dragons breath 02 - dancing with flames (19 page)

“No kidding,” I said, sighing.

My body was much stronger than before I’d become a slayer, but fighting battles every day without a break still took its toll. These last two dragons had worn me out even more than most, and I just wanted to be finished.

He reached out toward my head, pulling a few locks of hair away. “Duck lower next time.”

“I was as low as I could get without lying flat,” I defended. It was always easier to judge a person’s fighting tactics while watching from the sidelines.

“Yeah, yeah. Excuses.” His gaze ran past my shoulder, and he frowned. “That guy is gone.”

“What?” I spun on my heels. “He was still there halfway through the battle.”

“Guess he’d seen enough.”

Well, that was weird. Maybe I’d given him enough entertainment for one day. “Let’s get the scales off this one and get out of here. I want to leave before any more dragons show up.”

We kneeled down and got to work.

Chapter 18

Aidan

“Is that it?” Donar asked, referring to the river up ahead as he flew on Aidan’s right.

“Yes,” he replied.

Donar had not been this far south yet, but he’d been anticipating the trip ever since Aidan had asked him to come along. He knew there would be competitions, which fueled his enthusiasm. They had always avoided contests of strength and prowess at the fortress so as to avoid drawing notice from Aidan’s brothers. Even when they did battle in duels, they usually held back. This was a chance for his cousin to let loose and give the competitions all he had.

“Lorcan and two other dragons are waiting for us on the ground,” Falcon said, having the sharpest vision of them all. He flew on the left, dipping and rising to coast with the wind.

In essence, Falcon and Donar were there to act as advisors and guards for Aidan—not that the three of them had any chance of making it out alive if things didn’t go well. They would be severely outnumbered among the Faegud, but they didn’t believe it would be an issue anyway. Dragon honor dictated that emissaries to treaty negotiations could not be harmed beyond the usual activities required of such processes. The only reason it was even a consideration was because the last Faegud pendragon had not been one to follow such long-standing traditions.

Aidan led the way, soaring down low as they approached the river. Lorcan and his two clan members watched them from the opposite bank. They did not move until Aidan landed and approached them on foot. Despite the jovialness of their last meeting, there was tension in the air this time. One never knew how a treaty negotiation would go, and the first day set the tone for the rest—however long that might be.

It is good to see you again,
Lorcan acknowledged, dipping his head.
I trust the weather was favorable for your journey?

This was the most formal Aidan had ever seen his friend.
Indeed, Zorya favors us this day.

Lorcan turned to Donar.
You have grown large over the years. It is clear you take after our side, cousin.

Aidan would have said the use of “cousin” was stretching it a bit. Lorcan and Donar shared a great-great-grandfather who had died over fifteen hundred years ago. It had been because of that alliance that their two clans had maintained good relations for as long as they did, but Aidan considered it ancient history after all that time.

I believe it is my mother’s cooking that has helped me the most,
Donar replied.

Lorcan laughed, unable to hold the formality any longer.
Ah, I’m glad to hear she is well and still watching after you.

Nagging would be more like it.
Donar let out a puff of steam.

Then you shall have a break from her for the next few days.
Lorcan turned to address Aidan.
Shall we journey to the jakhal?

Of course.
Aidan bowed his head.

The Faegud dragons led the way. It was a sign of respect that they allowed Aidan and his two escorts to follow them from behind where they were most vulnerable. They flew south for more than an hour, passing over human towns with no signs of life, before reaching a valley. On one side, there were half a dozen houses with people walking around. Aidan was surprised to see humans within the Faegud jakhal. This was the first he’d heard of any pure dragon clan—or mostly pure dragon—welcoming people among them.

Our last pendragon captured them as slaves,
Lorcan explained, noting Aidan’s confusion.
When my mother took over a few weeks ago, she offered them the choice to stay and be treated fairly or to go. We lost most of them right away, but some have returned in recent days as they discovered the difficulties of life outside. Here, they are fed and protected. Out there, they must fend for themselves, which they found more difficult than expected.

It is the same with us,
Aidan acknowledged, though he left out the part that they’d never made their humans slaves. They were always free to come and go as long as they obeyed clan law and labored for their food and shelter.

My mother believes if we are to survive and flourish in this world, then we must find a way to live with the humans—not against them,
Lorcan continued.
I agree with her.

Then you are both wise,
Falcon said, entering their open conversation.

Their group landed in an open area near the center where the pendragon and half a dozen others waited. Formations of rocks formed all around them in intricate designs, denoting the Faegud clan’s worship of the dragon goddess, Zorya. Each formation had a meaning. Some were for protection, some for strength, and a few were for fertility. Aidan’s clan had a few smaller ones at the rear of the keep near the gardens, but the Faegud had designed theirs on a much grander scale.

Just beyond the rock formations, there were numerous gaping holes in the ground—more than wide enough for the dragons to enter. Aidan recalled from his youth that the Faegud chose to build their homes beneath the earth in a vast network of tunnels. That made it much more difficult for the enemy to attack them. While dirt was one of the only things that would not burn in dragon flames, it could be heated enough to seal the tunnel walls so they would not crumble or leak moisture. It was not a bad way to live, if you liked your home cramped and perpetually dark.

Lorcan led the way, marching them up to the pendragon. Aidan could sense countless eyes on him. Not just from those assembled around the rock formations, but also across the valley. His party was likely the first outsiders to visit the Faegud in a very long time.

Mother, may I present Aidan of Taugud, son of Throm,
Lorcan said. After giving a brief bow, he stepped to the side with his two companions doing the same.

It is a pleasure to see you once again.
Aidan dipped his head.

Hildegard stomped forward, blowing a breath of steam from her snout. She had the same burnt-orange coloring as her son, but her scales were tinged with black at the tips. The pendragon appeared every bit as large as Aidan remembered and just as intimidating. He held his ground as she moved into his space and sniffed at him. It was not something shifters did with each other, but pure dragons were very keen on scenting those around them.

You are not the weak, little whelp I remember,
she said, circling around to his tail. Even that got a sniff before she moved on. Aidan had not suffered this sort of inspection in so long that it was all he could do not to thwack her with his tail spikes for offending him. She knew very well he would not enjoy it and only did so to test him.

Hildegard returned to the front to face him.
I would have preferred your father present himself to us instead, but you will do. Far better than those annoying brothers of yours. I would have sent them wingless into the chasm rather than speak to them.

That was a comforting thought.

It is generous of you to welcome my brethren and me into your home. I thank you.
Aidan bowed his head again.

Your manners have improved as well.
She narrowed her orange eyes.
Tell me, what is it you hope to accomplish with this treaty?

Aidan had spoken at length with his father about what he should and shouldn’t say to the Faegud. Which concessions he could allow and which he could not. Throm had done much more to prepare him this time than his last trip, but there were always variables that could not be anticipated. Aidan could only hope he handled himself well on his first diplomatic mission. This was his last chance to do something for his father, and he did not wish to let him down.

He met the pendragon’s gaze.
I hope to create an alliance that will promote peace between our clans, mutual defense from our enemies, and open trade.

Hildegard was quiet for a long moment, and it seemed as if everyone held their breath.
I wish the same with one addition. Many in our clan have lost the ability to shift to human form—to our detriment now that we have returned to Earth. It is my hope that we may come to an agreement that allows for matings between our toriqan. Ones that will produce strong offspring and give fresh blood to both our clans.

Aidan stiffened. He and his father had foreseen many things, but not this. The Faegud had made it clear for centuries they detested the human form and wanted little to do with it, except in rare cases where a task could not be completed as a dragon. He had never dreamed they would ask for matings.

Aidan could hardly run back to the pendragon now to ask for guidance, and it would be up to him to decide how to handle it. This was the only the first day, though. All he needed to do was acknowledge her point and leave the negotiations for later.

Your wishes will be taken into consideration,
he said, keeping his tone neutral.

Excellent,
the pendragon purred.
Then it is time for us to feast. Our humans have prepared an excellent meal worthy of you and your clansmen. I am certain you will enjoy it.

Aidan braced himself. As he recalled, Hildegard’s idea of a good meal involved a freshly killed animal that must be eaten in its entirety. There was not much preparation involved with that, so he hoped that she had allowed the humans to put a little more effort into it.

As the pendragon led the way through the stone formations and toward the open field near the houses, Lorcan moved closer to him.
Do not worry. She has been fixated on human methods of doing things since we returned. The food will be cooked.

Aidan wished that made him feel better, but he had no idea what Hildegard’s idea of “cooked” meant. He supposed he would have to find out the hard way and hope his belly survived the ordeal.

Chapter 19

Bailey

Conrad and I sat parked under a tree, waiting to see if any solitary dragons showed up. Two days before, we had noticed one circling this part of northwest Norman, which consisted of a mixture of businesses and homes. We’d decided to check it out next time we went hunting. With fuel being in short supply, this was the way to go if we wanted our prey to come to us.

It had been an hour since we settled in the back of the truck, and as of yet there was no sign of the dragon, but it was still early afternoon. It could show up at any time. The weather had cooled to the low 80s, so at least we weren’t sweating while we waited. It was the boredom and need to get this over with that got to us more than anything. I estimated I only needed to kill two or three more dragons to finish filling the container Javier gave me. My body was exhausted from fighting day after day, minor injuries that weren’t healing fast enough plagued me, and I just wanted to be done. Whatever energy I had left needed to go into rescuing the children.

“Hey, I’m going to go make use of the bushes,” Conrad said, grabbing a package of tissues and jumping from the back of the truck.

We were parked next to a small woodsy area that gave us cover from anything flying overhead, and a place to use the bathroom—for lack of a less graphic term—during the stakeout. Nothing was worse than being stuck in a place where you couldn’t get a little privacy. We might be friends, but we had our limits on how much we shared.

“Not going to take a magazine?” I asked.

“Oh, right.” Conrad opened the passenger door to the truck and pulled an old Playboy out. He waved it at me. “Don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Get drafted into helping Norma with her gardens, most likely.”

He shuddered. “I
do not
do farming.”

“But that straw hat she makes you wear looks so cute on you,” I teased.

Conrad scowled at me. “It’s not funny.”

“Oh, yes, it is.”

After a moment of hesitation where I was certain he would argue further, Conrad stomped off into the woods. Ah well, he must have had to go badly. I’d just have to wait until he came back to harass him some more.

I leaned back to scan the skies. A minute later, movement drew my attention. I sat up and gripped my sword. A lone dragon swooped downward in a way I recognized as their intent to land somewhere. I followed its trajectory to a three-story office building down the street. That was strange. Most of the time, I could tell if a large structure was being used as a den, but nothing about that one stood out. Most of the windows were still intact, and none of the walls had holes in them.

I leaped out of the truck and edged closer to the woods to hiss at Conrad. “Hey, a dragon is coming in to land on that office building. I’m gonna go take it out.”