King's Dragon: Chronicles of the Dragon-Bound: Book 2

by William Culbertson

  “Mama, Mama! The queen!”

  Meva was pointing toward the other side of the stage where Queen Layna had entered. The queen looked tired and worn, and she was actively engaged in conversation with those around her. Berndet watched in admiration. Could she have handled herself with such grace and dignity if she had just lost her husband, Bon? The queen had lost her husband and son, and now she was burdened by the responsibility of ruling the kingdom. Berndet shook her head in admiration as she looked at the stage. Queen Layna bore the troubles of the realm along with her own.

  Berndet clutched her daughter’s hand, thankful she still had her family intact. They would get by in these troubled times because they were together. The ceremony was short. The queen read a brief proclamation of remembrance for all who had given their lives for the safety of the kingdom of East Landly. Her voice was strong. Berndet had no problems hearing her. When she was finished, she introduced Dax the Hero.

  He stood, and the crowd cheered excitedly and waved their arms. They started chanting, “Dax! Dax! Dax!” but quieted when he raised his right arm.

  “People of Frohliem City, of East Landly—thank you for that.” Dax the Hero’s voice was strong. “But remember, today we honor all who fought and helped us fight. You have all sacrificed to repel the Tharans, and now we must all work together to recover.”

  He went on to read from a list of groups organized to provide help. He gave details about where, when, and what help was available. Berndet grew more surprised as he spoke. He was not making a glorious speech about his victory over the dragon. Dax the Hero was not like the other high-and-mighty who would have reveled in triumph. She started to smile. She liked this man. He had the common sense to know there was a job to be finished, and the sooner started, the sooner done.

  “Mama. Mama.” Meva tugged at her arm. “Mama, he said there are orphans who need help. Can we do something?”

  Berndet had not been listening and looked at Meva, confused. Her daughter looked up at her. “I have space in my room. We could help. An orphan could stay in my room. Please? We can help.”

  Once she understood, Berndet’s eyes went a little misty at her child’s generous spirit. She thought for a moment and realized even with things as tight and confused as they were for her family, there were many, many more in the city much worse off. She nodded in agreement. “Let’s see what we can do.”

  They walked toward the stage where groups had gathered to coordinate relief help. As they waited, Berndet’s eye was caught by a flash of motion. A man dashed onto the stage. The queen had left, but many remained talking in groups. The man ran straight to Dax and whispered something in his ear. She had no idea what was going on, but Dax urgently looked toward the west. Berndet looked to the west as well. Nothing. Nothing that she could see anyway. Was something happening?

  Dax the Hero immediately turned to leave the stage, but Berndet saw him stumble. The messenger reached out to take his arm. Dax the Hero must still be in pain. She watched as the messenger helped Dax off the stage. She lost sight of him at that point because Meva was dragging her on toward a man who held a sheaf of papers.

  Someone at the edge of the crowd started shouting. Berndet caught the phrase “. . . for the House of Soltees . . .” and “. . . a new ruler for the people . . .” There was a stir in the crowd as guards pushed through toward the man. His harangue came to an abrupt end. She had seen the like several times in the last few days.

  Berndet took a deep breath and brought her attention to the matters at hand. She certainly had not planned on doing anything like this when they came today, but Meva was excited by the idea of helping an orphan. With the city in such turmoil, she and her family would help where they could.

  Chapter 23

  “West Landly. You’re sure?” Dax’s dragon rage simmered below the surface of his thoughts. He forced himself to be calm. He had more questions to ask, and he needed to think. The messenger’s name was Bran Saryl, a public safety warden. He had gone to the Chammanie Valley with the recovery team. The man was exhausted from three days in the saddle, but by the time Dax had returned to his quarters, his staff had gotten the warden something to eat. Empty dishes were stacked on the small table beside his chair.

  Saryl nodded. “I recognized the West Landly Guard uniforms soon as I saw them. Five years ago I took a trip all the way to Tazzelton. It was the guard all right. We couldn’t see the force, but with the dust they raised, there must have been thousands.”

  “What were they doing in the Chammanie Valley?” Dax said more to himself than to the messenger. Saryl had already told him that Captain Opta had sent him flying for Frohliem City the moment they had realized a great group of soldiers was approaching the recovery mission from the west.

  The messenger wiped his face with the towel that was still around his neck. His clothes were dusty and soiled from the road, but he had found the time to wash some of the road dust off his face. His hair was still damp.

  “What were Captain Opta’s plans?”

  “I don’t know for sure. He didn’t want to say too much to me in case I . . . you know.” Saryl raised his hands helplessly. “I got captured or something.”

  “What do you think he’ll do?”

  “You know Captain Opta is from the Chammanie Valley?”

  Dax nodded. That was the major reason he had picked the man to lead the mission to recover what remains there were of King Kankasi and the East Landly Lancers who had fallen at the hands of the Tharans—and their drakon.

  “Well,” Saryl said, “I think they’ll take to the hills. He knows the Kakaras Crags as well as any man, and they’ll lose the guard in the high country.”

  Yes, Opta could keep his mission safe that way—for a time. But what about the rest of East Landly and Frohliem City? West Landly’s Guard was in the Chammanie Valley in force. What were they doing? Dax could think of only two possibilities: Either they were coming to help, or they were coming to take advantage of what the Tharans had started—to conquer East Landly.

  There was a noise at the door. Dax looked up as Scarlet came in. Dax was relieved to see his friend’s eyes were alert and focused. Ever since his return after Pulla was killed, Scarlet had been quiet and withdrawn. Dax had sent an aide with the news, and Scarlet looked ready for action. “What’s the word?” he asked.

  “We know damned little,” Dax replied. “The West Landly Guard has moved into the Chammanie Valley.”

  “For good or ill?”

  “’Tis the question now, isn’t it?” Markadamous had been silent up to that point. Now he stood up and strode to a westward-looking window. He stared at out toward the mountains. “If it was anybody else—Ugor included”—he turned around with a small but wolfish grin—“it would be trouble on the hoof.” He scratched his chin. “West Landly now. That’s different.” Dax, with the queen’s agreement, had given Markadamous charge of the Ugori detachment. With responsibility for the entire city, Dax was grateful for the loyalty of Markadamous and his people.

  But what was the motive of this invasion? Dax turned to Ras Carmodi. “What does the deputy ambassador to West Landly think?”

  Carmodi sighed. “I’ve been away from West Landly for over a year while we prepared for . . .” He hesitated and waved his hand in frustrated dismissal. “That other project for the king.” He sighed. “Former king.” Thinner than he had been before his bout with Lady Aylssandra’s poison, he also lacked some of his former good cheer. “If my father, the ambassador, were here, he would have a much better idea than I of what they are up to. He’s close to the West Landly court.” Carmodi shrugged. “I know he respects Queen Dara, and I like the woman as well.” He shrugged. “But I simply can’t say if she is more ambitious for power than she is sympathetic to her sister kingdom.”

  Dax remembered the remark Venjet Carmodi had made when he had met the ambassador. He had declared Queen Dara a strong ruler and said baldly that she would have dominated Prince Ruprek. The remark had been made in refere
nce to the matchmaking process, but it offered him no help in illuminating West Landly’s intentions. Dax hated situations like this one. He had to make an important decision, but he had no good information to guide him.

  He went around the room one more time for thoughts, perspectives, and opinions, but there was nothing new. He sighed. “Thank you all for coming. I will take this issue to the queen for her thoughts. We’ll meet back here first thing in the morning for a final decision and planning. However, I suggest you all take immediate steps to prepare for mobilization. If we decide to confront them in force, I don’t know yet who we will take, but I want to be able to ride out of the gate by noon tomorrow.” He took a moment to meet the eyes of everyone in the room. All were tired from the fight with the Tharans and its aftermath, but he saw grim resolve in every face present. He nodded. “Dismissed.”

  #

  “They are coming to help,” Queen Layna said firmly.

  Dax sighed. He was on his couch with his feet up on a footstool, but he was tired. In fact, he was exhausted. It was late in the evening after a long afternoon of meetings. At least when sitting down he did not ache quite so much. Sitting down, however, did nothing to relieve the ache of having another problem thrust upon him so soon.

  “That’s my gut feeling as well,” Dax said. “Only communications through the network of dragon-bound could have reached them this quickly. That argues strongly for a relief mission. However . . .” He let the thought hang open.

  The queen arched her eyebrows. After a moment’s consideration, she continued his thought. “However, can we afford to assume that and just let them walk in here when we are so weak?”

  “Exactly. If you value the throne of East Landly, can we stake the fate of this kingdom on that presumption?”

  “Do I value the throne? Come now, Dax. I will not be allowed to sit on that throne. Moreover, weren’t we in the process of trying to negotiate a marriage that would have discontinued rule of East Landly as a separate kingdom?”

  A slow smile crept across Dax’s face. “Now you are trying to draw me down a dark alley. You love this kingdom, and you know the people will never accept rule imposed from without. Neither would West Landly in our place. Our peoples are too proud of their independence. They would unite to restore the glory of old Landly, but neither would want that unity to be imposed by force of arms.”

  She met his smile with her own. “I agree completely. The West Landly force must be met and challenged, and the sooner the better. If they march clear of the Drundevil Pass, we will have little hope of stopping a mission of conquest.”

  The queen looked down. “This is one more burden I must place upon your shoulders, Dax. I ask you to lead the East Landly response.” She waved off his attempt at interruption. “Yes, I know the doctor says you are not healed, but if anyone can inspire our soldiers to face more fighting, it is you, General Daxdendraig.”

  “General?”

  “Don’t you think that’s the least I could do for someone who has saved the kingdom?” She paused and smiled. “Now don’t go having a snit because you think I promoted you just to get you to confront West Landly. I’ve been working to have your promotion approved for some time. You are a general, whether you march or not.”

  “A snit?” Dax finally asked with a half-amused smile.

  “You’ve got a stronger sense of honor than any man I’ve ever met, and it would be just like you to get your stiff neck out of joint if you thought I was trying to manipulate you.”

  Dax rubbed his hand over his tender ribs. “I think everything but my neck is out of joint.” He smiled. “Thank you.”

  “Good, that’s settled.” She nodded primly. “The question remains, will you lead the expedition to confront West Landly?”

  Dax sighed. “The lancers would fight for their queen,” he said. “You could lead them. I’m not sure I can even sit a horse.” He gestured at his reclining body.

  “Thank you for saying that, and it might even be true.” She smiled. “At least I can wish it to be true.” She shook her head negatively. “No, I am needed here and seated on the throne. Our Council of Nobles has reconstituted the assembly.” She sighed audibly and shook her head. “They have called it into session to find a new sovereign. However temporary my position must be, we face another danger just as great as invasion.”

  Queen Layna got up from her chair and went to the window. Dax did not say anything, because he could tell she was trying to get her thoughts in order. At last she turned back to look at him. “Even while the Assembly of Nobles debates, I see the possibility of civil war in East Landly over the succession question.” She turned back and stared out the window, unseeing into the dark, for another long moment. “The dragon wiped out any clear line of succession to the throne. Even as we mourn, the maneuvering has started. They know my Ugori blood makes me unacceptable to continue to rule in my own right. The great houses see an opportunity to place one of their own upon the throne. They all have some minor connection to royal blood—a cousin’s husband’s third wife—that sort of thing.”

  Dax nodded. “The man at the ceremony today.”

  The queen nodded in return. “He’s not the first. We see slogans scrawled on walls, hear rumors of plots, that sort of thing.” She smiled grimly. “In our meetings, the heads of the great houses offer sweet, sweet words of encouragement. They talk about how the assembly will reach a fair and just decision.”

  She turned back to him. “The great houses are plotting,” she stated flatly, “against me and against each other. The Assembly of Nobles could find itself in a position where they are forced to ratify the choice of someone who has already seized power.”

  Dax watched as she raised her fist as if to strike a blow, but she lowered it and rapped her knuckles on the sill. “If one of the great houses does try to take the throne, the others would rise up to oppose it. It would set house and against house, faction against faction in a bloody fight . . .” She shuddered.

  “Civil war,” he repeated her earlier assessment.

  “It would start in the city with fights between gangs from the great houses, but it would quickly spread to Falls Meadow and then Bright Bay, where there also are factions and alliances. Some would align with Frohliem City, but others are more interested in their own local power. The clans of Ugor would see it as an invitation not only to declare their independence, but also to take a portion of our northern plains as well.”

  She looked at him from where she stood by the window. “I sit on a pile of tinder wood in the middle of a dry-grass plain. There are sparks all around.” Returning to her chair, the queen sat down and leaned toward Dax. The power of her personality washed over him even before she reached out carefully to take his good hand in hers. “After all you have done for East Landly, I hate to turn to you again, but I ask you to deal with West Landly. I must stay and try to hold the kingdom together until we have an orderly transition of some sort that won’t tear East Landly apart.”

  She looked him in the eye until he was forced to turn away. He let go of her hand and ran his good hand through his hair. He sighed in frustration. “The next thing you are going to tell me is that I can’t strip the city of its fighting men.”

  The queen’s gaze was almost affectionate. “Thank you for making that part easier for me.”

  “But not easier for me.” His retort was automatic, and he tried to soften it with a smile. He thought furiously about the forces available to keep the peace, to meet West Landy . . . “The Ugori troops would be loyal to you . . .”

  “ . . . but would stir resentment within the city,” she finished for him. She shook her head. “The people would not tolerate Ugori peacemakers.”

  “A full contingent of lancers could move fast and might be able to bottle up the guard inside the pass.” He looked at her saw her nod. He sighed and admitted the reality of the situation. “But they are also an important symbol of your authority in the city.”

  She nodded again. “Mounted, t
he Ugori move quickly,” she offered.

  “Two platoons of lancers to carry the flag?”

  Queen Layna considered and nodded slowly. “How big a force would you take?”

  “I will take all the Ugori who can be ready to ride, but I will meet the West Landly forces with only a couple hundred in advance of our main force. If they are here to help, I don’t want to insult them.”

  “Yet you would have the rest of the force in reserve in case they mean to conquer?”

  Dax nodded. “It would not be an ideal defensive position if they plan battle, however, I feel it would be diplomatic to show our trust first.” He set his jaw firmly. “But we will be prepared for the worst.”

  She nodded. “I don’t know Queen Dara. I only met her once while her father was still king.” She paused and smiled. “Delightful child.” Her smile did not last. “But what are her ambitions as queen?”

  Queen Layna stood up. “It is late, and we both have had a busy day.”

  “I warned my commanders to have their troops ready to march by noon.”

  She smiled. “You were ready for me and my message, weren’t you?”

  Dax nodded, then made what bow he could without getting up from the couch. “Good night, Your Majesty.”

  She turned back. “And good night to you, General Gard Daxdendraig of East Landly.” She smiled and curtsied formally.

  Dax made a gesture of surrender. “Good night, Teena.”

  The queen smiled. “Goodnight, Dax.” She nodded, and left the room.

  #

  “No. No. And no!” Dr. Galen’s cheeks were flushed with anger. “You cannot ride out to battle.” It was still morning, and the doctor had barged into his office before Dax had even had a chance to look at any of the reports on his desk. She had not stopped talking since.