BREAKER: MONSTER TAMER BOOK ONE

by Hooke, Isaac

  “All right,” he said, standing. “I suppose I’ll take my leave then, go away for a while, and return after I’ve faced the Darkness. I’ll return for Gwen, who promises to hunt me down otherwise, and then the two of us will be on our way.”

  Abigail nodded sadly. “But the two of you won’t join me at the front lines, if it comes to it?”

  “I—” He shook his head sadly.

  “Oh, I forgot, you don’t fight in the wars of men,” Abigail said. She paused, then added: “Will you fight instead in a war of dragons?”

  In answer, he looked away. He wasn’t ready to commit. Not to something like that.

  The sigh he heard from Abigail, and the disappointment he felt from her energy bundle in his head, was heartbreaking.

  A knock came on the door.

  “Come in,” Malem said.

  The door creaked open, and Prince Jayden peered inside. “I thought I’d find you here.”

  “You have some news for me?” Abigail asked.

  The prince’s eyes darted to Malem and Gwen before returning to Abigail. “Maybe the two of us should talk in private…”

  “These are my closest friends in the world,” she said. “You can speak freely in front of them.”

  Jayden raised an eyebrow. “Closer than I, who you have known your entire life?”

  “I have fought by their side, bled with them,” she said. “They are closer to me than any brothers and sisters by blood. I trust them with my life. It’s already been in their hands, numerous times. I know it’s hard for you to understand… Father could better explain it to you.”

  Jayden’s eyes glinted dangerously, but then he shrugged and stepped inside. He shut the door behind him and lingered near the entrance. The room was getting a tad crowded for Malem’s tastes.

  “The council’s deliberations have ended for the day,” the prince said.

  “And?”

  Jayden hesitated a moment, he eyes sliding once more toward Malem and Gwen. Then: “Father has chosen to wait until Tobias returns. Then he will reconvene the council and make his final decision.”

  “Tobias?” She stood up. “But that could take days!”

  Jayden tilted his head slightly. “I know.”

  “Father’s collar will have resealed by then,” Abigail pressed.

  “Yes,” Jayden told her. “If he decides to accept King Goldenthall’s proposal to join the war, he’ll be riding one of us to Mulhadden.”

  “Who’s Tobias?” Malem interjected.

  “One of our scouts,” Abigail replied. “He keeps tabs on Vorgon’s army and its progress.”

  Malem considered that. “So basically your father and his council are trying to get an idea of how badly the Alliance is losing before committing to the war effort.”

  “That’s what it sounds like,” Abigail agreed. She returned her attention to her brother. “What’s the news on Fallow Gate? Before I left the council, Father promised to send a scout to assess the situation.”

  “He sent Pereigeon,” the prince replied.

  Abigail nodded. “She’s fast.”

  “Yes. The scout used that key of yours to remove her collar, and she returned only twenty minutes ago. She says Fallow Gate is still under siege. It hasn’t fallen yet.”

  “So, there’s still time.” Abigail exchanged a quick glance with Malem before returning her attention to her brother. “We have to help the people of Fallow Gate.”

  “Help them?” Jayden said. “But Father said—”

  Abigail spoke over him. “It doesn’t matter what he said. He was in political mode. Saying one thing, when in his heart he meant another.”

  “Don’t try to tell me you know what’s in the king’s heart,” Jayden told her.

  “I do,” she insisted. “More than you. He told the council what it wanted to hear to buy himself time. He knows he can’t show weakness, not now of all times, or one of them could attempt a coup. You know exactly what I’m talking about, Jayden.”

  He tilted his head slightly, and frowned. “I suppose I do.”

  She pressed her lips together into a tight line. “Listen to me, we can make a difference. With that key, we’re no longer constrained by these human forms. We can’t sit back and do nothing, can’t abandon the people of Fallow Gate to their fate, not now, not when we have the ability to repel the besiegers.”

  Jayden chuckled and shook his head. “You’ve been living among the humans for too long. Listen to yourself. ‘Can’t abandon the people.’ We don’t owe the citizens of Fallow Gate a thing. Their ancestors brought war to our gates, chased us from our homes, forced us to wear these collars to be left alone.”

  “Yes, and now some of their descendants are offering to right that wrong,” she argued. “We’ll form a war party, rip off our collars, and descend upon the city. We’ll show these besiegers the terrible power of the Metal Dragons in their natural form.”

  “Sending an uncollared scout is one thing, but dispatching a whole war party is another entirely,” Jayden told her. “Remember, the treaty is still in place. Father hasn’t yet agreed to join their Alliance, and—”

  “But he’s going to agree!” Abigail said.

  Again Jayden laughed. “Abbi. You simply don’t know that, despite your claims to the contrary. No one knows what’s in his heart, nor that of the council members. They’re all still deliberating. They—”

  “They’ll choose to be free,” Abigail interrupted. “He will accept. He— ah, hell with it. I’ll just talk to him myself.” She stood.

  Jayden raised a halting hand. “You asked him during the council already. What were your words? ‘If Fallow Gate still holds out, will we help them?” Do you remember what he said?”

  Abigail lowered her gaze and mumbled: “I told you he was in political mode...”

  “What did he say?” Gwen asked.

  “The king said there would be no help until the council made up its mind,” Jayden told her. “He said we risked igniting another war with the humans, even if our intentions were noble.”

  “It would never happen,” Abigail said, looking up once again to meet his gaze defiantly. “The last thing humanity needs right now is to fight a war on two fronts. They’d see our help for what it is: a gesture of friendship and goodwill. A sign of our willingness to fight against our common enemy.”

  Jayden smiled patiently. “But you’re forgetting what the king said next: if Tobias reported that the ranks of the Alliance were nearly broken, and that joining on the side of the humans would be an exercise in futility, potentially leading to our own extinction, Father might decide to remain neutral. If we attacked the besiegers of Fallow Gate before that decision, we’d be dragging ourselves into the war no matter what. So go ahead, talk to him again if you really insist, but I guarantee you he’ll give the same answer. I know his heart better than you, in this case.”

  Abigail threw up her hands. “Fine, we’ll help Fallow Gate in secret, then. That way Father can disavow any knowledge of what we’ve done, even if Vorgon sends servants to search his mind for the truth.”

  “In secret?” Jayden’s nose wrinkled as if that word held a particular distaste for him.

  35

  Malem decided it was time to intervene. On the prince’s side.

  “Wait, go back for a second,” Malem said. “Clarify something for me. Why is the city still under siege? We made it through. We delivered our message. What’s the point of taking the city now?”

  Abigail glanced at him impatiently. “Vorgon’s Black Sword has already committed the resources. There’s no point in backing down now. Remember, Vorgon planned to take the city at some point anyway.”

  “Do we know which Black Sword it is?” he asked.

  “No,” she replied. “That puts us at a slight disadvantage. But in the end, all the Black Swords are of roughly equal strength. Vorgon lends them some of his power, so when we face them, we’ll essentially be fighting a weaker version of the Balor.”

  “Kin
d of a practice run for when we go up against him directly, huh?” he said, meaning it as a joke.

  But she didn’t smile. He had the distinct impression that was exactly how she was treating this: a practice run.

  “No messengers from Fallow Gate got out?” he pressed. “An army of human soldiers might already be marching to their aid from Laernes, for example.”

  “There is no army in Laernes or other cities nearby,” she told him. “Only what’s left of the reserve defense forces: those men not dispatched to the front lines. Which admittedly could be large—I don’t know how many troops Laernes or the others have committed to the war. But even if there was a friendly host coming, they wouldn’t arrive in time. The siege won’t last for much longer. I’m surprised Fallow Gate has held out this long. We’re the only ones who can make a difference.”

  She looked at the prince expectantly.

  “Father will punish us, if we do this,” Jayden told her.

  Abigail straightened. “We’ve been punished before. We can take it.” She paused, then added sweetly: “Unless you’re afraid to fight?”

  “I’m not afraid,” he said softly. His voice was flecked with anger.

  “Good, because now’s your chance to finally prove yourself,” she told him. “As our older brothers and sisters did in the war against The Elk King, two hundred years ago.”

  “I don’t need to prove myself to anyone,” he said between gritted teeth.

  “Oh? Tell that to the peers of the court, who always secretly look at you with contempt for your lack of battle experience. Oh, they smile to your face and treat you with the respect your station demands, but the moment you look away, their facades fade and their noses wrinkle in disgust.”

  His face darkened, and for a moment Malem thought the prince was going to step forward and strike her. He was ready to intervene if the fool tried anything.

  Finally the prince’s features relaxed, and his shoulders slumped slightly. “You’re just goading me. Trying to get me to help you.”

  “I’m not trying to do anything,” she said. “I already know you’ll help me. You wouldn’t let me fly to my death alone, just as I wouldn’t abandon you.”

  “She always goes with the guilt,” Jayden complained to Malem. “It’s her weapon of choice.”

  Malem bobbed his head in agreement. “I’ve kind of noticed.”

  Abigail shot him a look of mock outrage. “Hey…”

  Jayden shook his head. “Damn it. Obstinate bitch.”

  She grinned widely. She glanced at Malem. “When he calls me a bitch, it’s a sign of affection.”

  “Thanks for telling me,” Malem said. “Because I was about to punch him in the face.”

  “I’d certainly like to see you try,” Jayden said.

  “Now, now, boys,” Gwen said. “Let’s amp it down a bit, ‘kay? Now isn’t the time for a pissing contest.”

  “That’s right,” Abigail said. “I’ve seen both your balls. They’re very big.”

  Jayden frowned. “So crude. Like I said, you’ve been living with the humans too long. Their low class, debased manners are rubbing off on you. Such words are not fit for a princess.” He shook his head. “This is a very bad idea.”

  “I knew I could count on your help,” Abigail said. “We’ll need the key to remove these collars.”

  He hesitated. Then: “I know where it is.”

  “I thought you would,” she said. “When can you get it?”

  “Meet me in your quarters in half an hour,” he said. “I’ll have it.”

  “Gather those who are the most loyal to us,” Abigail said. “Ragan. Heren. Maybe Tarak. And anyone else you can think of.”

  “Tarak? I’ve never trusted him.”

  “Fine, forget Tarak,” Abigail said. “Go with your gut. I’ve been friends with Ragan and Heren since I was a hatchling. We can trust them for sure.”

  “I’ll see who I can gather in such short notice,” he said. “I’ll meet you at your quarters in an hour instead, then.”

  “I’ll talk to Ragan and Heren myself,” Abigail said. “If that helps.”

  “It will.” He glanced at Malem and Gwen. “Are they coming?”

  “No,” Abigail said quickly, without looking at the pair.

  “Yes,” Malem countered, rather forcefully.

  Abigail glanced at him in surprise.

  The prince arched an eyebrow at Malem, but then smiled. “Eager to try your hand at Breaking more black dragons, are you?”

  “I only plan on Breaking you,” Malem came back.

  Jayden snickered. “Good luck.”

  With that, the prince left.

  Abigail rounded on Malem. "I thought you were insistent on going away to face the next return of your Darkness?"

  "I was," he said. "But I didn't expect you to be leaving for Fallow Gate so soon."

  "Given their dire situation, I'm surprised you'd think otherwise. Though I suppose I should grant you some leeway, considering the report only came in. But that still doesn’t explain why you’re staying."

  “Obviously I can’t leave,” he said. “Not if you’re taking on a Black Sword. I have to fight at your side.”

  “You’re dead set against going with her to the Alliance front lines to the west,” Gwen said. “But you’ll join her for this? Why?”

  “I’m not ready to commit to a long drawn out war,” he said. “A skirmish at Fallow Gate is one thing, but fighting for weeks and months on end with the Alliance, something else entirely. Besides, at least if she goes to the front lines, she’ll have an entire army of dragons and humans with her. Here, sneaking behind the king’s back, she might have only a few dragons going with her to Fallow Gate. Maybe none. She’s essentially by herself. I won’t let her do this alone, no matter how confident she might be in her abilities.”

  Gwen considered his response for a moment. “Well, the first part makes some sense, about not wanting to commit to a drawn out war. The second part is kind of a lame, though, considering she might encounter similar situations on the Western Front during the fighting, say if she ever gets separated from her war party. But hey, at least you’re going to Fallow Gate. I’m certainly looking forward to getting my fill of orak blood. I think I might even drink some this time. You know, just to say I did.”

  Abigail’s face scrunched up in disgust. “Eww.”

  Gwen smiled at her reaction, but became serious a moment later. “So. Can we trust your brother? Or will he meet you at your quarters with the keep’s full complement of guards?”

  “Jayden wouldn’t do that to me,” Abigail said. “He’s a little cold in the presence of others, especially at the court, but alone he’s a lot warmer. You saw hints of it. When he called me Abbi, for example.”

  “Again claiming to see into the hearts of your fellow dragons...” Malem said.

  “That’s right, go on quoting the pompous brother, won’t you?” Gwen told him.

  “Jayden is family,” Abigail said. “We don’t betray one another.”

  “And yet you’re essentially betraying your father by doing this...” he told her.

  She stared at him. “What would you have me do? Leave the people of Fallow Gate to their fate?”

  “No, but don’t tell me that family members never betray one another.”

  She bowed her head to concede the point. “So tell me then, did your beast sense reveal anything I should know?”

  “About him?” Malem said. “No. I could only sense his presence, really. He has a strong mind, and I haven’t broken him, like I have you.”

  “Maybe you should have sex with him,” Gwen quipped.

  Malem cringed slightly. “That’s quite all right.”

  “Why not?” Gwen said. “Wouldn’t it give you a boost in those Breaking abilities of yours? We’re going to need it where we’re going, after all. Think about it. You’re in a kingdom of half human dragons. Imagine how powerful you’d become if you slept with and broke them all!”

 
“I can’t believe you’re encouraging his infidelity,” Abigail told her.

  He rubbed his chin, and couldn’t help the smile that flitted across his lips. “She is right.”

  Abigail punched him in the right bicep. “You’re not sleeping with the entire dragon kingdom.”

  “How about with just a select few then?” he said. “Only the highest quality dragon women.”

  Another punch. Harder.

  “All right all right,” he said. “No sleeping with other dragon women.”

  For the moment.

  While the prospect of Breaking multiple dragon women was enticing from the point of view of both pleasure and power, he wasn’t quite sure how it would work in practice. First he’d have to juggle multiple relationships—he already felt he had his hands full with these two. Second he’d have to deal with the constant sensation of them in his mind, feeling their emotions pulsing through him at all hours. What if he broke a woman who was the jealous and possessive type, and he had to deal with her negative energy in his mind throughout the day?

  Then again, his will would probably be so strong by then that he could completely dominate her, soothing away any negative energy and plastering a permanent smile on her face. But that was little better than breaking someone entirely, turning them into an automaton. That seemed very wrong. It was what a Balor would do.

  Abigail’s words floated to him unbidden.

  You have the power of a Balor in you.

  He dismissed those thoughts. Breaking more half monsters and dealing with the consequences of his growing power would be something he’d worry about another day. He had more immediate problems at hand.

  “If you’re going to come with us, we’ll need to properly outfit you,” Abigail was saying. “There is an armory on the third floor. I’ll take you there, after I make a quick visit to a couple of friends.”

  “How about I meet you at the armory?” Malem said. “I have to check on Xaxia. She might want to come as well.”