dragon archives 04 - dance with a dragon (23 page)

“I’ll carry you,” he said. His head was at her eye level, and reaching out a hand, she touched his neck. It was covered in scales that gleamed in the light. Her fingers glided over the warm surfaces, smooth as polished stone and just as hard. His yellow cat-like eyes held hers, while his hot breath washed over her. She dropped her hand and turned back to the view.

“Do you know I was with Bronwyn when she first changed?” she said. He turned and followed her gaze.

“Bronwyn? Favian’s daughter?”

“Yes. We were out riding when her horse fell, crushing her beneath its weight.” Max lifted his head as a thin stream of flame blew from his mouth.

“Did she hurt you?”

“She would have, but Favian reached her before she could do anything.” Max brought his head closer again.

“That must have been terrifying.”

“It was. But I feel worse for Bronwyn.”

Max lifted his eyebrows in surprise. “She could have killed you, but you feel bad for her?”

Anna nodded. “She has to live with that knowledge for the rest of her long life.”

He turned back to the view in silence. She could feel his chest moving as she leaned against him, the sound of his heart like a wave rolling against the shore and crashing against the rocks, over and over. She had only seen the ocean once, when she had been imprisoned by Jack, but she remembered the incessant sound of the crashing waves. Max had been there, too, protecting her, although she did not know it at the time. Or rather, she had refused to admit it to herself. She glanced at him again. Sharp horns rose from the top of his skull, and down the back of his neck were spikes, curved like the thorns of a rose. They grew smaller as they descended down his neck, disappearing altogether where it joined his back. From the side of his long snout she could see a hint of his teeth, sharp enough to rip raw flesh from an animal. She had never seen him hunt, but he was a dragon, after all. Which also meant he ate other things, too. Humans, for instance. She pushed the thought away.

“I was also the first person Bronwyn carried,” she said.

He turned to look at her. “You were?” he asked, and she could hear the amusement in his voice.

“It was almost as terrifying as when she changed. She raced a waterfall.”

Max laughed. “You were the first person I ever carried, too,” he said.

“I was?” Anna was surprised. Max was many years older than Bronwyn.

“Yes. I practiced lifting a log until it was steady before I offered you a ride.”

Anna grinned. “Well, you were very good. I would never have guessed.”

He grinned. “And then you wanted to have a snowball fight. With a dragon!”

Anna laughed. The snow had just melted against Max’s hot hide. But he had gotten his own back when he shoveled the snow over her with his tail, burying her to the waist. “I remember,” she said.

She looked back at the palace. Could they see the dragon perched on the hill, she wondered? Max shifted slightly, and she looked down to see that his tail had inched forward and was now stretching in front of her feet. It was armed with fierce-looking spikes, far more dangerous than those on his neck, and even at its narrowest point was too thick for her to wrap her hands around. She nudged him slightly with her foot, and the tip of his tail swished over the ground.

“You’re like a dog, with a wagging tail.” He dropped his head and rested the tip of his snout against the rock.

“All dogs need petting,” he said. He inched forward a little and bumped the side of her leg, his eyes wide. She laughed and stretched out a hand.

“Who can resist such a piteous creature?” she said. She stroked his snout.

“Quite pathetic,” he agreed.

She leaned her head back against him as she ran her hand down his neck. “Did you hear the rumors about Rupert?” she asked.

“I did,” he said. He drew away from her touch and looked into her eyes. “But I was still right to speak to Alfred. Rupert would have ensured you met his demands before the week was out if I hadn’t.”

She nodded. “I’m sorry I was so angry.”

“So am I.” He brought his head closer. “I am usually a patient man, but no one rouses me to such heights of annoyance as you do, Anna.”

She grinned. “I can say the same for you.”

He looked away. “Is that why you accepted Garrick’s proposal? Because you were annoyed with me?” She pulled away, startled. “I will admit I was rather rude,” he said, “but I was taken aback by the strength of his feeling for you.” Anna looked away.

“He proposed while I was still at Storbrook,” she said.

“And you didn’t accept his offer until now?” She didn’t reply. “You cannot marry him,” he said. She remained silent. “Anna, listen to me. Garrick will not make you happy.”

“I don’t see what it has to do with you,” she said, with sudden irritation. He leaned closer, and when she turned to look at him the yellow of his eyes had been swallowed in a blaze of flames. She drew in a sharp breath as her heart began to pound in her chest.

“Oh, Anna,” he said softly, “it has everything to do with me.”

“He’s a good man,” she whispered.

“I know he is,” he said. She could smell the flames on his breath. “But he is not the man for you. I told you once that you were made to love wildly and passionately. Garrick loves you, that much is clear, but his calm and steady devotion will quench your spirit.” She stared at him until she felt as though she were drowning in an ocean of fire. Her fingers itched to touch him, but she forced herself to look away.

“I should get back,” she said. He pulled back, turning away as a blaze of flame spewed from his mouth and spread through the air around him. She rose to her feet and shivered at the loss of heat at her back. He had risen to his full height and towered over her. His tail snaked around her, wrapping around her waist, and she could not resist reaching out her hand and feeling the warm, smooth surface. He stared at her for a moment, then lifting her into the air, gently placed her on his back. She leaned forward and wrapped her hands around his neck as he spread out his wings, opening them like a paper fan, and lifted himself into the air. He rose higher and higher, until the rock she had been sitting on was nothing more than a speck, and then they were surrounded by thick mist. Steam rose from his hide, and she wrapped herself tighter around him.

“Fancy a little ride before I take you back?” he said. He didn’t wait for an answer, but angled himself upwards, speeding faster and faster.

“You could crash,” she shouted, but he just laughed.

“Into what? The clouds?”

“Another dragon!”

“I won’t crash. I promise.”

“How do you know?”

“I just know. I can sense when something is approaching, even if I cannot see it. I could walk back to the palace with my eyes closed, and not bump into anything.”

“Even as a human?” He turned to look at her.

“I’m always a dragon, Anna. You know that. Taking on the form of a human does not change what I am.”

“I know. You are always a monstrous beast.”

He grinned. “And you are always a shrew.” She kicked her boots against his hide, and he laughed. “Is that supposed to hurt me?”

“No,” she said, “I am well aware that it is impossible for me to hurt you.”

He turned to face forward in silence. They rose above the clouds, and suddenly the sun was shining brightly on them, making his scales gleam and glimmer. She could see patches of green-blue countryside through the gaps in the cloud, and the twisting, silvery ribbon of the little stream she had forded. He turned to her with a grin.

“I thought I would have to rescue you from the water,” he said.

“You saw me?”

“I did.”

“And you didn’t come to my aid?”

He gave a dry laugh. “I wasn’t sure you would welcome my help.” Anna didn’t reply. The clouds were blocking her view again, but when another patch opened up, she saw they were circling above the wilderness, close to the treetops. He dropped to the ground, landing as lightly as a feather. She slid off his back and walked around to his front.

“Thank you for the ride,” she said.

“It’s always my pleasure,” he said. She stared at him for a moment, her gaze locking with his, then turned and walked in the direction of the palace. Dusk was approaching, and the light was low. Her gown had dried with Max’s heat, but the hem was quickly becoming damp once again, and the cold crept through the soles of her feet. She glanced up, once, to see Max circling above her, just beneath the clouds. He puffed out a small flame as she looked up, and she quickly averted her glance.

She was near the courtyard when she saw someone approaching her, and her heart sank when she realized it was Frank, the guard. His arms were crossed over his chest.

“I saw you,” he said. “What were you doing with a dragon?”

“I think your eyes are deceiving you,” she said, glancing around. “I see no dragon.”

He gave a dry laugh. “You think I am fooled so easily? I’ve wondered before what you are up to, when you go on your rambles. The king will hear of this, and a few coins cannot save you this time. A monster like that always means trouble.” She took a step towards him.

“Go and tell the king,” she said, “and let’s see how much credence he gives to your words.”

He nodded. “I will. And if he ignores my warning, well …” The words trailed into silence. He gave another nod, then turning on his heel, strode away.

Chapter 31

The next few days rushed by in a blur of activity. In between accompanying the queen in her duties, the ladies were expected to help with the planning of the ball. They applied to Rupert for the names of his officers so they could be included on the guest list, and the queen insisted that all plans be presented to her for approval.

There was also the added concern about the royal children. Influenza had swept through the nursery, forcing two nurses and all the children to take to their beds. Matilda refused to enter the sickroom, but the concerns for her health did not extend to her ladies, and they were expected to check on the children a few times each day and deliver a report on their progress to the queen. The physician attended the patients daily, offering tonics made of lungwort and laurel, and within a few days the patients were starting to improve. Anna came back one afternoon with a message from Prince John that he wanted to see his mother, but Matilda shuddered slightly and shook her head. “Take a message to the king,” she told Anna, “that his children wish to see him.”

“Yes, my lady,” Anna replied.

A few enquiries gave Anna the intelligence that the king was meeting with his war council in the council rooms, and Anna made her way down the stairs. The door to the chamber was made of solid wood, but as she drew near, she heard the sound of raised voices shouting in anger. She paused, but as she slowly stepped away from the door, it swung open violently. She pulled back against a pillar as Rupert stormed from the room with Lord Hindley on his heels. “Even John could make better decisions than that,” he threw over his shoulder, sending an angry glance at the man scurrying behind him. The action brought Anna into his line of sight. “What are
you
doing here?” he demanded. “Are you eavesdropping?”

“What?” she said. “No! I was sent to give the king a message.”

“What message? Are you here to tell him that someone tried to give you a kiss?”

Anna flushed angrily. “His son would like him to visit the sickroom,” she said.

Rupert laughed dryly. “I would like to watch you deliver that message, but I haven’t time for such foolishness.” She watched as he marched away, Hindley a step behind, before turning and heading back to the apartments, her message undelivered.

“How goes the training for war?” Anna asked Garrick when she saw him a few days later. As before, he had waited in the courtyard while a message was delivered to Anna in the palace.

“It goes well,” he said. “My men can hit a target from a hundred feet.” He glanced up at the clouds. “They are eager to put their training into practice, but the king has ordered we wait for the spring storms to be behind us before we start the march.”

Anna grimaced. “Men are always so eager to die.”

“No,” he said. “Just to prove our worth. We can’t all be dragons, after all.” A frown crossed his features. “The men at the camp have been talking about a dragon that was seen close to the palace a few days ago.”

Anna shrugged. “What of it?”

“The rumor is that there was a woman with the dragon.” He glanced down at her. “Was that you?”

“I had gone for a walk,” she said. “Max saw me and brought me back.”

“You let him carry you? On his back?” His dismay was evident. “Anna, how could you?”

“What do you mean? What’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong? You let that … creature … carry you on his back.”

“I have ridden on dragons before, Garrick!”

“That is not just any dragon! That is the dragon you have been hankering after for five years!”

“How dare you?” she said. “I am marrying you, not him!” She turned around, but he caught her by the arm.

“Are you? Are you marrying me?”

Anna turned slowly to meet his gaze.

“Yes,” she replied. “I am marrying you. There is nothing between Max and me.”

Garrick was silent for a moment, his gaze intent as he stared at her. He nodded slowly and released her arm.

“I’m sorry, Anna. When I heard that you had been with Max, I could hardly contain myself. What am I compared to a creature like that?”

“You are a good man, Garrick. Strong and kind. You don’t need to be a dragon to be recognized for your worth.”

He smiled and took a step closer. “Thank you,” he said. He lifted his fingers and touched her face gently, then dropped his hand. “I’ve been invited to a ball at the palace.”

“I know.” She grinned. “I helped with the guest list.”

“Ah! I wondered how I came to receive an invitation.”

“All the officers were invited, so your name was on the list anyway.”

He nodded. “That’s what the prince said.”

“The prince?”

“Prince Rupert, Commander-in-Chief. All the officers meet with him once a week to discuss training and tactics. He’s champing at the bit to start the march to the borders.”