Dragon Redeemed Read online

  “Edith,” Lleland said. “How are you doing?”

  “Wonderful.” Her gaze swept to Xavier, and she studied him for a long moment. “So you’ve finally brought him home.”

  “Edith, this is Xavier,” Lleland said.

  “Xavier, I’m so glad I finally got to meet you. I’m very cross with my brother that it has taken him this long to bring you to us.”

  “Shush, Ma,” Robin said, taking her arm and helping her back into her seat. “It’s hardly his fault, and Uncle Lleland has already explained why he couldn’t bring Zave sooner.”

  Edith patted his hand. “I know. Bella, fetch us some refreshments, dear.”

  A look of rebellion crossed Bella’s face and for a moment Xavier thought she was going to argue, but she dropped her gaze to the floor. “Yes, Mama.”

  “And let Suzanna know we have visitors.” She gestured towards the chairs. “Please, sit.”

  Xavier took the seat indicated and looked up to see Robin watching him closely. “Are your family as terrible as you expected?”

  Xavier snorted back a laugh at the unexpected question. “I haven’t decided yet.”

  “So, Xavier, how are you enjoying your first visit to the city?” Edith asked as Bella returned to the room with a tray of cups and a flagon of wine. She was followed by another woman, and Edith glanced her way. “Ah, Suzanna, this is your cousin.”

  Xavier rose and gave her a slight bow as she smiled at him. She was older than her siblings, with thick brown hair that framed a rosy, plump face. She wore a sensible gown of gray, and Xavier could see that the seams were straining slightly around her waist. Her blue eyes twinkled as she regarded him. “Hello, cousin. Mother was despairing that she was ever going to meet you, yet here you are.”

  “Xavier was just about to tell us what he thinks of the city,” Edith said, waving her daughter towards a chair. She turned to Lydia. “Suzanna just returned home after losing her post with that fancy family she was with.”

  “You make it sound as though I did something wrong,” Suzanna said with a smile. “My charge was all grown up and no longer needed a governess. It is a bit of a relief, really. As much as I loved him, he’d reached that age where he was interested in things I had no knowledge about.”

  “Surely not!” Robin said teasingly.

  She turned to him with a laugh. “Oh, yes. He’d become very interested in warfare, always telling me about this weapon or that technique. Even as I was packing my belongings, he was prattling on about some weapon he’d read about that was more deadly than anything ever invented. It could burn through any material on earth, even water! I forget the name of it now.”

  “Greek fire?” Xavier said.

  “Yes! That’s it! He went on and on about how nothing could withstand its heat. Now what do I know about such things?”

  “What, indeed?” said Robin.

  “Will you look for another position?” Lydia asked.

  “Oh, yes, there is nothing for me to do here.”

  “What about finding a husband?” Edith said.

  “Phew! I think it’s a bit much to think a woman over thirty years will attract a husband, Mother!”

  “Life has a funny way of giving us what we least expect, Suzanna,” Lleland said, with a smile in Lydia’s direction.

  “How did you and Aunty meet, Uncle Lleland?” Bella asked.

  “I went to the mountains to hunt dragons, and found an angel instead.”

  “That’s not quite how I remember it,” Lydia said. “The fact of the matter is, your uncle took his sweet time deciding he wanted to be with me. I think he was quite scared of me, at first.” Lleland, in the process of taking a sip of wine, spluttered out his mouthful with a cough as Xavier watched in amusement. Lydia leaned closer to Bella and dropped her voice. “It’s a good thing when a man is a little afraid of his wife – it helps to keep him in line.”

  “What I want to know,” Edith said, “is how the two of you managed to retain so much of your youth. You barely look any older than the day you left.”

  “It’s the mountain air, Edith,” Lleland said. “The temperatures cool the blood, slowing the aging process.”

  “Really? The mountain air, eh?”

  “And the spring water,” Lydia added. “The water is purer and cleaner than anything you can find around the city.”

  Edith sighed. “I don’t suppose it would make one younger, would it?” she said wistfully.

  Lydia took Edith’s hands in her own. “I’m afraid not. But you’ve had a good life here in the city. We are very isolated, which I’m sure you would not enjoy.”

  Edith’s gaze wandered to Xavier. “No, I suppose not.”

  “So, Xavier, what are you doing to pass your time while you’re in the city?” Robin asked.

  “I saw some of the sights yesterday,” Xavier said.

  “Pfft! The sights are for pilgrims and foreigners. Come with me and I’ll show you the real city.”

  “Gaming halls and bear pits?” Suzanna interposed.

  “A woman is not privy to a man’s secret world, Sue,” Robin said, throwing a grin at his sister. He turned back to Xavier. “Are you game?”

  “Very well,” he replied, curious to see where this newfound cousin would take him. He accepted another glass of wine, and leaned back in his chair as Edith launched into a tale about her sailor son.

  Chapter 7

  Lleland, Lydia and Xavier remained with Edith until Alan, Edith’s husband, returned home a short time before supper. As a wine merchant he ran his business from the ground floor, importing wine from around the world and selling it to discerning buyers including, Edith informed them with a happy smile, the king and his courtiers. Xavier learned that Robin worked with his father in the city, while his older brother traveled abroad, searching for wines worth importing.

  Supper was announced, and Alan helped Edith to the hall below, his arm around her waist to hold her steady. Xavier overheard his anxious questioning about whether she was well enough to venture downstairs, but she laughed away his concern.

  “When will I get the chance to enjoy a meal with my nephew again?” was her whispered response.

  Xavier was surprised at the emotion her words aroused. It was clear that Edith was unwell – he had smelled the sickness on her from the moment he stepped into her presence – but he had no experience of such human frailties. Even his great-grandfather Richard was as strong and healthy as an ox.

  Xavier took a seat at the table beside Robin. “This hall’s mainly used for wine-tasting these days,” Robin said. “Mother finds the stairs difficult.” He glanced at where she sat at the other end of the table and lowered his voice. “The doctor says she only has months.”

  “I’m sorry.” Xavier looked up to see Lleland’s gaze on him, his expression sad. Dragon blood could easily heal her, but dragon law forbade it.

  “Remember the days you used to supply our table with meat, Lleland,” Edith said with a smile of reminiscence as the first course was brought to the table.

  “That was a long time ago. I haven’t picked up a bow for many years.”

  “You don’t hunt anymore?” Her eyes widened in surprise. “But you enjoyed it so much.”

  “Unfortunately, other matters keep me too busy to pursue the sport.”

  “You mean all that traveling Master Drake has you do?”

  “Yes,” Lleland said. “We’re seldom home, and when we are, there are always things to be done.”

  “I’ve never quite understood what it is you do when you’re traveling,” Alan said.

  “Aaron Drake has many business interests spread throughout many countries.”

  “But what exactly does he do?” Alan persisted.

  “Well, his interests are quite varied. But you know that if you’re ever looking for a silent partner, I’m sure he’d be interested. After all, you run a very successful business, selling only the finest quality product.”

  “Well, I’m honored,” Alan said,
sitting a little taller. “At the moment things are going well, but I’ll keep it in mind if I ever decide to expand.”

  Lleland turned to Suzanna. “Were you sorry to say goodbye to your charge?”

  She smiled. “He’s ready to launch himself into the world, and has no need of me. Of course I miss the lovely house and rambling gardens, but I’m ready to make a change.”

  “You’re looking for another position?”

  “Yes. I’ve already sent a few letters, but nothing has come about yet.”

  The rest of the meal was passed in pleasant conversation, and Lleland and Lydia left a short while later. Xavier expected that he and Robin would leave soon after, and was surprised when Robin agreed to play games with his sisters. A pack of cards was produced, and Xavier examined them with interest. Painted on thin board, some of the cards were painted with the image of a king or queen, while others depicted various symbols – a heart, pike, clover or tile, painted in red or black.

  “I heard the game originated in the Orient,” Suzanna explained. “Have you ever played?”

  “No.”

  “We’ll teach you,” Bella said enthusiastically. “It’s so much fun!”

  Xavier watched as Robin dealt the cards, explaining the rules as he did so. It was not difficult, and the next few hours passed by quickly as each of the four players set out to become the champion. After Edith ordered Bella to bed, still Robin lingered, offering Xavier another glass of wine; until finally, long after the late summer sun had given way to night, Robin said goodnight to his parents and led Xavier from the house.

  “Where are we going?” Xavier asked as they made their way along dingy alleys and across narrow lanes.

  “You’ll see soon enough,” Robin replied. “I was surprised to hear your father no longer hunts,” he said as they skirted around a pile of refuse stacked against an alley wall. Rats ran eagerly over the pile, and Xavier frowned in distaste.

  “Why?”

  “Sue was just a toddler when our uncle left the city, but my older brothers both have vague memories of him. They liked to play with his weapons, although Joshua says that even together they could not pull the bow more than an inch. And when Grandmother was still alive, she reminded us every Sunday how Lleland would provide meat for the table. In my mind, the image of Uncle was not complete without a bow.”

  “I’ve seldom seen him with a bow.”

  “Father told me he used to hunt dragons. He said Uncle Lleland hated all dragons after Grandfather was killed. It’s why he began training with a bow in the first place. With all the rumors about a possible dragon attack, it could be a useful skill to have.”

  “He gave up dragon hunting before I was born.”

  “What about you? Do you hunt dragons? I’ve heard there are dragon lairs deep in the Northern Mountains.”

  “There are,” Xavier said cautiously. “But I’d never hunt a dragon.”

  Robin cast him a shrewd look. “What about the dragon that killed Grandfather?”

  “Ah, well, that dragon’s dead. And there hasn’t been another like him since.”

  “Killed by the renowned Aaron Drake. When I was a child it gave me great pleasure to tell my friends I was related to the famous dragon-slayer.”

  “And now?”

  Robin smiled wryly. “Now, my friends want proof, and since I have never actually met Aaron Drake, despite his association with my family, it’s not such an easy tale to tell.”

  “I’m sure we can arrange a meeting, if you wish. I imagine Grandfather would be happy to meet Lleland’s nephew.”

  “Well, if you don’t think he would mind, then I’d be honored to meet him.” Robin turned down a dark alley, only a few feet wide, and stopped outside a small wooden door. Garbage lay on the ground around the threshold and mold grew in the cracks at the base of the wall. Muffled sounds from beneath his feet reached Xavier’s dragon-sharp ears, and he wondered to what manner of place his cousin had brought him. Robin gave three hard raps, paused, followed by another three raps, and the door was opened an inch as a pair of beady eyes peered through the crack. It was opened more widely a moment later by a short, stocky man who regarded the two men intently before waving in silence for them to enter. A narrow flight of stairs led immediately downward, and Xavier followed Robin down the well-worn stone risers, curious about the den his cousin was leading him into. The noise grew louder as they descended deeper into the earth, until they stepped around a corner into a huge, dank hall, rife with the smells of sweat, ale and stinking herbs that wafted smoke across the room. Xavier sent Robin a wide-eyed glance.

  “This, cousin, is the beating heart of the city,” Robin said, his amusement evident.

  Xavier took a moment to examine his surroundings. Tables and chairs were spread throughout the dungeon, and in the dark-shadowed corners both highborn and low whispered amongst themselves. At some of the tables women draped themselves over the male clientele, their gowns cut so low that Xavier could not help noticing the blushing peaks that peeked from beneath the fabric. More women sashayed around the room with trays of drinks, and when one walked past Xavier and trailed a finger over his chest, he quickly stepped back.

  “Not interested, Zave?” Robin asked.

  “Nope,” Xavier replied.

  “Well, we’re not here for the women,” Robin said, pointing with his chin to the center of the room, where a raised platform stood, surrounded by ropes. It was empty, but the tables closest to the platform had been positioned to give a view of whatever happened on the stage.

  “What is it?” Xavier asked.

  “A fighting ring. The men above ground use swords and bows to fight, but down here we use our fists.”

  “You fight bare-handed?” Xavier asked in surprise.

  “Aye.”

  The only light in the cavernous room was directly above the ring – a chandelier that burned with hundreds of tallow candles, adding to the malodorous stench. A huge sheet had been strung beneath the chandelier, preventing the drippings from reaching the patrons seated below.

  “Come,” Robin said, leading Xavier through the tables. Someone called out his name and he nodded in acknowledgment before taking a seat at a table only a few feet from the ring. He caught one of the women by the hand and ordered two drinks, smiling when she demanded a kiss. He wrapped his hand around the nape of her neck, but only gave her a light brush on the cheek before pushing her away. The woman scowled, but Robin ignored her.

  “How does this work?” Xavier asked.

  “The ring master will be out shortly to start the evening. Anyone can fight, and those men” – he nodded towards the figures crouched in the shadows – “take the bets.”

  “Hmm.” The woman returned with the ale, pouting when neither of the men gave her no more than a glance, before stalking away. “Do you plan to fight tonight?”

  Robin lifted an eyebrow. “It depends on the competition. Want to challenge me, coz?”

  “I wouldn’t want to injure you,” Xavier replied with a smirk.

  “Think you can best me?”

  “Without a doubt.”

  “You’ve thrown down the gauntlet now, Zave. You have no choice but to prove your boast.”

  “Will my aunt be upset with me if I return you with a few broken bones.”

  Robin laughed. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

  A man climbed onto the platform, and the room fell silent. “The games will begin,” the man shouted. “Who steps forward?”

  Xavier watched as a young man, no more than seventeen by his reckoning, rose and stripped off his tunic. “I’ll get things rolling,” he said as a few of the spectators laughed.

  “Aye, you’ll be the one rolling,” someone shouted from the back.

  The youth grinned, but his smile faded slightly as his competitor stepped forward. Broad shouldered, he towered over the lad; the fact that he already sported a split lip and black eye did not seem to reassure his opponent.

  “Take your places
, men,” the ringmaster shouted, and the match was on.

  Xavier watched as they weaved around each other, holding their fists close to their faces, before punching and jabbing. The youth remained on his feet longer than he expected, and Xavier was sorry when he finally crashed to the ground, out cold.

  Drinks were passed around and coins exchanged hands before the ringmaster stepped out and called for more competitors. After the first ale had been downed, Xavier noticed that Robin nursed his drink, sipping only occasionally. Strong drink had little effect on Xavier – there was no time for the alcohol to weave through his system before it burned to nothing. Still, careful not to arouse Robin’s suspicions, he slowed his own drinking as well. As the rounds progressed the fighters became more skilled, watching their opponents carefully as they analyzed their strengths and weaknesses. The rounds grew longer, the biddings rose and the crowds became more eager.

  More than two hours had passed when Robin placed his tankard on the table and turned to Xavier. “Still think you can best me?” he said.

  “Still eager to be beaten?” Xavier countered.

  “You have no experience.”

  “I’m a fast learner.”

  A slow smile spread across Robin’s face. “The next round, then.”

  Xavier raised his cup. “The next round.”

  They watched as the men in the ring continued to dance around each other, until one of the fighters sneaked in a throw that landed on the other man’s chin, snapping back his head as he crashed to the floor. Once it was ascertained that the man was still alive, he was dragged from the ring.

  “Ready?” Robin asked as he rose and stripped off his tunic.

  “Yes,” Xavier replied, following suit.

  They rolled their shoulders as the financial transactions were completed, and the ringmaster beckoned them forward. “Names?”

  “Rat,” Robin replied. Xavier looked at him askance, and Robin shrugged. “I was small and wiry as a rat when I first started fighting, and the name stuck.”

  “You?” the ringmaster said, lifting an eyebrow in Xavier’s direction.

  “Dragon,” he replied, voicing the first name that came to mind.