dragon archives 05 - forever a dragon (22 page)

Lleland’s hand rose to his shoulder, feeling for the scar that should have been there. He skin was completely smooth, however, with no trace of the deep wound he’d received. He took a deep breath and stared at Aaron. His eyes seemed to be glowing.
The dragon was standing over him, its head bent to Lleland’s eye level. There was a scratch on his chest, where a few drops of blood had collected. “Come on, boy,” it said, “you need some blood.”

“No.” Lleland turned his face away.

“Either you have some or I’ll kill you.” The dragon sounded amused. Reluctantly Lleland opened his mouth, and the dragon poked a long talon between his teeth. Liquid coated Lleland’s tongue. It was sweet, like honey, but it was mixed with the coppery tang of blood.

“That’s the way, boy,” the dragon said. “Have a bit more.” Lleland shook his head, but when the dragon brought the talon to his lips again, he opened his mouth and licked the drops. The dragon nodded, pleased. “That’s the way.”

The wound on the dragon’s chest had closed, but he scored himself open again, going deeper than before, and blood sprang to the surface. Lleland leaned forward and the dragon bent closer. “That’s right, boy,” he murmured, “use your tongue and lick it off. The more you have the quicker you’ll heal.” Lleland rose onto his knees and lifted his face to the chest, using his tongue to lick away the drops. When it was gone, the dragon pulled away.

“More,” Lleland pleaded.

“No.” The dragon laughed. “That’s enough for one day. You can have more tomorrow.”

Lleland frowned. “I don’t think Mother will let me see a dragon.”

The dragon laughed. “Never fear. I’ll come to your house every day, but it won’t be a dragon you see.”

Lleland’s eyes flew open, and he stumbled back to the bench. “No,” he whispered.

“Lleland, tell me.”

“Every day. I drank his blood every day.”

“For how long?”

“Weeks. And then he stopped coming. I didn’t eat. I didn’t sleep. I didn’t spare a thought for my father. I just wanted the dragon. And then the feelings disappeared.” Lleland closed his eyes. “Oh, God,” he groaned, “I’d forgotten. I didn’t care that my father was dead.” He looked at Aaron, eyes wide. “How could I do that? How could I just forget my father? He loved me, and I didn’t care.”

Aaron pulled a chair over and sat before Lleland. “It wasn’t your fault,” he said.

“I should have killed that monster! It twisted my mind and made me forget the most important person in my life.” He dropped his head into his hands. “If only I could tell my father how sorry I am.”

“He already knows, Lleland. And you were only six. How do you think you could have succeeded when grown men failed?” Aaron said. “When Jack gave you his blood, he bound himself to you. Considering how much he gave you, and the fact that you were so young, it’s amazing that your mind survived intact. It speaks of your resiliency.”

“What do you mean when you say ‘bind’?”

“The blood ties the person to the dragon, and the dragon can manipulate his thoughts and actions, if he chooses to do so.”

“Then why did the feelings suddenly disappear?” Lleland asked.

“Because Jack was dead. The bond was broken.”

“But …” Lleland rubbed his forehead in confusion. “You killed the dragon. Who was Jack?” His eyes widened as he stared at Aaron. “Jack was the dragon,” he whispered. “The dragon was a man.” He frowned. “You knew this.”

“Yes.”

“Dragons can become human.”

“Dragons can take on the form of humans, but they are still dragons.”

Lleland shook his head. “No, that can’t be. You’re wrong.” The air suddenly seemed thick as he struggled to breathe. “How do you even know? Have
you
been drinking dragon blood?”

“No.”

“But you look much younger than you should.” He looked around the room, and his gaze fell on Lydia. Had she been drinking dragon blood, too? That would explain her tenderness for dragons. He slipped onto his knees in front of her.

“Lydia, I’m sorry.”

She shook her head. “And I’m sorry. I’m sorry Jack killed your father, and that he gave you his blood.” She glanced at him, and her eyes were blazing, as though flames were smouldering in their depths.

“Come along, boy,” Jack said. He smiled down at Lleland. “Do you like spending time with me?”

“Oh, yes,” Lleland said.

“And do you miss your father?”

“My father?” Lleland was puzzled. “No.”

Jack laughed as flames kindled in his eyes. “Good.”

Lleland stared at Lydia as his heart started to pound in his chest. “Your eyes,” he whispered. “You have eyes like Jack.” He lurched backwards and fell onto the floor. “No!” He shook his head. “It can’t be.”

“Lleland.” She reached out a hand.

“Don’t touch me!” He jumped to his feet and his eyes darted around the room before settling on Aaron. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

“Lleland …”

“Tell me!”

“I can’t.”

Lleland’s eyes flew back to Lydia. “You’re a monster! You attacked me! You tried to kill me!” he shouted.

“No!” she cried, jumping up. “I saved you, and you wanted me dead!”

Lleland lifted his hands as if to ward her away. His eyes flew wildly around the room. “She’s a monster!” he shouted. Keira lifted her hand to her mouth with a soft cry, but Aaron and Zach were silent, watching him intently.

Lleland stared at Aaron, then gasped. Flames were smouldering in his eyes, too. “No.” His gaze darted to the others. “No. It can’t be. You’re all monsters!” He stumbled backwards, his hand reaching for the door as he fumbled for the latch. “I’m a fool!”

“Lleland! Stop!” Zach took a step towards him, but Aaron held him back.

“Leave him,” he said.

Lleland wrenched open the door and stumbled into the passage. Somehow he made it to his own chamber, where he slammed the door behind him and dropped the bar. A wave of nausea washed over him and he grabbed the chamber pot, retching until his stomach was empty. He pushed it away in disgust and dropped into the chair, his head in his hands. He had come looking for more information about dragons, but what he’d learned horrified him. He laughed cynically. He had not just found the dragon’s lair, he had walked right into it.

Chapter 24

“Master Seaton?” There was a knock on the door. It took Lleland a moment to recognize Thomas’s voice. He rubbed his face with his hands.

“Can I come in?” Thomas called. Lifting the bar, Lleland opened the door and stepped aside as Thomas entered.

“Thomas,” he said.

“I heard about your discovery. You’re distressed.”

“You could say that.” He crossed his arms. “How can you work here, serving those monsters?”

“I’m an old man,” Thomas said, “and have served Master Aaron for forty-five years. I can tell you he’s no monster.”

“He’s a dragon,” Lleland snarled, pacing the room. “They’re the same thing.”

“No. Jack was a monster. I know; I saw what he did. It was Aaron who stopped him.”

“Why?”

“Why?” Thomas was surprised. “Because what Jack was doing was wrong.” He walked over to the chair, and sank down with a sigh. “Do you mind? These old bones are not what they used to be.”

“Why don’t you drink dragon’s blood?”

“Dragons are forbidden from giving a human their blood. Jack broke the law when he gave you his.”

“So Aaron won’t give you his blood?”

“No. And I wouldn’t drink it, even if he offered.”

“You don’t want to be tied to him?”

“It’s not that. I’m already tied to Aaron through friendship and loyalty, and he would never demand anything of me that I was not prepared to give. I have no desire to prolong my life unnaturally.”

“I see.”

“I don’t think you do.” Thomas crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair. “The Drakes may be dragons, but they are good people. And Aaron has more reason than most to hate humans.”

“Why?”

“Both his parents were killed by humans.”

“Dragon hunters?”

“No. A jealous villager. His name was Arnold Hobbes –”

“Hobbes? A relation of Matthew Hobbes?”

“Yes.” Thomas nodded. “He was a bit simple, and Eleanor – that’s Aaron’s mother – was kind to him. He thought she loved him, and was furious when Zachary took her away.”

“Zachary is Aaron’s father?”

“Yes.”

“And did Arnold know that the object of his affection was a monster?”

“Like Lydia, you mean?” Thomas said, and Lleland’s eyes narrowed. “But Aaron’s mother wasn’t a dragon, she was human. She grew up in the village.”

“Human?”

Thomas nodded. “Like Keira. Only human women can bear a dragon child.”

“I see. Aaron’s dragon father abducted a human woman, and the villager wanted to rescue her.”

Thomas settled a narrow gaze on Lleland. “Eleanor loved her husband, just as Keira loves Aaron, and she married Zachary of her own free will. Like the other villagers, Master Hobbes didn’t realize that Zachary – whom he only saw in human form – was a dragon, but since the beginning of time, the villagers have known that there’s a connection between the Drakes of Storbrook Castle and the dragons. One day Zachary landed closer to the village than he should have, and Master Hobbes saw him with Eleanor on his back. Hobbes flew at the dragon with a branch, but Eleanor stepped into his path and was felled with a mortal blow. When Zachary saw Eleanor was dead, he was overcome with despair. He lost the will to fight, and the villagers killed him. Aaron saw it all.”

“But the villagers knew the dragon was dangerous. They were saving their village from a monster. He probably would have killed his human mate eventually.”

Thomas laughed dryly. “Zachary loved Eleanor. Look at Aaron and Keira. Do you think he would ever harm her? They’ve been married for forty years, and he loves her more now than ever. Besides, they’ve been bound together in a way two humans can never be.”

“So she’s tasted his blood. I know what that feels like – she has no choice but to stay with him.”

“When a dragon takes a mate, the bond goes both ways. He’s bound to her as much as she is to him. It was the same with Eleanor and Zachary.”

Lleland dropped down at the end of the bed. “Why are you telling me this?” he finally said.

“You came here with your mind made up about dragons, Master Seaton. But as a scholar you should know better than to close your mind off to other possibilities. I just wanted to give you something more to mull over before you leave in the morning.” Thomas pushed himself wearily to his feet, his hand on the arm of the chair. “Aaron has ordered a horse be saddled for you in the morning. You can leave it with Richard when you reach the village.”

“I have no wish to impose myself any further on Master Drake,” Lleland said stiffly.

Thomas shrugged. “Suit yourself. It’s a long way down the mountain.”

“Thank you. I’ll walk,” Lleland said.

He waited as Thomas left the room, then dropped the bar over the door once more. He glanced at the bed. His body ached with weariness, but he knew his mind would allow him no rest. He sank into the chair where Thomas had sat a moment before, and stared into the fire. The woman he loved was also a monster. The words she had spoken earlier that day taunted him: could he ever love a dragon? He rose to his feet with a growl and started pacing the room. Did the woman he loved even exist? Lydia was the kind of creature he most despised in the world, and she’d kept that information hidden. His jaw clenched as anger surged through him. She had taken him for a fool. Led him on, let him fall in love with her, all the while hiding her black heart! She’d asked him if he could ever love a dragon. No! Lleland growled the word through clenched teeth. Never!

A log fell in the grate, and he turned towards it. The glowing embers seemed to mock him, reminding him of eyes that burned with flame. With a snarl, he kicked the pile of wood beside the hearth, sending logs scattering. He could not remain a minute longer in the monster’s lair.

He gathered his small bundle, grabbed his bow and lifted the bar from the door. All was quiet, but he paused a moment, listening, before heading into the passage and towards the stairs. Dragons, he knew, had excellent hearing. He froze when a scratching came from the wall, then breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the small, beady eyes of a mouse. He continued down the stairs, and a moment later cautiously pushed open the door to the courtyard. There was no-one about except the guard, who was dozing on a wooden chair near the fire pit. Lleland glanced upwards – the moon was nearly full, allowing him to easily see the gate. Skirting the edge of the building, he crossed the courtyard and passed beneath the portcullis. It was raised, as always, and it occurred to Lleland that he had never seen it lowered. Indeed, there seemed little need for it when the castle was filled with dragons.

With as little noise as possible, he made his way down the stony path that led from Storbrook, breathing a sigh of relief when he reached the woods. It was dark beneath the trees, but he had traversed this path enough times over the last few weeks to know the general direction he needed to go. He traveled as quickly as possible, eager to increase the distance between himself and the dragons’ lair.

By the time the sun crested the horizon, Lleland had already traveled a fair distance. He paused midmorning to fill his canteen with water, and at the waters’ edge he found a bush with a few small berries which he gulped ravenously. He had not eaten since the previous afternoon. Whenever he left the canopy of trees, he glanced heavenwards. He thought he saw a dragon circling high above him, but it wasn’t until he saw the sun glancing off the scales that he was sure.

It was late afternoon when he saw the spire of the village church between the trees. His belly ached from hunger, his limbs were exhausted and his head was wracked with pain. He stumbled into the inn, and after ravenously gulping down two bowls of stew, he fell on the bed provided to him, and was asleep within moments.