Tall, Dark, and Medieval

by Barbara Devlin

  “My lord,” said the guard with a small bow. “Which prisoner did you need to see?”

  “All of them that betrayed me,” Drake said, walking forward to survey the crowded cells.

  The first cell they came upon held two of Drake’s knights, Sir Burgess and his brother, Sir Broderick, and a few of the villagers, including a woman.

  “Why did you do it?” Drake asked his knights. “Why turn against your lord? Haven’t I treated you fairly?”

  “’Twas Calais,” the younger knight, Broderick cried. “He filled us with lies about you. He said you planned on using us and then killing us off when you didn’t need us.”

  Drake was glad to hear it wasn’t Brynn who’d organized the rebellion. She’d proclaimed her innocence in this matter, but still he had to be sure she’d never go against him again.

  “I’ve never treated you with anything but respect,” he told his knights.

  The older knight, Sir Burgess, was wounded badly, arm bleeding and almost severed. He raised his head and weakly called out, “You are the Dragon’s Son. We’ve seen Dracus. You would have us killed by him just to protect her!” He pointed a bloody finger at Brynn.

  “Witch!” yelled the village woman. “Ye bloody witch! We are all cursed because of ye. Our children are not safe in their beds at night.”

  Brynn gasped as she moved forward, and saw the two scrawny children hidden in the folds of her gown. They couldn’t have been more than four years of age.

  “Quiet!” yelled Drake. “You hold your tongues or I’ll have fifty lashes for each of you. Even you, woman!”

  “Drake!” Brynn pulled at his arm, and he continued to the next cell. A man came up to the barred door, shaking it vigorously.

  “You killed my son and I’ll kill you if it’s the last thing I do.”

  Brynn recognized the bedraggled, wounded man as Rowley, her father’s falconer. She let go of Drake’s arm and stepped forward. She reached out and touched the man’s hand.

  “Rowley. You turned against me?”

  “Not against you, my lady, against your evil husband. But now that you’ve laid with him, we know you’ve taken his side. Any friend of the Dragon’s is a foe of mine.”

  “You cannot mean that,” she said. “You used to be such a happy man.”

  He grabbed her hand, startling her. His wrist stuck out far from the bars.

  “You cannot escape the dragon,” he told her. “His evil ways will consume you as well.”

  The sound of Drake’s sword being pulled from his scabbard caused the falconer to pull back his hand quickly. Too late. Drake had severed the tip of the man’s finger, and the falconer screamed in pain as he fell to the ground.

  “Drake!” Brynn screamed, horrified by her husband’s act. “How could you?”

  “I will not tolerate those who betray me or touch my wife.” He pulled her away from the cell.

  “But he wasn’t going to hurt me.”

  “He and the others tried to kill me. Do you doubt they’d had come after you once they were done with me?”

  Brynn knew he was right, but still she couldn’t hate Rowley or the others the way Drake did. They had reason to be angry with him, just as Drake did with them. Though her husband only acted as any warrior would, she didn’t like to see bloodshed, especially at her expense.

  “We should have sacrificed you to the dragon and none of us would be here.”

  Brynn looked over to the next cell to see Hermod and the Elders pressed against the bars.

  “I knew you were trouble the first time I laid eyes on you,” said Hermod. “You’ve even cursed Calais by lying with him. Now he’ll end up giving his life for your little scheme.”

  “Kill her!” yelled one prisoner.

  “Make her suffer,” screamed another. Then they started up with a chanting of “Witch, Witch.”

  Brynn suddenly felt no different than when she was up on the sacrificial stake. Why did she think these people would ever respect her? Why did she at one time want to turn them against Drake? She shook her head and backed away from the cells. Their words rang in her ears and their emotions settled in her heart.

  “Did you want to see the rest?” asked the guard. “I’ve got three more cells all filled with the traitors.”

  “I’ve seen enough.” Drake replaced his sword. “Get word to the executioner to be here in the morning.”

  “Aye, my lord.”

  Drake headed toward the door, doing nothing to stop them from taunting her.

  “Executioner?” asked Brynn, running to catch up with him. “What for?”

  “There’s going to be a killin’,” smiled the guard. “Which will it be, my lord? The old knight, the falconer, or perhaps the bitch with the sharp tongue?”

  Drake stopped and looked at the cells. The prisoners shouted out obscenities, spat through the bars at Drake’s feet, and chanted ‘witch, witch, witch,’ together.

  “Kill them all,” Drake ordered. “Kill every last one of them.”

  “Nay!” screamed Brynn, trying to stop her husband’s order. Though these people taunted her, they didn’t need to die. She’d lived with this sort of treatment her whole life. Or was Drake going to kill them because of their betrayal to him? Either way, she couldn’t accept any more deaths at Thorndale.

  “Come, wife. This is no place for you.”

  He escorted her back past the first cell, and that’s when she noticed something she hadn’t before. The addlepated old man with the white hair stood by the bars near the front of the cell, watching her with haunting eyes.

  “The dragon lives and we all will die. The two became one, but the dragon grows bigger from the union.”

  “Old man,” said Brynn. “You are the one who helped put out the fire at the cave, are you not?”

  “I am, Lady Dragon.”

  The title he’d given her sent a chill up her spine. Lady Dragon, the old man had called her, and she knew it was true. She’d joined with Drake but had done nothing to help him conquer the dragon. The betrayers standing before her had every right to feel the way they did.

  “Come,” said Drake.

  “We can’t leave him here,” Brynn said. “He helped you in the cave, don’t you remember?”

  “I do,” said Drake.

  “Then save his life. He didn’t betray you. I spoke with him in the garden just before the dragon arrived. He warned me Dracus was coming.”

  “I can’t trust anyone anymore, Brynn. If he’s in here, it’s because my men found him with the other betrayers. If I let him out, I’ll have to let the others go as well. I can’t do that.”

  “You can’t let his life end this way.”

  “He’s addlepated. It’ll be a blessing for him. ’Tis for the best.”

  Drake pulled her to the door. Brynn looked back with tears in her eyes, wishing she could do something for the old man. If only she could help Rowley the falconer, the village woman, and the children, Drake’s knights, and all the others.

  “I’m sorry,” she said to the old man as Drake dragged her away.

  “Our fate is destined,” he said, sounding as if he knew some ancient secret that could not be changed. “So is both of yours. ’Tis too late now. The dragon has spoken.”

  Drake pulled her away, her gaze still on the old man, her mind pondering his words. She followed her husband up the stairs, shuddering when the guard locked the door with a loud clank after their exit. It didn’t seem right. While the prisoners did betray Drake, they’d only done what they thought would save them. Instead, it was that very act that would end their lives.

  “You can’t kill off children.” She followed him out into the courtyard feeling very helpless. His stride was long and he didn’t slow to speak with her.

  “Then I’ll send them to a neighboring village. I’ll let another lord raise them. But I want them out of here.”

  “What about their mother?”

  He stopped and she just about crashed into him. He had an irritated
look in his eye.

  “The woman cannot be trusted.”

  “She is a woman!”

  “I know that, Brynn. But what if I put her to work in the kitchens? Can you guarantee she won’t come after me - or after you with a knife?”

  “So put her to work in the alehouse.”

  “So she can poison my drink? I think not.”

  “Then send her away with her children.”

  “She’ll teach them to hate me, and probably raise them as warriors to come back and kill me. In the meantime, she’ll most likely start enough trouble with gossip that there’ll be another conspiracy against me in a fortnight. I just can’t take the chance.”

  “Killing is not the answer.”

  “Then tell me what is, Brynn. Leaving them there to rot? I don’t need to feed those who wish to cut out my heart. I’d rather spend the coin on those who are willing to protect me.”

  “Spoken like a true warrior.”

  “Egads, woman! What do you want from me?” The sky clouded over as well as his disposition, and Brynn looked up to the sky in thought, shivering in the cool, sudden breeze.

  “Ever notice how your mood seems to control the weather?” she asked, glancing up toward the sky.

  “I don’t have time for nonsense. I have to find out who else in my castle is out to kill me.” He made his way to the mews.

  “Our castle,” she corrected him. “And it’s not nonsense. When you were unconscious, and the last week while you were happy, the sun never stopped shining. Now that you’re upset, the sky is overcast. When you’re really angry, we have a storm. Then Dracus comes.”

  “Why did you say that?” He grabbed her shoulder and pulled her closer. “Why did you mention my father in the same breath as me?”

  “I didn’t mention your father. I mentioned Dracus.”

  “Dracus is my father. He’s one and the same.”

  “I’m not convinced. I saw your father turn into a dragon. A green dragon. Not Dracus.”

  “What are you talking about? That silly dream of yours again?”

  “Nay, Drake. I’m talking about last week when I went out to gather herbs while you did not wake. The same day I saw your mother.”

  “You lie. My mother is dead.” He stormed off to the mews and ducked to enter through the low door to the building that housed the birds.

  “She came to me, Drake,” she said, following him inside. “She came to Asad also. Just ask him.”

  “What does this have to do with anything?”

  “She warned Asad that your father had me trapped under the water. If it wasn’t for her, I’d never have come back, I’m sure.”

  “Brynn, is this true?”

  “It is, my lord. You wouldn’t let me speak of your father, or I would have told you sooner.” Brynn eyed her falcon sitting alone on the stoop. He looked hungry and gaunt. She ran a finger over her pet’s head. The bird looked wearisome, and Brynn knew they needed to train someone soon to care for the birds, now that the falconer and Calais were both gone. With no one caring for the birds, they would die.

  “We need to talk, Brynn.”

  “I know.”

  Drake clenched his fists and looked toward the pile of hay on the far side of the mews.

  “Not here,” he said, and Brynn knew it brought back memories of the first time they’d coupled in their etheric forms.

  “In the solar?” she suggested.

  “Nay. I don’t trust anyone anymore. We need to go somewhere outside the castle.”

  “I agree. But first I’d like to tend to Feathers. All the birds are hungry and in great need of care.”

  “Let me find someone to care for the birds and I’ll meet you in the stable at midday.”

  “Where will we go, my lord?”

  “I’ll have Asad saddle a horse for you. We’re going on a little trip to the seashore.”

  THE DRAGON AND THE DREAMWALKER

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  “I’ve found a boy who’s the woodward’s son to care for the falcons, my lord,” said Asad, saddling a horse for Brynn while Drake paced back and forth in the stable waiting for her.

  “Good, good,” he mumbled, not at all interested in the details.

  “We are short two guards on the battlements and one sentry at the barbican now that the traitors have been imprisoned. Not to mention, you’ve lost two of your best knights.”

  “Blast it, Asad, I know all this. If there isn’t anything you can say that isn’t redundant jibber, than do not speak at all.”

  “Aye, my lord. I was only trying to make conversation.” Asad finished with the saddle and held up a saddlebag. “Will you be wanting supplies, my lord? Is this to be an overnight trip?”

  “Nay. ’Tis only going to be more irritating conversation. Jibbering nonsense that won’t make any sense anyway.”

  “My pardons, my lord, but I’m not quite sure of what you speak.”

  “I’m going to the seashore with Brynn. We’re going to talk.”

  “Ah.” He picked up a brush and ran it over the horse’s thigh.

  “Is that all you have to say?” Drake stopped pacing and watched him. He waited for more questions but they didn’t come.

  “As you suggested, my lord, I’ll not bother you with idle chatter, redundant jibber or irritating conversation.”

  “Aren’t you going to ask of what we’ll be speaking?”

  “Nay.” He busied himself with the horse. “I’m sure I know ’tis about the dragon that almost brought Brynn to her death in the pool at the cave.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me about this before, Asad?”

  “You were preoccupied, my lord. For a whole week you’d asked not to be disturbed, if I must remind you. Besides, I was sure Brynn would have mentioned it to you anon.”

  “Yes, well,” Drake cleared his throat. “I suppose she would have if I had let her.”

  “I am ready,” called Brynn in a singsong voice, strolling into the stables with a basket on her arm.

  “What is in the basket?” Drake grumbled.

  “Fruit, bread and cheese,” she said proudly.

  “I didn’t instruct the cook to fix such a thing.”

  “Nay, you didn’t. I packed it myself. I thought it would be a good chance to spend a little romantic time together. After all, my husband, you did say we’re going to the seashore.”

  “Yes, but I hadn’t even considered that you’d think of Lornoon as a romantic spot.”

  “Lornoon?” both Asad and Brynn asked together.

  “That’s correct.” Drake hoisted himself atop his horse. “So, I’d suggest leaving the food here. Unless you plan on giving it to Dracus.”

  “I didn’t know we were going to Lornoon. Why is that, my lord?” Brynn looked up to him with wide eyes.

  “What better place to talk about my father than the dragon’s lair?”

  “I’m not going.” Brynn sat down on a wooden stool.

  “You’d best have Asad help you to your horse before I decide to leave without you.”

  “Without me?” she said, getting to her feet. “I thought we were going to talk. How would you do that without me?”

  “I’m sure I’d find conversation with someone. Be it the animals that roam through the hills, or even Dracus himself.”

  “You are jesting!” He watched Brynn shove the basket at Asad and climb atop the horse by herself. “You are not going anywhere near the dragon without me.”

  Drake chuckled, and directed Gollimer out of the stable. “Then come, wife. Our guest awaits us.”

  * * *

  Brynn felt very uncomfortable riding back to the place she’d almost found her demise. As if it wasn’t bad enough, Drake led her directly up to the cliff that still held the sacrificial post. She shuddered, watching the way the ropes that once bound her there swayed lonely in the breeze. Blood stained the rocks below the post from the many virgins whose lives were taken trying to stop the dragon from coming again.

 
; “I don’t like this,” she said, slowing her horse to a stop.

  Drake jumped off Gollimer and looked out over the sea. “I didn’t figure you would.”

  “Then why bring me here in the first place? Is this some sort of an ill jest?”

  “Nay, my lady, ’tis not.” Drake sat down on the cliff and dangled his feet over the edge. Brynn gasped, knowing the steep drop to the sea directly below. “Come join me, Brynn.”

  She suddenly felt apprehensive and ill thoughts filled her head from fear. Would he have brought her here to throw her over the cliff or possibly feed her to Dracus?

  “I’m not going to harm you,” he answered as if he knew her thoughts. “I seem to think well while watching the sea. Something about the water has always stirred my emotions.”

  Brynn carefully dismounted and tied her horse to a nearby bush. She made her way to Drake, but sat back from the edge of the cliff - not where she could see the drop to the water below.

  “I want you to tell me about my father.”

  She could see it wasn’t easy for Drake to bring up the subject. He had ignored the situation for so long, and now she knew it was because it brought too many ill memories to the surface.

  “I think I should tell you about your mother first.”

  He nodded, looking out to the water. “I’d like that.”

  Brynn settled in next to him, but away from the edge. “She was gentle and caring. Her words were as soft as her snowy white skin and long ebony hair.”

  “That sounds like her.” He picked up a handful of stones and tossed them one at a time over the cliff into the water.

  “She said something about not being able to do something. That I still had the chance, though. I didn’t understand.”

  “Throughout my childhood, she always gave me hope. Hope that I wouldn’t turn out like my father.”

  “She said you were not all you seemed. That every black night has a spark of light. If I found that, I’d be able to save you.”

  “Save me?” He laughed. “Save me from what? The destiny that awaits my black soul was meant for me, Brynn. If I die fighting Dracus, then I’ve at least done one noble thing in my life. It’ll be worth the effort.”

  “Nay. Don’t say that.” Brynn reached out and grabbed Drake’s hand. He gave her hand a squeeze in return.