Dawn of Legend: Dragon Dusk Book 1 (Dragon Shifter Romance)

by Mac Flynn

  I looked up at Maddock. “Why would we want to know about the dead ones?”

  His face darkened slightly. “Even dead alchemists can cause trouble, or their potions, at least, if they fall into the wrong hands, and I believe our situation merits the inclusion of that assumption.”

  “So a college keeps track of alchemists? Is it an alchemy college?” I guessed.

  “Yes, and one of the best in the world. I would guess that someone capable of such a difficult potion would be from an illustrious college,” he mused. “Each person who is accepted into any of the alchemist colleges and takes any courses must henceforth give their address to the college, even if they don’t finish their training.”

  “Why?” I wondered.

  “The knowledge granted to them through the courses and the libraries of the colleges are quite extensive, and dangerous,” Maddock explained to me. “To allow anyone to come into the college and collect that information only to disappear into the world would be reckless, to say the least.”

  “This lists two alchemists who currently reside within ten miles of the village,” Tristan announced.

  Maddock crossed his arms over his chest and frowned at Tristan. “Not even a thank-you? That wasn’t easy to acquire, you know. Most colleges laugh at anyone who even asks about the lists.”

  Tristan stood and tucked the paper into his pocket. “We must confront them about the matter.”

  “But how do you suggest we convince the rogue alchemist to reveal themselves?” Maddock wondered.

  Tristan shook his head. “I don’t know, but something must be done.”

  “Then might I suggest we ask our adorable little friend here to help with my plan?” Maddock suggested as he turned to me. “That is, if she can act.”

  “Act?” I repeated.

  He turned and smiled at me. “Yes. If you would pretend to possibly recognize the face of both of them then the guilty party might confess to the heinous deed.”

  “But I haven’t seen any of them,” I pointed out.

  “We know that, but do they?” he countered. “You might say that you were stumbling through the woods when he caught sight of a person moving away from the direction of the golem attack.”

  I furrowed my brow. “I guess I could say that. . .”

  Tristan frowned. “Christine is in no condition to assist us, and the alchemist will be a danger to us.”

  “I’m fine,” I insisted as I flung the covers off. I swung my legs over the bed, but a dizzy spell struck me. The world spun around and I clutched my head to stop the spinning. My other hand clenched the sheets to keep myself from toppling onto the floor.

  “Christine!” Tristan yelled as he slid across the bed and grabbed my shoulders. His golden eyes were beautiful handsome with his genuine concern. “Are you all right?”

  I dropped my hand and smiled up at him. “I’m fine.”

  “And a terrible liar,” Maddock spoke up as he walked around the bed to where I sat. He knelt in front of me and studied my face. “The mark is a little brighter than earlier. The void curse is absorbing some of your life energy.”

  I would be lying if I said I wasn’t struck by a little bit of fear. “What will it do to me before. . .before the end?”

  “Fatigue, mostly, though at the end when most of your energy is gone the curse could become more forceful in its extraction and cause you some pain,” Maddock told me.

  I looked from Maddock to Tristan. “How long do I have?”

  Maddock shook his head. “There’s no way to tell, but I would give you less than a week. Perhaps only a few days.”

  “Then I’d better get up,” I insisted as I moved to slide off the bed.

  Tristan wrapped his arms around me and drew me against his chest. “Not tonight.” I leaned my head back and looked up into his bitter smile. “Rest. Tomorrow we will go see them.”

  I pursed my lips. “You promise?”

  He nodded. “I swear it.”

  Maddock sighed and stood, but there was a soft smile on his lips as he looked down at us. “I suppose he’s right. Our interviewees would no doubt be less willing to talk to us in the middle of the night than they would during the day.” He walked over to the door and half-stepped out, but paused and looked to us. His eyes sparkled with mischief. “Don’t keep her awake for too long, Tristan. She has some traveling to do tomorrow.” He slipped out and shut the door behind him.

  I looked up at Tristan who frowned at the door. His eyes were so wonderfully beautiful and his face so handsome. He held me tight, but with such a soft grip that I didn’t feel trapped at all. I reached up and cupped his cheek in my hand.

  He looked down with surprised eyes. I smiled up at him and leaned my back against his chest. “Could we stay like this just for a little while longer?”

  Tristan drew me closer and the warmth of his body soothed my frayed nerves. “Forever, if you wished it.”

  I closed my eyes and drifted back into a deep, peaceful sleep.

  23

  A new day came again, and with it the disappointment that there were pillows beneath me and not a handsome dragon man behind me. I opened my eyes and sat up. My room was filled with the warmth of sunlight, and the fire crackled softly in the hearth. Someone had covered me with sheets, enough that I felt snuggled under a heavy, soft weight of refreshing heat.

  I flung aside the sheets and grasped one of the posts at the front of the bed. I eased myself onto my feet. They were a little shaky, but held me up. I shuffled over to my dresser and slipped into my new attire. The clothes were as soft and warm as the sheets, and twice as light.

  I walked over to the door and opened the entrance. A shadow filled the doorway on the other side. I started back and lost my weak balance. Tristan swooped inside the room and wrapped his arms around me.

  I sheepishly smiled at him. “Good morning.”

  “You should be in bed,” he scolded me as he drew me into his arms.

  “And you should let me down so I can go downstairs,” I insisted as I squirmed in his gentle but firm hold.

  Tristan turned and marched us down the hall toward the stairs. “I will carry you downstairs.”

  I cupped his face in my hands. He paused at the top of the stairs and looked down at me. I pressed our foreheads together and smiled at him. “Please? I really want to do this on my own.”

  Tristan studied my face for a moment before he set me down. “Very well, but I will accompany you.”

  “I’d like that,” I agreed as I grasped the railing with both hands.

  Tristan walked at my side all the way down and into the dining room. Maddock was seated near the head of the table, but he stood at our entrance. He smiled at me and bowed his head. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning,” I greeted him as I made my shaky way down the table to my chair. There wasn’t a place set.

  “Chloe,” Tristan called.

  Chloe appeared in the doorway. “Yes, Lord-Chris!”

  I snorted as Tristan pulled my chair out for me. “That’s a new title,” I teased her as I plopped myself into the seat. The rest was very welcomed. Even that short distance made me feel like I had run a mile.

  Chloe scurried up to my side and looked from me to Tristan. “Should she be up?”

  “Perhaps not, but would you bring her a plate?” Tristan requested.

  I glanced at Tristan’s seat where no plate had been set and raised my gaze up to his face. “You’re not eating again?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t need-”

  “To eat, I know, but since you’re here,” I suggested.

  “What a wonderful idea,” Maddock agreed as he looked to Chloe. “Two more plates, Chloe, if you would.”

  Chloe blinked at me before she glanced at Tristan. He sighed, but nodded. “Please bring two plates.” Chloe nodded and hurried to obey.

  I looked across the table at Maddock as he sat back down. “So what kind of people are these alchemists? Do they like visitors?”


  He shook his head. “Generally not. I expect us to become very acquainted with the wood of their doors.”

  Chloe returned with two plates and set them down in front of us. I pushed the plate of sausages toward Tristan. “Then I suppose we’d better get eating our meat before we start chewing wood fiber.”

  Tristan shook his head. “I am-”

  “Going to join me for my first breakfast downstairs in quite a while,” I insisted as I stabbed a sausage with his fork and held it out to him. I gave him a bright smile. “At least just this once.”

  Tristan took the forked sausage and set the meat down on his plate. He took other dishes and in a short time his plate was full, as was mine. Together we forked a small piece of sausage and I held my fork toward him. “Bon appetite.” He arched an eyebrow. “It means ‘good appetite.’”

  “Then ‘bon appetite,’” he agreed as we clacked our forks together and dug in.

  Chloe stepped up with the milk jug and a smile. “Tea, if you would,” Tristan requested.

  Maddock cupped his own steaming mug in his hands as he leaned his elbows on the table as his attention fell on me. “How do you feel?”

  I rubbed my forehead and wrinkled my nose. “This itches a little, but I don’t feel very different.”

  Maddock’s sharp eyes studied my features. “Your face is a little pale.”

  I shrugged. “I guess I don’t feel very strong, but I was in bed for a long time.”

  “Don’t assign to bed rest what is invariably the curse’s doing,” Maddock advised me as he downed his tea and set his empty mug on the table. He rose and smiled down at me. “I’ll go hitch up the wagon, and then you and I can be off.”

  I blinked at him before I nodded at Tristan. “Isn’t he coming?”

  “Actually, I intend only for you and I to visit the alchemists,” Maddock revealed.

  Tristan frowned. “Why should I not follow?”

  “They might not let us in the door if they know that you’re involved,” Maddock pointed out. “And you won’t fit in the cart.”

  Tristan’s frown deepened. “That is a poor reason when you are aware of what I’m capable.”

  “Yes, but the first one is perfectly valid, and if I know what you’re thinking than I wouldn’t advise it,” Maddock countered.

  “They are alchemists, not athrylis,” Tristan argued. “They will see nothing but her shadow.”

  Maddock’s eyebrows shot up and a sly smile slipped onto his lips. “Her shadow? You’ve chosen her as your companion?”

  “Wait a sec,” I spoke up as I looked from one to the other. “What about my shadow?”

  Maddock folded his arms over his chest and looked to Tristan. “Yes, Tristan, what about her shadow?”

  Tristan cast a dark look at Maddock before he turned to me. “I will accompany you by hiding in your shadow. In that capacity I would be able to both protect you and observe the alchemists.”

  I blinked at him. “You can do that?”

  “My powers are most attuned to the shadows of dusk,” he told me. “Thus I am able to hide in the shadows of others.”

  “So an alchemist wouldn’t notice you there?” I asked him.

  “Possibly,” Maddock spoke up as he looked to Tristan. “Some alchemists do have some sight, after all, and since we’re dealing with one who is dabbling in some powerful potions than we shouldn’t underestimate them.”

  “In that same thought we should have Christine protected as much as possible,” Tristan pointed out.

  Maddock closed his eyes and chuckled. “I can see I’m not going to win this battle. I’ll go get the cart hitched while both of you finish your breakfast.” He left the room.

  I turned my attention to Tristan. “Do you really think the alchemist who corrupted those golems will really hurt me if they see me?”

  Tristan’s eyes flickered up to my forehead. “They may upon seeing that mark.”

  I reached up and brushed my fingers against the hard, cold surface. “I could hide it.”

  He shook his head. “Unfortunately, it would be better if you kept it in the open for them to see. They will see that whatever story Maddock will tell them has some grain of truth, and it will help convince them that you might have seen them around the areas of attack.”

  “What do you think Maddock will tell them?” I wondered.

  Tristan looked at where our companion had gone and sighed. “No doubt a fanciful tale. He is very fond of those.”

  Maddock peeked his head around the corner and into the dining room. “The cart is ready!”

  Tristan stood and I followed suit, though with a biscuit in hand. I also grabbed my cloak by the door and we made our way outside. A small cart with enough room for two atop the box stood a hundred feet down the stone path. An old nag was hitched to the cart, but though she was old her coat shone like silk and she kept her head high.

  Tristan set a hand on my shoulder and I looked up into his worried face. “If anything happens, know that I’m with you.”

  I set my hand atop his and smiled. “I couldn’t be safer.”

  My eyes widened as Tristan’s form dropped into the ground as though he’d become a black puddle. I spun around to face his shadowy shape and could still see his golden eyes staring at me.

  Don’t be afraid, he soothed me as he slipped into my own shadow. His voice was like a soft echo in my head.

  I looked over my shoulder and shook my head as I smiled at him. “I could never be afraid of you.” Though he had no face, his eyes showed his pleasure.

  Maddock leaned down and offered me his hand. “Shall we go?”

  I took his hand and he pulled me onto the box. He took the reins in hand and hardly shifted them, but the mare picked up her tail and hoofs, and we trotted toward the road. My shadow stretched out behind me, and I could feel the golden eyes staring at me. That gave me comfort rather than unease.

  I leaned over the box and watched the stones fly by beneath the wheels of the cart. “I didn’t know you had a cart and horse, Tristan.”

  They actually belong to Chloe, he revealed. She brought them when she first came and couldn’t be parted from them, so the horse remains in the fields and the cart on the far side of the house in a small shed.

  “I see,” I commented as I turned my attention to Maddock. “So what are we going to tell the alchemists about why we’re there to see them?”

  Maddock flashed me a mischievous grin. “I’m going to tell them that my little briodferch is ill because of those mud golems and to ask them if they don’t have a potion that might heal her.”

  Tristan spoke up, and his voice was sharp. You take chances, Maddock.

  Maddock laughed. “I do, don’t I? But I believe they’re worth the risk.”

  I furrowed my brow at him. “You called me that before. What does it mean?”

  “It means ‘bride,’ but enough talk!” Maddock cracked the reins and we flew down the road. “Onward to victory!”

  24

  I glanced from one of my companions to the other and frowned at both of them. “Why is that taking chances?”

  “I’m sure Tristan would be glad to explain that to you,” Maddock replied as we trotted past fields and homes. We had taken the right-hand path away from Harlipren, but had turned off the main road at the field of flowers.

  I looked down at my shadow behind me with the golden eyes. “You mentioned before about me being your bride, and that you couldn’t find anyone on this side. Why not? Chloe’s pretty, and a lot of the women in the village are nice.”

  My own shadow shifted a little like distorted water. Maddock stiffened at my side as his keen eyes stared down at Tristan. Tristan sighed and some of the light in his eyes faded. They fear me. Even Chloe has some inkling of fear.

  I scooted around to face him as best I could. “I suppose that would be pretty important, but how am I different? Why don’t I fear you?”

  Can anyone understand the emotions of humans? Tristan returned. Can humans
themselves explain why they feel love for their mate, and yet cannot extend that deep love to all else?

  I reached out a hand and brushed my fingers against my shadow. “You’ve been alone a long time, haven’t you?”

  My shadow rippled again. Yes.

  Maddock straightened and cleared his throat. “I do recall you having a companion on your earlier adventures. A certain handsome young man, if I recall, who thought you quite a nuisance sometimes, especially when you burned dinner.”

  I sat forward and looked over Maddock. “His earlier adventures? You were with him?”

  Maddock smiled and bowed his head to me. “I had that sometimes-displeasure.”

  “But isn’t Tristan really old?” I asked him.

  Maddock flashed me a smile. “He is, but I am far older than even our shadowy friend here.”

  My eyes widened. “How old are you?”

  He flinched and stared ahead. “To tell you the truth, it’s been so long that I’ve forgotten. I can’t even remember the day of my birth, but then, the reckoning of the days and years have changed many times since I was born.”

  “So do a lot of athrylis live as long as you two?” I wondered.

  “To meet a short-lived athrylis is the rarity, though we ourselves are an increasingly rare breed,” Maddock told me.

  My pulse quickened. “You mean. . .will I live a long time?”

  “That will depend on fate,” Maddock returned before he squinted into the distance. “But I believe I see our first destination.”

  The road stretched before us over rolling hills and through fields. Low stone walls divided the path from the crops and yards of the few houses that spotted the landscape. I followed his gaze and saw one of the picturesque stone walls guarding a small cottage. The walls were made of clay whitewashed to perfection and a small garden of flowers decorated the yard. The rough stone chimney puffed out a bit of gray smoke, signaling to us that the owner was home.