Chapter 4
Chapter
Four
Rhaz tucked himself further into the shadows between the two houses he’d escaped to. Men arrived in large red-and-gold conveyances. He caught snippets of conversation and heard words like trucks, hoses, water, two alarm, three alarm. Some words were easier to figure out than others.
He watched the men get out of the conveyances and... what?
Rhaz took several steps forward. The gate he’d slipped through concealed him, but he had to risk peeking around it to see...
Yes, it was.
A little human female.
She had dark hair and was dressed much like the big men around her.
She got to work alongside them and, to his surprise, kept up.
But why was she there to begin with? Human females were...
delicate. They lacked the strength of shifters and Fae.
They also brought out every protective instinct there was in a dragon.
And a dragon’s protective instinct was nothing to trifle with.
For a dragon, it meant guarding something precious. Almost to the point of being an aphrodisiac. Father said it made one feel alive. He was right.
Rhaz stared at the young woman. She couldn’t be more than five feet tall. He marveled at the way she helped set things up with the men. She seemed to be following the same routine as several of the others.
Rhaz swallowed hard and gripped the side of the gate as he watched in fascination. He didn’t dare let anyone see him. People were still talking about him, many waving their hands about as they did. Some older woman with a little brown dog was going from person to person asking questions.
Her kind were the worst. They pried into your business until they got what they wanted.
That made him think of Basil. He hoped the little tyrant wasn’t causing too much trouble wherever he was. Had he found a safe hiding place?
Rhaz pushed the thought aside when he saw the woman speak to the small son of the family whose house was ablaze. Then she spoke to Lily.
Rhaz smiled.
Little Lily was speaking about him.
So she had seen him partially shifted. Well, there was nothing to be done about it now. He would simply have to hope none of the humans put anything together that could endanger him or Basil. Once he found the gnome.
Rhaz continued to watch the dark-haired young woman as she flitted about the area, helping wherever she could. She followed several people’s gazes in his direction, and he ducked behind the gate again.
He’d have to escape through the neighboring yards and find his way out of this place. The sooner, the better. Yet… he couldn’t bring himself to leave the dark-haired beauty before him.
How could something so small and delicate be made to haul hoses toward a burning building? In his realm, she would be cherished and prized. A treasure to protect. He wouldn’t let her near such danger.
His heart pounded just thinking about it.
Take her, Ezriel, his dragon growled.
Rhaz shook his head. “She might belong to someone else,” he whispered back.
Ours... Ezriel insisted.
“I’m afraid not.” Rhaz ducked behind the gate and leaned against the fence, a hand over his heart. He was starting to feel the way he did before going into battle. This was ridiculous.
But… what if she tried to go into the building? Would the men make her do such a thing?
Blazing trolls! She wasn’t a slave, was she? Did humans enslave their own kind here? He knew they did in other realms.
Rhaz studied her more carefully. She was petite but strong and spoke with the men with no hesitation. They, in turn, spoke respectfully to her from what he could hear. There were many voices and sounds surrounding him, but hers he could pick out among them all.
It was melodious, earnest, determined. He liked that.
Rhaz peeked around the gate and continued to watch, singling her out. The more he watched and listened, the more his curiosity was piqued. She frowned now and then, and he could tell she was thinking. Several times he was certain she had to be thinking about him.
Then there was that older woman. People called her Louise. She looked like trouble.
She flitted from one person to the next asking questions until she finally approached the dark-haired young woman.
And yes, they were talking about him. Great.
That meant he was going to have to be careful and hope no one recognized him later. He’d have to steal more clothes. The ones he was currently wearing smelled like smoke, a dead giveaway.
Rhaz supposed he could wash them in the creek and let them dry, but that would take time. He would have to do it at night.
Rhaz drew in a deep breath, let it out slowly, and forced himself away from the gate. He trotted along the side of the house until he reached the backyard. After looking around and seeing that everyone’s windows were either shuttered or curtained, he leapt over the back fence into the next yard.
He found another gate, but this one was locked. Thankfully, there were no open windows on either side of the house. All were shuttered.
Did no one let light into their homes? Maybe it was too early in the day.
He leapt over the gate, landing silently, and headed for the street. He imagined it would eventually lead him to the neighborhood gate, with people coming and going because of the fire. He should be able to slip through.
Or would it be safer to find another way out?
He pondered his options, then looked around. Spotting a good-sized tree, he made sure no one was watching before leaping into it and climbing to the top.
From there he could see the stone wall surrounding the neighborhood and a pathway leading to it. It appeared to be some sort of trail. It was smooth, much like the street. A small park sat nearby.
No one was in the park, so he might be able to escape that way. If he used the main gate, someone might recognize him, stop him, and want to talk.
Rhaz climbed down the tree. It would be so much easier if he could shift and fly away, but that would cause a ruckus, to be sure.
He headed toward the park and what he assumed was a walking trail. He jumped out of the way when someone on a strange two-wheeled contraption sped by. It was loud and fast and, by flaming scales, nearly ran him over!
He cursed under his breath and continued on. These humans were reckless. Which made him think of the fire.
How had it started? He could probably figure it out. He, of all people, knew fire. His kingdom made a science of it.
Rhaz found the walking trail, made his way to the stone wall, and left the neighborhood. That done, he headed straight for the park and the creek. He could at least wash his shirt and jacket. Maybe the hat too.
In fact, he could probably hike upstream where no one would find him and take care of everything there.
Deciding it was his best course of action, Rhaz reached the park, cut through it, and headed for the creek. He followed it upstream, hiking well into the woods before stripping and getting to work.
“All right,” Anon said. “Is everybody ready?” He held a rolling pin and a cookie sheet. “Put your armor on, gentlemen, and we’ll pay the beast a visit. Maybe he’s calmed down by now.”
Quill had a broom while Caelen carried a mop. “He’s just a gnome,” Caelen said. “Why do you insist we arm ourselves?”
“For show, mostly,” Anon said. “And to make him think we’re something we’re not. Less threatening. Do I need to bash him with a rolling pin? No. I could bite the little pest easily enough, but he doesn’t know that. I don’t know what he knows about vampires, but he’s certainly not intimidated.”
Anon turned to the others gathered near the basement door. “He knows you’re Fae, Princeling,” he said to Caelen. “Yet he doesn’t seem afraid of you. And you, my boy,” he told Aaron, “he respects. Which means he senses your power. Though that could be because we were near water.”
Aaron nodded. “How can such a little man be so brave? Does he have powerful magic? Can he shift into a monster?”
“I’m inclined to think he’s a cream puff,” Anon said. “All bark and no bite, but I could be wrong.” He sighed. “Let’s go.”
Anon descended the stairs and led them to the guest room where they had one Basil Thimbleroot locked up.
So far, he’d rearranged the furniture, complaining the room was too boring for him to abide in.
He’d thrown plates of food against the wall, claiming the smell alone was an insult.
And he’d complained endlessly about the plumbing.
That wasn’t Anon’s fault. The house didn’t quite know what to do with the gnome and all his blithering.
Anon pulled out a key, unlocked the door, and raised the rolling pin and cookie sheet. “Here we go.” He stepped inside. There was no sign of the gnome.
“ARRRRRGH!”
Basil launched himself onto Anon’s back from somewhere behind the door, and tried to stab him with a plastic fork. “Die, bloodsucker!”
Caelen sighed, plucked Basil off Anon, and held him at arm’s length. “You need to behave yourself, gnome.”
Basil’s arms pinwheeled as he kicked his little legs. “Put me down, you foul Fae! I’m going to kill the bloodsucker and be gone from this place! You are all unworthy of my presence.”
Anon set the cookie sheet and rolling pin on the desk. He bent and picked up the broken plastic fork from the floor, then studied the chair and pillows stacked behind the door.
He shook his head in dismay. “Really? You thought to ambush one of us?”
“Just you,” Basil sneered.
“Why not the foul Fae?” Anon asked.
Basil wrinkled his nose. “I’d have gotten to him soon enough.”
“And our boy here?” Anon motioned to Aaron, who stood in the doorway. He’d kept Aaron away from Basil for the most part. The gnome seemed to revere him, and Anon was now ready to find out why.
Basil took one look at Aaron, his eyes going wide, and lowered his head.
“That right there,” Anon said. “Why do you do that?”
“You should do the same, bloodsucker,” Basil whispered. “You are in the presence of legend.”
Aaron blinked several times. “I do not understand.”
“And you don’t need to, my boy,” Anon said. “We know what he means.”
Anon grabbed Basil by the back of his jacket, taking him from Caelen. He held the gnome up in front of Aaron. “What is he then, gnome?”
Basil narrowed his eyes at Anon. “Fool! You are in the presence of a Nemthra. How stupid are you?”
Anon glanced at Aaron, then Caelen, and back again. “Your realm knows of the Nemthra?”
“Everyone knows, you blood-sucking peasant!” Basil spat.
Aaron stepped forward and studied the gnome. “May I?” he asked Anon.
Anon shrugged and made to hand him over. Basil let out a screech. “No! I am not worthy to be touched by you! You will kill me!”
Aaron drew his hand back. “I mean you no harm.” He wisely closed the door behind him, then nodded for Anon to put Basil down.
Anon glared at the gnome. “Try anything and he will touch you.”
Basil said nothing and glared right back.
Anon set him on his feet and watched as Basil turned to Aaron and bowed. “Your Grace.” He looked up at him. “Or are you more?”
“I am what I am,” Aaron said with an innocent shrug. “What are you?”
“I am a gnome, of course. Royal chef to the king and queen of Cerisseia. I serve King Rhaevor and Queen Sahmira and their son, Prince Rhaziel, heir to the throne.”
Aaron smiled at him, then sat cross-legged on the floor. “That must be nice.”
“Oh, it is! I am highly esteemed where I am from.” Basil seemed delighted that Aaron was addressing him at all. He kept a respectful distance, Anon noticed, and his head bowed.
“You can look at him, gnome,” Anon said. “He doesn’t bite.”
“I am not worthy,” Basil spat. “And neither are you!” He inched closer to Aaron. “I beg a question of you, Mighty One.”
“Um, okay.” Aaron gave Caelen and Anon a helpless shrug. “What is it?”
“Why do you tolerate this bloodsucker?” Basil turned his head just enough to glare up at Anon.
Aaron gave the gnome a gentle smile. “Anon is my friend. He rescued me and brought me here. He fed me, sheltered me, and took care of me when I was lost and alone.”
Anon noticed he left out the part about being locked in this very room, but perhaps Aaron didn’t see things that way. Still, it had been a precaution they needed to take until they figured out he wasn’t a threat.
Basil stared at Aaron for a moment. “A bloodsucker helped you?”
Aaron gave him a regal nod. “He is a vampire and a good man. I do not know what I would have done if he had not found me.”
Basil glared at Anon again. “Where I come from, his kind are rare, but deadly. They kill for food and for sport.”
Anon gasped. “I would never!”
“But you feed on us!” Basil shot back.
“If you must know,” Anon said casually, “I’ve never had gnome. And before you spout off again, I’ve not harmed a single human in this town.”
Basil laughed. “I find that hard to believe! Your kind bring nothing but death and pestilence!”
Anon let out a long sigh. “I don’t know where you come from, but where I come from, humans donate their blood to us. I’ve rarely used a human that way, even when one was willing. I preferred blood packs. They’re so much more civilized.”
Basil stared at him in disbelief. “Blood packs? I’ve never heard such nonsense.”
“Believe it, gnome.” Anon examined a fingernail. “Now, tell us about your prince.”
Basil immediately returned his attention to Aaron. “He is mighty! His valor is known throughout the realm. He will be a great king one day.” He stood straighter. “He is probably looking for me, and when he finds me, you’ll all be sorry!”
Aaron cocked his head. “Is he dangerous?”
“Of course he’s dangerous, Great One! Oh, but he would never harm you.” Basil bowed low.
“And why is that?” Aaron asked.
Basil raised his head and looked him in the eyes. “You are one of the Nemthra. Dragons respect the Nemthra of legend.”
“Dragons?” Caelen said. “So you really do serve a kingdom of dragons?”
Basil’s hands went to his hips. “Yes, you frivolous Fae! The great red dragons of the Kingdom of Cerisseia!”
Caelen exchanged a look of surprise with Anon. “A dragon prince?” he asked.
“A shifter,” Anon said, running a hand down his face. “Probably a big one.”
“Yes, and he’ll burn this place to the ground to rescue me!” Basil cried. He kicked Anon in the shin. “You’ll be sorry then, bloodsucker!”
With that, he darted for the door, only to be caught by Aaron.
Basil gasped, took one look at Aaron, and went rigid as stone. “Please forgive my insolence, Great One!”
Aaron sighed, set Basil on his feet, and smiled. “If you are a chef, could you cook for us?”
Basil’s entire face lit up. “For you, Great One, I can cook anything you want.” He glanced at Anon, made a face, then returned his attention to Aaron. “I’ll even make something for the blood-sucking vampire if you wish.”
Aaron smiled and looked at the others before turning that smile back on Basil. “I wish it. Let me show you the kitchen.”