Part 20 (1/2)

”However, Enkelares and the a.s.sembly of Lords-those who are here in the city-will probably agree to the terms, with stipulations. I would expect that Hurkun will accept our offer.”

”What?” The two women spoke together, aghast.

”How could they agree to giving away part of the kingdom?” said Claressa.

”Because we do not have the strength to drive them out,” he said. ”Most of our fleet is in the north, guarding the gulf against the b.l.o.o.d.y Havalqa, who are moving seemingly at will through Threndellen and Armenos. We've several thousand men along our border and we can't risk withdrawing them for a campaign to the south.”

”We can pay for mercenaries if it comes to that,” said Claressa.

”There's no money to pay for them. The treasury has been sorely drained. One of our stipulations is that the amount of tribute to be paid to us according to the Treaty of Urkein will increase substantially to help refill our coffers.”

”Gerin should make a decision of this magnitude,” said his sister.

”I agree. But he's not here, and he left Enkelares in charge. I hate this, but we have very few options.”

Claressa rose from her chair and stood before him, her face twisted with rage. Her entire body was tensed, her fists clenched.

”You're a b.l.o.o.d.y coward,” she said. ”Father would be ashamed.”

She wheeled about and stormed from the room, leaving Therain stunned and speechless.

23.

Tyne Fedron rode his horse down a road of hard-packed earth, the Commanding Stone held firmly in his hand. The dragons wheeled in the sky above him. Most flew high, but he kept a few low to the ground to protect him should the need arise. They could not fly slow enough to match his pace and so had to continually circle him, the beating of their wings making a constant wind. He could sense when they tired, and then he allowed them either to rest upon the ground or join their kin higher in the sky, where they could glide upon currents of air.

In those first days after their arrival, he'd attempted to ride upon the neck of one of the smaller dragons, but it was impossible to hold on. The scales could flex and bend where they were attached to its hide but were as hard as steel and too rough-edged for him to hold. Just raising its head almost dislodged him.

So he walked, and the dragons flew.

His dragons ate cattle and sheep wherever they found them. Their appet.i.tes were huge, and he had to allow them to hunt while they traveled, which meant that at times they flew well out of his sight in their search for food. But no matter where they were, he could sense them through the Stone, and when they ate, he could feel contentment through the connection.

He'd destroyed three villages so far. When he came across the first one, the villagers ran screaming at the sight of the dragons.

”Kill them all!” he screamed.

The dragons swooped from the sky. They set the thatch-roofed houses on fire and devoured dozens of shrieking villagers. Others perished in the flames. The dragons killed all of the horses and mules before he could think to command them to allow at least one to live so he could ride instead of walk. He did find some food in the wreckage, which he stuffed into his pack.

He'd continued on, the smoke of the devastation churning into the sky behind him.

He pondered the devastation he had brought about as he rode across the plains on a horse he'd taken from the second village. He did not just want to destroy, he told himself. That should not be his goal. He needed to instill fear, to be sure, but if he destroyed everything, killed everyone, then there would be nothing for him to rule.

He reached a rutted path that eventually gave way to a better maintained road of hard-packed dirt. He spied a caravan of merchants on the road ahead of him, but they were already turning about, attempting to flee.

Tyne felt the dragons' desire to devour the caravan in their hunger, but he forbid it. He wanted the merchants to flee, to spread the word of his coming.

And with that, fear.

The merchants had apparently come from a small walled town with a lone hillock rising from the prairie on its southern face. The road he was riding upon led to a wooden gate that was now closed. Atop the hillock were several manor houses and a single, central tower surrounded by a stone wall that rested like a crown on the hillock's head. He spied some movement behind the wall atop the hill. Men with bows peeked through the crenellations, then quickly ducked down.

He would not destroy this town. He wanted, instead, to exert his power over the people here.

Feed on the sheep and cattle, he called out to the dragons. But do not kill people unless they attack you.

The dragons swooped from the sky and tore apart the terrified animals grazing in the pastures as Tyne continued on toward the gate, concerned that someone might try to kill him with an arrow. When he got to the edge of what he gauged was the range of a longbow, he paused. Let the dragons eat their fill. Then I'll tame this place.

If there were problems, he could always burn it down and try again at the next town.

He waited a few minutes for the dragons to eat, then commanded them to circle the town only fifty or sixty feet above the thatch roofs. He ordered two of them to land on either side of him to act as escorts as he closed the distance to the gate.

Tyne saw two eye slits slide open in the gate. ”By the G.o.ds,” shouted a man who remained hidden, ”what manner of devils have you brought upon us?”

”The dragons are mine to control,” said Tyne. He sent a command to the two beasts flanking him. They reared back their heads and sent gouts of flame into the air. Even over the roar, he could hear people screaming inside the walled town.

”Obey me, and you will live. Defy me, or attempt to harm me in any way, and the dragons will burn your town and devour each of you as hungrily as they did your cattle.”

”What is it you want?” said the same man. His voice quavered with fear.

”I already told you: obedience,” said Tyne. ”And a harness.”

It did not take long for him to claim the largest manor house as his own. He allowed the few household servants to remain, but turned out the family immediately. From the haste at which they ran from the house, he did not think they minded overmuch. The dragon sitting in the yard outside the manor was obviously not to their liking.

He told the servants he was not to be disturbed for any reason, then locked himself in a bedroom and slept for two days. When he awoke he was famished, though not as hungry as he should have been. Drexos had been right: when he slept after using the Stone, the power within it sustained him somehow, so that he did not die of starvation or thirst.

He commanded that a saddle or harness maker be brought to him. He enjoyed the way everyone leapt to obey him. They recognized his power, the authority he carried with him. Soon everyone will obey me the way these people do.

The servants led a balding, broad-shouldered man into the room. Despite the man's imposing size and obvious physical strength, he stared at Tyne with wide-eyed terror. The sight of his fear made Tyne grin. By the G.o.ds, he could almost smell the fear on him!

”I need a harness,” said Tyne. ”Can you make one for me?”

”I...of course, my lord.”

”This is not for a horse or mule. I need a saddle and harness for one of my dragons.”

The man's eyes widened even farther, and his knees buckled. ”My lord, please. I-I can't.”

”If you can't, then I'll allow my dragon to feast on your flesh and find another to make what I need.”

The man swallowed thickly. ”But, my lord, to make a harness I will have to measure it. The beast will gobble me up!” He looked ready to weep.

”I control them completely. Never forget that. I will not permit it to harm you while you work. Get whatever tools you need, then return here. You'll be fitting the dragon that waits outside. Tarry, and I will not be pleased.”

Trembling, the man bowed low. ”Yes, my lord.” Then he ran from the room.