Dragon Fire: Dragon Knights (The Sea Captain's Daughter Book 2)

by Bianca D’Arc

  After dinner in the keep, at which the wizard did not put in an appearance, Seth was summoned to Gryffid’s tower. Apparently, the wizard wanted to quiz Seth about life, and politics, in the Southern Lair. Seth had seemed loath to betray anything that might injure the Lair in the wizard’s eyes, but Livia knew he would tell Gryffid the truth when asked. She parted with him in the great hall, promising silently that they would meet again in her bedroom once the wizard was done with Seth.

  With Hrardorr sleeping by the fire and the few gryphons she knew off doing whatever it was gryphons did, that left Livia with a bit of time on her hands. Knowing she would probably never get such an opportunity again, she went exploring in the massive keep, enjoying the carved stonework and delighting in each new surprise as she discovered it.

  One room was devoted entirely to stringed instruments. It had tightly sealed doors and a water barometer inside, along with strategically placed braziers to keep the temperature and humidity just right. Livia crossed paths with a wizened old fey man in that room, who was checking the readings and lighting just every other brazier. He explained the workings of the room to her and how sensitive some of the instruments were to changes in environment.

  That room, he told her, housed some of the greatest stringed instruments ever made. Each was a treasure, and Gryffid kept them safe and available for the master bards to play when they wished. They were also there for artisans to study and try to replicate the skills of the great masters of old. It was a treat, the old man had told her, to handle and play such finely crafted instruments, and his honor to be one of those who cared for them, making sure they would live on in perfect tune for the next generations.

  She’d spent a good half hour with the friendly old man, and he suggested further rooms for her to explore. There were similar rooms devoted to woodwind instruments and one for metal horns. Another for drums. And each instrument held in these special rooms, he assured her, were the finest of their kind.

  Livia spent an hour or more going from room to room in the musical section of the great house. She was enchanted with all she saw, but especially when she happened upon a room devoted to crystals and gems, uncut and cut. The walls sparkled with specimens in display cases.

  That the wizard could leave such valuable things lying around, free for all to view and touch spoke volumes about the trust he had with his people. Again, she thought about the possibility that someone could have betrayed his trust, and the feeling just didn’t sit right. Why would anyone turn traitor on a man who, from everything she’d seen, truly cared for and trusted his people?

  She’d spoken to many of the fey in her days here, and from all accounts, there was no poverty on this island. Nobody was going without the basic needs of life. If someone had something bad happen in their family, the community came together to help—as happened in the best of the human towns in Draconia and elsewhere in the world.

  Fair folk were even allowed to come and go from the island as they wished, though until recently, they’d had to disguise their origins. When Gryffid had reversed the spell that had hidden the island for so very long, the world again became aware of its existence, and the need for secrecy had diminished.

  Until now, though, no human ships had been allowed to dock, and very few humans had been welcomed ashore. There was no trade between the island and the mainland, but Livia hoped to change all that. Once things settled down, she would broach the subject of opening a line of commerce between Gryphon Isle and Dragonscove, using her father’s shipping company. Now was not the time to ask about it, of course, but when the time was right, she would propose the idea. She’d been planning how it would all work in her idle minutes, though there were precious few of those.

  These stolen hours touring the magnificent house were a rarity in her life of late, and Livia enjoyed them for all they were worth. She went from room to room, working her way toward one end of the massive keep. She meandered more or less in a line heading due East, starting from the central great hall and working her way through the Eastern half of the house. Her guest room was on the Western side and up one floor, so she’d have to return to the great hall, and the many stairways that led into other parts of the structure.

  On her way back toward the great hall, Livia stumbled upon a small gathering of fair folk in one of the drawing rooms. They were sitting around the fire, drinking dark wine when she unwittingly barged in on them.

  “Oh, I’m so sorry!” Livia exclaimed when all eyes turned to her. “Please excuse me. I was trying to get back to the great hall.”

  A beautiful young woman stood and smiled as she came over to Livia. “You’re the sea captain’s daughter, aren’t you? Mistress Livia O’Dare?”

  “Yes,” Livia replied, wondering where this might be leading, but the woman seemed friendly enough.

  “I’ve been wanting to meet you, but I’ve had to lay low, lest I run into any of the human males now on the island. I’m Gwen. Gryffid’s granddaughter.” She held out her hand and pulled Livia into the room.

  “Oh. I didn’t know he had any family. I’m sorry. I should have realized. You are the lady of the keep.” Livia’s mind raced to keep up with this unexpected turn of events.

  Gwen laughed, and it was the tinkling sound of magical bells, pleasant and musical. She really was the most attractive fey Livia had yet seen. That was really saying something, because they were all incredibly beautiful. They hadn’t earned the name fair folk for nothing.

  “Perhaps you’ve already met Lilith, co-Captain of the Guard,” Gwen gestured toward the woman seated by the fire. Livia had seen her before, in the great hall, but never at her ease. “And this is her brother Liam.” The younger of the two men nodded as he stood politely, both of them having gotten to their feet when Livia approached. “He’s a diplomat, if you can believe it. And their brother, Lothar, who is one of our most skilled healers.” The second man nodded this time, and Livia returned the courtesy. “They’ve been keeping me company on and off, since I can’t really go outside with all the humans here now.”

  “Not without causing a riot, at least,” Lothar joked. Livia didn’t understand what they were talking about but hesitated to ask any questions. She had interrupted them, and they were being nice about it so far.

  “Perhaps our guest does not realize what you are, Gwen,” Lilith said, almost chidingly.

  “Yes, of course. I’m sorry,” Gwen said, turning to Livia again. “I…have an odd effect on men due to my heritage. One of my ancestors was what you might call a siren. Her magical allure bred true in me, and as a result, I have to be careful around human males. That’s why I live here with Grandfather. The fey aren’t quite as susceptible.”

  Livia felt compassion for the beautiful girl who couldn’t venture out in the world. “That must be…difficult.”

  “At times,” she agreed. “But, come, I’ve wanted so much to meet you. I watched your father sail away and thought you must be quite something to have stood up to such a formidable man.”

  Gwen’s friendly manner invited confidences, but Livia wasn’t sure. She didn’t know much about the fey, but then again, she’d come here with the idea of learning more about them and forging alliances that might help in the future. Who better to start with than a member of the wizard’s family?

  “My father has been away for much of my life. I run the trading business when he is not in port, which means I run it most of the time.” That was common enough knowledge to anyone in Dragonscove.

  “So she is smart as well as lovely,” Lothar said, raising his glass to Livia with a charming smile. Liam, not to be outdone, poured a small glass of the aperitif they were all enjoying and brought it to Livia.

  “Our family distills this vintage from a secret combinations of fruits and flowers that grow in our vineyard. It is called Essence of Starlight, and you may well be the first human to sample it,” Liam said as she accepted the small glass of pale amber liquid. It seemed to have a slight effervescence, but perhaps that was a t
rick of the light. She couldn’t be sure.

  She wasn’t sure if she should trust these beings, but she also didn’t have all that much to lose. She doubted very much that any of these folk would be the traitor they thought might be in the keep. Livia calculated the odds and decided to take the risk and try the drink.

  Sipping cautiously, she discovered that there were, indeed, the tiniest of bubbles bursting against her tongue as the most delicious flavor she had ever sampled in a liquor enveloped her mouth and her senses. She smiled, unable to contain her reaction, and the others smiled back at her.

  “This is…it’s indescribably delicious.” She felt a little flush of heat rise to her cheeks. “And, if I’m not mistaken, very, very alcoholic.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  The others chuckled. “That’s why the glasses are so small,” Lilith told her, laughing. “Two or three of these knock even large men out until sunrise.”

  “But one has merely a relaxing effect,” Lothar assured her. “This drink, unlike most, has a sort of multiplying factor. The more you imbibe, the higher the level of the alcoholic effect. So a single small glass won’t get you drunk, but ingest another, and the effect is increased about five fold.”

  “I’ve never heard of anything like that,” Livia told them, intrigued. If this drink was something she could import, she knew she could find a market for it. Probably a very lucrative market at that.

  “As far as we know, it is unique to the island,” Liam confirmed.

  “Now that the island has been revealed to the world at large again, have you given any thought to opening trade?” Nothing ventured, nothing gained, she thought. Might as well broach the subject now and study their reactions. “Something like this aperitif could command high prices on the mainland. And perhaps there are things you’d like to import from the mainland, as well?”

  “Raw materials,” Liam said at once. “I know the artisans are always complaining that they can only bring back small amounts of ores and gemstones when the travel abroad.”

  “Herbs and medicinal plants that only grow on the mainland,” Lothar added.

  Livia nodded, taking mental notes as they each added items to the list. “My father’s company specializes in trade,” Livia told them when the conversation went into a natural lull. “In fact, I had no idea he’d been building a military force until he showed up here. But be that as it may, our primary mission has always been trade and profit. If he decides to change that now that he’s revealed his fleet of ships capable of fighting, that’s his choice, but I believe he’ll still have to run a trading fleet—even if just a small one—to help pay for the military arm.” Perhaps the drink was making her say more than she would have normally, but these folk needed to know some of this, if they were going to consider trading with her company. “If you do decide to pursue trade with the mainland, I hope you would consider using us.”

  “But of course,” Gwen replied with an ease that made Livia blink. “Grandfather trusts you, which is all the endorsement any of us need. When things settle down a bit, perhaps we can fill that little boat your father left for you with the first batch of trade goods for you to take back to Dragonscove whenever you decide to leave.”

  “That…” Livia was stunned. They had been thinking way ahead of her. “That would be fantastic!” She couldn’t hide her enthusiasm. “And I can either sell the trade goods for cash or do exchanges for the items you want from the mainland and have them couriered back to you by one of our ships, or come back myself with a full ship, if I’m able.”

  “Either will work,” Lilith said casually. “We’ll have procedures set up for a working port by then. Between the sea dragons patrolling the waters and the gryphons in the air, we’ll see any approaching ship long before it makes landfall in future.”

  Livia spent a pleasant half hour with the fair folk, planning for the opening of trade. She took note of the items they thought would be most wanted on the island and began thinking about places and merchants she could sell their goods to for the highest prices or exchange rates. This could be very profitable, as well as being a good route toward replenishing supplies on the island.

  “Where are you?” came Seth’s voice in her mind as she finished her aperitif. Talking with Seth or Gowan this way wasn’t as easy as speaking with the dragons, but it was a skill she was learning.

  “Just finishing up. I met Gryffid’s granddaughter and some of her friends.”

  “I didn’t know he even had a granddaughter,” Seth replied, clearly surprised.

  “There’s a reason for that. I’ll tell you when I get there. I’m leaving now and will be with you in a few minutes. I just have to find my way back to the great hall and go from there. I’m on the other side of the keep.”

  Even as she sent her thoughts to Seth, she began to take her leave of the fair folk. Within moments, Livia was back on the path that would lead her to the great hall. From there, she was well acquainted with the path to her guest suite, where Seth was waiting.

  She hadn’t meant to be gone so long, but she was glad she’d stumbled across Gwen and the others. Not only could it prove profitable, but Livia had genuinely enjoyed their company.

  She was smiling as she made her way down the hall, a little tipsy from the beverage, but not drunk. She had her wits about her—and it was a good thing too, when she saw a furtive movement going up a hidden staircase farther down the hall. Something wasn’t right there.

  The woman had looked exactly like Lilith, but Livia knew for a fact, she’d left the Captain of the Guard back in Gwen’s parlor. Livia didn’t think Lilith had a twin. Surely, the three siblings she’d just met would have mentioned it when they’d laughingly told her about all the other members of the rather large family.

  “Seth?” Livia concentrated on sending the message to the only person she knew for certain wasn’t a traitor in this keep, even as she followed the woman disguised as the captain up a staircase she’d never seen before.

  “What’s wrong?” Seth must’ve heard something in her tone.

  “I’m not sure, but there’s someone sneaking up a back staircase who I don’t think is what they appear to be.” Livia reached the landing and cautiously peeked out to see the woman moving to another set of stairs. All the stairs in this massive house were wide enough for a gryphon to climb and made of worn stone. Livia had marveled earlier at the many years talons and feet had tread these same paths to make them smooth.

  “Where are you?”

  Livia gave him exact directions as she flowed down the hall to the next staircase. She caught just a glimpse of the woman’s sword as she left the second stairway. She was armed. Of course. The Captain of the Guard was seldom unarmed. But Livia had seen Lilith resting at ease—sans sword—in Gwen’s parlor not five minutes ago. And she’d been wearing different clothing. Similar, but different.

  “I’m on my way. Be careful. We know this traitor—if that’s the person you’re following—is dangerous.” Seth sounded worried.

  “She’s armed, Seth. Bring your sword.”

  “I’ll do better than that. I’ll bring reinforcements.”

  The two women climbed ever higher on the wide stone staircases, one behind the other. Livia realized they must be in one of the many towers that made the keep look so formidable from outside. The towers, she’d been told when she was first admitted to her guest suite, were off limits to all but a trusted few. It seemed Gryffid liked to work at height, and he used each tower for a different secret purpose, known only to him and his select friends.

  They were very high in the tower now. In fact, the next staircase was a spiral. Livia held back. There was no way she could follow unseen on a spiral staircase.

  “Seth? Where are you?” she sent desperately. “She’s on the last staircase that leads to the pinnacle of the tower.

  “I’m right behind you. Stay out of sight. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  His voice in her mind was reassuring, but there were too many d
oors leading from the spiral staircase into hidden rooms. Livia would have to try her best to see where the woman was headed. If Livia missed the correct room, she could blow right past the traitor and either lose her completely or be trapped at the top of the tower with her below.

  And Livia was unarmed.

  The first thing she’d do after this, she vowed, was to get a weapon that she could conceal on her person at all times. Gowan could teach her how to defend herself, surely. Livia shook her head at the distracting thought. None of that would help her now.

  “Why are you following me?”

  The demand was made in a strong voice, similar in tone to Lilith’s, but not exactly the same. Still, the air of command about this woman was very similar, but she carried a disdain in her bearing that Livia knew, firsthand now, the captain did not.

  Was the woman bluffing? Livia would bet the confrontation was all bravado, because clearly, this woman wasn’t where she was supposed to be. Nobody was supposed to be up here in this deserted tower without the wizard. Not now. Not after everything that had happened in the past few days.

  Livia decided to challenge. “Why are you skulking around in this tower, when the last I heard, Gryffid had sealed access to every tower in his keep until further notice?”

  “I’m the Captain of the Guard. I go where I will, when I will. Who are you to question me, human?” Livia heard the fear and falsehood ringing in the woman’s voice.

  “Oh, so you’re Captain Lilith?” Livia couldn’t help the cunning smile that crept over her face. “Lilith Eliadnae?”

  “Of course. Who else?” The impostor’s tone rang with affront, but it wasn’t convincing to Livia’s ears.

  “Funny thing, I just left Lilith and two of her brothers sipping wine with Gwen. If you truly were her, you would remember meeting me not an hour ago. So, tell me, impostor, who are you, really?” Livia tried to be nonchalant, leaning against the stone wall, but inside, she was quaking.