Meeting the Clans
The flight leaving the forest and the Lost King behind was long, and the moon’s light was the only thing I had to be able to see. I trusted Vasin to keep me safe and know where we were going since the clans went into hiding.
After finding out I’d been taken, all the mercenary clans evacuated to their secret stronghold location known only by a select few leaders.
The journey gave me time to think about everything I’d learned and what I would say to the clan when I showed up with the crown prince of the exact people they were hiding from.
Jade seemed to think they would listen if I put my foot down, but I wasn’t so sure about that.
Fear does something to people… like making them irrational and unpredictable.
“We are almost there, not much longer.”
“Any words of wisdom on how to handle the first meeting?”
“Jade already knows to keep Gavin safe until you can explain, so I would advise making your point as quickly as possible.”
“Really, out of all that dragon wisdom, that is all you have to suggest?”
“Sometimes the best approach is the simple one. You are their queen. None of the other clans know about the one-year trial agreement you made with your home clan. I will also be there to make sure they listen to what you have to say.”
I sighed, shaking my head. At least having a black dragon gave you some perks that could be used in numerous ways.
I hated when people feared Vasin for being a black dragon out of some misguided superstition of being a bad omen.
I knew it was inevitable until they spent time around him and realized he was harmless.
Letting the conversation end, I peered down at the mountains below us and tried to figure out where they could be hiding out.
This mountain range was steep, with harsh peaks thrusting into the clouds.
In the moonlight and shadows, it made them seem ominous and foreboding.
Vasin began to circle a section of the mountain before he swooped down perilously fast to a cliffside that had a wide ledge where both dragons could land with plenty of room.
I signaled to Jade so he knew we’d arrived, and Tahir followed after us.
The moment Vasin touched down, men came swarming out of the stone like ants.
The mountain seemed to glow with an inner light I could only assume came from torches.
It appeared they’d carved into the mountain to create a safe haven with lookout points all up the face of the cliff, many of which were filled with shadows of armed men and women.
“Who the hell are you, and how did you find this place?” a man demanded from one of the cliff’s vantage points above.
I’m sure he had an arrow trained on me, ready to take us out if we didn’t give the correct answer. I took a deep breath and readied to explain, but Jade’s raspy voice called out, silencing me.
“Look what she’s riding, you dumb shit. Who else would be brave enough to ride on the back of a black dragon other than the queen herself?”
I heard someone swear and others gasp at this information. Many of the men lowered their weapons, but a few were not entirely convinced.
“Someone grab Ballard. He’ll be able to tell us if she’s the queen,” a different voice suggested when no one made a move.
Yes, Ballard would be the voice of reason in this situation.
As regent to the clans, he’d been overseeing everything in the absence of a king or queen for many years.
Not wanting to push my luck, I sat patiently on Vasin, trying not to shiver.
The night had grown cold, and dragons being cold-blooded didn’t help matters.
I really needed Jade to show me how he made his saddle for Tahir.
As my mind wandered, I missed the crowd starting to part and the talking stopping until someone grabbed my leg and yanked me from my dragon.
Just as my training was about to kick in, I heard his voice.
“Thank God you’re safe,” Abbott said into my neck as he crushed me in a hug.
“Can’t breathe,” I whispered, wiggling, but it seemed he didn’t hear me or didn’t care.
“Unhand the queen before I make you,” Jade growled from somewhere next to me.
The tone of his voice left no room for argument, and if I didn’t know he was on my side, I would’ve been worried Jade might kill him.
Abbott relaxed his hold on me but didn’t let me go entirely.
When I looked up, I found Jade had a dagger resting against Abbott’s throat, so close that if he swallowed, he would bleed.
“Jade, what the hell are you doing?” I snapped, turning to face him, my anger flaring. “Put your dagger away. He’s my friend, not an enemy.”
Jade’s pale green eyes flicked to me, bright against his rich skin tone, then back to Abbott before he removed his dagger. “I thought he was hurting you…”
“Seems you picked up a new friend while you were away, mouse,” Cole commented, joining us. He raised an eyebrow at me, then looked over at Jade. “Can I hug her, or are you going to pull a dagger on me too?”
Jade looked at me, then back at Cole. “If you pose no threat and the queen allows it, then who am I to stop you?”
“Yes, who are you?” Abbott questioned, rubbing his neck and glaring at Jade. “How did Cassarah end up in your care?”
While the two glared at each other, which was so unlike Abbott, Cole clasped my hand and pulled me over to him.
Getting a hug from Abbott was normal, but Cole had never been the type to do so.
It told me right away how worried he’d been.
He draped one arm over my shoulder and pulled me close to his side and out of the way of the two posturing males.
“Guys, chill. Jade and Tahir, his dragon, are from the Hell Hawk clan, and they saved my life,” I answered, trying to break the tension.
“Yeah, and some thanks I’m getting for doing it. It’s not even my job to keep her safe. I didn’t even know we had a queen,” Jade commented with a sneer.
I wasn’t sure why his words hurt, but they did, not that I would let him know.
I needed to toughen up and not take things so personally if I were to be queen.
I mean, I’d only known Jade for a day. He kept me alive and made sure I got back home.
What more could I ask of the man? He was doing his duty for his clan and queen, so no reason to look into it more than that.
“The clans are grateful to you, Jade, for returning our queen to us safe and sound.” Ballard’s voice cut across the silence as he walked up to us, Becka and Helena on either side. “It seems you have brought another with you as well, Cassarah.”
I’d all but forgotten about Gavin, who was standing between the two dragons, trying not to draw attention to himself. Ducking out from Cole’s side, I walked up to Gavin and grasped his hand in a show of camaraderie.
“This is Crown Prince Gavin.”
Everyone gasped, and some lunged toward us, but Vasin and Tahir let out rumbling growls that made them pause. Some started to shout curses at him, then me for bringing him here, while others started to raise their weapons.
“He is under my personal protection!” I stated loudly, doing my best to be heard over the chaos. “I have given my word as Queen of the Mercenaries that we will keep him safe until I can get him back home.”
This statement did not help matters, but instead, it made things worse.
Ruled by their fear, they disregarded the danger the dragons posed and started to throw rocks, brandished weapons, and even a few of the men above drew their bows.
It was just as I feared. Everyone was going to turn on me, and I was going to get us both killed.
I should have known it would be too much for them to learn they had a queen and have me bring the enemy into our hidden camp.
My heart started to race, and I tried to come up with something to say or do that would make these people see reason.
As if my Birthright felt my danger, my hands began to glow with the faint blue light my bow was made from.
The energy in me was building like it never had before.
If I didn’t do something with it, I would explode.
I fought to keep hold of it, not wanting to let it spill out of me and cause some unknown havoc, but my control wasn’t strong enough.
Blue light burst forth, blinding me from seeing what was happening around me.
I could feel Vasin by my side, our bond singing with the amount of power pouring from me.
I tried to rein in the power in vain, but it lashed out at me, unwilling to listen until it accomplished what it set out to do.
Once I surrendered to it, I could feel its intent.
It was looking for someone. No, not just one person—it was seeking out multiple people.
It sensed my need for protection, and it called out to those who would keep me safe.
The brand on my arm from Vasin started to heat up and pulse, causing me to cry out in pain and clutch my arm to my side.
I dropped to my knees, unable to deal with the power and the pain coursing through me.
Feeling my pain, Vasin roared so loud the ground under my feet began to shake, causing a new reason for the people around me to start screaming.
Finally, my power settled back into my body, having accomplished what it set out to do, leaving me disoriented and drained.
It was so quiet on the cliffside that the hammering of my heart was deafening to my ears.
My body ached like it had that first day of training, causing me to groan as I tried to stand.
My body decided it had been beaten enough and refused to listen to me.
It was also at this moment that my wound from the wagon escape added its voice to my melody of discomfort.
I closed my eyes, trying to will my legs to work, refusing to show weakness if they were going to kill me.
I heard someone’s footsteps walking over to me, causing me to open my eyes.
I found a hand held out in front of me. The hand was covered in black ink that snaked up his arm in swirling patterns so detailed I could look at them for hours.
They seemed to enhance the already large muscular arm that was the canvas.
Following the design, I looked at a man I had never met.
His rich brown eyes watched me with interest, which I could only guess was a reflection of how I was looking at him.
He had a long, full beard that was a soft, sandy color but seemed to set off his bronzed skin in the torchlight.
His head was shaved but for a section of long, braided hair on top.
It was striking on him. A lesser man would have looked ridiculous.
I tentatively took his hand and felt a jolt of leftover power spark between us.
He sucked in his breath, tightening his grip on me as he pulled me to my feet.
“Thank you…”
“Dayson of the Bronze Reapers, My Queen,” he answered, his voice so deep I could feel it in my toes.
“He is one of your chosen guardians.” Vasin stepped up beside me, offering his support.
“Is that what my powers just did, picked my guardians? I thought the clans submitted their choices for me to consider,” I questioned.
“Many generations ago, when our powers were stronger, it chose for the kings or queens. As the magic has weakened over time, they switched to a new system. Your powers are the strongest seen in centuries. You have called eight to your side. They all bear your mark.”
Looking down at my left arm where Vasin and my Birthright had branded me, I saw it was still glowing.
Instinctively, I grabbed Dayson’s left arm and looked.
Sure enough, the same mark was glowing on his tattooed skin.
I looked up at him again, and he smiled down at me with pride showing in his eyes.
Dayson dropped to one knee and bowed his head. “I am honored to serve you, to give my life for you. I would happily fulfill the duty bestowed upon me if you will have me, Queen Cassarah.”
I looked up past him to the crowd of people who slowly dropped to a bent knee, heads bowed. Some kept sneaking glances at me with shock and awe written on their faces. Others seemed angry and scowled in Dayson’s direction as if unhappy with him being picked.
“Call the others to you so they can be accepted,” Vasin said, nudging me with his nose.
“I call forward the rest of my guardians to be recognized,” I announced, unsure of who would be walking up and scared that the two I hoped would, didn’t.
I sighed in relief when Abbott, Cole, and Jade came, kneeled, and extended their left arms so I could see my mark. Two other men joined, and much to my surprise, so did Becka and another woman I’d never met.
“I have never read about female guardians before.”
“They are your personal guards for times when having male guardians is a disadvantage. Many queens used them as advisers as well as protection. Every woman needs female support in a world dominated by males,” Vasin explained with humor in his words.
Ballard walked up to stand on my left, a soft, encouraging smile on his face. I smiled back at him, comforted to have him supporting me, having been one of the few people who had believed in me from the beginning.
“Do you mind if we officially make you Queen before we swear your guardians to your service?” Ballard asked in a low voice for my ears only.
My smile faltered.
Was I ready to take over leading these people on the brink of war? This was the moment I had been working toward long before knowing who I truly was. It was time to let go of the old Cassarah and embrace my calling. I nodded my agreement and turned to face my people.