Dragon Storm Read online

  Shanya stood forward once more. “I only ask one more thing, your majesty.”

  Roland eyed her with amused suspicion. “What now, young mistress?”

  “I would ask that I be allowed to stay here as well, with my friends. I can live in their cave if you wish, or if you allow, I could find lodging nearby.”

  “Nonsense.” Nico stepped in, his smooth charm evident. “You will live with us in the castle. Your friends can fly in to visit you easily, and there is no shortage of dragons to fly you over to see them if you wish. You will act as Gryffid’s emissary to our court. Isn’t that what he hoped for?”

  Shanya blushed even deeper. “It is, Prince Nico. You are as clever as he said you’d be. I didn’t want to impose after all we’ve already asked of you, but I would welcome the opportunity to serve in your brother’s court.”

  “Then it is settled. We now open diplomatic relations between our lands and people.” Roland spoke to all who had assembled on the rocky outcropping. “I invite you all to join me in food and rest at the castle. You are welcome in Draconia.”

  The castle was in an uproar when a flight of gryphons landed on the battlements along with a large contingent of black dragons and their honor guard. Dragon talons and gryphon claws echoed in the halls as they walked together to the main audience chamber that was built to hold large numbers of dragons.

  The black dragons took human form and walked beside their new friends. Others joined them as Roland’s wife, Queen Lana, and his adopted dragon son, Tor, made the scene. Lana’s twin, Riki, stood next to her husband, Prince Nico, and several members of the Dragon’s Council entered as well.

  Two more gryphons waited in the audience chamber, along with Sir Kaden and Sir Marcus, their wife, Lady Lucia, and their dragon partners, Sir Reynor and Lady Linea. The gryphons moved forward to meet the others of their kind. Between them stood Lucy, a recent immigrant to this land and new wife to two of Roland’s most trusted knights.

  The young set of gryphons halted before the ones who waited, and the older ones who’d acted as escort arranged themselves behind. There was a tense moment while they all sized each other up and the humans and dragons watched to see what would happen. Only Lucy stood firm in the center of the action, her lips thinned apprehensively and her husbands stationed behind her should there be trouble.

  After tense moments, the young gryphon pair bowed their heads—not to the other gryphons, but to the small woman who stood between them. Connor watched in surprise that was echoed throughout the chamber, on almost all the human and dragonish faces he saw. Only Roland, Nico and Lucy’s mates seemed unsurprised.

  “It iss an honor to meet you, daughter of Gryffid,” Neril spoke first.

  “Be welcome,” Lucy said formally. Connor had never really heard her speak before. He was impressed by her composure and self-confidence. She was a lady, through and through.

  “I am Lucia de Alagarithia, once of the Jinn, now of Draconia, married to these two knights. This is my sister, Nrathrella, called Ella for short, and her mate, Grallorrin, called Lorr by his friends.” Each of the gryphons flanking her nodded as they were introduced.

  “I am Neril, and this is my mate, Sscalar.”

  “Mated sso young?” Ella said softly to the younger pair. “You musst do thingss differently on Gryphon Issle.”

  Clacking beaks startled Connor for a moment until he realized that the older gryphons appeared to be laughing. Ella had just broken the tension with her observation, and the stress level in the room ratcheted down a considerable degree.

  “Thesse two are headsstrong, I fear.” The elder female who had spoken before, talked directly to Ella. “Sscalar would have him, whether the Council agreed or not.”

  “I ssee.” Ella looked at the young pair with sparkling eyes that were not unkind. “The dragonss ssay you sseek to live here, in Draconia.”

  “We do, Lady.” It hadn’t been phrased as a question, but Scalar apparently felt the need to answer.

  “Then, ssince we know King Roland hass already given hiss approval, we alsso welcome you to Draconia,” Lorr said. “It iss our newly adopted land asss well. We sshall learn itss wonderss together. Asss will our hatchlingss.”

  Ella moved to stand next to the younger female. She was bigger than Scalar. Both females had slight bulges in their midsections that the other gryphons lacked. Both were pregnant.

  Lorr flanked Neril, while the younger gryphon settled his wings in a gesture that meant satisfaction among their kind. “It will be good for our hatchlingss to have other gryphonss to fly with in addition to the dragonss.”

  The potential drama among the gryphons settled, Shanya stepped forward to greet Lucy with a deep bow of respect. “Gryffid hoped his line had continued in these lands while he was gone. It is good to meet you. Your ancestor will be happy to know of your existence.”

  “We will bring word of you to him when we return to Gryphon Isle.” One of the elder male fair folk who had come with the escort spoke for the first time.

  Wil went over to shake the man’s hand. “I’m glad you came, Eril. I wanted you to meet my brothers.” Wil escorted the blond man to where the royal family stood off to one side. “Roland, this is Eril. He acted as one of my tutors while I was on Gryphon Isle.”

  “Then you have my sympathies,” Roland joked. “Wil always hated his studies when he was younger.”

  Eril laughed good-naturedly. “And well I remember it, but he settled down after a time and was one of my best students. You should be proud of him. He mastered his letters and several languages while under my care. He was more articulate with languages than many of my other students.”

  Nico stepped forward and greeted Eril in several different languages. Connor didn’t know quite as much as his spymaster brother, but he recognized enough to know that Nico was testing the man’s fluency and knowledge. They came to an easy accord, and it was clear from his manner that Nico was impressed.

  “What do you think?” Darius stood beside Connor, speaking privately on the path shared only between the two of them.

  “I’m reserving judgment.”

  Darius stifled a laugh at his twin’s expense. Connor didn’t take offense. It was normal for them. Darius jumped in headfirst and often wound up regretting it. Just as often, Connor debated too long and also lived to regret it. Between the two of them, they usually arrived at the perfect mixture of fast and slow.

  The glint of Darius’s necklace caught Connor’s eye. “How’s the trinket treating you?”

  “So far, so good.”

  “Be sure to let me know if it turns against you.”

  “You’ll be the first to know, I’m sure.”

  “What do you think of the girl—Shanya?”

  “She’s gorgeous, as are most fair folk,” Darius said with objective ease. “Older than she appears, I think.”

  “You’re probably right.” Connor knew his twin was a connoisseur of women. “She seems genuine enough.”

  “I agree.”

  “What do you think about this quest she thinks we’re going on?” Connor thought he knew what his twin would say, but he wanted to hear it.

  “I say what are we waiting for? I’m sick to death of sitting patiently at the castle while everyone else gets to do the heroics. Nico’s had more than his fair share of adventures. Hell, even Rol got out of the castle and got his claws dirty. We’ve been stuck on boring patrols, doing nothing of import.”

  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 settl
e for some normal human 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’d 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 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 help 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 the older gryphons had departed for Gryphon Isle. The foreign 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 of gryphons from the distant land of Helios already in residence in Draconia had been a surprise to Shanya, but a welcome one. She had worried about her feathered friends being alone in this strange land. It was clear the Mother Goddess had other plans. Much better plans. As always.

  Shanya 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.

  She blinked twice, able to see the real world once again—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 clear 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, some of which 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 envisioned, 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 silently, within the privacy of their minds, 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 royal 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 city. 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 tempest.

  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 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 uncontrolled trip through the leafy canopy. Looking upward, he could see the hole he’d made on his way down. He craned his long 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 bloody 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.