Dragon Storm (3 page)

Connor felt the same impatience, but he wouldn’t have put it so bluntly. He understood his brother’s feelings exactly.

“Yeah, but Rol and Nico came back married. Do you really want that?”

Darius smiled at Connor’s little joke. Both men were at the age when settling for only one woman seemed a far-off thing.

“Well, if the woman was as beautiful and daring as Lana or Riki, I might be tempted.”

“I don’t think there are any more lost dragon princesses out there for us to find. We’d probably have to settle for some normal woman.”

“Normal’s not so bad. Not if she’s adventurous.”

Both twins grinned at the thought. Half dragon, they were by nature exhibitionists with hearty sexual appetites. As black dragons, they didn’t need to form a triad marriage like knights who partnered with dragons, but they’d discussed the idea many times. They were twins, and closer than most because of their unique ability to shift shape into black dragons. It was likely they’d share one wife, if they could ever find the right woman.

As it was, they were usually drawn to the same ladies of the court. The pale blonde Shanya, while beautiful, did nothing for either of them. No, they preferred earthier beauties and had found much pleasure among the Jinn wenches newly arrived in Castleton. They’d shared more than one in delightful nights of debauchery that satisfied both the dragon twins and the lucky women they pleasured.

Darius and Connor observed the rest of the meeting. It went on for some time while the gryphons exchanged information, and the newcomers were introduced to both humans and dragons. Roland called for refreshments, and chairs were brought for the two-legged among them while the dragons and gryphons settled or stood talking in small groups around the huge chamber.

All in all, it was a good start to a future alliance. Having an ancient and powerful wizard on their side should dark times come would be a very good thing indeed. Especially when the wizard commanded loyalty from every gryphon in the world. Between gryphons and dragons, air superiority would be theirs. Few could stand against either, and none would fare well with both gryphon and dragon working together.

The twins ducked out with Roland’s silent approval to oversee their younger brothers as the meeting wore on. Wil had been stolen and returned five years older than when he’d left. No more mischief would trouble their younger brothers if they had anything to say about it.

They needn’t have worried. The older gryphons stayed a few days to be sure their children found a suitable nest and helped them settle in, then left with little fanfare. Of the fair folk, only Shanya stayed behind, a silent presence in the castle corridors, her pale features and quiet ways making her seem almost like a ghost at times.

Shanya’s steps were silent as she walked down the castle corridor. Over the days she had resided in the royal palace of Draconia, she had learned the various pathways that would lead to the battlements. She spent much time there, watching the dragons or waiting for her gryphon friends. They came to see her each day and took her by air to their new nesting site—a cozy cave in the craggy mountainside.

With their parents’ help, the cave had started to become homey even before their parents departed for Gryphon Isle. The older pair of gryphons already living in Draconia had helped since then, teaching the younger pair how to set up their domain for best comfort and efficiency. The older pair already in residence had been a surprise to Shanya but a welcome one. She had worried about her friends being alone in this strange land. It was clear the Mother Goddess had other plans. Much better plans. As always.

She reached the final corridor that would lead her to one of the many landing areas for the multitude of dragons that came and went from the castle daily. This corridor had arched windows every few feet that looked out over the city far below. The sun shone bright inside at this time of day. It was a lovely place with little bench seats placed in some of the alcoves between windows for both utility and comfort. Knights often paused here to settle their packs on their backs when they came in from patrol or a longer journey. And she’d seen others just sitting, enjoying the morning sun from time to time as she traversed the long hallway.

Shanya was about halfway down the corridor when she felt the distinct lightheadedness that usually prefaced a strong vision. She stumbled for the closest seat but was too far away to make it before the vision hit her full force. When she would have fallen to the stone floor, a pair of strong arms came around her, catching her as she swooned.

That was all she knew until the vision released her some minutes later.

Her eyes blinked twice, able to see the real world once more—no longer seeing the future possibilities. She was confused as the faces above her came into focus. She’d just seen them and now here they were. Then she realized, she’d seen their future. The very men she’d seen in her vision were here now, with her in the present.

“You will travel far in search of the one with ancient magic who will help you defend the Citadel.”

It was Prince Connor who held her, she realized, as he looked to his twin in surprise. Prince Darius stood close, concern on his handsome face.

“Are you all right, mistress?” he asked politely, not commenting on her pronouncement.

She sat up, pushing against Prince Connor’s hold. He let her go as she caught her breath.

“Forgive me. The vision came upon me suddenly. It was very strong. I would have fallen had you not caught me, Prince Connor. I thank you.”

“It was my pleasure to assist you, Mistress Shanya. Are you certain you’re all right?”

“I will be in time. I just need to catch my breath and get my bearings. This was a strong portent of the future I have seen before. It is even more solid now. You will go far. Both of you.” She looked from one to the other. “To a place unlike any I have ever seen with wondrous devices and strange people. There is very little magic, but what is there is potent. You must find it, and the one who waits. The weapons you retrieve will be vital to the defense of the Citadel, the place of power where the wizards imprisoned their enemies in ice many centuries ago. If we are to maintain the integrity of that prison, and return life to a dying breed, you will need this foreign magic. It is your task to perform. No other may follow your path.”

She tried to impress the urgency of her message on them. It was clear they were skeptical of her words. They would come to see she was right in the fullness of time. She only hoped they would remember her instructions and seek the magic when they found themselves on their journey.

“What did you think about Shanya’s vision?”
Darius asked Connor privately after they left the seer on the battlements with her gryphon friends. The gryphons would take care of her, they well knew.

“Damned if I know. She seemed very sure of herself.”

“I agree.”
Darius frowned as they headed down the flights of stairs that would take them to the family apartments.

“I think we should wait and see. Rol doesn’t have us slated to go anywhere more exciting than the Northern Lair in the next few weeks. I don’t see us undertaking the kind of journey Shanya was talking about.”

“I just keep remembering how lately the unexpected has been the norm. Between Wil’s abduction and return, the gryphons’ arrival and all the strange things that have been going on with the Jinn, I don’t know what to expect anymore. For all we know, Rol or Nico could tell us to pack our bags tonight and head out to some foreign land.”

“Well, if they do, we’ll at least have Shanya’s words to keep in mind. Honestly, I doubt it. Nothing exciting ever happens to us. All we do is watch over the youngsters and fly patrols. Not old enough to rule over lands or spies, not young enough to need a keeper. We’re the spare brothers, sent on the most mundane of tasks.”

“You said it. I am heartily sick of flying boring patrols over the capital region. I want to stretch my wings and go someplace more exciting.”

“Well, if Shanya is right, adventure may soon come knocking on our door. Be careful what you wish for, brother.”

They joined their brothers and the new female members of the family for dinner, and nothing more was said about their encounter with Shanya.

Days later, they were flying to the Northern Lair, as scheduled, when a freak storm came upon them.

The sky burned black and green, a roiling mass of clouds and electricity. The two black dragons powered through the gusts that threatened to down them. Their task was clear, their mission imperative. They had to make it through the storm to their destination. Turning back was no longer an option. They were too far into the storm.

Lightning arced from cloud to cloud, barely missing the twin black dragons as they darted to and fro, flying as they’d never flown before. The elder of the two—by minutes only—cried out as a jolt of electricity rode up his left leg and through his entire body. His brother came to his aid immediately, only to be hit by the same bolt of lightning, traveling from the cloud, through the first black dragon, arcing into the second and back to into the angry black and green clouds.

Time ceased to exist as the two dragons were tossed into a vortex and spun. Sky became earth, and earth became sky. Over and over they tumbled, each certain the hard landing to come might be their very last. Their massive wings beat franticly, trying to regain some equilibrium, but neither of the two dragons could discern what was up and what was down as they were pulled and stretched by currents greater than even their own immense strength.

Chapter Two

Darius came awake in the middle of a forest. One wing was badly damaged, bloodied and torn undoubtedly from his trip through the leafy canopy. Looking upward, he could see the hole he’d made on his way down. He craned his long black neck to seek a similar pattern. His brother had to be nearby somewhere, but the trees here were too dense to navigate in his bulky dragon form.

Marshalling his strength, he changed from dragon to human, willing his clothing back from wherever it went when he changed. While some of his injuries improved in the magical transition, his left arm was still a mess. Nothing broken, thank goodness. Only a long, shallow gash graced his arm from shoulder to elbow. He looked around, trying to get his bearings. Nothing looked familiar. Nothing at all.

When the storm had come upon them—so suddenly it didn’t seem natural—they’d been flying northward over their own territory. They’d grown up in Draconia, learned to fly there and knew every inch of forest and field. This pine forest was familiar, yet not. This wasn’t like any of the forests in his homeland. It looked different, sounded different and even smelled different.

He also scented something that immediately raised the short hairs on the back of his neck.

Magic.

The air reeked of the residual scent of massive and powerful magic.

“I don’t think we’re in Draconia anymore.”

“No kidding.”

Darius was relieved to hear the voice of his twin strong in his mind.

“Where in the hells are you?”

“Step to your right and look up about twenty feet.”

He did, relieved to see the black dragon clinging to a solid-looking pine tree. Connor was in better shape than Darius, with no visible injuries. He was relieved they’d both survived that wild trip.

“Well, we wanted adventure,”
Darius mused, looking around.

“Looks like we got it.”

“Any idea where we are?”

“There’s a small cabin about a league from here with smoke rising from the chimney. Maybe we can find some help there, but it doesn’t look like any dwelling I’ve ever seen before and I don’t see any signs of other dragons.”
Connor shimmied down the strong trunk using his claws to dig into the bark until he could stand—just barely—on the forest floor. The trees really were too dense to allow grown dragons to walk comfortably among them. He shifted form and appeared once again human, wearing black leather leggings, boots and a vest laced up over his solid muscles, just like his brother. Only he wasn’t bleeding.
“Let me help you with that.”

Summoning just a bit of his dragon magic, Connor touched his brother’s arm, helping the skin knit together. It wasn’t fully healed, but it would do for now.

“Thank you, brother. So, what is our strategy?”

“I believe we should head for the structure I sighted in the distance. Perhaps we can find help there—or at least someone to tell us where in the hells we are.”

Darius heard the frustration and wonder in his brother’s voice. He felt it as well.

They set off through the woods, Connor leading the way to the place he’d spied from above. It didn’t take long to traverse the distance, but Darius felt every step in his injured arm. It burned like fire. Not the good, cleansing sort of dragon fire. No, this felt like the fire of possible infection, and he wasn’t pleased by the idea.

An infection here could spell disaster. For one thing, they had no notion of the native plants or wildlife that could be used for medicine. For another, they could very well be in hostile territory. They had no idea what they were walking into. They had to take a chance and make contact with the natives.

“I’ll go first.”
Darius stopped his brother’s forward motion when Connor would have stepped into the last line of trees before the clearing.

“You’re injured.”

“Which is exactly why I should go first. If we meet with an enemy, you are whole and well able to come to my rescue. Besides—”
he played his trump card,
“—if we are lucky enough to have stumbled upon friends, I may be able to get some doctoring for my poor arm.”
He held up the wounded appendage with a sorrowful look on his face that didn’t fool his twin for a single moment.

Connor laughed at him, but bowed comically low and motioned for Darius to proceed.

“I’ll be watching from above. If you need help, call.”