King Breaker (21 page)

O
RRADE STIRRED.
‘T
HIRSTY
.’

Byren was so relieved he was ready to weep.

Orrade grimaced. He eyes flickered open and he winced, even though the room was only lit by one candle. ‘M’throat feels like it’s been scraped raw.’

Not trusting himself to speak, Byren reached for the watered wine and lifted Orrade’s head so he could take a sip.

His friend gulped greedily, then groaned as he lay back.

‘Not so fast,’ Byren told him, putting the watered wine aside. ‘Your chest and shoulder are all torn up. Trust you to take on a wyvern with only a hunting knife. You had to try and match me.’ He grinned, then pulled back the furs and unwrapped the bandages.

Orrie winced. ‘Could you be any rougher?’

Byren laughed.

Orrade caught his hand. ‘You came back for me.’

‘Of course I did.’ Byren couldn’t meet Orrade’s eyes, and instead studied the wounds. There’d been no bleeding while he sewed Orrade up, but there’d been bleeding since, which he took to be a good sign. ‘Need to get you cleaned up and freshly bandaged. Wyvern wounds can turn bad in the blink of an eye.’

Orrade watched as he stood to fetch warm water. ‘Your back’s been cut to shreds.’

‘Barnacles on the side of the ship.’ Byren shrugged, feeling the skin pull. He added alcohol to the warm water, then returned to kneel at his friend’s side. ‘This’ll sting.’

Orrade rolled his eyes.

As Byren sponged the crusted blood from Orrade’s chest wounds, his friend stared up at the ceiling, frowning in concentration. ‘Last I remember is gutting the wyvern and crawling inside him. I didn’t expect to live. Didn’t expect anyone to come after me. Last I saw of you, the captain had you pinned under half a dozen men. I should have known they couldn’t keep you down. What happened?’

Byren told him, voice faltering as the crusted blood peeled away to reveal scars that looked ten days old even though only a single day had passed.

‘What?’ Orrade asked. ‘Is it festering?’

Byren shook his head.

Orrade lifted his head. ‘Days old. Byren, what did you do?’

He shrugged, not sure how to put it into words.

‘Not that I’m complaining,’ Orrade assured him. ‘I’m not about to denounce you for having healing Affinity.’

‘I’m not an Affinity-healer. All I did was try to repeat what happened when I was in the seep with the ulfrs. You’re the one with Affinity. In fact…’ He leant closer and concentrated. ‘The wyvern’s power has gone.’ He saw Orrade was confused. ‘You killed the beast but didn’t settle its—’

‘Affinity. I’m guessing you tapped into that power to hasten my healing. Well, I’m grateful. Here, lend a hand.’

Byren helped him sit up.

‘I ache all over,’ Orrade muttered. ‘Feels like I’ve been in the battle to end all battles.’ He sucked in a shaky breath. ‘Guess I have. Back there in the water, I was shivering so bad it’s a wonder I didn’t chip a tooth.’

‘Speaking of teeth.’ Byren showed him the wyvern’s tooth. It was almost as long as his little finger. ‘I dug this out of your shoulder. You should get it set on a chain. Wear it with honour.’

‘You didn’t bring the body back? I fancy a wyvern coat.’

Byren shuddered, remembering the wyvern falling into the dark, cold sea. ‘Not possible.’

Orrade reached for him. ‘I’m alive, thanks to you.’

Byren met his eyes. Last night, thinking Orrade would die, was the worst night of his life. Going on without him had seemed pointless. Somehow, he summoned a grin. ‘Shoulda known you were too tough to kill.’

‘If this was my after-life in Halcyon’s Sacred Heart, I wouldn’t be in so much pain and I wouldn’t have to pee.’

‘I’ll bring a chamber pot.’

‘I might feel like a grandfather, but I’m not going to act like one. Help me up.’

Byren helped him to his feet.

Orrade cursed fluently and staggered, falling against Byren’s chest; that was when Byren realised they were both naked.

They’d grown up together, swimming in the lake, sharing a bed-roll during hunting parties and spar raids, but it was different now. Byren stepped back as soon as Orrade was steady on his feet.

‘Can you—’

‘I can manage.’

He watched Orrade make his careful way across the cabin. Of course he could manage; Orrie was proud and fiercely determined. But he was only flesh and blood, and he’d been as good as dead.

Byren’s knees shook. He stumbled to the bunk, sitting abruptly. Tears of relief burned his eyes.

After a moment, Byren wiped his face, pulled on a pair of breeches and began heating the food that had been delivered earlier. He broke the crusty bread rolls apart and sat them on the edge of the brazier to warm up.

Orrade came back into the cabin and joined him by the brazier, standing too close to the metal. ‘Felt like I’d never be warm again.’ He inhaled. ‘Smells good. Beef and red wine stew.’

‘You’re shaking.’ Byren gestured to the bed. ‘Lie down. I’ll bring it to you.’

‘Hate feeling weak.’ Orrade crept back to the furs and lowered himself with care.

‘You’ll be better in a day or two.’

He nodded. ‘Hungry now.’

‘Be ready soon. Keep warm.’

Orrade pulled up the furs.

By the time the food was hot, he was fast asleep. Byren nudged him awake.

He took a few mouthfuls, then shook his head.

‘More wine?’ Byren didn’t wait for an answer. He stood, put the bowl back on the brazier and reached for the watered-wine.

‘I’m sorry I’ve been such a burden on you,’ Orrade whispered.

‘You never—’

‘S’true. Because of me, you lost both your father and your twin’s trust. You shoulda sent me away when I offered to go.’ Exhausted, Orrade slurred his words like a drunkard. ‘Don’t know why you put up with me. Jus’ wanted ta say I’m grateful.’

‘It’s not...’ Byren spooned stew into his bowl. He owed Orrie this much honesty. ‘When I thought you were dead, I didn’t see how I’d go on without you. So don’t talk of...’

Orrade was fast asleep.

Chapter Seventeen

P
IRO TRIED DISMISSING
the maid, but the woman wouldn’t leave. So she undressed herself and climbed into bed; satisfied, the maid left her alone.

Piro promptly climbed out of bed.

Dinner had been interminable. She’d had to listen to Nefysto recite—apparently ‘Natteo’ was a renowned poet—and then she’d had to sit through Kaspian’s latest composition for the dolcimela. To escape her turn, she’d pleaded ignorance of music, which only made the comtissa promise her lessons, since ‘a kingsdaughter should not be without a musical instrument.’ Her poor mother would have been mortified.

Piro had been on edge all night, afraid the old comtissa would drop dead between one course and next. She longed to tell Siordun about her vision, but he’d sent his apologies, claiming ‘the mage needed him’.

Very well, if he had more important things to do, then so had she. By the time he arrived tomorrow, if all went according to plan, the wyvern and Kaspian would be bonded.

Opening the tall glass doors, Piro slipped out onto her balcony and looked for Kaspian on his. There was no sign of him. Had he fallen asleep while waiting for her?

She judged the distance to Kaspian’s balcony. It was not too far.

Wearing her sea-hound breeches, which she’d rescued from the overzealous maid, Piro climbed over the balustrade and crept along the ledge and onto the next balcony. She went to open his doors.

Locked. She could not believe it! Furious, she tapped on the glass.

After a several moments, Kaspian opened the door, looking ghostly in his nightshirt. He’d taken off his sling; a pale bandage was wound around his forearm. ‘Piro, you shouldn’t—’

She pushed past him, entering the dim chamber. ‘Why aren’t you ready? I waited for you. You want to bond with Valiant, don’t you?’

‘Of course I do, but...’

‘Well, come on. Pull on a pair of breeches.’

He stared at her.

She returned his stare.

He let his breath out in a huff of annoyance. ‘Turn around.’

She put her back to him and folded her arms, waiting impatiently while he dressed.

‘You shouldn’t come to my chamber,’ he told her. ‘We’re not betrothed. You’re not a married woman. Even if you were, I’d go to you. As an unmarried girl, you must be circumspect—’

‘Are you done yet?’ She turned. He was still bare-chested, and lacing up his breeches. His face might be as pretty as a girl’s but the rest of him was all male. ‘Do you have the key to the wyvern’s cage?’

‘I do, but—’

‘Then come on.’

He didn’t budge. ‘You’re not going to let Val out, are you? Because I don’t think that’s a good idea.’

‘No. I’m not going to let him out.’

‘Then why do we need the key?’

‘In case.’ She said no more and headed for the balcony.

‘You’re going to climb down?’ He caught her arm. ‘Are you serious?’

She slipped free of his grasp. ‘There’s a servant at my door, a big fellow who moves like a fighter. He’s been told to watch me. Fera-something.’

‘Feratore.’ His lips twitched. ‘Not much gets past you.’

‘I’m not stupid.’ Piro nodded to his bandage. ‘Is your arm too sore to climb?’

‘No. It’s almost healed.’

‘Then follow me.’ She darted through the balcony doors and peered over the balustrade. The climb had not looked hard when she’d inspected it that afternoon. By starlight, the ledges and carvings were not easy to make out.

Kaspian joined her. ‘Reconsidering?’

‘Never.’ She swung her leg over the balustrade and climbed onto the ledge. ‘Come on.’

Piro scrambled down the wall, then jumped the last stretch to the ground. She waited only long enough for him to land beside her, before making her way through the courtyard’s ornamental fruit trees.

As she headed for the building on the far side, he caught her arm. ‘If we don’t want to be seen, we need to go through the kitchen herb garden.’

The wooden gate to the walled-garden swung on well-oiled hinges. Here, warmth lingered on the still air, radiating from the stone walls. Piro smelled oregano and sage. It made her homesick for her mother’s herb garden.

Kaspian caught her arm at the far door. ‘Since they locked him up, I’ve been sneaking out to see Valiant before I go to bed and sometimes the cook sips wine with the gardener.’

She liked him better for this confession.

Kaspian opened the door ever so slightly to peer through. He let out his breath. ‘No one’s there tonight. Come on.’

They slipped into the servant’s courtyard. Piro could smell the freshly turned soil and sensed the wyvern. Her Affinity surged with each beat of her heart and slid down her arms into her hands until it felt as if she wore gloves of power.

‘I’m later than usual,’ Kaspian whispered. ‘I wonder if Val’s awake.’

‘Oh, he’s awake alright.’

‘Your Affinity tells you this? That must be why the mage wants Agent Tyro to train you. My grandmother says you’re wasted on the mage. She says you’d be a valuable asset to house Cinnamome. She says I’m to charm you, but—’

‘Don’t worry. No one can charm me.’ Eyes fixed on the cage against the far wall, Piro almost tripped over a raised garden bed.

As Kaspian steadied her, she felt a sharp sting just before his hand closed around her bare arm.

Kaspian gasped. ‘What was that?’

‘A little warning slap of power,’ Piro guessed. ‘You have Affinity?’

‘Some.’

‘Good. That will help.’ She’d reached the cage. ‘Now give me the key.’

‘I don’t think that’s—’

The wyvern gave voice.

‘Quickly,’ Piro urged. ‘Before someone comes.’

‘I’m not opening it. Val’s very strong and doesn’t like strangers. I...’ Kaspian broke off.

Piro had reached through the cage bars to stroke the wyvern’s throat. A deep rumble came from the Affinity beast.

‘He likes you.’ Kaspian sounded as if he was torn between amazement and resentment.

‘All animals like me.’

‘You must take after Mad King Byren the Fourth.’

‘Mad?’ She’d never heard her grandfather described this way before.

‘My apologies. A slip of the tongue.’

‘Why mad? What’s he supposed to have done?’

He hesitated.

‘Kaspian...’

He sighed. ‘They say King Byren liked animals better than people.’

Piro laughed. ‘That’s because he kept a menagerie of Affinity beasts.’ The wyvern butted the cage, clearly impatient. ‘Open the door.’

But still the youth hesitated. It wasn’t until Piro had the wyvern on his knees, with his vulnerable neck exposed, that Kaspian unlocked the cage.

Piro slipped inside, drawing Kaspian after her. The moment her hand touched Kaspian’s, she felt his Affinity trying to connect with the wyvern’s primal power.

Kaspian’s Affinity was weak in comparison, and would have remained contained by his earnest personality and self discipline, if she hadn’t been able to link them. She became a channel for power. For her, it was the most natural thing in the world.

‘There.’ She opened her eyes. ‘You complement each other. Valiant needs guidance. You need to unleash your true potential.’

But Kaspian wasn’t listening. He dropped to his knees to hug Valiant, pressing his cheek to the wyvern’s throat, where the beast’s Affinity-rich blood pulsed just under the skin.

‘It’s done,’ Piro said. ‘We should be getting back.’

Too deeply immersed in their bond, neither beast nor boy acknowledged her. She should have seen this coming.

Well, Kaspian could just stay here tonight. With the wyvern for company, he wouldn’t feel the cold. She left the cage door ajar.

It had been easy to facilitate the bond between Kaspian and his Affinity beast. She didn’t see what all the fuss was about. Next time she was in Merofynia, she’d help Isolt bond with her wyvern, and then Loyalty would be safe.

Feeling the satisfaction of a job well done, Piro returned to her chamber, climbed into bed and fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

A
S
F
YN FOLLOWED
the lad from Benetir Estate, his stomach cramped with an odd combination of fear and excitement, and his mind raced. Tonight, he had to prove himself worthy of Byren’s faith as well as proving himself to the Merofynian nobles. Most importantly, he had to prove himself to Isolt. He’d tried to anticipate every eventuality, but so much could go wrong his head ached.