The Seeking Series Box Set

by D. R. Grady

  This bolstered Raene’s flagging spirits. “Those are the same traits I must learn.”

  A smile dawned on his face. “You are well on your way.”

  “I must cultivate them. Otherwise this entire realm will fall into the hands of Ostard or worse.”

  “Over my dead, scaly body.” Aern’s denial boomed painfully as he joined them.

  “You know King Ostard?” She quirked an eyebrow at the black dragon.

  Aern’s snort charred the stalagmite next to the one she had admired. “I remember his grandsire. How the Ostard family has remained royalty is beyond me.”

  “I don’t believe they are bothered by the laws of the land.” In deference to her mother, Raene used as delicate language as possible.

  Aern grunted in answer. A quick peek at Vidar showed he was listening, but his face remained shuttered. She almost took a step back before she defied the notion.

  The dinner gong sounded and she gasped. “I am late.”

  Vidar directed her to a different tunnel than the one she normally used. “Try this one.”

  He escorted her through several archways and past a gleaming lake she had never seen before. A small, plain wooden door loomed in front of them. He opened the door and ushered her into her bedchamber. Her side of the door was paneled in white wood.

  “Oh.”

  “I brought you this way for two reasons.”

  “And they are?”

  “One because you’re late. But the second is because you see how close Aern and I are. We will allow no rampaging king to take you from us.” Vidar’s eyes hardened so much she did take a step back. Then she retraced the step to place her hand on his forearm. It was warm through the protective leather shield.

  “Thank you, Vidar.”

  He nodded, and offered a slight bow, more a show of excellent manners, she hoped. Then he shut the door between them and she was left with a frantic maid.

  They wouldn’t start the meal until she arrived, so she loathed being late. It happened at times, and truth be told, she had been without an appetite for several days now.

  Pretending sorrow hadn’t overtaken her life was becoming increasingly difficult.

  Chapter 7

  “What kept you?” Stefana’s dark eyes were large pools of concern.

  “I was in a different part of the castle and lost track of time.” All completely true.

  “Are you well?”

  Stefana’s inquiry didn’t pertain to the state of her physical health. A rush of affection warmed Raene. If there was one person who might appreciate Raene’s current struggles, it would be this woman.

  Their usual dining companions had not attended this evening, so they had the table to themselves. Raene made the decision to inform Stefana of her actions.

  Leaning closer to her best friend, to ensure no one else overheard, Raene finally told her about Vidar.

  “You’ve been taking lessons from our Aasguard warrior . . .” When her voice faded away and her hand ceased clutching her throat, Stefana’s eyebrows touched. “It’s like you’re preparing for something.”

  “I’ll be queen.” That dratted lump erupted into her throat, and with it came a jab of sorrow. One so fierce she dropped her fork with a clatter.

  Stefana’s hand covered hers. “Yes. And I’ve always felt women not knowing how to defend themselves was a petty sentiment of men.”

  Raene picked up her fork again. “It is, Stefana.”

  A sly look crossed Stefana’s face. “Perhaps our new queen will change that outdated notion.”

  Exchanging a knowing glance with her, Raene allowed a small smile. “Perhaps she will. If she’s far-seeing enough.”

  “Oh, I believe she is. I imagine our current queen has been planning this for a time.”

  Once again, Raene dropped her fork. Their fellow diners were going to think her clumsy. “I should have talked to you long before this, Stefana.”

  “Yes, you should have. But you have now, at least. We will have to learn our way, won’t we?”

  “Indeed.”

  Stefana’s face closed. “Will you wed immediately?”

  By immediately, Stefana meant as soon as Margina died and Raene was therefore announced as queen—this would all transpire within hours. Often when there was unrest in the kingdom, marriage quieted it. The unrest didn’t percolate within, at least not from the majority of their citizens.

  She feared the turmoil pervaded outside their borders.

  “I don’t know.” Her heart couldn’t bear to even think about such a circumstance. To be wed in the next weeks, if not days.

  Their hands closed tightly around each other as their eyes met. At least Raene was assured of one ally within the castle. One was better than none.

  Her thoughts drifted to the capable warrior with mercurial eyes who guarded the queen’s treasures. Another ally. There was no doubt he would guard her as fiercely as he guarded her mother’s treasures.

  With him came a massive, mannerly black dragon with a tendency to trip over his own clawed feet.

  “I’d like to meet this warrior you’ve spoken of.”

  After swallowing the bite of chicken she’d taken, Raene patted her lips with a napkin. “Why?”

  Stefana shrugged in answer. “It seems like a good idea.”

  “He’s a friend of my mother’s.”

  Stefana rested her fork on her plate. “Your mother and this warrior are friends? How can that be?”

  “They’ve known each other for years. She speaks highly of him and he does the same of her and my father.”

  “If your mother approves of him, then perhaps I needn’t meet him.”

  “You might enjoy the introduction as he’ll likely become a friend of yours.” Yet the very thought of the beautiful, ladylike Stefana and Vidar meeting made her stomach protest the bites she’d taken.

  “It’s always nice to add to one’s circle of friends.” The look Stefana sent her was odd. As though a message was embedded inside, but if so, Raene failed to interpret it.

  “Yes.” Her words choked.

  A footman offered the next course and their conversation evolved into the usual dinnertime sort. Despite this, she was unnerved about introducing her oldest friend to her newest. There seemed to be no shaking the odd feeling.

  It had been two days, long ones, since he had last seen Raene. Therefore, when she trailed around the corner and into the cavern, relief coursed through him. Her shoulders drooped and she was far too pale. She had strapped Driies to her hip, but she made no move toward releasing the sword.

  “You are weary and burdened today.”

  Her nod was nearly painful. No light gleamed in her eyes. Her lips were pinched and white around the edges.

  “Your mother is failing.”

  “There is no response from her now.”

  His heart turned over. “She is no longer conscious?”

  “No. I saw her yesterday and she said goodbye to me.” A sniff, and Raene turned from him. Her hands covered her face, so he couldn’t see what she hid, and he had no intention of prying.

  He did step closer to her and laid a hand on her slumped shoulder. “She no longer suffers.”

  “No.” Her breathy agreement was edged in agony.

  Raene leaned toward him but she didn’t step closer. She stood beside him, struggling to confine her emotions. He opened his senses to them—they tumbled like a rock slide, and were every bit as dangerous.

  Vidar, even with his advanced abilities, couldn’t hope to sort through them, much less help her to do so.

  He had no words of comfort for her. Wasn’t used to floundering.

  Aern plodded through the doorway from his space. He balanced a teetering tea tray on his nose. Vidar jumped to grab the tray because goodness only knew what calamity might befall them if it dropped.

  With Aern present, it would.

  After a quick glance around the cavern, Aern focused a glower on him. “Perhaps chairs would be welcome.”
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  At the gentle rebuke, Vidar’s cheeks heated. He set the tray on a nearby ledge. “Of course.” He was quick to agree for Raene’s sake. Then he procured two comfortable chairs and a small table for the tea tray, tugging the chairs close together.

  He settled Raene before seating himself. The tray Aern had produced bore a delicate teapot with matching teacups and saucers, as well as a small bucket for himself. The dragon had even added a plate of pastries.

  Vidar’s stomach growled. The last time he had eaten a pastry had been . . . too long ago to remember.

  Raene’s watery smile for Aern made Vidar’s heart resume normal rhythms.

  “Will you please pour, princess?” Aern sounded formal and courtly-like.

  Vidar raised an eyebrow at him.

  The dragon’s focus remained on Raene. It appeared Aern knew the way of it, because although her hand shook, she did pour out the tea and presented Vidar with a cup, then the small bucket for Aern, before pouring herself a cup.

  The fragrant brew somehow comforted him. Raene took a delicate sniff of the tea and the tightness around her mouth relaxed. Not by much, but enough.

  He and Aern both took hearty sips to encourage her to do the same. The warmth from the beverage traveled through him. Darting an inquiry to Aern produced a quick nod from his friend, so he waited. Aern obviously knew what he was doing, and Raene already looked better.

  Raene passed the pastries around. He and Aern both indulged. Then when they noticed she didn’t, their frowns must have changed her mind. She hastily snatched up one and placed it on the edge of the teacup saucer. Aern cleared his throat and looked pointedly at the food.

  With a small sigh, Raene picked it up and took a small bite. She swallowed, and then stared at the scone, before she ate the entire thing.

  “Have another,” Aern coaxed.

  Raene complied, as though in a trance.

  Aern confirmed this theory when he glanced at Vidar. “She hasn’t been eating. These scones won’t supply her with all the nutrients she requires, but it will help her to cope.”

  “Her life isn’t easy right now.”

  “No.” Aern’s clipped response tightened his stomach muscles. He set his own pastry down to break off a chunk that he placed on Raene’s plate.

  Raene picked up the portion from him and ate it. Then after swallowing more tea, the trance-like state dissolved. The scones were gone, and she seemed relieved by this. As though the thought of eating sickened her.

  These weren’t normal pastry, of course. Since Aern had made them, they contained magical qualities, meaning they likely would sustain her for the next several days when she couldn’t eat.

  He wanted to place the remainder of his pastry on her plate. Aern eyeballed him though, so he instead ate the portion to mollify the dragon.

  “Thank you.” Raene’s voice was barely existent.

  “We are thankful you came to us when you needed comfort.” Kindness threaded Aern’s response.

  Vidar nodded, supporting his companion. “You know you are welcome here at any time.”

  The air of defeat around her lessened. “Thank you,” she repeated. There was no need for her to say more. In the way of old friends, and sometimes new ones became old friends, nothing more was necessary.

  The three of them sipped tea together in silence, enjoying the company without saying a single word.

  When she rose to leave, Raene was still pale, but her eyes had lightened, her lips not so pinched. Her shoulders didn’t straighten entirely, but they no longer drooped.

  She touched Aern’s face with reverent gratitude and his eyes turned fierce as she placed a gentle kiss on his scaled cheek.

  When she turned to him, Vidar’s heart jumped into his mouth and he couldn’t speak. His eyes shut when she stretched to place a sweet kiss to his cheek. Her hand squeezed his and she clung for a moment before exiting the cavern at high speed.

  As though inclined to linger, but knew she could not.

  His heart remained lodged in his mouth for a long time. The urge to hold her tight took far too long to dissipate.

  Chapter 8

  “She will not be carried off by any marauding king or rogue.” Aern sounded very confident about this a day after Raene had departed their time of tea and comfort. The rumors swirled down to them from the frenetic paced castle as additional soldiers were added to patrol their borders.

  “I agree.” Vidar’s jaw hardened until it shot pain into his temple.

  “We have sworn to protect her and we will thus do so.” Dragonfyre rushed out of both of Aern’s nostrils on a direct course to setting Vidar’s trousers on fire.

  He jumped aside, then doused the flames with one of the buckets of water he kept at various places around the cavern. “Easy, old friend.”

  “I do apologize, Vidar.” Aern’s green eyes flashed with vehemence and more power than Vidar had ever seen.

  “Do not fret. I’m used to fire.” He refilled the bucket before setting it back in place.

  The fierce tension in Aern didn’t fade immediately.

  “What is worrying you?”

  “I do not know.” Aern made to return to his chambers but footsteps sounded in the passage outside the cavern.

  “Raene,” Vidar stated, as he detected another set, also feminine.

  Their princess entered the room with another female. The two women walked close, and moved at a decent clip. Although smiling, tension riddled Raene’s posture, and a tinge of fear oscillated through her friend. One must expect this reaction when faced with the unknown.

  “Princess.” He nudged Aern.

  The woman with Raene offered up a huge gasp when she spotted Aern.

  Raene grabbed her, as she appeared in danger of swooning. “Stefana, this is Vidar, the Aasguard warrior I told you about, and his companion, Aern.”

  “You neglected to mention there was a dragon down here.” The woman called Stefana uttered this in a faint tone.

  “Vidar and Aern, this is my best friend and the future princess, Stefana. We have known each other all our lives.”

  Stepping forward, Vidar greeted her in the appropriate custom for a warrior to address a maiden, which entailed a slight bow, but no bodily contact. Raene’s stiff spine relaxed.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Vidar.” Stefana’s eyes darted to Aern. “And you as well, Aern.”

  In response, Aern shrank himself so he didn’t tower over the two women. “And you, Lady Stefana.” Aern’s voice oozed courtliness.

  Stefana’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “I didn’t realize you spoke our language.”

  “I speak several.” Aern went out of his way to be charming and escorted Stefana to the other side of the room to show her a particularly glorious part of the cavern.

  This left Vidar and Raene facing each other. Not even a smidgen of awkwardness hovered between them.

  She smiled. “When I was so late a few days ago, I explained why to Stefana and she immediately wanted to meet you. This was our first opportunity to visit.”

  “Your good friends are always welcome.”

  Raene’s bright head tipped to the side. “How do you know she’s a good friend?”

  “One can observe this by a person’s body language.”

  “You can?” Raene blinked.

  “She didn’t know what she would discover when she arrived, yet she still accompanied you. When you entered, she stayed close in a protective manner, despite not knowing either me or Aern. Then when she realized there was a dragon here, she wouldn’t allow herself to faint, because that would have left you alone with a dragon.”

  “You discerned all this in the thirty seconds it took me to introduce you?” Incredulity wove through her question.

  “I am a warrior. We must notice these things. It can mean the difference between life and death.”

  “Are you planning to teach me this technique?”

  “We’ve already begun the process.”

  She eyed him dubio
usly. “If you say so.”

  “I do.”

  Aern and Stefana rejoined them, and by the easy line of her friend’s shoulders, Raene must have picked up that Stefana was enjoying herself.

  “Tea?” Aern asked.

  “Thank you, but we cannot.” Raene sounded sad they couldn’t stay. Vidar understood as he tasted regret in the air and within himself. He would enjoy spending the additional time with Raene. Not to mention, Aern’s fondness for the beverage made him an expert at preparing it.

  “We have a commitment we won’t be excused from.” Stefana exchanged a look with Raene and they both sighed.

  “It’s a long standing one, so we must endure.”

  They said goodbye to their hosts before she allowed Stefana to tug her out of the cavern. A large part of her wished to remain. She sighed again.

  “I know, but we can’t miss this celebration.” Stefana rubbed her arm as they traversed the rocky pathway leading into the castle.

  “We have known the Duke of Lockwillow all our lives, and he has been so loyal to my mother.”

  “Yes. I’m fairly certain he’s not looking any more forward to this party tonight.”

  “No. However, we must attend.” They said this together, but Raene couldn’t shake the hovering cloud of impending doom.

  “I like Vidar and Aern.” Stefana pursed her lips. “Very much.”

  Raene allowed a small smile. “As do I.”

  Stefana darted a quick look at her before her lips tripped up. “They both seem to adore you as well.”

  “I hope so.”

  “The three of you have grown close rather quickly.”

  “I suppose. They have protected me all my life.”

  Stopping in the middle of the granite corridor, Stefana gasped. “They’ve protected you all this time? Truly?”

  “Oh yes. Their job is to protect the queen’s treasures. They both felt that included me. So Aern slept under my bed for a time during the invasions.”

  “I remember those. A dragon slept under your bed?”

  “Yes, he shrank himself and fiercely protected me during that entire traumatic time.”