Dragonvein - Book Three (28 page)

“I will stay with Kat tonight,” Keira said. She regarded the king’s aspect. It was taking a tremendous effort for him to mask the pain he was still in. “And if you would be so kind as to stay here as well, Your Highness.”

Halvar laughed softly. “Is my infirmity so obvious?” He waved a hand before she could reply. “I’ll do as you wish. But one of us should be visible while we attempt to pick up the pieces of this terrible day.” He gingerly touched his chest where the shirt covered a mass of bandages. “The salve my healers use takes at least a day to become effective. Until then, I should indeed rest.”

Keira leaned down and kissed the king’s cheek. “Rest well. I will tend to matters in your stead.”

Once another cot had been brought, she walked down to where Maytra was now being guarded by more than a hundred elves. Even a few dwarves had come to join them in their vigil. Keira couldn’t help but be moved by the sight of the two old foes, now brought together in a single purpose. Evidence of my father’s wisdom, she told herself. She suddenly missed him terribly, and was forced to choke back tears. Setting her sorrow aside, she moved closer to Maytra.

Her eyes were shut, but her breathing was deep and steady. The wounds where the silver dragon had sank its teeth in were now closed – although the scales had been torn away, revealing a deep brown hide beneath.

Keira knelt and placed a hand on Maytra’s snout.

“The human mage did well,” came a soft female voice from behind her.

She looked around to see a young elf woman wearing a leather jerkin and trousers holding a brass lantern. “Yes, she did,” Keira agreed.

“I have never witnessed such raw determination,” the girl continued. “I hope she will not pay too high a price for her efforts.”

“Our healer says she is just exhausted,” Keira informed her. “But tell me, has the dragon stirred at any time?”

“Once, that's all. Just after the human collapsed. But only for a few seconds. We were wondering if we should attempt to move her.”

Keira shook her head. “I think she should remain where she is for now. Though we should increase the numbers on guard here just in case the Emperor sends someone to harm her.”

A grizzled dwarf with a matted beard and battered armor stepped forward. “With your permission, My Lady, I will ask for volunteers among my people.”

Keira smiled. “I would be most grateful for that. Thank you.”

The dwarf bowed and walked away at a brisk pace.

“They are not as I had expected,” remarked the young elf woman with the lantern. “The dwarves, I mean.”

“No, they are not,” Keira agreed. “What a great pity it is that we must learn these lessons through war and death.”

By dawn, more than three hundred elves and dwarves had formed a protective circle around Maytra. King Halvar emerged from his tent, if not looking completely refreshed, then certainly in a much better condition than the night before. Clearly the dwarf medicine had been effective.

Kat finally awoke around mid-morning, though she was still far too weak to rise. Keira joined her and spoke of Maytra's condition.

“I did what I could,” Kat said.

Keira placed a hand tenderly on her forehead. “You did well. You have saved her life.”

Tears welled in Kat's eyes. “But what next? Will you really help me save Ethan?”

Keira nodded. “I will. But I must be honest with you. At this moment I have no idea how such a thing can be achieved. It is impossible to enter the Imperial palace without Shinzan’s knowledge. To attempt it means certain death. And though I know you would willingly sacrifice yourself, it would serve no good purpose. Should you try, you will be killed and Ethan will still be in Shinzan's clutches. Your sacrifice will have been in vain.”

“Then what can we do?” Kat pleaded, struggling to maintain some semblance of composure. 

“For now, nothing, I’m afraid. We will need to have a plan before any action can take place. But I give you my word I will do everything I can to find a way as quickly as possible.”

Keira stayed with her until well into the afternoon. Halvar arrived later on and they ate together, though Kat remained silent throughout the meal. Eventually, she fell asleep, allowing Keira to slip outside. She found Halvar near the healing pavilion. His brow was deeply creased in thought.

“I’ve been over it in my mind a thousand times,” he said. “There is simply no way we can rescue Ethan while he is inside Shinzan's palace. No way at all.”

“Kat will not accept this,” Keira replied. “But I am forced to agree with you. Any attempt would be doomed to failure.”

Halvar sighed deeply. “Then let us pray to the spirits that he somehow finds a way to free himself. That seems to be our only hope.”

Renald had been weeping for hours, unable to leave his bed since feeling death creeping ever closer to his beloved Maytra. “No….please no,” were the only words he had sobbed repeatedly throughout this time. He knew she had fought bravely, and was now paying the price for her courage. He had literally felt Maytra's agony as the terrible wound was inflicted. And as her life slowly ebbed, the pain in his heart was growing ever more intense.

Lylinora had tried several times to ask him what was wrong, but he refused to speak to her. Even Markus had tried and met with the same predictable rebuff.

It wasn’t until late that night that Renald suddenly sprang up from his bed. Lylinora was seated on the sofa reading a story aloud to Markus, while Val, Jake and David were talking quietly at the table about their homes on Earth. In an amazing turnaround of mood, Renald began jumping up and down and waving his arms about with sheer joy. So energetic were his celebrations, it was several minutes before any of the startled others were able to get anything out of the old mage.

“What is it?” asked Lylinora yet again.

“She lives!” he cried. “She lives!”

“Who lives?” asked Markus.

“Maytra,” he shouted, a giddy smile on his face. “Kat has saved her.”

“Kat?” Markus repeated. “What the hell are you babbling about?”

Renald spun around and danced over to the cupboard to grab a bottle of wine. After pouring himself a large cupful, he finally took a seat and drained the entire contents in a single gulp. Sighing with happiness, he then closed his eyes, a tiny smile still lingering on his lips.

Lylinora walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Please, Renald. Tell us what has happened.”

He smiled up at her. “As you know, Maytra left here to help Ethan. I’m not exactly sure what happened, but I can say for certain that she was mortally wounded. I could feel her slowly dying all through the afternoon and evening. Then, just as the last traces of life were about to leave her body, a miracle happened. She was saved.”

“And you are sure it was Kat who saved her?”

“Absolutely,” he replied, pouring another cup of wine. “For the briefest of moments I could see through her eyes. Kat was healing her wounds.”

“Is Maytra the dragon you spoke of before?” asked David.

Renald nodded. “She left just before you arrived.”

“Do you know what it was that hurt her?” asked Markus.

“No, I was unable to see that.”

Markus sat down across from the old mage, a worried look on his face. “Did you see anything else at all?”

He shook his head. “Not a thing. The connection lasted mere seconds. The only thing I caught a glimpse of was Kat healing her.”

“And this…connection,” Markus continued. “Do you think you could use it again to find out what has happened?”

Renald considered this for a moment. “Perhaps. I have always had a special bond with Maytra. But after she strengthened it, I never thought very much on how I might make use of it.”

“Try,” said Markus. “We need to know what could have done so much damage to a dragon. Any news about Ethan and Kat would good too.”

“Very well.”

After carefully folding his hands in his lap, Renald reached out with his mind. Since Maytra had left, the increasingly great distance separating them had dulled their connection. Though he still felt her presence, her voice had slowly faded until it was barely a whisper. He could feel that she was still in pain. But her life was no longer in danger.

Can you hear me,
he called out?

At first there was no response. Then a wave of affirmation came over him. Not in words, just a feeling. She could hear him. He knew it.

How did this happen,
he asked?

Ethan…gone,
was all that came back.

Gone? What do you mean, gone?

But there was no further rely. He repeated the question several times before giving up.

With a heavy sigh, he pushed the chair back and told the others what Maytra had said. “She was too weak to tell me more,” he concluded.

The worried look on Markus’ face had taken on a definite hint of dread. “Try again,” he pressed. “I need to know what she means by 'Ethan gone'.”

Lylinora was equally distraught. “Yes. Please try again.”

“It’s no use,” Renald insisted. “Maytra is far too weak right now. Once she’s had some time to heal, then I’ll ask her again. But for now, there is nothing more I can do.”

David huffed a laugh. “So this is the great savior you told me about, is it? The one who you kidnapped me to help? Gone!” He shook his head. “It figures.”

Markus swung around to face him, his features twisted with rage. Before anyone else could move, he leapt to his feet and landed a crushing right hand to David's nose. Blood sprayed everywhere as he jerked hard back in his chair. But Markus' anger was far from satisfied. Reaching down, he grabbed David by the collar, the other fist drawn back to continue with the punishment.

“Stop!” shouted Lylinora, her hand shooting out.

Before Markus could strike again, a line of green smoke wrapped itself tightly around his body, jerking him back.

“Let me go,” he roared.

“Not until you calm yourself,” Lylinora told him.

David scrambled away, blood gushing down his face. He raised his hands. Instantly, they glowed red. “You son-of-a-bitch,” he snarled.

Renald sprang up. “That’s enough.”

The glow around David’s hands vanished in a blink. He looked at them with utter confusion. “What the hell?”

Lylinora placed herself in front of Markus and, with a stern warning look, released him from her hold. Slowly, his posture relaxed and he sat back down. She kissed his forehead, then crossed over to the still perplexed David.

“Renald has cut you off from magic,” she explained. “And you had better be grateful he did. Because if you'd harmed Markus in any way…” She allowed the threat to hang in the air.

“Cut me off? That’s not possible. And in case you didn’t notice, he attacked
me
.”

“And I’ll do it again if you don't watch it, you little shit,” Markus hissed.

Lylinora placed her hands on David's broken nose. In just a few seconds it was completely healed. “Now go clean yourself up,” she told him.

He folded his arms across his chest. “I’m not going anywhere until you explain to me what just happened.”

A wicked grin appeared on Renald's face as he waved his hand. It took David only a moment to realize that all his clothes had suddenly vanished.

The sight of this drew a boisterous laugh from Jake, who up until now had been watching the scene impassively. To him, this was just another bar brawl. He looked down. “Yeah. I guess it
is
kind of cold in here,” he chuckled.

Everyone, including Markus, began laughing along with him. Their amusement increased even further when a red-faced David, doing his best to cover himself, scurried awkwardly out of the door.

“Poor guy,” remarked Val as soon as he'd disappeared from sight. “Ya’ll shouldn't be so mean to him.”

“Oh, Lord,” moaned Jake. “Here we go again.”

Val punched him on the arm. “You shut up. It’s not his fault. You were mad as hell too when you first got here. He just needs some time. I’m sure he didn’t mean to piss you off, Markus.”

“Well, he'd better take care with what he says about my best friend,” he retorted.

“Val’s right,” said Lylinora. “We should not be so quick to judge. I think we've all received kindness and understanding at some time recently when our behavior did not deserve it.”

Markus looked at her sideways and sighed. “You’re right…as usual.”

She smiled. “And you are wise to understand this.”

Markus turned to Renald. “So how long do you think it will be before you can ask Maytra what's happened to Ethan?”

The old mage took his seat. “I wish I knew. But rest assured I will keep trying.”

“And what if he’s…you know...” asked Val.

Markus took a deep breath. “Then we fight on. What else can we do?”

Ethan forced his eyes open. The flickering light from a dim lantern placed in the corner of the room only served to give the gray stone walls surrounding him an ominous appearance. The chains holding him securely to the rear wall were dauntingly thick, and the shackles around his wrist so tight that they bit deeply into his flesh. His shattered limbs had been healed, but for what reason, he could only guess. There were no furnishings, only an iron door on the far side of the hard slate floor.

He had no memory of anything after the dragon had seized him in its unrelenting grip. All the same, he was absolutely certain as to where he now was. And he was equally certain that escape from Shinzan's stronghold would be impossible. Dread filled his heart. Not due to the prospect of death or torture, but because he knew that Kat would stop at nothing to rescue him. And if she tried, she would most surely die too.

He racked his mind in an effort to think of a spell that might free him. Fire perhaps? If he could just heat the chains…

Disappointment quickly followed. Any attempt at creating a spell was useless - he had been completely cut off from magic. He laughed caustically. Of course Shinzan would have taken precautions. But then, as his desperation sunk to its lowest level, a name flashed into his mind.

His voice called into the torrent of souls residing within.
Help me. I need you.

Little fool
, replied Martok almost immediately.
You have doomed us all
.

I need your help
.

Help? What help do you think I can give you now?

Ethan could feel Martok withdraw. His ancestor was right. He had doomed them all. At the time, it had not occurred to him to call upon Martok to fight the dragon. Too late, he realized that this was what he should have done. Martok could surely have defeated the creature. And now, his only choice was to sit in this depressing cell and await death at the hands of Shinzan.

As the minutes turned to hours, Ethan tried to force the fear from his heart. But the anticipation of things to come still wormed their way through him. Would Shinzan kill him quickly? He prayed so. But given the many tales he had heard of the man's cruelty, he doubted it. His death would almost certainly be slow and excruciating.

After a time the lantern exhausted its fuel, leaving him in total darkness. In a way, this was surprisingly comforting. He was able to picture Kat’s smile and imagined her touch on his cheek.

“Courage,” he whispered.

“Courage, you say,” repeated a deep yet soothing voice. It sounded as if it came from all directions. “That is something you will not possess in the end, foolish boy. Soon you will come to understand the reason why I am so greatly feared.”

Ethan clenched his jaw and tried to steady his breathing. “I’m not afraid of you.”

Shinzan gave a scornful laugh. “Of course you are. I can see the fear festering in your heart at this very moment. You are wondering whether I will grant you a swift death, or if I will make you suffer first. In truth, I have not yet decided. You have caused me a great deal of trouble. Much more than I would have thought possible. My instincts tell me to kill you and be done with it. But then I would be missing out on a wonderful opportunity.”

“And what is that?” His fear was subsiding, rapidly being replaced by anger.

“You will see soon enough.”

The light from the lantern returned, revealing Shinzan, standing mere inches away and smiling broadly. He was wearing a crimson robe tied at the waist with a black sash. In his right hand he held a long, ivory handled knife with a serrated edge.

Ethan's heart sank. So he is going to torture me first, he thought. He had heard stories of the Nazis and their brutal interrogation methods. But unlike them, Shinzan would not be using pain to extract information. No. Whatever followed now would be done for sheer personal pleasure.

The Emperor placed the knife edge against Ethan's cheek. “Have you ever wondered just how strong you really are?” he enquired, almost absently. “How much can you really take before your will is shattered?”

Ethan glared back defiantly. “The only thing I’m wondering right now is how long I might have to listen to your boring voice.”

Shinzan raised an eyebrow. “Not bad. I like that. The stronger you are, the longer it will take. Yes. We are definitely going to have some fun, you and I.”

The blade pressed deep into Ethan’s flesh. He gritted his teeth, trying his best not to cry out.

“You can scream if you want to,” Shinzan said, drawing the knife slowly downward. Blood ran freely down the side of Ethan's face, soaking his shirt. “There is no reason to hold it in. I will not think any less of you.”

The salty taste of his own blood entered Ethan's mouth. He knew that the knife had sliced from just under his cheekbone, right down to his jaw. The stinging pain was intense. Unable to hold it in any longer, he let out an ear-splitting cry.

“That’s it.” Shinzan’s tone was calm, almost comforting. “But I think you deserve something less mundane than this. After all, you are my son.” He withdrew the blade and stepped back.

The scream had forced Ethan to open his mouth. Blood immediately began running down into his throat, threatening to choke him no matter how much he coughed and spat.

With a thin smile, Shinzan raised his right hand. A line of red smoke issued forth, wrapping itself completely around Ethan's head and penetrating his wound. This was worse than the blade. It was as if his flesh was being dipped in molten lead. Only the choking blood prevented him from screaming again. Instead, an agonized gargle was all he could now manage. But then, to his utter relief, the pain ceased after only a few seconds. When the smoke dissipated, he could feel that his wound had been completely healed.

“So now you understand,” remarked Shinzan. “I can keep you here for as long as I please. No one will ever be able to save you. Be aware that I will not allow you the pleasure of dying until I am fully convinced that the time is right. Until I know that you are completely broken.”

“Fuck you!” was all Ethan could manage to say.

Shinzan laughed. “No. But I think something like that might just happen to
you
quite soon. Then again, I haven’t bothered to ask. For all I know, you might even
enjoy
the company of large brutish men. We will know soon enough, I suppose.” Still laughing, he turned to the door. “It is so good to finally meet you in person, my boy.”

The door slammed shut and the lantern went out again. For a short time Ethan struggled frantically against the chains, but it was a useless gesture. He knew he was wasting his energy. In an equally forlorn hope, he tried again to use magic, but met with the same failure as before. He could feel his courage deserting him. Sooner or later, he
would
break completely. There was no doubt about that. Whether it be physical or mental torture, a person could only stand so much. And one thing was certain, Shinzan was a master of both.

After what felt like several hours had dragged by, the door opened and a young woman entered holding a lantern in one hand and a basket in the other. Though wearing a head scarf, her slight frame was barely covered by a sheer pink dress. She placed the lantern on the floor and approached.

“The Emperor has sent me to give you food and drink, Lord Dragonvein,” she said meekly.

Ethan regarded her for a few seconds. Was this an opportunity? “Please,” he said. “Help me get out of here. I’ll take you with me.”

The girl cocked her head. “And why would I wish to leave my master? I love him. He is everything to me.”

Ethan’s heart sank. Her vacant eyes and monotone response told him that she was damaged beyond repair. Reaching into the basket, she produced a loaf of bread and a small silver flask.

“I don't want your food,” he told her. “Get the hell out of here,”

The girl pressed the bread to his mouth anyway. “Please, My Lord. My master will do terrible things to me should I fail in my duties.”

Ethan looked at her disdainfully. “Then why serve him if he is so cruel?”

“Because he is my master and I love him. He watches over me. He protects me. Just as he will protect you.” Again she held up the bread. “Please. You must eat.”

“Get out,” he snapped. “Go let Shinzan…watch over you.” Though he knew the girl would most likely suffer, he didn’t care. “And you can tell him I said he can go to hell.”

The girl lowered her eyes, then put the bread and flask back into the basket. “As you wish, My Lord.”

After she had left, Ethan experienced a few pangs of guilt. He had sentenced an innocent girl to be abused at the hands of the vilest creature imaginable. The old Ethan would never have done such a thing. But as he'd told Markus, he was no longer a Boy Scout.

A short time later, the door opened again. This time it was a slender blond woman with ivory skin and delicate features. She was dressed in an elegant green gown bejeweled with a quite remarkable array of sapphires and diamonds. On her brow rested a gold circlet with a large emerald set at the center. In her hand was a silver lamp which she placed on the floor beside the door.

“He killed her, you know,” she said. “The one who was sent to feed you. He burned her alive as she knelt at his throne.”

Ethan averted his eyes so as not to show any emotion. “What do I care?”

“Perhaps you don't,” she said, closing the door behind her. “But I think you do.”

“So why did he send
you
?”

“He didn’t. I came here of my own accord.”

“Then you can leave by the same way you came.”

“I don’t think you want me to do that,” she said. Reaching into her sleeve, she produced a small silver key. “This will unlock your shackles. But I have yet to decide whether I should release you, or simply allow Shinzan to continue enjoying his sport.”

A surge of hope rose in Ethan. But it was quickly set aside. This might be nothing but a game; a prelude to something diabolical that was intended to shatter his mind. “Why would you risk releasing me?” he asked.

“Because Shinzan fears you,” she replied flatly. “And if he fears you, I would know why.”

“Who are you?”

“That is not important. But who
you
are, may well be.”

“My name is –”

“I know your name, Ethan Dragonvein,” she said, cutting him short. “What I want to know is why Shinzan considers you to be a threat. Now speak quickly.”

“The elves,” Ethan told her. “They have a prophecy. It says I will be the one to destroy him.”

The girl frowned. “That’s it? You expect me to believe that you are going to challenge Shinzan based on an elf prophecy? Are you mad, or merely a simpleton?”

Desperately, he searched for the right words; something that would convince her of his ability to fulfil the mission with which he had been charged. “Call me whatever you want, but you can’t argue against the logic of Shinzan's thinking. If he fears me, it is because he knows full well that the prophecy speaks the truth. There can be no other reason. I am the only one who can bring about his downfall.”

Her eyes rested on him for what felt like an eternity before she spoke. “And should I release you, what will you then do?”

“I will find a way to beat him. I promise you that.”

She turned to the door.

“Please,” begged Ethan. “I
will
kill him if you help me.”

“Perhaps,” she said softly. “But he will most surely kill
me
first if I do.”

It seemed to Ethan that all his pleading had failed. But then, in a remarkable change of fortune, she spun back to face him and began unlocking his shackles. “I have drugged the guards at the end of the passage,” she said. “Beyond that, you are on your own.”

Ethan could not prevent the surprise from showing on his face. “Thank you. But I want to know who I am thanking. What is your name?”

“Jassa,” she replied.

As he struggled to his feet, he very nearly fell down again. His legs were weak, and his wrists were sore from the shackles. “Thank you, Jassa,” he said. “I won’t forget this.” He wanted to ask her why she had placed herself at such risk for him, but she was already moving toward the door.

“You must hurry,” she told him. “Shinzan will come very soon. And if he finds you, this will all have been for nothing. Your possessions are just outside. Though they are not much, I thought you might need them.”

“You could come with me,” he offered.

“I cannot,” she replied. “My fate rests here.”

Ethan could see the resolve in her eyes, and nodded his acceptance. He then willed himself to walk to the door. The strength in his legs was returning, but only slowly. He peered out. Beyond was a long passageway leading to another closed iron door. Two guards were slumped against the far wall.

The moment he stepped outside of the cell, a surge of power rushed through him. He knew immediately that his connection to magic had been re-established. Reaching to the floor, he collected his belongings: a small bag of coins, a flask of water, and the dwarf sending rod. The rod was a particularly welcome sight. It might come in very useful once clear of the palace.