AnyasDragons (2 page)

A tall, older man pushed his way through the gawking throng of people. “Cyton, you brought back no kill? We are almost out of food. What is this I hear? You’ve brought a mortal among us?”

“Yerith and I found her in the forest. She escaped the aliens. I think she’s from the palace, Yurkis.”

Yurkis, the eldest member of the council, also called The Timeless One, frowned, his golden eyes thunderous. “You know our laws. No mortal is to enter our compound.”

“She’s an innocent. We couldn’t leave her for the Gonks.”

“She’s a royal. I can tell by her elfin form. You know where we stand with them. If the royals had not been so stupid many years ago, we would have helped fight the aliens. But their brains are small. What can we expect from them? Take her back to where you found her.”

“No.”

“You dare disobey me?”

Cyton watched small silver scales appear on Yurkis’ chest and arms, his eyes changing to bright silver. He’d angered the man and it boded no good. “Look at her. She’s an innocent. The Gonks will eat her in a millisecond. What if it were one of our own children?” How he dared speak up to the most honored man of their clan, he didn’t know. He didn’t have the heart to take this beautiful girl back into the forest where he was sure she’d be slaughtered. He watched the scales slowly fade and Yurkis’ eyes return to their golden hue. It wasn’t often The Timeless One listened to the opinions of the young.

“Very well. I will allow Uleirlel to heal her wounds. After that, she will be your and Yerith’s responsibility. She will serve you and can never go back to the palace.”

“I don’t think there’s much left of the palace. The Kalamatian weapons are fierce and they destroyed much of the palace and the towns.”

“No doubt in search of the king’s treasure.”

“Probably. How can the girl live among us?”

“She’ll learn to adapt. I see you’ve brought no food at all back with you. The hunt was a failure?”

“It wouldn’t have been but for the Gonks.”

“I’ve spoken for the council. Take the girl to Uleirlel and remember my words. She’s both your and Yerith’s responsibility when she’s healed.”

Cyton glanced at Yerith, who nodded. He carefully laid the girl on the ground and called out his dragon. The crowd scattered. He flapped his wings until he hovered over the waif and carefully picked her up with his talons, then flew up to Uleirlel’s dwelling. He landed on her platform and tried to release the girl as gently as possible. Shifting back into his man, he picked her up and entered Uleirlel’s cave.

“I was expecting you. I knew Yurkis would allow you to keep her. Put her on that cot over there.” She pointed at a cot against the far wall. Made of rough wood, it was covered with animal furs. He gently lowered the girl onto it and gazed down at her. She looked so innocent, so vulnerable.

“Go now. I’ll return her to you when she’s healed. It won’t take long. Her wounds are merely on the surface.”

They all feared Uleirlel’s wrath. Cyton quickly left the cave and returned to the compound, where he found Yerith waiting for him.

“What are we going to do with a young mortal girl?” Yerith asked.

“I don’t know. We’ll figure it out. I’m tired. I’ll see you tomorrow, my friend.”

Chapter Three

Anya struggled awake. “Where am I?” she asked softly while her eyes became accustomed to the dimly lit interior. Looking at her surroundings, she seemed to be in a cave, although a cave with many decorations and conveniences.

“You’re with the dragon people, child. My name is Uleirlel. I am the medicine woman for our clan.”

“Clan? Dragon people? You’re one of the giants?”

“Do I look like a giant?” Uleirlel chuckled.

Anya looked at the old woman whose hair was silver-white. It hung well below her buttocks. She wore an animal skin wrapped around her body that covered her from her chest to her knees. Boots made from animal hide and fur covered her feet and legs. Bracelets made from bone covered her forearms and she wore a heavy gold chain around her neck with a milky pendant dangling from it. A fur cape hung from her shoulders. Her face was lined with the map of age and wisdom, but her eyes were a bright blue and still looked young. She was at least twice Anya’s size. “You’re tall, but no. My father—”

“Who is your father, child?”

“King Daanos. I am Princess Anya, his youngest daughter.”

“A princess? Oh, wait until I tell the council. What happened to your father? The rest of your family?”

Memory returned in full force and for the first time she cried. Anya’s heart felt as if it were torn into a million pieces as pictures flitted through her mind of the slaughter. Tears soaked her cheeks and her body shook with sobs.

“Now, now. Here, drink this. It will calm you,” Uleirlel said, handing her a goblet half-filled with some red liquid.

Anya gulped it down and felt tranquility surge through her body. “They were all killed,” she told the old woman, choking back a sob.

“The king is dead?”

“Yes, a guard told me my father was among the slaughtered. I saw some of it happen.”

“Child, how did you escape this massacre?”

“I hid from the aliens.”

“Surely you had guards? And how is it that you’re naked?”

“I was bathing. My guards abandoned me when the attack happened. They fled in fear. My serving girls were petrified. Before they had a chance to hide, the alien savages that invaded the palace killed them. All my brothers and sisters died.”

“That explains why you were almost naked, except for a few scraps of cloth clinging to your hips. If you were bathing alone, how do you know this?”

“Everyone was in the gardens below. I was late for my sister’s wedding celebration. Before I hid, I watched the alien ships fire their weapons at the gardens. Those weapons vaporize anything and everyone in seconds.” She peered nervously around the cave. “How did I get here? The last I remember I was running through the forest. I was very tired and sat down near a big tree.”

“Two of our warriors rescued you. You should be grateful. If the Gonks had found you instead, you’d have joined your family.”

“That would have been preferable. What are Gonks?”

“Bad monsters. You don’t want to ever run into them.”

“Father warned us about the forest, the giants, the dragons and monsters that live there.”

“We’re much taller than your race, but we’re not giants. Our people would never harm you or any…mortal. There are carnivorous animals in the forest, but it’s the Gonks that are the worst predators.”

“I’m alone now. The palace is destroyed and I have nowhere to go.”

“Child, there must be survivors. If not at the palace, then at least in the towns.”

“Are the aliens still on the attack?”

“I don’t know. I’m only the medicine woman, and I rarely leave my home.”

“Do you have some clothing I can put on? Can you summon the warriors so I can thank them?”

“I don’t have anything that will fit your small frame. How old are you, child?”

“I’ve seen twenty moons.”

“Really, child? I could have sworn you were still in your pre-puberty years.”

“No. I am the youngest and the smallest of my family. My sisters were all taller.” At the mention of her sisters, she choked back another sob and wiped her eyes. “My sisters liked to call me elf.” She clutched the animal skin that had covered her to her chest.

“No need to feel shame in my presence, child. Maybe I’ll call you
little elfin
.”

“I’m Princess Anya.”

“Here, you’re no princess. Anya is a pretty name. Now stop trying to hide yourself. I’ve seen every part of your body when I healed your scrapes and bruises. You are still a virgin. Were you to be wed?”

“Yes, soon. I don’t know what happened to my betrothed. He was an imperial guard and lived in Klyggim. He was present at the celebrations waiting for me to meet him for the second time in our life. We were to discuss our nuptials with my parents. I fear he was killed with all the others.”

“Child, I’m sorry. Your tardiness is your savior. Had you been on time for your sister’s wedding celebrations, you would not be here now. Dry your tears. Look to your future. I predict great things for you.”

Anya remembered the voice she’d heard. “That’s strange. Before I slept, or passed out, I heard a voice telling me the same.”

“You have the gift.”

“What gift?”

“The gift of magick that was bestowed only on certain members of the royal family. The last one I recall was your dear grandmother. She and I were close friends.”

“You were friends with my grandmother? How is that possible?”

“Aurdra and I grew up together. It is your father who caused the rift between your people and mine.”

“Why?”

“That is something we don’t talk about. I will summon the two warriors who saved you from a monstrous death. You’re to live with them.”

“I’m not living with two strange men.”

“Child, you have no choice. You can’t go back to the palace. Cyton and Yerith will care for you, but you need to serve them well.”

“I’m a princess. I’ll not be a servant to anyone.”

“Fine. You can tell them. I’m done with you. You are healed.”

“Thank you,” Anya said in a small voice. She didn’t know whether to be grateful or not. She had no family left, no idea if any of her people had survived and the old woman told her she was to be in servitude to two strange men. Even if they had saved her life, there was no way she’d serve any man.

She heard the flapping of wings and looked at the cave’s entrance expecting to see birds fly in. Two men entered. They were both very tall. They wore furred boots to their knees. They were bare-chested. A wide metal belt held a short furred skirt that hugged their hips. Swords and axes were at their sides and a bow and quiver of arrows were slung across each man’s shoulders. Metal braces covered their forearms, sharp spikes along the tops. One man had long black hair. The other’s hair was brown, and just as long. It looked clean, shiny, and well kept. Their skin was very smooth and gleaming, as if they’d oiled their bodies.

She gazed at their faces. They had to be the most handsome men she’d ever seen. The brown-haired man had green eyes, the black-haired man had very dark eyes. She’d never seen men as handsome, or as tall and muscular.
Oh, Goddess, I’ve died and I’m in Heaven.

“You summoned us, Uleirlel.”

“She’s healed and alert. You can take her with you now.”

“Did you learn anything from her?” Cyton asked.

“Only that she’s the only survivor of the royal family. Her name is Anya and she’s seen twenty moons.”

The tall brown-haired man took a step forward. “Anya, I’m Yerith. Cyton and I are your protectors from this day hence.”

Anya glanced at the black-haired man who nodded and walked toward her.

“I’m Cyton. You are to come with us.”

Anya nodded in return. She needed to get back to her people, to find out if anyone had survived the massacre. For the moment, she’d go along with her supposed servitude. Maybe she could persuade them later on to take her back. “Is the invasion over? Have the aliens left?”

“I don’t know. We’ll find out when we go hunting tomorrow. Follow us,” Cyton said.

Anya looked at Uleirlel who nodded reassuringly. “Go with them, child. The Goddess be with you.”

“Thank you. I think.”

“You were saved for a greater purpose. Bless you, child.”

Anya followed the two men out onto a round stone platform, its floor neatly laid with stone tiles. She gazed down at the valley below, at the steep cliff beneath the platform. “How do you propose we go down this? How did I get up here?”

“Our house is not far below. Cyton and I share a home,” Yerith told her. “Don’t worry. We’ll take you down.”

Anya watched in consternation as both men shifted into dragons. Scared, she retreated toward the entrance to Uleirlel’s cave.

“Don’t run. This is who we are.”

All right, now she’d heard everything. She was surely not on her world anymore. Dragons that spoke? Trembling, her back against the cliff face, she gazed at them as they hovered near her. One was a magnificent blue dragon—the other, a green. At any moment, she expected them to incinerate her. Instead, the blue dragon gently picked her up in his talons. While descending, her stomach crawled up to her throat. Far below, she saw what looked like a courtyard, people walking. They, and the various buildings, looked very small.

The dragon set her down on another platform in front of a cave mouth. In seconds, the two men stood before her. Suddenly, she was conscious of her nakedness and hid her breasts and pubes with her arm and hand.

“Please enter,” Yerith said.

Still trying to cover herself, she hesitantly entered the cave and found it pleasantly lit inside by torches in sconces on the walls. Tapestries decorated the walls and roughly made furniture hewn from wood stood scattered here and there. “So you all live in caves?” she asked.

“Yes. The Gonks cannot get to us here and we can live and sleep in peace,” Cyton told her. “Your name is Anya. It’s a very nice name.”

“I am your slave now?”

The man laughed. “No. We don’t have slaves here. But we are responsible for you.”

“Oh. Then if you’re responsible for me, I’d like some clothing.”

“Today, when we go on the hunt, we’ll see if the aliens have left the planet. If they have, I’ll go to the palace ruins and see what I can salvage. There’s no clothing here that will fit you,” Cyton said.

“Thank you both for saving my life,” she said in small voice.

“It was frowned upon by The Timeless One, but we couldn’t leave you in the forest to be eaten by the Gonks,” Yerith told her.

“What happens now?”

“We are to take care of you. While you’re living with us, you’ll cook for us, keep our home clean and we’ll, in turn, bring home food.”

“That’s all I have to do?”

“Yes. For now.”

Oh, my Goddess. I’m surely dreaming or hallucinating. Where on this planet could I find a pair of such gorgeous men?
She imagined what lay hidden beneath their short skirts and felt heat between her legs, an unfamiliar throbbing she’d never experienced except when playing with herself. “I’ve never cooked.”