The Dragon's War Read online

  “Kylan arrived a few hours ago.”

  Talan turned her attention back to Raine. And to Dallan’s great relief, the rest of the world disappeared when the two were together.

  “I should greet her.”

  “Well, last I saw she was leading an entourage into the Ha’kan baths.”

  “How predictable,” Talan said drily.

  “Perhaps we should go greet her together,” Raine said mischievously.

  The amber eyes glowed. “I am certain that Kylan ‘greeted’ you at first opportunity. And if I remember correctly, you were quite disruptive on your last trip to the baths. I think you should run a bath in our room and I will join you shortly.”

  Raine offered her hand in escort in a gallant gesture. “I like that idea very much,” she said as the two left arm-in-arm.

  Eira watched the stunning pair leave. Raine was enthralling all on her own, but the two together were mesmerizing. And that dragon was very possessive of her young lover, that much was clear. She turned to Rika.

  “I understand what you said earlier about the two of them. It’s foreign to us, but those two are a perfect match.”

  The Ha’kan baths were a wonder of Arianthem that few had ever seen. Almost everyone had heard of them, rumors abounded, and tales ranged from a sensual paradise to a carnal orgy of flesh. Both portrayals, in a way, were apt, although the descriptions chosen revealed more about the person telling the tale than they did about the Ha’kan.

  The baths were like everything else in Ha’kan culture: open, sexual, sensuous, and communal. And because the baths were warm, wet, and steamy, and clothing was optional, they were perhaps even a little more so. There were various private alcoves for trysts, a very public massage area, small bathing pools for couples or threesomes, and then larger pools for groups where women could engage in simple small talk or wrap themselves about one another. One bathing area in particular was attracting considerable attention, for Kylan was holding court with the Queen and her entire staff. The dragon was wickedly funny, unrepentant, and completely uninhibited, and the Ha’kan loved her.

  Attention was redirected, however, when a tall, silver-haired woman in red armor strolled through the bathing area. Her heavy, spiked armor was in stark contrast to the soft nudity around her, but that was not what attracted so much attention. This woman strode through the room with a confidence that was magnetic, her amber eyes went where they pleased, and all blushed at the honor of the attention. Powerful sexuality swirled about her much like the dark magic that permeated her being. She stopped at the edge of the pool, gazing down at Kylan.

  “Why am I not surprised?”

  “Because you know me, my love,” Kylan said, her blue eyes twinkling with mirth. She stood, completely naked, water dripping, and stepped up the marble ledge. Although faithful to Raine, that did not stop Talan from a sweeping, appreciative, examination of Kylan’s nude form.

  “My Queen,” Kylan said, embracing her and giving her the same, less-than-chaste kiss she had given Raine, although Raine had not received the added perk of Kylan’s bare breasts pressed against her. All Ha’kan watched with pleasure, for it was as pleasing for them to observe the act as it was to participate in it, and any time two women were standing next to one another, the Ha’kan were imagining them in bed. Right now, that picture was very pleasant.

  “Are you sure you won’t join us?” Kylan teased, knowing the answer.

  Talan’s gaze swept the bevy of beauties in the bath. “Tempting,” Talan said. “But I have a naked Arlanian in my bed, one with the stamina of the ancient dragon slayers. I imagine I will be busy for the next few hours.”

  “Understood,” Kylan said, laughing and settling into the bath.

  “Welcome back to Haldis, Talan,” the Queen said as Kylan put her arm around her.

  “Thank you, your Majesty,” Talan said over her shoulder as she turned to leave. And all Ha’kan contemplated another pleasant picture in their heads, that of the dragon dominating her lover in the chambers above them.

  “Kylan is quite at home in the land of the Ha’kan.”

  Raine was leaning back in the marble bath, one that was the size of a small pool. She silently thanked the dwarves for their past dealings with the Ha’kan, dealings in which they returned an ancient favor by providing their unsurpassed technology. The water was heated via various steam contraptions buried deep in the earth, then piped into the castle.

  “I can only imagine the chaos she is creating,” Raine said.

  “The Ha’kan are enjoying it as much as she is.”

  A response died on Raine’s lips as Weynild’s armor retracted and her long limbs, proud breasts, and flat stomach were revealed. In the presence of others, Raine addressed Weynild only by her formal name, but when they were alone together, she used the name she had known her by first.

  “What did you say?” Raine asked, completely distracted.

  Weynild waded into the water. “It is unimportant.”

  Raine rose from the water to embrace her and Weynild kissed her passionately. The long limbs guided the Arlanian to the gentle slope where one could lie quite comfortably, and the dragon settled her hips between her young lover’s legs while the warm water lapped against them. It was a glorious sensation for Raine: the strength of the woman above her, those magnificent breasts pressed against her wet skin, the taste of those red lips. And it was no less glorious for Weynild, who hungered for her Arlanian as she had no other. It was almost impossible to sate a dragon, yet this little creature managed it without fail. At times, they would engage in foreplay for hours, but today would not be one of those times. There were distinct advantages to being a shape-shifter, especially when it came to lovemaking, and Raine gasped as Weynild utilized this ability and Raine received the benefit as she was penetrated by whatever had struck Weynild’s fancy. She nearly swooned at the shock of pleasure. Sometimes their lovemaking was gentle and playful, but today it was a storm of intensity. Weynild’s golden eyes bore into hers so she could know exactly the affect her firm thrusts were having. And Raine could not look away, their bond so complete that all else ceased to exist as long as their bodies were locked together. Raine desperately wanted to release, for the smooth, long strokes were driving her to madness, but she could tell that her love was close to losing control as Weynild’s rhythm quickened, as did her breathing. Finally, Raine could bear it no longer and allowed the climax to carry her away, and it took only her uninhibited release to drive the dragon to climax as well.

  The silver-haired woman collapsed on the muscular form beneath her, and Raine enjoyed the weight and closeness of her lover. She could feel the powerful heartbeat slow, could feel the rise and fall of the chest return to normal. Weynild pulled back, examined the beautiful violet eyes beneath her, then kissed her gently on the lips. Raine returned the gentle kiss, then playfully parted the lips with her tongue.

  “You know what you’re doing,” Weynild said with warning.

  “Of course I do,” Raine murmured, deepening the kiss.

  “Then you’ll have to suffer the consequences.”

  This threat elicited only laughter from the Scinterian as the dragon gently but firmly turned her over, face down, then began anew.

  Skye lie in her bed intertwined with Eira. She had always liked older women, and Eira’s seduction of her had been masterful. The beautiful warrior possessed all of her mother’s magnetism, and although Skye had not slept with the High Priestess, Skye imagined that Eira possessed a great deal of her mother’s skill as well.

  “Thank you,” Skye said shyly, and Eira found the shyness endearing, for it was rare in the Ha’kan.

  “There is no need to thank me,” Eira said, “I took great pleasure in that.” She hugged the slender Tavinter, and shifted so that Skye could lie on her chest. A comfortable silence settled upon them.

  “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Of course,” Eira said.

  “It’s about your sister, Embla. She seems
very happy and content. She’s not disappointed that she’s not the future High Priestess?”

  “What?” Eira asked, as if the question made no sense.

  “Well, usually, among my people, children follow in their parents’ footsteps.”

  “Oh,” Eira said, understanding. “That is the exception for the Ha’kan. Each of us finds our own path, and all are guided from a young age to find the role that will suit them best. And when I say ‘best,’ I mean the role that will provide us with the most happiness and meaning.”

  “That sounds so wonderful,” Skye said. She had spent much time contemplating the unusual society of the Ha’kan, and once again, she wondered how much their unique reproduction and singular sex contributed to the harmony of their culture. Competition was almost always playful; personal ambition was nearly non-existent. Relieved of the basic drive of procreation, the Ha’kan existed in a chronic state of contentment. Any threats to their people came from the outside, and Skye was filled with gratitude that the insular people had so accepted her and the Tavinter as a whole.

  “Besides,” Eira mused, “Embla disappeared with the future High Priestess several hours ago and they have not been seen since. She loves Lifa, and really, who could not.”

  Skye grinned at the thought of the two Priestesses together.

  “Rika headed off with Solvi,” Eira said, “and they will probably wrestle to see who gets to be earth and sky.”

  “Solvi is not very big,” Skye said doubtfully, “do you think she has a chance against Rika?”

  “Solvi is very wily. I would not be surprised if she has Rika on the bottom right now.”

  Skye giggled at the thought as Eira continued her run-down of the night’s pairings. “And Dallan was accosted by both Runa and Kara, so she is in for a night to remember.”

  “Runa can’t be as wild as Kara is,” Skye said. Kara was known for her love of the unconventional and her desire to experiment on her sexual partners.

  “I’m not certain anyone is as adventurous as Kara,” Eira said, “but all scholars have that terrifying bent towards research in the bed.”

  “That’s for certain,” Skye agreed, thinking of her trysts with both Kara and Gimle.

  “Oh, that’s right!” Eira exclaimed. “You have been with the First Scholar. You must tell me all about it!”

  And so, in a conversation that most would have found bizarre, but for the Ha’kan was completely normal, the two women described in detail their sexual exploits with others, enjoying the tales almost as much as if they had experienced them firsthand. And ultimately, their discussion led to such arousal they stopped talking about the act and began participating in it.

  But perhaps the most content Ha’kan in all the castle were in the Queen’s room, where the Ancient Dragon Kylan lie blissfully entangled with a heap of exhausted women. Her Royal Majesty was asleep in one arm while the High Priestess was asleep in the other. The First General had an arm wrapped about Kylan’s thigh and the First Scholar had one wrapped about her waist. The High Priestess of the Southern Region was curled about her hip, sandwiched between the First General and the Queen. And although Kylan was partial to her kind, simply for reasons of stamina, she had to admit that the Ha’kan were in a splendid category all of their own.

  Chapter 3

  It was two very contented groups of Ha’kan that breakfasted on the terrace in the morning. The younger Ha’kan started to seat themselves on Dallan’s terrace, a mirror-image of the Queen’s, but Halla waved her daughter over and the families gathered as one. Additional place settings were brought out, and the Royal Staff and the future Royal Staff dined together. Raine came out, waved, but did not immediately join them, rather walked to the edge of the terrace. She was followed by both Talan and Kylan. The Ha’kan watched curiously as discussion ensued, Raine nodded, and Talan kissed her. Kylan then playfully blew her a kiss, and the two older women moved some distance apart. They simultaneously disappeared into flashes of light, one white, one yellow, and two enormous dragons stood in their place. It was the first time that any present had seen them together, and it was a magnificent sight, the blue dragon with scales that twinkled like starlight and the red dragon that flickered iridescently as if on fire. It was a good thing that the Ha’kan palace was a sturdy structure, for both creatures were enormous. Great muscles flexed, tendons tightened, and both dragons leaped into the air, their wings unfurling and catching the light breeze. The red dragon went east and the blue dragon went west, and it was not long before both disappeared from sight. Raine leaned against the bannister and watched their flight.

  “I never realized there was so much excitement in the capital,” Helena commented.

  Halla dabbed at her mouth. “It was not always so,” she said. “But ever since Talan responded to my request for help, the excitement has not stopped.”

  “It was even before that,” Dallan said, “when we were attacked by the Hyr’rok’kin while still at the Academy and Raine came to save us.”

  “That’s right,” Halla agreed. “It hasn’t really slowed down since then. There have been stretches where things have been mundane, but those have become the exception rather than the rule.”

  “I must say I rather like it,” Helena said.

  Senta watched Raine curiously. She assumed that Raine would join them once the dragons had departed, but something in the courtyard had caught her attention. She was staring down expectantly, as if waiting for someone. That speculation was proven correct as a raven-haired woman appeared at the top of the circular stairway, embraced Raine, then kissed her on the cheek. The affection between the two women was evident, and the dark-haired mage did not release Raine.

  “Speaking of excitement,” Senta said, drawing the attention of the others to the reunion.

  “Oh how marvelous,” Halla exclaimed, and Helena noted as much delight in the Queen’s voice as with the dragons. Helena examined this newcomer, clothed in lovely robes embroidered with arcane symbols. Beneath the robe was a laced bodice that plunged to her navel, a bodice that somehow magically contained the full breasts that threatened to fall out upon her playful mauling of the Scinterian.

  “It’s a good thing that Talan left,” Helena said.

  This elicited a chuckle from many at the table. “Talan fully expects that type of behavior from Idonea.”

  “Ah,” Helena said as the identity of the mystery woman became clear. “That is the dragon’s daughter.”

  “You just missed your mother,” Raine said, out-of-earshot of the Ha’kan but on the same topic. “She and Kylan left to survey the surrounding countryside.”

  “That’s a good idea. I came across several bands of Hyr’rok’kin on my way here from imperial lands.”

  Raine gave her a quick once-over. “You look none the worse for wear.”

  “They were not so lucky,” Idonea said.

  “Good for you,” Raine said with approval. “I might go out scouting later myself. I’ve been itching for a fight.”

  “Not me,” Idonea said, smoothing her robes. “I want to get cleaned up, rested, then get back to work with my little protégé.”

  “She will be thrilled,” Raine said, offering her arm to Idonea.

  The Ha’kan had remained respectfully at a distance, but all rose as the two approached. The Queen held out her hands and Idonea took them in her own.

  “Idonea, welcome back. Your chambers in Dallan’s forum are untouched if you wish to stay there.”

  Idonea sent a smoldering glance Dallan’s way, who true to form, blushed bright red, causing her usual companions to snicker and her recent companions to shake their heads in astonishment.

  “That would be wonderful, your Majesty. I will get settled, and then you and I,” she said, turning to Skye. “Have to get back to work.”

  “I can’t wait!” Skye exclaimed.

  Idonea turned to the First Scholar. “Would you care to join us for lessons?”

  A cool smile crossed Gimle’s delicate feature
s. “I would be delighted.”

  “Excellent,” Idonea said, “this afternoon, then.”

  “Come along, Baroness,” Raine said, “I will escort you to your suite.”

  Idonea’s laughter drifted backward as the two left the terrace. The salutation was a great joke between the two of them, Idonea having acquired it when Raine gave her Fireside, the most luxurious residence in the imperial capital.

  “Let me tell you the fun I had with that title…”

  After a brief respite, Idonea found Raine and the two walked together to the Scholar’s wing of the castle.

  “So how goes your little fling with the Knight Commander?”

  “It continues as it started, wild and unexpected. She appears to have accepted my inability to commit to a single person.” Raine looked unconvinced, so Idonea continued. “Oh, Nerthus is certainly jealous, but if she does not hear of it or see it, she does not ask.”

  “Ah,” Raine said. She changed the subject, growing serious. “So, do you think you could have defeated Ingrid?”

  Twenty years ago, Idonea’s response would have been arrogant, bragging, and likely untrue. Much had changed in the two decades she had spent as Isleif’s protégé.

  “I believe so,” she said in a measured response. “That sorceress is powerful and very skilled, but I think I could have outlasted her. My mother’s blood is a deep well of magic.”

  Raine nodded her understanding. Idonea was the product of Talan’s mating with a human male, and therefore was not a dragon. Dragons could only be produced by mating with another dragon, as was Talan’s son Drakar. But Idonea benefitted from the dark magic that flowed through the dragons, and the fact that she had trained with one of the greatest wizards Arianthem had ever known had magnified and focused that power. Once redirected from her selfish pursuits and adolescent angst, Idonea had become a splendidly talented mage.

  Idonea stopped and Raine stopped with her.

  “There is something I wanted to talk to you about.”