Kiss of the Dragon (14 page)

Nodding her thanks to the knight, he turned and walked back
toward the keep. She had never thought about the character of men and Sir
Dominic’s explanation gave her food for thought. But she still didn’t want
Draco to go on a hunt without her.

Determined, Bianca urged her mount away from the stables,
formulating a plan of seduction. She had no doubt that she would get what she
wanted but even so, her lusty thoughts brought a brilliant blush to her creamy
cheeks. Her mind filled with various scenarios of seducing a man she rode out
the postern gate with her escort.

Lady Bianca de Neige was about to debauch her future husband
and there was nothing he could say or do to dissuade her. Her only misgiving
was that she had not the faintest idea how to go about such an endeavor.

* * * * *

The hunt had turned out to be a disaster. Draco finally
could take no more of the inept weaklings who made up the hunting party. In all
his years as a knight and a soldier, he had never heard so much simpering. One
complaint after another spewed from the mouths of the young swains. If it were
not one thing, it was another.

“The air is too thick.”

“It is too cold.”

“My bow needs re-strung.”

The laments went on and on until Draco wanted to lose the
lot of bumble-heads in the thick woods and return to Castle Neige for a cup of
the excellent ale they served.

With all the loud bickering and heated arguments that
erupted among the juvenile, young nobles who had been sent to Castle Neige by
their families in the hopes of acquiring a rich heiress, it was no wonder the
game proved scarce. When they did happen upon a small herd of doe, several
turned up their noses at the idea of such small game. They refused to accept
anything less than a six-point roebuck as good sport.

It was apparent that none of them had ever felt the pains of
a stomach too long empty that many a seasoned warrior lived with daily while on
campaign. “They have no knowledge of what it is like to be really hungry. On a
hunt whatever meat brought down would be most welcome in the castle kitchens,”
Draco muttered under his breath.

“Yea, I have had my fill of these young gallants as well. I
say we lose them in the woods to find their way back to the castle on their
own.” Charles reined in his mount beside Draco who watched yet another argument
break out between two of the young men. It was a tempting thought, but he would
have to face an outraged Bianca if he left her beaux lost in the forest overnight.

“If I remember correctly, the gypsy camp is just over the
next rise. Perhaps we should stop for some refreshment. What say you?”

“An excellent suggestion. There will surely be a lusty wench
or two to accommodate these young rogues. A little time between the soft thighs
of a hot gypsy wench might relieve some of their anxiety and redirect their hot
blood to another part of their body.” Charles grinned at his cousin’s snort of
derision. It was obvious that he wanted to rid himself of the pests and have
some well-deserved silence. It would be worth stopping for an hour or so.

“A caravan of gypsies is camped in the meadow ahead. We will
rest the horses there,” he bellowed over his shoulder at his lagging troop.
“They are well known for their hospitality.”

With the prospect of a little bed sport looming up ahead,
Draco and Charles watched in amusement as the trio of young noblemen spurred
their mounts, whooping loudly as they raced to see who could get to the caravan
first.

“Loyalty does not seem to be a priority here. You would
think that at least one of the young pups would show a little discretion and
perhaps a smidgen of fidelity to the thought of his future bride.” Disgust
fairly dripped from Draco’s mouth. He had never been so ashamed of his gender.

“They are young. Their actions can be excused if you think
about the pressure their families have put on them to bring home a rich heiress
for a bride. You are not so naïve in your old age to think they would pass up
the opportunity for a good lay. Think about it, cousin. Those young studs are
thinking with what hangs between their legs not what lies between their ears.
They have but to see a skirt swishing before them and they will follow wherever
it leads them. Ah, to be so young, so naïve.”

“What makes you think an older man is any different? My
father was a married man and still he found it convenient to bed my mother, and
beget a child upon her, not once but twice. The same blood runs in my veins.
Perhaps I have the same weakness.”

“No, Draco. You may have your father’s blood in you, but I
think your mother’s blood runs deeper. It was from her that you inherited all
your courage and loyalty. She was loyal to a fault, believing to the end that
your father would wed her and legitimize her children. Her love never wavered,
even with the shame of being an unwed mother. She held herself above the
insults and slander. Your mother made her own way in this world and nothing
deterred her from her decision to have and keep you and then your brother. She
loved unwisely, but she loved unconditionally, especially her children.

“Loyalty is a strong virtue in our family. My father has
been deeply loyal to my mother in all the years they have been married. I
believe you and I carry the same trait. We have both had the opportunity of
having my father as our mentor all our lives and a better example of manhood
there could never be.” Charles spoke not with a son’s overblown boasting of his
father, but with an honest sincerity and sadness. Draco could do no more than
nod in agreement.

“I hope you are right, Charles. Lord Vincien was indeed a
great man. And I would shame myself and my name if I did not live up to the
high expectations that he instilled in me.”

“Come then. Let us partake of a little food and drink while
our companions partake of a more carnal pleasure.”

The hunters were given an enthusiastic greeting as they rode
boldly into the Rom encampment. The wealthy cut of their clothing and the rich
accouterments of their mounts had every female in the camp coming forth to ply
her lure in an attempt to line her pocket with as much as she could wheedle out
of their guests. The festive air of the camp and the colorful seductive
costumes of the women, who reached up and boldly touched their thighs as they
rode into the center of the camp, went straight to the young gallants’ heads.
It did not take long to find willing partners, who secreted them off to more
private surroundings, whether it was in a tent or a gaily painted
vardos
.

When Charles and Draco let it be known that they would
accept the food and drink that was offered but nothing more, a murmur of
disappointment swept through the crowd that surrounded them. Several
disappointed women lingered within easy call but they soon wandered off when
they became convinced that the two barons were not interested in anything else,
a wistful look of regret on their faces.

“Is that man coming out of that caravan not that great
hulking bodyguard that follows Duchess Bianca about like a shadow?”

Turning to look in the direction that Charles indicated
Draco watched as the giant man conversed with an old gypsy woman. “Perhaps he
is here to buy himself a bit of fun like any other healthy man.”

“Are you blind, Draco? That woman has got to be thrice his
age and probably missing every tooth in her head.” Charles shuddered at the
thought of bedding such an ancient. He was not so particular as to turn down a
homely woman when he was in need, but even he had a limit as to how old a woman
he would bed. “If that is what he likes, then the man is a bit abnormal or very
desperate. In the last few days we have been at the Castle Neige, I had not
noticed him acting too peculiar. And I do not consider him desperate.”

Wanting to ignore the uneasiness that nagged at the edge of
his mind, Draco watched with interest as the old woman handed Jabulani a small
brown packet. Then the large man bent his head and kissed her gently on the
forehead. With a swiftness that belied his size, the large servant nimbly
mounted his horse and rode off in the direction of the castle.

“It is probably nothing. Perhaps he has an ailment and has
come to seek some treatment. Gypsies are renowned healers.”

“True, they are. But Neige has its own healer does it not?
And he is not an hour ride away from the castle.”

“Turn off your brain, Charles. I am sure there is nothing
nefarious to the visit. Quit reading more into an innocent visit than is
there.” Holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender, Charles settled with
filling his mouth with bread and chewing it thoughtfully.

Taking a long draw on his wine cup, Draco stared off in the
direction that the forever smiling giant had ridden, his own mind working
furiously. Despite what he said to Charles, he did not believe Jabulani’s visit
to be all that innocent. There was something happening here, something that
made him suddenly anxious and he wanted to return immediately to Castle Neige.

“I did not know we had such distinguished visitors in our
camp.” Turning around at the sound of the aged woman’s voice, Draco was shocked
that the old gypsy he had been watching only moments before had approached them
and he had not been aware of it. He found himself staring at a woman who was
not only old but whose soul was as ancient as time. He was mesmerized by what
he saw as he looked in her eyes. And when she spoke again, he had to blink to
bring his thoughts back to the present.

“I am Veryalda. And I would surmise that you are Lord
Charles, and you, my young giant, are Lord Draco.”

“Yea, Veryalda, you have the right of it.” Charles smiled
indulgently at the old woman. But her sharp bluish-purple eyes sparkled with
mischief as she moved around the log on which Draco sat, taking a seat next to
him. As she settled her old bones down, they creaked and popped with the
exertion.

“I fear this old body of mine may be past its prime, but I
keep my mind young by meddling in other people’s affairs and intrigues. And
you, Lord Dragon, interest me greatly. I shall enjoy watching you solve your
life’s mysteries.”

Her forward demeanor amused him and Draco decided to use the
old woman’s curiosity to gain information about what her relationship was to
Jabulani. He would gently lead her in that direction. “Have we met before,
grandmother?” Draco asked, feeling that there was something truly familiar
about the old crone.

“No, my boy. I’m too old to sell my body, even to the likes
of you. Though I can see why a woman would pant after yours. But you have no
need of a whore, do you? You have another in mind for your loving.”

Charles’ hoot of laughter received a warning look from
discomfited Draco. It had been a long time since anyone had taken him so
unaware with her perceptive tidings. Leaving him to wonder if the old gypsy
somehow knew he had been left smarting in the ashes of unrequited lust for a
certain young maiden.

“We may not have met before, my boy. But I know of you and I
know that you have a tendre for a certain young maiden.”

Her insight into his personal life was unsettling but did
not disturb him overmuch. Draco had always been leery of anyone who claimed to
be able to predict what the future held. He was a soldier, a realist, he
believed in only what he could feel, taste or see with his own eyes. He wanted
to believe that that was the way of things in general. Anybody in the
surrounding countryside could have heard that he stayed at the Castle and that
Bianca de Neige had taken a liking to him in her young, naïve way. The young
lady had not bothered to hide it, that was certain.

Leaning closer, the old gypsy suddenly grasped his hand in
hers and flipped it palm up. As her bony finger traced the lines of his
battle-hardened hand, she stared deeply into his eyes and spoke so low, only he
could make out her words.

“You must not run from your feelings, my boy, or you will
never know happiness. The woman you are destined to love will not be easy to
hold. Other powers are at work here and I see trouble in your future. You will
have to fight for the one you love. It will be a battle that you cannot lose or
all will be lost to you. Only the purest form of love can conquer all and then
and only then will you find your life worth living.”

“What do you know of this woman whom I would spend the rest
of my life with? I do not believe in love or in happily-ever-after tales. What
do you know of my life for that matter?” He snarled the last as he pulled back
his hand and thrust it behind his back like a small boy. Her words bothered him
more than he cared to admit.

“You have a great task before you, mighty knight. You will
best a fierce beast in order to claim what is rightfully yours. From the
cinders of past betrayal, your wounded spirit will rise and in doing so you
will defeat the danger that stalks your ladylove even as she sleeps unaware.
Remember, my boy, people are not always what they seem. Do not be fooled by
false tales. Even a man with a princely heart is no more complete if he cannot
see with his heart even though he is a lowly knight. But the most important
lesson is this, love pure and true can thaw a heart of ice but it takes faith
to keep it that way.”

“Tell me her name.” Until that moment, Draco had not known
how far he had fallen under the gypsy’s spell and he no longer cared. He wanted
the gypsy to whisper Bianca’s name in his ear.

But all he received from the old woman was an enigmatic
smile and a wink before she turned to Charles and captured his hand. In the
same manner, she began to read his cousin’s fortune to him.

“Who are your handsome visitors, Veryalda?” Her black
slanted brows gave the newcomer a sensual appearance and, with the blatant
desire burning in her exotic black eyes, she could easily have her pick of any
man. But her hot black gaze moved hungrily over Charles, taking in his fine
clothing and magnificent physique before her interest centered on the Black
Dragon of Normandy. As her gaze roamed over him, her small pink tongue flicked
out to wet her luscious bottom lip and she moved closer. Her hunger was
obvious.