by Mary Auclair
She slowly sat up in the bed, looking around Aldric’s bedroom in full daylight. The room was simple and bare, with a round table in the corner and a few large, comfortable chairs to lounge on. A tall, solid dresser sat in the far side, no doubt containing Aldric’s wardrobe. It was a strangely impersonal room, without adornments of any kind. It was without a doubt the room of a man who only came in to sleep, and didn’t spend time lingering. The only beauty of it was the series of tall, slim windows, carved in the rock. They gave a breathtaking view of the mountains around the castle.
Endora stared outside, at the beauty of the forest under the cold winter sun. The trees were covered from the recent snow storm, their branches heavy with cloud-like puffs of white, giving the impression of softness and wonder, when the wilderness around was as unforgiving as the rocks.
She was naked under the thin blanket but she wasn’t cold. Looking around the room, she saw that the piles of heating crystals had grown larger and that the window had been closed. He worried about her comfort. The thought made a slow, soft smile spread on her lips.
Her eyes caught on a shiny object in the middle of Aldric’s pillow.
Endora’s heart fluttered and she reached for it with trembling fingers. She’d recognize that sheen anywhere. It was the shine of Rhyl’s magnificent scales. She took the object reverently, her eyes wide and her mind blank of any thoughts.
This was a mating bracelet, fashioned using the single, opalescent scale Aldric took from his dragon on the night of the Mating ceremony. The scale from Rhyl had been cut and carved into a series of interlocking leaves adorned with white gold and diamonds, forming a chain. It was a magnificent work of art. Tracing the delicate contour of a gold-rimmed leaf, Endora felt her heart pound faster. It was exquisite, and it was also priceless. No matter how much Aldric gave her for the mating contract, this one bracelet was worth twice as much.
This was a sacred gift, a symbol of her new status in the Delradon pecking order.
She held it, tracing the lines of the carving with the tip of her finger. Her stomach twisted in a knot and she shut her eyes, remembering the events of last night. The way Aldric had looked at her—she couldn’t get it out of her head. The night they’d shared, the way he’d made love to her; it was more than just a contract being fulfilled.
Uncertainty and hope mixed inside her like some sort of intoxicating brew. Maybe she had been wrong about him. Maybe he wouldn’t reject her now if she told him about Tallie. Endora wrapped the bracelet around her left wrist, then admired the effect. It was stunning, and made her already fine bones appear delicate and ladylike instead of plain frail. She stared at it for a long time, then put her wrist down in her lap carefully, almost reverently.
She got up and picked up her mating gown from the floor. She stared at it for a few long seconds. It was ruined, having been ripped down the middle in the midst of Aldric’s passion. No matter how much she tried, there was no way she could even close it around her body enough to allow for basic modesty.
Endora bit her lip, then scanned the rest of the room. She could always put on one of Aldric’s cotton shirts. It wasn’t ladylike or decent, but it was an improvement.
Then her eyes fell on a neatly folded piece of clothing on top of a simple round table. Approaching, she picked it up and her smile grew. Who knew Aldric was so attentive? The gown was simple, but the shimmering blue velvet was stunning and as she threw it on, she discovered it fit perfectly.
As Endora stepped outside Aldric’s room, she was stunned to see Junco waiting by the door. Right behind the small woman was a tall, broad man, dressed in full Delradon military uniform. A guard, apparently.
“Hi, Junco.” Endora smiled uneasily, her gaze gliding to the guard. “What are you doing here?”
“I was waiting for you to awaken,” Junco answered. “You do not know your way around the castle yet. It would be easy for you to get lost.”
“Yes.” Endora nodded, even if it felt strange to have someone wait for her at every turn. Her intention of wandering the castle until she found Aldric was reduced to ashes in the back of her mind. “I guess I’ll return to my rooms now.”
Junco bent her head and turned around, then walked much faster than any elderly human woman ever could. Endora quickly followed, taking mental notes of the twists and turns of the stone hallways from Aldric’s to her own room. She didn’t want to have to rely on Junco, or anybody, to be able to move around freely.
Finally, they arrived in front of Endora’s room. She stopped, shocked to see the Delradon guard moving to stand by her door. As she approached, he stared at her with cold, military eyes. His head bent a little in a cursory greeting, but he didn’t move a muscle.
Endora’s guts twisted with dread. She knew why Aldric had posted guards outside her door. She also knew why Junco had been waiting for her right outside his bedroom. He was going to have her followed and monitored until she gave him an heir.
I’m so stupid, she thought as familiar anger flared inside her heart. After Wilmer, you’d think I’d have better judgment.
She walked up to the guard, then stood straight in front of him, her hands on her hips. She purposefully ignored Junco’s bewildered stare.
“What’s this?” Endora asked the guard directly, not caring if she appeared rude. “Why are you waiting at my door?”
“I am Walfrey, Sergeant at arms of the High Guard. I have been tasked with ensuring your safety, Lady Endora.” The guard, a Delradon man of about forty years, spoke with pride, inflating his chest and lifting his chin. He apparently thought she should be impressed by his status and the protection he offered. She wasn’t. “You are to be kept safe at all times.”
“Isn’t the castle safe enough?” Endora said, unruffled by Walfrey’s stricken expression at her words. “Surely my private rooms are.”
“The orders were given by Lord Aldric himself, my Lady.” The guard darted a glance at Junco, uncertainty showing briefly in his stony features. “I am honor-bound to protect you.”
Endora crossed her arms, allowing her frustration to show on her face. “I don’t want to be followed around, and I don’t want somebody waiting by my door. You can leave now.”
“I am sorry, Lady Endora.” Walfrey’s composure melted completely. “I cannot desert my post. Endangering you is punishable by death.”
Endora blinked, his words chilling the anger she felt towards the guard. She searched, but couldn’t find anything else to say. She wasn’t about to keep arguing, not if it might get him hurt.
“Very well, then,” she reluctantly agreed. “But you’re not coming inside the room unless I call you.”
“I would never step into your private rooms without cause, Lady Endora.” Walfrey’s already large eyes widened, and she realized he was scared.
Sighing, she walked past the stunned guard and entered her room. A flutter behind her indicated Junco had followed her in.
“That guy is all warm and cuddly, isn’t he?” Endora scoffed, feeling her anger flare up.
“Walfrey is only following orders,” Junco answered, her eyes cast down, but her words a little sharper than usual. “He would never allow any harm to come to the Draekarra of the High Lord.”
Endora glanced at the bracelet shining gracefully in the light.
“Still, I don’t need a guard following me around.” She crossed her arms over her chest, allowing her feelings to come to the surface.
“You do not understand your own importance. You cannot live like you used to before.”
Endora watched as Junco turned and started to rearrange the various knick-knacks on display on the expensive furniture in her room. It was clear the old servant was angry. Endora knew Junco was right, and she shouldn’t take out her anger on the guards and servants, but there was no helping it. She felt helpless and betrayed, and the elderly woman was the only one she could vent her feelings on.
“Is that why you’re here? To spy on me too?”
Junco turned and her
pale orange Delradon eyes glowed with hurt. Endora immediately felt bad about her comment.
“I am at your service, Lady Endora,” Junco said with dignity. “I am sworn to you, and you only. I will never betray your trust.”
Endora’s shoulders slumped and guilt bit at her. Junco didn’t deserve this, and she knew it. If anything, the Delradon woman had put herself at risk by keeping Endora’s secret.
“I’m sorry,” she said, taking a step closer. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
Junco’s eyes softened and she nodded. Her eyes left Endora and locked on something behind her. All the remaining color drained from her already pale skin. Endora frowned, then turned.
There, on the long, heavily carved dresser, was an ornate box made of wood, heavy with gold and stone inlays. With trembling fingers, Endora lifted the cover, and her breathing immediately accelerated when she saw the contents. Inside the box were rubies, emeralds, sapphires, diamonds and pearls, in size and numbers that made the front of Endora’s skull ache with a sudden pain.
Her fingers brushed the top layer of precious stones. Her throat tightened and a lump settled in her stomach, forcing her to swallow compulsively.
This was her payment.
She took a small fistful of gems, allowing the cold hardness of them to sink into her skin. The lump in her stomach moved up to her throat. This was Tallie’s salvation, the incredible treasure that would save her little girl’s life. She should be reveling in it, but she wasn’t. What she felt was a dull melancholy, a remote and deep sadness that went way deeper than it should. She knew the deal, she’d sought it herself, and yet she couldn’t help the feeling of betrayal she felt at the sight of the money.
Whatever happened, it was all just business to him.
Tears stung her eyes, and she shut them tight. This was irrational. She shouldn’t feel like this. Of course Aldric would honor the agreement and give her the money—money she desperately needed. To steel her resolve, she summoned up images of Tallie’s smile, Henriette’s face. Those were the people who mattered, those were the people who counted on her.
Dropping the stones back in, she picked up the box. It was heavy, much heavier than she thought it would be. She turned and faced Junco.
“Here.” She stepped toward Junco. The older woman stared at her, frozen in place. “You have to send this to my grandmother in Helbon.”
Junco stared at the box, her hands still at her sides. “I cannot take that, Lady Endora.” She shook her head slowly. “If anybody sees me with this box, I am dead.”
Endora stared at Junco for a few seconds. The other woman’s face was drawn and her eyes shone with the glint of true fear. She was right, Endora realized. Aldric gave orders, and anybody who disobeyed would face the consequences.
“Fine.” Endora turned and put the box back on the dresser. She opened it and dug out a fistful of stones, then turned. “Then take this. It should be enough to start the treatments for Tallie.”
When Junco didn’t move, Endora stepped closer, and coaxed the other woman’s hand in front of her with her free hand. “I need your help.” Her voice was a whisper. “Please.”
Junco locked eyes with Endora for a few long, agonizing moments, then her hand closed around Endora’s closed fist. She cradled the stones reverently, then slid them into a small pouch she produced from the folds of her dress.
“I will find a way, Lady Endora.” Junco turned and walked toward the door.
“Junco, wait.” Endora stopped her at the last minute. “Please don’t call me Lady Endora, at least not when we’re alone. Call me Dora. That’s what my grandmother calls me.”
“I will keep my word to you.” Junco smiled, and for the first time, it was a true one. “Dora.”
After Junco left, a huge release of tension traveled across Endora’s entire being. She had done it. Now she had to make sure the rest of the money got there, and kept going until Tallie was cured.
Then, and only then, was she going to leave.
Endora had made the decision sometime during the mating feast, as Aldric’s unnerving stare stayed on her, lust plain on his face. She wasn’t the deceiving kind, had always kept her word and worked honestly to feed her family, but this time, she had no choice. She never intended to cheat the High Lord. She would have fulfilled her part of the deal, giving him an heir, then leaving the child behind. Only he’d changed the rules. He’d forced her to forsake those who could never be left behind. It was his own fault that she was going to betray him.
She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. Leaving. She would have to figure it out somehow, even if just thinking about it made her feel like peeling away some of her own skin.
Endora hugged herself, alone in the large, foreign space. Her eyes fell to the dragon scale bracelet, shining on her wrist. She had to talk to Aldric, get him to take it back somehow. She couldn’t live with herself if she didn’t.
Chapter 8
Aldric and Dalgo stood on the cobblestones of the upper class residential street. This was the home of many of the richest, most prominent merchants in Hylberia, a street normally bustling with activity, even in the early hours of the day. At about nine on a weekday, the stores should be open, money flowing. The emptiness was an eerie sight and a bad omen for what was to come.
Behind them, Rhyl and Myral settled in the street with their typical dragon indifference.
A furtive movement attracted Aldric’s attention and he turned to see a pair of eyes, watching from behind a curtain. There were a hundred more watching from each window in the street, peering down at their lord with eyes full of fear.
They knew why he was there. They knew that evil had taken place in their street, in their neighbors’ houses, under the cover of night.
Aldric forced himself to focus his attention on the small, round man who was rubbing his knuckles compulsively beside him. He was the lawkeeper of Hylberia, a man comfortable in his position for the last four decades. A man unfit for battle and used to the pampered life of a fine politician. A useless man in the face of this new threat.
“And you’re sure there are no witnesses?” Dalgo’s voice was sharp and cold. Anger was showing on his features, and his eyes shone with dislike. “You’re trying to tell me that four wealthy families were slaughtered in the middle of the night, on a residential street, and nobody heard a thing? Where did you learn your job, Lawkeeper Kyrn?”
Behind him, a young constable moved restlessly, but a sharp glance from the lawkeeper made him still again. Aldric studied the stony features of the youth, noting the glint of rage in his pale orange eyes, the way his jaw was clenched so tight it made the tendons in his neck strain and bunch out.
“It’s like I said, Captain Dalgo,” Lawkeeper Kyrn said, twisting short, stubby fingers around his soft-skinned hands. Hands that should be rough from hard work. “One of the residents called the department a little after dawn. We found the scene like you see it. None of my constables touched a thing.”
The young constable lifted his head in a jerky motion, glaring with surprise and something dangerously close to contempt at the lawkeeper, then brought it back down, where it stayed. Aldric’s eyes left the constable, and scanned the doors on the street. Four had the circle with a cross in white painted on them. A chilling knowledge settled in Aldric’s heart: the knowledge that beyond those doors, only death waited. Even if every fiber in his body was repulsed by the idea, he knew he had to go in and see for himself, if only to feed his resolve. This was only the tip of the iceberg. If the order really had resurfaced on Earth, he would have to contact the High Council. Something of such magnitude required proof, though, and up until now, all he had was a series of carefully staged murders. Nothing that would definitively tie the order to the deaths.
“Stay outside,” Aldric told the man—quite unnecessarily, as it was clear he would rather have his right arm cut off than set foot in a house marked by the circle and the cross. He feared the evil eye would land on him. It was a ridiculous supe
rstition, but one Aldric knew he couldn’t fight. No one should step inside a house where Sordied sangui had been expelled, for fear of drawing the all-knowing eye of the beast upon him. “You’d better pray I don’t find evidence that you let those people die, Lawkeeper Kyrn, or there will be a reckoning.”
The small man seemed to shrivel with fear, but bobbed his head feverishly. With one last glance at Rhyl and Myral, Aldric walked up to the first house and entered it. A second later, Dalgo stepped behind him, his boots making muffled sounds on the wooden floor.
Aldric looked around the interior. There was a living room to the left, and a hallway led to a kitchen in the back. This was nothing like the small farmhouse of the Yrno village. The interior was soft and cozy, full of the luxurious items enjoyed by the Delradons’ trading upper class. The first room he entered was the living room, where a series of oversized white and blue pillows provided guests with ample seating. A large pile of heating crystals gave the room a warm, comfortable atmosphere even in the midst of winter. Everywhere, traces of a young, happy family gave clues to the occupants’ lives. A large ball, a dollhouse filled with small clothes. In the corner, images of a couple’s Mating ceremony. On the walls, happy faces of children and parents enjoying life. A Delradon father and a human woman, pretty and small, with vivid ginger hair and green eyes filled with life and humor. Children with wide grins and a sparkle in their eyes.
A hard, angry lump settled in Aldric’s stomach.
“They were good people,” Dalgo said, his voice breaking the strange trance of the silence. “The father was head of the fur trading guild.”
“Yes, but his mate was human, and that didn’t sit well with everybody.” Aldric turned and met Dalgo’s eyes. “You’re going to have to talk to the members of the guild. See who’s going to benefit from his death. Just because someone drew the circle and the cross on a door doesn’t mean evil walked in.”
