Battlefield of the Sacred Land Read online

  “Cranky? I believe that is the word you are searching for,” Veric interjected. “Just don’t say it too loudly.”

  “As you say. I was going to say crazy, but cranky works better, I think,” Toborne said as he accepted the glass Veric was handing him.

  “Veric, while Sylvalora is tucking in Sheyna, Toborne and I would like to have a quick word about your friend Golvashala,” Morgoran said.

  “It’s Kambor. He prefers Kambor now,” Veric corrected, pouring cognac into Morgoran’s glass.

  “Aye, well, we would like to speak with you about Kambor, then.”

  “The dragon’s a menace,” Toborne said bluntly. “You should cut him loose, and certainly don’t allow him around your newborn.”

  “Not one to mince words, I see,” Veric said. “I have never known a gold-scaled drake to be malevolent.”

  Toborne took a drink of the cognac. “There is no need to mince words. Why should we dance around this issue?”

  “Of course, I suppose you have good reason for such a fallacious statement?” Veric asked.

  “Fallacious! There is nothing untrue about it; it’s fact,” Toborne defended. “Not all of Fawlsbane’s dragons are as divine as you might believe.”

  “It’s fact, you say?” Veric said with a half-smile. “Would you care to elaborate?”

  Morgoran took a sip of the cognac and then unceremoniously drank the rest down. “He has been dabbling in some pretty dark magic, Veric. I am told the dark god Aedreagnon has recruited him and included him in on some dark experiments using dragonkind, his own kind! Toborne and I have begun our own experiments to counter.”

  “What, you two are experimenting with dragonkind? Did I hear you correctly?” Veric’s disdain was clear in his tone. “How are your experiments any better?”

  “Just some minor breeding,” Morgoran defended. “We have tried to breed some of the more desirable traits of greater dragons into the lesser drakes, such as intelligence and stamina. Nothing to fret about. In fact, it’s much like you and Sylvalora being a good match.”

  Veric was furious. “Morgoran, are you able to hear yourself? You are talking about changing the will of the gods. They created the lesser drakes that way for a reason. And what do you mean Sylvalora and I are a good match? You had nothing to do with that!”

  Morgoran puffed up. “Open your eyes, Veric. A GOD is tampering with dragonkind, and not in a nice cuddly way either.”

  “I think it’s suspicious that the very man you say is in league with a dark god has been trying to warn me against the very same god! And yet, you are the one, Morgoran, who is telling me you are doing the dark experimenting.”

  “What is going on in here?” Sylvalora burst into the room. “Lower your voices. I just got Sheyna to sleep.”

  “Forgive me, Sylvalora.” Morgoran handed his glass back to Veric. “It’s time we were going, anyway. Are you ready, Toborne?”

  “Aye.” He took the last sip of his cognac.

  “Thank you both for a lovely afternoon. Sheyna is a rare gift,” Morgoran said.

  Toborne nodded his head but said nothing. Then he turned and followed Morgoran out the door. Veric watched both of them all the way out.

  “What was all that about?” Sylvalora asked.

  “They think Kambor is in league with Aedreagnon and up to no good, or some nonsense.”

  “Is there any truth in it?” Sylvalora asked.

  Veric shrugged. “I don’t think so. Morgoran has knowledge from high places, but his allegiance to Toborne clouds his judgement.”

  There came a whimper from the bedroom door. Sylvalora was the first to hear it, and she looked into Veric’s eyes for confirmation.

  “I heard it too. Quickly now!” Veric said.

  Sylvalora rushed into the bedroom to see a hideous black creature with Sheyna in its arms. It sneered at her while it attempted to extend a leg out of the open window. Sylvalora was horrified because it turned to obscure Sheyna. “Veric, I can’t attack it because I can’t see our daughter.”

  Veric dashed to its side, thrusting his broad sword into the window to bar its exit. It huffed and tucked Sheyna under its arm in such a way that if Veric struck it down, Sheyna might be hurt in the fall. “Can’t you use some of that magic the gods gave you?”

  “If I do, I run the risk of injuring Sheyna, just as you do if you strike it down.”

  “Do it! I can’t hold it off forever, and I get the feeling if it realizes it can’t get away, it will kill her anyway.”

  “There is one thing I could do, but it could imprint her forever. I could use her to free herself,” Sylvalora said.

  “You mean join minds?” Veric asked.

  Sylvalora nodded her head.

  “Do it!” Veric commanded.

  Sylvalora drew in essence and extended her mind to Sheyna. She immediately saw flashes of Sheyna running around in the streets of Symbor, but she ignored the bulk of them to concentrate on freeing her daughter. She saw a young blond boy wielding an ancient dragon sword, fighting a skull-faced creature. Again, she dismissed the image and concentrated on her daughter. One more image invaded her mind’s eye. Her daughter grown up, looking beautiful in a blue dress, wielding incredible power and attacking a man in armor that looked very much like the style of armor Veric wore. At last, she had Sheyna’s mind, and she cast her spell. From Sheyna’s hands came a blue flame that engulfed the creature completely. It let go of Sheyna, and Veric was there to catch her. The creature put its claws to its face and began trying to peel the burning flesh from its face. Once Veric had Sheyna, he kicked the burning thing out the window, where it burned up completely. The stench of it was nauseating.

  Veric met Sylvalora’s gaze, but instead of exaltation, as he expected, was disdain. “What’s the matter now?” Then he realized she must be thinking of who sent such a creature to take Sheyna. That must be it. “I have her now. We can figure the how and why as soon as we make sure she’s safe.”

  “Here, let me take her and you can go outside and investigate.” She took Sheyna from his hands, almost forcibly.

  “Aye, I will scour the grounds for any clue as to who might be behind this,” he said, trying to reassure her as best he could.

  She nodded with a half-smile and cast a magic barrier over the window. It slammed shut when she was done.

  Veric donned his armored leather jacket and took hold of his sword. “I will find it,” he said.

  Sylvalora nodded as he left for the front door.

  Chapter 4: Treachery

  Veric’s sword reflected the soft moonlight as he held it before him. He rushed to where the trellis below Sheyna’s window met the ground. At first he looked for footprints, but the rushing of air above him suggested the creature was airborne. He pointed the sword to the sky and spoke his incantation proper. The beam of light from the tip of his weapon touched the winged thing, and it screamed at him from being discovered. Veric clenched his teeth and launched the sword into the night air as hard as his muscles would allow. The sword sang as it tumbled end over end in a warbling melody. The spell still illuminated it as it spun in a pinwheel of light. It caught the creature under the left wing, and Veric took to running as it fell to the ground somewhere before him.

  When he caught up with it, the thing had removed the sword and held it at Veric, its leathery, bat-like wings in flight-ready position behind it. Blood dripped from the left wing. Veric flicked his fingers, and two slightly curved daggers appeared in his hands. He seized the hilts with adrenaline-filled anticipation. The stench of the thing assaulted his nostrils. It smelled like death and sweat with a hint of dirt.

  It spoke with a raspy, breath-starved voice. “Warrior, I am not here to fight with you.”

  Veric felt his nostrils flare. “You should have thought of that before you entered my daughter’s room.”

  “I was only here for the girl. Nothing more.”

  “Why? Who sent you here?”

  “I was sent by . . .” It convuls
ed and dropped the sword. Two long, thin blades protruded from its abdomen and stomach. It fell to the ground.

  Kambor retracted his blades from it. “Are you well?”

  “You fool, Kambor! It was about to reveal its master.”

  “You’re welcome!” Kambor said. “Glad I could help.” He sheathed his swords.

  “Of course, I’m glad you showed up,” Veric told him. “But your timing stinks.”

  “What is this thing?” Kambor asked.

  “I have no idea, but I can’t imagine a worse-smelling creature.”

  Kambor clenched his fists and closed his eyes. He muttered some words, and before Veric could get his objection out, the thing burned to ashes in a flash.

  “Again, you just eliminated any hope of finding a clue as to what this thing is and who sent it.”

  “Make up your mind. I thought you said it smelled.”

  “It does, but I didn’t mean I wanted you to burn it yet.”

  Kambor threw up his arms. “I guess I can’t win with you tonight. I came to see little Sheyna, and I find you entangled in a fight. I help you, and all I get for it is reprimands.”

  “Do you at least have some idea where it might have come from?” Veric asked.

  “If I had to guess, I would say it was the work of Aedreagnon. Also, if I had to guess, I would say it was the first of many to come. You had better prepare. It might serve you well to remember the vision I had.”

  Veric frowned. “You have never actually predicted anything that has come to pass, have you?”

  “It’s the folly of precognition. If you are able to convince the subject of the vision, and the dangers, and they change their fortunes, how are you to know if the vision was true or not? If I say you are to die by the blade of my sword and you avoid me because of it and live, have I failed in my prediction?”

  “Aye, because I didn’t die.”

  “Well, you avoided the vision. If you had not been warned to change your ways, you would be dead.”

  Veric let his daggers find their way back into the pouch sewed within his sleeves. “I have to go check on Sylvalora and Sheyna.”

  “I will come with you.”

  Veric and Kambor went back to the apartment where Sylvalora still held Sheyna in her arms. Veric went to them. “We found it and took care of it.”

  Sylvalora rocked Sheyna in her arms. “Did you find any clues as to where it might have come from?”

  “Kambor dispatched it before I had the chance to find out anything,” Veric said. Sylvalora put her inquisitive, and slightly angered, gaze upon Kambor, and for that, Veric was thankful.

  Kambor fidgeted under her scrutiny. “How was I to know? I see something attacking my friend and I reacted. You might have done the same in my stead.”

  Sylvalora returned her attention to Veric. “At least you caught it.”

  “Kambor believes it might have been sent by Aedreagnon. He also thinks there might be more attacks.”

  “Attacks!” Sylvalora repeated. “I don’t think it was an attack. It wasn’t trying to hurt her, as far as I could tell.”

  “Attack, kidnapping, I consider them to be the same where my daughter is concerned,” Veric said. He looked at Kambor. “I didn’t think any of your predictions were serious.”

  “Maybe you will heed my warnings now, then,” Kambor said.

  “Somebody wants to get their hands on our little one, Veric, regardless of the method.”

  “She is special,” Veric agreed. “Perhaps you should take her to the White Tower and stay with Enowene for a while.”

  Sylvalora’s expression soured. “Why? Where are you off to?”

  “Venifyre, if you will sponsor me there. I have to find out what the god Aedreagnon has in mind. Do you still have access there?”

  Sylvalora put Sheyna down in her crib. “Aye, I do, but what would you do if you discover he was behind this? What about Sheyna and me staying here vulnerable while you are gone?”

  “I will appeal to Fawlsbane Vex, if he will see me.” He looked to Kambor. “Kambor can look after you and little Sheyna.”

  “Veric, might I have a word with you in private?” Sylvalora asked, trying to feign a smile at Kambor.

  “Aye.” He motioned for Kambor to wait outside with a quick cock of his head. Kambor nodded and left the room.

  “You heard what Morgoran said. Kambor can be dangerous.”

  “Surely you don’t believe that,” he said. “Tell me, if Kambor tried anything, that you couldn’t handle him. Besides, I don’t plan to be gone that long, and you can recall me through the dragon stone.”

  “A Lora Daine will not work in Venifyre; nothing magical will. It’s the realm of the gods, after all. Not even dragon magic is allowed.”

  “I won’t be inside the mountain fortress for long. You can use the dragon stone while I am still on the mountain, outside.”

  “With the guardians? I don’t think that’s a good idea either. Those dragons tend to be unpredictable when it comes to normal folk poking around.”

  “All right, what do you suggest I do, then?”

  “There is a spot inside the mountain fortress, on the first balcony to the far right, just under the statue of Xeian, where dragon magic will work. I don’t know why, but it does.”

  “You might want to write that down for me,” Veric said.

  “I’m sure you can remember, dear. It isn’t difficult.” He gave her his best smirk. “Oh, you’re joking. Sometimes I have a difficult time discerning your humor from when you are being serious.”

  “You’ll get used to it someday,” he said.

  “If you two are finished,” Kambor said, poking his head back in the doorway, “I must be going. I only stopped by to check on things.”

  “I’ll walk you out,” Veric said.

  The two of them left Sylvalora and Sheyna in the apartment and headed into the street.

  “She doesn’t trust me,” Kambor stated.

  “What makes you say that?”

  “I heard what she said to you.”

  “Oh?”

  “Don’t give me that look. I have good hearing is all.”

  “I’m not giving you any look.”

  “But I’m right, aren’t I?”

  “Aye, but I wouldn’t take it personally. She rarely trusts anyone.”

  “I can still look in on them when you travel to Venifyre. Although, might I suggest you not go?”

  Veric’s eyes narrowed. “Why would you suggest that?”

  “Nothing nefarious. I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”

  “We will see.” Veric suddenly felt very uncomfortable being around Kambor.

  “Never mind, go ahead and go. I will look after your family.”

  “No, I will just have Morgoran come by and stay with them. She trusts him: one of the few.”

  “Why don’t I go with you to Venifyre, then?”

  “All right by me. I was going to ask Gondolar too. I think he needs to get out of town and away from taverns for a bit. I’m worried about him.” Veric was trying to change the subject before Kambor got wind of how he was feeling about him. Veric halted at the end of the walk. “See me at about noon tomorrow. I will ask Gondolar when I go for provisions in the morning. We will leave first light the day after.”

  Kambor nodded and shifted his cloak tighter around him. Veric suddenly realized he had not bothered to put his cloak on, and the chill was beginning to bite at him. “Oops, no cloak. Meet me where I said tomorrow.” He waved off Kambor and hurried back to the warmth of his wife.

  Gondolar and Kymlie were laughing over some joke or funny story Veric could not hear from the back of his horse. Maybe the joke was about him, because as soon as he turned in his saddle to see what might be so funny, they both again broke out into boisterous laughter. Veric suddenly wished Kambor hadn’t cancelled at the last minute now, but it hadn’t surprised him that he did. “What’s so funny?” Veric asked plainly, hoping they wouldn’t notice his irrita
tion at them.

  “Kymlie just told me the most hilarious joke. Go on, Kymlie, tell him,” Gondolar said.

  “All right. If you want to properly get a woman to fall in love, you must first give her three things. A safe place to call home, plenty of money, and a henweigh.”

  They both broke out into laughter again.

  “I know I’m going to regret this, but I don’t get it. What’s a henweigh?”

  “About four pounds!” Kymlie said in between convulsions of laughter. Gondolar almost fell off his horse.

  “Ha, I get it. Very funny. Although, it really makes no sense. Shouldn’t it be what does a hen weigh, not what is a hen weigh?”

  Kymlie looked confused. “It’s a play on words, a joke.”

  “Leave it to old fussy britches to ruin a perfectly good joke,” Gondolar said.

  Kymlie burst into laughter again. “You called him fussy britches!”

  “Have you two been into the ale keg again? That’s not for casual drinking,” Veric said.

  Gondolar looked hurt. “Of course not. What would we drink around the campfire?” He took out a small metal hipflask and handed it to Kymlie. “We are drinking the mead I picked up at the inn where we stayed last night.”

  Veric shook his head. “Try not to get too drunk. If we run into trouble, you two will be useless.” He surveyed his surroundings. “I have heard of bandits in these parts.”

  “In Symboria?” Gondolar said before he took a nip from the flask Kymlie had handed back to him. “This country is full of farmers and peasants. A bandit would starve stealing here!”

  “Unless they were stealing food,” Kymlie pointed out.

  “Precisely!” Gondolar agreed. “Unless they were some kind of food bandits.”

  Kymlie’s laughter became a tad over-exaggerated. “Food bandits!” he said after his joviality subsided.

  Veric reined in his horse. Up ahead, five men stood abreast across the road. He signaled for the other two to halt, and they did. “They look like bandits to me,” Veric said in a matter-of-fact tone.

  “Nonsense! We are on the plains between Shadehollow and Tyr Raganough. There are no bandits in these parts,” Gondolar insisted.