Wings of Stone (The Dragons of Ascavar Book 1)

by JD Monroe

  Gabby sighed. “Well, I’m at least glad you’re feeling better. How was the princess?”

  “Much the same as when you cared for her,” he said. “They are healing her external injuries, but she still sleeps without waking. They are at a loss.”

  “That doesn’t make any sense,” Gabby murmured.

  “I know,” Tarek said. “Have you seen this in your work?”

  “I ordered scans on Ashariah, and none of them showed any significant trauma to her brain,” she said. “It’s possible that she had a bleed that only presented after some time had passed.”

  She looked up and saw Tarek staring down at her, his eyebrows raised. “I’m don’t understand.”

  “Sometimes an injury to the brain doesn’t show up for a day or two after it has time to swell and bleed,” she said. “But Ashariah didn’t show any signs of that. I’d like to take a look at her.”

  Tarek hesitated. “We can try. They may not allow you in.”

  At the end of the corridor was a round chamber with lifts on either side of a spiraling staircase. Tarek paused, offering his hand to support her. Though her instinct was to resist, she rather liked the idea of the gallant man guiding her around the castle. She might as well enjoy it while she could. She placed her hand in his larger one, and he grasped it gently as he led her down the stairs. As Gabby carefully took the first stair, navigating the unfamiliar skirts, she saw Tarek’s feet were bare, like Raszila’s were. The servant woman had brought her a pair of soft slippers after noticing her ‘delicate feet,’ as she put it. If the hard stone bothered Tarek, he didn’t show it.

  “What about my mom?” she asked.

  He nodded. “I sent strict instructions with Zafar, the Gatekeeper who brought you here.” A scowl darkened his handsome features.

  “I don’t want him talking to her.”

  “I thought you might say so,” Tarek said. “That is why I told him to send Shazakh. He is young and spends a great deal of time among humans. And on his phone.” He rolled his eyes. “But he is good with people. He will handle it well. If he does not, I will string him up by his wings.”

  Gabby laughed. “Thank you.”

  He shrugged. “It was my pleasure.”

  After descending several flights, they emerged onto another floor of the fortress. This one was busier, with people chattering loudly over papers and hurrying in all directions. Beyond a heavily guarded doorway was another hallway lined in huge open windows. But instead of the garden, these windows overlooked a city that spread out from the base of the mountain. Every so often, a small balcony jutted out from the window.

  The balconies seemed out of place. They were only a few feet square, hardly big enough to sit and enjoy. But her confusion was resolved when she watched a young woman step onto the closest terrace and peel off a dingy linen robe to reveal her naked body. After dropping the robe into a small basket under a bench, the woman transformed into a small red dragon as if it was no more unusual than taking off a winter coat. The red creature soared into the sky and then shot upward.

  Gabby rushed out onto the terrace, clutching the railing as she stared up at the red figure spiraling upward into the sky. “Whoa,” she breathed. The red dragon sailed away from the fortress and over the city below.

  Tarek joined her on the balcony and gestured to the city. “This is the city of Farath,” he said. “The Kadirai live here in the citadel. The Vak live down there.” There was a note of disdain in his voice that she didn’t like.

  “The Vak. You mean, normal people. Humans. Like me.”

  He tilted his head. He looked confused. “Normal is relative, Gabrielle. This is normal for me.”

  “They’re not allowed up here?”

  “No,” he said. “Not usually.”

  “So that explains why people have been looking at me funny,” Gabby said. She tried to sound light-hearted, but things were starting to make more sense. The dragons were in power, ruling from their secret clubhouse up here on the mountain. As far as they were concerned, everyone else was below them, literally. “That seems kind of exclusive.”

  He shrugged. “It could be worse. There are places where the Vak are slaves to the Kadirai. At least they are free here. It is easier on all of us to remain separate.”

  “I’m guessing you don’t know too much Earth history,” she murmured. He tilted his head quizzically, but she decided it wasn’t the time for a lecture on segregation. “So the queen allows others to have slaves?”

  “It is not her choice. While she voices her displeasure when given the chance, she has no power outside our lands. Though she wishes she did,” Tarek said drily. “The Kadirai are fractured into many flights. Each flight has its own lands, its own queen, and its own ways. We do not interfere with the other flights. We mind our own lands and protect them from here.”

  The city below them spilled over the slope of the mountain and into the valley below. Thin plumes of smoke arose from thousands of chimneys, while a thicker cloud of dark smoke hung over a dingy patch of buildings on the far edge of the city. Here and there, massive towers rose from a patch of otherwise identically colored and shaped buildings. After watching for a moment, Gabby saw a dragon spiral around one of the towers, then land on it. From another tower in the distance, she saw three large birds take off and split paths into three directions. One, a hawk with dark brown feathers, flew toward the fortress.

  “What do you protect them from? The Ironflight?”

  “The Ironflight, and others. Our people are conquerors. We are not peaceful by nature, so the flights have often warred with each other. Even in the rare times of peace, we are attacked by the Vak and the Edra from outside our lands. The relative calm we have known for the last decade is rare, and I fear it is at an end,” he said.

  “Because of the princess?”

  “Indeed,” he said. Tarek gently took her hand, then guided her back into the corridor. Her heart raced as his strong hand closed around hers. He was close enough that she smelled the pleasant, earthy smell of him and felt the warmth radiating from his skin. “There has always been a strong sense of distrust and anger between the Stoneflight and the Ironflight. They believe their queen should be the empress.”

  “Is your queen…Halmerah?” He nodded. “Is she the empress?”

  “There is no empress anymore,” Tarek said. “The last High Empress was assassinated during the Great War, many years ago. She had united the flights, but in the aftermath of the war, the flights fractured again. Halmerah and Tarim can both claim her lineage, but neither could convince all of the flights to unite under her. The empress used to rule from this very fortress, so many believe Halmerah should hold the title. In any case, there are many other conflicts between us; contested lands, trade disputes, but I believe it is sheer stubbornness.”

  “And all of that would be worth attacking Ashariah?”

  “Oh yes,” he said. “I imagine Queen Tarim would do anything to topple Queen Halmerah from her throne.”

  “What is Halmerah doing about it?”

  “She has sent word to the Ironflight. She will give them a chance to admit to their crimes and to make restitution,” he said. “Even if their intent was to kill her, Ashariah lives, and so they may be able to come to a peaceful agreement.”

  “And if they don’t?”

  “Then the peace will come to an end,” Tarek said flatly. His eyes narrowed as he stared out at the city.

  “Would you have to fight?”

  His mouth twisted into a bitter expression. “I would. But the queen would not have me.”

  “Why?”

  Just like when she questioned his ability to protect Ashariah, she saw the stone wall come up. The fine creases around his eyes smoothed suddenly, and his shoulders squared. It was as if he turned to the same cold stone that formed the citadel. “She thinks I am better suited for protecting the Gate than the people,” he said finally. Each word was carefully chosen.

  “Why?”

  He igno
red her question and gestured to the end of the hall. “Come, let us meet with Councilor Eszen and be done with it.” The way he dodged her questions so easily irritated her, and only intensified her curiosity.

  They continued their path through the massive citadel, with Tarek pointing out various sights – a commemorative fresco depicting a great battle of some dragon empress or another, a heavily guarded sword belonging to a former royal guard – but he said little about himself. She would do her best to dutifully nod and watch, but each time, she found herself drawn to him, watching the way his eyes flicked to her warily.

  And she had to admit that the grand tour was a lovely distraction. Gabby was blown away by the sheer size of the citadel. She quickly lost track of how many huge windows they’d passed, how many dragons she’d seen step onto a platform and leap into the open sky with wings unfurling as they soared. They took a long detour through a cathedral-like wing with enormous stained glass windows in cool shades of blue and purple, each of which depicted a stylized scene from a story she didn’t recognize. Angular runes were painted in silvery-gray paint on certain panels of glass, but it seemed her magical amulet didn’t extend to reading. It was incredible to immerse herself in someone else’s world, especially one that was so wonderfully strange.

  But as they continued through the busier parts of the citadel, she’d noticed more and more strange looks. A passing stranger would suddenly pause, their gaze flicking to Gabby and then looking her up and down. A faint twitch of the eyebrows, a little frown pulling at their lips; they all sent the same message. Who are you? Why are you here? You don’t belong.

  By the time they had reached the end of a winding hallway lined in sculptures of dragons who all looked the same, she had grown tired of the staring. As Tarek slipped into an unremarkable door between two of the statues, she pulled back on his hand. With one foot on the stairs, he paused and looked back. “What’s wrong?”

  “People are staring at me,” she said quietly. “I shouldn’t be here. Will you take me back upstairs?”

  He frowned. “You have Halmerah’s blessing. Let them stare.”

  “That’s easy for you to say,” she said. “They’re not staring at you.”

  His mouth pulled into a lazy, crooked smile. “No, but they’ll surely be discussing me later. Let them talk. I certainly don’t mind.” He pulled gently on her hand, and she reluctantly followed him. The door took them to a small, plain stone staircase. As before, Tarek lightly clasped her hand while she gathered up the flowing fabric around her legs. Though the red silk was beautiful, she missed the comfort and practicality of her hospital scrubs.

  The next stop on her grand tour was a set of massive wooden double doors. Carvings of a large dragon with wings spread dominated the dark-stained wood. At their approach, the guards on either side moved closer to the handles and spoke to Tarek. “Your business?”

  “Tarek Windstriker, with orders to escort the queen’s guest to Councilor Eszen,” he said authoritatively. As he spoke, his spine straightened, his face taking on a stony expression. With a nod, the guards each stepped in to push their door open.

  The familiar, dry smell of old books hit her like a physical force as she walked into the Great Library. Dark stone shelves towered overhead. Some were filled with neatly organized books, while others were fitted with wooden racks that formed diamond-shaped cubbies for rolled scrolls. Small wooden work tables filled the central area, most occupied by a person in a blue uniform and silver sash. Some read, while others were writing furiously on a stack of paper. A woman near the door worked on a large blue stone mounted on a metal apparatus. She appeared to be engraving its surface with a small metal tool.

  “Welcome to the library,” Tarek said. As they lingered in the doorway, a diminutive woman in a blue uniform appeared from a row of shelves. The silver sash and medallion on her uniform was familiar; it was the same as the one worn by the woman who’d been in the room while they had questioned Gabby right after her arrival. Dread crept over her. What were they walking into?

  “May I help you?” the woman said politely.

  “We are to speak to Councilor Eszen. He is expecting us,” Tarek said. The woman nodded and hurried across the central area toward a door against the back wall.

  As Tarek started to follow, Gabby tugged lightly on his hand. “What is he going to do to me?”

  “He will only ask you questions,” Tarek said. He paused to look down at her, his brow furrowed. “Are you afraid?”

  “Considering the welcome I got yesterday, yes,” she said. “I recognize that uniform.”

  He tilted his head. “You do?”

  “I pay attention,” she said.

  He smiled and offered his right hand to her. His eyebrows piqued as she stared at him in confusion. Finally she offered her hand, letting him clasp it above his heart. His left hand covered hers as he gazed down at her. “Upon my honor, I will not allow any harm to come to you. As long as you are here, you are mine to protect.”

  “Yours?”

  His cheeks flushed, but he composed himself quickly. “Do you object?”

  She hesitated. Independent twenty-first century women most certainly objected to a big, albeit gorgeous, man proclaiming they were his. “I don’t,” she said quietly. To hell with the twenty-first century.

  “Councilor Eszen will see you,” the woman said. The wooden door was open, revealing a brightly-lit room beyond.

  “Very good,” Tarek said, his affectionate tone gone as he regarded the woman sternly. Releasing her hand, he motioned for Gabby to follow the woman into the room.

  The small room was a private study. The curved outer wall was lined in windows, like much of the fortress. The stone walls were crammed with shelves, as impeccably organized as the ones in the main library. A large desk stood in the center of the room, with a neat stack of papers on one corner and no other clutter. The man at the desk rose as they entered. He was easily as tall as Tarek, though more slender. His gray robe was split along the sides over dark trousers. The smooth fabric was embroidered with an ornate, swirling pattern, and a silver sash crossed his chest. It was a much more intricate version of what the two women had worn.

  “I am Councilor Eszen,” he said brusquely. He nodded politely, but there was no warmth in his expression. “You must be Gabrielle.”

  “Yes,” she said quietly. Her heart pounded as the tall man rounded the desk and approached her. Without warning, he reached out with both hands and lightly grasped the sides of her face. She recoiled instinctively. “Excuse you.”

  The taller man frowned, his eyes narrowing slightly. His eyes flicked over Gabby’s shoulder, where Tarek was waiting. He nodded, then spread his hands. “May I? I mean no harm.”

  “Fine,” she said, steeling herself and drawing herself up to her full height. She was short by human standards, and next to a dragon-in-man-form that would have topped six feet at a slouch, it didn’t do much for her.

  Eszen gently touched her face, leaning down to peer into her eyes. His eyes were a stunning shade of green, the color of new grass in spring. “I want you to resist me. Like you did before,” he said. His pupils dilated, and as before, a crawling sensation tickled at her skull. “Look at me. Go sit down. You should—” Gabby simply closed her eyes, cutting off the unpleasant situation. Eszen stopped mid-sentence and said, “Huh. Well, that’s something.” He released her face and said, “It’s fine to open them now.”

  “It’s all right, Gabrielle,” Tarek said mildly.

  When she opened her eyes, Eszen was flanking her to stick his head out the door. “Khazarin! Come write for me,” he ordered. The woman who had greeted them scurried into the room and around the desk. As she arranged a stack of ivory paper and prepared a fountain pen with a small jar of ink, Eszen gestured absently to a pair of wooden stools near one of his shelves. “Uh, you—was it Marek?”

  “Tarek,” he corrected.

  “Yes, of course. You can go.”

  “I will stay,” Ta
rek said.

  Eszen opened his mouth as if to protest, then shook his head. “As you wish. Gabrielle, can you describe for me how you are able to break our compulsion over you?”

  “No,” she said flatly. At his look of surprise, she shrugged. “I’m not doing anything on purpose.”

  She expected him to be irritated, but his eyebrows perked in intrigue. “So it’s passive, then,” Eszen said. “Tell me what you experience. Every detail.”

  She did her best to describe the physical sensations, and he nodded thoughtfully, occasionally checking to make sure his scribe was keeping up. “When Tarek first showed up, his was the strongest at the time. After that, no one else had that much of an effect except for the queen.”

  Eszen’s gaze flicked to Tarek. “Is your persuasion particularly powerful?”

  Tarek shrugged. “No.”

  “And he was the only Kadirai with whom you made contact?”

  “No,” she said. “Ashariah.”

  Eszen’s eyes narrowed. “And was this before or after Tarek?”

  “Both,” she said. “Ashariah was unconscious while I treated her, but I think she woke up, or at least had some level of consciousness. She grabbed me, and I saw a vision of her attack. Then Tarek arrived, and shortly after, she touched me again to show me a memory of him.”

  “Interesting,” Eszen said. “And you have never encountered the Kadirai before?”

  “No,” she said.

  Eszen leaned over and nodded to Tarek. “Has she?”

  “Why are you asking him? I just told you no.”

  The councilor tilted his head. “It’s possible that you have crossed paths, and you were made to forget, or to believe it was a dream. This is how things are done in the human realm, yes?”

  Tarek sighed. “Yes. To my knowledge, none of my men have crossed her path.”

  She wanted to protest, but considering she’d asked him to take advantage of that handy power to keep people from wondering where she was, she couldn’t exactly criticize.

  “In any case, tell me more about what you saw in the princess’s vision.”