Dragon Blood 1: Pliethin (11 page)

The school bell rang. Students hurriedly gathered their books and rushed towards the door. Amber continued to sit. Even her teacher left without a backwards glance. Last class Friday. Who’d be crazy enough to sit in an empty classroom when the weekend was calling?

Amber dropped her head onto the book that was still open on her desk. Obviously she was. Three weeks she’d been stuck in Hicksville. Three long weeks. And the past week had been the worst. She couldn’t sleep, couldn’t focus in class and dreaded the training sessions Kade forced her to endure. He was determined to find out the exact extent of her abilities. He’d picked apart every word Ronan had spoken to her. He even had a friend researching Dragon Mages in the library of his clan. Actually, he called the person a cousin. But it didn’t mean the same as it would when she called someone cousin. It meant they were part of his clan. And that was why Maira called him cousin. She was from his clan. Brann was from another clan. Kade had chosen Brann at Maria’s request. They’d been together for over a year before Maira had joined Kade.

The scrape of a chair on the floor brought Amber’s head up. She watched as Kade sat at the desk next to her, his chair turned to face her. “I can’t do this anymore. I’m exhausted.”

“Come camping with us?”

Amber frowned. “What?”

“Tents, sleeping bags, campfire. What do you say?”

“No lessons?”

“No lessons.” Kade grinned. “Camping and hunting.”

“I’m not eating raw meat.”

Kade shrugged. “You can cook your kill if you want.”

“You expect me to catch my own food?”

Kade laughed. “No need to look so outraged.” He leaned close. “Let your panther out and see what she wants to do. A wild animal shouldn’t be caged all the time. They’ll try and break free if they are.”

Amber felt her skin tighten. Heat and energy rushed through her hands. The thought of hunting for her own meals was far more tempting than she liked. “I’ll ask my mum and see what she says. Don’t hold your breath though.”

“You’ll figure it out if you really want to go.” Kade rose to his feet, holding out his hand.

Amber took it, letting him pull her to her feet. She looked up at him, a shiver going through her at the expression on his face. His gaze was hotter than the fire she could hold in her hands. Amber draped her arms around his neck and smiled up at him in anticipation. She didn’t have long to wait.

Minutes passed before Kade pulled back to gaze down at her. His voice was husky. “Gather up your gear and I’ll give you a lift home. We’ll leave this arve if you can.”

“Okay. How are we getting there?”

Kade grinned. “Flying.”

“I’m not sitting in that harness for hours on end.”

“You won’t have to. I’ve got a surprise for you.”

Amber grabbed her books. “What?”

“You’ll have to wait and see.”

They walked towards the door. “That’s so unfair. You know I hate surprises.”

“No you don’t. You just hate having to wait for them.”

Amber slammed her bedroom door behind her. She locked it and looked towards her bed where she’d planned to sulk. Kade was lying in the middle, hands behind his head, waiting for her.

“When did you get in here?”

“About the time you screamed at your mother that she was unrealistic, wanted to lock you away in a nunnery and didn’t trust you.”

“Move over.” She dropped onto the bed next to him. “I told you she probably wouldn’t let me go.”

Kade leaned up on an elbow to stare down at her. “Are you going to let that stop you?”

“What are you saying?” Amber looked at him suspiciously. “Are you asking me to run away for the weekend?”

“What’s the worst she’s going to do?”

“Ground me for life.” Amber laughed. “As if that’s going to be much of a loss in this town.” She sat up. “Besides, I’ll be seventeen in a month and a half. Nearly an adult. I’m sick of her treating me like a kid.”

“Are you walking out the front door or sneaking out the balcony?”

Amber grabbed a small cloth backpack, threw a change of leather clothes in it, grabbed her toiletries, brush and a towel. “I’m not sure.” She paused and frowned. “I haven’t got a sleeping bag.”

“You can share mine.”

“Think again.”

Kade laughed. “We have a spare one you can use. Maira said they’d be out the front in about fifteen minutes. Is that fine or do you want her to park down the road?”

Finished packing, Amber stared at Kade thoughtfully. She smiled slightly and moved away to turn her laptop on.

“What are you thinking of?”

Amber shook her head. She quickly typed a message for Crystal, Angela and Jasper then emailed it. When Kade laughed, she looked up at him. “Will you stop reading my emails over my shoulder all the time?” She turned off the laptop and took it to the bathroom.

“Now what are you doing?”

“Hiding my laptop so she can’t take it off me.” She pointed to the manhole in the ceiling. “Do you think you can help me get it up there?”

“Hop on my shoulders.” Kade bent down.

Seated on Kade’s shoulders, Amber pushed the manhole cover aside and slid her laptop and power cord in to rest on the beams. She manoeuvred the cover back into place. As soon as she was on her feet again, Amber closed her eyes. She pictured her mother and grandmother in her mind and tried to figure out where they were. She thought her mother was in her bedroom, her grandmother in the kitchen. Not good. Not completely bad either.

“What are you doing?”

Amber opened her eyes. “I think my mum’s in her bedroom and Grandma is in the kitchen.”

“You can sense that?”

“Maybe. It might be wishful thinking. Well, not the part about Grandma in the kitchen.”

Kade grinned. “Maira’s pulling up out the front. Why don’t we go down and see?”

“You can go out the balcony. I’m not having them check on me in my room all the time. I’ll meet you out the front.” She handed her backpack to him and grabbed her handbag. “Come rescue me if I take too long?”

“Definitely.” He kissed her quickly then strode towards the French doors, disappearing behind the curtains.

Amber checked where her family were. Still in the same places. Maybe. She quietly opened her door and moved silently down the stairs. She wished there was another way out other than through the kitchen. Having both the front and back doors in the lounge room wasn’t the best idea. What if there was ever a fire in there? How were they meant to get out?

“Where do you think you’re going?” Helen demanded when Amber stepped into the kitchen.

“Camping.”

“Your mother told you no.”

“And I told her I was going.” Amber crossed the kitchen and paused in the lounge room doorway. “I’ll see you Sunday night.”

“Don’t you dare step out of this house!”

“See you, Grandma.” Behind her, Amber could hear Helen bellowing for her daughter. She smiled as she stepped outside and saw Kade holding the back door of the car open for her. Hurrying forward, she hopped in, looking out the back window as Maira pulled away from the curb. She watched as her mother ran to the edge of the footpath. Amber faced forward. The expression on her mother’s face did not indicate a good night Sunday. Taking her mobile phone from her handbag, she turned it off, ignoring Kade’s laughter.

When they pulled up in front of Kade’s home, Flinn came out to lean against a post of the verandah. He watched as they piled out of the car, glancing at the gear dumped on the floorboards near the front door.

“What are you planning?” Flinn gestured towards the gear.

“That hasn’t anything to do with you. I thought you were going away this weekend.” Kade stayed near the car, putting his arm around Amber.

Flinn’s eyes narrowed. “I think it’s time you found somewhere else to live. I don’t want to be dragged into anything if the wyverns get her.”

Kade shrugged. “You’re welcome to move out any time. And you might as well. There won’t be a Pliethin in this area for months.”

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? I will manage a year in one place without drawing undue attention to myself.” Flinn pushed away from the verandah post and strode towards them.

“Stay here,” Kade muttered with a glance at Amber. He moved forward to meet Flinn. “You’ll have the place to yourself this weekend.”

“What did the Pliethin do to you? And what did it do to her? And don’t tell me nothing otherwise there’s no reason for her to be wearing dragon-leather clothes.” Flinn stared at Amber over Kade’s shoulder.

“Stay out of my mind, Flinn. You won’t catch me unaware,” Kade said.

“Then answer me. What did the Pliethin do to her? She smells different.”

“Will you two knock it off? I don’t want to be setting up camp in the dark.” Maira stepped between them. “Get your gear, Kade.”

When Kade stepped back, Flinn laughed mockingly. “If you keep taking orders from your warriors you won’t get anywhere. I told you a reject wasn’t going to help you get ahead.”

“And yet which one of us held the Pliethin?” Kade strode past Flinn and onto the verandah where he grabbed his gear.

“You’ve still got to manage a year without drawing excess attention to yourself. You’re not gonna make it. With the risks you take it won’t be a Knight who discovers you. It’ll be a human who doesn’t even know dragons exist.”

“Leave him be, Flinn,” Maira snapped.

Flinn faced Maira. “Stay out of my business.”

“Then stay out of mine.” Maira strode back to Amber’s side, taking her arm. “Let’s go. The company around this place sucks.”

“Don’t think about it,” Kade warned Flinn.

“Then discipline your people when they deserve it. Just remember, your warriors are dispensable. No one would care if they disappeared. And unless you’re planning on living as a renegade, no one will tolerate their behaviour.”

Kade ignored Flinn, striding to the middle of the yard where Maira had taken Amber. Brann joined him and they both turned into dragons. Maira strapped the gear onto Brann and a leather saddle on Kade.

Amber stared at the saddle. “I guess that’s my surprise.” She sent a daggered look towards Flinn for having ruined the moment.

“Answer me, Kade! I know you can hear my thoughts.” Flinn strode across the yard.

“Ignore him,” Maira muttered to Amber. “Get in the saddle and let’s get out of here.” When Amber was in the saddle, Maira showed her how to strap herself in.

“Kade!” Flinn roared.

“Are you right up there?” Maira looked up at her.

Amber nodded, sending a cautious glance towards Flinn who came closer. Her legs automatically tightened as Kade leapt into the air, his wings snapping out. Maira and Brann followed them. Flinn bellowed in anger and threw himself at them, becoming a dragon as he did.

Amber didn’t think. She reacted. Two balls of flame arrowed towards Flinn, impacting with his chest. He spiralled towards the ground, managing to get his wings pumping again at the last second. He streaked after them.

“You idiot!”
Kade yelled at Amber.

“He attacked first. You’re the one who’s been making me practice.”

“Car coming this way,”
Maira broadcast the words.

“My mum,” Amber muttered when she spotted the car. They rose higher.

“Tell me how you did it. What is she?”
Flinn broadcasted as he followed.

“None of your business.”

“Then I’ll let the Elders know.”

“Kade-”

“It’s an empty threat, Amber. He doesn’t want anyone else to have the knowledge.”
Kade flew even higher.

“There’s other things I can do to make your life difficult.”
Flinn flew beside them.
“Let’s start with what I’ll have my people tell your mother. She’s knocking on the front door now.”

Amber started to protest. She reined in her words at the last second.
“It doesn’t matter, I’m grounded for life anyway. And it’s not going to make me talk.”

“Name your price,”
Flinn ordered.

Amber laughed. Less than a month ago she’d been mildly popular. Now she had people throwing riches at her feet and giving her open ended offers, hounding her like she was some sort of celebrity. This wasn’t her life.
“Get over it. You haven’t got anything I want.”

“What about your mother? My people can ransom her back to you.”

She battled the anger that rushed through her. They better not touch her mother.
“Guess that’ll mean you won’t be able to stay here for a year either. What happens if you fail, Flinn?”

“Amber, quit tormenting him.”

“But it’s so much fun.”
Amber made herself laugh, trying to ignore the anger that bubbled under the surface. Her laugh turned into a squeal as Kade tilted sharply to the right. “Behave.” She slapped her palm against his scales.

“Leave us alone, Flinn. We’ll be back Sunday night.”
Kade righted himself.
“I’ll discuss it then. Providing you leave Amber’s mother alone and tell her nothing.”

“I’ll expect the truth or I’m taking this to the Elders.”

“You should know by now that threats don’t work with me. They only make me more determined,”
Kade warned.

Flinn didn’t bother answering. He turned in mid-flight and headed back towards the house.

Amber ran her hand lightly over the spot she’d hit.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to let him know.”
She sent her thoughts to Kade only.

“I know. We’ve got a couple of days to figure out how to deal with this. Forget it for now. How about we enjoy this camping trip?”

“We better since I’m going to be grounded for the rest of my life. I hope it’s going to be worth it.”

“Human parents are very limiting.”

“You have no idea.”
Amber looked around her, surprised to find they were above a river.
“Where are we going?”

“Somewhere secluded.”

Amber took sunglasses from her backpack style handbag and slipped them on. The wind was making her eyes water. She looked at her phone. It took a few minutes for her to decide. Turning it on, she rang her brother’s mobile phone the moment she saw she had coverage.

“What do you think you’re doing? Dad and Mum are yelling at each other.”

Like that was anything new. Not! “I need to get away for the weekend. Do you think you can convince them not to ground me for life?”

Jasper laughed sharply. “You’ve got to be kidding. They’ll lock you up and throw away the key. They said you aren’t to see those kids you’ve been hanging out with lately.”

“They lied to me. They got me to move to Grandma’s place under false pretences. I hate living there.” She still couldn’t believe her parents had done that to her.

“So? That doesn’t mean you can take off for the weekend. Where are you going? Who are you with and what are you doing?”

“Oh stop it. You’re starting to sound like Mum.”

“Yeah, well I’ve had to listen to them yell since you took off.”

“It hasn’t been that long.”

“More than ten minutes would have been too long. And Dad had the phone on speaker since she was too loud to have the phone to his ear. You don’t know these kids. You’re mad taking off into the bush with them.”

“Probably.”

“I know I complain about having a sister sometimes, but I don’t want you to do something about my complaints.”

Amber laughed. “I’m not suicidal if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Reckless can be just as bad.”

“Jay-”

“Forget this trip and come home. I bet I could talk them into reducing the sentence if you did.”

“No.”

“Amber, don’t be-”

“You call me stupid one more time and I’m going to email you the worst virus I can find.”

“What did you expect me to say when you rang?”

“I wanted to know what was happening.”

“Mum was talking about calling the cops.”

“No!” She didn’t want their weekend to ruin Kade’s need to keep a low profile and risk him being discovered.

“Dad talked her out of it. He said there wasn’t much they could do since you went of your own free will. You did, didn’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Dad wants to talk to you.”

“He’s with you?”

“He is now.”

“Tell him I hate being lied to. And I’m not staying in Hicksville for the rest of my life and I’ll have who I want for my friends. I’m not spending the rest of my life grounded. I’m nearly seventeen.”

“I don’t think those comments are what they’re wanting to hear.”

“Amber!”

She cringed at the tone of her father’s voice. “Yeah?”

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Going camping.”

“What brought all this on?”

“At least I didn’t lie to you about it. I could have easily put together an elaborate plan to make you think I was somewhere more acceptable for the weekend.” The silence dragged out and Amber was tempted to fill it. She managed to control herself. It was one of her father’s favourite techniques.

“Your mother says you’re getting more unmanageable lately.”

“How about I’m getting sick of being lied to.”

“We knew you wouldn’t have moved if it was to be longer than a school term.”

“And that makes it right? How many times have you lectured me about telling the truth? And yet it’s fine for both of you to lie to me? What were you going to do? Wait until the end of term and then tell me?”

“You mother’s on the home line. She wants to ring you.”

“I don’t want to talk to her yet. You can tell her I’ll stay at Grandma’s for the rest of the year without complaint if I can hang out with who I want, go wherever I want and come home when I want. I’ll even make sure I keep up with my schoolwork. I’ll give her destination and ETA. But if you expect me to be stuck in that town, there’s got to be some sort of compensation.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Amber.”

“I’m not. That’s my terms and they’re not negotiable.” The phone crackled. “Sounds like I’m about to lose coverage. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Amber, if you come home now, we’ll sit down and discuss these issues-” The phone call dropped out.

Amber sighed heavily, turned her phone off and put it away. She was torn. She wanted to return home. To get back to her normal life. But that’d mean leaving Kade, Maira and Brann. She rested her palm against the scales on Kade’s back, spreading out her fingers so she could touch as many of them as possible.

“Are you okay?”

She placed her other hand flat against his scales before she answered him.
“I guess.”

“Not bothered by the height?”

“Nah.”

“Going too fast for you?”

“Fast? This turtle pace?”

“Any loose objects?”

“All secure. Why?”

“See the loops at the front of the saddle?”

Amber looked down. She ran her fingers over the two braided pieces of leather attached on either side of the front of the saddle.
“Yep.”

“Put your arms through them and lean against me.”

“Why?”
Amber did as she was directed.

“I’ll show you turtle pace!”
Kade shot forward, spiralling as he did.

Amber’s scream turned into laughter.
“Turtle!”

Kade roared and sped up. Maira and Brann were left behind.

Amber threw her head back, wishing she could sit up, arms outstretched like she did on a roller coaster. “Yes!” The ground below them was a blur. The wind rushed at her and tangled her hair so it streamed behind her. The hair band that held it snapped. Amber laughed again, giving herself over to sensation, ignoring all her problems.

At dusk Kade landed in a clearing near a creek. Amber helped him out of the saddle and he became human again. Dropping her handbag onto his saddle, she turned to face him. She couldn’t stop grinning.

“Liked that ride, did you?” Kade grinned back at her.

“A saddle is much better than a harness.”

“Because it keeps your hands free when we’re not going fast?”

Amber groaned. “I apologised about the fireballs.”

“Don’t worry about it. At least it answered a question I had.”

“Why would I need to throw fireballs while I’m on you?” Amber’s eyes narrowed as she recalled Ronan’s questions. “Is your clan going to war?”

“There’s always someone at war. I was mainly thinking about wyverns, as well as Ronan and his people.”

“But it doesn’t help. The fireballs don’t stop them. Well, they scared off the wyvern that was on its own.”

“You have to aim for the wings.”

“They move heaps! How am I meant to hit them?”

“Only do that if you want to cause long-term damage.”

“The wings.”

Kade nodded. “Yeah. The membranes between the veins can catch fire. A bit like if someone threw fire at your hair. It takes a while for them to grow back.”

Amber’s hand went automatically to her hair that was full of tangles from the wind. “What if they’re airborne? Like really high.”

“What do you think?”

“They’d die?” Amber’s voice was a whisper.

Kade nodded.

“You want me to kill?”

“No need to shriek.”

“You want me to kill!”

“Survival of the fittest. If it’s between you and Ronan surviving, who would you choose?”

“He wouldn’t kill me. He needs me alive for his schemes.”

“What if it was between me and Ronan? He has no reason to keep me alive.”

Amber’s mouth dried and she stepped forward, a hand reaching out to rest on Kade’s bare chest. “He’s not killing you. I definitely wouldn’t help him then.”

Maira and Brann landed near them. Maira became human and unloaded the gear off Brann. “Thanks for sticking around.”

Amber laughed at Maira’s dry tone. “He was showing off because I called him a turtle.”

Maira rolled her eyes. “Males.” She snorted. “Males with egos!”

Brann changed into a human the moment the last of the gear was off him. “He has an unfair advantage. I don’t have any Gold in my bloodlines. I bet you wouldn’t do so well against your blood brother.”

“Blood brother?” Amber asked.

Kade smiled. “Same as the meaning of brother for you.”

“You have siblings?”

“You don’t think my parents have produced only one offspring in the past century, do you?”

“Century.”

Kade laughed. “No need to look so shocked. You already knew we lived for a long time.”

“But they’re still having kids. They’re ancient and they’re still having kids.”

Kade turned to Maira and Brann. “Set up camp. We’re taking a walk.” He took Amber’s hand and led her to the creek, following it upstream.

“Why do I feel like I’m not going to like what you’ve got to say?”

“Have you ever thought about why there are so many stories about Knights hunting dragons?”

Amber stopped abruptly. “They aren’t myths?”

“Do I look like a myth?”

“Yes but… I mean the stories… knights and…” Amber shook her head. “Why did they?”

“Dragon blood was called the elixir of life.”

“The… no!” She took a step back from Kade. She’d consumed the elixir of life? What the hell did that mean for her?

Kade reached out to her. “Amber, I’m s-”

She pushed his hand away. “No! I don’t want to hear it. All I want you to say is, ‘I’ve found a way to fix the problem.’ You can keep all your sorry comments to yourself.”

“I don’t believe this problem can be fixed. The changes Pliethins cause in Gold Dragons are permanent.”

“You never told me what changes it causes in dragons.”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Fine! Then I don’t have to tell you anything.” Amber turned and started back for the camp. She didn’t know whether to be glad or annoyed she could see in the dark so she didn’t stumble over anything on the way back. Being able to see in the dark didn’t change the fact that she wasn’t human anymore. She didn’t know what she was.

Kade put his hand on her shoulder and tried to get her to face him. She shrugged him away. “Amber, be reasonable.”

“No. You aren’t, so why should I? You’re full of secrets. You hint at things and leave me wondering. Well, you can see exactly what it feels like to put up with that.”

“We’ll see if you feel the same way if my cousin comes across any information.”

Anger coursed through Amber. Her hands became fists. “Ronan would be willing to answer any question I ask him.”

Kade grasped her by the shoulders, refusing to let her shrug him off. He forced her to face him. “You will stay away from him.”

“I’m not one of your people.”

“I wouldn’t have been stupid enough to choose you.”

Amber refused to let him see how those words hurt. She tried to pull away from him. He held her too tight. She did the only thing possible. She became a panther, leaping away from him, streaking through the bush, ignoring the direction of camp. In this form she could easily find her way back. She sensed Kade behind her, trying to force her to listen to his thoughts. She pushed his mind away, running faster.

The ground was a blur, made of places to step and places to avoid. Gum trees and shrubs rushed past her in the dark. Scents bombarded her. Tantalising scents as the night brought out the creatures that avoided the heat of the day. Suddenly Kade was above her, skimming as low as possible through the trees. Ahead was open ground. Amber veered off, aiming for thicker scrub. As she did, a startled hare leapt out in front of her.

Instinct took over and she pounced. The hare was caught mid-stride and her momentum carried her forward. She came to a stop, dropping the limp body onto the ground. Hunching over her kill, her senses were alert for any who’d steal it.

“Amber.” Kade walked slowly towards her, hands held open in a gesture of peace. He stopped when she growled. “Equal exchange of information.”

Amber shook her head and growled.

“What do you want then?” Kade took another step forward.

Amber crouched, ready to spring forward.

“Run!”
Maira’s words screamed through their minds. An image of Brann pinned on the ground, while Ronan stood over him, followed the words. One of the people holding Brann down struggled to put grey metal chains on him.

Amber snarled, leaping past Kade. She raced for the campsite, the hare left bleeding on the ground. Kade flew after her.

“Amber! No! Don’t go back there. You can’t help them. Stop!”

All she could think of were the words Flinn had spoken earlier. ‘Warriors are dispensable.’ Kade hadn’t corrected him. Well they weren’t. She wasn’t letting them be harmed because she could throw some stupid fireballs.

“Amber, I know you’re in the area,”
Ronan broadcast.

She slowed as she came close to the camp.

Kade dropped down ahead of her, becoming human. “Don’t do this. We’ll get them back.”