dragon archives 05 - forever a dragon (20 page)

“You’ve had many chances to observe the dragons around Storbrook,” Aaron said as he opened the game by moving a pawn. “Have you learned anything?”

“They’re always around Storbrook, so their lair must be close by,” Lleland replied, mirroring Aaron’s move with his own pawn.

“Hmm.” They played in silence for a few minutes. “Have the dragons tried to attack you?” Aaron asked, moving his queen into the center of the board.

Lleland glanced at Aaron. “No.” He returned his attention to the game and moved his knight. “You have some power over the beasts, don’t you?”

Aaron shrugged. “Not power. Authority.” He took a moment to consider his next move, then slid his queen forward another two spaces. “Was it Grant that sent you here?”

Lleland looked at Aaron in surprise. “Grant?” he repeated cautiously.

Aaron leaned back in his chair. “You’re part of the League.” Lleland’s hand froze over the board, hovering above his rook. “I suspected it when you arrived here,” Aaron continued, “and sought additional information about you. It came today, and confirms your membership.”

Lleland leaned back, his mind racing. “Yes,” he finally said. There seemed little point in denying it. “I‘m a member of the League, and traveled here at their behest.”

“You used your acquaintance with Zach to gain entry.”

Lleland looked away. “I did. I apologize for the deception, Master,” he said. He drew in a deep breath. “I’ll leave in the morning.” He started to rise, but Aaron waved him back down.

“Sit down, Lleland,” he said. Lleland paused, then slowly resumed his seat. “I’m disappointed, but not surprised. When the League first formed, they tried to convince me to join their cause, and when I refused, they still tried to garner information from me.” He smiled grimly. “Unsuccessfully, of course. I’m not demanding your departure,” he continued, “but I do want the truth. Why is Grant coming after me again now?”

Lleland ran his fingers across his brow before answering. “Lord Hindley thought you had some information.”

“The Lord Chamberlain? Hmm.” Aaron leaned back in his seat, his gaze intent. “What information does he think I have?”

“Hindley told the League that King Alfred was agitated about something before he left for war. He believes you told the king something of particular interest about dragons.”

“I see. And what is it that Hindley supposes I told the king?”

“He doesn’t know,” Lleland replied.

Aaron nodded. “It’s your move,” he said, glancing at the board. Lleland moved his rook up the side of the board. “So you were sent here to try and extract this information from me.”

“Yes. I already had my suspicions on how much, or little, you’d be willing to share with the League, and when I met you, it did not take me long to realize you would never do anything to aid our cause.”

“They’ll expect a report when you return,” Aaron said. “What are you going to tell them?” He moved took one of Lleland’s pawns with his bishop.

Lleland shrugged. “The truth. That you told me nothing new, and do not seek to kill the beasts.” He frowned. “Does Lydia know?”

“That you are a member of the League? No. She is completely unaware that such a league exists.” Lleland was surprised at how relieved he felt. “Are you still convinced you should be hunting dragons?” Aaron asked.

Lleland moved his knight, blocking Aaron’s bishop, as he considered his response. “I’ve spent my whole adult life in pursuit of that same aim,” he said. “Just because you’ve somehow managed to prevent these beasts from attacking does not change my mind.”

“Tell me, Lleland,” Aaron said, “how many times have you truly been in danger because of a dragon?”

“Many times.”

“Name them.”

“The first time was when my father was killed.”

“You were there?”

“Yes.” Aaron frowned, but remained silent. “The next time,” Lleland continued, “I was alone on one of the hills near Civitas when a dragon flew overhead.”

“Did it threaten you?”

“I didn’t give it a chance to threaten me,” Lleland said.

“You mean you killed it without provocation?”

“I killed it before it could kill me,” Lleland said. The fire in the grate roared as Aaron steepled his fingers and stared at Lleland. Leaning forward, Lleland moved his bishop across the board.

After what seemed an eternity, Aaron turned his gaze to the game and stroked his chin with his fingers. He leaned forward and reached for his queen. “If I were to give you the information you so earnestly seek, it would either fill you with such rage it could drive you mad, or it could convince you to completely change your views. I wonder which way you would go.”

Cold fingers wrapped around Lleland’s heart as Aaron leaned back in his seat. “Check,” he said. A quick glance at the board showed Lleland that his few remaining moves would still result in Aaron winning the game. He was, in fact, checkmated. He laid his king on its side, forfeiting the game, before glancing up at Aaron, who was watching him intently across the board.

The door opened, and Lydia and Keira entered the room laughing. Keira sat down on the arm of Aaron’s chair and wrapped her arms around him. “Hello, my sweet,” he said. He tugged her into his lap, tipping the chess board onto the floor in the process and sending the pieces flying as his hands slipped around her back and pulled her close, while Keira moved her hands to his cheeks and lowered her mouth to his. Lydia picked up one of the carved figurines and after a moment’s hesitation, gave it to Lleland.

“A gift,” she said, her voice low. Lleland glanced at the figure. It was the knight, but instead of a horse, the shape carved into the yellow wood was that of a dragon.

Chapter 21

“Be ready to go out early tomorrow morning,” Lydia told Lleland later that week. “And bring your bow.”

“Where are we going?” Lleland asked.

“You’ll see tomorrow,” Lydia said.

As instructed, Lleland was waiting for Lydia in the courtyard shortly after dawn the following morning, bow in hand and arrows in his quiver. The morning air was chilly, and Lleland stamped his feet in an effort to stay warm. He glanced around the yard as he waited, watching the guard that stood in the corner outside a small, squat tower. He had not slept well the previous night, and he rubbed his forehead to chase away the mild headache behind his eyes. The whispers of vague dreams played around the edge of his memory – a man, dressed all in black. His presence had been ominous, but Lleland had willingly gone to him. There was something about the man that was important, but Lleland could not remember what it was. The dream had startled him awake, though, and left in its wake a feeling of dread that had chased away further sleep.

Footsteps rang across the courtyard, and he turned to see Lydia.

“Come along,” she said, not pausing to wait for him. “No time for loafers.” Lleland quickly caught up with her, and they passed beneath the portcullis together.

“What’s in the guarded tower?” he asked.

She glanced at him. “Prisoners,” she said.

“You have prisoners? Why?”

She shrugged. “We hold them for the king,” she said.

She pointed across the mountains, where the clouds, painted pink by the rising sun, lay like a skirt beneath the mountain peaks, hiding the slopes. “Isn’t it beautiful?” she said.

“Yes,” he said, but he his gaze was on the woman at his side.

“Come,” she said, blushing slightly. “We have a long way to go.”

Lleland walked beside Lydia whenever the path allowed, and more than once his hand brushed against hers. He could feel the heat emanating from her skin, and when she looked at him, her golden eyes dazzled him. She wore a dark crimson gown, and her hair rippled over her back like a waterfall. She led him into a forest, and birds flittered from tree to tree as squirrels chattered.

“I’ll miss this when I leave,” Lleland said.

Lydia glanced at him. “You’re leaving?”

“I must leave eventually.” Lleland felt his chest tighten at the thought. “I have classes to teach.”

“Are the mountains all you’ll miss?”

Lleland looked at Lydia. Her eyes were blazing, reflecting the light of the sun as she gazed at him.

“No,” he said softly.

She stared at him for another moment, then turned back to the path. “It isn’t too much further,” she said.

They broke through the trees and crossed an open meadow with rising slopes on either side. In the distance Lleland could hear the roar of a waterfall. They passed beneath another canopy of trees, then stepped into a clearing. A dozen feet away was a small cliff where the river tumbled over a ledge of flat rock. The rock overhung the river, creating a small, calm pool behind the curtain of water.

“This is one of my favorite places,” Lydia said. “Swimming behind a waterfall seems so private. As though I’m in my own little world.”

“Do you come here with Zach?”

“No. Zach doesn’t enjoy swimming. I’m not sure he even knows about it.”

“And yet you brought me here.”

Lydia looked at him, meeting his gaze. “Yes.” She kicked off her boots and sat down at the water’s edge. Lleland sat down beside her. “Ready to go for a swim?” she said.

He grinned, then wrapping his arms around her waist, flung them both into the cool current. He kept his eyes open as they plunged to the depths of the pool, watching as hers widened in surprise. She struggled to free herself from his grasp, and he brought them both back to the surface. She gulped in a deep breath, then placing her hands on his shoulders, pushed him back beneath the water with a laugh. He grabbed her around the waist once more, dragging her down with him. Her hair floated around her face, and he stared at her through the water. Her gown drifted to her knees, and her bare legs brushed against his. He lifted his hand to her cheek as he stared at her through the water, then dragged his fingers against her lips. Even in the water, her skin felt warm. His feet touched the bottom, and he pushed with his toes and sent them drifting upwards. They broke the surface and for a long moment they stared at each other before she placed her hands on his chest and pushed herself away. She swam to the bank and lifted herself out. He followed more slowly, watching as she squeezed the hem of her gown. She turned to him as he reached the edge.

“My gown’s sopping wet,” she said. The words were light, but her voice trembled. Lleland lifted himself from the water and walked over to her.

“Lydia,” he said. Her hair hung in strands over her shoulders, and he touched it lightly.

“I can’t even take it off,” she said. “A wet chemise doesn’t hide much, you know.”

He stepped closer and moved his hand to her cheek. She stared at him wide-eyed. “Lydia,” he said.

“I’ll miss you when you go,” she said, dragging her gaze from his.

“I don’t want to go.”

“You must.”

“Lydia – I love you. I want you to be my wife.”

“No.” She stepped back. “You’ve only known me for a few weeks,” she said.

“Months,” he corrected. “From the first moment I met you, I wanted to know you more. Part of the reason I came to the mountains was to see you.”

“We’re friends. Very good friends. And I …” She paused. “I hold you in great esteem. But you weren’t supposed to fall in love. You told me yourself you couldn’t love someone you didn’t respect.”

“Lydia, you’re unlike any woman I’ve ever met. Smart, determined and beautiful. You are everything I could possibly wish for in a wife. Do I respect you? Absolutely! But more than that, I love you with my whole heart. I cannot bear the thought of losing you.” He paused, watching her. “Is esteem all you really feel for me?” he said. “Have I been a fool?”

She glanced back at him, her eyes shimmering. “It won’t work.”

“Why?”

“Because there are things about me that you don’t know. Things that will make you hate me.”

“No! Nothing will ever change the love I have for you.”

“You know how I feel about dragons. Do you love that?”

Lleland pushed a hand through his hair. “That’s just a difference of opinion.”

“Could you ever love a dragon?”

“I love
you
. What does it matter how I feel about dragons?”

“Because dragons are the reason we can never be together.”

Lleland shook his head. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” He dragged in a deep breath. “Tell me you feel nothing for me.”

“Lleland, I …” She looked away. “It doesn’t matter what I feel. It won’t work. The love you feel now will soon turn to hate.”

“No. That’s impossible.”

Placing her hand on his cheek, she kissed him gently on the lips. Her eyes were shining as she turned and walked away. He reached for her hand, but it slipped through his. “Please, Lleland,” she whispered. “I’m sorry. Go home. I need to be alone.”

“Don’t go,” he said, but she continued to walk away and didn’t look back.

Chapter 22

Lleland stood in the clearing, staring at the spot where Lydia had disappeared through the trees. His mind was numb as he struggled to understand what had gone wrong. He’d been so sure Lydia felt more than mere affection – why had she pushed him away? He laughed wryly to himself. After rejecting so many other woman, he was the one now being rejected. And all because of dragons. None of it made sense, but one thing was clear – he could not remain at Storbrook. He sat down on a rock and stared at the bow lying on the ground. He did not doubt his view of dragons, but how could Lydia have it so wrong? How could her truth be so different from his own? And how could it matter so much? His eye wandered to the pool behind the waterfall, and stripping off his clothes, he dived into the cold water. He wanted to wash away the pain of Lydia’s rejection, but her essence lingered in the cool current, and he pushed himself onto the bank in frustration.

He picked up his weapons, which he hadn’t even used, and glanced at the sun. It was a little past noon. The thought of returning to Storbrook was oppressive, and he turned in the opposite direction, eager to delay as long as possible. His mind was blank as he strode through the trees, and he missed a rustling in the bushes two dozen yards away.