Hatchling (Tameron and the Dragon) (35 page)

The food came. He was glad to see that his tray was accompanied by a large cup of clear water that tasted as pure as if it had come from the Guardian's heart.

His father smiled as Tameron eagerly drank it. "The food's a little spicy tonight, since you're eating what I usually do," he said. "And you can see for yourself there's nothing wrong with what you're drinking tonight. But no matter what you've heard about the Red Cup, you don't need to be afraid of it. I had to use it when I was nearly as young as you, and it didn't turn me into a monster. Oh, I know all the rumors! But you've had a little of that potion already. When you were so ill, you had small doses of it each day to lend you strength. If it didn't hurt you then, you need not fear it now."

He
gaped in astonishment. "But...wasn't that what the Bog Butcher used?"

"Yes, but he used it in amounts that would drive anyone mad. In th
e dose someone like you would have, it would only bring out what was already inside. And I know you long for her. When you held her close the other night, she had no doubt of that!"

Tam's face went hot when he remembered how his body had reacted to her warmth and grace. Then he went cold with terror when he recalled the dreams he'd had about her.
A good thing my cup has only water in it. How can I tell him what kind of beast I have inside me?

The Protector stood up as soon as both plates were empty. "I have other duties tonight. Oh, Tam, I wish it didn't have to be like this! I know what it's like to carry the weight of the world, but I'd hoped you wouldn't have to, at least not so young. Just talk to Kiliane, and remember that you are helping all of Fiallyn Mor when you do what I ask."

Tameron rose and bowed in respect. He was so confused. Part of him wanted to run as fast and as far away as he could, while another gloried in all the possibilities of the future his father had mapped out for him. What was he supposed to do?

Then the door shut behind his father with a solid sound, and he was on the wrong side of it.
A
guard in the hallway spoke through the keyhole, saying he had orders for Tameron to stay there until his father returned.

He paced around the room, searching for possible exits. Out of curiosity, he picked up the cover on the cup on the mantel over the hearth. It had wine in it, wine with a suspiciously familiar smell. Apparently the Protector had been right about the potion that had given him much-needed strength last fall. He quickly covered it back up and walked away from it. It was a temptation to drink it, and let all blame for whatever happened fall on the drug inside.
But I would be the one who drank knowing what it was.

Tam checked the windows. They were locked with a mechanism he didn't recognize or understand, probably keyed only to magic. Magic he didn't have. He wiped sweat off his forehead.
How am I going to escape?
He tried breaking the glass, but his sword didn't chip it.

He stared at the small door on the other side of the room, the door he'd been ignoring all along. That was the only path that lay open to him. With any luck he'd be able to avoid Kiliane and the temptation he felt to fulfill his father's command.

He trembled, the way he had when he'd been in the barn with Marysa.
Why am I so nervous? It's not like I mean to do her harm even if I can't avoid seeing her. I'm awake now, not asleep. I won't act the way I did in my dreams!

Tameron opened the door and walked down a dimly lit hall. Why was it so hot in here? He knew his father liked it warmer than most people, but this was ridiculous.

He reached the end and pulled aside the bulky curtain that covered the entrance to the next room. It was darker here than in the passageway, while the air was thick with moisture. The sound of water softly falling reached his ears.

Then his eyes adjusted to the scene as he stepped all the way into the chamber. A pool illuminated by floating, flickering lights dominated one half of the large room, but he barely noticed it after catching sight of Kiliane curled up on the bed several yards away. Her long, dark hair streamed out over her body, though it appeared she wore no other clothing. The wrinkled mattress-cover showed where she'd tried to pull it up to provide some concealment.

Though she was turned away, it was easy for him to imagine what she must look like, and he suddenly burned with desire for her. He stepped forward, longing to have that silken skin next to his own.
I just want to talk to her.

He must have made some noise, as she sat up and stared at him. Tam nearly stopped breathing as he looked at her naked breasts. They were smaller than Marysa's, but just as beautiful. His throat went dry imagining how they'd feel in his hands.

"So here you are," she said in a husky voice. "I suppose it's what I deserve for daring to argue against our beloved Protector. Well, let's get it over with. They've made me ready to accept anyone, even the lowliest peasant, in my bed."

It didn't matter. He longed for her more than ever, no matter what she said to him.
Wait a moment. I know she hasn't really changed her mind. Why doesn't that bother me the way it did before?
"The Red Cup?" he asked, surprised he could still speak.

"Oh, yes. They bound me here with glasscloth and let me look at all that water till I was thirsty enough." A tear rolled down her cheek.

He breathed deeply, trying to overcome the impulse to strip off his clothing and join her on the bed. He noticed that her hands were free, and the window on the other side of the room looked like his own.
Does she really want to get away, or does she secretly want me, but is afraid to tell Mauric?
"No one's keeping you here now. That window will open, I think.”

"Out into that weather, with nothing to wear?" she cried. "I can't even keep myself warm with magic tonight. Your father doesn't trust me! I can't even light a candle now!"

He was immediately ashamed of himself, though it didn't diminish the lust he felt for her. "I only had plain water at dinner tonight," he said, thinking out loud. "But the food was spicier than usual..."

"That's right," she said, "blame
that
for whatever you do! I'm not strong enough to fight you off anyway."

"But I pushed you away before," he argued.
Did he have the strength to do it again tonight?

"Only because it was the wrong time and place. Now you have your father's command to justify you," she sneered.

Tameron gritted his teeth before he got too close to her. Even now he could smell her musky perfume, a scent that drove him to aching like he never had before.
Why do I feel like this? Even when I wanted Marysa so much, I thought I would die of it if I couldn't have her, I could stop. Even when I dreamed I killed Jarrett or Mauric to have a woman, I knew it was still only a dream. Oh, if only I could just touch her, lie next to her, maybe that would be all I needed...

He began taking first
one step, and another, towards Kiliane despite knowing it was wrong. "I won't hurt you," he whispered. Nothing mattered any more, nothing but being close to her soft, warm flesh. Part of him screamed a warning, but he couldn't listen.

Her shoulders slumped, and she bowed her head as he
stepped closer. The flickering light on her breasts and slim thighs entranced him. His father's words,
'let all the blame fall on me'
and the way he felt drowned out his conscience. "All I want is to love you, Kiliane," he said in a whisper. "Why is that so wrong? This is the only Festival I will ever have before they lock me away forever..."

For a moment she looked up, sympathy in her eyes. Then she laughed harshly. "Yes, I've heard. A hard life for a man, having a new woman every month! I'm sure everyone will pity you!" She lay down and opened her arms. "Oh, what's the
use! You'll do what you want anyway!"

Anger briefly surged within him,
and added to the desire burning in his veins. Now he wanted to punish her. How best to do that but to put his child in her, a child he knew she didn't want! He tried to tell her that, and was horrified to hear only an inarticulate grunt leave his lips.

The Red Cup,
a voice within him said.
It was meant to ease the way, but became a trap...

He was close enough to reach out to her now. Suddenly his clothes were stifling him. It was the Protector's fault he felt like this now. Why shouldn't he take what was given him?

Kiliane quickly sat up as he struggled with his belt. Flames flared from her fingers. Tam ducked. The fire-bolt sped towards his head, passed through him harmlessly,
and started a small blaze on a wall-hanging just behind him. He beat the fire out, his hands smarting a little, and wished the conflagration inside him would subside as easily.

He turned
aside quickly. As he did, Kiliane barely missed him with the dagger she'd stolen from his belt. He backed off, fear finally overcoming his desire. "I thought you said you couldn't light a candle!" he said.

"I lied," she said, smiling sweetly. She put down the dagger, called flame into her hands again, and thi
s time sent it directly at Tam.

He twisted away, but some of the bolt hit him anyway, and his shirt began burning. Tameron screamed and plunged into the pool. Some of the floating lights nearly struck him in the face.

The water wasn't very deep, but he stayed under as long as he could anyway, and came up for air only when he had to. In the pool's gentle waters, his mind began to cool.
Lord and Lady, what was wrong with me? I can't blame it all on my father or the Red Cup. I was just using them as excuses to do what I really wanted.
He thought of something and almost laughed.
All she has to do is to touch me and she'll be safe, if only for a little while! But I don't have the strength to stop myself tonight. What is wrong is wrong. I can't build that bridge that Aylar wanted me to if I start with rotten struts. I'll go to Dever Tower if I must, but I'll do it without becoming the beast of my nightmares.

He climbed out of the pool, resolved to get away
somehow. He couldn't trust himself here, not with the Red Cup inside. In fact, he felt a familiar feeling in the back of his throat, an aftertaste he'd experienced last fall when he'd been forced to go to Council meetings
. Father must have put it in the food. No wonder it was so spicy.

"Now your fire won't work," he said. "My clothes are soaking wet now, and you can't burn the rest of me."

She held the dagger up again. Tam felt divided into two; one part of him still burned to lie with her, but his mind, at least, was clear enough to force his body to keep away. He strode to the window and opened it. The cold, damp air helped him stay where he was. The chill reached his sopping clothes and helped him keep to his resolve, though even with that distraction he still had to struggle.

At least he wasn't going to risk re-enacting any of his dreams tonight. He was glad now he'd had the warning of his nightmares before he'd ridden off into the storm last fall.
I could easily take that dagger away from her. I'm trained to arms, and I doubt she i
s. He shuddered
. I have to leave, or I'll get stupid again. Just looking at her is enough to make any man lose his mind!

He began climbing out of the window, and was halfway out when Kiliane
rose on her knees in the bed.

"Keep going!" she said,
and aimed the point at him.

"As you wish!" he said. Even an amateur could get in a lucky blow under the circumstances.

Once he was all the way out and hanging onto the ledge, she threw the dagger out the window, almost hitting him with the hilt. "Your father is going to be angry with me anyway, and I'm not a thief!" she said, then quickly shut and locked the window.

"Too bad you can't summon Mauric!" he shouted through the glass. The young mage might have been in his father's chambers once; wouldn't it be a fine trick to play on the Council to let true love finally have its way?

The smile on her face distracted him so much he nearly fell.
Maybe tonight they'll both finally get what they want,
he thought, and then forced himself to turn his face towards the darkness.
I can't stay here,
he realized, He remembered the dream where
he
was the one tied to the bed.
The next time I might not have any choice at all.

Chapter 17

Tameron shivered as the chill wind struck his wet clothing. He rapidly became aware that his soaked slippers gave his feet little protection from the snow now blowing into the cracks of the ledge. The bad weather had shown up right on schedule. He hung on to the ledge and carefully kicked them off. He should take off the stockings, too, but that was beyond his ability just now.

It was much darker than the night before. Then he'd had the light of the stars and moon to guide him, but tonight they were covered by heavy clouds. He could barely see the courtyard below him with falling snow providing a curtain.

At least it isn't sleet falling down my neck.
Fortunately, the potion inside him kept him warm once he started moving. He hung onto the wall by the window to orient himself at first. He was on the wrong side of the castle, closer to the barracks and the bath, but away from the stables and his room. Tam didn't know if he could make it all the way around without falling or being discovered, but knew he'd better try.