Dragons and Destiny (49 page)

“Guilty
feelings?” Danal enquired.

“Some,” Philip
admitted, “with these recent attacks on the family I feel I should
have been there.”

“Elliot needed
you too,” Derek interrupted. “A body can’t be in two places at
once. Wonder what happened to that other ruffian, the one that got
away at Settlement.”

Danal coughed,
“er, me and Asya dealt with that little problem for you, proved
quite a lesson for him.”

“I take it he’s
dead?”

“Absolutely,
Asya’s chelas are very sharp. He didn’t suffer though, at least not
too much.”

“Did you manage
to find out who was behind the attack?” asked Philip.

Danal shook his
head. “I don’t think he knew.”

“Pity,” said
Philip as he tried to stretch out his long legs in the space
available. “What is it about boats that makes them so horrible
below decks?”

“This
is
a cargo hold,” said Tala in a prim voice and Philip chuckled.

“Point taken. I
hope we don’t have to stay here for much longer. My grandfather was
badly affected by the rheumatism, he always told me that it was a
sign of a misspent youth but I had my doubts as a boy and this
confirms it. He must have spent time in a hold such as this. No
other explanation is possible.”

“Wonder if
Robain and the others have gone yet,” mused Tala to no one in
particular. She shivered.

“You cold?”
asked Danal with concern as he began to take off his cloak.

“A bit,” she
admitted.

Danal laid his
own cloak round her narrow shoulders.

“Thanks,” she
said, “but you need it too.”

“I’ve got Asya
to keep me warm,” he answered airily though he felt himself
blushing.

Thank the lai
it’s dark down here.

Tala had the
ability to make him feel like a bashful cadet on his first date. A
strange situation for the experienced Danal to be in, his motto
having always been ‘love them and leave them’. Many vadelns felt
much the same, a fair percentage believing that the life long bond
they shared with their Lind was enough.

Asya ‘heard’
his thought and laughed to herself. She was also quick to pass on
this little titbit to the other three Lind. That all four thought
the situation an amusing one was a foregone conclusion.

: You like
her :
she said to Danal
: She likes you. Where is problem?
:

: What is
the problem? :
answered Danal
: The little problem my dear
of getting ashore for starters and then getting through Graham and
north east Sahara unobserved. Then the desert controlled by the
Larg. Then the hunt for the power-core in an area where the Larg
kohorts may well be passing through on their way to the Island
Chain. You don’t call that a problem? :

: Point
taken :
admitted
Asya : but I cannot help but think you
missed your chance there :

: How come?
:

Danal was
half-amused, half-annoyed.

: You could
have invited her to share your cloak and you could both have
snuggled in beside me. I would not have minded. I like Tala :

This was the
first time Asya had declared a preference for any of the ladies
Danal had felt attracted to.

: Think about
it. We have a long way to go and bed mate is useful to have around
:

: Bed mate?
:
exploded Danal
: I think of her as much more than as a
potential bed mate :

: Exactly
:
Asya concluded in tones that showed how much she was amused
: You should listen to me more often. I know you better than you
do yourself :

With that Asya
closed the connection between her mind and Danal’s. Danal was left
pondering her words. He hadn’t come to a decision by the time he
fell into an uneasy sleep. He was still asleep when the
Armageddon
slipped her hawsers and left Port Duchesne. He
had to be shaken awake by Philip when Rand came down to tell them
that they could once again come up on deck.

* * * * *

Elliot

Elliot led
Robain and James on to the pier. The three of them then walked the
few miles to the castle of the Dukes of Duchesne. They stopped at
the drawbridge.

“The Duke is
here all right,” said James, noting the ducal flag flying from the
mast on the roof of the central tower.

Elliot looked
at them. “This is it,” he said, taking a deep breath as he prepared
himself to become the Prince-Heir once again. “Are you ready?”

“Ready,” Robain
and James replied in unison.

* * * * *

Danal and
Tala

The skiff
carrying Philip and Derek rowed to the beach. Danal and Tala stood
watching.

“The game’s
afoot,” Danal quoted and Tala shivered, even though the sun was
beating down.

Remembering
Asya’s words, Danal placed his arm round her shoulders. Tala didn’t
try to move away.

“I know,” Tala
said in a voice so low that he had to strain to catch her words,
“but I’m scared Danal. Where’s all this going to lead. What if
…?”

“No what ifs,”
he replied, drawing her closer. “Let us live each day as it comes.”
Turning her face towards his, he planted a tender kiss on her
lips.

* * * * *

(*Vadeln-paired)

Alfei*: Male
Lind, First Ryzck (Human: Deby)

Aline: Younger
sister of Robain and captured by slavers

Alinetta:
Sister of Franz, from Rocksprings

Alshya*: Male
Lind (Human: Weaponsmaster Jilmis)

Alun*: Vadeln
(Lind: Radya)

Alyei*: Male
Lind of pack Gainsya, Susa of the Vada (Human: Julia)

Anavdr: Male
Larg. Friend and pack-mate of Zaoaldavdr

Anders:
Councillor of Argyll (see Horatio) and father of Julean

Angus: A nephew
of Talan and Zanda who serves with the Garda

Angus:
Professor of Mathematics at the University of Stewarton and
considered to have one of the finest minds in the country

Anne Cocteau:
Daughter-Heir of the Duchy of Cocteau and married to Richard Baker,
also cousin of Isobel Cocteau

Anne: Young
daughter of Anne and Richard Cocteau

Annert de Gras:
Guildmaster of the Technicians Guild of Argyll based at
Stewarton

Annette van
Buren: Friend of Isobel from the ducal house of van Buren and who
entered the Order of Grey Nuns

Ansell Hallam:
Youngest brother of Robain and an officer in the Argyllian navy

Anselm Wallace:
Father of Juliana (Julia)

Areen*: Vadeln
of the First Ryzck

Asya*: Female
Lind and Avuzdel (Human: Danal)

Balei: Male
Lind from Lindar Dusnnei and with a dull red stripe pattern

Bellahouston:
Garda Major commanding the Academie at Settlement

Berni: Vadeln
serving with the Vada, in the First Ryzck (Lind: Dansya)

Beth Baker:
Original fiancé of Elliot from the ducal house of South Baker

Breguswið:
Reverend Mother of the Order of Grey Nuns where Isobel Cocteau
received her education

Brion*: Ryzcka
of the Fifty-first Ryzck (Lind: Quindya)

Bruce Johnson
Jones: Officer Commanding the Garda at Settlement with the rank of
Field Marshall

Catalina*:
Younger sister of Niaill and Danal

Charles*: Vada
Cadet, fourth year

Chizu: Male Lai
and part of the delegation to the Gtrathlin

Coenberg:
Sister of the Order of Grey Nuns and name in religion of Annette
van Buren

Cynwise: Sister
of the Order of Grey Nuns and name in religion of Isobel’s cousin
Jessica Cocteau

Dafid Douglas:
Garda Major and a well renowned tactician of the sixth century

Dahlson: Garda
Captain who teaches tactical history at the Academie

Dalnya: Female
Lind, mother of Taraya

Danal*: Older
brother of Niaill, Vada, member of the Avuzdel (Lind: Asya)

Danei*: Male
Lind (Human: Shona)

Danei: Name of
Lind rtath from one of the four Vadathian home rtaths

Dangfrid:
Cousin of Matt Urquhart who lives outside Stewarton

Dans:
Councillor of the fifth ward in Argyll

Dansya*: Female
Lind and First Ryzck (Human: Berni)

Danya*: Female
Lind and Thirty-first Ryzck (Human: Markion)

Davanya*:
Female Lind (Human: Hans)

David: Farmer’s
son and sweetheart of Juliana (Julia) as a young girl

Davin*: Ryzcka
and second in command of the Vada under Julia and Aleyei (Lind:
Razdya)

Deby*: Vadeln
serving with the Vada, in the First Ryzck (Lind: Alfei)

Denei: Male
Lind and member of the Avuzdel

Derek Merriman:
Kellen of the Kingdom of Murdoch and one of the companions to
Prince-Heir Elliot

Disal*: Susa of
the Vada (d 601) (Lind; Ranlya)

Dolvin Annson:
Garda Officer Trainee and friend of Hilla

Dorson:
Coachman of Matt Urquhart

Doug*: Younger
brother of Niaill and Danal

Duncin*:
Elderly host of the Supply Station not far from Dunetown (Lind:
Stasya)

Durand: Father
of Jen and a rich Councillor of Argyll about to retire

Dusnnei: Pack
with a dull red stripe pattern

Dusik*: Ryzcka
of the Fifty-first Ryzck

Dwoles: Butler
of Matt Urquhart

Eanfled: Sister
of the Order of Grey Nuns where Isobel received her education

Earcongota:
Sister of the Order of Grey Nuns where Isobel received her
education and one who looks after the young schoolgirls who are
being educated at the convent

Elliot:
Prince-Heir of the Kingdom of Murdoch

Estelle: Elder
sister of Isobel Cocteau and married to Baron Brentwood of
Symington

Falei: Male
Lind, father of Taraya

Fastia*: Vada
Weaponsecond (Lind: Xlei)

Franz: Young
boy from Rocksprings captured by the bandits

Gainsya: Female
Lind and Elda (leader) of pack Gainsya

Gemma*:
Youngest sister of Niaill and Danal

Granny Beaton:
Elderly resident of the Island of Hallam

Gsendei: Male
Lind, Susa of the Avuzdel of Lind

Hanei: Male
Lind and Elda of rtath Hanei

Hansei: Male
Lind, Susalai of the Avuzdel

Hansel*:
Retired Ryzcka of the Eighteenth Ryzck (Lind: Inya)

Hansel (Hans)*:
Young boy from Rocksprings captured by the bandits (Lind:
Davanya)

Haru: Male Lai
and leader of the delegation to the Gtrathlin

Hereswald:
Elderly Sister of the Order of Grey Nuns where Isobel received her
education

Hilla: Eldest
triplet daughter of Talan and Zanda and who began Garda officer
training at the end of AL606

Horatio Anders:
Head Councillor of Argyll after the elections in AL607

Iain
McAllister: Councillor of Argyll and the new secretary for
defence

Ilyei: Male
Lind and Elda of rtath Ilyei

Inalei: Male
Lind, Avuzdel and based at the domta of the Gtrathlin

Inya*: Female
Lind, late of the Eighteenth Ryzck (Human: Hansel)

Isobel Cocteau:
Margravessa. Betrothed of Elliot, sister of James and daughter of
Count James Cocteau

Jackass: Name
given by James Cocteau to the horse he rode in the north

James Cocteau:
Count, best friend and Companion to Elliot, brother of Isobel

Jeannie:
Research Assistant of Professor Angus

Jen Durand:
Garda Officer Trainee and friend of Hilla

Jennifer
Cocteau: Cousin by marriage of Isobel and married to Margrave Mark
Cocteau

Jessica
Cocteau: Friend and relative of Isobel from the ducal house of
Cocteau, who shared Isobel’s education with the Grey Sisters and
who entered the order at fourteen

Jhonas:
Journeyman technician and year mate of Tala

Jill: Younger
sister of Katia who joins the schoolroom of the Order of Grey
Nuns

Jillson: Garda
Drill Sergeant

Jilmis*:
Weaponsmaster of the Vada (Lind: Alshya)

Jilsei: Male
Lind and member of the Avuzdel

Joh Smithson:
Friend of Zak and a member of the Dunetown Militia

Joseph Wallace:
Younger brother of Julia

Julean Anders:
Son of Councillor Horatio Anders

Julia*: Susa of
the Vada (Lind: Alyei)

Kalavdr: Male
Larg. The Largan

Karovitz:
General of Murdoch

Katia:
Sister-in-law of Isobel and married to James Cocteau

Lachlan*: Vada
Riding Instructor

Lan: Young boy
from Rocksprings captured by the bandits

Landor:
Childhood friend of Hilla

Liam Hallam:
Doctor and younger brother of Robain

Lainert*:
Ryzcka of the Fourteenth Ryzck

Lightfoot:
Rilla’s pony

Lvei: Male
Lind, mate of Ranlya

Maddei: Male
Lind, Susa of the Avuzdel of Lai

Mal*: Vadeln
serving with the Vada, in the First Ryzck (Lind: Valennya)

Malaku: Male
Lai and part of the delegation to the Gtrathlin

Mander Durand:
Elder brother of Jen and a serving officer in the Garda

Maria: Friend
of Alinetta from Rocksprings

Mark: Young son
of Anne and Richard Cocteau

Markion*:
Ryzcka of the Thirty-first Ryzck (Lind: Danya)

Martin
Taviston: Head of Protocols at the Court of the Kingdom of Murdoch
and son of Baron Peter Taviston

Mariya: Female
Lind and Gtrathlin during Tara and Kolyei’s time (Wolves,
Courage)

Mary: Friend of
Isobel when she was at the convent of grey nuns and daughter of on
of her father’s vassals and who remained to became a postulant when
she was fourteen

Marya*: Female
Lind, First Ryzck (Human: Mikel)

Matt Urquhart:
Merchant of Stewarton and husband of Zala