Page 11 of Galadon (Dragon’s Breath #8)

Galadon

The late afternoon sun heated my scales as I flew along the southern border of my territory. It had been quiet since the attack a few days ago, but I knew that could change anytime. The Takaran dragon toriq bordered my land on three sides. Until several years ago, when I joined the Faegud, they had regularly tried to infiltrate my wards to get inside, and it appeared they’d resumed their efforts.

Despite having more than enough territory of their own, I had suspicions about the reason. Old magic predating my arrival six centuries ago pulsed up ahead. As I flew closer, I could view one of the sources. Within a stained silver zaphiriam metal ring about twenty feet in diameter, polished dark gray algodonite stones were embedded about every eighteen inches with strange symbols carved into them. I’d tried prying them from the circle a few times over the centuries, but they didn’t budge.

A spell using foreign magic held them fast to the polished metal, and even when I used my full power, they easily rebuffed my attempts. I’d spent too many hours studying the strange relic, but I still couldn’t discern its purpose, nor had it ever done anything interesting. It simply rested on the ground, impossible to dismantle or lift from the earth.

About two hundred feet beyond it, an even stronger magic pulsed like the beat of a drum in my veins. It could be felt nearly two miles away, partly into Takaran territory. Nothing visible explained the source, except I’d somehow always known there must be an artifact of some sort buried underground. If not for the perfect bed of otherworldly blue-green grass that never yellowed with the seasons or grew beyond four inches high, there would be no visual evidence of something unusual there.

The lush field of vegetation boasted no trees or bushes, but every year around mid-April, pale pink flowers rose two feet high and bloomed with petals, each as large as my hand. Zorya help anyone who came near them. They spit out a thick cloud of poisonous pollen that left me sick with severe stomach cramps and a brutal migraine for a week when I was nine. I’d only caught the edge of the plume, or else, I might have died.

At least a hundred covered the field now, lying in wait for someone oblivious enough to visit them. They’d remain until late May before dying off. If I had to put up with them, at least they were pretty enough to look at from a distance.

In the fall, the same field of grass produced three-foot-tall lavender flowers. These even stranger blooms spread wide enough to fit my head, but the sharp teeth at the tips of the thick petals gave me plenty of warning to stay away. The spring flowers had already tricked me by then, so I knew better than to go near anything that sprung from that grass.

I had witnessed the occasional bird, rabbit, or squirrel pass too close, and the plant had lunged forward to grab and gobble up its prey. A few days later, it would spit out the bones, fur, or feathers it didn’t want in a pile that would get absorbed by the rich soil. It did leave some insects, such as bees and butterflies, alone. The carnivorous plant lasted eight to ten weeks each autumn, dying with the first frost.

If I wanted to explore the field, I had to do it between those seasons. Originally, the field was smaller and only took up about ten square feet of space, but over the years, it had grown. Now, I estimated that it spanned a couple hundred feet in each direction and would eventually reach the lake a quarter mile west of here. I suspected something was deep under the ground, but the one time I tried digging, my talons didn’t make it more than an inch down before pain suffused my entire body. It took an agonizing hour to free myself and crawl away.

One time, when I was sixteen, I allowed five Takaran dragons to try it after they breached my barriers to see if the same happened to them. I was pleased to discover that it did. After they crawled to the edge of the field, I finished them off. That had been amusing, but I spent two days rebuilding my wards. I wasn’t as proficient at constructing them back then.

About a half mile away, I noted two neighboring toriq’s dragons hovering at the edge of their territory, watching me. The Takaran border patrol occasionally stopped to look at the field—only able to catch a sliver from their vantage point—but they never touched my wards, so I didn’t worry about it. The regular guards were quite used to the oddity.

A red dragon, my mother, flew toward me from the east.

I landed and shifted, waiting a dozen paces from the verdant field and watching as she got closer and landed. She shifted a moment later. I was reasonably fast for having higher-than-average pure dragon blood, but she was swifter. Ujala transformed in four minutes.

“What are you doing here?” I asked as she walked up to me.

She stared at the field, strands of straight dark hair lifting with the breeze. “It’s grown so much since I first brought you here, hasn’t it?”

I frowned. “You knew about this place?”

“Of course,” she said, gesturing toward the flowers and then the rock circle. “It’s the reason I brought you to this land—to protect it from those who would use it for ill purposes. In return, I knew it would nourish and strengthen you more than anywhere else in Kederrawien.”

I stiffened, outrage filling me. “You brought me here as a child to defend this land by myself for some strange objects? You left me for that?”

Her expression softened. “I was assured that only you could accomplish such a task, and when you needed help, you’d have it. Somehow, you could not be corrupted by this place like most others, and the artifact in the ground was seeping too much magic by that time to hide itself much longer.”

I had a thousand questions and considered which to ask first. “How long has it been here?”

“I can’t say the precise timing, but I believe someone came and buried the artifact almost fifty years before I brought you. Many powerful spells were woven into protecting it.”

As much as I wanted to be angry at her, I needed more details first.

“The magic for both isn’t native to Earth…or Kederrawien,” I said, frowning. We didn’t return until almost seven years ago and this place came from the other dimension, which meant Kederrawien was where the artifact was originally buried.

“No.” My mother shook her head. “Whatever artifact is under those flowers came from some faraway world.”

“And the circle?” I asked, gesturing in that direction. It had similar magic, but not quite the same.

She shrugged. “I only know that it has been around for far longer and likely originated on Earth before transferring with us to Kederrawien. It may have even been in Europe before, based on some stories I found, but I haven’t been able to confirm it.”

“What is the circle for?”

Ujala’s brows furrowed. “I was never told, but I studied it during my last visit here. After I returned to the Craegud, I went through every tome in the library I could find on the matter.”

I’d had no idea she’d ever visited this part of the land during her previous stay. My mother had often left to hunt for food, but I couldn’t come with her since I was too young to fly then. She must have investigated the artifact and circle while away. It wasn’t until a few years after I arrived that I found them, and I was reasonably certain Amari never knew about the place. She never mentioned it, anyway. My strong urge to protect the land came as soon as I discovered the area, and it hadn’t left me since.

“And what did you find?” I prompted when Ujala didn’t continue.

“I think, and I could be wrong, but…” She drew in a deep breath. “Based on the design and the symbols on the stones, it may be a fairy ring, but I got that idea from a tome copied from a human book. The stories were probably just made up from someone who’d seen this.”

“There’s a chance they could have some truth in them,” I said, mulling over the theory. I had a vague recollection of my mother telling me fairytales as a child—of the dragon variety—and I’d heard other sorts referenced a few times in recent years on Earth, but I still didn’t know much about them.

She nodded slowly. “If it’s true, though, a fairy ring is used for long-distance travel like a portal, except these are more powerful. I think it could be used to cross dimensions.”

“You mean we could have used it to escape Kederrawien?” I asked, stunned.

Ujala laughed and shook her head. “No, son. You must feel the magic is different and doesn’t match ours, so it’s probably useless to us. You were sent here to protect the buried artifact. It just happens to be near the ring since that’s likely how they brought it to this land, and they didn’t want to take it far.”

“Yet you admit the ring is different as well.”

“Hmm, yes, but not quite the same way,” she said, glancing toward the flower field. The blooms were facing us as if waiting for us to come closer.

Evil damn plants.

I’d often wondered about the difference between the artifact and the circle. The artifact emitted powers similar to a cousin as opposed to a full sibling, but I’d never had anyone who could discuss the matter with me. I instinctively kept any guests I’d had over the years far from this area. Until now, I’d never thought deeply about the reason. Had I been unknowingly manipulated for all these centuries?

The thought filled me with anger. I’d missed many meaningful childhood experiences, been shunned, and never known love. Was it all for this? My fate had been tied to some strange artifact not from this world that denied me any semblance of a normal life.

I began pacing, unable to stand still any longer.

“It’s a lot to take in,” my mother said, concern in her gaze. “I’m sorry I couldn’t explain this to you all those years ago, but they insisted I had to let fate take its course.”

I paused and glared at her. “Do you think that makes me feel better? Why are you here now if you couldn’t stay then?”

That last question had been eating at me these last few months. I hated to admit it, but I let her stay here because some remnant of my younger self wanted to experience having a mother in my life. Yet how could I ever forgive her? She’d left me when I needed her most, and I’d nearly died dozens of times over the centuries.

Just because some higher power stepped in to help didn’t lessen the pain. I’d endured hatred, scorn, fear of my existence, and so much more until my soul ached with shame and loneliness. Many times, I’d wondered if I was worth anything at all. Only in the last few years had anyone shown a modicum of acceptance toward me, but it felt like it was almost too late. I was far too damaged now.

“I told you that there are few who can remain in the presence of the artifact for long without being corrupted by its magic. Only the race to which it belongs is truly safe. Your father…he could have stayed. Something in his lineage would have allowed it, which is why you can be here, but he died, giving us a chance to flee.”

I ran a hand over my freshly trimmed hair, frustration vibrating through me. My mother was no fighter. I knew intellectually she couldn’t have held any enemy off for long, so it couldn’t have been her instead.

Still, it would have been nice if my apa —dad—could have come to this land to guide and protect me in those early years. I barely remembered him anymore. The few things I could recall included him teaching me how to strengthen my wings for flight, his impressive battle skills when he trained, and letting me curl into him some nights when I didn’t want to sleep alone. He’d been good and decent for a pure dragon.

“But you’re here now,” I pointed out.

My mother lifted a chain from her neck, showing me a white moonstone hanging from it. “A seer gave this to me just before we left the west coast and said it should protect me from the artifact’s effects for up to five years. He said the spell was complicated, but I should stay with you during this time because you’ll need me. That is all I know.”

If I weren’t a seer myself, I’d want to throw the whole lot of them into the ocean and let the sea dragons eat them. Since I did have some experience on the matter, I knew most didn’t have much more information than they gave, or it was for our own protection that they didn’t reveal more. Still, it was annoying.

“You must give me time to come to terms with this,” I said, unwilling to forgive yet, but she’d explained enough to sate the worst of my fury.

She swallowed and nodded. “Of course.”

A tingle ran through my spine as I felt someone cross my wards. They were authorized, so I didn’t worry. It only annoyed me that they came at an inconvenient time. I hadn’t even finished my patrol, though the Takaran guards who’d been hovering earlier left when my mother arrived.

“Lorcan is here,” I said, gesturing toward the north. “We should return quickly, or else he might come looking, and I don’t want him anywhere near here.”

“Agreed.”

I was already letting my flames overtake my body as she spoke. It would only take the deceased pendragon’s son ten minutes to reach my lair, but it would take me longer to finish shifting and fly there. Even now, my instincts surged, insisting I protect the artifact from everyone—except my mother, apparently. Perhaps she was deemed safe now.

***

Lorcan paced in front of my mother’s house when we arrived. He was aware that I’d sense his arrival and need only wait. Long ago, I made it clear that he shouldn’t wander my territory, though I still worried he’d get curious. Sharing my land had not been part of the deal I made with his mother. She’d understood that I needed my privacy when I joined her toriq, but in return, I obeyed her commands and fought with her warriors in any battle she waged. That would hold true for whoever took over next if they abided by the agreement.

Now, her son stood waiting impatiently as I finished my shift. It was exhausting doing it several times within an hour, but I managed to hide my fatigue. My mother, on the other hand, appeared out of breath. She was only eighty years older than me, having given birth to me relatively young for a shifter female, but she didn’t exercise or get out much.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice gruff from annoyance. I hadn’t expected a visit from him today.

Lorcan took an involuntary step back. “They are naming the candidates for the bitkal in two days, and the elders’ council has deemed your presence required.”

“No.” I growled. “My territory was attacked recently, and I barely fended off the intruders. I cannot leave it or my mother unattended.”

It took an hour and a half to fly up there, plus however long the naming ceremony and the feast lasted, and then another hour and a half back. I could not risk it for such a length of time with the Takaran seeking to break our truce early.

To Lorcan’s credit, he didn’t back up another step at my gruff response, but the tension in his body told me it took all his self-control. Few could suppress their fears around me, but I knew he’d pull himself together in a moment.

He even managed to smile a little. “Yes, Rayna told me all about your little adventure. She was in quite the sour mood after visiting you, but she didn’t spare any details once I got a few drinks in her.”

I clenched my fists as anger and jealousy filled me. It was stupid since she’d pointedly asked me if I had a problem with her sleeping with other men, and I told her she was free, but deep down, I feared I’d rip the head off any male who laid a hand on her.

It was why I needed to avoid her at all costs and evade discussions of her. Every part of me, including the raging beast inside, wanted to hunt her down and bring her back where I could keep her close. Only the intellectual side reined me in, recognizing our relationship was impossible on every level.

Still, I couldn’t help myself. “You got her drunk?”

“I told her that she should have a drink at the tavern.” Lorcan shrugged, amusement in his gaze at my reaction. “She was the one who was so traumatized by whatever you said to her that she had to drink her cares away—after we made her eat a hearty meal. I may have also let it slip that you warned our whole toriq against harming her. Interestingly, she believed it and let her guard down to guzzle alefire.”

“You let her drink alefire?” I growled.

Three mugs were enough to leave a large shifter crawling to his home afterward.

Lorcan chuckled. “I didn’t let her do anything. My suggestion had been mead, but she said she preferred alefire, and who am I to argue with a distraught slayer? I value my life, you know. So she drank it—and to my shock—she hardly stumbled afterward. Titan stayed close just in case, but he assured me he’d seen her drink as much before and be fine afterward.”

I wondered what I would have done in his place. Stop her? I never guessed she could handle it so well, but I should have known better. Her compact form hid a female tougher than any I’d ever known.

“I take it she safely departed the next day?” I asked, ignoring the fact that Lorcan had told her about my protection order. She would have known the warning was given before our latest conversation, so it didn’t counter the slayer’s demand to stop saving her. I’d continue safeguarding her in the ways I could from afar because I couldn’t help doing otherwise.

“Yes, Titan flew her back to the Taugud fortress so she could retrieve her horse. From there…” He shook his head. “It sounded like she’d go back on the hunt again.”

“She has no choice,” I said through gritted teeth, forever hating that part of her.

Lorcan rubbed his chin. “Perhaps not for much longer. I received word that the first trial with the slayer potion worked for about ten days. The female who took it said that during that time she had no urge to kill dragons whatsoever, and she’d already gone five days without hunting prior to ingesting it. Javier—the sorcerer developing the formula—plans to tweak it more to extend the time, but he believes it’s promising.”

“Can you get a vial of it?” I asked, thoughts churning.

Surprise lit the shifter’s face. “Do you plan to give it to Rayna? She implied that she had no intention of returning to visit you again, and that’s how you wanted it.”

“Just get some in case the opportunity arises to offer it to her,” I said. If there were a way to curb her killing urges, perhaps it could allay my fears enough to give her a chance.

“I already requested a few vials in case we need them for the slayers in Texas.” He gave me a discerning look. “I can give you one, but on the condition that you attend the naming ceremony, and you will accept four shifter guards I will personally select to protect your territory.”

Except they’d see the circle and feel the artifact, which I could not risk.

My mother cleared her throat and grasped my arm. “I’ll be here, and I’ll make certain they don’t go anywhere they’re not wanted. You should go, Galadon.”

I still didn’t like the idea, but while I hadn’t forgiven Ujala, I trusted her to protect the secrets on my land. If I were being honest with myself, she had sacrificed a lot for this place, too.

“Very well.” I crossed my arms and looked at the male shifter. “I will go if you promise to take me for a drink after the ceremony.”

Lorcan grinned. “Excellent. We’ll make a night of it, and you will let yourself relax for once.”

Something told me I would live to regret this idea.