Red Dragon's Keep (The Dragon's Children Book 1) Page 12

  Flanked by two guards, Jalyn, her hands chained in front of her and heavy chains on her ankles, was shoved into the room by the two guards behind her. She fell heavily to her knees on the floor in front of Aeden.

  The four guards took up positions on either side of the door and directly across the hall from the room. Nothing was going to get in or out.

  Jalyn moaned and rocked from side to side, her face contorted in pain. “No, no, no,” she repeated again and again.

  Captain Braden grabbed her arms and dragged her to her feet. “Shut up,” he snapped sharply.

  Jalyn’s face was swollen from crying. She clasped her hands in supplication and fell to her knees again. “Please, kill me now. What He will do is worse than anything you can dream of.”

  “Who are you talking about,” growled Captain Braden.

  Her eyes suddenly glittered in triumph, her mouth twisted in hate. “The High Draiolc of the Ciardha Demon.”

  “What have you done,” gasped Thomas in shock.

  Aeden, Gregory and Captain Braden erupted with questions and exclamations.

  “What?” Aeden exclaimed.

  “How could you,” shouted Gregory.

  Thomas grasped the pommel of his sword. As he did, HellReaver demanded Draw me.

  Thomas pulled the Sword of Light from its scabbard. Light flared. Thomas laid the edge of the sword against Jalyn' neck.

  “Speak, traitor, and tell us of your treachery.” HellReaver's voice echoed in all of their minds.

  Jalyn gagged and her back arched in terror as the sword spoke in her mind. She jerked away from the touch of the blade.

  Thomas wondered distantly how someone so fat could move that quickly.

  “What have you done?” Captain Braden’s question grated out.

  “Your grain is rotting, the flour is gone. Meat will spoil quickly now. The gates will fall. Soon the wells will be poisoned. You are all dead!” Jalyn shrieked. “Lord Mannan brings the horde to take this stronghold. We have made certain that you will fall.” She laughed hysterically. Her face contorted into a mask of fear and hate. Her eyes gleamed maniacally.

  She lunged toward HellReaver, intent on impaling herself on the sharp blade. Lady Aeden snapped her hand out and Jalyn froze.

  “I've but one question for you, traitor.” Thomas spoke slowly and evenly. “Why?”

  “I should have been chatelaine of this Keep. You and yours are nothing.” Her bitterness flowed like acid through her words. “Lord John should have chosen me for his wife after your grandmother died. Instead, he wasted away for nothing!” she shouted.

  Stunned silence echoed in the room.

  Lady Aeden applied pressure to the neck of the lump of quivering fat. Jalyn gagged. “What are you promised?”

  “I will be the ruler of this Keep. You will be either dead or my slaves. I will beat each of you until you are bloody and broken, and then you die.” Jalyn grunted a wicked laugh as Captain Braden kicked her.

  “Who are your partners in this treason?” Captain Braden spoke through clenched teeth.

  Lady Aeden squeezed her fingers together. Jalyn gagged again.

  “Look to Hugo and the other stablemen. Look to the squires and the men-at-arms. Question everyone and you’ll still not find them all.”

  Captain Braden turned to Thomas. “The sentence for treason is death, my Lord.”

  Thomas looked at Gregory. Gregory nodded. He looked at Aeden and Captain Braden. Both of them nodded.

  He found his voice. “Take this offal and hang her. Make sure she is dead. Burn the body. Do it now.”

  Thomas felt as though he had been turned to stone. A sick feeling churned in his stomach.

  “Guards,” barked Captain Braden.

  Two of the guards in the corridor entered the study and grabbed Jalyn by her manacles, jerking her to her feet. She screamed, ranted, and raved as they dragged her away down the corridor, throwing herself from side to side in an attempt to escape.

  Thomas followed them into the hallway and stood watching, arms folded across his chest.

  Her cries ceased abruptly as one of the guards backhanded her across the face, stunning her into silence.

  “Captain Braden, bring in the next prisoner,” Thomas snapped. He walked back into the room.

  Chapter 24

  The grounds of Red Dragon’s Keep were huge. The inner wall surrounding the Dragon Tower stood three stories tall. Massive gates were thrown open, giving access to the tower.

  The outer wall extended to the north and then west around the town before circling back and joining the inner wall surrounding the tower. Shops and houses, gardens and corrals, filled the space between the inner and outer walls of the Keep.

  Hasty shelters had been built along the outer walls of the Keep itself to provide housing for the freeholders streaming in from the countryside. The villagers had opened their homes to those who had nowhere else to go.

  Every speck of grain and food that could be brought to the Keep was rolling in on carts pulled by oxen or barrows pushed by farmers. Herds of cattle and sheep grazed on the increasingly scarce grass surrounding the Keep and town. The small river that meandered through the valley had provided enough water so far. The Dragon Tower itself had two wells inside its walls.

  Marta and her family, as well as the members of the Steading who had survived the journey and the Demon attacks, trudged wearily toward the double gates in the wall surrounding Red Dragon’s Keep and the village beyond. They joined other families and merchant trains making toward the dubious safety to be found within.

  Guards checked each person, horse and wagon seeking to enter. Do they think Demons are hiding in backpacks or wagons? Marta mocked silently.

  The line finally moved enough to get them through the gates and into the Keep proper. The group stopped and gawked at the massive tower with its Dragon spiraling up the east wall set in red stone.

  “I've never seen anything the like,” said Kevin, Marta's younger brother.

  “Where do we stay?” asked ever practical Raina.

  The Halorans followed the moving mass of people and came to the main thoroughfare passing through the village.

  “I'll ask one of the soldiers what we should do,” Faolan rumbled to Raina. Marta knew that he'd served in the King's Army with Duke Arach. He'd lived at Red Dragon’s Keep until he'd met and married Raina and was granted a Steading for his service.

  Stepping to the side of the road out of traffic, Haloran raised his voice to be heard by his remaining holders. “All of you have relatives here. If you need anything, find me and I’ll see what I can do to help,” he told them.

  The men and women clustered around him, patting him on the back and shaking his hand, thanking him for bringing them this far. When they were done, they and their younglings moved off to find their kin.

  A troop of cavalry trotted their horses down the busy street. At its head rode a tall young man on a blood-bay charger. Marta gasped. The cage of six chickens that she was carrying crashed to the paving stones that covered the street. The cage shattered and chickens flapped and cackled wildly across the street, startling the line of horses into shying and bucking.

  Marta's face went white, then red stained her cheeks in embarrassment. She had seen that rider in her dreaming for as long as she could remember. “Mother, who is that?” she choked out as she grabbed her mother's arm.

  Raina looked at her blankly. “How should I know, Marta? I've never been to Red Dragon’s Keep before.”

  The young man managed to bring his horse under control. He scowled at Marta and growled out, “What are you doing, woman? You could have caused injury or death here.”

  Marta dropped her head. “I'm sorry,sir. You startled me, that’s all.”

  § § §

  Thomas looked more closely at the girl. She was tall and slim with golden skin. Her black hair was pulled back into a tail that fell to the middle of her back. Her clothing, though worn, was clean. He'd caught a glimpse of stor
my green eyes before she had looked at the ground. He felt a quick jab to his heart. He frowned.

  He looked at the rest of the group. His horse sidled nervously. “Have you just arrived at Red Dragon’s Keep?” he asked. “Heddwyn, stop it.” He jerked sharply on his mount's reins to stop his movement. The horse threw his head up, away from the bit. “Sorry,” he said to the group of refugees. “I'm Thomas. Can I help you?”

  Faolan pushed between his sons and stood next to Marta. “Hello, Thomas. Sorry for my daughter's clumsiness. I served with Duke Arach during the war. We've come because the Demons have attacked our Steading. Would you know where we can stay?”

  Thomas gazed thoughtfully at the five. This is perfect. They may have the information that we need. “I'm Lord Arach's son. I'd like to talk to you about what happened. Go to the Keep and ask for Gregory. Tell him I want you to have quarters in the guest wing. We'll talk as soon as I'm back from patrol. That’s about four hours.”

  “Thank you, Lord Thomas. We'll be there,” Faolan choked out as he gave a slight bow.

  Thomas reined Heddwyn around as the column reformed. He looked at all of them. “I'm glad you've come safe to us. We'll need every hand to beat back the Dark.”

  § § §

  Faolan and his family walked slowly toward the wall that enclosed the square tower rising in the center of Red Dragon’s Keep. They approached the gate that opened into the inner Keep grounds surrounding the stronghold. The private stationed at the gate stepped into its opening. “Halt,” he ordered. “State your business.”

  “Lord Thomas told us to come and speak to Gregory about staying here,” Faolan told the very young soldier. The young man didn’t recognize him.

  The private eyed the group and then called out to the sergeant in charge. “Sergeant, this fellow says that Lord Thomas told them to come here for housing.”

  The sergeant stepped out of the guard house and looked the family members over. He didn’t recognize Faolan, either. Dust rose from the shuffle of feet along the road through the Keep, tickling Marta’s nose and throat. She sneezed, and sneezed again.

  “Send a man to get Gregory,” he ordered the private. “You wait here,” he ordered the group.

  Gregory stomped toward the family. As he drew nearer, he recognized Faolan and broke into a jog. As he reached them, he clasped Faolan’s outstretched hand and grasped his other arm with his left hand. “Faolan! It’s good to see you again. What brings you to the Keep?” he exclaimed.

  “We had to come, Gregory. The Demons attacked and drove us out. If we hadn’t left when we did, we’d all be dead,” he told his old friend with grim resignation.

  Gregory slowly let go of his hand. “I’m sorry, Faolan. How many did you lose?” he asked quietly.

  “Over half of my people,” Faolan told him.

  Gregory shook his head in dismay. “And Rand, your father?”

  “Killed two days ago in a Demon attack,” he replied.

  Gregory took a deep breath. Then another. “He was a good man,” he said simply.

  Shaking off the bad news, Gregory looked at Faolan’s family. “Lord Thomas told you to come here? I expect he’ll want to talk to you about your journey, see if anything bears on what we need to do. Come on. I’ll have guest quarters readied for you.” He turned and led them across the forecourt, up the stairs and into the tower.

  § § §

  The Halorans stood in the center of the suite of rooms that Gregory had assigned them. Raina, the boys and Marta craned their necks, looking at the tapestries on the walls, the low table and chairs in the center of the room and the long tables set between four doors, two on one side of the main room and two on the other. Faolan watched in amusement. He’d been here before and recognized the suite.

  “Raina, you and I will stay in this room.” He waved toward the door on the left closest to the suite entrance. “Boy’s, you take that one.” He pointed at the room next to his and Raina’s. “Marta, take that one.” He pointed to the door opposite her brothers’. “Put your things away and meet back here when you’re done,” he told them. He and Raina walked through the door into their room. Jaiman and Kevin looked at each other, grinned, and hurried through their door.

  Marta looked around the room and shrugged in annoyance. She’d wanted the room next to her parents.

  She cautiously entered her room. It held a bed, a fireplace, a wardrobe and a commode with a basin and pitcher on top. The bed had four posts that rose almost to the ceiling connected with rods from which depended thick curtains pulled back to reveal a feather filled mattress covered with wool blankets and quilts. Shutters were folded back on either side of the window that looked out on the stables and a training yard. A trunk sat at the foot of the bed. She swung her pack onto the trunk and then sat down next to the pack. Her shoulders slumped. All she wanted to do was sleep.

  Raina knocked on the door frame and walked through the doorway. She scanned the room curiously, then walked over to Marta. “A bit much for us, isn’t it?” she asked quietly.

  “I don’t know what to do, Mama. Where should I put my things? What should I do?” she almost wailed.

  Raina pulled her into a hug. “It will be all right, I promise. You’ll get used to all of this soon enough.” She let go of Marta and walked over to the bed, sitting gingerly on the edge. “Come here,” she patted the mattress next to her. “I need to ask you about what happened with the chickens. Why did you ask me who he was when you saw Lord Thomas?”

  Marta walked to the bedside and reluctantly sat on the mattress. She didn’t want to get it dirty. It gave pleasantly under her weight. She avoided looking at her mother, gazing out of the window instead. “I’ve never told you about my dreams. I didn’t want to worry you. I’ve been dreaming about him for as long as I can remember, Mama. They’ve been dreams about him growing up, playing with his brother and sister,” she said. “Fighting Demons,” she added. “It feels like he’s always there, in the back of my mind.”

  Raina’s eyes widened as her daughter talked. There had been some in her family who dreamed true. She’d never thought one of her children might have that gift, or curse, as the case might be. “Are they the same Demons that we’ve been fighting?” she asked.

  “Yes. I was afraid to tell you. I thought that my dreaming might be why they were attacking us,” she whispered.

  “Oh, Marta, no. That’s not what dreaming true does. It shows possible futures. At least that’s what I’ve been told. It’s a fearsome gift. I wish you had told me. My mother told me that it helps if you write the dreams down. She could dream true, too.” She sighed. “I’ll get you some paper or a book to write in.” She stood up and patted Marta on the shoulder. “Let me know if you have any more Dreams,” she said, capitalizing the word with her voice. “Come now. Let’s go down for mid-meal.”

  § § §

  Thomas rode back to the Keep with his patrol as the sun began to set. He tossed Heddwyn's reins to a groom as he dismounted. “Rub him down well and let him out with the others. He's done a good day’s work.” He gave the horse an affectionate slap on the neck as he turned to walk toward the kitchen entrance to the Keep.

  They had seen plenty of destruction of freeholds and Steadings as they patrolled, but no Demons. No one could answer the question of where they were hiding during the day. Thomas took the stairs two at a time into the kitchen.

  He grabbed a meat pie as he passed the table where they were cooling for the evening meal. “Good afternoon, Mistress Clara. These are great.” he told the temporary head cook as he took a bite.

  “Good afternoon, Thomas, I mean Lord Thomas,” she responded, blushing. They had grown up together and knew each other well. Clara had taken over the kitchen when Jalyn had been - removed. Things moved just as smoothly under her direction as they ever had under Jalyn and everyone was a lot more cheerful.

  “When will the new cook be chosen?” she asked hesitantly. “I’d really like to return to my duties as the pastry cook.”r />
  “I don’t know,” Thomas said. “I’ll check with Gregory and tell him you asked.”

  “Thank you, my Lord.”

  He strode through the room and into the great hall corridor. Gregory was hurrying down the hall and called to him. Thomas turned and noted the concerned look on his face. “What's wrong?” he asked.

  “Faolan Haloran and his family arrived. I've put them in the guest wing as you requested. You do realize that he was the Master Sergeant in charge of troops during the war, don't you?”

  “No, he only said that he'd served with Father in the war,” Thomas gulped. He was very glad that he'd been polite and sent them to the Tower. “I'd like to meet with him as soon as possible, if you think it wise.”

  “Oh, yes,” said Gregory. “They've been running and fighting for weeks and might have some answers to where the Demons go during the day and what may be controlling them. I'd suggest Lady Aeden and Captain Braden attend. The Library is probably the best place.”

  “Fine. Let's meet there in an hour. I need a bath and change of clothes. Have you seen Owen and Breanna? Oh, and Cameron and Evan. They should hear this as well.”

  “I'll send for them now,” Gregory said.

  An hour later, Thomas climbed the stairs to the Library.

  He could hear conversation as he approached. The Halorans were deep in discussion with Gregory, Lady Aeden and Thomas’s brother, sister and cousins about the running fight that had brought them to Red Dragon’s Keep. As he entered, they all stood.

  Embarrassed, Thomas waved them back to their seats at the large table that filled the center of the room. He walked to the chair at the head of the table and sat.

  “Good evening, everyone. What have I missed?”

  Faolan stood and introduced his family. “My Lord, this is Raina, my wife. These are my sons, Jaiman and Kevin, and you met Marta this morning,” he concluded with a half grin.

  Thomas nodded to each as they were named. His eyes lingered on Marta until he jerked them away.

  She refused to look at him.

  Faolan’s attitude changed and he shook his head wearily. “My Lord, we've been on the run for almost three weeks. We could only go as fast as the elderlies among us. It seemed like forever. We lost more than half of the holders who looked to us for protection. The Demons attacked almost every single day; at dusk, during the night and in the early morning.”