“Your actions tell me you aren’t too far gone yet, but my hand would definitely be more aware of how close it was to my holster.”
“But even now you believe I will be too far gone someday?”
She briefly looked away. Resettling her mildly guilty eyes on mine, she said, “No offense, but I’ve only ever sensed and killed crazed corrupted ghouls. It’s hard not to feel your corruption and not think otherwise.”
I hung my head. “I understand… Let’s get below deck.”
As I strode past her, she asked, “Something wrong?”
I stopped to look at her from the corner of my eye. “Not in the grand scheme of things. I already assumed my corruption would make most women balk from me. Makes even more sense that someone who hunts fiends would be repulsed by their power.”
I took a couple more steps before she said, “Hold on. Are you saying you wanted me to… to like you?”
“That wouldn’t have been the worst outcome. Regardless, now doesn’t feel like the best time to explore such things.”
She laughed. “Right, because this world is full of appropriate moments to explore our less violent urges. Listen, I’m flattered, but you just confuse me too much, you know? Your mysterious origins. Your corruption. A dragon. All the shit that’s happening to us now. There hasn’t been much time to see you as anything other than a…”
“Problem?”
“A complication. Gods, I really am not trying to make it sound bad.”
“It’s all right. Truly. I’m not even sure what I expected to happen between us.”
“I can take a guess. Quick, messy, awkward fucks while my world goes to shit around us?”
“Why do you assume quick and awkward?”
“Do you see big, comfy beds around? Spots we won’t be interrupted? And I’m not letting you cum in me. I don’t want kids.”
“I see your points… You know, in Orda there’s a concoction that’s pretty effective at preventing pregnancies.”
“Yeah? Well, get me to cozy, private bed in Orda and we’ll see what happens.” When we stepped below deck, she suddenly asked, “Hey, are you going to move on to my sister next?”
“Uhh… no. Is that a typical concern between you two?”
“It’s happened twice, though one of them was kinda teased into doing it. Like a test. We both liked him. Went bad pretty quickly. We didn’t talk for a couple of months.”
“Aye, east to imagine the mess if your sister ever learned I declared my intentions to you first.”
“I’m not sure I’d call it ‘declaring,’ but yeah, I’d stay clear of trying to complicate everyone’s emotions further.”
Despite essentially being rejected, I breathed easier knowing where we stood. And really, I needed to get used to the fact that most women were not going to be too enthused by my corruption and way of life for long or at all. In any case, my lighter shoulders and prana reserve allowed for a quick dive into a lonesome slumber’s embrace.
Other slumber’s had me in Lormevar’s personal realm. Even if it liked talking about its former life, Lormevar couldn’t give me too many reliable guesses about the viscount’s future strategies, but I needed to work on earning its trust. It must have sensed my ulterior motive in my attempts to befriend it. However, with its options to escape Dretkeshna and ability to interact without hassle limited, it did not express any discontent at my company.
For my part, I tried not to push anything. It often wished to sit or walk in silence, so I did as well. Telling it the legend Aranath imparted to me got it especially contemplative for a long stint. And though the enchantment eventually confessed the legend brought no explicit memories to mind, it felt pleased to hear it.
Sometimes I thought I caught the realm’s light become sunnier or the air smell fresher. And while Lormevar often accreted a teary mist on its eyes, they refused to shed in my presence. All in all, it was a waiting game between us. Lormevar rightly expected for me to request for it to do something it shirked from, and I waited for the moment to ask it.
No such moment occurred as the ship made progress over the following days. A wind storm bringing rough seas slowed the vessel down and forced us below deck for much of the fourth day. Nevertheless, thanks to the capable casters on board, the steam engine resourcefully used up its fuel, meaning we had enough to reach krewen waters without stopping at a human controlled port to waste time resupplying.
We looked upon Timiric’s towers of metal and stone in the late afternoon. While several tall edifices were built or inspired by humans, the majority belonged to the krewen sense of architectural design. Their broadest towers usually supported flat roofs that extended well beyond the building itself. Their tops appeared to grow fat plants resembling cacti. Thinner towers were capped by a spiraling point or a sphere, some of which spouted smoke. No matter their design, numerous structures were connected by covered bridges suspended over the streets. All part of the communal atmosphere krewen preferred to bask in.
Eager to get the latest news and a real meal, almost everyone disembarked. Our search for a place to eat and gather information soon put us in an open-air tavern. Krewen and humans ate around varisized tables under the shade provided by four wide bridges. A little perusing and discussion had me ordering a “beddip,” a waterborne creature safe to consume by krewen and humans. It looked like a bloated, faceless crab with ten legs. Splitting its shell down the middle revealed many flaps of white flesh. Its curried flavor evidently made it an acquired taste for both races, but I immediately elevated the beddip as my favorite food in Dretkeshna.
During the wait for the meal and its consumption, the krewen spoke with strangers sitting nearby. Not surprisingly, it sounded as though the human side of Grenhath was experiencing trouble from the Vanguard scandal. However, no one knew definitively what that entailed. The last couple of days also brought rumors of humans openly oppressing krewen in their territory in the form of some leaders abruptly calling for stricter laws against krewen liberties. Not unheard of from either side, of course, but the timing and noteworthy scale suggested Lucian might be hoping to stoke warfare between the two races.
Once we finished eating, we sought an inn to rest in. Procuring our rooms prompted the head ranger to go out on her own to seek more official information sources and send out messages to a few of her connections. It did not take long for her to return with a response. She and General Valentine entered my room later in the evening.
From a chair by the thin, tall window, I asked the krewen, “Any news about the Vanguard ships that left Durnmere?”
“We know several Vanguard vessels have docked there recently. Unfortunately, it is unknown where they came from or if General Noboa is among them. Stable communication between the rangers here and many Vanguard units have been lost. Most rangers have been recalled back to their homeland before they are accused of working with turncoats or have their autonomies restricted.”
“Do you know if anyone prominent has heeded the Vanguard’s warning about the Rathmores?”
“As of this moment, official opposition against the Rathmore family appears rather absent.”
“Moving in on their army of deceived allies will take another army,” said the general. “Without anyone knowing who they can trust, establishing Lucian’s guilt to them and bringing him to justice will be almost impossible.”
“Sounds like our allies will have to largely consist of krewen at this point,” I said. “Have you figured out who we should reach out to, Reet?”
“Yes. My brother’s mate. Her family maintains several high connections. She does not know you are coming with me, but she will be glad to host a dragon knight and become a way to connect with others of higher standing. In turn, her own standing rises. Her home lies on a mountain ledge. We can make those who wish to meet with you organize there. It is defensible and they will not be permitted to bring their weapons to her home.”
I eyed the general, who gave me the smallest of nods. To the krewen, I sai
d, “Not a bad plan. How far is your brother and his, uh, mate?”
“A little more than two hundred miles northeast of here. A five hour train ride.”
“Then you should secure our passage as soon as you can.”
“A populous city such as this will have numerous trains leaving all night. You do not wish to rest here and wait until dawn?”
“We can rest in your brother’s home while we wait for our invited guests to come to us.”
“Of course. I will have several krewen stay with Nysinis in the event we need to use it once again.”
“Good. Thank you again for all this, Reet.”
“Yeah,” said Alex from his bed, his arm covering his eyes. “We should have been teleported to this side of Grenhath.”
“Now, now, brother. The good general and his comrades were only doing what they thought was best. Even now, I suppose.”
The general sighed. “You want the sword, don’t you?”
“It would make things simpler. Anyway, I’m going to need it to check those who visit with us in the krewen home.”
“Very well, dragon knight. I’ll order the girl to hand you the artifact. I only request you keep the hilt covered by the blanket until needed.”
“Agreed.”
True to his word, Isabel came in to hand me the abraded blade a couple of minutes later. Strapping the belt and scabbard in place felt as if I refastened a detached arm. Despite knowing Lormevar’s revulsion to actual fighting, I still appreciated the new weight rebalancing my body. I had simply trained too much with blades to be comfortable without one.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Our train made it to a small town at the foot of a mountain range. Pinpricks of light dotted the mountainsides, the highest going about the midway point. At first I thought we would have to take an airship to reach the home of Reet’s brother. However, walking to the town’s fringes brought us to an uneven row of metal boxes roughly the size and shape of those mechanical carriages. Their tops appeared to connect to the mountain by way of long steel cables that rose and disappeared into the night. The ground end of the cables disappeared into one of several buildings with large metal wheels in them.
Like everything else in this world, a noisy rattle indicted the transport we entered had come alive. It ascended at a brisk walking pace. Gusty winds sometimes swung the creaky, cramped carriage, which, combined with the windows only looking out into a cloudy darkness, made for a disquieting ride. It ended about twenty minutes later on an expansive ledge supporting at least seven squat structures with rounded walls and broad windows. Much of the stone buildings appeared to be made from the cliff itself. Magic and machine no doubt carved such a smooth space into the mountainside over the generations.
Having been informed of our coming by the activated cable transport, two krewen servants met us right as we exited the transport. Krewen did not like covering their heads since their head feathers sometimes conveyed emotion, but being up a mountain in the middle of the night forced them to wear these furry caps with long ear flaps to help warm the side of their faces. Heavy scarves wrapped around their necks. The bundled bird-men led us to the widest building with the brightest lights pouring out the windows.
Along with the insignificant warmth of several lamps, a blazing fire welcomed us in the generous sitting room we entered. Two well-dressed krewen also welcomed us. The one with yellow feathers sprouting out the back of its head wore a tight blue and white robe. The one with the smaller, brown feathers wore a billowing green and yellow robe. Reet went up to the former and lowered her head. Her brother lowered his own until his upper forehead tapped on Reet’s.
Under my cloak, I removed part of the blanket so my hand could send a pulse of prana to Lormevar. Its nonresponse implied no hex needed to be removed. Thus satisfied, I did not interrupt the quick round of introductions. Everyone then found a spot to sit or stand. Unable to gain a good place to sit without removing the sword, I chose to stand by a lamp.
Reet’s brother, Kibun Eri-Erin, said, “I’ve been anxious about you since hearing of the confusing Vanguard situation. I’m glad you are here now, but why have you brought Vanguard to our home?”
“As much as some human leaders are insisting it, the Vanguard is an enemy to no one. A single human seeks revenge against them. Magic has given him much influence. He seeks revenge, for the Vanguard have exposed him. Or rather, the dragon knight exposed him.”
“The dragon knight?” said Obeshi, Kibun’s wife. “So the gossips are true?”
“Yes. Indeed, the reason I have been forced to leave behind more rangers than I wished was to be able to assist the dragon knight himself. He is with us now, and he requests your assistance.”
Her head feathers ruffled up in surprise. “The dragon knight! Here? Who is he?”
Giving a flicking wave, I said, “Thank you for having me in your home.”
“Oh! Yes, it is my honor, winged lord. What, or I should say, how may we be of assistance?”
“We’d like to use your home as a meeting place. With your permission, Reet will send out messages to several krewen and human leaders to meet with us here as soon as they can. We have to discuss what steps we need to take to prevent the situation in Grenhath from getting too out of hand. In this manner we can avoid falling into a trap.”
“Yes, how wise. Yes, of course you can stay. I’m certain enough rooms can be arranged for all of you.”
“Human leaders?” Reet asked me.
“Why not? Are human leaders not allowed in krewen territory?”
“They can be, but I believed the risk too high to invite them as well.”
“The same risks and our solutions to those risks already apply to the krewen leadership we invite. As long as they agree to come unarmed and with few men, then it’s in our interest to allow the hexed up here. That way the magic affecting them can be dispelled.”
“I’m sorry,” said Kibun. “But what magic and hexes do you speak of?”
From there my cohorts went on to explain our recent history in finer detail. Next came a little food and a quick explanation of their property’s layout and inhabitants. Along with nine servants that came from two different family groups, Obeshi’s parents and three of her children lived on the grounds. Many other of Obeshi’s well-to-do relatives inhabited homes on this mountain range. As for Reet’s and Kibun’s kin, they inhabited the family home of her eldest brother in a nearby city.
When it became less cruel to send out living things out into the world, Reet and a couple of krewen went to the telegraph office to distribute the tailored invitations to over thirty leaders across Grenhath, though we expected the majority who responded positively to come from the krewen race. We gave everyone three full nights to make their way to the township at the base of the mountain.
In the meantime, I waited for the meeting in the same ways I waited for nearly everything else in my life, which included reinstituting the techniques best practiced with a sword in my hand. The ledge even had an area dedicated for residents to practice shooting without worrying about where the bullets fell. Alex took greater advantage of the privilege than I did. Late in the afternoon, with the sky clearing from a rainy patch of clouds, our hosts and the neighbors who stopped by saw firsthand proof of my scaled, fire breathing partner. The krewen fledglings wanted to ride with me, and I might have allowed it, but their parents forbade them.
The next morning had me in Lormevar’s realm. Taking a step toward getting it to trust me in battle, I asked whether I can start practicing using it to defend myself from elemental and physical attacks.
“I-I don’t know,” replied Lormevar, looking down into its murky reflection. “I want to help… but can you really keep yourself from hurting people when someone is trying to hurt you?”
“No, but I won’t use you to do it.”
A groaning sigh. It kneeled.
“You can always resist if you don’t feel comfortable with how I’m treating a fight. I don’t have speci
al crystal to force you to do anything.”
“But then you’ll resent me.”
“Maybe briefly… Not so long ago, a friend of mine didn’t like the fact I purposefully reintroduced corruption into my soul, but once she trusted that I had it under control, she respected my choice as my own. I’ll respect your choices as well, Lormevar.”
“I guess… I guess we’ll have to see how each of us will react when the time comes.”
“Aye.”
Standing, Lormevar said, “Okay. We can start practicing… What, what do you want me to do?”
“Simple, really. My prana should tell you when I want your prana to sharpen, so to speak. Any extra prana I can use to dull a lightning attack, block another weapon, or cut through a ward is a better chance I can survive a battle. I know you’ve probably never used your peaceful prana in such a way, but prana is flexible. It’s you who gets to decide what to do with it. No fiend is telling me how to use my corruption.”
“You weren’t afraid to corrupt yourself?”
“I wouldn’t go that far. I’d rather say I feared my limits without it more than I feared restoring it in myself.”
“Oh.” Lormevar’s eyes closed as it leaned on a pillar. “I’ve been trying to look back harder. I want to be helpful.”
“And something’s come to mind?”
Its eyes opened slightly. “Yes. Fear.”
“What do you mean? Whose fear? Yours?”
“Lucian’s. If you held the power to control people how you wanted, there’s not many chances to be afraid of anyone. I’ve only felt Lucian be truly afraid twice. When you broke free of my spell was the second time. So much confusion and fright at once.”
“And the first time?”
“When he met a man who could not be swayed by my magic at all.”
“Someone already knew how to resist your spell?”
“No, that’s not it. He had no reason to resist. There was no soul to influence.”
“I don’t understand. Like an illusion?”
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