Man Who Should be King (5 page)

Marcus set his goblet down. “I thought you were her grandfather,
sir.”

Uther smiled, shaking his head. “No, no. Her grandfather was
much more advanced than I. Sir Ralus sought out my services when her
grandfather died. I took over her training, although to be honest, she was
amazingly self-sufficient in most of the arts already. In fact, almost from the
first day, I was redundant. But since I’d come so far, Mistress Syranna refused
to let me leave.”

Marcus couldn’t believe what this old man was saying. One
thing he was sure of was that the old man probably had never had it so good as
his life inside these castle walls. Old Uther would be here until he was kicked
out, he died or the food ran out. Finally Marcus shook his head in disbelief.
“I don’t believe you, old man. I think you and the Lady Syranna are trying to
scare us away from here, but it won’t work. Neither do I believe those are
dragons in the corner!”

Uther started mumbling, pushing his chair away from the
table slowly. “I imagine you are one of those fools from Vikalla who only
believe what you can see or touch! Very well, and on your head be it!”

William had come to his feet, his hand going to the sword at
his side. Looking at Marcus, he made a hand gesture, indicating that Uther was
crazy. Marcus shook his head, motioning for the other man to sit back down.

Both stopped as Uther made an odd, guttural sound in his
throat. From the corner came more scuffling noises, but that was all. Marcus
spoke suddenly.

“You don’t need to do that, sir. I need to see Syranna.”

Uther repeated the sound again, but only scampering noises
answered. “Wretched, damned things! She’s spoiled them rotten. That’s the
damned problem. Syranna will be here soon.”

Marcus shook his head, becoming more perturbed by the
second. “How do I know that she has even been informed of my arrival?”

Uther cackled and smiled as he sat back down at the table.
“Why, of course she knows you are here! What claptrap…she was the one who sent
me to greet you!”

Marcus scowled at the old man. He opened his mouth to make a
demand that Syranna appear before him right now, when there was a light,
musical trilling noise. Behind him, from the corner, came three answering
calls, each on a slightly different note. A second later came the scampering
noise, followed by the sound of flapping wings. Marcus jumped to his feet,
drawing his sword. William immediately followed suit, awaiting their attackers.

Into the light came Syranna. She was dressed in a
floor-length, blue velvet gown, and while Marcus noted she looked beautiful,
his attention went to her left arm, which was lifted upward to form a perch for
two—

“What the hell!” Marcus shouted as he saw them for the first
time. Two small green things, perhaps eight or nine inches tall, were sitting
on Syranna’s arm. No doubt about what they were now! He’d been read enough
stories as a child to recognize a dragon when he saw one. Shoving his chair
farther away from the table, he started toward her.

The loud noise startled the small creatures. The two on
Syranna’s arm began trilling excitedly and a third one, which had been clinging
to her dress in the back, moved to her shoulder. Marcus could tell their claws
were biting into her skin from the wince he saw cross her face. He started
forward when Syranna held her hand up to stop him.

“Stop! You are scaring them,” Syranna shouted out, and then
she started making the same musical trilling noise they had heard a few moments
earlier. It took several moments of singing to the small green creatures for
them to relax. Marcus guessed they were “back to normal” when the one on her
shoulder leaned forward and rubbed his head against Syranna’s cheek.

Syranna walked to the table and then coaxed all three baby
dragons to jump the short distance to the tabletop. All of them except the one
on her shoulder. Marcus watched in disbelief as Syranna reached up and gently
lifted that one with her hands. She paused and let it rub against her cheek one
more time and then settled it on the flat surface with its siblings.

“Moerana,” Syranna spoke to the woman hovering a short
distance away. “Please bring the dragonets’ dinner in here. I’ll feed them.”

The woman hurried to do Syranna’s bidding, but not before
Marcus saw the look of relief on her face. He turned back as Syranna invited
them to all be seated once again. Instead, Marcus pulled the chair beside him
out, gesturing for Syranna to sit down
there
.

Syranna immediately stepped onto the chair and then up to
the polished, wooden surface of the large table. She walked a few feet away and
sat down, cross-legged. A second later, her pets were climbing into her lap.
Instead of greeting her so-called guests, Syranna looked at Sir Uther.

“Thank you, Uther, for meeting our uninvited guests. You may
retire if you wish. I am sorry you missed your nap.”

Uther smiled, nodding his head. “Uhmpff! No good now. I’m
wide awake, Mistress Syranna.”

“Very well. Perhaps you’ll sleep better tonight.” Syranna
smiled at the old man who grimaced back at her.

“Even if I can’t, Mistress, I promise I won’t come and
disturb you.”

Syranna laughed, shaking her head. “You never disturb me, so
feel free to come whenever you need to.”

“Madam,” Marcus spoke up determinedly. “We need to speak
privately, now!”

Syranna shook her head, and her long black hair danced with
the movement. “It will have to wait. Dragonets must be fed on time or there can
be serious consequences.” She stopped as Moerana returned with a tray piled
with food and water. Reaching into the top of her dress and ignoring the gasps
of her visitors, Syranna pulled a chain out with a small key dangling from it.
Lining up the small green creatures in front of her, she took the largest one
first into her lap.

Marcus noticed for the first time that there was a small
metal band that encircled each of the dragons’ mouths. Syranna used the key to
unlock the band. She immediately set the dragon in front of the water bowl,
nudging his head down to drink. Frowning, Marcus watched as she did the same
for the second largest dragon. Soon both were slurping and slopping the water
quite loudly.

A strange mewling sound drew his attention back to the third
and smallest. Syranna picked the little one up. “I’m sorry, sweetie, but you
know how your brothers get.” She undid the clamp, turning to set the device on
the table. “Go on, AnnaBelle!”

“Why the devil she had to name the little beasts, I’ll never
know!” Uther spoke from the other end of the table.

Syranna paused to answer Uther, which was a mistake. “Uther,
dearest, every creature deserves something personal and uniquely theirs alone.
They deserve to be individuals.”

Uther said a rude word under his breath and then added,
“Maybe, but that little bugger didn’t have to—”

His objection was interrupted as Syranna shouted to
everyone. “Look out!”

William jumped up and away, actually pulling his sword from
its scabbard. And old Uther…well, Marcus was amazed at how fast the wizened old
geezer moved out of his chair and away from the table. Marcus was the closest
to the danger. Suddenly Syranna’s foot shot out and hit him hard in the chest.
A moment later, since he had already started scooting his chair backwards, he
was flying head over heels, chair and all. As he went flipping back, from the
corner of his eye he saw what was at least a one or two foot-long stream of
fire shooting across the table.

“What the hell!” William shouted from across the wooden
slab.

Marcus was already coming to his feet, thanks to his
battle-quickened reflexes. His foremost thought was Syranna’s safety, which
surprised him. He immediately looked at Syranna and saw that she was cuddling
the littlest dragon, AnnaBelle. It was obviously shivering, although he had no
idea why. A moment later, as if he could read his thoughts, William spoke.

“What happened?”

Marcus shrugged, looking from William to Syranna. “Did you
kick me?”

Syranna flushed and cuddled the dragonet closer. “You were
in the way. If I had not, sir, you would most likely have been burnt!”

Marcus looked from Syranna to the two dragons still on the
table, now eating quite happily. “Good Lord, woman! Are you telling me that you
keep fire-breathing dragons as pets? Are you insane?”

Marcus watched as Syranna narrowed her eyes as she returned
his own deliberately intent, interrogative stare. “No, I am perfectly sane. It
is you, sir—” She stopped abruptly as AnnaBelle burped and a little puff of
smoke rose into the air. Syranna quickly put the dragon down in front of the
water bowl. Eagerly, AnnaBelle began slurping the water while her brothers
feasted on tiny pieces of the same food Marcus and William had already been
served.

Before he could question the possible insult there, Uther
returned to the table and started eating. He paused long enough to voice his
opinion. “When the Mistress says ‘look out’, Lord Marcus, then you had best get
out of the way. How do you think I lost the other two feet of my beard? Now I
have to go around with this ridiculously indecent length of facial hair. Why, I
am the laughingstock in my wizards’ circle! Any decent wizard always has at
least four feet…it isn’t fair…” his words faded as he shoveled in more food.

Marcus gestured for William to be seated as he righted his
own chair. Once seated, he turned to look at Syranna, who was taking time to
pet each dragon equally. “I am sure I will regret this, but what are the other
two named?”

There was no mistaking the embarrassed flush on her cheeks
this time. “I doubt that you are seriously interested.”

Uther interrupted Syranna in between bites of food.
“Fitzwalter, and the big one is Marcus.”

William laughed out loud, spewing wine from his mouth.
Marcus’ glare could not quell his laugh, either. Marcus saw the gleam of
amusement in his friend’s eyes, revealing his surety that this would make a
good story to tell Stancia, and most probably several of the friends they had
made while fighting.

Syranna spoke quickly. “Do not read more into this than a
simple name.” She stopped as Fitz and AnnaBelle crawled back into her lap.
Quickly she fitted their mouthpieces. Looking up she found Marcus’ eyes trained
on her.

Marcus grinned at the beautiful woman. “It appears ‘Marcus’
has a lusty appetite!”

Syranna glared at him while she picked the last dragon up
and replaced his mouthpiece. “Well, if you are finished eating, Lord Marcus,
then I suggest you be on your way. It is a long ride back—”

Marcus grabbed her forearm as her feet hit the floor. “I’m not
going anywhere until you and I speak in private.”

“Very well.” Syranna looked at Uther. “Uther, will you
please take the babies for their walk?”

“Eeuuw…can’t they wait until you are done? The last time I
took them they singed the bottom of my best robe and I had to explain to cook
how her prized carrots got a little toasty.”

Syranna looked away from Marcus, but not before he saw the
smile curling her lips. “Then I guess that means you get to walk with me, Lord
Marcus.” She made a different trilling noise this time and started walking
toward the door he had entered through a short time earlier.

“No, William” he replied as the other man went to stand.
“You can stay here with Uther.” Marcus turned and quickly followed Syranna,
joining her entourage, which he hated to admit resembled a mother duck and her
ducklings.

Marcus caught up with Syranna as she entered the garden to
the side of the castle. It held little resemblance to the well-cared for lawns
and gardens surrounding his palace. Plants and flowers grew wild in every
direction. What was at one time a stone path was now mostly grass and weeds,
nearly obliterating the stones entirely. Walking quickly, he soon saw that
Syranna was seated on a stone bench. As he came close, he heard splashing
noises.

“Good Lord! What next?” Marcus exclaimed as he watched the
three little mischief-makers splashing and playing in a stone pond.

Syranna turned from watching her dragonets’ antics to the
tall, fierce warrior. “Why did you come here?”

Marcus turned to look at Syranna. “I’m surprised that you
ask, madam. It’s been more than a month, and I assumed there might be
consequences from our night together.”

The bright flush that suddenly stained Syranna’s cheeks
didn’t strike him as embarrassment, especially when she turned away from his
gaze quickly. He watched as Syranna jumped to her feet and walked toward the
water. When she spoke, it was not at all what he had been expecting to hear.

“I owe you an apology, sir. I hope that you can forgive my
transgression. If there had been any other way…believe me, I would have taken
it.”

Marcus walked across the overgrown weeds and grass to stand
beside Syranna. He noticed how pale her skin looked in the sunlight and how her
black hair shimmered. “Of course, I forgive you. We are going to be married,
after all.”

Syranna turned her head to look at him and Marcus was
stunned to see the tears welling up in her blue eyes. “I doubt that you will
want to marry me, once you learn of my treachery.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Syranna. What could you possibly have
done that would require my forgiveness, let alone make me change my mind about
marrying you?” Marcus reached out and turned Syranna’s body to face him fully.
Jokingly, he asked, “Is there another man? Don’t tell me it’s old Uther. No one
would believe that!”

“Ha!” she replied with a self-deprecating laugh. “Dalliance
with a man pales to the great disservice I’ve done you, my lord!”

Marcus reacted instinctively and reached out to pull Syranna
close, to comfort her. Syranna, though, unfortunately stepped back and her foot
slipped on the wet grass. After that, it was just bad timing. Syranna screeched
as she slipped, which alarmed the dragonets. Seeing three dragons in flight
might be all right in most cases, but Marcus also saw three spouts of flame
shooting in different directions. His reactions were split-second. He shoved
Syranna sideways, toward the grass. His strength and momentum of movement,
coupled with trying to avoid the flame spouts, caused his own footing to slip.

The following splash was large enough to douse the three
stunned dragonets and their mistress. Syranna’s scream was so loud that Marcus
would not have been surprised to see the dead rising from their graves. Cursing
loudly, and quite fluidly, Marcus sat in the pond, dripping wet.

Syranna turned around and saw the mighty warrior sitting in
about a foot or so of water. His knees were bent and his arms had come forward
to rest atop his knees. His hair hung in wet short strands onto his forehead
and across the tops of his ears. She couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled up
inside of her. It didn’t help that Marcus shot her a glare that probably
quelled his strongest soldiers. Her laughter kept coming and was soon joined by
Sir William’s, who had responded to the scream.

William obviously was trying not to laugh. But it was
impossible because now not only was Marcus wet, he had AnnaBelle perched on his
head, while her two siblings settled on one arm and the opposite knee. Their
purring and trilling noises were quite loud as they settled rather happily on
the new “pond perch.”

“I guess this means she turned your proposal down?” William
finally got out amid laughs.

Syranna watched as Marcus glared at William through the
drips still making their way down his face. AnnaBelle flapping her wings
obviously didn’t help improve the situation. Quickly, Syranna made a particular
calling sound and AnnaBelle then left her wet perch and flew to Syranna’s
shoulder.

“What proposal?” Syranna finally asked, barely able to speak
from trying to hold back the laughter.

William stepped to the pond’s edge and extended his hand to
Marcus. Syranna watched as the noble, proud knight accepted the helping hand
and stepped from the pond. Fitz and his brother flew to the far side of the
small lagoon.

“Marriage, of course!” Marcus told her abruptly.

“That’s what I was trying to tell you! There is no need to
marry anyone! You didn’t rape me!”

“I know I didn’t rape you. I made love to you, and I told
you I was going to marry you, damn it!” Marcus yelled right back at Syranna.

William looked from one to the other. “It doesn’t really
matter what happened, princess, because you still have to marry him.” He
shrugged his shoulders as if that settled everything.

Syranna glared from one man to the other. “Listen to me,
damn it all! We didn’t have sex of any kind! So there is no chance that I am
pregnant!”

Marcus was already shaking his head. “Don’t be daft, woman.
I know when I’ve made love to a woman.” Marcus looked at William. “Damn! This
is getting to be ridiculous! Now tell me what I have to supposedly forgive you
for?”

Syranna came to her feet slowly, glaring at the man
demanding an answer. It was obvious to Syranna that Marcus was beginning to
lose what little of his patience remained. “We didn’t have sexual intercourse
because I stopped you!”

Marcus shook his head. For a moment he paused and easily
recalled the memory of his time in Syranna’s bed and how sweet and hot making
love to her had been. Suddenly, he turned back to Syranna, meeting her gaze.
Something didn’t feel right about this memory. It was like his memory was a
picture of the “event” and not filled with the usual recollections of smells,
tastes, sounds and emotions.

“What did you do?” Marcus asked Syranna softly.
Instinctively, he was beginning to perceive the discrepancies.

“I did apologize, remember. I am truly sorry—”

“Damn it all, woman! Just tell me!”

Syranna looked away from Marcus’ accusing glare. “I made you
think that you had accomplished your deed, but instead you fell unconscious. It
wasn’t long, only minutes at the most.”

Marcus had known all along something had not felt quite
right. He had assumed it was guilt over forcing Syranna. He opened his mouth to
answer, when a high-pitched squeal sounded first. Turning, Marcus saw old Uther
pointing at Syranna.

“I knew it! All along, I knew it. Mathayrus told me I was
imagining things, but I knew it.” The old man stopped his gleeful dance and
pointed a gnarled finger at Syranna. “You’re a mind-bender!” Uther accused with
a laugh, and danced another little jig in delight, nearly clicking his heels
together in what appeared to be delight.