Chapter 12

Several weeks later

Castle Draconis

Something significant had happened in the castle. In the past few days, no guard had ventured out to the garden where Dravyn toiled. He was past due to go flying, and his dragon was antsy. Although Dravyn feared someone might be watching him through the slits that served as windows, he had discreetly tried to free himself from his restraints.

Thus far, it was proving an impossible task, but it was not as if Dravyn had other things to occupy his mind. Escape was a wonderful dream he clung to, and he easily imagined himself being reunited with the D'Vaires he had not seen in over a hundred and fifty years. There was no way he would leave them behind.

He had sworn an oath as a Duke, and Dravyn took his honor seriously. It was all he had to offer beyond his skills with vegetation. Despite being forced to spend his days and nights surrounded by dirt and leaves, Dravyn had not lost his love of gardening. He considered that a boon. Had his passion faded, he surely would have lost any hold on his sanity.

He checked—for perhaps the seventieth time since awakening that morning—under the bench where he kept the magical paper a druid from another lifetime had handed him. Dravyn slid his hand down and jiggled the thick chain attached to his manacle. Too many years of wearing it had left behind toughened calluses and deeply embedded scars on the fragile skin around his ankle.

A second later, he pulled his arm away and fixed his gaze on the sodden ground. Dravyn wasn't sure what had alerted him to having company outside, but he dearly hoped they had not arrived as he fiddled with his restraint.

"Dravyn!" called out a voice he barely remembered.

Lifting his chin sharply, Dravyn's mouth dropped open as he spotted a ragged Brogan running toward him. He was flanked by Duke Zane and a dragon Dravyn didn't recognize. It was impossible to believe he'd seen the man before; he would have recalled a man with a beast in such a rich shade of dark aqua.

"Brogan?" Dravyn whispered.

"Yes, hurry now," Brogan said. "Bernal is dead. We must be away."

Duke Zane bent and growled as he tried to figure out which key on the thick ring he held would unlock the shackle on Dravyn's ankle.

"Bernal is dead?" Dravyn echoed.

"Aye," Duke Zane stated flatly. "His throat slit while he slept. I wish I could say I held the blade that ended his life, but he slept with guards posted outside his bedchamber, and they would not allow even his only son near him alone."

"This is Marcus," Brogan remarked, pointing at the stranger. "He is coming with us."

"A pleasure to meet you, Dravyn. Zane has told me much about you and your court," Marcus offered kindly. "I must mention that, like Zane, my father was a traitor. Whoever was intent on ending Bernal's life reached my parents' bedchamber too. They are dead."

"Duke Zane has proven himself to be a kind man of his word. If he trusts you, I will do the same," Dravyn offered. Although he did not know Duke Zane well, the man had visited him at least monthly. The drakeling who'd gained a dukedom too young had shifted into a black beast well-deserving of his title. Bernal had turned his son into a Duke, but he did not allow him to fulfill his promised role as advisor and guard. His coronet served as little more than decoration, according to Duke Zane.

"Have you anything to take with you?" Brogan asked, patting Dravyn kindly on the shoulder as Duke Zane cursed and continued his quest to unlock the manacle.

Dravyn's gaze drifted to the spot where he'd hidden Killian the Dwyer's paper. Did he dare? If he left it behind, how would he ever find his mate again?

"I buried something," Dravyn muttered, shifting his body to dig it up with his bare hands.

Would magick have saved it from deteriorating? That question was answered swiftly as a corner of it became visible. With a small smile, Dravyn snagged the thin stack and hugged it to his chest. His fear of sorcery had not faded, but he'd lived far too much of his life alone. If he reached out, would Killian ever forgive him for his silence these many years?

"Finally," Duke Zane snarled as he lifted the heavy iron from Dravyn's limb.

Dravyn had been tethered so long that he hardly knew what to do or how to feel about being free. His dragon roared triumphantly in his head, and he promised himself he would take better care of his beast. If possible, he would fly for hours each time he spread his wings. Man and dragon would find accord again. There was no other option.

"Come, we must hurry. Madeline is easy to find. Her shop is close to here," Duke Zane insisted as he and Brogan aided Dravyn in getting to his feet.

"Her swords are the finest weapons made," Marcus commented as the trio raced out of the garden.

"And she was paid not a single coin for her work," Duke Zane snarled.

As they approached a row of ramshackle stalls where people displayed what little they had to barter with, a woman with dark hair and a vivid blue gaze stuck her head out. When she laid eyes on Brogan and Dravyn, she lifted her hands as if in prayer. Then she plucked a thick leather bag off a hook and filled it with tools.

"I heard Bernal was dead," Madeline said once they were in earshot. "I wondered what had become of everyone else in the castle. It is good to lay eyes on you four."

Marcus smiled. "I was not sure you would remember me."

"Who could forget a dragon of such color? You were often here, ordering weapons for your father and his fellow guards. I also recall your kindness. We need to get Larissa."

"Of course," Duke Zane said. "I would not dream of allowing you to be separated from her for another minute."

"Go to the kitchen," Madeline ordered. "I will meet you there with my mate."

"A guard will not serve you?" Marcus asked. "The castle is not safe. Petty wars have broken out between the survivors of the culling. Many of those who have held power since our Emperors died are dead. But like a pestilence, there are plenty more trying to vie for the right to rule dragonkind, splintered though it be."

"A large group running around will be suspicious," Madeline insisted, then took off running with her bag clunking loudly as it hit her back.

"The kitchens it is," Brogan said.

Eager to see the sister he barely knew, Dravyn followed the men and ignored the pain shooting up his leg. Although he was free of his shackles, the damage to his limb would remain. They snuck through the castle and miraculously encountered only scared servants, who bowed to the Duke and scuttled away.

A lone woman with hair the same raven shade as Dravyn's was kneading dough on a massive table in the hot kitchen. Her head popped up, and tears filled her violet eyes as she stared at Dravyn as if he were a ghost.

"Dravyn?" Noirin whispered disbelievingly.

"It is me," Dravyn told her and huffed out a harsh breath as she raced to him and tugged him into her arms. Her hold was so strong he feared he could not drag in a breath.

"It has been an age," Noirin murmured, her voice breaking on the words.

With his paper treasure in one hand, Dravyn held her tight and wished he had a fond collection of memories to remember in that moment. But he'd been separated from her at four and recalled nothing of their lives together. As D'Vaires, they'd barely had but a few days before Bernal separated and imprisoned them.

Noirin pulled away and smiled weakly at Dravyn. "Oh, it is good to see you. And you, Brogan. Why do you find yourselves in my kitchen?"

"News has surely reached you here of the events of the past few days. It took me some time to gather coin and other resources for us. We are leaving," Duke Zane said.

"The others?" Noirin asked.

"Madeline has gone to fetch Larissa," Marcus supplied.

"We are not leaving without Aleksander," Noirin stated in a tone which brooked no argument.

"No, of course not," Duke Zane said. "Gather your things. I thought to speak to him first, but he was most insistent I leave him here. Aleksander fears that with his strange dragon and the gold in his eyes, he will be persecuted no matter where he goes. My father feared someone would think Aleksander worthy of ruling dragonkind without another dragon marked with gold. It is why Aleksander was kept hidden from most of the castle. Rumors about curses were merely a ruse to keep questions about that gold ring in his eye silent."

"We thought if we had the rest of Aleksander's court, you might help us sway him to leave with us," Marcus added. "It was my job to keep the map of dragonkind accurate. I have removed a small plot of land far from this castle. There we can keep to ourselves, ensure Aleksander is protected, and live free of the ambitions of greedy men."

With a nod, Noirin grabbed a few essentials and foodstuffs. Before she had the last loaf in her satchel, Madeline returned with a grinning orange-eyed dragon.

"Larissa. Madeline. How wonderful to see you," Noirin enthused.

"Time for reunions later, we have a King to convince to leave his dungeon," Brogan said, leading the charge out of the kitchen.

"With my father dead, no one has been ordered to bring Aleksander food," Duke Zane explained. "I took the role upon myself so he would not starve. The servants hate this part of the castle."

Marcus grabbed a torch from one of the metal brackets adorning the thick stone walls, and they followed Duke Zane down a long hallway. They stopped above a thick trapdoor, which opened with a squeak and groan.

"There's a ladder we can safely climb. Be careful of the vermin," Duke Zane explained. "There is a secret door hidden below that will enable our escape to go unnoticed."

"Zane, go away," Aleksander roared.

"And you see, we lack the element of surprise," the Duke replied with a half-smile.

"What is going on?" Aleksander said as Brogan took the ladder first. Dravyn allowed everyone to go ahead of him, but Duke Zane refused to budge. With a shrug, Dravyn followed the others and hid his wince as he hit the ground after nearly a two-foot drop from the last rung. Something scuttled over his feet, but Dravyn pretended not to notice.

"Oh," Noirin breathed out.

Dravyn followed her gaze and barely recognized his cousin. The last time he'd seen the cursed King, his beautiful black-and-blue hair was shorn to his scalp. Now, it fell past his shoulders in thick tangles, and pieces of it were caught in his long beard. He wore a long-tattered tunic and hose covered in filth. His skin was just as dirty, but his brilliant, remarkable eyes blazed with fury in his haggard face. Some invisible force kept the filth and animals away from his bare feet.

"Get. Out. Of. Here," Aleksander snarled through his teeth. "Take my family far from this castle now that you have gained them freedom, Zane."

Unintimidated, Duke Zane folded his arms. "We either leave with you or we keep you company down here in this paradise they have given you."

"Hatred will follow me wherever I go. Danger is the only thing you court with me at your side," Aleksander retorted. Marcus took a single step toward him with the keys in hand to undo the shackle around Aleksander's wrist, but to Dravyn's shock, the dragon was knocked on his ass. "You will not get near me without my permission."

"I heard of your gift," Noirin commented, then fixed her narrowed gaze on her cousin. "I am glad of it. Glad to see you. Glad to be here with you. I will not accept being parted again. Do you understand?"

Tears gathered in Aleksander's eyes, and his mouth was pinched. "Please. Please, you must go. I cannot answer for why Fate made me this way. I curse her for it. I curse her daily. But I cannot change it. I cannot change the will of poisonous dragons. Leave me be. Find some happiness now that you can get far from this castle and the evil embedded in its stones."

"You are a King," Brogan retorted sharply. "Our King. But your order to leave you behind is not one I will ever honor. We go with you or we stay. We are united in this."

"We will be hidden from other dragons," Marcus promised. "I vow it. We yearn for simple lives, and each of us is willing to do what it takes, are we not?"

"Yes," Dravyn replied along with the others. "I ache for nothing but a garden of my own where I need not hide my talent with seeds. Never have I known a proper family, but I welcome such a thing with all of you."

"You have enough Dukes here to protect you, Your Highness," Duke Zane insisted.

"I will never use that title," Aleksander snarled. "Cursed Fate…I asked for none of this."

"A simple life," Noirin said. "It can be ours. But only if you come with us."

Aleksander swallowed thickly. "If I go…you must make me a promise. If the dragons find us again, you run. You run far from me or cut me down where I stand so no one spends a minute tortured or in servitude because of my so-called gifts."

"If anyone gets near you, we have failed," Brogan said. "So, I make that promise because you have my vow that I will cut my own throat before anyone gets near you again. Do you understand?"

Closing his eyes, Aleksander bowed his head, and Dravyn hated the stoop in his once-proud shoulders. "Undo the shackles."

Marcus raced forward and eagerly unlocked Aleksander with the third key he tried on the massive ring.

"Come," Duke Zane ordered. "We must remove the rocks to find the hidden tunnel. It will lead us out to a clearing. Or at least that is what the ancient map of the castle I found promised."

Soon, they had a small opening made, and Aleksander squeezed his thin frame through. "Step back, I can use my ability to knock the rest out of the way."

Dravyn watched with admiration as his cousin blew the rocks aside so they could join him in a long tunnel that smelled of damp earth. It was not long before fresh air hit Dravyn's nose. He and his dragon exulted as Duke Zane wedged an ancient rotting door out of the way. Freedom awaited them.

"If we can manage a march, we can get past the grounds and fly to the plot of land Marcus has found us," Duke Zane said.

"Since I cannot shift until we are out of view, we have little choice," Aleksander stated flatly.

"We need not rush," Marcus commented as Dravyn took another painful step. "It will take some time for anyone to figure out we are missing."

"We travel with royalty, Duke Zane," Dravyn said. "Will someone not think our traveling party strange?"

"Stop calling me Duke Zane, we have equal titles. No one will miss the son of Imperial Duke Bernal. It is remarkable I still breathe. We will answer no questions to strangers nor, I suspect, will we find anyone willing to speak with us. There are no dragons about, and our human and magickind neighbors detest us. Dragons have spent the last century and a half murdering anyone in our path."

"Killing magickind?" Dravyn echoed.

"Aye," Marcus replied. "Bernal and his ilk were proud whenever word reached their ears of another devastated village. Were I any less proud of my beast, I would forsake being a dragon altogether."

"Wish that I could," Aleksander commented softly.

As Dravyn trudged across a vast field under a darkening sky, he wondered what had become of Killian. Was he lost thanks to dragon fire? How many others who Killian loved had been killed? Dragons had once been a race of honor, and Dravyn wondered what the former Emperors who lived anew as soldiers of The Council thought of their former brethren now. Dravyn quickly realized he was now in a world unrecognizable to him, and he feared for the future.