Kindle the Flame (Heart of a Dragon Book 1) (27 page)

“I wonder what's happened to Ay—Rickard. Do you think they'll bring him down here, too?” she whispered.

“I don't know, m'lady. He may figure a way out of this.”

“What about your Pixie songs? Would they work on the guards?”

Lincoln shrugged. “Pixie magic is stronger at times than others. When we came down here, I was so angry that I couldn't use it. The King does not know what he stirs up.”

Kinna's mouth quirked to the side. “Rise of the Pixie rebellion?”

“I'll be at the head of the revolt.”

“Linc?”

“Hmm?”

“Why did you decide to come to the Ridges of Rue with me?”

“I already told you—”

“You told me you had a lust for adventure, to see new things. But I don't believe you.”

Lincoln twisted to face her. In the dim torchlight his face was flushed, and he picked nervously at the wrist-hem of his shirt. “Why wouldn't you believe me? I'm an honest Pixie.”

“Because I've seen the design on your pendant before.”

Lincoln's hand moved quickly to the chain half-hidden beneath his shirt. “What do you mean? It's a mere necklace.”

“Nay, I don't believe it is.” Kinna shook her head. “It's an interesting design, and I should have recognized it earlier. According to what I've heard, that design was only made by the Seer Fey in the early days of the Pixie Clan. It's a symbol that a special group of people wore, and each of the group was required to carry the design as a talisman.”

“How do you know all that?” Lincoln's dark eyes stared at her.

“Because,” Kinna said, “my mother has the same one.”

A
yden yanked
off his gloves with his teeth and laid his hands across Chennuh's snout, relishing the warmth that flowed into his fingers from the Dragon's smooth scales. Chennuh huffed softly as Ayden's touch darkened the scales, and Ayden jerked his hands back to avoid the flames that licked Chennuh's snout.

“It'll be okay, Chennuh,” Ayden soothed. “We'll be out of here before long. I just have to do something first.”

“You're not getting into the Tournament, if that's what you mean. I've already told you.” The Dragon-Master shifted as he stood in the opening, his arms crossed over his blue tunic. “It wouldn't be fair to the others who have already fought for their places.”

“You're not thinking of one key component, Dragon-Master,” Ayden said as he pulled his gloves back on, his fingers flexing. “The King's love of a very rare Mirage.” He didn't bother to mention that his admission to the Tournament was less important now that he had a free pass to the Palace and the King.

“My name is Cedric. I don't care for the label of Dragon-Master. It was not my choice.” Cedric pursed his lips and eyed the length of Chennuh's long body. “He is a beautiful creature.”

“Aye.” Ayden gave the Dragon one final pat before moving toward the door. “Where to now?”

“Your companions are petitioning the King. I don't dare interrupt that; he will send for you if he sees fit. In the meantime, would you care to watch the start of the competitions today? There will be Direwolves, Mammoths, and Pixies competing this morning. Elves and Trolls will make an appearance this afternoon. After the feasts this evening, the Ogres will give a showing.”

“Do they all compete in their separate Clans?”

“Aye, until the end.” Cedric turned to exit the den, once more glancing back at the collar that Ayden had used to secure Chennuh.

“What happens at the end?”

“By that point, the King will have already chosen his winners from each Clan, so those winners will then be placed in the central arena to provide entertainment for the citizens of The Crossings.”

“To the death?” Ayden asked.

Cedric raised an eyebrow. “Nay, that would compromise the point of the Tournament. The last competition is solely because the people wish to see the best pitted against each other. The only reward for the victor is glory. Every creature and their Dimn entering the final competition will already have a place as a leader over the rest of their kind in the King's armies. If the lead Dimn has already achieved
psuche
with his creature, it is all the more effective as it allows them—creature and dimn—to work as one unit.”

“What do you mean?”

Cedric motioned to a half open Dragon den. Smoke wafted from within. “For instance, if you were to lead a formation of Dragons and Dragondimn, and you had achieved
psuche
with your creature, you and the Dragon would share your thoughts. Then your Dragon would share your commands with his fellow creatures, and you would share the Dragon's thoughts with your fellow Dimn.”

“So it’s double-leadership.”

“Aye, in a way.
Psuches
also have the advantage of using silent commands. Before that, of course, you're shouting for your Dragon's attention.” Cedric continued down the corridor. “At any rate, the King means it to be a high honor when he rewards a Dimn the head of a formation. Many Dimn would wish the honor on someone else, but the sceptremarks that accompany the position are usually persuasive. And when all the creatures are placed in the arena together, they imitate the ferocity of battle itself. In a true battle, you would not be limited to only Pixies or only Direwolves or only Dragons.”

Ayden nodded as he followed Cedric out into the sunshine. He could hear the roar of the crowd from one of the fields near the palace. “Who is fighting there?”

“The Pixies.” Cedric pulled a much-folded scrap of parchment from his pocket. “Should you care to watch until your companions return?”

Ayden shrugged and followed as Cedric led the way to the stands, finally stopping at the gate. Ayden stepped forward and grasped the bars with his hands, peering through.

It wasn't what he had expected. Instead of Pixies dressed in full armor, wielding clashing swords and heavy shields, three Pixies cavorted in the field, singing, turning handsprings, chanting poetry, dancing.

Along the outside wall stood the three Dimn, motioning as their Pixies moved, and the energy of the Pixies waxed and waned as the time wore on.

One Pixie female tried a triple handspring into a double back flip, but the song from another Pixie swirled around her, so wild and crashing that Ayden could feel the sleep pervade his own eyes, even though he was not the target. A boy in the stands nodded off completely, slumping under the railing, and was only saved by the quick hand of his father, who caught him by the belt before he could melt over the side.

The Pixie who tumbled to the ground closed her eyes, her brilliant yellow hair gleaming in the morning sun as she curled into a ball, a peaceful smile on her face.

The Dimn threw his hat on the ground in disgust. “No, Meena, blue skies, get up! Tune out the song! It has no power over you!”

But the Pixie didn't get up, and the other two sang louder and cavorted more wildly than before.

At a motion from the tall, dark Dimn on the left, his Pixie abruptly cut off all song and sank onto the grass, crossing her legs in front of her, her hands relaxed across her knees.

The Dimn was speaking low, soft words, and his cross-legged Pixie had attuned her whole focus, her whole body even, toward the sound of his voice.

The connection between the two of them was so utterly overwhelming that not even the song of the competing Pixie could pierce the bond.

The second Pixie's voice dropped to silence as his Dimn struggled to figure out something else to do.

Then the Pixie who sat on the ground opened her lips, and the most gorgeous melody flowed out, filling the stands and the field, swirling through the gates, wrapping Ayden in its embrace.

All Ayden could think of was getting through that gate and meeting the Pixie on the field to … to what? Sit at her feet and gaze at her, or dance around her madly, leaping in joy, or...

The second Pixie had fallen asleep, collapsing in a graceful heap, to the groan of his Dimn.

The crowds went wild, and Ayden shook himself out of his trance, glancing around sheepishly, feeling silly for his reaction to the Pixie's song. Some of the other spectators looked equally foolish, and relief that he wasn't the only one filled him.

Movement in the stands caught his attention. A beautiful, blonde-plaited lady stood from the throne in the royal box, motioned graciously to the crowd, and then allowed two palace guards to accompany her through the curtains behind the box.

The King's royal chair was empty, though Kinna and Lincoln should have finished presenting their case before him.

Apprehension laced Ayden’s spine. “Shouldn't my friends have returned by now?” he asked Cedric.

“It's possible that the King is allowing your request. In which case, they may tarry to tie up the details.”

Ayden nodded, though his stomach remained tight. He opened his mouth to ask if he could join them, but the gate swung open, and the victorious Pixie and her Dimn exited. Ayden hastily stepped back, prepared to let them pass, but the Dimn bowed to Cedric. “Thank you, my lord, for arranging the Tournament. It is a privilege to be a part of it and a part of your divisions in the King's armies should we advance to the final.”

Ayden stared at Cedric. He had been unaware that this young-looking man was in any greater position than that of the Dragon-Master.

Cedric nodded. “I don't think there is a lot of doubt that you and Sage
will
be in the final. That was a beautiful performance in there, and quite a tribute to the level of
psuche
you have achieved.”

“Aye.” The Dimn nodded as he gently squeezed Sage's shoulder. “She does well with my instructions.” He dropped his hand quickly and stepped away, preparing to continue down the path.

Ayden took another step back, but Cedric had already begun introductions.

“Julian, this is Rickard of the Dragon Clan. He comes to us bringing a Dragon, a Mirage. He seeks to enter the Dragon late into the Tournament. The King is taking it up with two other members of Rickard's party at this time.”

Ayden and Julian cast slight bows at each other. Julian surveyed Ayden's clothes, his gaze neither accepting nor condemning, merely speculative. “You come from the Dragon Clan?”

“Aye.”

Julian nodded, his dark eyes thoughtful, and a rueful smile twisted across his face. “I have a dear friend who loved to spend her time with the Dragons, though she was a member of the Pixie Clan. It has been many months since I have set eyes on her, though.”

Ayden's thoughts immediately winged to Kinna. What other Pixiedimn would have such a fascination with Dragons?

He wasn't sure how to respond. He finally settled for obscurity. “I don't know that I would have seen her, sir. I have been away from the Dragon Clan myself for many months.”

Julian nodded, stepping onto the pathway, followed closely by Sage. The crowds in the stands had begun to disperse into the grounds around the Tournament field as they took a break before the next competition.

Julian bowed as he glanced up the pathway. “Well, my Pixie and I are going to go—”

He broke off as a lad dashed up to Cedric, panting. “Cedric, the King, he didn't listen...”

“Whoah, Jack-Boy, slow down. Calm yourself.”

The boy took three huge breaths, but his agitation was clear. His eyes met Ayden's. He stopped.

Julian glanced between the two of them. “May I be of help?”

“First, I must find out what is so important. Jack-Boy?” Cedric asked.

Jack-Boy scuffed his foot into the graveled pathway nervously, shooting repeated looks at Ayden as he lowered his voice. “The newcomers went to the King with their request to enter their Dragon into the Tournament.”

“I know that, Jack-Boy.”

“Aye, but then it turned out that the girl didn't have a mark, and it sent the King into a temper. He clapped both the girl and the Pixie in the dungeons.”

Ayden jerked forward. “Wait, Kinna is in the dungeons?” Panic shot through his lungs, and suddenly, he struggled to pull in the appropriate amount of air.

“
Kinna?
” Julian's voice whipped across Ayden's stunned ears. “Kinna is here?”

Ayden ignored him. “I have to go see the King
right now.
”

Cedric's hand on his sleeve shocked him as he attempted to bypass the group. “Let go of me!” He jerked backward, terrified of seeing the ashy cracks across Cedric's face.

None appeared; the Dragon-Master had caught only fabric.

Palace guards stood all around the Tournament fields, stationed at gates and lining the walks. “Nay,” said Cedric, “I will not try to stop you, but there may be another way, if you will accompany me.”

He motioned toward one of the tunnel entrances and turned. Ayden followed, but then stopped abruptly when Julian also decided to go.

“Where are you going?” he asked bluntly.

Julian met his gaze evenly. “Kinna is my best friend. If you're going to free her, I go, too.”

Ayden wasn't in the mood to debate. He jogged after Cedric, and the four of them entered the tunnels together, Sage shadowing close behind Julian, quiet and grave as her master led her into the torch-lit darkness.

The doors boomed shut behind them, and Cedric turned to face them. In a whisper, he indicated down the hallway. “I can lead you to the dungeons, but I have no key for the cells. I'm afraid I will only be able to let you in to see your friends. Perhaps then you can work out something to do, formulate an idea or something.”

Ayden nodded, his jaw locked. “And then I’ll make the King choke on his order to imprison them.”

Cedric shook his head. “Don't underestimate the man, Rickard. I have lived here in the palace for several months, and I can tell you that he always has a plan. Always, his mind is working ahead, rearranging and manipulating, and he does not hesitate to kill if someone no longer fits into his plan. Generally, his death sentences are no quick execution either.”

“He wouldn't do anything to Kinna, would he? Kinna or Lincoln?”

Cedric looked troubled. “I wouldn't put it past him. Not carrying a mark is a high offense in West Ashwynd, as I'm sure you're aware. The fact that she was not carrying a mark
and
trying to work her way late into the Tournament would make him doubly angry. However, the King will want your Dragon in his armies, so...”

“Chennuh. If I could somehow get them free from their cells and to the door of the dungeons, Chennuh could get us away from here in a hurry.”

“Do you want to do that? Your Dragon is worth quite a bit to the King. Perhaps you can find some use for him as a bargaining chip?”

Julian had watched all this gravely. A moment later, he broke in. “Allow me to take care of persuading the King. You go find Kinna in the dungeons and reassure her that I am trying everything to keep her safe.”

“Julian—” Sage's low voice pulled Ayden's attention to the Pixie.

“Kinna's safety is more important than mine, Sage.”

The Pixie flushed a deep red. Her lips tightened until they turned pale rose.

Something in Julian's voice tugged jealousy from its dark corner, and Ayden glared at Julian. “I'll remind her that
I
am doing everything to keep her safe as well.”

“Of course.” Julian didn't smile.

“Then come, Rickard. Julian, the King will wish an audience with you anyway since you just won your competition, especially since he missed it. Go see him now while your success is still fresh in his mind.”

“Aye.” Julian turned for the doors again.

Cedric and Ayden jogged down the hallway past the Dragon dens. A glance under Chennuh's den door showed the mirrored Dragon snoring softly, his nostrils roiling smoke with every exhalation. Ayden felt a measure of relief. At least he wasn't blowing fireballs in hot anger at being chained up.