Red Dragon's Keep (The Dragon's Children Book 1) Read online

  He spoke slowly and thoughtfully. “I'm wondering what's in the undercroft that has the skullies spooked. The only things down there are the well and storage for supplies. I'll order a search. Captain Mathin, can you please provide men to do that?”

  “Of course,” said Mathin. “Thomas, if you would come with me, I think we should do this together. Gregory and Lady Aeden, you should investigate the tainting and disappearance of the food.”

  “I'll get that started now,” Gregory agreed. “Good luck, gentlemen. Lady Aeden, if you’d follow me?”

  Chapter 20

  Scout Leader Quinn, rail thin and very strong, pulled his sword from the disgusting gray skinned, black furred body. The smell was horrible, ammonia and acid combined. He gagged. His black hair was matted with Demon blood.

  His squad of twelve had been sent out four miles into the mountains south and west of Red Dragon’s Keep, searching for any incursion by the Ciardha Demons. They had found it. Two of his men were dead, throats ripped out and disemboweled by the six hell-spawn they had encountered. Those six bodies lay smoking and bubbling on the forest floor, but at enormous cost. Every one of his men had slashes and bites on arms, legs, heads, and torsos. He prayed that those wounds wouldn't fester, but he had a terrible feeling about this.

  Light snow drifted down from a gray sky. Quinn squinted his dark brown eyes and glanced around the small clearing. Leafless trees raised brittle branches to claw at the tattered clouds. More snow was on the way; he could smell it. He shivered. What else is on the way?

  He knelt down on one knee to examine the hell-spawn he had killed.

  Its body was elongated with a stubby tail and four legs armed with razor sharp claws on five toes. Teeth two inches long filled its huge jaws like those of the razor fish that lived in the mighty rivers that emptied into the sea along the coast. Large eyes with pupils like those of a cat dominated its head.

  Huge eyes, serrated teeth, and razor sharp claws, he mused. A very small brain; this was made for killing, for war. Short, coarse black hair covered a grey, thick, tough hide.

  Shaking his head, he wiped his sword on the dead Demon, then stood and turned to Ben, his second-in-command. “Send someone back to the Keep. Ask for a wagon for the bodies of our fallen. We need one of the wise-women to treat the wounded. Ask for Moirra. She’s the best. We need more troops. Quick now, we don't know how many more Demons are out here.”

  “Aye sir, I'll get right on it,” Ben said, then drew a shuddering breath. “This goes beyond anything I've ever seen, or imagined for that matter. Have you seen such, sir?”

  “No, Ben, I've not.” Quinn clasped Ben's shoulder. “I've heard tales from the Great War of beasts such as these, but never seen them. Get going. I'll set the least wounded to making camp. We need a defensive perimeter.” Ben hurried off to find a messenger.

  § § §

  The watch guards at the gates stiffened to alertness. A small cloud of dust was billowing up along the approach to the Keep. The private on duty shouted down to the guardhouse. “Sergeant, rider approaching from the south!”

  The sergeant stepped out of the guardhouse and charged up the stone steps of the watchtower.

  He gained the top of the rampart and leaned out to watch the dust cloud. He grunted, then barked, “Man the gates, that's a courier.” Two of the gate company moved briskly to comply.

  The black horse carrying the courier was covered in sweat and lather. Foam depended from its gaping mouth. As it raced to the end of the drawbridge over the dry moat in front of the Keep wall, its heart burst and it stumbled, went to its knees and flipped over onto its side, dead in that instant.

  Its body landed within inches of the tumbling courier. The courier flew through the air, landed hard and slid out onto the bridge. The gate guards ran out across the bridge, pulled the courier up to his feet and supported him under each arm through the inner Keep gate. The watch sergeant hurried to them and the courier gasped out, “Tell the Lord that Falcon's Spire has fallen. The Ciardha Demons have arrived and slain all left within her walls.”

  He slumped in the guards' arms as his mind spiraled into unconsciousness.

  Chapter 21

  Chaos reigned.

  The message from Falcon’s Spire arrived as Thomas and Captain Mathin were planning the search of the undercroft in the Library.

  The news sent a bolt of fear and dread through everyone in the Tower, and in the town as the news spread.

  The scouts’ messenger arrived, reporting the Demon attack on his patrol, requesting more men and a wagon for the dead.

  As the sun marched toward the western horizon, a soldier from the Duke's supply train rode through the gates. Tired and gaunt, he slid down from the bare back of the farm horse he was riding. He looked like farmer.

  The guards at the gate rushed to his side. The sergeant-in-charge recognized him. “What’s happened? Why are you back,” he demanded.

  “I need to report to Captain Mathin,” the exhausted man mumbled, tired beyond words.

  “Private, go alert Captain Mathin. Find Lord Thomas, too. I’ll bring him into the great hall,” ordered the watch sergeant. He sent the remaining private back to the gates, then draped the soldier’s arm across his shoulders. They hobbled across the forecourt and made their way, one step at a time, up the stairs and into the great hall.

  The sergeant helped the soldier hobble to the nearest table, shoving the bench out from under it with his foot. The soldier folded onto the bench and pillowed his head on his arms on the table. The sergeant shouted to a skully to bring water and soup.

  Captain Mathin and Thomas descended the stairs into the great hall. They strode to the table where the scout was sipping slowly from a mug. A bowl of soup sat on the table in front of him. They slid onto the bench on the other side of the table.

  Captain Mathin angled his head in query. “What happened to you? You look completely done in.”

  “Captain, Lord Thomas.” The soldier raised bleary, glassy eyes to look at both of them. “I have desperate news. Three of the wagons failed. Most of the pins holding the wheels to the axles were shaved and broke so the wheels fell off. All of the spares were shaved, too. Most of the food spoiled.

  We were ambushed at Great Falls three weeks out from Red Dragon’s Keep. Lord Tom and Lord Jeremy and Lady Jenni and Lady Anne fought like h…heck, but there were too many men. One of them was that traitor, Garan. We tried to save them, but there were too many and they cut us down. All the other men were killed.”

  He shook his head and, picking up the bowl of soup, took a small sip. “I got knocked on the head and couldn’t get up again. I watched them pull the Lords from their saddles and tie them up. The women tried to keep fighting, but Lady Jenni was cut pretty bad and knocked from her saddle. Lady Anne jumped down from her horse to help, but she was hit on the back of the head.”

  Thomas gasped in shock and fear. The soldier looked up at him in sympathy.

  “All of them were tied up and thrown over horses that the ambushers brought out of the trees. They took all of our horses and everything they could carry. I don’t know where they went!” His voice rose as he finished the telling.

  “It’s taken me almost three weeks to get back. I travelled slow during the day, trying to look like a farmer. I stole some clothes from one of the holdings.

  I hid in the trees at sunrise and sunset. There are Demon bands moving everywhere during those times. I was afraid there were more traitors along the way. I finally stole a farmer’s horse about three days out from the Keep and came as fast as I could.”

  “Good job,” murmured Captain Mathin. “Sergeant - both of you - this news stays at this table, understand?” Both men nodded. “Take him to the barracks and let him sleep his journey out.”

  “Yes, sir,” the sergeant said. He patted the soldier on the arm. “Come on. I’ll get you settled.” The exhausted man was soon asleep in the barracks.

  Thomas sat mute and in shock. He couldn’t think. His
parents were gone.

  Captain Mathin sat as still as a statue. Abruptly he stood, pushing the bench back from the table. Thomas stood hastily as well. “I need to put together a search party. We leave tomorrow. I’m sorry, lad. This comes first.”

  “I agree, Captain. Do what you think best.” Thomas mumbled. His voice hoarse with fear, he called to a skully and sent him off to find a courier. He needed to send a report to the King, relaying his horrendous news and warning him of the threat along the Dragon's Spine.

  § § §

  The next morning Thomas stood on the steps of the Tower, arms folded across his chest, cloak stirring in the errant zephyrs that swirled over the walls. Scowling, he watched as one hundred of the Keep's defenders saddled horses and loaded supplies into wagons waiting in the forecourt.

  Sparks flew as iron shod hooves slid on flagstone. Shouts and noise filled the air. Twenty of the soldiers would turn to the southwest to reinforce the scouts who had been attacked. The rest of the soldiers would follow Captain Mathin on the hunt for Thomas’s parents, aunt and uncle.

  Captain Mathin ascended the stairs and stood next to him, watching the column assemble. Snow sifted down from a leaden sky to dampen cloaks and hoods.

  “Lord Thomas, the men should be ready to leave in the next half hour. We've not had time to search for the traitor, nor what lurks in the undercroft. I'm sorry, but I must go and try to find the Duke and Duchess.”

  “Captain Mathin, are you sure that this is a wise course? Shouldn't we send scouts and rovers out to search?” asked Thomas. “With Demons this close, do we have enough men to defend the Keep?”

  Captain Mathin looked at him long and hard. “Lad, there's no help for it. You've learned a tremendous amount in the past months. You've got the basics down and the rest is just flourishes. Lady Aeden and Gregory can guide you now as well as I can. I'm leaving you enough men to see the Keep safe. The longer I wait, the colder the Duke's trail.”

  Thomas dropped his eyes and stared at the ground. The silence stretched. He shook his head and looked up at Mathin.

  “Please find them,” he whispered, his eyes bright with unshed tears.

  Mathin put a hand on his shoulder. “I will, lad. That I promise,” he said.

  He shouted for a stableman to bring his horse. The stableman led a dark sorrel warhorse to the stairs, its coat gleaming with sweat. It was huge, larger than the Duke's charger. Mathin put his foot in the stirrup while still standing on the second stair. He swung himself up into the saddle. He reined the horse around to face Thomas and saluted him. “Lord Thomas, we'll find them.”

  The horse spun on his hocks at a move of Mathin's leg and trotted to the front of the column of riders. The riders began to move out of the forecourt and onto the road to Great Falls. Wagons rumbled as they followed the riders. Soon the forecourt was empty.

  Glumly, Thomas shook his head, turned and climbed the stairs into the Keep.

  Gregory and Lady Aeden met him at the doors. They glanced at each other.

  “Lord Thomas, I've gathered men to search the undercroft and dungeons. We should do this now,” she said.

  Gregory moved to block sight of him from the hall. “Lord, we think we know who has betrayed us,” he said in a low voice. “Lady Aeden has felt something odd for the past fortnight and traced it back to its maker. We knew last night, but,” he gestured toward the departing column, “getting them ready to leave took precedence.” He turned back to Thomas. “There are several people. What do you want me to do?”

  Thomas frowned and glanced around to see who might be listening. No one was close enough to overhear. “Gather them quietly and put them in one of the storerooms in chains. Two guards inside and two guards outside of the room. No chances for escape, do you understand?”

  “I do, Lord. Just so you aren't surprised, one of them is Jalyn, the head cook. She's the one responsible for the spoiled grain and damaged supplies.”

  Thomas gasped in outrage as his eyes widened and his face paled. He shook his head in bewilderment. He would never have suspected her. He had known Jalyn his entire life. She had always been a fantastic cook and had been treated as almost one of the family.

  What a perfect position to keep track of everything that was going on in the Keep, as well as having access to the means to kill people and betray the Duke, he thought in despair.

  He turned abruptly to Lady Aeden. “Let's go. The sooner we find out what's down there, the quicker we can deal with it.”

  Calling to the men, Lady Aeden started toward the guardroom to the right of the main hall with its access to the undercroft. Abruptly she stopped. “My Lord, we should bring the other members of your family to keep them safe. Who knows what might be loose in the Keep.” she spoke quietly.

  Thomas nodded and called to the closest of the assembled men. “Corporal, please go to the family’s rooms and ask Cameron, Evan, Owen & Breanna to dress quickly and warmly and meet here in the great hall within the quarter hour.” The corporal turned and hurried toward the steps to the second floor.

  Thomas looked grimly at Gregory. “We'll deal with the traitors as soon as we’re done in the undercroft. If something happens, kill them. We cannot have them at our backs while we fight the Ciardha Demon.”

  Gregory blanched. “Yes, my Lord.” He bowed with respect, and maybe a little fear.

  § § §

  Cameron, Evan, Owen and Breanna ran down the stairs to the great hall. They had thrown on thick wool trousers and shirts as well as tunics that fell to mid-thigh. Owen wore his long knife in a sheath that was belted to his waist. They stumbled to a stop as they reached the bottom of the stairs. All of them had red eyes from crying at the news of their parents’ kidnapping.

  The room was filled with men-at-arms bearing swords and crossbows. Low murmuring filled the air. Thomas turned from his discussion with Lady Aeden and Gregory and beckoned them over to the group.

  “Owen. Good. You're armed,” Thomas said. Lady Aeden extended three shorter knives in sheaths to him. Thomas took the knives and looked at Evan, Cameron and Breanna. “All of us need to be armed, just in case.” He handed a knife to each one of them. “Thread these onto your belts. We’re going to the undercroft to find out why all of the skullies are afraid to go down there.”

  “Lady Aeden, if you'd stay with us?” She nodded assent. “The captain will lead the first half of the men down. We’ll all go next.” He gestured at his siblings, cousins and Lady Aeden. “Sergeant Padric will follow with the rest of the men.”

  The first group of soldiers moved to the wide staircase that descended from the hallway between the great hall and kitchen. They spread themselves out, two soldiers close together at the front of the line, then several steps between each of the rest.

  Lady Aeden moved silently after the last of the first group. Thomas followed her. “Everyone, keep up with me but don't bunch together. We need to be able to move around if there’s an attack.” They started down the staircase.

  Breanna began to quietly cry. Thomas slowed down and put an arm around her and Evan. “It's all right to cry. Just don't let it distract you,” he whispered to them. “Okay,” they whispered back in chorus.

  What am I doing? I don't know what we might face. Maybe I should leave the other kids behind.

  A very, very low moan shook his bones. The hairs on the back of his neck stood straight up. Everyone froze on the staircase.

  Why hasn't anyone told us about this? Why hasn't someone talked about missing skullies?

  “Don't stop,” he ordered.

  The line of soldiers began to move slowly and as quietly as possible down the stairs.

  The rough stone of the wall caught the fabric of Thomas’s tunic as he slid against it. The putrid smell of rotting meat filled the air as they descended. The first soldiers hit the bottom of the stairs and moved left and right, swords leading, sweeping the area for danger. Another eerie moan shivered through the undercroft.

  “What is that, Lady Aeden?�
�� Thomas whispered his question.

  “I'm not sure, Lord. It sounds like a seleigh soren. They are bound to a place and then feed on the souls of those unfortunate enough to wander or be sent within their influence. Whoever prisoned it here has also erased evidence of disappearance and death from the minds of everyone.”

  “How do we stop it?”

  “With fire and a draiochta sword.”

  “Do we have one of those among us?” he asked.

  “We'll see. It often takes a threat from some form of magic to awaken the blade,” she said.

  Great. We're all dead, he thought.

  As each guard moved off of the stairs, the line snaked down. Thomas put his foot on the floor and a shriek exploded from the left. Everyone crouched and spun toward the sound, swords ready. Torchlight wavered in a cold draft.

  “Move out of the way and let everyone else off the stairs,” Lady Aeden commanded. A low moan shivered through the undercroft again.

  Thomas felt a tightening in his brain. He stumbled forward into Lady Aeden, clutching at her tunic as he fell. “Lady”, he gasped. “I feel something in my mind!”

  His knees hit the floor as he dropped his knife and grabbed his head with his hands. He gasped in pain as he curled into a ball.

  Aeden, face grim, slammed to the floor on her knees next to him, her left hand clamping to the top of his head. She held her right hand aloft. Suddenly a fiery sword gleamed brightly in her hand, lighting the undercroft corridor. The children screamed. Soldiers gasped and reflexively stepped back.

  Thomas relaxed with a sigh as she projected a shield over his mind.

  “Thank you, Lady. What was that?” he exclaimed.

  “As I thought, Lord Thomas. It is a seleigh soren. The practice you've done shielding your mind kept it from taking you as you came down the stairs. Whoever bound it here probably gave it your mental scent to take you first,” she murmured to him. “That takes a fair amount of power. We must find who set this trap.”

  The soldiers were backing slowly away from where Thomas lay and Lady Aeden still held her gleaming sword aloft. The children were huddled together in a tight group at the bottom of the stairs, Breanna openly weeping.