The Dragon Wicked (Hyborean Dragons) by Larson B. V

Author:Larson, B. V. [Larson, B. V.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy
Published: 2011-05-30T05:00:00+00:00

-9-

Gruum awoke on the straw bed, gasping and sick. He rolled off the bed to his feet, but was unable to stand. Nadja stood nude on the stone floor nearby, looking at him in mild concern.

“You do not travel well,” she said.

“Why did you drop us from the sky?” he demanded when he could speak.

“Wasn’t that better than burning to death?”

Gruum shook his head, uncertain of the answer. “I suppose it doesn’t matter,” he said. He rose and found his clothing. His head ached slightly from too much drink. His eyes slid to watch Nadja as she dressed. She was such a refined young woman—not like any he’d ever lain with before. Thinking about what he had done in this hidden bedchamber, he had new sympathy for Therian, who had lain with Anduin. Nadja was not a Dragon of course—possibly she was something stranger. Despite her appearance, he doubted her blood was more than a quarter human. He tried to gather his thoughts, but was not sure of his emotions. Should he be exultant…or sick? Should he reach for her…or run away into the palace, screaming?

Nadja turned and caught him looking at her. She smiled, misinterpreting his frank gaze as one of carnal interest. “What do we do now?” she asked.

Gruum fished out the flask of amber, which still held Egred’s tormented soul. The bottle glowed orange now, just as it had in his dream. Somehow, the essence of it had captured a portion of Yserth’s flame. The Dragon had said he must do with it what must be done. He thought now he understood the god’s meaning.

“You are the sole princess in this kingdom, are you not?” he asked, still staring at the flask in his hand. Inside, Egred’s red soul twisted slowly, like a rippling reflection of sunlight on a blood-filled pond.

“Yes,” she said.

“There are no other heirs, then?”

“I suppose not. What is your meaning?”

“We cannot escape this place,” Gruum said thoughtfully. “Your father is King here, and he has already attempted to slay me once. I will go and have words with him.”

Nadja dressed slowly. She came to him, adjusting her clothing. She ran her hands over him, and he felt their coolness even through his tunic. “Will you tell him about us?” she asked quietly.

“If he asks.”

“He will kill you then.”

“Possibly,” he said, shrugging. “But he wants me dead now, so it matters little.”

“I don’t wish you dead.”

Gruum snorted. “Could you not reanimate me?”

Nadja ran a freezing finger around his neck. The touch was light and tingled against his skin. She shook her head. “It would not be the same Gruum.”

He looked down at her, and saw she was serious. He suppressed a shudder. His bitter joke had turned into a frightening possibility. He hoped that when he died, his soul would not be left haunting this world, and his body would be burnt to ash so none could make free with his corpse.

Nadja stared at him intensely.

“What are you thinking?” he asked her at last, noticing her scrutiny.

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