by Bianca D’Arc
That was something Hrardorr was going to have to figure out for himself and accept…or not…as time went on. Seth was impressed with how far Hrardorr had come in such a short time, but he still had a ways to go, and Seth vowed to be there for his friend, every step along that journey, if Hrardorr would allow it. And even if he wouldn’t. Seth was stubborn, too, and would be there with the dragon’s permission or not.
Thinking those somewhat militant thoughts, Seth joined the others in the great hall, guiding Hrardorr with silent instructions. The hall had been built large enough to accommodate gryphons, so even a dragon of Hrardorr’s size easily fit within. Seth directed him to an area that seemed tailor made for large four-footed folk near one of the huge fireplaces.
Hrardorr sat comfortably and lowered his head to one of the cushions that seemed to be set there just for that purpose. Once Seth was sure Hrardorr was settled, he greeted everyone, gathered some breakfast from the buffet table, and sat at the table with everyone else.
Livia was there, as was Gowan, but so was Captain O’Dare, sitting between them and making more intimate conversation with Livia impossible. Seth nodded a greeting to her, sending her a little wink when her father wasn’t looking, but any other familiarities were strictly curtailed by the captain’s glowering presence.
Seth elected to sit near Gowan, who just happened to be in a chair very close to where Hrardorr had settled. The open seat next to him would put Seth right by the dragon, which seemed a good place to be when Livia’s father was giving him the evil eye.
A number of fair folk had joined them this morning. Seth recognized some of them from the command tent when he’d been there the day before. Gowan introduced him to a number of the fey officers he had befriended, and they made conversation throughout the otherwise quiet meal.
Quiet, that is, until Gryffid stormed into the room, robes waving in the breeze of his passing, a staff of power in his hand, blazing hot with angry magic. The fair folk shot to their feet, alarm on their pale faces. Sensing the quick change in mood, Gowan and Seth also got to their feet, as did Captain O’Dare.
“Someone made it past all my protections during the battle,” Gryffid said without preamble, looking at the assembled warriors. “They have made off with something that could ruin us all!”
“Fisk,” Captain O’Dare swore, crumpling his napkin in one hand, his face a mask of anger. “I knew he ran away too easily.” O’Dare sought the wizard’s attention. “What did he steal?”
“A book. A very precious book containing—among other things—the spell that could release my misguided brethren from their icy prison at the Citadel.”
Now, Hrardorr was on his feet, Seth noticed, his body trembling in alarm.
“That cannot be allowed,” Hrardorr said, his voice strong in everyone’s mind. The wizard looked at him, as if noticing him for the first time.
“You are quite right, Sir Hrardorr,” Gryffid agreed. “Someone must go after him. And someone must get word to King Roland of Draconia.”
Gowan immediately stepped forward. “Genlitha and I will seek the king, if you will entrust us with the mission.”
“I will, and gladly, Sir Gowan. Has your dragon friend reported anything about the ships that left here yesterday?” Gryffid asked, his eyes narrowing. Genlitha had been on high guard all day yesterday and had tried to follow the ships that had managed to escape the battle.
“It was strange, Sir. She was able to follow them quite a distance from your island, but at one point, a cloud bank moved in, and she lost sight of them. When it cleared again, they were nowhere to be seen. She should have been able to pick them up easily enough. Clouds are an obstacle we see all the time. But they just disappeared. She elected to return as it was nearing dark, and her natural camouflage works best in daylight hours.”
“A wise move. I cannot fault her for that at all. Please express my thanks to her for trying. I fear the book may be affording them access to certain magics that have not been seen in this world for centuries. Hiding a fleet of ships would be an easy trick with that book in their possession. Which is why someone must follow in their wake.” Gryffid turned to look directly at Captain O’Dare. “They can avoid being seen from above, but as you know, Captain, ships leave a trace of their passage. If you can get close enough to their trail, you’ll be able to see them, no matter the magic they have in their possession.”
“Sir, you speak of the book as if it is more than just a listing of spells. Is it magical, in itself?” Livia asked quietly, from her father’s side. She looked worried, and Seth longed to comfort her, but now was not the time.
“Yes, my dear. A book such as the one that was stolen from my library yesterday is magical in and of itself. It has endured many centuries, and each being who handled it in all those years—especially during the ages when magic was more abundant in this world than it is today—have left traces of their personal magic within its pages. With such a book, a person wouldn’t even have to be a very strong mage to make many of the spells work. The book itself is a dangerous object, which is why it was kept under lock and key—and many magical protections—in my private library.”
“It has been said for a long time that Fisk was dabbling in the dark arts,” O’Dare growled.
“To get through my protections, there had to be magic involved. No common sneak thief would have been able to free it from the bonds I had placed on my entire library,” Gryffid confirmed, frowning. “I have made a thorough search, and they only took that one book. Whoever it was knew exactly what they were looking for. The most damaging spell in that book is the one that would free the prisoners from the Citadel, which is why it must never make it that far North. The book, and its inherent magic, must be there for the spell to work, which is one thing going in our favor.” Gryffid paused. “The warnings must go out today. It will take some time for the book to go North, but they must prepare. I have no doubt this Fisk has allies we have not considered. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the entire attack was aimed at distracting us enough to pull off this heinous crime. Even the attacks along the coast and the attempt at taking Dragonscove were probably just a feint to draw our attention away from their true objective.”
“You think the book was the object of this entire exercise?” O’Dare asked, his brows drawn together in concern. “I would not put it past Fisk, sadly. He cares nothing for the lives of his men. He would send all those to their deaths in order to accomplish his goals. He is a terrible man.” O’Dare threw his wrinkled napkin to the table. “I will go after him and get your book back. This, I vow. And I will end Fisk, once and for all.”
Said in that tone of voice, Seth truly believed the captain would do so…or die trying. Seth saw the worry on Livia’s face, but he knew—as they all did—that of the assembled warriors, only O’Dare had the wherewithal to follow the fleeing pirates effectively.
“I thank you for your willingness to take on this grave task, Captain. If there’s room on your vessels, I would ask only that you take some of my fey warriors with you. They have certain immunity to magic that humans do not and could come in handy in other ways, as well.”
“I gladly accept your offer, as long as your warriors understand that, at sea, the captain is in command of every soul on his ship. I expect them to obey the orders of my officers and myself without question.” O’Dare’s expression was part challenge, part strength. If Seth wasn’t so angry at the man for keeping Livia away, he would definitely admire him.
Gryffid looked at the fey officers who had gathered together on hearing the news. They looked grim, but nodded readily.
“You are the master of your ship, Captain, that is well understood. Many of my people have sailed before. I leave it to the Captains of my Guard, Lillith and Gerrow…” he gestured to the couple who were standing in the hall and had come in behind Gryffid, “…to settle who will go and have them on the beach within the hour. Sooner, if possible.” The two officers took off, a few of the other fair folk in
the room leaving with quick bows, following behind them.
“I will await them on the beach,” Captain O’Dare said, looking like he was already making plans. “I must send word to my ships that we sail within the hour.”
“Go then, Captain, with my compliments,” Gryffid said, moving closer to the sea captain. “And take these with you as well.” Gryffid handed over a purse that O’Dare took hesitantly. “They are cut gems and gold coins,” Gryffid told O’Dare. “In case you need to grease any palms along the way or resupply somewhere. There is little else I can tell you except that you will recognize the book when you see it. Goddess go with you.”
O’Dare bowed formally to the wizard and offered his thanks before leaving. Livia followed him out, her expression full of worry.
Livia followed her father right up to his room, helping him pack.
“You will be careful, Father, won’t you? If this Fisk is using magic…” Livia was packing his bag, unable to look at him while her mind raced.
Her father stopped in front of her, putting his hands on her shoulders and making her meet his gaze. “I will do what must be done, sweetheart. No more, no less. But I will do all in my power to succeed and return to you. We have many years to make up for, daughter.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead, tugging her close for a quick hug.
He released her with seeming reluctance, then looked down at her again.
“Now, I want you to stay here, if Gryffid will allow it. I think it’s the safest place right now.”
“But what about the business?” Livia asked.
“Stuart can run things for now,” O’Dare said offhandedly. “I want you to be safe.”
“If I can go back to Dragonscove safely, I will, and I’ll continue as before, running the business. There’s the little matter of the new stock of diamond blades to cut up. I’m going to have more dragon healing kits made and send them to the palace. If it comes to war, they will be needed.”
O’Dare sighed. “Very well. But only if it is safe to return. You could stay here for a few days and learn all you can from Gryffid’s people. It can’t hurt to have solid contacts here, now that the island is open for business again.”
Livia smiled at that. “My thoughts exactly. I’m glad to see you’re still thinking like a trader. For a moment there, I thought you’d become a pirate yourself, with the way you waded into battle yesterday.”
Her father’s eyes shuttered, and she didn’t understand what put that cagey look on his face, but he hugged her again, and she didn’t think any more of it. He was learning, she thought. Maybe…just maybe…he was beginning to understand that she was an adult and capable of helping—and of running the business and making decisions in his absence.
“Don’t worry about anything on this end. I’ll keep the funds flowing to our fleet as needed, and I’ll make the best deal for the new supply of diamonds as I can. I believe we are owed at least a portion of them for your actions yesterday—and your willingness to take on this new mission.”
“I almost pity the fey you will be bargaining with,” he said, shaking his head with a grin. “When did you grow up, Livia? And how did I miss it?”
His tone had gone wistful, and his gaze on her was troubled, even as he smiled. She felt tears gather in her eyes.
“You were grieving, Father,” she said in a small voice. “As was I.” She swallowed, trying to let go of some of her bitterness. “I only wish you would have turned to me. It was very lonely at home without you, but I learned how to depend on myself. In the end, it made me stronger, but I always missed your presence.” She thought hard about what she wanted to say. She might never get another chance to clear the air with him like this. She had to say a few things while she could. “I’m grown up now, Father. I still need you, but not like a child needs a disciplinarian. I need you as a friend. As a mentor. Someone who has my back but doesn’t try to tell me what to do.”
“I’ve failed you so many times, my Livia.” His gaze seemed bright, but he didn’t allow any tears to fall. “I can only beg your forgiveness and tell you that I’m going to try to get it right when I return. I want to be those things for you. And I especially want to be your friend.”
She embraced him, throwing her arms around his waist and hugging him tight. It felt so good to be in his protective arms. She’d missed this, growing up without him at home.
“I love you, Papa,” she whispered.
“I love you too, sweet pea.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Gowan talked with his dragon partner, relaying the information that had just been revealed. Genlitha had gone out at first light to see if she could pick up the trail of any fleeing pirates, but the waters around Gryphon Isle were clear of seaworthy craft as far as she could see. She was on her way back now, so they could leave at the earliest opportunity to take word of the theft to Castleton and the king.
Livia had left the great hall with her father, and Seth was standing next to Hrardorr, with his hand on the dragon’s neck. It looked as if Seth was trying to calm the dragon, and Gowan understood the need, listening to Genlitha’s increasingly frantic words. Then, a thought occurred to Gowan, and he turned his attention to the wizard.
“Sir, were you doing anything to disrupt communication with our dragons yesterday while we were in this room together?” Gowan interjected into a lull in the conversation.
Gryffid looked at him strangely. “No, I was not. Why do you ask?”
“Genlitha was trying to speak to me yesterday and only when you left the room was she able to get through. Whereas, right now, we’re able to communicate easily. We thought maybe it was you doing something deliberate yesterday, but now, I’m wondering—”
“If maybe it was some kind of enemy action. The magic that allowed them to enter my domain without my knowledge would probably have that kind of effect on silent communications. A dampening effect that would dissipate when the spell itself dissipated. It could be that when I left, the spell ceased at that moment by coincidence. Or, it could be that the spell was attached to me, personally. In which case…” Gryffid turned to the remaining fey in the room. “We may have a traitor in the keep.”
The fey looked aghast, as if something like that was unthinkable. Gowan didn’t understand why they were so surprised. There was usually always at least one bad apple in a barrel, after all.
Gryffid swept out of the room, the remaining fair folk close on his heels. That left Gowan, Seth and Hrardorr as the great hall’s only occupants.
“What do you make of all this?” Seth asked Gowan, frowning.
“I think we’ve all been playing a part in something we didn’t even understand. If, indeed, the pirate fleet was created with this one goal in mind, the situation is much more serious than we all thought,” Gowan answered, still on his feet. Genlitha was on her way back. He would need to gather his packs and a few supplies before they took off again for the mainland.
“You’ll have to go straight to the king with this,” Seth said contemplatively. “I mean, you should stop at the Lair to resupply, but don’t let them keep you there.”
“If they try, then I’ll have to suspect they are part of this conspiracy.” Even as he said the words, Gowan felt the same stunned disbelief the fey had when the wizard suggested there was a traitor in their midst. It seemed inconceivable that knights and dragons would collude with the pirates, but Gowan again felt like they didn’t know the whole story of what was going on. Perhaps the king had better intelligence from his spy network. Gowan hoped it was so.
Seth looked grim. “I must stay here to care for the sea dragon, Lady Shara. Nobody here has treated dragons before, though if all goes well, I can leave the rest of her care to the healers here in a day or two, with a bit of instruction.”
“I will stay also,” Hrardorr said, surprising Gowan. “If the pirates come back for more, I can defend the island along with the sea dragons, if they will continue to help. Who knows what other dangerous things reside in the wizard’s l
ibrary?”
“An excellent point,” Gowan admitted with a respectful nod. “We can’t assume they won’t try again, now that they’ve succeeded once.”
“Plus, there is a massive trove of diamond blades in the wreckage that still needs harvesting. I plan to bring a substantial number of them back to Draconia for processing as part payment for our services. Livia wants to have a lot more dragon surgical kits made up, which is a noble endeavor—especially if we’re going into all out war.”
“Then, you and Seth will stay here with Livia for now. I assume Xanderanth and Leo will stay with you?” Gowan asked.
“It would be best for now,” Seth agreed. “I’d hate to send them back to the Southern Lair to face the music all alone.”
“And it would take a herd of wild horses to drag Leo away from Lizbet right now,” Hrardorr snorted, sending little circles of smoke rising toward the stone arches of the hall, high above.
“Really?” Gowan couldn’t imagine sensible Leo becoming that attached to a female so quickly—even one of the beautiful fair folk.
“There is something odd about the attraction,” Hrardorr went on. “There is a sound when they interact. Something above your hearing, and almost outside of mine too, but there is a vibration of…something. Some sort of connection there. I hear it between Xander and Shara too. It makes me wonder if…” He trailed off, but Gowan thought he knew what the dragon was driving at.
“If maybe the Mother of All has taken an interest in creating a few more dragons with your special abilities, Sir Hrardorr?” Gowan challenged.
