Dragon King of Treoir

  Quinn blinked his eyes as the teleporting ended. He checked the raised dais first to see if there was any chance Loki had passed on this meeting.

  Nope. There stood the trickster god who created turmoil just to be entertained. Today he had brilliant blue eyes, black hair slicked back, and was wearing a suit Armani would be proud to sell.

  To the side of that annoying god stood another one.

  Hermes always appeared as bored. He played a happy little tune on his tortoiseshell lyre, which was basically a U-shaped harp the size of a ukulele. The chap was into wings. He had them on his skull-shaped hat and his funky leather boots. He had the usual beyond-perfect face of a deity, but with a long narrow nose and thin eyes. His scraggly golden brown curls poking out from his hat needed a trim, as did his beard.

  Daegan leaned over. "Anything I need to know?"

  Quinn was glad his dragon king hadn't used telepathy here since nothing was private in this place. "No matter which three gods and/or goddesses rule a Tribunal, their word is final. All deities with VIPER take a turn, but Loki must enjoy other people's misery. He's here often. Lying will make your body glow red and the Tribunal is judge, jury and executioner. Actually, Sen is their executioner and enforcer. We're waiting for the Medb contingent to show up."

  "I know who Loki and Hermes are, but not the woman."

  Quinn eyed her golden hair, shapely body and creamy skin. He shuddered. "Based on the white dress and black lips, I'm thinking that must be Laima, one of the Baltic goddesses of destiny. It's said that if she kisses you, that's your last one ever. She's like a black widow spider, but with more of a punch."

  Daegan drew back in disgust.

  Cathbad appeared to the side of the dais where the accusers generally stood. Little had changed with him from the last time Quinn had been forced to look at his cocky expression.

  Loki nodded to each of his partners in judgment, then made a show of looking around as though there were more than seven beings present. He asked, "Where is Macha?"

  Quinn whispered, "He knows the answer. Sen would have informed him while we teleported."

  The subtle movement of Quinn's head indicated the dragon king should speak now. Quinn hoped his leader understood the dynamics.

  Daegan replied, "Macha is gone. I am the rightful ruler of Treoir."

  Loki's eyebrows lifted. "How do you intend to rule a force as large as the Beladors, plus the Alterant-gryphons, without a pantheon to back you up?"

  Cathbad interrupted. "Pardon me, Loki, but we've made it clear that at least half of that herd of Alterant-gryphons belongs to the Medb. If Macha is gone, who's going to give us our part of the stock?"

  Waiting for silence, Daegan said, "I have no need for a pantheon to aid me in ruling Treoir and leading the Beladors. As for Alterants, gryphons or anyone else beneath my rule, they are my loyal followers, and therefore, protected from scavengers like the Medb. I will hand over none."

  Cathbad looked like he was going to blow a gasket.

  Quinn could do nothing to help Daegan with this, but he was fist pumping the guy for the way he stood strong for his people.

  Loki moved a hand, requesting silence and told Cathbad, "The Tribunal must settle the Blood Law issue first." Then he told Daegan, "Since you claim responsibility for the Beladors, the Maistir on your right has been found guilty of withholding a possession of Queen Maeve's. Where is Kizira's body?"

  The goddess Laima asked, "Is it time for sentencing? I'd like to kiss someone and return to my realm."

  Loki gave her a look reserved for idiots. "Not yet."

  "Very well. Carry on," she said, lifting a mirror to study her mouth full of pointed teeth.

  Sen got them back on track when he called out to Loki, "The tomb holding the body was at the site where I went to retrieve the Belador, but it vanished. Someone teleported it away." Sen finished that statement by glaring at Daegan.

  Quinn started to explain that the missing tomb was his fault, but Daegan softly ordered, "Let me handle this."

  Then the dragon king asked, "Who requests the body?"

  Loki didn't like that one bit. "We covered all of that when Quinn was last here. I have no intention of spending time repeating our past meeting."

  "If that's the case, the Medb messenger will leave here empty-handed."

  Cathbad turned a deep red, struggling to keep from spewing his thoughts.

  Quinn wondered how the Beladors would move forward once the Tribunal killed Daegan. This was turning out worse than even Quinn had imagined.

  Sen offered to Loki, "Would you like this imposter placed in lockup where he can't continue to interfere?"

  Quinn glanced at Daegan, who seemed unperturbed by the threat.

  "Yes, Sen. That would simplify this meeting."

  Sen made a tiny move toward Daegan.

  Without even looking at Sen, Daegan swung a hand out and made a slight pushing motion.

  Sen slid backwards thirty feet, hunched over as if a massive fist had shoved him. He hugged his middle, trying to breathe.

  Quinn's eyes practically jumped out of his head. Are you kidding me?

  Sen's shocked face was worth gold.

  Quinn couldn't form a word. Everyone suspected Sen of being a demigod based on his powers and attitude, but that dis would make Evalle's day if Quinn survived to tell her about it. Sen had treated her badly for years whenever Tzader or Quinn weren't around to call him on it.

  Then again, Evalle hadn't backed away from Sen in Blairsville today.

  Sen lifted his hands, clearly intending to teleport.

  Daegan spared him a brief look. "I'm not ready to go anywhere. You might as well put your arms down. No point in continuing to look a fool."

  That earned him a death glare, which drew a chuckle from the dragon king.

  Quinn stifled the urge to warn Daegan that while he clearly had an upper hand with Sen, the three deities were not only powerful alone, they could combine their powers to act as one. If Quinn survived this, and that was a big if, he would corner Daegan for answers.

  Every moment around this man opened up new questions.

  Returning to face forward, Daegan folded his arms again, completely relaxed. He continued talking to Loki as if nothing significant had happened. "We were discussing the body. Who wants it?"

  Jaw dropped in shock, Cathbad gaped, then he snapped his mouth closed and replied in a sharp voice, "'Tis very simple. Queen Maeve demands the return of Kizira's body, a former Medb priestess. It's all in the rules of Dli Fola, the Blood Law."

  Angling his head toward Quinn, Daegan asked in a firm voice, "What exactly did you tell me about Blood Law?"

  Daegan could not have forgotten what Quinn had just spelled out for everyone at the campsite. That meant he wanted the details of the Blood Law spoken for everyone present.

  More than happy to do anything to help Daegan, Quinn repeated the terms clearly for everyone to hear. He summed it up as, "Evidently after a battle, the bodies of significant members of either leader's family can be claimed and the opposing group is to return those remains."

  Daegan crossed his arms and took his time responding. "I think I understand now, but where is the queen? Doesn't she have to claim the body herself?"

  Cathbad argued, "I am her emissary."

  Daegan told him, "I don't care who you are, you're not her. According to the rules, Queen Maeve must make the claim herself."

  "She did the first time, damn you," Cathbad shouted.

  "I was not present when that happened."

  "Macha was, and agreed the body belonged to Maeve."

  Quinn kept track of everyone's reactions to Daegan. Laima ignored the entire proceeding. As Hermes gently strummed his lyre, his gaze flicked from person to person, but he showed no sign of anger. So far.

  Loki seemed intrigued by the volley of discussion between Daegan and Cathbad. That could be a good or a bad sign.

  More often than not, it was a bad sign.

  Daegan lifted his shou
lders. "I cannot be held responsible for what Macha did prior to my taking over."

  "Are you crazy?" Cathbad shouted. Recovering his composure, he asked Loki, "Are you going to let him challenge what was already decided?"

  Daegan quickly countered with, "I'd like to remind everyone of a precedent Cathbad the Druid and Queen Maeve set upon waking from their long slumber. As I understand it, those two argued successfully in a Tribunal meeting that they should not be held responsible for any action taken by the Medb, which occurred prior to their reincarnating to take over the coven. If that ruling no longer holds true, then those two should be held responsible for every wrong committed by the Medb at any time in history."

  Hermes stopped playing to ask Cathbad, "What say you?"

  Cathbad spoke through clenched teeth. "We will not hold him to Macha's agreement."

  Quinn wanted to applaud Daegan on that maneuver. No deity would support the use of Noirre majik, which the Medb had used to commit crimes many times.

  Daegan calmly nodded, and addressed the deities. "In that case, the only issue left to settle before we move forward is whether you intend to set yet another precedent by allowing a second-in-command to call the Blood Law on another house."

  All three deities sent blatant looks of contempt to Cathbad. Loki didn't hesitate when he said, "Nay, we will set no such precedent."

  Cathbad conceded, "I will call Queen Maeve to join us."

  Queen Maeve had just had the game board spun around on her.

  Quinn let out the breath he'd been holding while Daegan negotiated that position, but he realized bringing in Queen Maeve added one more powerful being who could harm Daegan.

  The dragon king had made no political allies here.

  He was beginning to question whether this dragon king had any sense of self-preservation.

  Chapter 42

  Quinn would kill for this to be a human court where he could request a five-minute recess to talk to Daegan, but Tribunals were meant to be efficient for the deities, and without possibility of appeal.

  Queen Maeve appeared in a flurry of flashing black. Hard to imagine black actually flashing, but it did. Her hair was wrapped up in a black and blue weave of jewels. Her gown molded to her shapely body.

  She leaned toward Cathbad, who whispered to her, then she nodded, pulling her shoulders back, ready to do battle.

  One look at Daegan told Quinn all he needed to know about the dragon king's relationship with that queen.

  Daegan wanted her dead. His face was chiseled from cold fury.

  The queen watched him the way a person would observe a rabid T-rex. That might not be far off the mark if Daegan lost his iron control.

  Loki asked Cathbad, "Have you explained what has transpired?"

  "Yes."

  "What do you have to say, Queen Maeve?"

  She lifted her nose in Daegan's direction and demanded, "Give me Kizira's body. Where is it?"

  Daegan said nothing at first, staring at Maeve for a long moment, then he said, "Are you claiming something you feel belongs to you?"

  "Of course it belongs to me."

  Addressing Loki and company, Daegan asked, "How old is this Blood Law?"

  Quinn watched Cathbad for a sign of how things were going. That druid might bust an artery if this went on very long, but he currently seemed confident.

  Loki smiled. "It's as old as any god or goddess who attends Tribunals."

  "I see," Daegan said, giving a casual nod. "Would claiming something you lost, Maeve, be similar to holding me as a prisoner for thousands of years? If so, that means I would be due compensation."

  She ignored most of his comment. "I was told the Blood Law was explained to you. Don't waste my time with drivel."

  All the entities had taken an interest at Daegan exposing what the queen had done to him.

  "Do you deny having captured me two thousand years ago?" Daegan repeated slowly, daring her to lie to the Tribunal.

  She lifted her chin to Loki. "That is not what we are here to discuss. I have a grievance on the table. I'm not addressing anything else but that grievance at this moment."

  Loki said, "She has a point. We can't have multiple issues popping up or these meetings would never end. You've brought no formal grievance to the Tribunal, Daegan Treoir. In fact, we didn't know you existed until now. We see this issue between the two of you as something that we are not in a position to rule on since you are, as yet, not part of the coalition. Due to that and the fact that you are now free from any imprisonment, we will not open this for discussion."

  Quinn growled low. Damn gods and goddesses played with words and situations. No one ever knew which way they would lean.

  "I understand," Daegan replied in a nonchalant voice.

  Queen Maeve looked ready to chew rocks. "The body. Where is it?"

  "You can't have Kizira's body."

  Pointing at Daegan, Queen Maeve ordered Loki, "He defies the court and he is not even a member of the coalition. Strike him down now."

  Loki scratched his nose, thinking. Then he informed Daegan, "We do not allow anyone to refuse the Tribunal decisions. There are only two options for those with supernatural powers. You either join the coalition or you and all who follow you become our enemy."

  Daegan's mouth twitched with a smile. "You just said you would not allow multiple issues to be brought up. I haven't decided whether the coalition deserves Belador support."

  That drew a gasp from Laima and Hermes.

  Unbothered by the reaction, Daegan said, "If I decide in favor, then my warriors will join the coalition. I will let you know."

  At this rate, the Tribunal would make an example of Quinn and Daegan before ordering their deaths. Yeah, this was going south fast, but Quinn had no way to guide them out of trouble.

  Cathbad accused Daegan, "You're not powerful enough to rule a force the size of the Beladors. One of our Tribunal deities should lead them."

  Loki's face took on a happy expression, as if that idea intrigued him.

  Daegan chuckled, clearly not recognizing the threat hanging in the air. "You think to take what is mine, Maeve? Have you and Cathbad not learned anything yet?"

  The queen sneered, "You are nothing more than the son of King Gruffyn. When he died, he left you nothing."

  Loki lost his enthusiasm over leading the Beladors upon hearing that. "King Gruffyn of Treoir? The dragon king? You have dragon blood?"

  "Yes."

  That one word echoed around the realm.

  Quinn finally identified the look in Queen Maeve's eyes. Fear. Whatever she knew about Daegan frightened her and from a being as powerful as she was, fear was saying something.

  Flapping her arms and hands wildly, Queen Maeve warned the Tribunal, "You do know what happens when two dragons mate or have you forgotten history?"

  "I remember," Loki acknowledged. "I recall King Gruffyn and the destruction that followed his death. There were rumors about his children's deaths after that, but those faded with time. I do recall that two mated dragons could possibly kill a god, possibly," he stressed. "But one alone in an unfamiliar realm would be at the mercy of those same gods and goddesses."

  Maeve broke out the smile of a conquering queen.

  Quinn would die here the minute he used his powers, but he would not stand by and allow them to kill Daegan, who had wronged no one. He whispered, "Say when. I'm ready."

  Speaking out of the side of his mouth, Daegan said, "Do nothing unless I ask it of you."

  Shit. This bloody sucked.

  Cathbad grinned with more confidence than before.

  Queen Maeve purred, "Give me Kizira's body now or ... you'll find out just how powerful a Tribunal can be."

  Undeterred by the level of menace permeating the air, Daegan said in a bold voice, "I call the Blood Law first. I demand you return the body of my sister, whom you killed long before Kizira died. Do you deny it? Go ahead. I would like to see how a person who lies to a Tribunal glows red."

  Everyone f
roze.

  The three deities turned to Queen Maeve, who lowered her arms and stared back during the stretched silence. Cathbad shook her from her state when he whispered to her.

  She said, "You ... you can't ... I demand Kizira. I'm not talking about anything else. You've refused the Tribunal and you're a threat to our kind." She swung her attention to Loki. "This is the best chance you'll ever have to rid the world of a deadly threat to gods and goddesses."

  Now the Tribunal turned to Daegan.

  Hermes stopped playing the music.

  Laima perked up as if scenting prey.

  Loki studied Daegan with deep consideration.

  Quinn said under his breath, "We may have to ... give up the body."

  "No." Daegan spoke with the measured sounds of someone instructing a jury. "Yes, I am of dragon blood. And there is always a threat from our kind, just as there is a threat from deities who misuse their powers." He glared at the queen then continued. "You may try to harm or kill me, and you might just succeed."

  Every god and goddess bristled at that subtle slap.

  Daegan said, "Then again, you might not survive the battle. If, however, you did survive, keep in mind that you all know who my father was, but what do you know of my mother?"

  Questions popped up in every face Quinn searched, including Sen's.

  Daegan told Maeve, "You don't even know how I was created, do you?"

  She hissed at him.

  "I'll explain. Until I was born, dragons were the product of mating two descendants of dragon blood, but my father's wife died birthing my sisters. He asked the gods for a son and he got me. To breed a dragon shifter with no female of dragon blood required intervention from higher powers."

  Quinn had to lock his jaws to keep his lips closed. Holy gods. Daegan was a demigod? No wonder he'd blown off Sen.

  Daegan wasn't through holding court. "If any of you feels confident you can survive my mother, then by all means come for me. But I doubt you have lived this long by attacking the children of an unknown deity. As we all know, mothers can be deadly when crossed, and I ... am my mother's favorite." He smiled. "We can finish our business here by exchanging bodies or we can battle. Which will it be?"

  Loki's eyebrows bounced up and it didn't take long to figure out why. Daegan had given him an out. The trickster said, "If Queen Maeve delivers the body of your sister, then will you agree to produce Kizira's?"

  "If we can do this immediately, then yes," Daegan agreed.

  Disappointment registered in Quinn's chest for just a moment before he scolded himself. He and Daegan had to get out of here to live to fight another day, but his skin had turned cold at the thought of Queen Maeve using Kizira's body. He cursed himself a thousand times over for not cremating the remains.