The Dragon's War Read online

  “Then perhaps we should send a little, but on a regular basis.”

  Raine smiled, for the Ha’kan were so elegantly perfect about such things. “I think she would like that.”

  “So although we succeeded at everything, there are still some loose threads out there,” Senta said.

  “Yes,” Raine said. “The Alliance is still strong. The dragons are firmly with Talan. But three things bother me. Talan’s son, Drakar, killed Jörmung, one of the Ancients who stood against Talan, but Volva, the worst of the two, escaped. And from what Y’arren relayed of Skye’s adventure, the sorceress, Ingrid, lives as well.”

  The women mulled over these unfortunate survivals.

  “And the third thing?” Senta asked.

  “Those restraints,” Raine said, her countenance darkening. “If Hel truly wished to imprison Talan, she would have used them herself, not given them to Volva and Jörmung.”

  “Then why did she do so?”

  “Because,” Raine said with certainty, “she was testing them.”

  Raine settled into her suite which, as Halla had promised, was exactly as they had left it months ago. Although she was as comfortable lying on her knapsack in the middle of the forest as she was in the luxury of a castle, the hospitality of the Ha’kan was unparalleled.

  The Queen’s forum was laid out in a circle and all of the suites opened inside to the center of the common area around the fire pit, and outside onto the Queen’s private terrace. Raine pushed through the stained glass door onto the marbled verandah outside, and walked to the stone wall that edged the upper deck. She leaned against the railing, watching the festivities below. Her eyesight was acute, and from her elevated position, she could look all the way across the city. There was some sort of commotion on the main gate leading into Haldis, and Raine shielded her eyes from the sun for a better view.

  Senta came up beside her, also shielding her eyes. The Tavinter Rangers were able to pass messages over large distances using signals of reflected light. It was one more thing the Ha’kan had adopted from their new allies, having quickly seen the benefit of the speed of transmission over the common courier. Senta was not as accomplished as the Tavinter, but she was able to interpret this short message.

  “A dragon is coming,” she said. “I thought you said Talan was not due until tomorrow?”

  “Perhaps she finished early,” Raine replied. “That’s good news.”

  They were joined by the Queen, Gimle, Astrid, and Helena.

  “A dragon is coming,” Senta told them.

  “Wonderful,” Halla exclaimed, “Talan could not stay away from you.”

  Raine again shielded her eyes, now able to see the form in the clouds, although still very far away. As the massive creature slowly grew larger, a slight look of concern crossed her features.

  “I don’t think that’s Talan,” Raine said uncertainly. She could not be sure, for the dragon was still too far away to make out color or shape. But the movement of the wings, something as distinctive for a dragon as gait was for a person, was different.

  “Is it Drakar?” Senta asked, trying to gauge the Scinterian’s mood. Raine was not overly concerned, just bemused.

  “Well it could be anyone,” Raine said, “Now that Talan has reconnected with her kind, I’m certain there will be far more sightings.”

  “But—?” Senta prompted.

  “Drakar is large for his kind,” Raine said with a trace of unease, “And that dragon is too big to be Drakar.”

  “Should we sound the alarm?” Senta asked.

  Raine’s eyes strained as the creature came closer, seeking any detail that would give her a clue to the dragon’s identity. Then, as luck would have it, a ray of sunshine fell on the dragon’s hide, and it gave a blue flash, almost like the twinkle of a star.

  “No,” Raine said with a slow grin, watching the dragon approach, “that won’t be necessary. But I should probably warn all of you,” she said with a chuckle. “You are in a very different kind of danger.”

  The dragon was now close enough for all of them to see, and it was a beautiful creature. Iridescent blue scales shimmered in the sunlight, giving off little sparkles of silver light. Raine waved and stepped to the center of the terrace. The dragon circled once, hovered slightly just above Raine, then alighted with considerable grace, although its size was sufficient to shake the thick walls. Then, with a flash of silver light, the dragon disappeared and was placed by an exquisite woman in a blue gown the same color and pattern of her scales. It was a gorgeous ensemble, befitting the woman who wore it, whose ice blue eyes were framed so perfectly by long dark hair streaked with silver.

  “Hello, my little Scinterian.”

  To the astonishment of the Ha’kan, the woman pulled Raine to her, kissed her in a manner that was hardly chaste, then released her. To their even greater astonishment, Raine’s eyes were pure violet, a response that none but Talan engendered, and the warrior blushed profusely.

  “I see that Raine likes her dragons,” Helena murmured to Astrid. Prior to that moment, it had seemed the Scinterian was as immune to the attentions of others as she was to magic.

  “Yes she does,” Astrid murmured back, as surprised as her Priestess.

  “You’re going to get me in trouble,” Raine said for the second time in a day. She willed her eyes back to the light blue color of her father’s people.

  “Untrue, unfortunately,” Kylan said. “And quite impossible. You are faithful beyond belief. And Talan is the only one in this world who possesses the whole of my loyalty.”

  Raine took her by the hand. “And I cannot express my gratitude enough for that loyalty. Talan told me how you stood at her side.”

  “Hmm,” Kylan said, “gratitude. That is in fact why I am here.”

  “How so?” Raine asked as Kylan’s eyes flicked past her to the women standing on the terrace.

  “I was going to return to my castle, but it was Talan who suggested I might come down and acquaint myself with the natives. A bit of a vacation as a reward, if you will.”

  “You’ve never been to the land of the Ha’kan?” Raine asked.

  “Not for centuries. Like most of our kind, I spent a very long time sleeping after the Great War.”

  “Then you’re in for a treat,” Raine said. “And I’m sure they will welcome you with open arms.”

  Open arms, and slightly open mouths, greeted the Ancient Dragon as Raine escorted her to the Royal Staff. They regained their composure, however, and Queen Halla stepped forward to offer a gracious greeting.

  “Your Majesty,” Raine said, “This is Kylan’ilaith’alnon, Talan’s ally and Second.”

  The Queen bowed. “The Ha’kan are honored to call Talan an ally and friend. Our home is open to you.”

  “Thank you, your Majesty,” Kylan said, examining each of the women at length. “I think my stay here will be most pleasant.”

  Halla gestured to the doorway that led to the common area of her forum. “You are welcome to stay in one of the guest rooms of my forum. There is one right next to Talan’s quarters, and my staff will be at your service.”

  Raine grinned at the sexually charged conversation that was taking place between the Queen of the Ha’kan and the Ancient Dragon. Senta hung back.

  “So, is Kylan…?”

  “Available?” Raine proffered, easily reading the First General’s mind. “Oh yes. Kylan belongs only to herself. Although I warn you, the lust of dragons is not a myth, and it might take the lot of you to keep her satisfied.”

  This statement was impossible to fathom.

  “Your Majesty,” Kylan said, her voice drifting back to them, “have you ever ridden a dragon?”

  Senta appeared to be choking on something.

  “Go,” Raine said, laughing at the First General’s attempted restraint. “Go before you have a heart attack.”

  Raine returned to her chambers, but was too restless to stay. Seeing Kylan made her long for Weynild, and she hoped that her
love would arrive soon. She decided to take Dallan up on her challenge and went to find the younger Ha’kan. Dallan, Skye, and Rika had been joined by Astrid’s daughter, the one who was a warrior, and two others. The slender one with the light hair bore a remarkable resemblance to the First Scholar, and Raine surmised this was Gimle’s daughter. The other wore training gear associated with the Scholar caste, which was not unusual to see on the Ha’kan training grounds for all castes were welcome. What was unusual was the size of this scholar and the skill with which she wielded a sword and shield. Or perhaps not, Raine mused, when she noted that the scholar looked a great deal like the First General.

  Lifa greeted Raine warmly as the Scinterian settled onto the bench next to her.

  “You’re not going to go play with them?” she asked.

  “Of course I am,” Raine said, “I thought I might visit with you a moment.”

  “Raine, this is Embla,” Lifa said, leaning back and gesturing to the woman on her right.

  “Ah,” Raine said, “one of Astrid’s daughters.” The woman was several years older than Lifa and was already displaying signs of her mother’s poise and sultry elegance. Raine took the hand she extended and Embla stifled a gasp at the touch. She marveled at the sensation the simple contact produced. Although she lived in a world imbued with sensuality, she had never experienced anything quite like the touch of an Arlanian. It inspired instant sexual desire, almost a craving, and Embla understood more the legend of the beautiful but doomed people.

  “I’m sorry,” Raine said, “I forget when I meet new people that my touch can be unsettling.”

  Embla smiled. “It is unsettling in a most pleasant manner. There is no need to apologize.”

  “It is rare for a Priestess to be caught off-guard in such a way,” Lifa said, agreeing, “and it is pleasing.”

  Raine’s eyes dropped to Lifa’s stomach, and her expression grew very gentle. “Might I?”

  Lifa moved the hand that was resting there. “Of course.”

  Raine settled her hand on Lifa’s stomach and a beatific smile settled on her chiseled features. For Lifa, the touch was extraordinary and so many pleasant sensations shot through her that she didn’t want Raine to move her hand, ever. And amazingly, the tiny being inside of her gave a kick for the very first time, and she felt the movement.

  “Did you feel that?” Lifa said, excited.

  “I did!” Raine exclaimed. “How wonderful!”

  Raine removed her hand and Lifa felt the loss keenly, but only for a second until Embla leaned forward and placed her own hand on Lifa’s stomach. The Priestess might not have been Arlanian, but she possessed all of her mother’s allure, and the touch was just as welcome. Perhaps even more welcome, for Raine could not satisfy the longing that her touch elicited, whereas Embla certainly could. She brushed Lifa’s hair from her eyes.

  “Perhaps you should go rest,” she suggested, “I will walk you to your chambers.”

  Raine grinned. “I think that is an excellent idea. I will go play with Dallan.”

  Eyes turned to the Scinterian when she strolled out onto the field. Rika glanced past her to the departing Priestesses, and she, too, grinned. She was pretty sure Lifa wasn’t going to get much rest with that gorgeous daughter of Astrid. Both Embla and Eira were just enough older than them to inspire huge crushes when they were younger, infatuations that had not waned with adulthood.

  “So who was that dragon?” Dallan asked. “We saw it come in and land on the terrace.”

  “That was Kylan. She is one of the remaining Ancients and Talan’s Second, absolutely loyal to my love.”

  “Another Ancient?” Skye asked, her eyes glowing at the thought.

  Rika nudged Dallan in the ribs. “Someone else for you to stumble about.”

  Dallan frowned, for that most certainly was true. She had effortlessly charmed women her entire life, but completely fell apart around Talan, almost always blushing and barely able to get a word out. Her seductive daughter, although not a dragon, had the same effect on her. It was mortifying.

  Eira and Solvi were both intrigued by this. Dallan had flirted with them shamelessly even as a child, and had become a polished and talented courtesan as an adult. It would be humorous to see her in such a predicament, because it was so at odds with her natural state.

  “So…,” Rika began, and Raine knew what she was asking.

  “Kylan is tied to no one, and I’m sure she will partake fully in Ha’kan hospitality.”

  “Really?” Dallan said, her voice cracking in the middle of the word, causing Skye to muffle a snort of laughter and Rika to laugh out loud.

  “Really,” Raine said. “Although I think you’re going to have to wait in line because she left on your mother’s arm with the entire Royal Staff in tow.”

  “So the sexual prowess of dragons is not exaggerated?”

  This question came from the scholar, the one that resembled the First General.

  “I beg your pardon,” Dallan said, remembering her manners. “Raine, this is Runa, Senta’s daughter. Solvi is Gimle’s daughter, and Eira is Astrid’s.”

  Raine grasped forearms with each of them. “I could have guessed. You all look very much like your mothers. And no, the lust and skill of the dragons is not exaggerated.”

  “That is fascinating,” Runa said, staring at her forearm. She had already moved on from her question because the sensation the touch produced was extraordinary.

  “I would say that you will get you used to it,” Dallan said, “but you will not.”

  “So are we going to train?” Raine said, playfully shoving the Princess.

  And so the mêlée began. The Scinterian drew double swords and easily fended off Dallan’s attack. Rika came in from the side but the swords were there to block her. Skye came in with two daggers, but Raine’s short swords were just as fast and the Tavinter speed was of no use against the flurry. Eira sought to move in for a blow but Raine was very good at lining up her opponents so that they all got in one another’s way. Attempts to surround her were futile because she was always moving. The Royal Guard was enjoying the show and cheering everyone on. Solvi stepped in her way, thinking to trap Raine against a hay cart, but Raine nimbly danced up the side of the cart, balancing on the sides as she parried Runa’s strikes, the only one tall enough to reach Raine at that height. The Ha’kan were all laughing as the Scinterian was able to make them stumble against one another. Such a display might have been humiliating from any other opponent, but this was a warrior who fought as one of the gods. And Raine’s good-natured play drew only merriment from her challengers. With a great leap, she cleared the mass and stood with her swords raised, on the ground once more.

  Then an enormous shadow passed over her head, her blue and gold markings rose to the surface on her skin, and she raised her swords to a far more dangerous opponent.

  “Well this is hardly fair,” she muttered.

  The dragon, swooped around in a great arc, spraying fire in a circle around Raine and isolating her from all others. Eira felt a stab of fear and looked to Dallan for some sort of cue as to how to respond. But Dallan, Skye, and Rika merely stood with their swords dangling from their hands, looks of awe on their faces. The dragon came around again in a tight arc and looked as if it might land right on top of the Scinterian, but at the last moment, a brilliant flash of yellow light blinded them all. When Eira’s sight returned, a magical scene greeted her.

  In the center of the fiery circle, the Scinterian was pinned to the ground by an extraordinary woman in fiery red armor. Her hair was silver and her eyes were amber. She was stunning, elegant, and regal, and she held the Scinterian effortlessly when half a Ha’kan regiment had been unable to touch her. The woman looked down on her captive with amusement while Raine looked at her with equal parts embarrassment and adoration: embarrassed because she was so easily captured, and adoration because only her love was capable of such an act. The silver-haired woman kissed her deeply and Raine ardently returned th
e kiss. When her eyes re-opened, they were pure violet, a purple that would put the finest lavender to shame.

  “That seemed a practiced maneuver,” Rika murmured.

  Talan stood upright in a lithe movement that belied her apparent age. “Apparent,” because all dragons were skilled shape-shifters and she could manifest in any form she chose. But she chose to manifest in a form consistent with her lifespan, which already exceeded a millennium. Raine had fallen in love with both forms upon first sight. Talan helped her to her feet, pulling the warrior upright as if she weighed nothing.

  “That maneuver did require a great deal of practice,” Talan said over her shoulder, and Rika swallowed hard. She had forgotten how acute the dragon’s hearing was. “The first time nearly ended in disaster.”

  Raine grinned. “Yes, if I remember rightly, you transformed a bit late and nearly crushed me to death.”

  Talan leaned down and kissed her again. “It is fortunate you are so indestructible.”

  The fire was dying down and the two stepped over the now-smoking grass. Skye was closest to the pair and she bowed deeply, a sign not of just respect, but one of near-worship.

  “And how are you, little Tavinter?”

  “I am fine, your Majesty. Idonea came to save me.”

  Talan examined the young woman. “From what I understand, you saved yourself, as well as many others.”

  “But I could not have done it without Idonea’s teaching.”

  “Teaching which must continue. My daughter is on her way here now.”

  The dimples appeared in Skye’s cheeks. “I can’t wait to see her!”

  Talan’s amber eyes flicked to Rika, who bowed deeply, then to Eira, Runa, and Solvi. The latter three were frozen under the penetrating gaze of the dragon. Talan’s gaze at last settled on Dallan, who turned bright red under the scrutiny.

  “Your Highness,” Talan said.

  “Your Majesty,” Dallan said, bowing deeply while her voice cracked in the middle of the salutation. Skye covered her mouth to muffle laughter. Raine felt sorry for the Princess and sought to rescue her.