dragon archives 05 - forever a dragon (18 page)

Lleland nodded. “Then let’s give it a try.”

They scrambled their way out of the cave again, and walked once more around the base of the cliff, searching for another route. The dead stump of a tree provided a boost up the first few feet, and from there it was little more than a scramble. The side of the mountain was covered in loose scree that slipped as they climbed, and more than once Lleland grabbed rocks and bushes to stop himself falling. By the time they reached the top his hands were scraped and his breeches had a rip in the knee, but these inconveniences were forgotten when he rose to his feet and stared out at the surrounding vista. Storbrook Castle lay below them, a massive golden palace that glittered in the sunlight. Beyond the castle the mountains stretched in every direction, disappearing into a haze of purple and white. He turned and saw an alpine lake shimmering in the distance, while further to the left a high waterfall cascaded down the mountain. Other waterfalls caught his eye as he continued to turn, and occasionally he could see the river that twisted its way down to the valley below, more than half a mile away.

“It’s a long way down, isn’t it?”

Lydia peered over the edge. “Not really.” She glanced back at Lleland with a smile. “It’s all just a matter of perspective.”

“Well, from my perspective it looks very far!”

Lydia laughed. “Perspectives can change. If you were an eagle, then the distance from here wouldn’t seem very far.”

“Ah! But I’ll never be an eagle.”

“True!” Lydia cocked her head slightly. “Then let’s say an eagle – a very big eagle – swoops you into its talons and flies you to its eyrie way up there.” She pointed to a mountain peak in the distance. “You’ll think the distance to the valley from here quite short after that.”

Lleland laughed. “I’ll concede that you’re right, Mistress Drake. If that were to happen, then I’d find this a quite comfortable height.” She grinned and turned back to the view. “Which way is the village?” he asked, but when she pointed north, he could only see more mountains.

“Have you ever seen such a view?” she asked him, and he shook his head.

“No,” he replied.

“Was it worth the climb to this great height?”

“Absolutely!”

They stood in silence for a few minutes, drinking in the view. A ground squirrel scurried over the bare rock and Lleland glanced down, noticing the hole in the ground for the first time. He walked over to it and dropped to his haunches as he squinted into the shadows.

“We can go down through the funnel,” Lydia said, watching him.

“After you,” he said. She sat down at the edge and scooted forward, then lowered herself into the hole, using her hands and feet to brace herself.

“Are you sure you can manage?” he called as she dropped into the darkness. Her laugh echoed between the stone walls.

“Of course! I’ve done this many times,” she said. “Come on.” He waited for another moment, then carefully lowered himself to the edge. A small stone skittered into the darkness.

“Watch out,” he called, relieved when she ducked out of the way.

“I’m fine,” she said. He lowered himself into the funnel and paused a moment as he braced himself against the walls, then slowly started his descent.

Lydia watched as he dropped the last few feet to the floor of the cave. She had already donned her gown. “There’s a waterfall not too far away,” she said. “We can go past it on our way back.”

“Do we have to defy death to get there?”

She laughed. “I won’t lead you into danger.”

He looked at her skeptically. “Please forgive me if I don’t find that reassuring! But lead the way. I’m right behind you.”

She smiled. “You’ll just have to trust me.”

Chapter 19

It was a short hike to the waterfall, where Lydia waded in the shallows of a pool just below. From there she led Lleland through a forest, and finally back towards Storbrook, arriving just in time for the evening meal. It was served in the hall, and Lleland joined the Drakes on the dais. The priest said a blessing, then joined the servants as they sat below. When the meal was finished, someone brought out a fiddle, and an impromptu dance soon followed.

“Does this happen often?” Lleland asked.

“Almost every evening,” Lydia said. “Come dance with me.” She slipped a warm hand into his and pulled him to his feet. “Sometimes Cook or one of the others will sing, or Fritz will regale us with a story. His father was a traveling bard, and he knows plenty of tales.”

“The servants don’t mind living so remotely?”

“Most of them have been here for generations, and this is their home as much as ours.” She led him into the middle of the hall, and they joined hands with the other dancers. She laughed as they circled around the hall, her hand in Lleland’s. It was with reluctance that he let it go when the music ended and the servants started clearing the hall.

Lleland had no trouble falling asleep that night and was awake at dawn. It was a beautiful morning, full of the promise of summer, and he flung the shutters wide to allow the warm air into the room. A flicker of light through the open window caught his attention and he gazed into the distance. A pair of dragons were circling between the mountains, their scales glimmering in the morning light. Lleland grabbed a tunic and breeches and quickly pulled them on, his eye still on the dragons outside. He glanced at the bow and arrows standing in the corner, but turned away without taking them, Aaron’s warning ringing in his mind.

All was quiet within the halls and passages as he made his way downstairs, but in the courtyard people were already bustling about, getting ready for the day. He nodded a greeting at those he recognized from the previous evening as he hurried towards the gate. He could no longer see the dragons, but hoped that once he was beyond the walls he would catch sight of them again. If he could get an idea of where they had their lair, perhaps he could persuade Lydia to take him in that direction.

He passed beneath the raised portcullis, and scrambled down the stony path that led to the castle. He had noticed a fork in the path the previous day which led to a higher elevation. He reached the summit of the next peak a half hour later. Behind him lay Storbrook, tall and proud on its rocky height, while soaring through the sky above him were the two dragons he had seen from his window. While both dragons were golden in color, one was lighter than the other and looked almost dainty compared to the huge beast beside it. Their tales streamed out behind them and massive wings glittered in the morning light. Dropping to his haunches, Lleland watched as they swept through the sky.

The dragons drew closer, and Lleland could see the bright yellow of their cat-like eyes. He wondered which of the beasts would be the bigger threat, before deciding they were probably equally dangerous. A slight breeze stirred, and Lleland swore softly under his breath as both dragons turned towards him. The larger one drew to a stop, hovering in the air as it stared at him, and Lleland felt a clenching in his stomach as he returned the gaze. The smaller dragon did not slow down but continued flying towards Lleland. He had no weapons, but he grabbed a rock as he rose to his feet, and tightened his grip around it as the creature bore down on him. A roar split the air, and Lleland’s gaze flew to the larger creature as it snarled at the smaller dragon. A fight seemed imminent when the smaller dragon turned away with a growl and headed in the direction of Storbrook. The larger dragon stared at Lleland for another moment, before it too turned and followed the other. The rock slipped from Lleland’s hand as he watched them flying away. Although he had grabbed the rock, he had not really felt threatened. Instead, he had the strange impression that the dragon was just being friendly. He took his time retuning to Storbrook, thinking about what had happened. Aaron Drake had assured him that the dragons would not attack while he was in the mountains, but what kind of sway did the man have over the dragons that he could prevent them from harming Lleland?

It was late morning when Lleland arrived back at Storbrook. As he crossed the lower hall, he could hear the sounds of laughter and pots clanging in the kitchen beyond, but all was quiet as he mounted the staircase. He turned into the passage as the door to Aaron’s study opened, and Lydia stepped out. She was frowning, and didn’t notice Lleland as she started marching down the hall in the opposite direction.

“Mistress,” Lleland called. She swung around, her expression startled, then gave a tight smile.

“My apologies, Master Seaton, I didn’t see you there.”

“I’ve just come from a walk,” he said. He moved towards her. “Are you all right?”

Dropping her head, she covered her eyes with her hand for a moment. “I’m fine,” she replied. She glanced up at him. “I was with my father.”

“Ah! I’m sorry!”

She gave a reluctant smile. “Dinner will be served soon. Would you like to do some more exploring this afternoon?”

“I’d enjoy that very much,” he replied.

She nodded. “I’ll see you later,” she said, before turning around and walking away.

Lleland returned to his room thoughtfully. Back in his chamber, he paced as he pondered the dragons, then opened his daybook and scratched out some notes about what he had seen. When he finally made his way to the hall below for dinner, Aaron and Keira were already seated at the table. There was no sign of Lydia.

Keira waved him over with a smile. “How are you enjoying your stay?” she asked. “I heard that Lydia shocked you with her unladylike behavior yesterday.”

Lleland smiled. “She presented her case quite persuasively,” he said. “I quickly realized that Mistress Lydia is a woman who marches to her own drum.”

Keira laughed. “That’s a polite way of putting it! She is determined, like her father. They’re frequently in a contest of wills!” She turned to Aaron with a smile. “Perhaps she’ll follow in his footsteps one day.”

“She’s too headstrong,” Aaron said. He glanced at Lleland for a moment. “And too used to getting her own way. She’s lived a very sheltered life.”

A maid brought a tray of food to the table and the conversation ended, to Lleland’s relief. Aaron did not linger at the table, but Keira chatted to Lleland as they ate, and by the end of the meal he had reached the conclusion that she was a woman of quiet charm and intelligence. “Enjoy your afternoon ramblings,” she said as they left the table. “I think you’ll find Lydia upstairs.”

“Thank you Mistress.” He followed her from the hall and started his way up the stairs to see Lydia standing on the landing.

“Are you ready to go?” she asked.

“I am. But you haven’t eaten.”

She smiled. “I ate earlier. You should bring your daybook.”

“Where are we going?” Lleland asked as they headed down the passage towards his chamber.

“I have something to show you. I think the scholar in you will find it interesting.”

He raised an enquiring eyebrow, but she just smiled. She waited at the door as he grabbed his daybook and writing kit and placed them in a small cloth bag which he slung over his shoulder, then led him outside.

“Did you write about the dragons you saw this morning,” Lydia asked as they walked across the courtyard.

Lleland glanced at her in surprise. “How do you know I saw dragons?”

“You were out walking,” she said. “Since the dragons always hunt at that time, I assumed you saw them. Did they scare you?”

“Scare me? No, but I would have felt a little safer with a weapon in my hand.”

Lydia looked at him. “They’ll never harm you,” she said.

“Because of your father? He has some power over them, doesn’t he?”

Lydia laughed dryly. “You could say that,” she said. “But,” she continued, “that’s not why they won’t hurt you. They just aren’t interested in people – at least not in the way you’re thinking. They want to live in peace.”

“Really?” Lleland said dryly. He followed Lydia as she veered off the main path through the trees. “Do you know where they have their lair?”

Lydia stopped and turned to look at Lleland. “Why do you want to know?”

Lleland shrugged. “I want to learn all I can about them.”

“Perhaps they don’t want to be studied.”

Lleland snorted. “Perhaps living so near them all your life has affected your perspective, Mistress, but they’re just beasts!”

“You’re wrong!” Lydia’s eyes narrowed as she turned and stalked away. Lleland growled in frustration.

“Mistress!” he said. She continued walking, ignoring him. “Lydia!” he said. She stopped, and after a moment, turned towards him. “I don’t want to argue.”

Lydia frowned. “I don’t want to argue either,” she said. “But when it comes to dragons, I’ve had far more opportunity to observe them than you. You’re just being obdurate.”

He nodded. “I’ll grant you that I’m stubborn, but I’ve experienced firsthand what dragons do. My father was killed by one.”

“Oh.” Her face softened. “I’m so sorry. I can understand why you’re angry. But if your father had been killed by a human, would you hate all people?”

Lleland sighed. “Of course not. But this is different.”

“It’s not,” she said gently. “Even though some people do wicked things, not all people are wicked. So it is for dragons.”

“Lydia, dragons are hunters. Predators. They act on instinct. And their instinct is to kill.”

Lydia shook her head. “No, you’re wrong.”

Lleland smiled cynically, but said nothing more. They hiked in silence for another hour between the rough trunks and prickly needles of conifers, before the trees started changing to birch and poplars. “We’re nearly there,” Lydia said. She led him off the path and through the trees, until they came to a clearing in the woods. Sunlight filtered through the leafy canopy and painted a dappled design on the mossy rocks that lay scattered beneath the branches, while dried leaves from the previous autumn lay between patches of green grass. The stones were uniform in shape and each stood about eighteen inches high. Someone once, a very long time ago, had placed them in a circle, about six feet in diameter. Lleland stepped forward, carefully walking towards the ring of rocks. Designs had been etched into each of them near the base, and he crouched down to examine one of them. Three spirals, joined together to form a roughly triangular shape. He traced them with his finger, then moved over to the next rock to see a similar design. He glanced up at Lydia.