Chapter Twelve
Under The Skin
Marci had her misgivings about this.
At first, going to the Dragon Knight keep had seemed like a good idea. Davion had assured her and Mirana that his brothers would loan them supplies, and he thought that he would find answers here too.
But with every step they had taken towards the looming grey edifice, Marci had felt increasingly uneasy.
What if they decided that Davion was a threat?
The Dragon Knights were sworn to destroy dragons, and Davion had definitely turned into something draconic outside Haupstadt. Even if his transformation had nothing to do with dragons, and it almost certainly did, they would see his monstrous form as a threat.
Marci did not see Davion as a threat. In truth, she had never seen him as a threat.
Maybe it had just been the way he, unlike so many other people, had actually paid attention to her, had wanted to know her even on a basic level. And then he had saved her life, without needing to.
With the exception of Mirana, anybody else would likely have assumed her dead and left her. Marci would honestly not have blamed them. She knew that she was lucky to be alive.
Yet Davion had gone out of his way to save her despite her chances of survival, risking his own life for hers. He might have said that he was returning the favour, but she knew that there was more to it than that. He had not saved her just to sooth his pride or to honour a debt. Settling the debt had been part of it, but not the whole reason.
As someone who had never really had friends until meeting Mirana, Marci prized any bonds she formed with others. Her loyalty to those she cared about was instinctive. Davion had earned her trust, which meant that she would willingly risk her life for his. Mirana still came first, she took her oath seriously, but in her eyes Davion was worth protecting too, now more than ever.
People treated her like an oddity. Even before she had lost her voice, she had felt adrift—different. Even her brothers and parents had been distant. Mirana had been startled and dismayed by her at first—given the circumstances, Marci could not blame her—but Davion had not cared that she could not talk.
She'd woken up in his arms yesterday morning, and she had not wanted to move. Duty called, sadly. They still had a mission to complete.
The grim, grey walls of the keep loomed up before them. Marci tilted her head up as the walls seemed to grow before her eyes. She felt dwarfed, just as she had done whenever she had looked up at the palace from the Rasolir slums.
What would it be like inside, looking down? Standing at the windows in the palace had always felt strange to her. She'd loved the view, yet had always found her eyes drawn to her old home. She imagined that the view from the towers of this keep would be spectacular. What would she be able to see from their heights? She could imagine gazing over the rolling heights, thickets of forests and undulating fields. How far away was the sea? Would she see more mountains?
Would she be able to see home?
Maybe Davion would show her before they left.
They?
What if he stayed? He probably would, and the thought sunk Marci's spirits. She would miss him. Though they had not known each other long, he had definitely made an impression.
He meant something to her. He meant a great deal to her.
'Who goes there?' a voice called down from the battlements.
Davion cupped his hands around his mouth. 'Davion, with some friends.'
Marci thought she saw a head peering over the battlements. 'Who are they?'
'Just friends.' Davion called. 'Can we talk about this inside? It's freezing out here!'
The head vanished. Marci shifted her feet in the snow, stamping to try and generate a little feeling in her numb toes. The cold was bothering her and she was hungry. Her rumbling stomach did not improve her mood.
She wondered if she could convince Davion to come with her and Mirana. Maybe he could tell the Dragon Knights that he would protect them from dragons. Despite what he had said, Marci had her doubts about fighting one.
Mirana shivered and wrapped her cloak tighter around her body. 'These are friends of yours, aren't they?'
'Yeah.'
'They're taking their time letting us in.'
'Yeah.'
'That's normal?'
'Yeah.'
Marci whistled his name and patted her stomach, her eyebrows raised in inquiry.
He smiled at her. 'Yeah.'
There was a metallic clang and the gates slowly scraped open. A group of Dragon Knights, clad in motley armour consisting of plate and dragon scales strode out to meet them. Amongst them was a stocky man wearing entirely black armour, minus his helm. He was familiar.
Marci felt her brow furrow as she tried to remember. Yes, she did know who he was. She had seen his portrait in Haupstadt. Davion had called him Kaden. He had said that he was the only Dragon Knight to have slain one of each type of dragon, even the void and chaos varieties.
Her first thought was that he was grizzled. His face was weathered like the stone of an old canyon, and his ebony hair was generously speckled with silver. He had to be nearly fifty, maybe older, yet he moved easily in his heavy armour, as if it was a part of his body.
As he came closer, Marci noticed the harsh flinty eyes and her unease grew.
Kaden was dangerous. That was obvious. She could also see that he was calculating, patient and wary. This was a man used to tracking, stalking and fighting some of the most dangerous creatures in the world. He was a hunter, a predator, a man who had stared death in the face many times.
He was a survivor. She could read it in his grim, lined face and his hard eyes. He was also determined. This was a man who held grudges.
'Davion. It's good to see you again.' He was smiling, and even that seemed grim. It also struck Marci as fake.
She consciously rearranged her features into a more neutral arrangement, her usual response to potential danger. The less attention she attracted, the better her chances of catching the enemy by surprise.
Enemy? These were Davion's friends. Maybe they were just wary of her and Mirana. Yes, that seemed more likely. Two strange women, armed, wearing the colours of the Dark Moon Order, and accompanied by a large lunar tiger, had to arouse suspicion since they were so far away from the Nightsilver Woods.
'Likewise, Sir Kaden.' Davion shook the man's hand. 'I hope I didn't worry you.'
'An Eldwurm on the loose and one of our best dragon slayers missing? We were only a little worried, Davion. Most of us just assumed you'd found a woman or two.' He looked past Davion, his gaze drawn to Mirana. 'And it seems you did.'
Davion chuckled. 'Not exactly. I'd like to introduce you to Marci and Mirana. Oh, and Sagan too. If it wasn't for them, I never would have made it here.'
'Really?' Kaden stepped past Davion and surveyed Mirana, Marci and Sagan as one would a potential opponent. 'Then on behalf of the Dragon Knights, I thank you for aiding one of my brothers. I offer you the hospitality of this keep.'
Marci's stomach rumbled. Mirana considered, shivered from the cold, then nodded. 'We would be glad to accept your offer, Sir Kaden.'
Though Marci would be glad to escape the cold and fill her stomach, her misgivings continued to simmer deep down. Out of habit, she flexed her fingers. Just in case she needed to fight.
Kaden was still speaking to Davion as they crossed the courtyard. It was completely empty apart from drifts of snow, and the way those were swept aside told Marci that something large had been dragged here.
Marci's nose was still blocked, but she thought that she could detect something. She sniffed cautiously.
It was blood. Something had bled here. She could even see spots of red on the flagstones.
'We spotted a dragon to the west before you arrived.' Kaden said. Had he noticed Marci examining the stones? He was very perceptive if he had. 'It's a shame you missed that battle, Davion, though Bram told me about your victory over the earth dragon near Barreltown.'
'Bram's here?'
'Yes.' Kaden half-smiled. 'He'll be glad to see you. He's done nothing but fret since you vanished.'
'What happened to the Eldwurm?'
Kaden frowned. 'You didn't see it?'
'No. At least I don't remember.' Davion frowned too now, still unable to remember. 'I don't know what happened. I remember going after Frühling, and then nothing.' He gestured vaguely at Marci. 'The next thing I knew I was flat on my back, naked, covered in blood. I'm lucky that Marci and Mirana found me.'
'And then?'
'We travelled to Haupstadt and...' Davion hesitated. 'We made our way here.' He concluded lamely. 'Sir... I don't know what happened to me down in those caverns, but I think I might find some answers in the archives.'
'The Eldwurms wield great power—powers even we struggle to understand. When we entered the caverns you spoke of, we found signs of a battle. Perhaps you struck your head.'
'What happened to the Eldwurm?'
'It was dead when we found it.'
Davion twitched.
It was a small, quick thing, but Marci noticed all the same. She also sensed that Kaden was omitting something. The two Dragons Knights were not being entirely truthful with one another. Understandable in Davion's case, but what was Kaden hiding?
Davion rubbed his forehead. Had he remembered something?
'Do you remember killing it, Davion?'
'No. No, I don't think I could have killed an Eldwurm. But... there was something else.'
'Was it this Frühling you spoke of? Another Eldwurm?'
'No. It was something worse.'
'Hmm.' Kaden was clearly thinking carefully. He adopted what might have been an attempt at a warm smile. 'Let's discuss this later. You must be hungry. The mountain takes its toll on every traveller, Dragon Knight or otherwise. You're just in time for the midday feast.'
Marci's stomach grumbled again. She certainly would not object to a hearty meal. Even so, she was going to try to keep an eye on Kaden and his fellow Dragon Knights. If they proved to be a threat to Davion, she would defend him.
She just hoped that it wouldn't come to that.
Sagan was taken to the stables to rest, where he frightened the few horses and mules the Dragon Knights kept up here.
Mirana suppressed a chuckle as they entered the great hall. The scent of roasting meat was glorious, and Marci was all but openly salivating now. After her misadventures she had to be famished, and she needed to restore her strength.
Though the walls inside were just as featureless, dull and grim as the ones outside, they were made softer by the firelight spilling from the hearth at the end of the hall, as well as the firepit over which turned roasting meat. The sound of sizzling meat was not entirely drowned out by the conversations of the Dragon Knights arrayed at the tables.
Mirana failed to avoid chuckling now. Marci's eyes were fixed on the spit-roasts and she was practically drooling now. Mirana could imagine her running straight in and attacking the food, heedless of the heat. The mental image forced her to cover her mouth to stifle the laughter.
Marci did not notice. Food was all she saw now.
'Davion!' Mirana saw a young man with unruly fair hair hurry through the hall towards them. Davion's face broke into a wide grin as the two clasped hands and slapped each other on the back. 'You had me worried sick, Davion!'
'Have a little faith, Bram,' Davion chortled. 'It was just an Eldwurm. Nothing I couldn't handle.'
'Oh sure! I seem to remember you flying into a panic when Frühling went after it. What happened down there?'
Davion's face fell and he murmured: 'I wish I knew.'
Bram did not seem concerned. 'You probably just hit your head. It wouldn't be the first time.' He peeped around Davion's shoulder. 'I think I can see the real reason for your sudden amnesia.'
'What? Oh, no! No, they're just friends. I owe them my life.' Davion ushered Bram towards them. 'Bram, this is Marci and this is Mirana. This is Bram, my squire.'
'Haven't we met?' Bram asked.
'Not properly.' Mirana answered. 'We were in Barreltown after Davion slew the dragon.'
Bram gazed at Marci, perplexed by her vacant stare. 'Is she feeling all right?'
'She's just hungry.' Davion assured him. 'We've had a difficult journey. Let's get Marci fed before she eats somebody's leg. Marci,' he caught her attention and tapped the side of his mouth.
Marci wiped her mouth, her cheeks reddening slightly.
Kaden had Davion placed at the table in front of the hearth, not at his side but close enough to speak clearly over the bustle. Marci and Mirana were placed opposite Davion and his squire.
Davion went to fetch food for Marci and Mirana himself, if only to prevent Marci from chewing on the table. When he came back with bowls piled high with roast meat and steaming vegetables, Marci pounced on her food and tore into it with her bare hands.
Mirana chuckled at the sight, eating more slowly and with more dignity, using cutlery instead of her hands.
She still found it odd that Kaden was not asking Davion more questions. Odd, but lucky. If they figured out that Davion could now transform into some sort of human-dragon monster, things would only go badly. Like Marci though, she was content to be warm and to fill her empty stomach. It had been weeks since they had last eaten a proper meal.
'How exactly did you meet these two?' Bram was asking Davion, distracted by the sight of Marci devouring her food.
'Well...' Davion shrugged. 'I woke up on the road, naked, covered in blood, and found them leaning over me.'
Bram laughed. 'That's a good one, Davion!'
'No, it's true.' Davion told him.
'How much did you drink?'
'Not that much.'
Marci licked the grease off her lips and fingers and set off eagerly to scavenge more food. Mirana shook her head knowingly, a smile on her face. When Marci returned, she had an entire roast chicken and a bunch of potatoes all to herself.
Bram was staring at her in amazement. He leaned towards Davion and whispered, 'Should uh... should one of us tell her to take it easy?'
'She's hungry.'
'She just ate everything you gave her and now she's eating an entire chicken!'
'Nothing wrong with a healthy appetite.' Davion smiled at Marci, then slid a jug of ale towards her. She paused to take a long swig, then resumed demolishing the chicken.
'Hey, Davion?' One of his fellow knights leaned over. Even from where she sat, Mirana could smell the alcohol on his breath. 'How did you do it?'
'I'm sorry?'
'How did you manage to pick up two attractive women between Barreltown and this place?'
'It's not like that, Jorsen.'
'Oh come on, Davion! We all know what you're like. No wonder it took you so long to get here.'
'Jorsen, it really wasn't like that.' Davion stated firmly.
'Well, I think you're being greedy.' Jorsen leaned back and poured himself some more ale. 'I mean, you can't have both. Come on! You get enough women as it is. You must have a preference. Which one?'
It was a quick, minute moment. If Mirana had not been watching Davion then, she would never have seen it.
Davion's eyes flicked over to Mirana, did not stop, and came to rest on Marci, who was occupied with gnawing the last bits of meat off the drumstick in her greasy hands. The corners of his mouth twitched, hinting at a smile.
There was much more than just amusement in that hidden smile.
Mirana felt no jealousy. Yes, Davion was handsome. But Marci received so little attention. It made a nice change. Besides, once they found the lotuses Mirana would be back in Selemene's good graces. As kind and attractive as Davion was, Mirana felt that he could not compare to an impossibly beautiful seven foot tall curvaceous goddess.
'I told you Jorsen, it's not like that.' Davion said. 'They helped me. That's all it is.'
So he said. Mirana had been there when Davion and Marci had woken up, arms wrapped around each other. Stress did funny things to people. Pressure brought out the best and the worst in them. Danger made them into cowards or fighters. Even though they had not known each other for long, everything that they had been through had created a bond between the Dragon Knight and Mirana's loyal handmaiden.
It was a bond Marci would hold for the rest of her life. Mirana knew that. People had struggled to form attachments to Marci even before she had been rendered mute. Her family had loved her, but there had always been a strange distance between them. It was as if they had never truly known her.
Mirana had been the first friend Marci had ever known, and the devotion sometimes worried her. Marci would willingly give her life for her, and Mirana would be devastated if she did. So would Davion.
A squire approached Kaden and whispered in his ear. Kaden nodded. He waited until the squire had gone before standing.
Silence fell.
Marci put down the now meatless drumstick and frowned. Mirana could sense her unease.
There was a tension in the air, a palpable sense of wrongness. It felt less like a celebration now and more like the first tense, limb shaking and mind numbing moments before a battle.
Mirana had left her weapons in the care of some squires, as had Marci and Davion. Marci needed no weapon, but Mirana was not so blessed with such awesome strength or as skilled in unarmed combat. Carefully, she closed her fingers around the knife next to her plate, palmed it and slid it under the table.
'My fellow Dragon Knights, my brothers, it is time to honour the latest hunt.' He was still clad in his armour. Did he ever take it off? 'Bring it in.'
Mirana saw the doors open and a group of armoured Dragon Knights bring something large in, covered by a canvas sheet. She noticed that the sheet was speckled with blood.
At the same time, Marci heard furtive shuffling and saw the two squires hovering near the hearth.
Both were carrying a massive two-handed sword.
Marci felt her mouth go dry. Her heart started to beat faster. She turned and peered closely at the men around her. Bram was not a threat, she could see that at once.
Her gaze fell on Jorsen. Nothing wrong there.
Was there?
Marci noticed the way he moved his arm, slow and deliberate. He was not as drunk as he seemed to be. His movement was carefully executed with subtlety in mind. Even so, Marci's sharp eyes spotted something moving under the sleeve of his jerkin, something heavy, something which glinted in the light of the hearth when his arm came to rest on the table.
Steel rings, interlocked and riveted. Mail.
Jorsen was wearing a mail shirt under his jerkin. He was not the only one.
Marci lowered her hand and ran it under the table, closer to the Dragon Knight sitting next to her. Her fingers brushed across leather first, rendered inflexible and straight by what it contained. As she brought her hand back, her fingertips traced a familiar shape made of steel: the cruciform guard of a sword's hilt.
Mirana watched as the armoured Dragon Knights drew away the canvas covering. Underneath lay something unmistakeable: the head of a ruby-scaled dragon.
Davion knew what he should have felt. He should have felt pride at the achievement of his fellow Dragon Knights. He should have felt glad that another dragon had been slain.
He should have stood with his brothers and applauded the glory of the kill.
Instead, he felt something hot in his blood. It made his arms and legs shake and his heart pulse faster and faster. His mind became numb, then focused with anger.
No. Not anger. Rage.
The song filled his head before he could try to stop it. He felt his muscles bulge, his blood surge and boil, the scales sliced through his skin, ripping through his clothes. He felt his body swell, bat-like wings erupting from his back and a hooked tail whipping from his waist.
Davion retreated. The other was in control again. He was back, and his wrath was beyond Davion's struggle for control.
'You will pay for your transgression, you insignificant creatures.'
Marci saw Jorsen reach under the table and knew that he was going for a weapon.
Quick as lightning, Marci snatched the jug of ale and hurled it at his head. It shattered into pieces and Jorsen fell off his chair in shock, cursing and yelping. Bits of the jug remained lodged in his skin, blood and ale ran down his face.
Davion roared, flames bursting from his mouth, and reached for Kaden. The squires had already handed Kaden his massive sword.
Kaden swung at the approaching limb. The crimson scales on Davion's arm prevented the sword from cutting deeply, but Marci saw several of them shatter. Bits of them flew across the table, some embedding themselves in the wooden surface.
Bram jumped from his chair and put his back to the wall, staring in horror at the monstrous creature which had been his friend. He seemed to be the only one who had not been expecting something like this.
The Dragon Knight next to Marci made the mistake of going for his concealed sword. Marci executed a perfect headbutt, smashing the man's nose and knocking him into his comrade. The two Knights went down with a metallic rustling of mail and ended up in an ungainly tangle of limbs.
Mirana had already leapt to her feet, clutching a simple knife. Marci yanked the concealed sword from its scabbard and thrust its hilt at Mirana. Mirana took the weapon without objection.
A group of fully armoured Dragon Knights rushed from where they had concealed themselves, all holding lengths of barbed chain which ended with cruel hooks. As Davion swiped at Kaden, the Knights whirled the lengths of chain and hurled them at Davion.
Davion roared as one of the chains encircled his left arm, the barbs biting into his hide and the hook burying itself in a space between his scales. He tried to pull his arm forwards, but more Dragon Knights seized the chain and pulled it back.
Mirana saw Marci's hesitation. She held up the sword in a tight grip, her face grim. 'Go! I'll keep them off you!'
Marci spared her a nod, then leapt over the table. As she moved, she snatched a goblet. She could hear swords clashing behind her, the steel ringing, as Mirana tried to keep the Dragon Knights at bay. She was not as skilled with a sword as she was with a bow, and the Dragon Knights were better trained and more experienced, but they were under orders not to kill her if they could avoid it.
Mirana was actually doing a decent job of keeping the Knights away, since they were amongst the ones who had been trying to be covert. If they had been wearing plate, they could have simply shrugged off the blows of Mirana's stolen sword. But they were clad in mail. The metal rings would prevent the sword from cleaving their flesh, but a strong enough strike would still cause severe bruising, internal bleeding, drive the mail into their skin, or even break bones. A powerful thrust would break the steel rings too.
Marci pitched the goblet at one of the men as he prepared to hurl his chain at Davion. He collapsed, knocked insensate.
Snarling, one man ran at her with a warhammer. He made the mistake of lifting his arm too high, the other held too far back. Marci darted in, too close for the hammer to hit her, and brought her knee up sharply between his legs. No mail there, not that it would have helped the foolish man.
The warhammer fell with a clatter. The Dragon Knight's eyes bulged and he fell onto his back, wailing and clutching his crotch. Marci did not spare him a thought and leapt over him.
By now, at least thirty Dragon Knights were wrestling Davion away from Kaden using the barbed chains. Davion was howling with pain and rage, fire spewing from his fanged maw.
Kaden stepped back, his sword held low. Was he going to finish Davion off?
Marci would not give him the chance. Davion might have turned into a berserk monster, but he had saved her life. He was her friend. She would not let him die.
Marci sprinted towards Kaden, preparing to launch herself, ready to plant her feet flat on the stonework each time they landed, closing in for a leaping kick. Kaden was without his helm, she would be upon him before he could lift his greatsword to stop her.
Somebody yelled, 'Stop!'
Marci ignored the cry and leapt, pushing powerfully off her back foot. She bent her left leg underneath herself, started to twist her pelvis and began to extend her right leg, aiming to strike Kaden's head with the top of her foot.
Kaden saw her out of the corner of his eye.
He moved incredibly quickly despite his armour. Carried by momentum, Marci continued to move forwards, her leg extending and now about to miss Kaden's head.
Kaden brought up his arm quickly, smacking Marci in the back of her extended leg. The latent power imbued in his armour gave him a strength to match Marci's.
Marci continued to fly forwards, but now spun helplessly and hit the table, landing on her back and sliding through bowls of abandoned food, spilling dregs of ale as she knocked over mugs.
Grimacing with pain, Marci lifted her head. Her eyes crossed as they focused on the tip of a sword pointed at the bridge of her nose.
'Don't move, girl.' the man holding the sword grated. 'Try anything and I'll stick this sword through your eye.' As he spoke, more men surrounded her and lifted their weapons threateningly.
'Marci!' Mirana called. 'Don't fight!' She had finally been overcome by a pair of plate-clad Dragon Knights. They held her between them, lifting her feet off the ground. She had tried to kick one of them and had only succeeded in hurting her own foot.
Davion had also been subdued, brought to his knees and wrapped in barbed chains. Blood ran from between his scales and pooled around his legs.
Marci tried to catch his gaze, trying to tell him without words how sorry she was. She had failed him. He had saved her life and she had failed him.
Kaden stepped closer to the defeated creature which had once been one of his finest and most trusted Knights. The warm orange glow of the hearth cast his face into sharp relief, deepening each line and scar. His expression was as grim as a tombstone.
'I heard about it, Davion. I heard about what happened outside Haupstadt.' He spoke quietly, his tone unexpectedly soft. 'I did not want to believe it, Brother. Truly, I did not. But now we can see the truth. I am sorry, Davion, but this cannot stand.' He nodded to the men holding the chains. 'You know what to do. Make sure he's secure. Take the women down to the cells, and make sure that their beast cannot leave.' He sighed and turned back to Davion. 'You know what I must do, Brother. But if there is anything left of you in there, you will know that I do this with a heavy heart. Take him away.'
Marci barely felt them seize her arms and lift her from the table. Her eyes remained fixed on Davion until they dragged her and Mirana towards the back of the hall and down into the depths of the keep.
Bram remained where he was, mixed feelings of sorrow, horror and betrayal swirling and churning in his heart.
How had it come to this?
My thanks to annbe11 for providing some much needed clarity, which will definitely be useful later, and for letting me borrow a few more cues from High Priestess Marci. The third chapter went up a couple of days ago, and I recommend giving it a read and some nice feedback.
