Chapter 36
THANE
R onan came around the corner and stopped, taking in the two of them.
Dried blood covered Katana’s chin and deep red spots stained the front of her light blue dress.
Thane still buzzed with rage and fought to keep his inner monster at bay.
The side of him that took hold during battle, that saw only red, hovered near the surface.
It was only her desperate pleas that stopped him and Atlanta from tearing into each other and turning this prestigious courtyard into rubble.
If she had not stepped into harm’s way he would have swung his sword, and there was no telling what would have happened after that.
“I’d hate to jump to conclusions, so what happened?” Ronan asked.
Katana shielded her mouth with her hand, fruitlessly trying to cover the bruising and blood. “It was not him.”
“I’ve been around many battered ladies in my day. They always say something like that.” He shifted his light blue eyes to Thane and waited.
Thane knew what this must look like, but he was disappointed Ronan thought this low of him.
There were very few instances Thane would strike a female, and they all went under the category of her trying to kill him or in battle.
Never like this. “Her ex-husband, Atlanta, the god of the seas, came here and wanted her to leave with him. She didn’t want to, and he hit her.
I know it must sound unbelievable, but the portals are open now.
This is only the beginning of what will come. ”
“The god of the seas,” Ronan deadpanned. “Well, I hope you drew blood for that.” He nodded toward Katana’s lip.
“I smacked him hard. I’d have done more but…” He glanced down at Katana to find her eyes still watery, and even though her cut had crusted over and the bleeding stopped, her bottom lip was still swollen and purple. “Let me heal that for you.”
Shaking her head, she took a step back. “I will be fine. I am going to change and clean up.” Katana hurried away without pausing. Why wouldn’t she accept his help?
“Excuse me, Ronan. I’ll be right back.” Thane chased after her. Several servants passed by him, entering the courtyard carrying gold-encrusted chairs with red velvet cushions. A wooden archway followed close behind.
“Why is this floor wet?” one of the servants complained. “Grab something to clean this up before the King and Queen arrive,” she said to another.
Thane stepped out of the way as another pair rolled out a red carpet leading from the courtyard entrance to the new setup.
Katana disappeared around the corner, and he swore under his breath.
He slipped between servants bringing in tables and baskets full of food.
He finally caught sight of the tips of Katana’s disappearing hair as she entered the castle through a side door.
He held the door before it closed and fell into step beside her up a set of stairs.
“Thane,” she gasped. “You need to be in the courtyard for the negotiation. They will not appreciate you making them wait.”
“They don’t care about making me wait,” he said. “Besides, I want to help you. Why did you run off?”
She paused halfway up the stairs. “It is embarrassing to be seen like this. You saw the pity in Ronan’s eyes. You do not know how many times I saw that before. I think I hate the pitying looks the most.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Katana.”
“You cannot understand. I fought back in the beginning,” she whispered.
“I hit him back the first time he struck me, and then he hit harder. And he was trained in combat while I… I was a dancer. I never stood a chance, and the people who knew had this look on their faces like they felt sorry but did not dare speak up, or worse, judged me for not leaving, but how could I have then when he hunts me even now ? He would not let me leave.”
Thane softened his voice. “Next time he comes for you, he’ll be dealing with me. I can promise you that.” He decided right then in that moment that he was going to kill Atlanta. Before he only wanted to; now he was convinced. He took out his dagger and pressed the tip of it to his palm.
“What are you doing?” she demanded, grabbing his wrist and twisting the blade away.
“I need my blood to heal your lip. It’s rune magic.”
“No.” She shook her head. “No, I will not let you hurt yourself to heal me.”
“Katana.”
“No.” Her lavender eyes flicked across his face. That was the firmest he’d ever heard her. “I will heal in a couple of hours. Please, go to your negotiations. I do not want this deal to fall through because of me.”
He sighed and shoved his dagger back in his weapons belt.
“That can wait. What if Atlanta isn’t gone and he’s waiting to catch you alone?
” Her breathing hitched and he could see in her face she hadn’t thought of that.
“I will take you to the room so you can change, and you can come back with me. They will understand our lateness.”
“Alright,” she said softly. “And Thane?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
Thane was used to being the one seated on the throne, on the dais above those he negotiated with. People from all over Adalon came to him for deals, and when he lived as War, they also came to him for alliances and bargains. He didn’t like being the one who needed something.
Fennan and Leif sat on his left, Piper and Katana on the right.
Ronan claimed he would remain neutral and didn’t choose to be seated across from them like the rest of his family.
Instead, he sat at the far left, his seat angled center between the two parties.
To separate himself further he didn’t wear royal red like his parents and brother but rather a rich blue and there was no crown on his head.
In fact, Thane wasn’t sure he’d ever seen him wear one.
The queen’s gown was the color of rubies, and her wrists dripped in diamonds.
The gaudy necklace of diamonds and sapphires was as extravagant as any crown.
Each finger was adorned with a ring of precious jewels.
Bright red lips stood out on her wintery pale skin.
The glacial eyes that Ronan inherited watched him with dismay.
Yoren, the dragon prince Thane fought in the arena not long ago, stared him down.
His crown was smaller than the king’s towering one, but its peaks and valleys were still larger than Thane’s.
Dragons loved their treasure and battle.
It had to eat at this Prince that he was bested by a pair of elves in front of his entire kingdom.
Thane stood and placed his hands behind his back. “I think you all know why I’m here, and this time I’m not leaving without an alliance. Soon it won’t just be Palenor under attack.”
“Yes, we’ve heard the Black Mage is back,” Queen Nyrovia said, raising her icy head slightly. “And, therefore, you know what our answer will be. We will not risk being infected by your curse. It’s why we stay in our mountains. The Black Mage and his pale ones do not come here.”
“There is an enemy more powerful than the Black Mage coming.”
“So, says you, the Elf King desperate for an ally,” King Drake stated. His golden crown full of rubies sparkled upon his sleek black hair. The sunlight brought out a warmth in his golden-brown eyes, almost softening the harshness in his tone. “Who is this mysterious enemy?”
Thane pressed his lips together. After overhearing the king’s opinion on other realms and the gods, the truth would sound insane to him.
“You will believe it when you see it. And you’ll see it when I call you into battle.
I am not going to try to strong-arm you with fear but with an offer, it is not gold or silver, treasure, you have.
Nor is it trade or food, you clearly have an abundance of what you need here.
I will take you and your people to your homeworld.
Dragons hail from a place not of this realm, but a world called Ryvengaard. ”
The king and queen exchanged a glance. Prince Yoren narrowed his eyes. “You come offering the one thing our people have always wanted, but have no proof,” King Drake said.
Queen Nyrovia added, “And I suppose you will only take us there after we fight with you.”
“That is typically how negotiations work, Mother,” Ronan said.
“I do not offer charity,” Thane replied. “You get something you want, and I get something I want.”
King Drake stood, shaking his head. “We will not be played for fools by your lavish tales, King Thane.” He stepped out from his chair, threw his crimson cloak behind him and turned to leave.
“Do not turn your back on me,” Thane snarled, his voice carrying with it the persuasion of the gods. It had been a long time since he’d used it, but the power rushed out, nonetheless. “Turn around and face me.”
The king stopped and followed the command. His expression twisted into confusion. “What is this magic?”
Thane strode forward and shoved his finger into the king’s chest. “I will no longer tolerate your disrespect, dragon king . The gods do not pay homage to beasts. You will come with me to the northern stone portal without protest, and I will show you the truth.” Thane softened his voice.
“I’m not fooling you. I’m opening your eyes. ”
On dragon back, they flew over the tall evergreen forest of the north until Thane felt the portal’s call, like a warm wind swirling around him, pulling him closer.
He directed King Drake to take a downward turn, his sleek, bronze dragon tucked his wings and dived.
Thane held on tighter as his stomach seemed to leave his body.
Wind tore through his hair and whistled in his ears.
Ronan followed after with Piper. The silver queen carried Katana, Prince Yoren with Fennan, and Leif took up the rear with Dax.