The King's Scrolls

  Kyrin laughed a little. Jace could surely outshoot her, at least when it came to moving targets. “I don’t know about that, but thanks.”

  They walked on, though Kaden sent a look over his shoulder. “You know he’s trying his hardest to win you over?”

  A smile played on Kyrin’s lips. He’d been trying since she’d first set foot in camp over the summer. What had started out as shy, awkward compliments had grown some in confidence. He was a sweet boy, like his mother, and she was careful not to hurt his feelings. “I know.” She smiled up at her brother. He didn’t share her amusement. She bumped his arm. “Seems like you don’t ever want me to get married.”

  Jeremy was one of only two young men who had ever shown her persistent interest, and Kaden hadn’t been particularly enthusiastic about either of them, though he did actually like Jeremy. That was a step up from his view of Collin, the charming, but overly-flirtatious young man who’d been with them in Tarvin Hall and then promoted to Auréa Palace at the same time as Kyrin.

  Kaden frowned. “I didn’t say that. It’s just that whoever it is will have to meet with my approval first.”

  Kyrin gave a low chuckle. “Good luck to any man who tries.”

  She glanced over at Jace. He, too, stared back at Jeremy, a somewhat brooding wrinkle in his brow. When he turned around, he met Kyrin’s gaze, his vivid blue eyes serious. He was every bit as protective of her as her brother.

  “You don’t like him either,” she said.

  “I don’t mind him.”

  Still amused, but thankful for their concern and protection, she put their minds at ease. “Well, I’m not interested anyway, so you two don’t have to fret.”

  Satisfied, they dropped the subject. Halfway to the cabin, Tyra trotted across camp to meet them. The black wolf went straight to Jace, who paused to pet her. When he walked on, she fell into stride between him and Kyrin.

  A cold, blustery wind gusted through the trees. Kyrin shivered and looked up through the bare limbs. “I wonder if it will snow.”

  Jace glanced up. “It might. It’ll rain at least.”

  Kyrin was willing to bet he was right. He always sensed things like that.

  A flood of warm air hit them as they opened the door and stepped into Lenae and Kyrin’s cabin. The older woman was just setting a fresh loaf of bread on the table, and she looked up.

  “How did it go? Are they safe?”

  Kyrin nodded. “Everything went as planned. Goler did have an ambush set, but he gave up when he realized we were prepared for it.”

  A pleased smile softened Lenae’s face. “Good to know everyone’s safe. I’ve been praying since you left. Now, why don’t you sit down and have some cider? Looks like you could do with some warming up.”

  Kyrin, Jace, and Kaden shrugged off their coats and hung them by the door before sitting at the table. Lenae poured them each a mug of cider and set a plate of sweet rolls between them. Kyrin gave her brother a grin and wrapped her fingers around her warm, steaming mug with a contented sigh. Despite the emperor’s constant desire to hurt them, life was good.

  A night of thunder and driving rain gave way to brilliant sunshine and warmer temperatures the next morning, offering one last taste of fall before winter set in. Everyone took advantage of this opportunity to finish final preparations for the long, cold months ahead. At one edge of camp, opposite the cabins, Kyrin carried a bucket of water to the shelter shared by Kaden, Jace, Holden, and Trev. The men were up to their elbows in mud as they finished filling in any cracks that would let cold air into the shelter.

  “Here you go.” She set the bucket near Jace. She knew better than to get too close to Kaden. He’d already spattered the hem of her dress with mud. She gave him a warning look, just to make sure he didn’t come any closer before she backed away.

  The men thanked her and gathered around to wash up.

  When she turned toward the cabin, movement drew her attention to the far side of camp where a lone, dark-skinned rider rode in.

  “Tane,” she said in surprise.

  The others looked up. Shaking off their dripping hands, they followed Kyrin across camp to meet the talcrin. Nearly a month had passed since they’d received any word from Valcré. While no news was usually good, Kyrin was pleased to see him. After all, he’d been the one to help her escape the city after her near-execution. She would always be thankful for the risk he took in doing so, and for how he’d helped her transition into a completely different life than she’d always known.

  They met up with Trask, Rayad, and Warin along the way and gathered around their visitor.

  “Good to have you back,” Trask told Tane as he dismounted. “It’s been a while.”

  “It has.” He turned to face them, his silvery eyes twinkling with a smile for each of them.

  “Anything significant happening in Valcré?”

  “Actually, there is; but first, I’ve brought a couple visitors. I hope you don’t mind.”

  Trask glanced past him. So far, only Tane and his horse had shown up in camp. “Not at all. Where are they?”

  A grin lit up the talcrin’s dark face. “They’ll be here momentarily.”

  His gaze shifted upward. Trask frowned, reflecting the confusion of the rest of the group. Kyrin looked over at Kaden, who shrugged, but then a gust of wind blew overhead. It came in a steady rhythm that rose in volume and rattled the branches above. A huge, dark shape dropped from the sky. Kyrin gasped and turned her head as gusts of air buffeted and whipped her hair into her face. She brushed it away and set her wide eyes on the creature that landed several yards from the group. Three more followed and landed directly behind it.

  Kyrin’s heart pattered. Four magnificent dragons stood right at the edge of camp. With a faint rustle, they folded their wings at their sides. Her mouth hung open for a moment. She’d seen airborne dragons from far off only twice in her life, but never up close. The stunning creatures had lean bodies, agile limbs, and long necks to support their smallish, egg-shaped heads. Two smooth horns, each a foot long, swept back from the tops of their skulls, and all four had wide, ice-blue eyes with a slice of black for a pupil. Three of the dragons sported shining black scales that covered their backs and seeped down into dark green scales, almost like a paint horse. The fourth dragon, a female, was similar, but with slate blue and cream scales, and a slightly more petite build.

  Mesmerized, Kyrin nearly overlooked the dismounting dragon riders, but the foremost rider caught her eye and fascinated her almost as much as his dragon. He was a little shorter than average, but that did not detract from his commanding appearance. The way he stood with his shoulders back and feet braced gave him the air of a man not intimidated by anyone. Even Kaden, with all his bravado, couldn’t quite claim such bearing.

  Though it must be chilly riding dragons this time of year, the man wore a sleeveless leather jerkin that left his well-toned brown arms bare, except for a pair of dark leather bracers over his forearms. His black hair fell long in front of his chest—some strands interwoven with leather strips and glass beads, the blue hues of which caught the light as he moved.

  With a gentle pat to his dragon’s shoulder, he turned to the group, sweeping each of them with eyes that shone like sapphires and were a bit larger than normal. The other three riders resembled him in appearance—short, yet strong, with long dark hair, brown skin, and large, vivid eyes. They, too, were dressed predominately in leather.

  “They’re cretes,” Kyrin murmured, breathless. How many people ever saw the elusive race anymore? Certainly not many, since they had all left Arcacia long before she was born. But here they stood in camp, and she had to remind herself not to stare. The last thing she wanted was to give a rude first impression.

  The head crete approached them, carrying himself with all confidence. Kyrin sensed a certain air of pride from the rest of the group as well. Tane met the man, bringing into stark contrast the great difference in their height, but the shorter man seemed to take no notice
of it.

  “Captain, let me introduce you to Lord Trask, son of Baron Grey and leader of this camp.” Tane motioned to Trask, who stepped forward. “Trask, this is Captain Verus Darq of the Hawk Clan.”

  The two shook hands.

  “Welcome,” Trask told him. “It’s an honor to have you and your companions here. What can we do for you?”

  “Thank you.” Captain Darq’s voice was strong and clear. He glanced at Tane. “We’ve come to seek your aid at the recommendation of both Endathlorsam and Imhonriltane. The matter is complicated, but I believe it to be of concern to both our peoples. It’s also very time-sensitive and must be acted upon quickly.”

  “Of course.” Trask turned, motioning. “You’re welcome to come with me to my cabin to discuss it. And, if you do not object, I’d like to include two of my senior men.”

  “I don’t object,” Darq said with a shake of his head. “I, too, shall bring my lieutenant.”

  Trask faced the curious group around him. “Warin, Rayad, will you join me in the cabin?”

  They both nodded, and Trask looked back at Darq. “Are you and your men hungry, Captain? We have plenty of food and coffee to offer.”

  “That would be much appreciated. Thank you.”

  On the way to the cabin, Trask asked Lenae if she would bring food and coffee for the captain and the other riders. With her nod, the group moved on, passing by Kyrin and Kaden. Kyrin tried not to get caught staring, though she couldn’t take her eyes from the crete captain. He was, perhaps, only an inch taller than her five foot seven, but definitely not lacking in any capacity. Kaden would insist otherwise, but Kyrin wasn’t even sure he could have beaten the crete in a fight. The man looked too agile and well-trained for that. She took note of his weapons—two short swords strapped to his back, with a bow and quiver, and a set of daggers on either side of his belt. Yes, he was prepared for any foe.

  Kyrin’s eyes shifted to his lieutenant as he passed by. The man was slightly shorter, but just as strong and well-armed. He appeared to be a few years younger than Captain Darq and had deep green eyes instead of blue. A jagged scar marked one of his cheekbones and piqued Kyrin’s curiosity. Though still impressive looking, he didn’t share the captain’s commanding presence and seemed more than content to follow his lead.

  Kyrin glanced up at Kaden to see if he shared her interest in the riders, but she found his gaze still attached to the dragons. She smiled at the admiring look on his face. He’d always had a deep fascination for dragons. How many times had he dreamed of flying out of Tarvin Hall on one when they were little?

  “Kyrin, want to help me with the food and coffee?”

  Her attention shifted to Lenae, and she followed the older woman to their cabin. At the door, Kyrin had to take one last quick look back at their visitors before joining Lenae to prepare meals for them.

  “I wonder what they could need Trask’s help with?” Kyrin said, her voice a little hushed with the mysteriousness of it. Obviously, Sam and Tane knew them well, but she had no answer as to how.

  “So do I.” Lenae shook her head, sharing the curiosity. “I’ve never seen a crete before.”

  “Neither have I.”

  “They’re quite impressive, aren’t they?” Lenae set plates and a fresh loaf of bread on the table.

  “Very,” Kyrin agreed as they gathered the coffee cups.

  In a few minutes, they had four plates laid out with hearty venison sandwiches, fried potatoes left from lunch, and apple tarts. Lenae brought two trays from the cabinet and placed two plates on each, with the coffee.

  “Kyrin, why don’t you take a tray to the other riders while I take one to Trask’s cabin?”

  Outside, a little shiver raced through Kyrin as she approached their guests. She’d be awfully close to the dragons. They might be stunning, but she had a healthy respect for how dangerous they could be. They could kill her in a second with their sharp, curved claws alone, never mind their teeth and ability to breathe fire. At least the cretes seemed to have them well- trained. In fact, they looked rather docile as they sat and peered around curiously.

  When Kyrin drew near, Kaden joined her, no doubt to get as close as possible to the dragons. She didn’t think he had stopped watching them since they’d arrived. Jace commanded Tyra to stay, and followed along, too, but kept more distance.

  Kyrin smiled when she came to the first crete and offered him a plate and coffee. He accepted it with a bland “thank you,” and rested back against his dragon to eat, his expression closed off to conversation. However, the second crete, the youngest of the group, met her smile with his own when he thanked her.

  She stepped back with the empty tray, unsure of what more to say or if she should even hang around. Supposedly, cretes were an aloof race and didn’t trust outsiders. The first crete she served certainly fit this description.

  The younger crete took a swig of his coffee and set his eyes past her. She peeked over her shoulder at Kaden who, of course, stared at the dragon. The female creature gazed back in mutual interest.

  “Go ahead,” the crete said suddenly. “You can touch her. She loves attention, and she’ll only attack if I tell her to.” A sly glint sparkled in his spring-green eyes.

  Besides Jace, Kyrin had never seen anyone with such bright and colorful eyes as these cretes.

  Kaden looked at him in awe. “You can do that?”

  The crete nodded. “Dragons are highly intelligent. You can teach them almost any command. Storm, here, is young, but she learns fast.”

  Kyrin smiled at the delight in her brother’s eyes as he stepped closer to the dragon and ran his hand over her grayish-blue neck scales. A grin split his face.

  “She’s so smooth. Kyrin, come and feel it.”

  Kyrin stepped to his side and laid her hand on the dragon. The scales were, indeed, very smooth, reminding her of the polished marble stair-railings in Auréa Palace, but they weren’t cold. Warmth radiated through them and into her fingers. The dragon, still watching them, let out a little rumble, almost like a giant cat’s purr.

  “I told you she liked attention,” the crete said, grinning.

  Kyrin chuckled and glanced at Jace. She motioned for him to come closer, but he shook his head. This certainly had more to do with the crete than the dragon. He was very fond of any type of animal. She hated for him to miss out on such a rare opportunity, but she wouldn’t prod him to join in. She faced the crete again.

  “So they can breathe fire?”

  “For short bursts, but that’s usually all it takes to deter any threat.”

  “That’s incredible,” Kaden breathed.

  While he continued admiring Storm, Kyrin observed the dragon’s rider. He appeared to be in his early to mid-twenties—about ten years younger than Captain Darq—though his exact age was impossible to guess. Cretes were said to mature faster than humans, so he could be anywhere from seventeen to twenty-five. He, too, wore a sleeveless jerkin. Brown tattoos, a little darker than his skin, marked both his shoulders. Darq and the other cretes had them as well, but Kyrin hadn’t taken a good look at them until now. This man’s were a complicated pattern of spirals and dots, but the shape of a fox stood out in the center of his right shoulder.

  Though she tried to be discreet, he must have caught her studying him and suddenly extended his hand to her. “I’m Talas, by the way. Talas Folkan of the Fox Clan.”

  Kyrin took his firm but gentle grip. “I’m Kyrin Altair.”

  Kaden turned to offer his hand. “Kaden Altair.”

  “The Altair twins,” Talas said with an upbeat tone of interest. “We’ve heard about you.”

  Kyrin lifted her brows. “Really?”

  “Yes. We have connections in Valcré, just as you do. News travels surprisingly fast between here and the forests of Dorland.”

  “With dragons, I can imagine,” Kaden said with another envious look at Storm.

  Talas smiled at his enthusiasm for the animal.

  Kyrin glanced at the ot
her crete. A frown creased his forehead. Apparently, he didn’t think much of Talas’s show of friendliness. He watched them out of the corner of his eye, with his chin tipped at a slight angle, but didn’t say a word.

  “How do you train a dragon?” Kaden asked.

  “You have to start when they’re young,” Talas explained, “before they begin to fly. You teach them basic commands, and then, once they’re able to bear your weight, you take them flying.”

  Kaden looked fascinated, but Kyrin’s mind filled with all the many things that could go wrong. “Isn’t that dangerous? What if they don’t follow your commands or you fall off?”

  Talas flashed a wide grin. “Oh, it’s dangerous, but danger has never stopped a crete. We thrive on that sort of thing. With dragons, you form a bond of trust that grows stronger with time. The early stages of training young dragons are full of uncertainties. Many riders have died in the process, but a well-trained dragon is a lifelong companion, and they’re the lifeblood of the cretes.” He patted Storm fondly, and the dragon let out another rumbling purr.

  Kaden stared at the animal, his expression setting in determination. Kyrin could have said just what he was thinking before he spoke.

  “So . . . what would it take for someone like me to get one?”

  Talas let out a short, but friendly, chuckle. “Well, that would depend on your connections and relationship with the crete people.”

  Kaden’s shoulders slumped. He didn’t have either.

  Talas quirked an eyebrow. “We’ll see what happens. I’ll keep you in mind.”

  Kaden’s eyes brightened considerably at this. “Thanks.”

  A door shut on one of the cabins. Kyrin looked back as Trask and the others approached.

  “We’ll discuss it and make our selections,” Trask said to Darq as they drew near.

  The captain faced Trask once they reached the dragons. “You can expect the others tomorrow. Thank you for your willingness to aid us.”

  “I’m glad you sought us out. We’re more than willing to help. As you said, it’s important to us as well.”