Rage of the Dragon

CHAPTER 29

“Who has him? Who is threatening to kill him?” Skylan demanded.

“Aelon’s followers,” said Commander Neda. “They have taken the young Vindrasi to the City of the Fourth Daughter.” She held a scroll case made of ivory in her hand. “I was given this. I assume it is their demands. Should I read it, Your Majesty?”

Queen Magali pressed her lips tightly together and gave a stiff nod. The commander drew out a sheet of paper made of bamboo and glanced swiftly through it, then began to read aloud.

“We gave our cousin, the Queen of the City of the First Daughter, fair warning that she should hand over to us the dangerous criminals she has in her care. She has chosen to ignore our warnings and refuses to heed our request. We have therefore taken it upon ourselves to apprehend one of these criminals ourselves. We demand that the Vindrasi Priestess and her mate, as well as their dragonship, be turned over to us by orders of Priest-General Raegar. If Her Majesty refuses our request, we will send pieces of this young man’s body to his friends.”

Aylaen turned in dismay to Skylan.

“I won’t let that happen,” he promised, putting his arm around her.

Commander Neda glanced at them, and then continued her reading. “If Queen Magali refuses our request, let it be known that a state of war will exist between our two kingdoms.”

A stunned and disbelieving silence fell over the chamber. War-the word was almost unknown to these people.

“This may be some trick,” said the Queen. “Do we have proof that they have taken the young Vindrasi?”

“My warriors have been searching for him, Your Majesty, and they cannot find him,” said Commander Neda. “The young woman he left with gave her name as Kailani. No one serving in my ranks goes by that name.”

“All this talk is wasting time,” said Skylan angrily. “We must go after him-”

“And go where? And do what?” Queen Magali asked sharply. “Will you take on a thousand warriors?”

“If I have to!” Skylan retorted.

The Queen looked shocked. Aylaen rested her hand on Skylan’s arm.

“I think we should find out the facts, Skylan. They may help guide us to Farinn.”

“I know how to find him,” Skylan said grimly.

Aylaen flashed him a glance and dug her nails into his flesh. Skylan fell silent.

Commander Neda summoned the troops who had been given the charge of guarding the Vindrasi. Upon questioning, none of them could remember having ever seen the young man’s guard before. She said that she had been newly transferred from the detail that guarded the city beyond the walls.

The two had left by a passageway off the tower rooms known as the old stairs. They found the caftan Farinn had been wearing.

“We found it on the landing beside the Crystal Stream,” the guard reported.

“No one told me this!” Skylan said, growing angrier still.

The guard shrugged. “We thought he had gone for a swim with his admirer. We did not think that he could possibly be in any danger.”

“This woman must be a follower of Aelon, sent here to lure your young friend out of the palace,” said the Queen.

“How could she know her way around? How could she know of secret passages?” Skylan demanded, glowering.

“Our city is open to all,” said the Queen. “Any Aquin may enter and find welcome.” She sighed, sorrow darkening her eyes. “And now one has betrayed us. Her people ambushed your friend and took him captive.”

“I blame myself, Your Majesty,” said Commander Neda. “I saw this woman among the guards and the thought came to me that there was something not right about her. I was busy at the time and I did not pursue my doubts.”

“I am the only one to blame,” Skylan said impatiently. “Farinn is young and naïve. I should have warned him to be careful. Instead I wished him joy of his conquest! And since I am to blame, I will go to this City of the Fourth Daughter where Farinn is being held prisoner and bring him back.”

He glared at the Queen. “Unless, of course, you intend to give into their demands, Your Majesty. In which case, there will be war between us.” Skylan rested his hand upon the hilt of his sword.

The Queen’s eyes flashed with anger. She rose to her feet. “Our course of action will be determined by what is best for our people, Vindrasi. Not by threats of violence!”

Acronis walked over to stand beside Skylan. “Apologize,” he said.

“But-” Skylan sought to argue.

“You were in the wrong,” said Acronis. “What if the situation was reversed? What if your people were being threatened? Put yourself in her position.”

Skylan could not possibly understand a people in love with peace, a people who had never known war. He could, however, understand what it meant to decide the fate of those who looked to him for leadership. Queen Magali had been placed in a terrible position and he was, in some respects, responsible.

“Your Majesty,” he said in a softer tone, “I do apologize. Before you make any decision or reply to the terms of Priest-General Raegar, I ask to speak to you and the commander of your forces in private. I believe that I may have a way out of this dilemma, a way that does not involve bloodshed.”

Queen Magali gazed at him and then shifted her gaze to Aylaen. “You are the wife and head of the household. What do you say to his proposal?”

Aylaen reached out to Skylan and took hold of his hand. She smiled at him and said softly, “My husband and I-we stand together.”

* * *

The Queen dismissed the court. The Aquins left to carry word of the crisis to the rest of the population. Fear and unease flowed through the city, as neighbor told neighbor. Queen Magali could hear the murmurings that washed like the waves upon the shores of her palace. She stood at the window gazing out upon her city.

She had asked for a moment alone to consider her decision. The Vindrasi, Skylan, had proposed a plan that used the ploys of Aelon’s followers against them. He and a group of warriors would disguise themselves as Aelon’s followers.

To the Queen’s surprise, Commander Neda was in favor of the Vindrasi’s plan. “I believe it will work, Your Majesty.”

“But this Skylan is a man. How can he disguise himself as a warrior?” the Queen asked.

“I have heard a rumor that the Priest-General has ordered that men be trained as warriors and taken into the army,” said Commander Neda.

The Queen was astonished. “Is this true? Are they mad? Who protects the children?”

The commander shrugged. “I do not know, Your Majesty.”

“Leave me for a moment. I must think about this.”

In truth, Queen Magali didn’t need to think about it. She knew what she had to do. She was trying to find the courage to do it. As she stood at the window, her husband came to stand by her side. He took her hand and brought it to his lips. Queen Magali rested her head on his chest and he clasped his arm around her.

“Our way of life, that has endured for so many centuries, is ended,” she said sadly. “No matter what the outcome of this mission, there will be war.”

“Peace ended with the death of the Sea Goddess’s daughter,” said King Tai. “We tried to close our eyes to the truth then, but the flames now burn too bright for us to ignore. We must open our eyes and look ahead with courage.”

“My store of courage is very low, I fear,” said the Queen. “I would put my faith in the gods, but I have the feeling the gods are putting their faith in us.”

“Perhaps that is not such a bad thing,” said King Tai, striving to be cheerful. “Mortals and gods should work together. The world belongs to all.”

“While there is a world…” Queen Magali said.

* * *

Aylaen’s wedding night was not exactly what she had dreamed it would be. With the wedding celebration abruptly ended, she and Skylan first consulted with the Queen. Skylan explained his plan. Her Majesty listened and said she would consider it. Skylan wanted an answer immediately, but he was forced to wait.

“Go be happy together while you can,” said Queen Magali, gently dismissing them. “Spend your wedding night together. We can do nothing until the morning anyway.”

Skylan fumed and again went over his plan with Aylaen as the warriors escorted them back to their rooms in the tower. When they arrived, Skylan was so preoccupied that he started to leave her, saying he wanted to speak to Commander Neda.

Aylaen caught hold of his hand.

“You are my husband,” she said. “Before you rush off to war, you have husbandly duties to perform.”

Reaching up, she removed the Vektan Torque from his neck and laid it on the table.

Skylan stared at her. His breath came fast. He shut the door. She lifted her lips to his and he kissed her and before either quite knew what was happening, the two of them were on the bed. Their bodies merged like their wyrds; afterward, she laid her head on his chest.

“Perhaps we made a baby then,” said Skylan.

“Perhaps we did,” said Aylaen with a sigh that she took care he did not hear.

They lay in each other’s arms, weary, but not wanting to end their joy by falling asleep. Skylan told her about his plan yet again. Aylaen listened and knew the pain of a woman whose man must rise from her bed with the dawn to take up his sword. This night might well be the only night they would ever have together. She interrupted his talk of battle by pressing her mouth over his.

Neither of them slept that night.