DarykHunter (27 page)

“Perhaps.” He handed retrieved some coin from his pocket and handed it to her. “For your service to Minilos and myself.”

Her eyes widened as she stared at the coins. It was probably more money than she’d seen in her entire life. “Thank you, my lord.” She curtseyed again. “Thank you.”

She scurried away to do her work.

Dane exited Minilos’ rooms through the tunnel and returned to his own quarters. The room was damaged and obviously plundered. No surprise there. He discovered most of his food supply had also been taken. He hurried outside, intent on observing the damage and if the Daryk Ones who lived had managed to shore up the walls. He ran across the courtyard.

Men already worked under the hot day, their backs gleaming with sweat as they hurried to reconstruct two sizable holes in the curtain wall, and to rebuild the destroyed donjon.

Minilos directed the work, his tall form, booming voice and extravagant gestures betraying his position near the donjon. He saw Dane and gestured for him to come over. Dane complied, lengthening his stride.

“Is that bits of dragon I see scattered around?” Dane asked, teasing.

Minilos grimaced. “I wish. Garbage and rotting food thrown about. We need to clean that up. I think some of it disappeared in the night because of castle dogs and perhaps some beggars looking for meat.”

Minilos commandeered two workers to perform cleanup. Dane found himself gazing around the area in a daze and his mind trying to catch up with what he knew had to happen. “Thank you for working on all of this. It gave me time to mend.”

Minilos wiped his brow. “You don’t look mended. There are still bruises about your body and perhaps your mind as well.”

“Superficial. I need to ask you yet another favor, old friend.”

Minilos grunted. “I know that voice. Is this the part where you tell me you’re leaving the castle to find your mate?”

Dane looked around him again, his natural instinct to command warring with his needs as a man. “You’re very perceptive.”

“You called her name when you were unconscious. She’s on your mind. You’re really going to Magonia to find her?”

“Something is wrong. I had a dream that she was taken to a camp and it’s still in Dragonia. My father always told me that some mates have a strong mental connection, and perhaps this wasn’t a dream at all, but a cry for help.” Minilos didn’t say a word, and for that Dane felt grateful. Dane never talked about what had happened to his mother, but it burned a hole in him every time he thought of it. “Father was right. There is a strong connection that goes beyond the physical.”

Minilos kicked aside a piece of rubble. “You are saying you…love her?”

“You make it sound dirty.”

With a shrug Minilos leaned down and picked up a large piece of rubble. He tossed it in a growing pile that would be salvaged to rebuild the donjon. “It is in my world. But I never said my world is yours. You aren’t going to lose her like you did your mother, Dane.”

Dane shook his head and planted his hands on his hips. “I keep telling myself that, but another part of me doesn’t believe it. Especially not after the dream.”

“Lovesick men are easy to read though.” Minilos grinned and dropped to one knee. He bowed his head. “Yes, my lord. As you wish, your will be done.”

Dane heard the teasing in his friend’s voice, but when Minilos left his head bowed, Dane grunted in disapproval. “Get up, you lout. Everyone is looking. There’s no reason for you to bow to me. I don’t take this whole lord-and-master thing to heart.”

Minilos did as asked, but he frowned. “You should. It is your duty.”

Dane didn’t like hearing it. “I know. But I won’t rest until I know my woman is safe. Ketera is a stranger to this place. She’s survived much since she came here, but if anything happens to her because I ignored what I feel I would never be able to forgive myself.”

“She knew the danger when she left here. We can trust Finius.”

“I understand that. But Drakus managed to damage this castle far more than we expected. The Daryk Ones have been dealt a blow. We must pay attention to him whether we want to or not.”

“Then you had better go to her.” Minilos’ voice held firmness. Truth.

Dane nodded. “I’d ask you to help me find her, but you are needed here. I will declare you the leader of this castle until we return.”

Minilos’ eyes clouded, uncertainty filling his gaze. “If you go this alone, the dangers will be vast.”

“Aren’t they always?”

“I could go with you.”

Dane shook his head, his eyes scanning the rubble and the men cleaning up and rebuilding. “Normally you know I’d ask. But not this time. I cannot put anyone else in danger.”

“You could take Daryk Ones with you.”

“They’re needed here at the castle to help rebuild.”

Minilos stared at him for quite a long time before he started back to work, directing the other men to do this and that. “I understand. Don’t worry, my friend. I’ll take care of this castle as if it were mine.”

“For a few days it is.” With that Dane walked away to make preparations for his journey. “Just don’t get any ideas after that.”

“Wait!” Minilos waved. “You’ll need supplies. Take what you need from the tavern. And don’t bother leaving money for them. You know I won’t take it.”

Dane snorted softly. “I know.” He returned to the spot where they worked on the donjon. “Before I depart, I’ll leave a list of things I think should happen at the castle while I’m gone. Will you do as I bid?”

“Of course.” Minilos smirked. “Even if you weren’t the high-and-mighty lord of the castle, I’d do as you bid because you’re a damn fine man and friend. You’d do the same for me.”

Dane chuckled and turned away.

Dane took the tunnel back to Minilos’ tavern to get food, supplies and additional weapons. After he’d borrowed a pack and food and water, he started to leave money for his friend, but knew from Minilos’ admonishment it wouldn’t be welcome. With an evil grin, he left money anyway.

As Dane exited the vacant tavern, he noted it hadn’t been ransacked the way he’d expected. Perhaps even the rogue Daryk Ones decided to be loyal to Minilos? Brushing off his wayward thoughts, he decided to pay attention to his instincts from this point forward. As the Tarrian jungle surrounded him, he rushed into the area knowing that his mate needed him. Whatever came, he would do anything to have her safe and back in his arms.

* * * * *

Drakus turned, hand flashing out as he grabbed the candlestick in midair. Ketera stepped back, heart thumping wildly. She shouldn’t be surprised he moved that fast. Rogue or not, he was still a Daryk One with the reflexes to match. If she died in this moment perhaps she could see Dane in the afterlife promised by Magon.

The two Daryk Ones guarding the tent opening grabbed her by the arms. Pain stabbed through her shoulders and she gasped. Drakus stepped toward her slowly, his eyes burning red.

“Let her go,” Drakus said.

They released her and she rubbed one shoulder in reaction.

Drakus stopped a foot in front of her, still holding the candlestick. By now several men had exited their tents and stood watching.

“Your grief and anger are understandable. Because of that, I’ll forgive your impetuous action.” Drakus waved a hand at the other men and they backed away.

Drakus took her arm and paraded her back into the tent. When the tent flap closed, she gave rein to her furious emotions.

“Get your hands off me.” She yanked her arm out of his grip despite the shooting pain in her shoulder. “You bastard.”

He chuckled. “My father took vows with Dane’s mother. It is Dane who is the bastard. You may be angry with me for Dane’s death, but perhaps you wouldn’t think so highly of him if you knew the truth.”

“What are you talking about?”

He gestured to the bed. “Sit down.”

On shaky legs, she did as he asked. His searing red eyes frightened her in a way she hadn’t experienced with Dane.

When Drakus settled beside her on the bed, his body touching hers, she rebelled. She scooted away, putting a good two feet between them.

“You seem to think I have no regret at Dane’s death. Did I give you that impression?”

She scoffed, unable to repress her contempt. “You know you did. If you felt remorse you wouldn’t have taken me in the first place.”

“I took you because you’re Magonian. At least that’s what the spy told me. If I can get you with child, then we’ll know it’s true.”

Her stomach curled. “I won’t have sex with you.”

“Believe me, when the time comes, you will be more than ready to have sex with me.” He shrugged. “Of course there is an alternative that might serve Dragonia just as well.”

She seized on it. “What is that?”

“You could become a dragon sacrifice.”

“What?” Disbelief warred with a strong suspicion that he spoke the truth.

“Did Dane tell you about how my mother sacrificed herself for the good of Draconus?”

She held back a wince as her shoulder pained her again. “Your mother sacrificed herself for Dane’s father, just as Dane’s father sacrificed himself for her. It had nothing to do with your god.”

Drakus’ mouth parted in a wide smile as he laughed. He threw his head back and almost roared with it. When he looked back at her, the red in his eyes had completely disappeared. “You are far more intelligent and intriguing than I’d hoped. I like you.”

“Do not waste your time liking me.”

“Defiant.” He reached out, and she shrank back. He allowed his hand to drop. “But you will bend to the will of Draconus before long.”

“And don’t use your religion as a smoke screen for your brutality.”

She half imagined he’d deck her at any minute, just reach out and put an end to her with his enormous strength. She didn’t care. What did she have to lose? At this rate, she didn’t know if she’d ever escape the continent and return to Magonia to save her father.

He tilted his head to the side, watching her as if she could be a delectable piece of meat he wanted to taste. “Did I give you the impression I believe all that cock and dragon dung? Religion is quite the convenience, my lady. A man in my position must pretend he believes in the predominant system. My father named me Drakus because he believed I would have the power of the god. He knew I could bring the so-called god Magon to its knees, and therefore Magonia to its knees. A real zealot, my dear father.”

“A sick man.”

“Indeed. He wanted Magonia under his thumb because he believed Dragonia knew the only right way. I’ve never believed it.”

Astonishment filled her. “Then why did you follow his path?”

“I used it. The people of Dragonia will follow any dogma if given incentive. Making babies is one. Preserving our way of life, the sanctity of our social structure, the morals. All of it could be destroyed in a moment if we allowed Magonians and Dragonians to mix.”

Taken aback, she didn’t know what to say. Finally she found her voice. “But I’ve heard your people already accept other religions.”

He snorted. “Some do. Most don’t.”

“But you want to breed with Magonians. Isn’t that mixing?”

“I want to mix precisely because I don’t believe the dogma, my lady. I know that Magonia and Dragonia must merge. Of course, Dragonian society will have to make war on Magonia to make Magonia see the right way of doing things.” He shrugged, face totally unconcerned. “I’ll allow the people to imagine I care about their ideals. All I want is the power. The land. The breeding to grow more of my warriors. My Daryk Ones. Draconus and his rules are nothing more than means to the power, my lady. Nothing more.”

Flabbergasted, she didn’t know whether to laugh in complete disbelief or to admire his evil ingenuity. “You are using the people. Making them think you believe what they believe when your motivations are entirely self-serving.”

“As I said, you are a very intelligent woman.” His eyes sparked with more amusement. “No wonder Dane wanted you.”

If he thought she’d be flattered, he didn’t know her well. He didn’t seem concerned by her defiance or even vexed and angry anymore.

Ketera, on the other hand, hadn’t forgotten one moment of her pain. “Since Dane is dead, and I don’t want you, what is the point in keeping me? Let me go back to Magonia and free my father.”

“Free him?”

“He’s a prisoner. A religious and political one.”

Drakus tilted his head to the side again, as if trying to detect a lie. “Indeed. That is a shame. I hear Magonian prisons are hell.”

While she didn’t know the conditions prisoners lived in, she knew she wouldn’t last much longer under this man’s regime. “Just let me go.”

“I think not. The people demand a sacrifice or a breeding. It is their will. Besides, Dane’s mother and father gave themselves to the prosperity and lifeblood of Dragonia by becoming a dragon sacrifice. You could too.”

“No. I’ll never kill myself.”

“Oh, you don’t have to be willing, my lady. Not in the end. We can always arrange for you to be tied to a stake for the dragon’s meal. While there is little honor in that route, it still produces the same result.”

“Which is?”

“Our land is prosperous and the god Draconus will make certain the people are fertile. Or at least they’ll think that.”

She wanted to stand up, to run, to scream. “It isn’t true.”

“It is in our texts and as far as rogue Daryk Ones are certain, there is little you can do about it.”

She hadn’t read anything about dragon sacrifice in the texts and wondered why, but didn’t plan to let him know that. “What evidence is there for such…”

She couldn’t put a name on it.

He leaned forward slightly, his eyes now mellowing until the red disappeared. “One of the Daryk Ones in camp took a Magonian as spoils when we ransacked a small vessel a few months back. She is pregnant and soon will bear a child. She became pregnant the very first days of them meeting.” He reached out, but she shrank back. He laughed softly. “You have nothing to fear from me.”

She glared. “How can you say that? Dragon sacrifice?” She shook her head. “There is nothing you can do to persuade me to participate.”

“Are you certain?” He moved and it was so fast it happened before she could blink.