dragon archives 04 - dance with a dragon

by Linda K Hopkins

  “When someone dies the people left behind dress in black to show how sad they are that they won’t see the person again.”

  “Oh. Why did he die?” Lydia asked after a moment’s pause.

  “He was sick for a long time, and then he died. But we will have a new king soon.”

  “Will the new king also die?”

  “Eventually. But hopefully not for many years.”

  Lydia seemed to be pondering that as Thomas pulled his horse to a halt outside a large house, black timbers stark against whitewashed walls. As he dismounted, the wooden door was cautiously opened from within by an aging man with skinny legs and a large, hooked nose.

  “Harry,” Favian said, stepping forward.

  The man bowed stiffly. “Master,” he said. Squinting his eyes, he peered at the people gathered around Favian. “You brought visitors, Master,” he said, his tone suggesting that this inconvenience was a personal affront. He glanced down at the two children who were staring at him, and his brows gathered together in a frown.

  “I did. But perhaps you will allow me entry into my own house?”

  “Of course, Master,” said the man, pulling himself stiffly from the door with a bow. Taking Lydia by the hand, Anna followed the others into a hall that, even though it stretched the length of the house, was only half the size of the hall at Storbrook.

  Favian turned to face the others. “Welcome to Drake House,” he said with a wave of his hand. “Not as grand as Storbrook, to be sure, but comfortable enough for a few nights.”

  “You are right,” Aaron said, his face straight as he glanced around. “This place is very pokey.” He turned to Keira. “Should we find more comfortable accommodations elsewhere, my sweet?” Keira glared at him in mock consternation, but her attempt at sternness was lost when she laughingly turned to Favian.

  “Please forgive his rudeness – he can be quite uncivilized at times. In fact, there are times when I think he’s no better behaved than a wild beast. But I am very grateful for your kind hospitality, so thank you.”

  Beside her Cathryn laughed. “No need to apologize, Keira. We are all familiar with Aaron’s, er, manners.” She turned her attention to Harry. “Please send some refreshments to the parlor, and let Hannah know that we have arrived.” The man bowed again, and left the room as Cathryn turned once more to her guests. “Follow me, and I will show you your chambers,” she said, leading the way out of the hall and up a narrow flight of stairs.

  Chapter 6

  The following day dawned cool and damp, despite being late spring, as though nature itself was joining the residents of the city in mourning the loss of their king. Anna’s room overlooked a narrow lane, and the rain made the view even more miserable. Puddles filled the ruts, creating cesspools of mud and manure, while a large, gray rat scurried along the side of the wall. Anna slammed the shutter closed with a shiver and made her way downstairs where she joined the others.

  “Alfred most humbly requested the pleasure of my presence when I arrived in the city,” Aaron was saying to Favian as Anna entered the room. “Keira and I will go there today to pay our respects. And a reminder of our presence in his kingdom wouldn’t do any harm.” Aaron glanced at Keira, seated by his side. “You know I would prefer you not come, but your presence will make mine less of a threat.”

  “You worry too much, Aaron,” Keira said. “I promise to take no notice of the beautiful ladies at court, nor be plagued by unpleasant memories.” She turned to Anna and asked, “Would you like to come?” but Anna shook her head.

  “The city looks too dismal. I would rather just stay here and keep dry.”

  The day passed drearily, the rain dampening the mood of adults and children alike. When Zach and Lydia grew bored of playing in their chambers, Bronwyn cheered them up by playing hide-and-go-seek. And when they tired of that, she told them tales of a king who had become the loyal subject to a powerful dragon.

  Aaron and Keira were gone until mid-afternoon. When they walked into the hall, Aaron’s skin was steaming from the rain, but Keira was shivering beneath her damp clothes. Anna handed her a cup of wine as she went to stand before the fire. “Why anyone would choose to be out today is beyond me,” Keira said, “but the rain did not keep people away from the palace to view the body of the king.”

  “Did you see it?” Anna asked.

  Keira shook her head. “No. People were lined up out the building, across the courtyard and through the gardens. Besides, Aaron complained that he could not bear the smell. He moved so quickly past the hall, I had to run to keep up!”

  Anna laughed. “A dragon who does not like the smell of dead flesh!”

  Aaron walked over to where the women stood by the fire. “Dragons do not eat carrion!” he said with mock consternation. “It needs to be warm and fresh!”

  Anna shuddered. “That sounds … delicious!” Aaron grinned.

  “So you saw the new king?” Favian asked, entering the room.

  “I did,” Aaron said. “I gave him a little reminder of who I am, to make sure he remembered his promise to keep our secret for the safety of his kingdom. And I also assured him of my loyalty to him as sovereign king of the human realm.”

  Favian nodded. “Do you think he has kept his silence?”

  “I think so, for now at any rate. But he has a long reign ahead of him, and the burden of our secret may become too heavy for him to bear alone. But there is no more we can do now. We will just have to wait and see what happens.”

  The funeral service was the following day, and although the rain had stopped, the clouds were low and ominous, and the air was damp. The service was to be conducted in the large cathedral that soared high above the city skyline, but despite being the largest edifice in the kingdom, no more than a few hundred people could be squeezed into the nave, and the guest list had been strategically pared down to include only the most important guests. The nobility, of course, were invited – a new king had to ensure he offended no-one who could pose a threat to his rule; foreign dignitaries also made the list; the church elite – the kingdom’s scribes and bearers of blessings – had also been invited; and the Dragon Master. These people would bear report to the rest of the kingdom of the ceremony given to the old monarch. Of course, anyone who chose to could watch the coffin proceed from the palace to the king’s final resting place within the cathedral.

  Except for Aaron and Keira, the entire Drake household, including the staff, set out early in the morning to find a good spot near the cathedral to watch the procession, the children jumping excitedly at the thought of seeing the knights in their armor. Despite the early hour, crowds of people were already lining the streets as they huddled together, laying claim to their spaces along the funeral route. The street was a sea of black which grew thicker and deeper with each passing hour. An air of grief hung over the city, and Anna saw more than a few elderly women pressing handkerchiefs to their eyes. Lydia tugged at her hand.

  “Why is that lady crying?” she asked.

  “Because the king is dead,” Anna said.

  “Does she miss him?”

  “Yes,” Anna said, “I think she misses him very much.”

  The hours passed slowly as they stood waiting in the chilly air. Hannah had brought a basket filled with cold meats, bread and wine, which she passed out among the group, but still Anna shivered, and the children complained of the cold. The only one unaffected was Favian, and slowly the family edged closer to him, seeking out his warmth. It was already well past noon when Anna heard the muffled stamp of hooves in the distance.

  “I can’t see anything,” Lydia complained, pulling on her hand. Anna was standing next to Cathryn and Bronwyn, with the children in front of her, but with so many people milling about, it was difficult to get a clear line of sight. Behind them stood Favian, who towered over everyone else in the crowd.

  “Pass her to me,” he said, and a moment later Lydia was seated on Favian’s shoulders, while Zach scrambled onto Thomas’s. Lydia wrapped h
er hands around Favian’s head with a laugh, and Anna turned to shush her as people looked on disapprovingly.

  “I can see everything,” Lydia said in a loud whisper.

  “I wish I was still small enough to sit on Papa’s shoulders,” Bronwyn said with a sigh, pushing herself up on her toes to try and get a better view of the road. Cathryn turned to her daughter with raised eyebrows, her expression more eloquent than words as she looked at the daughter who already topped her by an inch. Bronwyn grinned, but said nothing.

  Still the minutes dragged by, and the silence on the street was eerie as the people waited for the funeral procession to appear. The bells hung silent, and even the birds did not sing on this dreary day. The horses’ hooves had been wrapped in cloth to muffle the sound of their tread, which added to the surreal mood. Finally, a small gasp rippling through the crowd announced that the procession had turned the corner and was approaching the gathered onlookers. Anna craned her neck to see the twenty-four liveried knights, bearing the colors of the royal house, mounted on battle steeds and riding in pairs. The open hearse followed, drawn by six black horses, their manes and tails braided with black ribbons. The royal coffin was draped with a cloth bearing the royal coats of arms. Behind the hearse walked the new monarch, King Alfred, and his younger brother, Prince Rupert. Dressed in black from head to toe, they both had their heads bowed, and they marched with even footsteps as they followed the vehicle carrying their father to his final resting place. Behind the royal sons came the Lord Chamberlain, a black mantle over his shoulders; the Lord Mayor, his chain of office hanging around his neck; and the city Aldermen, representing the Merchant Guilds. They were followed by the Knights of the Garter, the blue strip of fabric that was tied around each calf the only contrast in the sea of black. Lastly came a glittering carriage, gilded in gold, which carried the new queen, the royal children, and the ladies-in-waiting to Her Royal Highness.

  The silence thickened as the hearse drew closer, even the children recognizing the solemnity of the occasion. An elderly woman standing near Anna sobbed quietly, her shoulders heaving as she pressed a sodden handkerchief to her face.

  As the procession slowly moved past, the crowds fell in behind the carriage, walking quietly behind. It was not far to the cathedral from this point, and Anna watched as the hearse pulled to a stop alongside the wide stairs that led up to the large arched doors. The crowd watched in silence as the coffin was pushed from the hearse and into the waiting hands of the new king, his brother the prince, and the deceased king’s two younger brothers, the Dukes of Sufford and Eastwich. The wagon moved away and the four men slowly marched up the steps towards the door. They were almost at the top of the stairs when Alfred stumbled, his foot missing the next rise. The coffin swayed precariously for a moment and a collective intake of breath was heard through the crowd before he finally found his footing.

  “A bad omen, mark my words,” a women mumbled behind Anna. The pall-bearers reached the top of the stairs without further incident, and entered the church, where the archbishop stood waiting for them. The rest of the procession followed in dignified silence, and the archbishop pushed the door closed behind them.

  All around Anna the crowds pushed and surged. Lydia and Zach were still seated on Favian and Thomas’s shoulders, but Anna grabbed Bronwyn’s arm as someone pushed between them. They turned in the direction of Drake House, forcing a path through the heaving crowds. It was slow going, and they were still some way off when they heard the tolling of bells, jangled and confused as they sadly delivered the news that the old king had been placed in his final resting place within the cathedral. Anna shivered slightly, before hastening her footsteps to keep up with the others as they neared the warmth of Drake House.

  Chapter 7

  A new wind blew through the city in the week following the funeral. Gone were the clouds and rain, and instead the sun shone in a sky of blue. The black drapes disappeared from the windows and mourning clothes were set aside. The city resumed its frenetic pace, and the street sounds returned to their usual volume, all air of reverence and respect gone.

  There were many dragons who lived in the city, and Aaron’s days were full as he dealt with clan matters and met with his clansmen, sometimes going beyond the city walls where his dragon form would not be seen by humans. Favian often joined him, and the two were gone from morning till late each night. Cathryn, too, took the opportunity of being in the city to deal with matters of business. As a wool merchant, there were guild meetings to attend and brokers to entertain. Which left Keira and Anna plenty of time to explore the city, Bronwyn and the twins in tow.

  The city was abuzz as it prepared for the coronation of the new king – tapestries were hung from windows, banners were strung across the streets, and the inns concocted special brews in honor of the new monarch. Foreigners filled the city, speaking languages unfamiliar to common city folk, and wearing clothes that made people stare in astonishment. To Anna, it was exciting. Every day there was something new to see, and some new treat to taste. She heard words she had never heard before, and gaped at the latest fashions, brought from foreign courts. She felt as though she could wander the streets forever and never tire of the pace and rhythm.

  A few days before the coronation, Anna was surprised to come downstairs and find Aaron waiting in the hall with Keira, while the twins ran in circles around them.

  “I’m taking a break from clan business,” Aaron told Anna as she entered the room, “and will be joining you on your excursions today.”

  Bronwyn soon joined them, and they pushed their way into the crowded streets. Turning in the direction of the river, Aaron led them to some quieter roads, away from the shoving crowds. Even here, jugglers, jesters and mummers arrayed themselves along the street, and Zach and Lydia watched wide-eyed when knife jugglers and sword throwers impressed the crowds with their skills. Keira teased Aaron when a man who breathed fire set a long branch alight, but Zach was fascinated.

  “Is that man a dragon, Papa?” he asked in wonder.

  “No, son,” Aaron answered with a laugh. “He’s not actually breathing fire.”

  “Oh,” Zach said, but his tone was doubtful.

  Aaron and Keira walked ahead of the small group, the children at their sides, while Bronwyn fell in step with Anna. Her long dark hair was tossed carelessly over her back, but the sun caught tints of red within the brown tresses that shone as her hair swayed on her shoulders. Her eyes were blue like her father’s, and like him, her smile came easily.

  “You are so fortunate to live so close to the city,” Anna said.

  “Really?” Bronwyn said. “We don’t come very often. Father prefers being in the country, away from prying eyes.” She glanced up at Aaron, her eyes narrowed in consideration. “I can’t blame him. I’m sure I will want to stay in the country too, when I change.”

  Anna looked at Bronwyn, confused for a moment, before understanding dawned. Of course, she too was a dragon, and although her body had not yet started changing, her turn would soon come.

  “How do you feel about being a dragon?” Anna asked, curious.

  Bronwyn shrugged. “I don’t really think about it. It is what I am, and nothing will change it. It will be wonderful to take to the sky with my own wings, but I wish I didn’t have to eat … certain things.”

  Anna shuddered. “No, I can understand that.”

  “But Father says if you don’t think about it, it’s not so terrible.”

  “Well, I suppose he would know,” Anna said, a little doubtfully. She looked at Lydia, who was riding on her father’s shoulders. She hadn’t given much thought to her little niece being a dragon before, but she too would one day sprout wings and breathe fire. As Anna considered this, Aaron turned to look at her, his amused expression convincing her that he had guessed the direction of her thoughts.

  A group of actors a little way ahead caught Anna’s attention and she watched as they played out a coronation scene. As would be expected from a troupe of actor
s, the coronation went horribly wrong – the prince tripped on his way to the throne, the archbishop dropped the crown, the princess whacked the prince with the scepter, and the orb rolled down the aisle as the noblemen hopped over it, until one of them picked up the rolling sphere and raising it above his head, declared himself to be the new king. Anna joined the crowd in laughing, amused at the spectacle.

  Later that evening, Anna sat with Keira and Cathryn in the small parlor behind the hall. Anna was telling Cathryn about the play they had seen, laughing as she related the farcical coronation. Aaron and Favian had gone out a few hours earlier, and Bronwyn, Zach and Lydia had all gone to bed.

  “It sounds like you enjoy the city,” Cathryn said.

  “Oh, yes! It is the most wonderful place,” Anna replied. “It’s so alive! There is something happening on every street corner – a play, or jugglers, or some other entertainment.”

  Cathryn smiled in amusement. “It does begin to tire after a while.”

  “Oh, no, I cannot believe that! I don’t think I would ever grow tired of Civitas!”

  “I enjoy coming here for a short while,” Keira said, “but the place is too chaotic for me to spend too long. I will be glad to return home.”

  “Will we leave immediately after the coronation?” Anna asked, a tone of wistfulness creeping into her voice. Keira smiled, then glanced at Cathryn, who gave a small nod.

  “Aaron is eager to start the journey back to Storbrook as soon as possible following the coronation,” Keira said. Anna nodded her understanding. It was as she expected. “We will stop overnight at Drake Manor,” Keira continued, “and if you would like to, you can remain there with Cathryn and Favian.”

  “At Drake Manor?” Anna said in surprise, looking first at Keira, then turning to Cathryn.

  Cathryn nodded. “Yes. I know you would like to be in Civitas, but we are not so far away, and can come in anytime.”

  “But … are you sure?” Anna could not help smiling.