Relying on the Dragon

CHAPTER NINE

Kala

     As Kala followed Drake from the room surrounded by his brothers, she couldn't help but feel dread. They didn't know her uncle like she did. They didn't know his cruelty. It was one thing to hear about it, but to see it was a whole new experience.

    Clare was walking silently beside her, and Kala felt bad for her, the color that had been in her cheeks was gone. Replaced was the fear that had been in her eyes since her uncle arrived. She needed to protect Clare, she couldn't have Clare associated with her, there was too much danger in that. 

    "Clare, go back to the kitchens with Martha, make yourself scarce and busy." She instructed. "You can't be seen going into the hall with us." She didn't want to be seen going into the hall with them. If she could save at least one of them from that confrontation, let it be Clare. Clare nodded, and with Martha they quickly disappeared.    

    "What does the girl mean to you?" Kargeth asked, as they slowly walked. 

    "She is like a sister to me. We grew up together. My father had taken her in, after finding out that her father had been a very abusive man. He banished the man from Clarion, and took Clare in. She was raised alongside me, and she was my best friend. She still is to this day, but we don't acknowledge it as it can get her into serious trouble if not dead." Kala said. 

    "Then she is family." Thorne said, Kala nodded slowly. 

    "Yeah she is. She's all that I have left. She may not be blood, but she is my family." Kala never thought of it like that once her parents had passed away. Her world had crumbled, and Clare had disappeared into the servant's quarters, she never noticed until she moved there. She had gotten so lost in her pain, that their relationship had changed where Clare was in the background but not at her side like she used to be when they were growing up. Her heart broke, as she realized that she left her sister behind not caring for a moment what kind of torment Clare was going through. 

    "Then she is under our protection too." Kargeth stated. That eased Kala's heartbreak, maybe she can make it up to Clare somehow, and this was a start. She hoped so. She hated herself for how selfish she had been when it came to the girl who grew up with her. They were going through this together, and she lost sight of that. She needed to talk to Clare when she got the chance. 

    They entered the hall, where her uncle sat with Thomas, they looked deep in conversation. Kala couldn't help but put herself behind Drake, praying that he would keep her hidden. She wondered if maybe she should hide behind two of them, or all four, but that would expose her back. God, what she would do to not be in this room right now. Especially, when her uncle and Thomas took notice of their approach. 

    "Well, well, well, look who decided to show her face." Cedrick sneered, standing. They stopped, as Cedrick approached them. "You and I have business to attend to, little mouse. Thomas take her to the cell." Thomas leered at her as he made his way towards her. Drake blocked his way. 

    "Get out of the way Dragon." Thomas sneered. 

    "No." Drake said simply. "You can't have her for I have use for her." Kala looked at Drake's back, where was he going with this? 

    "What do you need her for?" Cedrick asked, curiously. 

    "I enjoyed her quite thoroughly last night, and I'm not bored of her yet. So for the duration of my stay, I want her waiting on me day and night." Drake said, nonchalantly. Kala's face went beet red, why would he lie like that? 

    "She has chores, and I need her." Cedrick rejected Drake's demand. Kala swallowed. 

    "I have information on your enemies, if you want that information, you'll give the girl to me for the duration of my visit." Drake refused to stand down. 

    "Who said you were staying longer? I can get whatever information you have from other sources. You are not that valuable to me." Cedrick brushed his offer off. 

    "How do you know it's the same information? I'm a dragon, I see and know more than you're human resources. I travel around the world and am in places that your men can't get into. So how are you so sure that your resources are as reliable as me?" Drake asked, Kala prayed her uncle would just give in. But he was a stubborn man. 

    "She still has to do her chores, I can't afford to lose a servant just because you're here, the rest of the servants shouldn't have to do her load, so she can cater to you." Cedrick bargained. Kala couldn't believe it, was her uncle folding? She wanted to leap for joy. 

    "But, your grace, what about--?" Thomas interjected, turning to Cedrick. Her uncle brushed him off, but the look they exchanged made her heart stop. They were planning something, she wanted to tell Drake not to trust them. 

    "Fine, but only when I don't have a need for her." Drake agreed, and Kala wanted to scream. 

    No! Don't trust them. She screamed in her head. Drake looked back at her, and she wondered if he had heard her somehow. 

    "Deal." Cedrick agreed, and she felt her mouth drop open. "Off you go then, on to your chores, midday meal needs to be prepared." 

    "I said, only when I don't have a need for her." Drake growled. "I need her at the moment. She'll be back in time to serve the meal, then I'll need her for the afternoon." He turned, taking her by the arm, he led her to the main doors that led outside, the brothers close behind. Not giving her uncle a chance to protest. 

    What just happened? She thought to herself, as she allowed herself to be led outside. Drake's grip was quite gentle, which shocked her, though she did have to speed up her pace to keep up with him. 

    "Where are we going?" She asked, quietly, as they made their exit. 

    "To meet your people, and so we can learn the village's layout. I need to know all of the exits, how Clarion was built. It's been a very long time since Kargeth and I have been here. Thorne and Tolan have never seen Clarion. I want all of us familiar with it." Drake said, as they stepped outside. Kala felt the sun on her face, and it felt so nice. 

    "What about Clare?" She asked, she had sent the girl to the kitchens, not knowing what would take place in the hall. Now she worried for her safety. Her uncle no longer had access to her, would he turn his attention on to Clare now? But it had been too risky to keep her with them. 

    "We'll get her too." Drake looked at Kargeth, who headed back into the keep. Drake let go of her arm, once they were more into the courtyard. "Now, take us to the blacksmith, I would like to meet him." 

    **************

Drake

    Meet us at the blacksmith's. Drake told Kargeth, as Kala led them across the courtyard. He wondered how she had kept herself hidden for a year and half from her uncle. She had been so vague on that, he needed to remember to ask her when they had the time, and when he was sure they were not being followed. 

    "This used to be such a beautiful place." Kala said, softly as they made their way to the gatehouse, that separated the keep from the village. 

    "I remember." Drake agreed. "Once we gain it back, it will be beautiful again." He promised, she shot him a look. 

    "Why do you care so much about what happens here?" She asked. 

    "Because, this used to be your mother’s, and it will soon be yours. To see your home restored will make you happy, and that's all I want for you." Drake answered. Kala turned away, and focused on the guardhouse. 

    Drake focused on the guardhouse too. Why had he said that? He cleared his throat, as they passed through without anyone trying to stop them. The usurper had grown too comfortable in his new home that his men let anyone pass in and out. Especially when one of those people was the heiress who was a big flight risk, no wonder she had no problem getting to the meadow, especially if  the main gate was just as lightly guarded. They made their way proper into the village, and Kala steered them down many different allies until they came to the forge that marked the blacksmith's business. 

    The forge was empty and cold, which was to be expected as the man was still recovering from what the usurper had done to him. Kala went to the door of the hut, and knocked softly before she poked her head in, then she disappeared inside without a word to them. So they fanned out to make sure they hadn't been followed, or that the usurper hadn't sent men to ambush them. Drake knew it had been a risk to come here so soon after the horror the usurper had rained down on the blacksmith, but he needed to know if his hunch was true. As they had gotten closer to the blacksmith's forge he had felt the figurine. Was it possible Cedrick had left it in the forge, instead of keeping it with him, as he hadn't felt it's presence in the keep. 

    As he turned his back on Blaine's hut, to keep an eye on the street, he wished he had gone inside with Kala. He needed to see the blacksmith, he had felt the figurine as they drew closer to the forge. He never thought it would become so important, as it was meant to sooth a young child, not become a life line. He noticed a couple of Cedrick's men walk their way, exactly what he didn't want. He knew they would be followed, or at least kept an eye on. 

    After we're done here, we need to keep an eye on this place. I have a feeling that Blaine will be punished again for our presence here. Drake sent out to his brother's, they each nodded without looking at him. They all watched the men in armor walk by, sizing them up. 

    I can take them. Tolan said, cracking his knuckles, and growling at the men. The men quickened their pace and quickly disappeared. 

    We have to try and keep some sort of peace, that way we can stay. We are not ready to bring war down on the usurper. The people aren't prepared. Drake said, firmly, though he did chuckle at how quickly the men disappeared. The usurper and his men were truly cowards. 

    "Drake, come inside." Kala whispered behind him, he turned around quickly. He had been hyper focused on those men he hadn't heard Kala open the door. 

    Keep an eye out for Kargeth and Clare. Keep her hidden. Drake instructed, before disappearing inside. 

    Upon entering, the smell of death and infection hit him like a wall, it caused Drake to stall for a moment. His eyes adjusted quickly to the very dimly lit hut. His dragon sight took over so that he could see better. Living in pure darkness, this hut was very welcoming and almost felt homely to him. The hut was a one room building, with very little furniture. The hut was made up of two beds, a small one that Drake knew had to have been Tommy's, and the larger one where Blaine was covered up in several blankets, Kala had returned to his side and was kneeling beside him. Before approaching, Drake took the time to take in the rest of the hut. There was a stove and sink to his right, with a table and three chairs. There was a vase of flowers on the table. There was a toy horse on the floor next to the table. How quickly this family had been destroyed, Drake thought. 

    "See Blaine, I have help now. We aren't alone in this anymore." Kala was whispering to the man. Drake slowly approached the bed, the smell got stronger and looked down at the beaten man, Drake knew he was looking down at a dead man. Blaine was awake, but his eyes were dead and hollow. His face bruised, eyes bloodshot. As Blaine looked up at him, a tear trickled down the side of his face and onto his pillow, as a look of recognition went over his face. "We will make them pay for what they did to Sarah and Tommy." Kala choked on those words, not noticing that Blaine had recognized Drake, as she was too busy trying to hold back her own emotions. Drake admired her for trying to be strong in front of Blaine, despite the terror they went through and suffered together. 

    Blaine shook his head, and opened his mouth, and tried to make a sound which ended up just being gargled, and a tiny trickle of dark blood escaped the corner of his mouth. Kala shook her head and quickly wiped the blood away. 

    "It's okay, it's okay." Kala soothed the man, as he broke down. Drake could smell the infection, and he knew this man wasn't going to live much longer. He had lost a lot of blood, and with no treatment, the infection was eating him, killing him. Kala said the usurper wouldn't kill something valuable to him, Drake wasn't so sure of that, as he knew Blaine was suffering greatly and death was coming whether he meant for the man to live or not. Cedrick would be looking for a new blacksmith soon. 

    Kala left Blaine's side and went to the cupboards by the sink, and started rummaging through them. Finding a small bag of something, Drake watched as she made a concoction of some sort. She rushed around the kitchen area, finding a chipped cup, a mortar and pestle and pitcher of water. She quickly went to work, crushing what was ever in the pouch and mixing it in the water. Drake looked back at the bed, where the man was watching her, then turned his eyes back to Drake. 

    Blaine was a large man, muscular, fit for his trade, though it was quite apparent that his condition was starting to take a toll on his body. It was clear that Kala had a special spot in her heart for him. Drake hoped that death would take him quickly, to end his suffering. Such a powerful man as Blaine, should not suffer the indignity of dying in his bed from infection. This man deserved a warrior's death with honor. 

    Kala rushed back to the bed with her cup of whatever it was she had created, and placed it on the floor beside the bed. She leaned over Blaine and tried to get him to sit up, but she wasn't strong enough to budge the man. 

    "Please I need you to sit up, Blaine, you need to try and live. We need you. Please drink this, it'll help with the pain and infection." Kala encouraged the man, as she continued to struggle trying to get him to sit up. "It would be better hot, but we'll manage with what we have." Blaine shook his head, and refused to budge. Drake could see the man had given up. 

    "Kala..." Drake stepped forward, but Kala ignored him. He saw her shoulders were shaking, though she didn't make a sound. He placed a hand on her shoulder, and she froze. "Let him go." She shook her head. He knelt down beside her, and saw the tears streaming down her face. 

    "This was my fault." She whispered, as she stroked Blaine's hand. "Please don't give up." Blaine shook his head again, and ran his hand down her face. Drake watched the two together. A part of him felt jealous at the connection between them, but he checked himself. This wasn't two lovers saying goodbye, this was more of a man saying goodbye to a beloved child. Blaine then met Drake's eyes, and Drake knew then that his hunch had been right. 

    Taking his hand from Kala, he reached under his blankets and pulled out a cloth, but there was something wrapped in it. He handed it to Kala and did his best to smile, though Drake knew it must have caused him great pain. Kala took it, and unwrapped it and there it was, the figurine Drake had made for Oceana. There was a note written in shaky printing:

    My Dearest Girl,    

    I saved it for you. Your uncle believes it is destroyed as I lied to him after he took you away and said I had finally gotten the fire hot enough to melt it. Keep it safe, and may your dragons come for you. Take Clare and run, Clarion is lost. We know the consequences and we are okay with our sacrifice for you to live. 

    Blaine

    Drake read the note over her shoulder, just as he finished she crumpled it up and clutched the dragon figurine to her chest. 

    "You can't ask that of me, Blaine. You can't. You know I won't abandon my home. I can't." She cried. Blaine pointed at the note, forcefully and motioned towards the door. He mouthed the word "Go", and even tried to push her. Kala refused to move and denying him his final dying wish. Drake reached for her and she brushed him off. Blaine made eye contact with him, his eyes pleading with him. 

    "Kala come with me." Drake said, pulling her to her feet. She fought him, though she stopped quickly once she realized it was a losing battle and just collapsed in his arms. He held her against him, as she cried. He slowly walked her to the door and handed her off to Thorne. He noticed Kargeth had arrived with a very pale Clare. He returned back inside the hut and went back to the bed. Blaine was watching him. 

    Drake knelt down beside the bed, and looked into the man's eyes. Blaine had done a great service to him by hiding that figurine, but also for looking after Kala. He didn't want Kala in here for what he was about to do. No honorable man deserved to suffer the way Blaine was, and he wanted to release Blaine from that suffering. He opened up his mind and reached into Blaine's thoughts. Drake had been taught by Darwin how to manipulate another man's thoughts and humans were so easy to manipulate. But, he took this power and did more, he wanted to communicate with Blaine and this was the only way he could do that. 

    Blaine, don't panic. Just use your thoughts to say what you need me to know. I need you to know that we are here to save Clarion, Oceana's dragons are here - we are here. You have done my kind and I a great service by looking after the heiress, and for saving that figurine. You will never know the depth of gratitude I hold for you for protecting my mate when I wasn't able to. Drake said as he looked into the man's eyes. He waited while Blaine scrambled to get a coherent thought formed through the pain that clouded his mind. He hadn't meant to bring up that Kala was his mate. 

    You are truly here. I would recognize you anywhere, though it's been many years. I knew you when you stepped in here the first time. Please, take her and run. She can't stay here. Clarion isn't safe and it is no longer her home. Blaine sent to him. 

    I promised her I would help her save Clarion. Drake informed him. 

    That is one promise you can’t keep, break it by taking her away and keeping her safe. Cedrick won't let go readily and he has the king under his thumb. Clarion is lost, please, my lord, just take her and Clare and go back to your mountains. That is the safest place for the girls. I know she won't go willingly, but you must make her see that she needs to leave. Let me die in peace knowing that she is out of that evil man's clutches. I couldn't save my wife and son, help me save the daughter I never had at least. Please. Blaine begged him. Drake closed his eyes, that would mean another promise broken to Kala. Go take a look around, you'll see what I say is true. Get her out while there is still time. 

    I will, my friend. Now let me put you at rest. Let me end your suffering. Let this be the way I thank you for all you have done to keep Kala safe. Go be with your wife and son. Drake promised. 

    Thank you. Blaine said, as Drake put the man into a deep sleep, shutting his brain down, before he  went through the man's body shutting down his organs. Speeding up the death that was inevitable. 

    Drake sat back on his knees, after Blaine took his last breath. "This was not how I had wanted this meeting to go, I'm sorry it ended this way. I will get her out of here, I promise you that. Rest in peace, friend, be with your family." He stood, and headed for the door. 

    Leaving the little hut, he went to Kala who was still sobbing in Thorne's arms. He took her from him, and held her. 

    "I'm sorry my lady, he was too far gone. He deserved to go peacefully. You needed to let him go." Drake whispered to her. 

    "I could have saved him." Kala argued against his chest. She was so delicate and felt so fragile in his arms. He was afraid he was going to break her.

    "He didn't want to be saved, sweetling." Drake said. "He had lost everything, he had nothing left to live for. It would have been unfair to keep him on this earth. He had kept the figurine safe, he cared deeply for you and took care of you. As thanks I helped him go peacefully, he is with Sarah and Tommy now, in a better place.” He tried to reassure her. He stepped away, and gently lifted her head so he could see her face. He wiped her tears from her cheeks. “We’ll talk about Blaine’s note tonight after the evening meal. Right now I would like to go to the marketplace. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a human market, I’ve always found them entertaining.” Kala nodded. 

    “But first we need to hide that figurine. We don’t want to lose it again, or have it discovered that it survived destruction.” A smile broke through Kala’s tears as if she had just remembered she had been clutching onto the thing. She quickly revealed a hidden pocket in her skirt, and true to her word the dragon shrunk and if Drake hadn’t seen it go into the pocket with his own eyes, he would have never been able to tell she had it on her person.

    Did you make it so it can do that? Kargeth asked, in awe. 

    No. Drake answered, always awe struck. I think the figurine picked her. After all she was his mate, and that figurine was made from his scales. He couldn’t figure out how else to explain what happened. 

    Kala took a deep breath, and Drake offered her his arm. 

    “Which way to the market?” He asked and Kala pointed to the left, and off they went. Kargeth was right behind them with Clare, Tolan and Thorne taking up the rear.