Blood Knot

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter 14

The dragons came again. In the early morning, the day after Leif left, hordes of them approached the city, yet they made no move to attack.

Avoca was with Merek in a large chamber that had become the new war room after the previous one was destroyed. They sat in the candle lit room, discussing what would happen when the new Lord arrived. Once again, it was screams that alerted Avoca to the dragon’s presence.

One dragon, a huge Beuser with many scars, had landed in the castle’s courtyard. Its rider sat atop it, apparently waiting. Avoca and Merek descended the spiral steps and entered the courtyard together.

The courtyard was filled with shadows. The feeble sun rays were blocked by the mass of dragons that circled in the sky, leering down hungrily at the puny mortals below. It seemed as if hundreds of drums beat together, but it was the steady flapping of sinewy wings that could be heard. The sight of so many beasts, that most people had believed to be myth, installed dread into even the stoutest of hearts.

Upon seeing Avoca and Merek, the rider dismounted from the Beuser and strode towards them. He was human, of about 25 years of age. He had arrogant features and wore a blue cloak with an elaborate crest on that Avoca had not seen before.

‘Merek, heir of Chetwick?’ The man said. He had strong Llaam accent, and every word was carefully pronounced.

‘Aye,’ said Merek tersely. ‘And who might you be?’ he spoke in a strong voice, despite the dragon narrowing his black eyes malevolently at Merek, his face twisted in an ugly grimace that revealed deadly teeth, dripping with toxic phlegm.

‘Willamin son of King Yenril, of Llaam,’ replied the man with a mocking bow. ‘I am here to claim this city as my own. Try to stop me if you will… But I wouldn’t advise it,’ he laughed. Merek glanced up into the sky where the dragons circled, his eyes full of horror. He gulped and remained silent, unsure of how to proceed.

‘I will make this as easy as I can for you,’ Willamin continued. ‘Stand down your guards and no harm will come to the people in this city. Fail to do so, and the dragons will attack. I have no more desire than you for bloodshed so I am certain you will make a wise choice.’

‘And what happens to Merek?’ Avoca said coolly.

‘Lady Avoca is it? I have heard all about you,’ Willamin said with a slight hint of a smirk. When she did not respond, he said ‘Those related to the Lord of Chetwick will be allowed to live, as a token of my mercy.’ Merek and Avoca exchanged a look.

‘I would surrender if I were you,’ Avoca said. ‘For now.’  Merek raised a quizzical eyebrow at the use of her words. She just shook her head and looked back at Willamin.

Merek was in turmoil. How could he simply give up this city to Llaams? How would life be for the common folk? He had only just took over the leadership of the city, how could he lose it so quickly? And yet, what other choice did he have? He couldn’t condemn the people of this city to hideous deaths, not when he could prevent it. With a sick feeling in his stomach and a heavy heart, Merek bowed his head to the heir of Llaam. ‘I will order the guards to stand down,’ he said.

Willamin inclined his head towards Merek. Merek scanned the crowd that had appeared, hovering on the edges of the courtyard. Servants, scullery maids and noble men alike stood entranced by the sight of the dragons, but dared not venture too far into the courtyard. Merek found who he was looking for. The Captain of the Guard stood stoically on the castle steps. Merek beckoned the man towards him. Avoca’s impression of the Captain was that he resembled a tree stump. He was very broad across the chest, his muscles threatening to burst out of his clothes, yet he was very short. A bristling moustache quivered above his lip as he stomped towards his new Lord.

Merek whispered something in his ear. The captain’s thick eyebrows raised to a comical height, but he bowed to Merek and stomped back off into the castle. A few moments later he returned, bowing once again to Merek.

‘It is done,’ Merek told Willamin, in a voice full of supressed emotions.

 Willamin raised his right fist into the air. The swarm of dragons above began a slow spiralling descent. They landed wherever they could: in streets, on flat rooftops and on the walls that surrounded the city. Avoca watched in trepidation as the courtyard filled up with dragons. Each had a rider in a blue cloak that dismounted the moment they reached the ground. Avoca wasn’t scared of dragons. They were deadly but they were also intelligent beings that could be reasoned with, if only one spoke their language. Much like Avoca herself, she thought with a wry smile.

Willamin beckoned one of his men towards him. ‘Take fifty men inside the castle and relieve the Chetwick guards of their duties. We have no need of them.’

Avoca looked at Willamin’s soldier. He was tall and well built, wearing a dark blue hood that didn’t quite hide his shoulder length white hair. Avoca’s mind span in horror as she looked upon Leif.

The only sign that betrayed her shock was her hands curling into fists. She looked him in the eyes, her own eyes narrowed. ‘Leif,’ she said, practically spitting the name. On the outside she appeared relatively calm, but inside, she was roiling around in the betrayal, her breath gone, and the world seemed to speed up around her while she was stood motionless in the centre of it all.

Just like Willamin, Leif gave a mocking bow with a tight smile. ‘Lovely to see you again so soon.’

‘Avoca?’ Merek said. His voice was low and full of concern. Avoca just shook her head and turned away to leave the courtyard and castle. Willamin caught her arm. She spun in fury towards him, her hand jumping to her sword. Willamin’s Beuser dragon immediately span its great head towards her and snarled, spitting flecks of phlegm everywhere.

‘I said I would let you live,’ Willamin said happily, his hand still gripping Avoca’s arm. ‘I did not say you could leave.’

Not being able to fight her way out of something was a novel experience for Avoca, and one she did not like. The way out was blocked by dragons and soldiers. Avoca couldn’t be sure she could best Leif in a fight even without being surrounded by fierce opponents. Hatred began to burn inside her, sending the thoughts in her head fuzzy. In her mind she saw herself stabbing Willamin through his heart with her sword, then sprinting to the courtyard exit, slicing through anything that stood in her way.

Avoca closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This time, she could not do what she wanted. She swallowed the rage that threatened to tear out of her and snatched her arm out of Willamin’s grip. Casting a glance at Leif, she raised her head high. Leif was still looking at her, his face closed and expressionless.

‘My guards will escort you to your new chambers,’ Willamin told Merek and Avoca. He beckoned to his men, and four dragon riders came forwards. Two of them, both elves, took Merek by his shoulders and roughly pulled him towards the castle. Two humans approached Avoca, but before they could seize her, she daintily stepped out of their reach. ‘I can walk, thank you,’ she said savagely. Then she turned her backs on them and strode towards the castle without a backwards glance.