Redheart (Leland Dragon Series) (9 page)

“I won’t tell him if you won’t. He’d be upset to find out my experiment got you off schedule.”

“Not an easy man to work for. Why do you stay?”

Layce shrugged, her eyes going unfocused as she considered. Jastin guessed she considered it a lot. “Not many choices. Most venurs don’t even keep wizards, with so few dragons to liaison.”

“I don’t know of any vassal dragons left here in Esra.”

Layce shook her head. “No, but there are many dragons in the Leland Mountains, aren’t there?”

Jastin didn’t know why he was surprised, but his brows went up, anyway. “If you know why I’m going, why are you helping?”

She shrugged again, but her eyes came back into focus. “The future is guided by a hand much stronger than mine. I may not like the part I play, but I do it so I can see the end as it is meant to be.”

Jastin nodded. “As it is meant to be.”

Layce smiled. “You know, you got a look in your eyes just now that seems almost human. You should try that again sometime.”

He let the remark go, and just shook his head. He gripped the crystal shard sewn into his vest. “Can we do this please?”

“Right. Just think pleasant thoughts about why you took the shard where you did. Picture it fondly, and it will whisk you back to the last place you used it.”

“My horse is there.”

“Good. Use that.” She leaned toward him. “There’s that look again. Twice in one conversation. Makes me see you a little differently.”

Jastin closed his eyes and tried to picture Blade. He truly did want to be back there now.

“Makes me wonder if I was a little younger, and you a little older…,” murmured Layce. “Well, not just older, but more mature, too. Gentler, and less selfish, maybe. In fact, if you could become an entirely different person…”

Her voice faded. His stomach wrenched, and he struggled to stay upright. The droning flies attacked his brain again, swarming violently and shuddering his head. Then he felt crunchy grass beneath his feet, and heard a loud, irritated whinny.

Blade pressed his muzzle against Jastin’s shoulder, and Jastin gripped it to steady himself. “I told you I’d be right back.”

Blade snorted.

The sound reminded him of Layce. He’d forgotten to ask her where she’d put the stone that let her speak through the horse. He couldn’t have that. He had to find the stone and destroy it. He pulled Blade’s face close, and looked into his eyes. “Layce!”

“Yes?” came her voice through Blade’s open mouth.

“Where’s the stone you put on my mount?”

“Fizzitmeallenwhum,” said the horse.

Chapter Fifteen

Kallon shot up from the lake and blasted a stream through his teeth. Water rained down like a thunderstorm, showering the lake, the shore, and the girl. She squealed and ran for cover under a tall elm.

“Not going to swim?” he asked.

She peered out from under leafy branches, suspicious. Then she smiled, and he felt an unexpected churn of warmth in his belly.

“I’d like to,” she said. “But I don’t want to ruin my dress.”

“Can’t remove it?”

Her face flared red. He loped out onto shore, and stuck his snout near her nose to get a better look. “Feel all right?”

“Feel fine.” She smoothed her hair from her face.

“Thought you were enjoying yourself. Thought you were going to swim with me.” He could hear the disappointment in his own voice, and was embarrassed by it. He looked away toward the water.

“I do want to,” she said.

There was a long silence as he stared out onto the glassy surface of the sapphire lake. The air was as thick with heat as a forest fire. He was thirsty again, but somehow the thought of swimming had lost its appeal.

“Very well,” said the girl again. “Close your eyes.”

“Close my eyes?”

“Yes, I’m going to jump in. Close your eyes.”

He snorted, but he did so. “When do I open them?”

There was a tiny sound of splashing water, like a pebble striking the water’s surface. “Now you can open them,” she said.

He found the girl treading water. With a bleat, he charged toward her. Water careened off his chest as he plunged, then he dove headfirst.

He swam deep toward the bottom, beating his wings slowly to let the water above him settle. To let her wonder where he’d gone. When the water cleared, he spotted her waving legs, and rushed them. He blasted a stream as he did before, and jettisoned the girl straight up into the air.

She shrieked, arms and legs flailing. She arched high, higher than he meant to send her, and, still shrieking, she landed with an impressive splash. She went silent, and floated on the water like a wispy patch of fog.

He gulped. He called out as he paddled toward her, “Human? You all right?” No reply. She was facedown. He bumped her with his snout to turn her over. “Human?”

“Boo!” She sprang at him, latched onto his neck, and erupted into laughter.

“I thought you were dead!”

She released him and pushed off to give him a stern look. “You were the one who sent me flying!” Then her expression fizzled, and she laughed again. “I fooled you.”

Despite himself, a smile tugged at his lips. “You did.” A quiet rumble worked its way out of his dusty lungs and exploded toward the sky. He laughed.

“Let’s do that again,” she said. “Except this time, I’m ready for you.”

“All right,” he said, and turned to plunge. “Here I come.”

* * *

Hours later, Kallon hadn’t even realized the whole day had passed until the girl mentioned. Only then did he notice the fading daylight.

“I should be getting back,” said the girl. “If I’m missing another night they might think something’s happened to me.” She hauled herself out of the water and lay on the shore.

“Who is they?”

“Rusic and Jaspar. Rusic owns the tavern where I work. Jaspar tends the bar.” She stood, water cascading down her pale skin. Watching her walk, he realized how thin and fragile she really was. How did humans manage on their own?

“I’ll take you as close to the village as I can. I can’t be seen, though. Your village has not welcomed dragons for a long time.”

“Why not?” she asked, as she stepped into her dress.

“Many human villages do not welcome dragons any more. They do not trust us. We do not trust them. It’s the way of things.”

“My village, I mean, my first village, the one where I grew up, would not welcome you. I don’t even think they believe dragons still exist.”

Kallon came onto shore, too. “That’s why you were so terrified of me, in the beginning.”

The girl lowered her chin. “Yes, I suppose that’s why.” She drew closer, and touched her cool hand to his leg. “I’m sorry.”

He peered down into her face. His snout nearly brushed her nose, but she didn’t step back or pull away. The little human didn’t flinch or wrinkle her nose; she simply looked up at him with eyes the green of fir trees. He smiled.

“Why don’t you ever call me Riza?” she asked.

“Hm?”

“You never use my name. You always call me ‘Human’.”

“But you are a human.”

“Yes. But I have a name. Friends call each other by their names, not by…” She looked away, and reached out to climb onto him. “But, never mind. I forgot.”

For a little while, Kallon had forgotten, too. It was nice to spend the afternoon with her, as much as it surprised him. But one day together did not make them friends. He wouldn’t let himself grow attached. He’d promised himself a long time ago not to care about anything so much that he couldn’t bear to lose it. No, he dared not risk any friends. Not now. Not ever.

He crouched, prepared to launch. “Just hold tight,” he said.

Chapter Sixteen

Riza ran through the trees, stumbling. The dark night had come too quickly, and she felt it wrapping itself around her shoulders, trying to suffocate her. She wished Kallon had delivered her closer to the village. Branches, harmless in the day, now curled like arthritic fingers for her hair and throat. She batted at them, trying very hard not to whimper like a terrified child.

Ahead, she saw a clearing. If it was farmland, it meant she was almost safe. Moonlight was bright there, reflected hard off the sun-baked land. She lunged toward the brightness.

A shadow met her in the patch of moonlight, but she saw it too late. She collided into a wall that whinnied and reared back, and knocked her down. She landed hard on her shoulder, wheezing.

“Whoa, Blade,” said a familiar voice. The trod of agitated hooves on dusty ground was joined by a dull thud of boots. “What is this, a little field mouse?” A strong hand tugged her to her feet. She met the eyes of Jastin Armitage. The curiosity that had softened his features disappeared. His dark brows wrinkled together. “A beggar mouse.”

Riza pulled from his grasp. “I am not a beggar, and I am not a mouse.” She pushed her hair from her face and turned away. His hand gripped her again, and he pulled her close.

“But where do you go?” His eyes turned to search the trees. “And from where do you come?”

“I was taking a walk. Let go of me.”

He didn’t let go. “Such a long walk, to have been gone all day.”

“What do you mean? How do you know?”

“Your new boss was looking for you. He said you’d been missing all day.”

“I have not been missing. Rusic is the one who told me to spend the day outside, so that’s what I did. I like to walk.” His gaze felt as heavy as if he’d pressed his hand to her face. She wanted to look away, but lifted her chin. “Let go of me.”

He watched her a moment longer. Then he released her. “My apologies, milady.” He lifted his foot to the stirrup and swung his leg to drop smoothly behind the saddle. “I’ll see you safely home.” She was scooped up by his arm and deposited onto the leather seat before she could react.

She gripped the saddle horn. “There’s no need for this.” Secretly, she was relieved. Relief didn’t last long though. He wrapped his arm around her belly and pressed his chest to her back.

“Hyup, Blade,” he called past her ear. He snapped the reins, and swung his mount back around.

She shifted in the saddle and arched her shoulders to force space between them.

“I can’t see around your hair,” he said. He gathered her dark strands, and snaked them over her right shoulder with a gentleness that surprised her. Then he tugged off a glove, and ran his fingers again over her hair, across her shoulder to the tips. His touch spread a tickle across her scalp, and she bumped about in the saddle in awkward silence.

The silence lengthened as they traveled. She was more than glad to see the hunched buildings of Durance draw closer.

“So,” he said, with his breath against her ear, “To what special place did your walk take you, that it kept your attention for a full day?”

“Just the woods. And the meadow beyond.”

“Through the woods and to the meadow. Nothing more?” His lips brushed her earlobe. The tip of his nose trailed down her neck. She closed her eyes against the sensation.

“No,” she squeaked.

“Because your hair is damp, and there is no body of water outside the village for miles.”

Her eyes flew open. “Oh, look, there’s the tavern. Thank you for the ride, Mr. Armitage.” She shifted to climb down, even though the horse hadn’t stopped.

His arm around her waist didn’t let her budge. He held her so tightly she could barely breathe. His mouth pressed hard behind her ear. “There are large and dangerous things in those woods, milady field mouse. If you plan to be wandering them after dark, you might consider an escort.”

“I didn’t mean to stay so long. But yes, I will.” She pushed at his arm. “Thank you, again, Mr. Armitage.”

“Jastin.” His arm slid up beneath her shoulders. He leaned over and lowered her to the ground.

As her feet touched, she tried to smile pleasantly. She wanted out of there before he started in on more questions. “Yes. Right.”

“Say it.”

She looked up at him, confused by a soft change in his features.

“My name,” he said. “I’d like you to say it.”

“Jastin?”

Deep creases in his face arched upward. If the shadows in his eyes had changed, even a little, she might have thought he was actually smiling. “Take care not to wander too far, milady field mouse.” He tugged his mount back toward the direction from where they came.

She watched him go. Why should it matter to him how she spent her day? He didn’t even like her. And why did all his questions bother her? She touched her hair. It was damp.

She moved toward the tavern and came upon Rusic, whose fuzzy eyebrows were arched high toward his hairline. “Milady field mouse? Were ye captured by a black wolf?” His eyes darted to the departing Jastin Armitage, and he gave a long wink.

Riza waved her hands. “Doesn’t anyone use names around here? Don’t even know why I bother having one.” She brushed past him and stepped into the stale air of the tavern. “I’ll be up bright and early tomorrow, Rusic. I hope I didn’t worry you.”

“Only a bit. It’s strange territory for ye, I’d hate for something fearful to come upon ye.” He bundled up the front of his apron in his massive fists. “The man’s right, after all. Word’s spreadin’ again of dragons and such. Right in our own forest.”

Riza paused. She peered over her shoulder. “Does that have to be a bad thing?”

Rusic dropped his bundled apron and gaped. “Does it have to be bad? Does it…?” He grunted and shook his head. “Ye young folk, where ye get yer ideas.” He gathered empty tankards and carried them toward the kitchen. “Bad omen, it is. Folks of this village got enough t’worry for, what with the drought and the dying herds and all. Dragons is bad business. Best not t’mention we spoke of it.” He bumped open the kitchen door with his wide backside.

She chewed on her bottom lip. Kallon was right to be fearful of coming closer to the village. She hoped it didn’t mean it would keep them from seeing each other again. She had so many questions for him. How long had he been living alone? What happened to his parents, that he became so utterly gloomy when he spoke of them? And what was that stone she’d found in her hand last night?

She climbed the stairs, and unlocked the door of her private room. She fumbled for a lantern, but decided she’d just step out of her dress and fall into bed. She was exhausted, but in a good way. She knew she’d sleep well tonight.

She laid her dress carefully across the back of a chair near the window, and pushed open the shutter to let the moonlight guide her path back to bed. A brief flutter of shadow passed over, which caught her eye. She peered through the window.

Again came a flickering shadow that brushed across skeletal treetops before diffusing like a wisp of smoke into the air. Had she seen a glisten of red in that brief moment, or was she only just wishing it? Surely it was a crow, or a fleckowl simply searching for dinner.

She traipsed toward her bed and flopped in. She tugged her covers to her chin, and, remembering the feel of the sky in her hair and the taste of the sun as Kallon flew her high into the mountains, she drifted to peaceful, smiling sleep.