19. Dimitri
19
Dimitri cast his senses out, toward the Dragonheart wherever it might be, seeking for that now familiar feeling of its magic. Nothing. He threw the net wider, out of his quarters and into the city. Into the palace. Into the vaults. Into the sprawling suburbs.
Nothing. Not one trace of that vast magnitude of power.
His heart skipped a beat. Where had it gone? He could not conceivably have made it vanish, yet it was no longer where it had been. He had to find it before anyone else—because he knew they would soon be looking.
It was not long before the king’s men arrived, and despite him expecting them, it still sent a bolt of fear through him. They pounded on the door so hard it shook on its hinges. Of course, he would be amongst the first Toroth called upon. Keeper of the king’s secrets and entrusted with his darkest business. The very picture of consternation, he accompanied them toward the great hall. He had changed into his nightwear and ruffled his normally neat hair before Toroth’s men had arrived to convincingly appear surprised at the intrusion on his evening.
“You sent for me, my king?” Dimitri swept into a low bow, waiting until he spied the jerk of Toroth’s hand to rise. He tugged his dressing gown around him for emphasis.
The great hall was cool, though not as cool as he pretended. The fires had already died to embers, and all traces of that evening’s meal had been cleared by the servants. Only the hounds lingered by the fire, as close as they dared, and Dimitri did not fancy bedding down with them.
His attention snapped back to the king, whose eyes were wide with rage as he stalked from side to side on his dais. “One of the… Something has been stolen from my vaults!” he growled.
Dimitri could barely see Toroth’s face in the darkness of the hall, save for the rage-filled spark in his eyes reflected from the embers.
“I am most sorry to hear that, Your Majesty. Have you apprehended the thief and recovered the object?” Dimitri asked smoothly, with a touch of dismay.
“No!” spat Toroth, now trembling with rage. Rage Dimitri hoped not to bear the brunt of. That current of fear curdled through him and he fought to keep his face blank.
“That is grievous indeed, Your Majesty. How may I be of service?”
“I have every member of the Kingsguard searching, and I shall send every member of the Winged Kingsguard on the hunt.”
A large enough treasure to warrant a full dragon-rider compliment to be sent out? Dimitri was slightly taken aback by it. Did the king really place that much value on one Dragonheart? Dimitri almost raised an eyebrow at that, but knew to do so would be too dangerous. Even if he did not know what had gone missing, that would have been a clue in itself.
“I will find it.” The king gritted his teeth as he paced back and forth like a caged beast. “You will assist.” Toroth turned the full measure of his baleful glare on Dimitri.
“Of course, sire,” Dimitri answered, sweeping into a low bow. His pulse settled. He was safe. The king had no idea of his involvement. There had been the slightest touch of dread Toroth knew all along—and had lured Dimitri to his demise with false hope of his ignorance. Fear like that was never far away in this court. “What is it I seek?”
Toroth scowled at him.
Reluctant to tell me what you hide in your vaults? Very well. “I must know what I seek if I am to have any chance of finding it for you, my king,” Dimitri said in a painfully affable tone, his head bowed in deference for his intrusion into the king’s privacy. He knew how to play Toroth like an instrument.
Toroth muttered a curse under his breath. “Fine. They stole the Heart of a Dragon from me. My warden will give you details.” The king’s tone was short once more, and Dimitri sensed what little patience he had was running out.
“I shall do everything in my power to locate it. Do you have any leads I may follow?”
Toroth glared at him, but Dimitri stood his ground. “No,” he finally admitted. “Ask the general of the Winged Kingsguard to be brought up to speed with any new developments. Report solely to me. Discretion, secrecy, and speed. Get. It. Back.” With one last glare, he flicked his hand, dismissing Dimitri.
Dimitri bowed and quickly retreated, lest he be subject to the king’s ire. His panic had decreased at the confirmation Toroth knew nothing of his involvement, but now it spiked back to life again. The whole of the kingdom sought that Dragonheart. He would have to reach it first.