Love in the Time of Dragons ld-1 Read online

  Silence filled my little room when I returned to it, but all it did was heighten the desperate confusion of my mind.

  Chapter Four

  “I don’t want to go.” The lid of my traveling basket closed with solid finality, punctuated by the muted sounds of weeping.

  “I don’t like him. He’s arrogant,” I added, watching as my mother’s tirewoman tightened the straps on the basket so it wouldn’t come open during travel. “Although he’s a much better kisser than Mark, the brewer’s son.” “He kissed you?” My mother moved into view, her face pinched and white as she glanced around my bedchamber. Margaret sat on the bed, weeping into her sleeve.

  Sorrow at leaving her filled me, but anger at the sudden upheaval in my life was the emotion that rode me. “Yes. I don’t see why I have to go with him.” “Mama, can’t she stay?” Margaret begged, looking up with red-rimmed eyes.

  I sat next to her on the bed and hugged her. Margaret and I had sometimes had a turbulent relationship, but she was the only sister I had, and I would miss her. Especially since I was being taken from my home against my will.

  “I promised your mother—” Mama choked on the word before continuing. “I promised the one who was your mother that I would raise you as my own to ensure your safety. I have done so, but I know she would not have wanted me to keep you from your true family. I would not let you go, but indeed, I have no choice in the matter. And Lord Baltic said that no ill would come to you, not that I told him anything about your past. Still, he swore that you would not be harmed, and that is what we must hold to.” “I don’t care what that Baltic says,” I murmured, holding tight to Margaret. “I’m not an animal.” “I’ve explained to you, dear — dragons do not take their bestial form very often. They prefer to be in human form, and live amongst us as a mortal would.” She gestured to the maids to carry down my traveling baskets. “Come, Ysolde. It is time. Lord Baltic is waiting, and I do not wish for his anger at a delay to fall upon your father.” “Lord Baltic can go stick his head in the pig’s wallow for all I care,” I said, stalking out the door after the maids.

  Mama made noises of distress, but followed after me, speaking to herself as she ran over the things I was taking with me. “I asked him if he wanted the bed, but he said no, he wanted to travel fast. I have done my best by her, I hope he knows that.” Margaret hurried after me, wiping her face. “Ysolde will be able to visit us, won’t she, Mama?” “Of course I will,” I said as our little procession marched down the stairs to the great hall below. “No one can stop me from seeing you whenever I want.” “Is that so?” a deep male voice asked.

  I turned my head as I stepped off the last step, meeting Baltic’s ebony gaze with a level look. “Yes, that’s so.” He watched me for a moment, then gave a jerky nod of his head. “We will do our best to make you happy, chérie.” “Stop calling me that,” I hissed through my teeth as I passed him.

  His laughter rolled out across the hall in response.

  The leave-taking that followed was not something I ever wish to live through again. I clung first to my mother, then my father, unable to keep tears from spreading tracks down my cheeks, their wetness blending with that of Margaret’s when she hugged me, her face pressed to mine as she whispered her desire that I not be long in returning.

  By the time the imperious Baltic lifted me onto my horse, I wasn’t in much better shape than Margaret, although I had enough presence of mind to glare at him when he gripped my leg as he adjusted the stirrups.

  “I am not a strumpet to be handled such,” I snapped, my emotions frayed and irritated, placing my boot in the middle of his chest and pushing him backwards.

  One of his guards, the one he called Kostya, a black-eyed devil if ever there was one, laughed and said something in a language I did not know.

  Baltic shot me a look filled with ire, but said nothing. Before I knew it, we were riding across the bridge over the moat, the only home I’d ever known slowly slipping away behind me.

  I didn’t speak to any of the dragon men for three days.

  On the fourth, I was sick of my own thoughts, tired of grieving for my lost family, and bored almost to the point of insensibility.

  “Where are we going?” I asked that evening, when we passed through the gates of a small town.

  Baltic, who was riding next to me, shot me an amused glance. “You’re speaking to us?” “Since I have no other alternative,” I said in my most haughty manner. “I would like to know where these other parents of mine are.” We stopped in front of a small inn. The three guards dismounted; one of the men, a short, stocky man named Pavel, disappeared into the low opening of the inn. Baltic tossed the reins of his horse to a stableboy before helping me off my mount. “I am not taking you to your parents.” I stared at him in surprise. “Why not?” He put his hand on my back and gave me a little shove toward the inn. Since it looked like it was about to rain, I went inside, ducking at the low beam at the doorway. The inn was of modest size, smoky and dark inside, but there were no foul odors as you will sometimes find in such places. To the right was a rough staircase leading to a floor above, while to the left was a common room filled with benches and rough-hewn plank tables.

  “We do not yet know who your parents are. The mortal woman would not tell us the name of the dragons who left you with her, and although it would have been possible to get that information from her, such methods can take time, and I wished to be on my way. We will go to my home in Riga, and from there begin the search for your true parents.” I felt like a dog hackling up at his arrogant tone. “I suppose you expect me to be grateful you decided not to torture my mother!” “No.” He looked nonplussed. “She was not your mother. She was merely a mortal who had sworn her fealty to a dragon.” “Did you even talk to her?” I demanded, grabbing his arm when he was about to walk away from me. “Did you even ask her why I was left with her? You didn’t, did you? You couldn’t be bothered to find out what really happened!” His eyes glittered dangerously, but I was never one to take heed when I should, and I saw no reason to start now. He leaned close, his fingers biting hard into my arm, his breath fanning my face as he growled, “You will not address me in such an insolent tone. I am a wyvern. You will show me respect at all times.” “I will respect you when you prove worthy of such an honor!” I snapped back.

  His jaw worked as if he wanted to shout at me, but all he did was release me with a muttered oath. He started off toward the innkeeper, but I wasn’t through with him.“Finding out the truth may have been beneath your concern, but it wasn’t beneath mine! My mother told about the woman she knew from her youth, a woman who was gravely injured, and whom she healed. She told me about how they had remained friends until one day, the woman arrived covered in blood, bearing a baby — me — and begged her to hide the child away lest it be discovered by her enemies. She told my mother the name of that enemy.” Baltic froze and turned slowly around to face me, his expression blank.

  I squared my shoulders and met his gaze without flinching. “Baltic. The woman said the one who would destroy her and the child was named Baltic.” With a snarl, he lunged at me, moving so fast I could barely follow him. I didn’t even have time to scream before he spun me around, ripping off my cloak and shredding my surcoat. I ran forward, sobbing, intent on escaping the suddenly mad warrior, but he caught me, pressing me into the wall as he tore the cotte until only my chemise hid my skin from his view.

  Even that wasn’t enough. As I clutched the wall, terrified that in his animal frenzy he would tear the flesh from my bones, he jerked down my chemise until my back was exposed.

  “Silver!” he snarled, releasing me suddenly. I half collapsed on the stairs, clutching my clothing to my chest, trying to understand what brought on this brainstorm.

  “What is silver?” I asked, flinching when he kicked tables and chairs out of his way as he stormed across the room.

  “The mark you bear.”

  “On my back?” I snatched up the cloak that lay on the gro
und, wrapping it around myself.

  At the sound of wood being smashed, Kostya burst into the room, his sword in hand. “What is it?” Pavel stood at the top of the stairs, silently watching as his master literally destroyed the meager furnishings in the common room.

  Kostya frowned, looking from Pavel, to me, and finally to Baltic. “What’s wrong?” Baltic swore, profanely and with a fluency that I couldn’t help but admire. He slammed a chair into the wall. It exploded in a thousand little splinters. “Ask her!” he snarled, kicking debris out of the way. The innkeeper had run into the back room the second Baltic had become enraged. He peeked out of the door, quickly hiding when Baltic pulled out his sword and started hacking away at a barrel of ale.

  “What have you done?” Kostya asked me, sheathing his sword.

  “Nothing. Baltic is upset over a birthmark on my back.” “That is no birthmark!” Baltic yelled, his face red with fury as he started toward me, his sword still in hand. I backed up, stumbling over a broken chair, wanting nothing more than to get out of the way of the madman. He stalked forward, menace rolling off him, his eyes narrowed and focused on me.

  I thought briefly of running, but knew I wouldn’t make it more than two steps before he would be on me.

  “I’ve done nothing to anger you,” I said, putting on a brave front.

  His lips curled. “You bear the mark of a silver dragon.” Behind him, Kostya looked shocked.

  “Silver, not black! You are the spawn of a traitor, one who has betrayed us! I should kill you where you stand!” He raised the sword until the tip of it was pressed into my throat.

  I stood still, confused why he should be so angry with me, but aware that if I showed the least sign of weakness, he would kill me.

  “Baltic—” Kostya approached, stopping just short of us. His expression was wary, but I did not see in him the unwholesome fury that was in his master. “She is innocent of wrongdoing.” “No silver dragon is innocent,” Baltic said in a low growl. Pain pricked my neck as the sword tip pierced my skin. I lifted my chin, keeping my gaze steady on his. “They will either rejoin us, or they will die.” “But this one knows nothing of our ways. She has not even accepted that she is a dragon,” Kostya argued, gesturing toward me. “What purpose is there in killing her?” Baltic opened his mouth to answer, but I was through being tolerant.

  “His purpose is to bully and frighten,” I said loudly. “He is a coward, nothing more.” His breath hissed in as he leaned forward. “No man has ever spoken those words to me and lived.” “I am not a man,” I said, gritting my teeth against the burn of the sword as it slid deeper into my flesh.

  “You would be dead if you were,” he snarled, lowering the sword and stepping back.

  “You wish to challenge me?” I asked, shoving him hard in the chest.

  He looked so surprised by the action, I had to bite back the urge to laugh. Kostya’s mouth dropped open into an O as I took two steps forward until I stood toe-to-toe with Baltic. “I will meet your challenge, warrior, but on my terms.” An odd look crossed his face. “What terms?” “No weapons,” I said, lifting my chin. “If you wish to challenge me, I will meet you body to body, but with no weapons, no armor. Just your fists against mine.” Pavel gave a short bark of laughter. Kostya’s frown relaxed into a smug smile. Baltic’s face remained expressionless, nothing but his eyes giving away any indication of what he was thinking.

  “Very well,” he said after a minute’s silence. “But you must make it worth the ridicule I will suffer for such an indignity.” “Indignity!” He actually had the nerve to smile when I hit him on the chest. “Because I am a woman, you mean?” “Because I am the wyvern, and you are merely a young female who has not yet learned her place.” He handed Kostya his sword. “I will be happy to teach it to you, but I must have payment.” I eyed him as Pavel came down the stairs to help divest him of his mail and armor. Both guards were smiling. “What form of payment do you seek?” “When I win the challenge, you will disavow your fealty to the traitorous bastard who rules your sept.” “I don’t know any bastards other than Jack, the carter’s brother, and he is simpleminded and hardly could be called traitorous.” “I refer to Constantine of Norka,” Baltic said, all but spitting the words out.

  “Well, I don’t know him either, and I certainly haven’t sworn fealty to him.” “Your parents must have, else you would not bear the brand of the silver dragons on your back.” Baltic peeled off his leather armor and stood before me wearing nothing but boots, braies, and jerkin.

  It struck me for the first time that he was quite comely for a man. The high, sharp cheekbones gave his face a measure of strength. His nose was thin and sharp, sitting below a broad forehead from which dark hair swept back. Twin slashes of straight black eyebrows drew attention to his deep, dark eyes beneath. His jaw was angular, but blunted at the chin, as if God had decided that he had too many angles in his face and wanted to soften the sharpness a little. But it was his mouth that seemed to hold an unholy attraction for me. His lips were full, the lower creating a down-turned crescent, while the upper had a gentle curve that belied the anger held within him.

  “Do you agree to the terms?” he asked, and I realized I’d been staring at his mouth.

  I cleared my throat. “You have neglected to state the full terms. I must have a boon if I defeat you.” All three men laughed loud enough that the remaining guard came in from where he had been tending to the horses.

  “Lady Ysolde has accepted Baltic’s challenge,” Kostya told him when he entered casting curious glances around the now-destroyed common room.

  “What challenge?” the guard asked. His name was Matheo, I remembered from the brief introduction Baltic had made when he took me from my home. Kostya leaned over and whispered to him. Matheo smiled broadly.

  “You will not defeat me,” Baltic said, and once again, I was possessed with the desire to slap him. “But let us live in the world of the impossible, and say that you do. What boon would you like of me?” “I wish to go home,” I said, my gaze steadfast.

  He was silent for a moment, then made me a bow. “I accept the terms of the challenge. When would you like to begin?” I looked around the room. It was only four warrior dragons and myself, the innkeeper wisely keeping himself out of sight.

  “Is there anything wrong with now?” I asked, pinning my cloak so my hands were free.

  “No.” He waved a hand around the room. “Would you like to fight here, or would you prefer we go out—” I moved swiftly. He dropped like a sack full of bulls, his body curling into a circle as he clutched at his privates, unable to speak except to gasp for air.

  “You should never have taken off your codpiece,” I said, gesturing toward that piece of armor that lay half hidden by the leather cuirass that had been discarded a few minutes before. “And I believe this qualifies as a win.” His guards, all three of them, stared with open-mouthed surprise as Baltic stopped writhing on the ground, his eyes open and glaring at me with promised retribution. He uncurled himself, his face beautiful and deadly.

  “You… will… pay…” he finally managed to get out.

  “No, I think you will pay — you will take me home.” I kept my ground as he got painfully to his feet, his body hunched as if… well, as if he’d just taken a very hard kick to the privates. “Do you deny that I won the challenge?” His face worked again, and I was certain that he was going to either spit at me or strike me, but he did neither; he simply turned and slowly made his way up the stairs to where the bedchamber was located.

  The guard Matheo, after a long look at me, followed him. Pavel shook his head and gathered up Baltic’s armor before doing the same.

  Only Kostya was left with me, and he watched me with an expression that I found difficult to read.

  “You do not approve of my method of winning?” I asked him.

  He was silent for the count of six, then shook his head. “You are a woman. He is a wyvern. I would expect you to use whatever method you could to di
sable him. It is not how you struck the blow that you will regret.” “Then what?” I asked, feeling more than a little ashamed at the way I’d taken Baltic off guard.

  Slowly, Kostya smiled. “There may come a day when you wish to enjoy those parts you have this day so grievously injured.” Heat flooded into my cheeks as he, too, made a bow, then went outside.

  Had he seen me staring at Baltic’s mouth, and assumed I was a woman of no virtue? I couldn’t blame him if he did. I didn’t feel particularly virtuous around Baltic, not with my mind reliving over and over again that kiss in the forest.

  “By the rood,” I swore to myself. “Kostya’s right. But the saints help me, Baltic is driving me insane.” Guilt ate at me later, as I sat alone in a cramped bedchamber, nothing more than a closet, really, with a pallet crammed up against the eaves, a three-legged stool, and a cracked chamber pot.

  The inn boasted two rooms — this one, and the larger room that took up the remainder of the upper floor — but as it was a communal room, one containing several pallets upon which Baltic and his guards would sleep, I had been given the closet. I walked the two paces that was the available free space, turned, and paced back, listening with half an ear to the sounds coming up through the floorboards.

  Kostya had evidently made things right with the innkeeper, because earlier, when I had come in from using the privy, two lads and a frightened-looking woman were clearing away the debris left by Baltic’s fit, and shortly after that, three new benches appeared. Two hours later the locals slowly arrived, no doubt reassured that the mad lord was safely asleep upstairs. The soft murmur of conversation drifted upward, livened now and again by a hearty laugh that was stifled quickly, as if the patrons feared causing too much noise.

  “This is silly. He challenged me. He held a sword to my neck. I shouldn’t feel the least bit sorry for what I did,” I told myself, touching the spot on my neck where the sword had pierced my flesh.