by Judith Leger
Her gaze fell on the stack of cards. “I bless ye with these. May
truth and wisdom reveal to ye the paths ye must take.”
Seren eyed the deck. She didn’t want the cards, but the
woman was sincere in her gift so she picked up the deck.
A fragile aged hand rested on hers for a brief second.
Small, perfect shaped teeth appeared in the woman’s smile.
“I thank ye, my Lady. Ye give me hope for the first time in
ages. One day, I will return to ye this mighty boon.”
Lifting a hand, Seren shook her head. “No, don’t worry
about it. I just want to help you.”
Together, the three left the room single file and made
their way to the dock. Seren waited with the old woman, each
silent while Leo purchased the fare for her journey. When he
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returned, he handed Luci the papers to board the ship and
extra cash to aid her during her trip.
Standing on the wall next to the dock, Seren watched the
ship depart. The baby rolled in her stomach. She ran a gentle
hand over the mound, hoping to calm him. On board the
ship, Luci leaned against the rail, her gaze locked with
Seren’s. The elderly woman lifted her hand and waved. A
smile bloomed on the winkled face and remained until Seren
could no longer make out her features.
Once the ship disappeared in the distance, Leo took
Seren’s arm. He escorted her through the city to the house
where they stayed. Exhausted, she went upstairs to her room
and eased down onto the cool covers of her bed. Closing her
eyes, a clear image of Paladin appeared. Tears sprang to life
in her eyes. Exhaustion pulled at her more each day. She
rolled over, buried her face in her pillow, and allowed her
fears to escape through her sobs.
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Chapter Eighteen
Velhaven castle’s black spires appeared on the gray
horizon. Paladin waited on the bow of his ship, watching for
any sign of attack while his vessel drew nearer to the open
docks at the base of the foreboding stronghold. Tension
touched every muscle in his body, tightening them. Forcing
his jaw to unclench, he glanced at his helmsman.
“Order the flags up so they may be aware of the reason for
our arrival,” he ordered.
The man motioned to the signaler. Flags fluttered in the
breeze as the sailor relayed the message to the dock keeper.
The return answer came within moments. Permission to
dock granted.
His heart rose to his throat. He tried to swallow past the
knot but failed. He hoped to carry out this duty without any
problems, but with a grieving king and father to deal with,
the possibility of him escaping unscathed narrowed.
Soldiers rushed out onto the dock. They lined up in
formation, their banners flapping in the breeze. Honored
guards, elite fighters, all would die for their king and clan.
Paladin squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, steeled his will
for the needed strength to leave his ship and greet his
deceased wife’s father.
The ship’s walkways clanked into place. Paladin jerked,
startled by the jarring motion along with the loud noise. He
curled his hands into fists, determined to remain strong no
matter what occurred.
Six sailors came from the ship’s hole; three on either side
of the casket holding the remains of his wife and child.
Paladin lifted a hand, halting them. He took his place in front
of the sailors and preceded them off the ship.
They came onto the dock without a surge of soldiers
attacking them.
A large, broad-chested man, stood across the wide berth
under the two story high archway marking the entrance into
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Velhaven city. His rich apparel and commanding stance with
the haughty tilt of his head spoke of his power.
Denol, King of the Black Dragon Clan.
Proud and defiant, Denol lifted his chin higher. He strode
toward Paladin. A sharp flicker of trepidation weakened
Paladin’s thigh muscles. He stopped and waited for the King
to reach him.
The older man, royal to his bones, halted in front of
Paladin. Over-bright eyes stared into Paladin’s. He reached
out, gripped him by the upper arms, and jerked him into a
tight embrace.
“You have been a good husband. Pity my daughter never
realized this during her lifetime.” Denol’s quiet words sent
relief through Paladin.
He relaxed. He tried to pull back, but Denol tightened his
hold, his voice low and urgent. “Be still. Listen to me, this is
the only time and place I have which will suffice to tell you
what I must. Mind you, there are spies everywhere.
“Your brother plotted with my daughter to kill you. When
she discovered that she carried your child, she committed the
unspeakable act of murdering the babe. They knew the true
Dragon King would come from you, so they had to destroy
you and all of your lineage.”
Paladin’s heart pounded in his chest. He stared, unseeing,
straight ahead. How did the King know these things? Could
he trust him? Here on the Black Dragon lands, he didn’t have
much of a choice except to listen. Hoping Denol had more
information, he gambled on the integrity of the older man.
“Yet, they failed. Both of them.”
“Have they? Even now Rylen bites at my borders. He has
brought rogues with him. All of the outlying villages are lost.”
Denol shook his head. “He is determined to gain control of
many realms before the new King is born.”
So he was right. The old man did know more. Paladin
tried to keep his voice level, maintaining a bit of calm. “So he
knows of the babe.”
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Denol squeezed his shoulders. “Everyone knows. I would
much rather serve under the true king than one such as
Rylen. He cares nothing for anyone or anyplace. He desires
only to conquer and destroy.”
“I would speak with him, persuade him to stop...”
Drawing back, Denol stared hard at Paladin, interrupting
him. Several moments ticked by before the older man said,
“Your words will do no good. He is crazed, my son. There is
only one way to stop him. It is for the true king to be born.
Then, by the graces of the cosmos, the dragons will be honor
bound to obey him.”
“It will take time. You cannot expect a small babe to rule
over the beasts immediately.”
“We have no time. Do you not understand? He is coming
even as we speak. My daughter, who loved him with an
obsession, will not have been interred for long before he
destroys her grave.”
Stiffening, Paladin pulled free from the older man’s grip.
“I will never allow him to do so.”
“How can you stop him? Even Sinimal, the great black
one, will be hard pressed to halt the attack.”
At the mention of the black d
ragon, the flapping of
gigantic wings carried by the wind reached them. Paladin
glanced over his shoulder in time to see the dragon Denol
spoke of sail close to the spires before he angled at the dock.
The giant dragon landed not far from where they stood.
When the massive clawed feet hit the stone, the ground
shook.
The soldiers scrambled out of the way, some cried out in
fear as they tried to avoid the wide taloned feet skidding on
the stones. Deep guttural grunts came from the dragon, its
scales flickering like ebony crystals in the dusky light. Steam
gusted from his nostrils at the same time his words took
shape in Paladin’s mind.
“Return you from whence you came, Lior’s king. Return
now. For much will be lost if you tarry too long.”
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Scant moments before, he had trembled with fear of
coming face-to-face with his late wife’s father. Naught but a
tremble when compared to the images the black dragon’s
words painted in his mind. He’d never experienced such a
reaction to where his legs threatened to give out on him and
cold sweat beaded his brow. What had happened? She’d been
glowing with happiness at the prospect of the impending
birth of their child. A chill swept through him. Had his
brother—damn his soul— done something to harm Seren and
the baby? By the dragons…
“Return now. I cannot follow, but Lior is aware. She flies
with hopes to stop him.”
Paladin panted as he strode to the walkway leading
aboard his ship. His heart threatened to beat out of his chest.
All he could think of was to depart. What if Lior didn’t arrive
in time? What if something befell Seren and their unborn
child? He tried to stop the onslaught of his worries but they
grew stronger with each heartbeat. Denol, shouted orders to
bring dragonstones and food stores for the journey then
hurried after Paladin. “Restock first. You cannot leave here
with depleted resources. What good will you do the off-
worlder or the babe if you must stop along the way?”
He nodded, never missing a step up the boarding ramp.
“Have them fill the bins then we must depart.”
He stopped, pivoted on his heel to face his father-by-
marriage. “I would stay to see to them properly placed in
their resting carne, but I cannot.”
“Even though she was my daughter, I do not blame you.
She made wrong decisions. She paid for them with her life.
Do not let this worry eat at you. I will see that their final
place befits both of their stations in life.”
Satisfied Denol would not treat his daughter like a traitor
and an adulteress, Paladin nodded. The older man clasped
his arm in farewell and departed. Denol strode across the
dock and through the gate. Paladin hoped his clan fared well
against Rylen’s impending attacks.
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The loading of supplies frayed his patience. He paced the
deck until the preparations were complete. Once done, the
ship took flight. He stood at the rail offering supplications to
the dragons for Seren’s safety.
* * * *
Screams and shouted orders echoed through the balcony
window, waking Seren. She tossed the light sheet off, jumped
from the bed, and hurried to the terrace doors. She shoved
them open in time to witness a huge dragon, a shade lighter
than the night sky, blast one of the archway entrances to fine
thick dust.
Memories of the tarot cards she had read for Luci lanced
through her mind. Her future vision had come true. But Luci
had departed and Seren remained. Whirling back into her
room, she ran to the wardrobe and grabbed some clothes.
She wasted no time in dressing. The dragon’s cries mixed
with ear piercing explosions came nearer. The room vibrated
with aftershocks.
Leo banged on her door. “Seren! Wake up! We have to
leave now.”
She jerked the door open and tumbled out, tripping over
her feet. Leo caught her arm, hauling her up. “The dragon’s
taking out the entire city. He’s a rogue.”
“Where’s Calis?”
“He’s gone to help the soldiers distract the beast.
Hopefully, it’ll give us all time to escape.”
Horrified, Seren pulled back. “He’ll be killed. Doesn’t he
know that?”
Leo turned and stared into her eyes. “True courage is
when someone is willing to give their life to protect another.
Learned that a long time ago in Nam. Calis is willing to die to
make sure you’re safe. Are you going to allow him to give his
life in vain?”
Confused and terrified, Seren shook her head. “I don’t
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want him to die.”
“He wants us to leave. Now!”
Tightening his hold on her arm, Leo tugged her after him.
He wouldn’t allow her to stay. Because of Calis and what he
tried to do, she had to go. They raced down the stairs and
across the foyer. Leo led her to one of the front sitting rooms,
through the terrace doors, and into the garden. A small
opening in the shrubs revealed a gate in the stone wall
surrounding the house.
Once past the gate, Leo ran, Seren followed, stumbling
now and then, down the street. The city’s residents surged in
streets, many screaming. Their horrified cries tore at Seren’s
heart. Terror drove the inhabitants of the city in frantic
motions and different directions. Fires flared with each
explosion. The thundering booms became deafening within
the walled city. Seren, having never witness such violence,
glanced around, her own panic pounded against her chest.
Nausea roiled in her stomach. She searched for a way to
escape, survival prominent in her mind.
All these gentle people looked at death and reacted in the
same way those on Earth would have. Some took charge and
were shouting orders, mothers and fathers held tight to their
children, soldiers cut through the crowds, heading for the hot
spots in the city. All wanting one thing—to live.
Several minutes later, Leo had dragged her down a
number of streets, all the while heading deeper into the heart
of the city. She didn’t understand his reasoning. Why go
deeper into the city? The stately towers of the wizard’s
academy came into view. Many of the masters stood atop
them, casting magical attack spells at the dragon. The entire
building glowed a bluish white. So Leo meant to take them
there.
Dragon fire bounced off the spelled walls. Hope stirred in
Seren’s heart.
Several people bumped into her. Leo’s grip slipped. A
wave of human flesh shoved them apart. Leo shouted her
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name, but the sound grew less and less until she couldn’t
detect his voice any longer. Body shaking with fear, she
slipped to the right side, ou
t of the sweeping multitude of
sweating, fear-laden flesh, and leaned against a garden wall.
Heart pounding, she looked around, trying to find Leo or
some way to escape without being trampled by the massive
flow of people. One hand caressed the mound of her baby.
Just a few feet away, she noticed a gate entrance into a
private garden. She sidled along the wall and eased through
the wrought-iron gate. The sudden stillness in the place
helped sooth her rattled nerves.
Trembling, drawing in calming deep breaths, she moved
further among the shrubs and trees, looking for a place to sit
so she could rest a moment before she tried to tackle the
terrified mobs in the streets. She rested her palm over the
bulge of her belly. The baby banged against her inner wall,
inspiring a smile. The reassurance he was all right helped
calm her.
When she’d gone some distance into the garden, she
came to a clearing. The fires from the dragon lit the night
skies. The beast’s cries had stopped a short while ago. She
tilted her head, trying to hear the beat of its wings. The
screams and shouts of the city’s inhabitants tore at her heart.
Maybe the attacker had left...
Flapping wings rang out from her right.
She cringed.
Well, maybe it hadn’t.
She rubbed her hands together, trying to warm the icy
coldness in her fingers. With one blink of her eyes, the
dragon landed in front of her. Air pushed out from the
beast’s wings and rushed over her face. The ground shook
under its weight. She shrieked, but clamped a hand over her
mouth while she stumbled back into the cover of the dark
foliage along the edge of the clearing. Unable to move, she
held her breath, standing still, hoping it wouldn’t notice her
in the dim light.
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Iridescent light reflected off the dark scales covering its
body. Wide nostrils flared and the beast lowered its head in
the direction she hid, staring into dark shadows. The slit-
pupil eyes never blinked. It came no closer. She blinked as
realization came to her that no matter how much power this
dragon possessed, he lacked one major factor. If he had been
serious about destroying her, he would have already done it.
She straightened, the fear for her child decreasing. She
spoke, hoping what she believed was true. If so then she’d
