Dragon Emperor 18, page 20
“I wouldn’t come much closer, dragon,” one of the masked men chuckled. “I could have Mata killed in a matter of seconds.”
“I’m a pretty fast guy, asshole,” I snarled. “I could kill all of you in a matter of seconds, too.”
One of the men who stood behind the apparent leader froze for a moment, but the leader shook his head and clucked his tongue.
“Now, that isn’t any way to treat the citizens of Narsglow who have apparently welcomed you with open arms,” he said and pressed an offended hand to his chest. “Our lovely king and queen have shown you great hospitality, and you come in here calling me names?”
“I could think of a few worse things,” I growled as I summoned a fiery shield. “Want to see?”
Even through the small holes, I could see several of the men’s eyes widened with fear at my small show of power, and I bared my teeth in a feral grin as I waited for one of them to make a move.
“That won’t be necessary,” the leader said with a wave of his hand. “We only want one death.”
“And who might that be?” Nokomis demanded as she stepped forward to stand next to me.
“Catahe, of course,” he shot back. “He’s the only one who deserves such punishment.”
“And you don’t?” she retorted. “You’ve kidnapped a member of the royal family and are holding her hostage.”
“She’s only a member of the royal family by marriage,” he replied with a shrug. “That hardly counts, and since the queen’s gone soft, we could argue it isn’t treason.”
“If I walk over there and take her, what will you do to stop me?” Nokomis asked as her grip tightened on the Sword of Mercy. “I’m not a royal by marriage, right?”
“Come now, Your Highness, we don’t need to do anything rash,” the leader said and shook his head. “We have no intention of harming you or Mata. We merely wanted the queen’s attention. Where is she?”
“At the palace with Mata’s husband,” I replied. “And they’re all going to be pissed when they get here, so the smart choice would be to just let her go now and surrender.”
As the leader pretended to think it over, I tried to figure out a way to send word to Isi without conjuring a messenger dragon right in front of the kidnappers. I didn’t want her or the king to barge in and get attacked, too, but she needed to know we’d found Mata.
Then I remembered something Miraya had said to me a few weeks ago about how I could always call to her even if she wasn’t in my spiritual sea.
Miraya, can you hear me? I asked her.
“I’m afraid we can’t do that,” the leader finally said. “We currently have leverage, and we intend to keep it that way until we have our audience with the queen and the musk ox’s head on the ground.”
“You have no idea what you’re asking,” Nokomis hissed. “There is more to the situation than you know!”
I can hear you, the sword spirit said. What do we do?
You need to go get Queen Isi, I told her, and I kept my eyes on the kidnappers as I spoke to her. Tell her Mata is unharmed for now, but she needs to talk to them. Can you tell one of your sisters to go get her?
Bastards! Miraya grunted. I think I’m close enough to call out to Juniper. Then Skye can go tell the queen.
Do it, I said and then refocused on the conversation with the kidnapping leader.
“…so, I’d say I know enough,” he finished and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Yeah, yeah, magic is banned, he broke the law,” I said as I rolled my eyes. “That’s the only part anyone cares about, but like the princess said, you don’t know everything.”
“He didn’t even stop that creature from attacking,” the leader insisted. “He didn’t become a hero who deserves pity! He’s a criminal, and so are you. Maybe I should demand your head, as well. I’m sure the queen will agree Mata’s life is worth that much.”
“You’d threaten another royal?” I arched an eyebrow at him and laughed. “I really think you might have lost your marbles.”
“My marbles?” he echoed. “Don’t speak in riddles, dragon! There is no justice for the crime until the mage is dead!”
“You don’t even know what justice is,” Nokomis argued. “Justice is about setting things right, and killing Catahe doesn’t do that! It doesn’t help anyone!”
“It helps all the people of Odrein feel safer,” he said as he took a step closer to Nokomis. “We’d all sleep better knowing Catahe couldn’t use any more blood magic. For all we know, he’s the one who summoned the beast that attacked us!”
I took a half-step in front of Nokomis to keep him from getting any closer to her as the fire burned in my chest.
“If you only knew how ridiculous you sound,” Isabella muttered under her breath.
“Does the fairy have something to add?” the kidnapping leader asked as his eyes darted past me to Isabella.
“I’m not a fairy,” she spat out. “And you’re making a big mistake. If the queen doesn’t kill you, Lord Evan will. He doesn’t take kindly to people hurting innocents.”
Isabella had obviously picked up on my barely controlled rage, and my inner dragon roared with the desire to roast the kidnappers where they stood, but I wasn’t sure if I could keep the flames away from Mata so I resisted the urge as my lip curled with disdain.
“She chose to marry one of the royals,” the leader snorted.
“Are you implying she chose to be kidnapped?” Nokomis asked as her mouth dropped open in shock.
“Well, I’m just saying--” he started.
Then the cold air seemed to drop another twenty degrees as Isi, Tecumseh, and Tawa barged into the shop and stood next to me. Nokomis shrugged her shoulders back with triumph, and the kidnappers all took a cowering step backward.
“You were just saying what exactly?” Isi asked in a chilly voice.
“I was just saying how reasonable our lovely queen is when it comes to handling criminals in Odrein,” he said as he adjusted the grip on his morning star. “I knew you’d come and agree to finish the execution to save Mata.”
“I agree to nothing,” the queen hissed. “And if you think I don’t recognize your voice, Lenno, you’re an even bigger fool than I thought.”
The other men sucked in sharp breaths as the leader fumbled for a moment and then removed his mask.
Lenno was some type of reptilian Demi-Human, though I wasn’t sure what type would live in such a cold climate. His yellow eyes blinked once as he gaped at the queen, and yellow and brown scales dotted the skin on his forehead and cheeks.
“I’m no fool, Your Majesty,” he retorted. “I knew you’d come running for Mata. You always have.”
“Taking advantage of a long-time friendship is beneath even you,” Isi said and put her hands on her hips. “But our friendship has been over for many years, and I will not hesitate to offer you the punishment you seek for Catahe if you don’t release Mata in the next ten seconds.”
Lenno froze, and his mouth hung open in surprise.
This was an unexpected development, and I could see the reptile seemed to expect some kind of special treatment since he knew the queen, but Isi had no intention of letting him get away with the kidnapping.
“B-But we just want--” Lenno started.
“Six,” Isi cut him off and began to tap her toe on the floor. “I have no problem giving Lord Evan permission to use the various forms of magic he has available on you, Lenno. Four.”
“Come on, Lenno!” one of the other kidnappers begged. “Just do it!”
“It’s not justice!” Lenno stomped his foot in frustration.
“Two,” the queen nearly whispered.
I let the flames on my shield rise and flicker for dramatic effect until the Demi-Human leader finally threw up his hands and sighed.
“Let her go,” he said with a look of defeat on his reptilian face.
The other kidnappers lowered their knives to cut the ropes around Mata’s torso, and she raced forward to sag into Tawa’s arms.
“Thank you,” she breathed with relief.
“Guards, take Lenno and his cohorts to the dungeons,” Tecumseh ordered. “I think they’ll find some company there.”
“The same place where Catahe is?” Lenno grumbled. “He’ll probably put some evil magic on us or something.”
“Or you can get to know him and see he’s a reasonable person,” Nokomis said with a furrowed brow.
“Doubt it,” the lizard Demi-Human muttered.
“Do oxen eat lizards?” I wondered. “Because I’d much prefer he does that than evil magic. Evil magic wouldn’t take as long.”
“I’m a gecko Demi-Human.” Lenno scowled as the guards tied thick cords around his hands behind his back. “Not a lizard.”
“Maybe they eat geckos,” I said with a shrug. “I could roast you up for him, you know.”
Lenno’s yellow eyes widened with fear, and then he looked down at his feet as the royal guards led him out the front door with his men right behind them.
“I’d very much like to watch you roast him for doing that to Mata,” Isi said with a curled lip as the last of the kidnappers left the shop. “I can think of at least ten different ways he should be executed for this fiasco.”
“Let’s not be hasty, my queen,” Tecumseh advised her. “We have our city meeting in a little while, and we can deal with your old friend after that.”
“Yeah, what was that about?” I asked. “You knew that lunatic?”
“Lenno and I were classmates when we were children,” the queen explained as we all began to make our way back to the castle. “As were Mata and I.”
Some of Isi’s fiery rage began to subside as she held Mata’s hand and walked down the road away from the market.
“I guess I never thought about the queen going to school,” I chuckled.
“Of course, I had to have a proper education,” she replied and pursed her lips. “You’re a lord of your city. Didn’t you take classes?”
“Uh, yeah,” I said with a half-smile. “I sure did.”
Granted, they were regular classes at a regular school for your average, everyday human, but she didn’t need to know all the Earthly details.
“We should get back to the palace,” Tecumseh urged us. “I don’t think Sewati was very happy we made him stay behind.”
“It was for the best,” Mata said and offered the king a soft smile. “He would have been devastated to see me like that.”
“He’ll still be devastated that you were injured,” Isi murmured and gently touched the bruise on Mata’s cheek.
“I can help with that,” I suggested before I quickly healed the bluish-purple mark that blemished her skin. “There, it’s gone.”
“Your healing power is quite remarkable,” the queen said as she looked over Mata’s face. “I’ve never heard of such an ability in a dragon.”
“He was born with it,” Alyona explained. “It’s been quite handy on our mission.”
“I’m sure it has.” Isi smiled as she squeezed Mata’s hand and continued to the palace.
No snide remarks about my use of magic, not even a stern glare at the fire shield she obviously saw when they came into the shop.
Maybe the queen was warming up to the idea that magic could be used for good.
Sewati was already on the front steps when we came into view of the palace, and he raced across the snow with the deftness of his cat side before he scooped his wife up into his arms and hugged her close.
“Thank the gods,” he murmured.
“And your sister,” she reminded him with a glance over her shoulder. “I’m very proud of the restraint she showed with Lenno.”
“Lenno kidnapped you?” Sewati asked and looked at his twin. “What did you do to him?”
“Well, I didn’t kill him.” Isi smirked. “But he’s in the dungeons now. I guess he thought taking Mata would make me go through with Catahe’s execution.”
“What did you promise him?” Sewati narrowed his eyes on the queen with apparent suspicion. “Is there an execution planned now?”
“Why would I give into him?” Isi retorted. “I told him to let Mata go, or he’d be the one getting an execution today. I don’t let criminals tell me what to do with criminals.”
“And then you let him live,” her brother said, and the suspicion didn’t quite leave his voice.
“Yeah, I don’t just go around executing every criminal on the spot,” she shot back and pursed her lips. “I can’t guarantee that I won’t kill him, but I haven’t.”
“Listen, Isi,” Sewati sighed. “I know you want revenge for what he did to Mata, but you can’t let their actions determine yours. You did the right thing by putting him in jail for now.”
“Your mercy knows no bounds,” Isi said in a sarcastic tone. “If it was Tecumseh, I’m not sure if I’d be able to resist the urge to have my revenge.”
“And then you would be the one living with that decision,” he reminded her. “I’m always here to remind you that strength isn’t always about who can tear the most heads from their shoulders. Sometimes, it’s about who can understand their people best.”
“I have been feeling a little disconnected,” the queen said and scrunched up her nose in annoyance. “I suppose this little city meeting should help with that.”
“Absolutely!” I grinned. “But I do suggest getting breakfast first. It’s hard to deal with the annoying ones without food.”
“Yes, breakfast, then meeting,” Tecumseh agreed as he ushered us inside.
Mata and Sewati sat together at the dining table and huddled closely as they ate their breakfasts in content silence. Isi and Tecumseh took bites and intermittently discussed what would happen at the meeting, and I considered joining in the conversation but decided against it. I’d given them a few ideas already, and I didn’t need to hold their hands through the entire process. They had just needed a different idea to get back in touch with their people, which was made very clear by the kidnapping this morning.
There was obviously an issue with the way Catahe’s trial had been handled, and it felt like the people really had no idea what was going on with the tribal’s use of magic. I really wanted the royals to agree to get rid of the ban and start magic education for the citizens of Narsglow, but we needed to take baby steps.
And the first step was making sure they didn’t kill a mage just because he’d tried to help them with magic.
By the time we finished breakfast, it was time to leave for the meeting, and the guards formed a protective circle around all of us. I wasn’t used to having a royal guard-- and honestly, we didn’t need it-- but it certainly brought extra attention to us as we walked toward the Volin.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when the king and queen had named a location large enough for all the citizens of Narsglow to gather, but I could agree the Volin certainly fit the bill.
The building reminded me of a stadium or coliseum with a huge open space surrounded by row after row of seating. There was room for thousands of people to fit comfortably in the audience, and several rows were already filled with Narsglow residents. A large table had been set out in the middle of the Volin, and half a dozen chairs were lined up against it.
“I don’t think there’s enough room for all of us out there,” Nike said with a sly smile. “So, I guess you can be the one in the spotlight, brother.”
“Oh, thanks,” I muttered as Nike led Mata and my lovers over to the stadium seating.
I plopped down next to Nokomis, and Tawa, Tecumseh, Sewati, and Isi sat down at the table and read over their notes.
“This is very exciting,” Nokomis said in a low voice as she looked around at the gathering crowd. “I feel like we’re about to perform.”
“This is much more like a stage than our meeting place in Hatra,” I replied with a grimace. “There aren’t stacking rows of people watching us there.”
“Maybe I’ll get to see it one day,” she nearly whispered.
“That would be great,” I agreed as I turned to smile at her. “You’re always welcome to go wherever I do.”
I felt a warm glow across our soul bridge, and something told me the snow leopard Demi-Human would be more than happy to go back to Hatra with us.
Nokomis giggled and turned her attention to her father as he rose from his chair and held out his hands.
“Thank you all for coming!” he boomed. “Today, we are here to discuss a few current issues in our beautiful city, and Queen Isi and I have decided we’d like to include our people in that discussion.”
Shocked whispers rippled throughout the crowd at the king’s words, and Isi stood up to address the people as well.
“It’s something we’ve never done before, but with all the violence and uncharacteristic behaviors taking place as of late, it seems we have to step outside the norm to find a solution together,” she declared. “First, we will discuss the violence against our fellow citizens, the musk ox Demi-Humans.”
A few of the ox Demi-Humans in the crowd turned to each other with looks of concern and confusion, and the guards had to quiet the rising voices of the other people.
One ox Demi-Human relatively close to us raised his hand, and Isi pointed at him to give him permission to speak.
“Your Majesty, we have done nothing to warrant the treatment we have received,” he said carefully, and he looked around as though he waited to be attacked. “My home was vandalized, and my children have been called names and been picked on for two days straight. It’s outrageous!”
“Yeah, outrageous!” another musk ox agreed.
“Well, you shouldn’t be associating with criminals!” a woman called out from a few rows over.
“None of us even know him!” the man insisted as he wrung his hands in front of him and snorted with frustration. “Do you see what we’re dealing with? I’d never even seen Catahe until his trial, and the other Demi-Humans are acting like we were in the same herd!”
