dragons breath 02 - dancing with flames (7 page)

She nodded. “I figured out what tasks your father gave Zoran and Phoebe.”

After the last time he’d met with the pendragon, Aidan had asked Kayla to see if she could discover which tasks Throm gave his brothers and sister. The only thing he knew for certain was that he was the last to receive his task. He’d heard the summons each time one of his siblings was called to see the pendragon. They wouldn’t announce their individual missions publicly, considering they wouldn’t want their efforts sabotaged and end up looking bad to their father, which left Aidan to figure it out himself—or, rather, with a little help.

“Tell me,” he said.

“Phoebe has to preside over the next Judgments Day and prove she can rule fairly.” Kayla cocked her head. “That isn’t too hard, is it?”

“Actually, it is. She must study each case ahead of time, review all the evidence, and speak with any witnesses. Some crimes are more complex and difficult to judge than others.”

She frowned. “But I thought they do all that during the hearing.”

“What you see and hear on Judgments Day is only for the benefit of the people so that they may know all the same information. The one who presides will ensure there is a clear case before allowing the accused to be tried publicly,” Aidan explained. He might never have had to perform the duty, but his father had asked him to look into cases before if there were a greater number than usual. Throm only made the job seem easy.

“Okay, well, Zoran’s task still sounds harder. He’s got to kill the pendragon’s oldest son from the Shadowan clan—without them knowing he did it.”

Aidan shifted on his feet. “That will be difficult. Blayze rarely travels alone, and he’s a fierce fighter. Zoran will have to kill him and anyone with him if he doesn’t want witnesses.”

“Wow, that’s crazy.” She knitted her brows. “And I thought my father was tough. He was always like, ‘don’t sneak out of the house again, Kayla’ and ‘stop talking to that boy, young lady’ and other stuff. It drove me crazy, but I know now it was to protect me, not to put me in danger. You’ve got it way worse.”

“Where is your father?” Aidan still didn’t know much about the girl, though he tried to ask some pointed questions when the opportunity presented itself—such as now.

Kayla’s gaze dipped to the floor, and she replied in a low voice, “He and my mom died in a car accident about a year before I crossed dimensions.”

Aidan wanted to lay a comforting hand on the girl’s shoulder, but he didn’t want to risk burning her. His touch was far too hot. It would only take a few seconds before her skin would start to redden, and in a couple of minutes, it could leave permanent damage.

He waited until she lifted her head to reply. “I’m sorry to hear that. Who took care of you after they were gone?”

She shrugged. “I got stuck in foster homes. It sucked.”

Aidan wasn’t certain what that meant, but he guessed she’d been placed with people who weren’t her family. With shape-shifters, it often happened since they were constantly at war, and children lost their parents. The toriq did its best to see after the orphans, though. They did not struggle to survive, and they were not mistreated.

He decided it was time to change the subject and give her something to take her mind off of her past. “How would you like to go meet Bailey tomorrow?”

Kayla’s eyes widened, and her voice came out in a hushed whisper. “The dragon slayer? Really?”

Aidan had told the girl a few things about Bailey. He wasn’t certain why he opened up to her, but in a way he found Kayla to be a kindred spirit. She was every bit as curious as he was at that age, and he had suspected she’d had a rough time during her childhood like he did, which was now proven true.

“For my task, I must go negotiate a peace treaty with a southern clan. These things usually take time, but I’m leaving tomorrow and will be gone for a couple of days.” Aidan went on to explain the latest events with Bailey and her current location. “I’ll need you to bring some food and supplies to my lair tomorrow.”

Kayla grinned widely. “I can totally do that.”

“You’re certain you can obtain transportation?” he asked. His private lair was only a five-minute flight from the fortress, if one went the direct route—which he never did to be sure no one followed him. Aidan didn’t know how long it took on the ground. He didn’t want Kayla walking alone that far.

“No problem.” She waved a hand. “We humans have a few cars and trucks stashed away to use when we’re out looking for supplies. There’s always at least one around to take.”

He nodded. “Good. Now you must be careful while you’re out. You won’t be leaving the clan’s territory, and this area is remote, but there are groups of humans who roam around. They can be dangerous.”

“I got it,” she said, giving him an impatient look. “I go out more than you realize.”

That disturbed him, but he could do little to stop her. Humans had their freedom, after all. If the adults among her people let her leave the fortress whenever she wanted, then she could do so without needing a shifter’s permission.

“Very well, then I will give you the directions.”

Chapter 7

Aidan

Aidan peered around the corner, checking the great hall. It was crowded for the midnight meal, but he managed to catch sight of his father, Ruari, and Phoebe at the high table. They sat eating and chatting with each other. He did not see Zoran anywhere. It was unlike Aidan’s eldest brother to miss a meal, especially on the rare occasion the pendragon made it downstairs. He needed to find Zoran and ensure he was currently occupied.

Ducking back down the corridor, Aidan headed to the second floor of the castle where both his brothers had rooms, as well as several other important members of the clan. He stopped on the last step when he overheard voices nearby.

“I’m only going to tell you this once,” Zoran said, a growl in his voice. “Tell the elders you have no wish to participate in the Bitkal.”

“Or you’ll do what?” The second voice came from Nanoq—the Captain of the Guard.

Aidan held his breath and took the last step. He inched his way down the corridor until he reached a corner, peeking around it. Down the hall, his eldest brother had a death grip on Nanoq’s neck where he held him against the wall. The Captain of the Guard didn’t show any signs of fear. His fists were bunched, and he appeared ready to strike Aidan’s brother.

Zoran leaned closer to Nanoq’s face. “Anyone who attempts to take the pendragon seat from me will regret it.”

“Murder is a crime, you know,” the captain said with full conviction. No one had higher standards or principles than him, which was likely why Zoran felt threatened by him. Nanoq not only led the guards but also conducted most of the criminal investigations for the toriq.

Aidan’s brother loosened his grip a fraction. “I don’t believe I spoke of murder.”

“No, but you implied it.”

“Just stay out of my way.” Zoran slapped the stones next to the captain forcefully.

Nanoq didn’t flinch. “One day, that temper of yours is going to be your destruction, and I hope I’m around to see it.”

“That’s rather unlikely.” Zoran gave him a final glare and stalked off toward his room down the corridor.

Aidan pulled back out of sight. Both males lived in this section of the castle, which didn’t bode well. They’d be in direct competition with each other in the coming weeks. A lot could happen in that period of time, especially with Zoran determined to secure his position and remove anyone in his way. Aidan wasn’t certain if he should be thankful or not that he wasn’t his brother’s only target.

Nanoq came around the corner, stumbling to a halt when he found Aidan standing there. He was large in his human form, though not quite as muscular as Zoran. The shifter drew little attention from his looks, being considered plain at best, but he had the kind of appearance that led people to trust him. His red camrium uniform—the standard for the fortress guard—was always immaculate, and he kept his hair short and well-groomed.

When Aidan had been young, it was Nanoq who looked out for him. The captain had grown up with Zoran, their being only two years apart, and he’d been well aware of the mean streak running through the pendragon’s eldest son. More than once, Nanoq had rescued Aidan from a beating he’d done nothing to deserve. They didn’t speak often these days, but a bond still remained between them.

“Did you hear all of that?” Nanoq asked, lifting a brow.

Aidan nodded. “Most of it.”

“If your brother wins the Bitkal, our toriq will be in trouble,” he said, shaking his head.

“Then let us hope he doesn’t.”

Nanoq’s expression became determined. “If not me, then I’d rather it be you.”

A noise came from down the corridor. Aidan clasped the captain’s arm and gave him a meaningful look. “Take care, friend.”

Nanoq returned the gesture. “And you do the same.”

Backing away, Aidan hurried downstairs. He’d lost precious time tracking his brother’s whereabouts and speaking with the captain. For what he needed to do next, he had to get it done before the midnight meal ended.

When he reached the main floor, he headed to the other end of the castle. A row of classrooms for young dragons was on the far side. Aidan passed them and turned left, entering another corridor. Several of the head servants had chambers here. He continued beyond them to the clan library at the far end. The main entrance for it was outside the castle, but for Aidan’s purposes, he needed to use the backdoor. Once he reached it, he pulled out a skeleton key no one knew he possessed and slid open the lock.

Aidan took one final backward glance, relieved to see no one behind him, and entered. The overwhelming scent of musty tombs assailed him right away. His toriq’s history was recorded here on special fire-resistant parchment, along with various fictional tales their people had written and human texts they’d copied during their previous time on Earth. Aidan passed rows and rows of shelves crowding the rear of the library as he made his way toward the front.

“Uncle Kade,” he called out.

Shuffling footsteps came from the right. Aidan turned and spotted his uncle ambling down an aisle overflowing with books haphazardly placed on the shelves and floor. His father’s younger brother still had a full head of long black hair he left hanging in waves to his shoulders. There were a few lines creasing his forehead, but otherwise, he didn’t appear much older than fifty in human years. In reality, he was closer to nine-hundred.

“You shouldn’t be here,” Kade said, his yellow eyes flashing with annoyance.

“Everyone is at midnight meal. They’re too busy to worry about me,” Aidan assured him.

His uncle stopped at the edge of the aisle. They were the same height and of similar build, though Kade had a few extra pounds of softness from not getting enough exercise. That happened when one was considered an outcast among their toriq and consigned to a life in the library and adjacent living quarters. On the other hand, his very status kept Kade alive and living in the fortress when the rest of his siblings—excluding Throm—either died or they were banished. Aidan never had the chance to meet his aunts and other uncles. He’d always wondered what they must have been like, and how much of a role his father had played in their downfalls. It wasn’t something anyone dared discuss.

“I told you not to come here again until
he
is dead.”

Aidan shifted on his feet. “My father has called for the Bitkal ceremony. It will take place in less than two weeks.”

Kade frowned. “That is rather sudden.”

“He wishes to ensure his heir is named before he dies.”

A myriad of emotions crossed his uncle’s eyes. “So his reign will finally end soon.”

Aidan loved his father, but he could also understand Kade’s point of view. He had been an outcast for most of his life thanks to his elder brother. Throm had known about Kade’s visions of the far future with predictions no one could understand, and used it against him. The pendragon had his younger brother restricted to the library ever since the last Bitkal almost five centuries ago. Aside from one designated servant, no one was supposed to speak to Kade. Aidan could be severely punished if anyone found out he was talking to his uncle.

“My father’s death won’t free you,” Aidan pointed out.

His shoulders slumped a little. “No, at least not yet.”

“The pendragon is sending me to negotiate a treaty with the Faegud clan.”

“He…” Kade froze, and his eyes glazed over. “
Former allies, turned enemies, shall become friends once more.
”

Aidan took an involuntary step back. He had heard that line from his uncle before, but it was back when he was a boy. In those days, he’d snuck into the library frequently to see his uncle. He had been caught once, but Aidan had been young enough back then that his punishment was light. His visits became infrequent after that, though. His father and siblings had begun to watch him much closer.

“Uncle,” he said, grabbing Kade and shaking him from his trance.

The older man’s eyes slowly cleared and focused on Aidan. “This is the beginning.”

“Are you certain?”

Kade nodded. “I felt it was getting close. I told you as much the last time we saw each other.”

That had been six months ago, shortly before they returned to Earth. “Is there anything else we should watch for?”

“If only I could find that book.” His uncle looked about them, his gaze turning a little wild. “Everything I ever predicted is in there.”

During his youth, Kade went through frequent blackout periods where he had visions of the future. He wrote each of them down, but once he committed the details to parchment, he promptly forgot them. The only thing he could recall afterward was that he had seen visions. When the blackouts slowed to only one or two a year and he no longer recorded or remembered them, he only had the final bound book for guidance. It went missing a century ago. That was during another blackout period, so Kade had no idea if he had been the one to hide the tome or if someone else did. He’d been searching for it ever since.