Sea Dragon (Dragon Knights Book 9) (12 page)

Hrardorr released a gusty sign of cinnamon-flavored, warm air that ruffled Seth’s golden hair.
“It is not your fault that I am this way, Seth. Do not feel bad. I am restless tonight with the storm coming, and I want to be out in it. I did not want to come back here at all tonight, but I also did not want the entire Lair out searching for me.”
He took a few steps away, and Seth knew he was leaving, no matter what Seth said.
“I am going down to the sea. I am more at home there now than I am here. I have made a friend on the water that I never expected, though she belongs here. If I do not return… Her name is Livia, and she is the daughter of a sea captain.”

Seth felt the knowledge run through him like a lightning bolt. He knew Livia. Everyone in town knew Livia. She was the most beautiful, kind, intelligent woman for miles around, not to mention the richest. Seth had been smitten the first time he’d seen her as a youngster, but even then, he’d known she was too good for the likes of him.

He’d watched her from afar for a very long time, but he’d never suspected she could bespeak dragons. Seth felt his heart sink. If she could hear dragons, she was doubly not for him. She would be wooed by every single knight in the Lair until she succumbed to a pair of charming knights and went on to start a family with them.

She would be forever out of Seth’s reach, though she would be living in the same Lair. Seth would have to leave. He wouldn’t be able to watch that.

“I know her,” was all he said in reply to the dragon.

Hrardorr’s ears perked at Seth’s tone, but Seth didn’t care. His world of dreams had just caved in. The unattainable woman he’d loved from afar for so long was now, forever, firmly out of his reach. It was almost as if she had died. He felt that kind of sorrow.

“I will not return this night. Do not wait for me.”
With those parting words, Hrardorr leapt from the ledge into the unknown.

Seth prayed this would not be the last time he ever saw Hrardorr.

It was no good. Seth tried not to worry, but he was sick at heart about Hrardorr being out there in the storm. It had whipped up into a gale just after Hrardorr left, and Seth kept one eye on the outside, listening to reports from knights and dragons who came in just as the storm started to rage.

All patrols were called back. The Lair was shut up tight, with no dragons in the air…that they knew about. Only Seth knew that Hrardorr had left. Apparently, nobody else had spotted him leaving, dark as he was against the dark night sky. He’d been nearly invisible to the human lookouts, and since he didn’t talk to any of his dragon brethren, they didn’t know he’d left either.

Seth couldn’t stand it. He bundled up in his oilskin coat and snuck out of the Lair by the back stairs that led down to Dragonscove. It wasn’t an easy trip with wind and rain lashing at him, but it had to be done. He couldn’t sit still, safe and cozy in the Lair, while Hrardorr was out there somewhere, in the tempest.

Seth called repeatedly for Hrardorr silently, using the skills he’d had since birth to communicate with dragons, but Hrardorr was either out of range or just ignoring him. Seth suspected the latter, considering the way the dragon had left. Seth tried cajoling, wheedling, commanding, and outright pleading, but to no avail. Hrardorr didn’t want to speak to him, and Seth felt about two inches tall for driving the dragon out into the storm.

Making his way through the rain and wind, Seth met no one on the streets of the town, which was highly unusual. Normally, there was at least some foot or wagon traffic along the streets at all times of day. Apparently, the residents were smart enough to stay indoors when a gale was blowing. Not so, Seth.

He went down to the waterfront, looking for any sign of Hrardorr, but he saw nothing. He fought against the wind and driving rain, straining to see even the tiniest ripple of the dragon’s passing, but it was no use.

Not knowing where else to look, Seth made his way to the house he knew, but had never visited before. Livia O’Dare’s home. The one she shared with her father, the notorious sea captain and the richest man for miles around.

Seth had never dared knock on that particular door before, though when he’d been younger and mooning in private over
the lovely Livia
, as many called her, he’d dreamed of finding the courage to court her. Now that he was older, he knew it would never happen. Not in a million years. Not with his chosen path in life and lack of prospects.

Still, tonight, worry about Hrardorr drew Seth to her door. He hoped she would have some knowledge of where Hrardorr might go. Seth would not rest until he knew the dragon was safe.

He knocked on the door, the wind blowing rain across his face that stung like pellets of ice. This was no fit night for man nor beast.

A tiny door in the center of the main door opened, and a plump woman’s face looked out at him suspiciously. It was the housekeeper. A grumpy older woman most in town avoided, but Seth had no choice.

“What business do you have here at this time of night and in such a storm?” She nearly shouted to be heard above the wind.

“I am Seth Nilsson from the Lair. I must speak with your mistress. It is a matter of urgency. Please fetch her.” He tried to be both polite and firm. He’d learned you didn’t get far with people like this housekeeper by being timid or overly polite.

Sure enough, the woman grunted, shutting the little door in his face with a clatter. A few minutes later—and none too soon—the door opened, and Livia stood before Seth, motioning him to come inside. She looked both concerned and intrigued, and there was a little spark in her eye that he’d noticed the few times they had interacted in her father’s business office. He had been there a few times to inquire about rare herbs her father had brought back from his voyages for Bronwyn. But each time, Captain O’Dare had been there, giving Seth the evil eye for even looking at his daughter, and Seth had gone away with only a fond memory of actually talking to Livia.

“Master Nilsson, what can I do for you?” she asked as soon as the door was shut. She was leaning against it, Seth in the great hall that was lit with a chandelier high above their heads. Opulent. Rich. Completely out of his league.

“Mistress O’Dare, I am sorry to disturb you, but do you have any idea where Sir Hrardorr might go if he was…uh…in a bit of a snit?” There was no polite way to describe Hrardorr’s little tantrum.

Livia’s brows drew together into a frown. “Do you mean to say he’s out there, in this?” She gestured behind her at the closed door through which they could still hear the wind howling.

Seth nodded grimly. “I’m afraid so. We had…a misunderstanding earlier, as I was seeing to his treatment up at the Lair, and he left in a temper. I tried looking for him down by the water, but I couldn’t see much with all the rain. He told me that you two had become friends, and without anywhere else to turn, I thought perhaps you might have an idea of how to find him.” Seth laid it on the line, allowing some of his emotion to show. “I cannot rest until I know he is safe. The mood he was in when he left… Well…I worry that he might do something rash. And if he did, it would all be my fault for pushing him too hard.”

Seth looked just miserable, and Livia’s heart went out to him. He was still every bit as handsome as he had been when they were both youngsters, and the attraction she’d always felt toward him seemed to have increased over time, not dissipated.

He had finally come calling. If it had been under any other circumstances, it would have been a dream come true, but her life was…complicated now. She’d begun something with Gowan and didn’t regret it one bit. She was as attracted to the knight as she’d always been to the Lair’s handsomest son.

“Come into the parlor,” she said, pushing away from the locked door. “I have a fire going in there, and you can dry off a bit. You look soaked clear through.”

“But Hrardorr…”

Seth tried to object, but she dared greatly, pushing him by the shoulders through the open door into the parlor. She kept pushing until he stood in front of the roaring fire she’d built up when the storm started raging. There was something comforting about the dancing flames when the night was cold and dark.

“You won’t do him any good if you catch your death of cold,” she said firmly, unwrapping Seth’s cloak and hood without so much as a by your leave. She took off his outer layers, spreading the bits before the fire to dry.

Rosie, the housekeeper, showed up at the door with a stack of towels, which Livia took from her with a nod of thanks. Rosie might be gruff, but she was a good housekeeper, attentive to her employers’ needs. Livia went back to Seth, placing one unfolded towel over his wet hair without ceremony.

“Rub that over your hair,” she instructed. “Do you need help with your boots?”

He grunted agreement, toeing off his boots without a word as he towel-dried his golden hair.

“I’ll just put these on the hearth,” she said, dipping to retrieve Seth’s boots.

They were wet, but not in as bad condition as she’d feared. They were of good quality, and the leather had been treated with something to make it water repellant. The seams though…that was where the water had gotten through. As a result, Seth’s socks were wet, Livia could see, as were the bottom half of his trousers.

“We’ll have those socks off too.” She sighed as she held out her hand for them. “And the pants.”

“Now wait just a minute.” Seth’s head lifted like a shot, no longer following orders.

“No?” She hoped he could see the amusement in her eyes. “Well, all right then, but scoot up closer to the fire, so they can dry out while we talk.”

She moved her chair closer so they could both sit by the fire, side by side.

“Now, then. What can I do to help?” Her mind turned to the dragon she had befriended and where he might have gone during a gale. She wasn’t worried…exactly…though she was definitely concerned.

“Do you have any idea where he might go?” Seth looked at her, resolution warring with despair in his blue gaze.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been wracking my brain, trying to come up with an idea, but I just don’t know. Did he say anything before he left?”

“Only that he was going down to the water, and that if…if he didn’t return…that I should know the name of the friend he’d been meeting to fish with all this time.”

“If he didn’t return?” She didn’t like the sound of that.

“That’s what he said.” Seth looked grim, and they sat there in silence, watching the fire crackle and burn.

“What set him off?” Livia finally asked, breaking the silence.

“I did, much to my regret.” Seth ran one hand through his damp hair in clear frustration. “I pressured him about talking to Genlitha.” Seth looked over at Livia. “She’s—”

But Livia held up her hands, talking over the explanation he would have made.

“She’s Gowan’s dragon partner and a friend from Hrardorr’s youth. I know. I’ve met her, and Gowan. And I’ve talked to Hrardorr about her too.” Livia cringed. “Oh, dear.” She wondered if maybe her own words had played a part in Hrardorr’s upset.

Seth’s big hand settled over hers on the arm of her chair, surprising her into looking up into his deep blue eyes. They were so blue…like calm waters on a sunny day. Deep and soothing, she could easily get lost in them.

“Don’t blame yourself,” he said softly. “I was the one who pushed him over the edge. I’m not very eloquent, and I said it all wrong.” Frustration shone in his gaze. Frustration and sadness.

Livia couldn’t help herself. She lifted her other hand and touched his cheek, drawing his gaze once more.

“Hrardorr is in a bad place. He has been ever since he arrived. You’ve tried to help him, which is more than most people have done for him—including his fellow dragons. He likes you a lot, Seth. He speaks of you often.”

“He does?”

Seth seemed pleased and kind of stunned at the idea. Livia removed her hand before she started stroking him. His cheek had manly stubble that she could feel, but not really see, since he was fair-haired. It felt good against her palm. A little too good, in fact, for her peace of mind.

“He truly does,” she replied, putting both of her hands primly in her lap. “I believe you are his only friend in the Lair. At least, you are the only one he speaks of with any degree of affection. He’s mentioned a few others, but mostly because they annoy him.” She chuckled at that, and Seth followed suit. It was a weak laugh, but she liked the rich tone of his deep voice.

“I wish I could find him,” Seth said after a moment of quiet contemplation. “I’ve tried talking to him, but he refuses to answer. Either that, or he’s too far away. I’m hoping he’s just ignoring me.”

“You mean speaking…with your mind, right?” she asked, forming an idea.

Seth looked at her, blue eyes snapping with intelligence. “Can you do it too? Do you have the gift?”

“I’ve been told I do, but I have not really learned how,” she admitted.

Seth’s eyes widened. “I can show you, if you’ll permit me. You might have more luck getting Hrardorr to talk to you.”

“All right,” she agreed, resolving herself to try whatever she could do to help Seth and the dragon she had befriended. “What do I need to do.”

Seth turned toward her and met her gaze.
“Can you hear me?”

“Oh.” She gasped. “Yes, I can hear you.”

“Good. Now think your words back at me. Look into my eyes and will me to hear them.”

Livia wasn’t sure how to do that, but she tried. Squinting hard, she sent thoughts at Seth. At least she thought she did.

Seth shook his head and took her hands in his. “Relax, mistress. This is as natural as breathing for someone like us. You are meant to bespeak dragons, and so you will. If you are meant to bespeak others like yourself, then you will do that, as well.”

“I heard Sir Gowan speak to me in my mind once,” she admitted. “That’s when they told me I could learn how to speak silently too.”

“Then you shall. Just don’t try so hard. This should be natural. Just let it flow.” His hands had been rubbing hers, then rose to slide along her arms and up to her shoulders, which she only then realized were bunched up around her ears with tension.