Chapter 21 #2
I tilted my head, looking for some sign that Alaric knew about my time at the pool with his brother. While it was none of his business, I imagined he’d be displeased. Unfortunately, the dragon’s expression was difficult to read.
“Thorne’s been rather reliable so far.” Odd that I felt the need to defend him when he’d abandoned me without a word.
“That may be the case for now, but don’t expect it to last. Thorne will always combat anything he perceives as a restriction. He used to find any excuse to shirk his duty and escape these walls. Eager to chase one light-skirt after another.”
Thorne has said as much himself. So why were my nails digging crescents into my palms?
“All of them thought they would be the woman to tame him,” Alaric added. “None succeeded.”
The tips of my ears heated. Memories of our “swimming lesson” came to mind. How Thorne’s capable hands made me come alive. The glide of his hips thrusting between my thighs.
Warmth spread through my chest at the memory, and I dug my nails deeper. Stop it, Sera! This isn’t the time.
“Thorne can do as he pleases. I’m not his keeper. We’ve simply gotten to know each other better during our travels.” Nor did I desire any kind of relationship that would inhibit my independence. Thorne and I were alike in this.
“Good. Very good. I’d hate to see you get your heart broken. While you and I may have gotten off to a rough start, I’ve come to care about you and only want what’s best.”
Little did he know, my heart was safe. I’d had it stomped on one too many times to ever give it away.
Eager to change the subject, I gestured down the hallway. “Why is this corridor largely untouched?” Whereas several of the other spaces we’d passed through had been ransacked. Furniture smashed, skeletons littering the floor, this hall remained intact.
“When Pyrrhus was attacked, it was as if the creatures possessed a map to both the tunnels in the mines and the castle. Places of little import were often skipped over, as if they’d been told where to focus their attack.
They knew all our strengths and weaknesses.
The location of our soldiers, as well as our people, knew exactly how and when to strike. ”
“But how could they have known all of that unless…” I trailed off, reluctant to continue.
“Unless there was a traitor in our midst.” His voice dropped.
“But who?”
“Somebody who hated the kingdom, and all it represented. Who despised their circumstances and was willing to do anything to change them. Someone with ample contacts in the outside world.”
I pressed my lips together. Someone like Thorne. Sweet Goddess, did Alaric suspect his own brother was the traitor? That wasn’t possible. Was it?
Thankfully, we’d arrived at our destination, and I wasn’t forced to comment.
“Here we are,” he shoved his forehead into a partially open door, guiding me into an expansive arena.
High above was a domed ceiling with soaring pillars supporting the walls.
Glowing solar crystals twinkled like stars in a night sky, illuminating the space.
Between the pillars were stone statues and carvings of warriors wielding weapons, fierce expressions on their faces.
Like the rest of the castle, dust, dirt, and cobwebs coated every surface.
At the center was a large pit with segregated spaces for various types of training. One contained an obstacle course, another circular targets and straw-stuffed dummies. Racks teeming with swords, axes, staffs and the like rested close to the walls.
I followed Alaric several feet into the massive circle where he stopped, sitting back on his haunches.
“Now what?” I set my hands on my hips, my waistband puckering beneath my belt. I’d borrowed clothing from the blue room for the occasion, not wanting to damage the finer things Thorne purchased for me.
“First, tell me everything you know about your magic.”
“That’s easy. Nothing.”
“That can’t be true. Describe any unusual events you’ve experienced.”
I huffed a sigh. “Very well.” I listed them: the blooming plants, healing, and the blast of light I’d used on Mortis. Yaga’s claim that the stone would act as a conduit.
“Hmm,” he hummed. “Interesting.”
“In what way?”
“You see, Goddess Hathor possessed the gift of life. With it, she created the sacred arbors. I suspect your magic is similar, giving you the ability to grow, nurture, and heal. But it can also be a weapon. Light being the antithesis of darkness. When you defended yourself against Mortis, that power erupted without direction. Now you have the stone, you could use it to channel that energy.”
“What do you propose?”
“Start small. See those large urns against the walls? Try to direct your magic. Strike from a distance.”
“Instead of using it to heal, you want to turn it into a weapon?” I asked, uneasy. When I’d spotted so many weapons lying about, I’d hoped my training would be more traditional.
At his nod, I shrugged, saying, “Very well. I’ll give it a try.”
I gripped the pendant that hung around my neck and aimed my hand at the pot. Even now, this felt weird and unnatural. Nothing like healing Alaric’s injury. I closed my eyes, picturing the urn shattering. Break. Come on. Break already. I cracked one eye open. Nothing.
What was it that Yaga said? Breathe deep. Cast my senses outward. Feel the power flow.
I shut my eyes and exhaled slowly. Hello, world. It’s me, Serafina. Are you there? Alaric’s deep breaths gusted behind me. The air held a chill, feeling cool and damp. Mold, dust and decay filled my nostrils. Beyond that, the world was a black void.
My shoulders sagged, and I opened my eyes. “It’s this place. There’s nothing here to even work with. As if every drop of life has been sucked out of the land.”
Alaric scowled, a dark shadow shifting behind his eyes. “Then we’ll work with the innate magic you carry inside of you. Earlier, you mentioned you’d summoned an explosion of power when the steward attacked.”
“I guess. It all happened so fast. I have no idea how I did it.”
“Think back to that moment. Replay it in your mind.”
An icy chill raced down my spine, and I rubbed the goosebumps from my arms. “Already, I have nightmares of that day.” Mortis had been a monster even before The Dark One twisted him. No way did I want to relive that.
I eyed the doorway behind Alaric. “I’d rather start with something easier. If I worked outside of the mountain, I may be able to channel more power.”
“Not outside. Here. Now.”
I stiffened at the sharp bite of command in his voice. “But Mortis—”
“You’re not leaving this room until you’ve summoned your magic.”
“You’re kidding?” I scowled, noting the way his massive body blocked my escape.
In answer, he lay down, resting his chin on his front leg. “Try again.”
Oh, to be a dragon and simply lie down to get your way. “Fine,” I snapped.
“Start at the beginning. Tell me about the moment he took you from the apothecary.”
Teeth gritted, I explained every step of my capture. Right up to the point Thorne arrived.
“And that feeling. Close your eyes and see his face. Feel his hands on your body. The slice of his blade across your flesh.”
Icy sweat made my skin clammy. I pictured the attack. The sensation. Mortis’ putrid breath in my face.
Nothing happened. My skin didn’t glow. No light. Flames didn’t ignite my being.
Again.
And again.
Fail. Fail. Fail!
My temples pounded, Alaric’s bellowed commands that I keep trying ground my molars together. To my folly, I’d started to bellow back.
Nothing I tried worked. Different hand positions, wiggling my fingers. Whispering, shouting. Before I knew it, half the day had passed. With no results.
Argh! I was done. Over it. And beyond ready to leave this place. To return to my quarters and scrub away the images of Mortis I’d conjured.
Brimming with frustration, I stormed to where Alaric rested, barking his useless orders.
“This is pointless,” I shouted. “I can’t summon a blast of magic at will.
” I dared to stab my index finger into his chest. “And may I say, shouting commands at me to keep trying isn’t teaching.
Don’t think I haven’t noticed you’re as clueless as I am. ”
“Clueless.” Alaric’s lip curled, teeth flashing. “You dare to call a king clueless?”
His tail whipped out, smacking my ass and sending me sprawling. Stones shredded my hands and knees.
“Bula hole!” I snarled at the sting.
“I’ll have you know I trained a number of warriors in my day.” His powerful voice echoed throughout the arena, causing me to scramble to my feet.
Alaric uncoiled, black scales rippling over thick muscles. His anger pressed down like a crushing fist. Instead of cowing me, it stoked my temper. “A thousand pardons, Your Highness. I didn’t mean to insult you.” Except I did and would have said more if not for that damn tail.
“Who do you think you are, to speak to me so?” Smoke curled from the dragon’s nostrils, the glow in his chest deepening.
“Nobody. I am nobody. That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you since you found me at that stupid lake,” I dared to snarl back.
“If that is what you believe, then that is all you shall ever be.”
What kind of nonsense was this? “Nobody is all I will ever be because of creatures like you. Creatures who boss me around, treating me like a servant.”
“If you don’t like your circumstances, then change them.”
“That is easy for you to say. You’re a dragon.”
“Cursed to remain in my beast form and yet for a thousand years, I never surrendered. Never stopped searching for the solution.”
Heat wafted from his glowing chest, and I raised my arm to shield my face. “The goddess gave you a tremendous gift. Made you, of all the females in the realm, her handmaiden. And when faced with one small obstacle, you give up.”
His tail lashed again, sending me tumbling across the arena floor, where I further scraped my hands and knees.