Tamed by the Fire

by Maxine Mansfield

  Zander thought he’d prepared himself for the sight he would see when he himself looked up, but he hadn’t. He couldn’t prevent his shock or his grimace. For there sat the Baron Ambrose Fistslammer in all of his glory, not only in Sir Uthiel Dragonheart’s seat, just as Zander had feared, but also at the very head of Sir Uthiel Dragonheart’s table. He was completely surrounded by at least a dozen of his personal warriors.

  It was who the baron had confined at his side, sitting right on his lap, with what looked like a…a…dog collar fastened tightly about her neck while he held loosely onto the end of a leash, that had Zander’s stomach turning, however. It was Asla, the man’s own daughter, his own flesh and blood. But it wasn’t an Asla that Zander had ever seen before. This woman’s gown was filthy and hung haphazardly upon her slouched frame, her face was smudged, tear streaked, and bruised. Her eyes were devoid of any spark, cold, unseeing, and even her breathing seemed robotic, more forced than a natural expression of life.

  Zander chanced a quick glance at Ten and Levin. They both looked ready to bolt from Wally’s grasp and slay Asla’s father or die trying. He couldn’t let them do it, not yet anyway. Instead, he gave his head a slight shake, just enough to convey the silent promise of a later retribution.

  It took Ten the space of twenty-six long heartbeats to nod and even longer for Levin. Then the baron opened his mouth, and Zander was almost positive his effort to restrain his cousins from taking immediate action would be in vain.

  “Do you see who has come to visit, pet?” The baron cackled with glee while tugging Asla’s chain. “It appears our troll friend here has escorted a guest into our hall. Or was he invited at all? If not, then he is nothing more than a trespasser and must be severely dealt with. Oh, and looky here. It seems he brought friends along with him. Won’t Marquart be so very pleased to see royalty has come to pay her their respect?”

  Asla didn’t respond, and the baron tugged on the chain connected to the collar about her neck, hard. “Why so quiet, my dear? Don’t you wish to properly greet your ex-fiancé, Prince Zander? King Adan’s whelp? The man even you, with your vast charms, couldn’t manage to entice into a marriage, into your bed?”

  Asla shook her head, without even looking up.

  “Where’s your father, boy?” The baron glared directly at Zander.

  He couldn’t help himself. Zander simply had to stir the viper’s nest. “That’s Prince Zander to you, Baron. Not boy. You will do well to have respect for your betters. And as for my father, he is just where he should be. He is home, on his throne, ruling his kingdom, ruling the entire barbarian race.”

  The baron spit on the floor and wiped his chin with the sleeve of his tunic. “My betters? Do you really believe yourself above me? Ha! I’ll show you better. Before Marquart and I are done, it’ll be me sitting on the throne of Alaria, and Adan Hammerstrike’s head will be on a pike in my bailey. I have my own barbarian warriors behind me, and the promise of a huge troll army at my back to boot. Prince…bah.” He spit again. “I’ll show you just how valuable your being a prince is.”

  The baron yanked once more on Asla’s chain. “Sit up straight and pay attention, daughter.”

  Asla’s head jerked.

  The baron growled. “Who are these other fellows with the prince? Tell me quickly and don’t lie. I’ll know if you do, and you won’t like the consequences.” To make his point, the baron pulled his daughter’s chain in close until Asla’s face was even with his own. He kissed her roughly with a loud smacking sound right on the lips.

  Asla gagged and recoiled as if she’d been slapped instead of kissed, and the baron smiled.

  Zander wanted to gag, but he held his breath and his tongue while Wally did his best to hold back Ten and Levin.

  Now was the moment they would all finally find out just where Asla’s loyalties lay. For God Draka knew she not only recognize them, but in the case of Ten and Levin, she could easily spout some very intimate details if she was of a mind to.

  She looked her father eye to eye. She didn’t smile. She didn’t frown. As a matter of fact, as far as Zander could see, Asla gave no indication whatsoever of what she was thinking or what she would say. Slowly, she turned from her father and locked gazes with each man in turn before glancing back at the baron and simply shrugging her shoulders.

  “I may have seen the troll guard in the bailey once or twice. I’m not sure. There are so many of them wondering about this cold, dreary castle, and they do all look so very similar to each other.” She shrugged again. “As for…Prince Zander’s companions? Sorry I can’t be more helpful, Father, but I’ve never laid eyes on either one of them before today.”

  The baron nodded and gestured toward Wally. “Well then, I suppose you’d better quit loitering and see our guests escorted to our mistress. You know as well as I do, Marquart gets testy when kept waiting.”

  Wally nodded. “Can yout tell me, baron, just where may I find the commander?”

  Baron Fistslammer’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t know?”

  Wally shook his head. “I’ve been stationed at the Castle Kuropkat portal since the moment we first arrived, just as the commander ordered. I’ve not been privy to her movements.”

  Zander fingered the hilt of one of the daggers concealed beneath his tunic, just in case.

  The baron waved his hand in the direction of the far hallway. “She’s down in the dungeons with her Dragonheart family captives, of course. Where else would she be? “She’s been watching and waiting for that oldest daughter to arrive for hours, so she can finally collect her rock and be done with this nonsense. I do hope the girl’s stupid enough to show her face soon. After all, I have a king to dethrone, a land to overtake, and a kingdom to start running.”

  It took every ounce of patience Zander had left to stand still and simply wait for Wally to turn and lead them away, just as any other troll guard worth his salt would. And if there was one thing Zander was positive of, it was that Wally Titwilder, his friend, his pseudo cousin, his partner in crime was worth much more than something so common as salt.

  They were so close to their goal of finding Kitrina and getting their hands on Marquart. He could feel it, but it was also imperative they not make a single misstep.

  Zander waited while Wally bowed low before the baron, and he waited while his friend gathered the tether ropes he, Ten, and Levin were attached to. And he even allowed the other three men to walk slowly before him, as if they had all the time in the world.

  Still, the moment they stepped into the hallway, it was hard not to hurry, and it was hard not to take over the lead himself and rush ahead toward Briarlarn Dragonheart’s personal solar and the stairs they knew would lead them to the dungeons below.

  Zander’s palms itched, and his head pounded as his spiritmaster senses screamed danger. He didn’t stop, however. He didn’t even slow down. Somewhere, in the bowels of Castle Kuropkat, the only woman he’d ever love was at this very moment facing Marquart, offering herself up as replacement for her family. Zander knew it as well as he knew his own name.

  “God Draka, save me from VoT stubborn females who think they can take on the whole frigging world without help from anybody,” he mumbled. “Wait till I get my hands on her. If Marquart doesn’t kill her, I just might.”

  Wally turned and whispered back, “Did yout say something?”

  Zander shuddered and shook his head. “Not that I want to repeat in front of witnesses. Just be on the alert. We’re getting close to the solar, and you never know how many troll warriors Marquart will have stationed along the way.”

  Wally nodded, and the group continued.

  They were through the doorway of the solar and no more than a few feet from the stairs when they heard a voice that was not much louder than a whisper itself but still very familiar.

  “I’m not an idiot,” Uthiel Dragonheart said. “No matter what Marquart may have promised Kitrina, I know she has no intention of letting me or my family go free now that she has Ki
t captive and the Dragonheart Opal in her possession. But I do implore you. Do what you wish with me. I don’t care. But do not harm my wife and daughters. They’re innocent in this. I’m sure, deep down, somewhere, even trolls have honor, don’t they? See them safely off Castle Kuropkat lands and to Landis as Marquart promised. That’s all I ask.”

  The sound of laughter filtered up the stairs. “Yout females are innocent, yout say? Those little hellions of youts almost took my head clean off with their sharp claws when they shifted into those crazy mean cats when we first caught them. And yout wife? She VoT near choked poor old Baron Fistslammer to death before we could pry her hands off his throat. And just cause he was playing a little touchy-feely with his daughter at the supper table two days back. Innocent, my shiny green arse.”

  The troll laughed. “I’m looking forward to making sure none of yout get the chance to cause my commander any more trouble. And yout are right, Marquart does mean for us to kill yout all, so make yout peace with yout god if yout can. She said what she said to get the chit’s cooperation. And it’s her direct orders we follow without question. Not some misguided antiquated ideas of honor. There’s no such thing as honor. There is only duty and victory.”

  The sound of a grunt filtered up the staircase. “Now, shut yout mouth and quit begging. It’s undignified. If yout just keep climbing these stairs like good little humans, we’ll get all this unpleasantness over with, quick and clean like.”

  Zander heard Uthiel’s voice once again. Closer this time, and stronger. “So be it.”

  The rate and strength of Zander’s pulse doubled, and the air of his next breath lodged in his chest. Silently, he motioned toward the other three men to move. The Dragonheart family would soon crest the top of the stairs, and they were obviously in imminent danger. Even worse, Kitrina wasn’t with them. She was still somewhere below, alone with Marquart.

  Though he would’ve rather rushed headlong into the fray, Zander forced himself to stay put and took up position in the shadows to the right of the entryway. He placed his back flat against the wall, and Wally did the same at his side. Ten and Levin mimicked their movements and stance but on the left of the stairway.

  As if of one mind and one heart, all four men unsheathed their previously hidden weapons and waited.

  Within the space of fourteen heartbeats and one breath, the first two trolls immerged from the stairway. It was sixty-three heartbeats and four more breaths before the Dragonheart family walked through the opening, followed by one more troll soldier.

  Zander knew precisely how many heartbeats and breaths had passed. He’d counted them. Every single one an eternity. He waited until the entire party was halfway across the room and a few feet from the doorway of Briarlarn Dragonheart’s solar. He had to be certain no more trolls were bringing up the rear before he made his move.

  Suddenly, Uthiel Dragonheart spun. Even with his hands tied behind his back, he somehow managed to grab a dagger from the hand of a very surprised troll. A second later, that same man lay face down in his own blood.

  It was the most amazing thing Zander had ever seen. With a quick flick of his own dagger, the second troll hit the floor. All four men moved in tandem, and before Uthiel, Briar, or their daughters had a chance to face the one remaining troll warrior, all three lay dead at their feet.

  Uthiel didn’t look surprised to see them as Zander cut his bonds and freed his hands. “About time. Kit’s still below. I’m going after her.”

  Zander grabbed his arm to keep the man from rushing back down the stairs. “No, wait.”

  Uthiel shook his head. “Get my family out of here and to safety. Take them to Alaria if possible. I’m going back for Kit.”

  Again, Zander prevented him from moving. “There are too many soldiers, barbarian and troll alike, between here and the portal to accomplish getting your family through without a nasty fight. I’m sorry, but we need your sword arm if we hope to have a prayer of succeeding.”

  Uthiel shook his head. “I’ve seen you fight. VoT, I helped train every single one of you. You can do it. I know you can. I can’t just leave Kit down there all alone in the dark. You don’t know what that…that…Marquart might do to her. What she’s already done to others. What she’s capable of.”

  He jerked away from Zander’s grasp. “You don’t understand. I know you like her, are protective of her, may even love her at least a little, but Kit doesn’t mean to you what she does to me and her mother. She’s one of our daughters, for God Draka’s sake, our blood, our firstborn, our future, and my responsibility. I love her. I will save her. Trust me in this.”

  Zander didn’t lay hands on the man he’d respected all of his life again. Instead, he reached deep into the pocket of his breeks and pulled out his half of the Dragonheart Opal and held it for Uthiel to see. “You think I don’t understand what Kit means to you? Perhaps I don’t. But I can tell you what she means to me.”

  He took a deep breath, steadied the shaking of his hand and, for the very first time, completely accepted with his heart and soul the truth he’d known and had tried to avoid all of his life. “Kitrina is my future, too. My mate, my…everything. Not just chosen by this chunk of rock, but by my heart. She’s my destiny. I love her more than anything or anyone else in this life or the next, and I’d gladly exchange my next heartbeat for hers this very moment if I could. But we both know that isn’t possible. Only Kit can do what she is doing right this moment, and we must do what we can to help her in her quest.

  “Together, we can fight our way through this castle and get the rest of your family outside where Father, Uncle Sarco, Leeky, and quite a few others are waiting to help win the day. Marquart doesn’t want to harm Kit, Uthiel. She wants Kit alive.” Zander hesitated a moment, then continued. “No, she doesn’t just want; she needs to keep Kit alive. For if she fails to do so, she loses the one thing she thinks she must possess, the Stone of Anthion.”

  He slipped his half of the Dragonheart Opal back into his pocket, then ran his fingers haphazardly through his hair. “I really hate to admit it, but Marquart’s presence, Marquart’s side is probably the safest place your stubborn-arse daughter could be right this moment.”

  Uthiel slowly nodded. “You might be right in your assessment of the situation. Kit has always been known to be a tad obstinate at times and even careless when it comes to her own well-being. She’s much like her mother, I’m afraid.”

  Briar made a very unladylike sound, but if Uthiel noticed, Zander couldn’t tell. Instead, the man slapped him on the back and motioned toward Wally, Ten, and Levin. “Let’s go clean this nest of vipers out of my castle and get Briar and the girls somewhere safe. Then we will deal with Marquart and get our girl back.” Uthiel chuckled. “Oh, and welcome to the family, son. Do Adan and Lizbeth know?”

  “I showed the stone to my father just a little while ago, though there really was no time to discuss its ramifications. But as for my mother, she does not yet know, sir.” Heat crept up Zander’s neck, but he ignored it.

  “And I take it,” Uthiel suddenly looked serious, “the stone splitting in two is a fairly new development? Have you even discussed this incident with Kitrina yet?”

  Zander shook his head.

  Uthiel chuckled again. “Well, I know your parents, and they’ll no doubt be disappointed, but in the end, they’ll understand. They will want only your happiness. But I do wonder which discussion is going to be the more heated? The one we’re about to have in the great hall and the bailey with our uninvited guests or the one you’re going to have with my daughter? She’s not just going to sit back meekly and watch you abdicate your throne without a fight, you know?”

  Zander sighed. “With your daughter, my lord, I’ve learned that most things are a fight.”

  Briarlarn Dragonheart wasn’t chuckling. As a matter of fact, she was scowling directly at her husband with her hands fisted at her hips and her foot tapping fast and hard. Zander stepped back. He’d seen that same exact expression on Kit’s fa
ce often enough to know to get out of the way.

  “Enough!” she hissed. “There will be time to hash out details once we’ve taken back our castle and…and…killed that horrible baron and that…that…that troll. But we need to get moving in order to accomplish any of it. Daylight’s wasting, and those monsters aren’t going to just kill themselves.”

  It was Uthiel’s turn to shake his head, and the gesture brought a slight smile to Zander’s face. “Don’t even think about it, Briarlarn Dragonheart. You and the girls will stay well behind in the background like a good, obedient family should, for a change. That’s an order, wife.”

  Briar glanced at Lara and Tawny. Immediately, both girls shifted, Lara into a sleek lioness, and Tawny into a very dangerous tiger. “I don’t think so, husband. But,” she smiled, “we will be very proud to fight at your side. It’s our place, our right.”

  Uthiel’s entire face turned red. “Now, do you see what you’re in for?” he grumbled at Zander.

  Zander couldn’t help himself. He laughed, and it felt good. “Actually, I think I’m kind of looking forward to it, sir.”

  Uthiel snorted. “Well then, let’s go kill ourselves some trespassers.”

  Ten folded his arms and spoke just four words. “Not Asla. She’s ours.”

  Levin nodded.

  Zander sighed. “I myself won’t harm her if at all possible. I give you my word. Though I wouldn’t say I completely trust her, she at least did aid us earlier. That, however, doesn’t mean she won’t turn against us when we threaten her father.”

  Briar’s words surprised them all. “I don’t believe she will turn against us. I’ve seen what that horrible man is capable of, what he’s done. I’ve noticed remnants of the baron’s handiwork. Scars so deep, so horrid, so plentiful, I’ve no doubt they’re imprinted upon her soul forever. Asla needs our protection and rescue from her father, probably even more than Kitrina does from Marquart.