Between Flood and Flame (A Cat Among Dragons Book 6)

by Alma Boykin

  Her silver-grey eye locked with his and he gulped a little, and then nodded. “Yes, Lord Mammal.”

  “Good. I don’t want anyone else at risk, especially you.” She turned back to looking at the snowy peaks of Burnt Mountain. “Thank you for your report, Royal Steward P’nang. You are dismissed.”

  He bowed to her back, “Yes, Lord Mammal,” and left her alone with her thoughts.

  Once his tail disappeared around the corner, Rada let her anger show. Damn Lord Blee! He’d spent the winter at the palace, courting the King-Emperor’s favor and letting his people starve. Blue Hills village had been abandoned, the residents making their way overland to Singing Pines and begging for shelter and aid, which she had granted without consulting with the estate’s owner. Now that time for spring fieldwork had arrived, Lord Blee commanded the estate manager to “turn over his people” so they could start preparing for planting. She’d made a few discreet inquiries and learned that he had no provisions ready for the returnees, nor had any additional repairs been made to the twice-devastated Blue Hills village. No food, no shelter, but he wanted his peasants working.

  The one-eyed noble thought long and hard, then made up her mind. She walked down from the curtain wall, through the winter-cool passages of the old house fortress and into the comm center. Once there she shooed everyone else out before sending her reply. That way, when the repercussions hit, the manor staff could plead ignorance to what had been said and sent. The answer from Lord Blee was not long in coming and the woman smiled grimly as she read it. Might as well get this over with, she thought. What’s he going to do, claw me like our royal master did? She fingered the iron fan hanging from her belt and snarled silently.

  The next day the head of House Ni Drako, along with a small escort, visited the manor house of Blue Hills estate, downriver from Singing Pines. The house boasted every luxury that could possibly be transported this far into the back of beyond (by Azdhagi aristocrats’ standards), and Rada had to admit that House Blee certainly lived in more comfort than she did, and had a much more attractive residence as well. Instead of leaving the grey stone bare, someone had used woods in different colors to soften the lines of the original keep. Blocks and patterns of variegated stone, along with more wood, formed attractive patterns in the walls of the later additions. Rada noted the lavish gardens behind the main manor and also marked how easy it would be to get forces through the plantings almost up to the very walls without being seen. Sergeant Zarr, the head of her escort, muttered something unflattering under his breath and she fought down a grin. “Careful, Sergeant, I’m blind, not deaf.”

  Any mirth died as she studied the manor staff and guards awaiting her. They stood outside in the cold spring drizzle, drawn up in rows to impress her with the numbers and wealth that House Blee commanded. The Azdhagi looked gaunt and eyed her and her men with wariness verging on fear. Some of the younger servants, especially the females, shivered in the damp cold and Rada growled at the state of their robes. Even the oldsters at Burnt Mountain had more flesh on their bones than did these house servants. The air of fear raised the woman’s hackles. Are they afraid of me, my soldiers, or of their lord, she wondered. And if it’s me, what tales have they heard about their Lord Defender?

  The Head of House Blee, Lord Kar-tan Blee, let his “neighbor” stand in the misty rain for five minutes before the great doors of the keep were thrown open and he emerged. He wore ornamental armor and carried a blade, but the Lord Defender’s practiced eye focused on the bulky brown and green noble’s clumsy movements and his deformed tail. “Too long at the table, to short in the salle,” someone whispered behind her and she gestured for silence, angry at the breach of discipline. Heavily armed professionals followed Lord Blee, flanking him in a show of force. Rada bowed as was proper for her lower rank and waited for Lord Blee to speak.

  He studied her and sneered. “Greetings, Ni Drako. I trust you have come to return my possessions?” he said loud enough for all to hear. “You can leave them in the fields by the village.”

  She felt killing anger rising and channeled it. “No, my lord Blee. Your people remain at Singing Pines. They declined to return without provision for food and shelter, my lord, and House Ni Drako will not compel them.”

  His eyes widened at the defiance. “I ordered you to return them, Ni Drako! Are you too stupid to understand that, or have you just forgotten what happened the last time you disobeyed a direct order?”

  She didn’t even flinch at the remark, instead replying in a quiet but carrying voice, “No, my lord, I am neither stupid nor forgetful. But I will not force anyone to leave Singing Pines or Burnt Mountain who has nothing but killing labor and starvation to return to.” In for a chip, in for a carat, she thought, and continued, “And House Ni Drako will provide for any who seek its shelter with good cause, until ordered otherwise by his Imperial-Majesty or the royal council.”

  “Mammal, I ordered you to send my workers back! Do it, now, or I’ll come and get them with force if necessary! The grain must be planted,” Blee thundered, and out of the corner of her good eye she saw his servants cringing with fear. Blee and his guards left the steps and advanced on the smaller Ni Drako contingent. He rose up on his hind legs, towering over the mammalian warrior. “Am I clear?” Blee snarled, eyes flashing with righteous indignation.

  Be calm, be clear, be detached, Rada chanted in her mind, fighting the urge to skewer the loud oaf. “You are quite clear, my lord. Should you come with force onto Singing Pines, I hope you will have the owner’s permission,” she said politely. “I would hate for there to be breach of peace.” Her eye narrowed.

  The brown-green Azdhag dropped heavily back onto all four feet, tail thrashing and snarling as he realized the threat behind her words. Could he count on King-Emperor Lan-zhe’s support? Judging by his reaction, she suspected that Blee wasn’t completely certain of that yet. Then he bared his teeth in a smile and gestured. The two guards closest to him drew their weapons. “Hold your peace!” Ni Drako ordered her own men and they did, reluctantly.

  “Stupid upstart furbearer and her ball-less minions!” Lord Blee hissed, loud enough for all to hear. The Lord Defender froze, then slowly turned, looking around at the other Azdhagi, many of whom were scrambling out of the way of the two nobles. Part of her screamed, “Don’t do it!” as she took a deep breath.

  Then she snapped, drawing her blade and dropping into a defensive stance, teeth bared and eye blazing. “By my blood and blade I cry Feud,” she growled. “You offend the honor of House Ni Drako, you who insults my people, my patron, and my person! You, who couldn’t be bothered to care for his dependents in times of need, leaving it to Ni Drako to care for them until you wanted their labor! You, who neglects his duties to enjoy his privileges! For this and more, honorless freak, I cry Feud!”

  Blee drew his own weapon, giving a battle cry before charging. Rada ducked his attack, twisting out of the way and slashing down as he passed. Blee yelled as she nipped the tip of his tail. He spun, advancing on her more slowly, snarling and spitting. Rada braced herself for his attack. He knew enough not to rear up, but instead swung around for an underhand slice. She deflected the blow but the force knocked her off her feet and she rolled, scrambling for purchase on the rain-slick stones as he bore down on her. Now Blee rose on his hind legs, driving down to split her in two. Again she rolled, somehow getting her feet under her and lunging forward, below his swing. His blade hit stone and shattered and she yelped as shards of steel cut her legs and back. Then she was out of his reach, still armed, eye never leaving the furious noble.

  Rada stopped. Eye as cold as deep space, she wiped the blood off the tip of her sword with deliberate care and sheathed it. “I believe you have just confirmed my professional assessment, Lord Blee. Might I recommend a less ornate, better quality blade for your next purchase?” Her tone remained mild and perfectly controlled. She bowed the exact degree due to his rank and began walking away.

  “Face me, you hair-covered who
re!” Blee growled, hesitating to attack with his bare forefeet. The Lord Defender continued walking, as if on a quiet stroll, and her men fell in behind her.

  Then she paused and turned her head, blind eye towards the Lord of House Blee. “And I repeat that any who seek refuge and succor from House Ni Drako in time of need shall find it. Good day, my Lord Blee.” Once again under iron control, the woman walked away, leaving Lord Blee fuming and a susurration of hissed whispers in her wake.

  As expected, it took less than a sixt for various versions of what happened in the courtyard of Blue Hills estate to spread through Court and along the river villages. Although details differed, the taletellers generally agreed that Lord Blee, despite being legally in the right, had lost the first round and considerable dignity as well. Spring blurred into summer; the grain growing along with the populations of Singing Pines village and several of the settlements on Burnt Mountain. Lord Blee broke down and hired workers to plant his crops, yet another blow to his dignity. And several of the Great Lords who had been merely amused at the initial story of Ni Drako and the King-Emperor became thoughtful.

  The summons came in high summer, just after the solstice. The Lord Defender flew to the palace, landing as far from the buildings as possible on the complex’s private spaceport. She was not surprised when no servants met her, but did grow suspicious when the Palace Guard also failed to appear. With a shrug she heaved her field kit onto her back, locked the ship and made her way to the Guards’ wing of the palace. At least it’s not bucketing down rain, she mused. Carrying thirty kilos of gear didn’t count as fun, but slogging it through the regional monsoon was even worse. I should do this more often, except I’d be crippled in no time. I hope the bastard who got my leg is still rotting. Slowly.

  The Lord Defender started to go to her private quarters in the Palace, then hesitated and instead strode into the Guards’ barracks. “Good morning, gentlemen,” she said quietly.

  The officers’ eyes bulged and they jumped to attention. “Lord Defender! Our apologies! We, that is, no one, “ Defender Trong, her executive officer stuttered, terrified and embarrassed both.

  She raised her hands for silence. “Defender Trong, I figured that out about two kliqs back. At ease gentlemen, I’ll be here for a while. Is my ‘closet’ available?” The “Lord Defender’s Closet” was the nickname for the tiny private room in the barracks reserved for the Lord Defender’s use, should his traditional quarters be unavailable for some reason.

  “It will be in thirty seconds, Lord Defender!” The muscular grey Azdhag turned to one of the junior officers. “Pi-bo, see to it at once!”

  “Yes, Defender, “ and the soldier vanished in a skitter of claws and tail tip.

  Two of the other junior officers helped their commanding officer remove her pack and she shook to loosen her back and shoulders. “Thank you. Defender Trong, do you have a moment?”

  “Yes, Lord Defender. This way, please sir,” and she followed her number two into his office. He cleared a scatter of data disks, blaster packs, and weapons off the desk and spare bench while she took a seat.

  “Ah, thank you!” A sergeant appeared with cold tea, fruit, and chilled grain salad for her. “All right, Trong, fill me in. What the hell is going on, so I know before I go see his Imperial-Majesty?” She asked, after drinking at least half the tea.

  He glanced around and pulled a jammer out of the desk drawer. Her eyebrow rose almost to her hairline and Rada pulled a similar device out of her satchel. They turned both of them on and he leaned forward, speaking quietly. “Lord Mammal, word of your feud reached the palace two days after the fact, when Lord Blee returned here. His version is that you lured his people off his estate after the flood and then refused to send them back, even though he had not released them from their words and bounds. Then you confronted and insulted him and House Blee and challenged him to go to his Imperial Majesty if he wanted his people back. About a quarter of the nobles side with him and most of the rest are neutral but all the Great Lords seem to be backing you, if rumor is true. And things are getting a bit funny around the Great Lords, if you catch my meaning.” He stopped, then continued again, “And you need to know that his Imperial Majesty has hired a company of human mercenaries as a personal guard.”

  Rada rocked back in her seat. “Oh fewmets and fallen scales. Well, Lord Blee got part of the story right,” and she told her side.

  The soldier nodded, grinning. “That’s about what we thought down here, based on last fall’s events, my lord,” he explained, the tip of his tail twitching.

  “Do you know what company was hired?”

  “Yes, Lord Mammal, although the name means nothing to me,” and he slid a paper over to her. She frowned and shook her head as she read it.

  The dark grey soldier read his commander’s expression as “not good.” “I take it there is a problem, Lord Defender?”

  The noble chose her words very carefully. “There are units with, ah, better reputations for bodyguard work that I know of, Defender. I will leave it at that.”

  “Understood, Lord Mammal.” He turned off his jammer and she did the same. “Here are the troop dispositions and our budget, Lord Defender.” He handed her a data card and reader. “Will you be drilling this afternoon?”

  She hesitated, then stood up. “Yes. There are some techniques I’ve learned recently that might prove a useful addition to our training regime.”

  The next morning the Lord Defender reported to the great throne room, as ordered by his Imperial Majesty. She wore her House color of dark blue-green and black, but conspicuously carried no weapons in her sword belt. Only the large metal folding fan hung at her side. The Lord Defender was announced and walked towards the throne, stopping five paces from the lowest step and dropping into an obeisance, head bowed level with her knee. There she knelt, waiting to be acknowledged. Lan-zhe ignored her for ten minutes but Rada never moved a muscle. At last he ordered her to rise and she did so very slowly, so as not to stagger on her now numb leg.

  The King-Emperor, resplendent in embroidered robes, with a jeweled ring on each forefoot, regarded her coldly, anger plain in his dark-green eyes. Human guards wearing a form of livery stood on either side behind the throne, blast rifles over their shoulders. They eyed Rada and she caught a whiff of sexual interest from one of the men. Not if you were the last male mammal in the Universe. Ick. She studied them, using her Gift to read their other emotions and not liking what she found.

  “Once again you defy Us, Ni Drako,” King Emperor Lan-zhe said.

  Huh? “How so, Imperial Majesty? Forgive my ignorance, but I am here, as ordered. How may I serve Drakon IV?” Then she realized what he was referring to.

  “That,” he pointed at the metal fan, “offends Us.”

  That seemed to be a cue of some sort, because the two guards began unslinging their weapons. The Lord Defender dropped back onto her knee but didn’t bow her head. “Your pardon, Imperial Majesty, but I failed to receive word that you wished it returned. Do you?” She started reaching for the item in question.

  Bluff called, the King-Emperor swirled his strong-side forefoot in an irritated negation. “No. But you will keep it out of Our presence in the future, Ni Drako.”

  The guards kept their weapons trained on the small mammal and she bowed her head. “Yes, Imperial Majesty.” Rada made no effort to rise again but shifted her weight slightly, just in case.

  After a pause, Lan-zhe gestured and Lord Blee came forward, smiling broadly. “We have heard of your mismanagement of Our lands, Ni Drako. We order you to send those pledged to House Blee back at once, then return here and await Our instructions. That is an order. Do you understand it?” The King-Emperor smiled as Rada looked at Blee and at the rifles pointing at her and made a forefoot and tail gesture of agreement, an expression of defeat in her features.

  “Yes, Imperial Majesty. I will see that the workers of Blue Hills return to their original manor, and shall come back to await your orders. Might I ask
a question, Imperial Majesty?” she inquired, shoulders hunched as if anticipating a blow as well as refusal.

  Lan-zhe opted to be magnanimous, inviting “What question is that, Lord Defender?”

  I am so dead. “Imperial Majesty, if the residents of Blue Hills estates are bound to resume the duties assigned by the founding grant of the estate, is not the manor lord also so bound?” Her tone was as innocent as she could make it and she kept her head bowed slightly.

  The chamber fell so quiet that Rada could hear the whine of the rifles’ firing charges building. It’s been a good life.

  “Leave Our sight. Now!” Lan-zhe roared, pointing toward the door with an elegantly gloved forefoot. Rada bowed, jumped to her feet, backed ten paces and departed with as much dignity and calm as if he had just awarded her sole ownership of the richest estate on Drakon IV. She paused only long enough to get her weapons and to let one of the orderlies know that she would be back late that night. Night’s Claw lifted into the thick summer air twenty minutes after the King-Emperor’s order finished echoing in the throne room.

  Two-and-a-bit hours later she landed at Singing Pines village after calling ahead to warn Steward P’nang of the verdict. It was a rest day, since fieldwork was done for the moment, and most of the village residents had stayed at home relaxing and enjoying the warm afternoon. Rada called on Headman Libo, who sent runners to call the villagers into the central commons. Rada swallowed against the bitter taste in her mouth. “I have just come from court, with news from his Imperial Majesty regarding those of you who came here from Blue Hills estate.” She managed to keep most of her disappointment and anger out of her voice and expression as she continued, “You must return to Blue Hills at once and resume the duties and bonds granted to the Lord of Blue Hills, until he releases you.”

  Growls, curses, and a few wails met her words. “And if we refuse?” someone in the crowd called.