The Silent Dragon by Irene Radford

Author:Irene Radford
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: DAW
Published: 2013-02-19T06:00:00+00:00

“Are you sure this is the right way?” Lucjemm asked, clinging to the rough stone wall supporting a spiral staircase.

“Yes,” Linda replied, tripping lightly up the timeworn steps—a widdershins spiral, since the kings of Coronnan all the way back to the first one, Quinnault, had been left-handed. If under attack a king would have the advantage backing up the stairs with his off hand against the wall and his sword arm free to fight an opponent below. “P’pa pointed out this tower the day we came through the keep from the stables.”

Now she understood why men wore trews. She found them much easier to move about in on this circuitous route. And the boots! So much better traction, warmth—even in high summer the stone walls radiated cold they’d absorbed during countless winters—and support on her feet. She needn’t fear stubbing her toes when she tripped over skirts. And she would trip if she’d worn skirts.

This oldest part of the keep enticed her, even more than the belowground tunnels. Here she had just as many hidden places to explore, but above ground, and with the occasional window to peer out of to find landmarks and orientation. She paused by an arrow-slit opening halfway up the spiral. All she could see was the Bay. Lots and lots of Bay with no land between here and there. Ah, that meant they were in the East Tower, tall enough to shadow the few islands that lay between here and the port. They were on the right track. To the left, six steps up, should be an opening onto the roof of the servants’ quarters—a broad flat space used in the past to call dragons.

Indigo scampered past her, not pausing as he rubbed his face against her leg. He stopped at the landing and issued something that was halfway between a normal cat’s meow and the growl of a much bigger animal. She flipped the latch on the wooden door and pushed it open for him. He bounded onto the platform and lifted his head into the constant wind off the Bay. His nose worked furiously gathering every scent.

She pulled the door closed but didn’t latch it.

The roof was here. That meant their destination should be only one more landing above that.

The next step up was too shallow for her foot and tilted alarmingly to the right. She fell forward to grasp the next riser since there were no handholds anywhere; even the windowsill was shallow and too smooth for anything but bracing a longbow.

Thank you, M’ma, for agreeing that for this adventure I needed to wear boy’s clothing.

Lucjemm steadied her back as she righted herself. She flashed him a grateful smile. For a moment they stood staring at each other, not much caring how much time passed.

Glenndon marched stolidly past them carrying a flickering torch. The few windows offered too little light in this enclosed space. He kept his gaze firmly on the ground, paying more attention to the stones beneath their feet than the route.

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