it.
“I must save my father.”
“Not at the cost of your life. I will send the Daryk One to reconnoiter in Magonia.”
Returning frustration made her turn away from him. He clasped her forearm and gently spun her around. “No matter what you think, I want to help you. Before that, we need to prepare for Drakus. I have some things to show you.” He showed her a false bottom wall in one cabinet. “There’s enough food and water stored back here to last weeks.”
She glanced around, astonished by the food stores he’d managed to put away. “This is incredible.”
He showed her how to open a false bottom in the closet. “You’ll need to know about this.” He pulled out a bag filled with money. More money than she’d ever seen.
“By Magon,” she whispered.
He put the bag back inside the depression in the floor. “There is twenty thousand triand in there.”
He stood and helped her into standing position. He kept her hand in his. He dipped down to kiss her, his mouth ravenous. He let her go almost as quickly. “If something happens to me. If the battle starts and I don’t come back for you today, you need
to take this money and go through the tunnel.” He took her to another door, this one hidden in another wall. He pushed it open and blackness yawned beyond the door. A short distance down the tunnel, vines in the wall glowed with blue and white. “This tunnel is continuously lit by fire plants. It leads straight to the tavern and Minilos. He’ll keep you safe and get you to a ship back to Magonia. The money might help you secure your father’s release.”
Her throat tightened, her mind racing in a hundred directions. “I can’t take your money, and you’re coming back.”
“I plan on coming back, but anything is possible in war. You know that. I must talk to Armen Helnak. Take the time to bathe. You might not get a chance once the battle begins. I’ll bathe when I return. Lock this door when I leave.”
He planted another short, hard kiss on her lips. She responded, throwing her arms around his neck and taking the lead by caressing his lips with her tongue. He groaned, hauling her into his arms and pressing his growing erection against her. He took over, plunging his tongue inside her until she felt an intense response blossoming in her lower stomach. His hands clamped on her butt and squeezed as he kissed her voraciously.
When he broke free, his eyes were flame red, his breath puffing between his lips. “I want you, but I have to restrain myself now.” He left her go and drew his dagger out. He handed it to her. “Take this. It served you well in the jungle. Use it if you must, however you must. You’re a good fighter.”
With a parting smile, he left. The door closed, but he didn’t lock it from the outside. Wonderment and fear mixed inside her. Dane trusted her. She was here, free to go anytime, and he’d shown her a huge stash of money. She could leave anytime.
No. She couldn’t.
She couldn’t abandon Dane, even if he didn’t come back today. She couldn’t take his money and leave him high and dry.
Her bond with him grew tighter, closer every minute. His trust in her amazed and yet gratified her. The man had given her a gift she couldn’t remember receiving from anyone but her father. Total trust.
Daryk Hunter Page 16
