Page 16 of The Healing Dragon (The Red Book #2)

CHAPTER TEN

JESSE

I close the door behind me and take a deep breath. My focus needs to be on what I’m doing. I cannot afford to get distracted. I’ve failed my people and my family once for the girl behind that door, and I can’t allow that to happen again.

From the meeting earlier today, I know Duelo plans to have his men meet him on the first floor at nightfall.

I follow the low glow of lanterns illuminating the hall down to the other edge of the house.

Janelle’s room is at the end of the hall, apart from everyone else.

She might see it as yet another way for her father to alienate her, but I’m glad for it.

I see the way those men look at her. The princess, falling from grace, looks almost attainable to their hands.

Over my dead body.

These past couple of days have taught me the feelings I bury are closer to the surface than I expected.

The longer I spend by her side the harder it gets to fight them.

I’ve just hoped for them to fade but they never left.

I have no clue how anything between us can work after the attack but there is no sense in thinking about that right now.

We have to free Matias and return the Red Book.

I swiftly make my way down to the next floor, seeking any noise or movement, but the place looks and feels deserted until I touch the threshold of the first floor.

Lord Duelo stands before the front door above his men with his nose high in the air.

I can’t hear the end of his speech, but his men nod in unison, and a choir of affirmation echoes through the room.

He leads the way out of the house into the backyard.

Some of his men carry torches lighting up the path.

I fall into step at the edges of the group.

I stay vigilant to listen with my gift. Any and all information is essential. I wouldn't put it past Lord Duelo to tell his men one thing but truly mean something else. He isn't a trusting man. Neither am I, after all.

I stay close to the edges and follow them with my cloak over my head. Just before I’m about to cross the door to the backyard, I look up the stairs and watch Janelle’s mother leaning over the edge. A handkerchief is balled up in her hand, covering her mouth, while shaking her head lightly.

“Hurry boy!” Duelo Senior snaps.

I watch a young boy rush to pull a small wagon.

His feet slide on the dirt as he pulls with all his body weight.

A dark blanket covers the top, keeping the item inside hidden.

Whatever is inside cannot be too big, considering the way the blanket drapes over the wagon.

But the boy huffs and puffs loudly with every pull.

None of the men offer to help the boy, but Oliver watches over him, staying behind and waiting for him to catch up.

I look at the trail of mud the wagon is dragging leading to a shed in the back. The structure is old and a breeze away from falling apart.

The men are quiet as we walk into the forest clearing near the back of the house.

The torches are the only light illuminating our path in this cloudy night sky.

They stop walking at the edge of the circle, and a path opens for the boy with the wagon.

He keeps walking to the middle of the circle where Lord Duelo and his two top soldiers stand.

There’s creaking coming from the other side of the circle before we watch the trees and bushes move.

Two tall creatures break through the greenery first. Their tall figures are masked by the night, their skin helping them blend in the dark, but I have seen giants once or twice.

Their bodies are about ten feet tall and their skin is covered with bumps that resemble horns.

None of the surrounding men look alarmed or worried, so I stay frozen in place. Not a single murmur is heard amongst them, telling me they have seen these giants before. It’s not a common sight that would be easy to breeze over.

The creatures do not venture close enough to magic wielders and, as far as I know, they definitely shouldn’t be anywhere near the human lands.

A second and third rustle of leaves announce the entrance of two more groups.

On the right walks a trio of orcs. They are tall, but not as tall as the giants.

Their height is usually around eight feet, and they are built like tree trunks.

These three are no exception. Their faces are also not unfamiliar to me.

I’ve seen them before at social events. They are the three sons of Kro, the current commander of their kind.

They are to their people what Brandon, Roman, and I are to ours.

On the left are four duendes. The small creatures are human-like but also have a tree-like texture on their skin. They are usually kind and quiet creatures that care more to keep to themselves in the depths of the forest. The four here tonight are not any I have seen before.

“You are late,” Lord Duelo says to the duendes. “Did you bring what you promised? ”

“We did,” they say in unison, then move out of the way to allow someone else into the circle.

Murmurs finally break out amongst the men around me as the creature walks forward. This must be their first time laying eyes on this creature. Mine too. I’ve read about it and heard stories here and there, but nothing concrete.

“She’s beautiful and scary,” a soldier says to my side.

“That is not a woman. Death has no gender,” another man whispers.

Their kind are not like the others in the group. They don’t organize powers and negotiate treaties. They do not claim lands or establish villages. Their homes are rumored to be in deep caves and only seen by the light of the moon.

“Calaca,” Lord Duelo greets.

His eyes take in the tall figure with glee.

Long white sheets drape over its body, covering everything but the face.

Calaca’s face remains unemotional and doesn’t return the greeting.

Instead, it looks around. For a second, I fear its eyes might see under the cloth because its eyes stay on me for a beat, but after a blink, it turns back to the men in the circle.

“I have come here to hear your offer. Not to offer my services,” it says.

Their voice is like a strong wind. It carries through the circle and beyond without being loud. The sound is soft yet powerful.

Lord Duelo nods his head and turns back to his men. “For hundreds of years, we have been limited to what we can amount. Our level of magic has been restricted to keep some above others. The balances are about to change.”

He moves to the wagon and pulls off the cloth covering the top. The murmurs that follow are not from the surrounding men, but the creatures across the circle.

“Impossible,” the duendes say to each other .

“You have spoken true, dragon.” One giant inclines his head to Lord Duelo.

The Calaca takes a step forward, making the men around Lord Duelo raise hidden weapons. They point them at it, making it raise both its white bony hands in return. I do not think simple swords and daggers can do much, but I also don’t know if its magic works the way ours does in the human lands.

“I simply wish to take a closer look. It’s not everyday we see the infamous Red Book,” Calaca says with a glint in its eye.

Lord Duelo shakes his head. “You’ve seen enough. The book is not up for negotiation. It’s going to be a tool used to dismantle the restriction on all our magic.”

“How certain are you that it has any restrictions on our magic?” One orc asks. “We have found nothing in our ancestors’ books about our magic being limited by any law.”

“That is how long and forgotten it is,” Lord Duelo insists.

The tone that rings in my ears at his words tells me he isn't all that sure about the statement. It's not a lie, but it's not fully the truth. The partial truths have their own tone, and the noise is definitely coming from Duelo’s words.

“Will you keep the book?” the oldest looking duende asks, taking a small step forward. His eyes don’t leave the wagon.

“I don’t plan to get rid of the book. I plan to uncap the magic only of those who stand by me.” Lord Duelo doesn’t pick the book up, but his hand strokes the spine.

“By fighting the king of Puerto Quinn?” A giant asks. He turns to his companions. “What do we care if the magic king lives?”

“As long as the Oscuro reign continues, our freedom will be threatened. Many of you today live under constricting reigns of your own kind. The power of this book will bring us all an edge above our enemies. By fighting with me, you will choose your side and show your loyalty. You will earn your turn then and only then.”

The missing ringing in my ears punctuates how much he believes this to be true. Brandon, Roman, and I, by association of blood, stand in the way for Duelo. He probably believes that without Brandon, another Oscuro will be chosen to the crown next.

“We cannot guarantee all our people will follow us,” another duende says, while looking at his companions for reassurance. “We can try, but peace has been kept for centuries with the magic king. The new king is well liked.”

“I do not need them all. I need a few,” Lord Duelo says.

“Have you done it yet?” Calaca asks, nodding at the book. “Have you uncapped anyone’s magic?”

“Not yet, but very soon we will.” Lord Duelo looks at everyone that has gathered. “We will meet in due time to take over the Black Castle and destroy King Oscuro.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch as a man moves to the edge of the circle, then back into the forest. His slight steps are going unnoticed by everyone in the gathering. I look around the faces of the men in the circle. One face is evidently missing in the crowd.

The dog.

I rush after him quietly. He’s quick to make it back to the house. He is diligent about watching the halls for servants. Something tells me to hurry after him. He passes the side of the hall where the soldiers stay and I know I was right to think so.

A maid steps out of her room down the hall but at spotting him walking rushes back into her bedroom. The lock clicks into place quickly after.

“I’m not here to see you today, Leah,” Ernesto says with a chuckle. “Someone needs to learn some respect. ”

He passes her door and walks to the last hall of the floor, the one I know only hosts one person.

I’m about to cross the maid’s door too when it flies open again.

She looks in his direction, then rushes towards the opposite side of the hall.

I’m so preoccupied watching him I don’t move before she slams into me.

I take a step back, and she lands before me on her knees.

Her wide eyes search all around us to explain what had just happened.

After a second, she quickly rises, then turns on her heels and runs out.

I stand there frozen in place as I watch him reach the door across the hall. My feet hit the ground with loud stumps as I close the distance. The cape drapes over and behind my body as I carelessly let it fly. My focus is only on making it across the hall as soon as possible.

His body disappears behind her door and my heart beat skyrockets.

My breaths are coming short and shallow. I throw my shoulder to the door and thrust all my weight on it. The door flies open and bangs against the wall with enough force that a lamp across the room rocks from side to side.

Ernesto is holding Janelle by the neck against the wall across the room. His eyes instantly travel to me, and shock paints his expression. Janelle takes this opportunity and knocks him to the ground. Her knee strikes his stomach and her elbow hits his throat.

The man falls to the floor coughing until she deals him a kick to the side of his head. We both stare to see if he’s getting up again, but he stays on the floor completely out. Janelle stands before him. Her breathing is heavy, and a hand is holding her waist with a pained edge on her face.

“Are you okay?” I take a step inside, dropping the cape by the door.

“I expected him to be you at first. I was not ready.” Her eyes reach mine and then the room, like she is making an account of everything around us.

She hurries to the door and closes it. The man on the floor grunts and turns to his back, holding his throat and stomach. His eyes open and they narrow on me.

“Jesse Oscuro. You will never stay away from her, will you?”

I think it's funny that even the dog knows the answer to that question.

“Jesse,” Janelle says in a stern tone.

Her eyes tell me there is no other way. He has seen me and knows who I am.

After telling Lord Duelo this piece of news, it will not take long for him to conclude I am aware of his plan involving the forest creatures.

He wants me and my brothers dead. He will not stop until we are no longer an obstacle to his plans.

Lord Duelo thinks he will bring war to us. He doesn’t know what is coming to him. War begins today. I focus on the man on the floor, then gaze at the woman standing in front of me.

I hold her gaze as I extend my hand out and allow a dark cloud of smoke to flow down from my hand into the floor.

Before he can think to scream, it surrounds him and his senses.

There is no disgust or judgement in her eyes.

There has never been. This is not the first time Janelle has seen what I can do, and I am sure it won't be the last.

“We are leaving tonight,” I say when it's done. “I know where the Red Book is.”