Spark (Clan of Dragons Book 1) Page 13

  “Did you see Toal’s kills?” she asked, feigning innocence.

  “Nay. Elder Fish let me know, just before flames tore through the stables, that he had seen the heavily laden cart. We must compare the two carts, before we can announce a winner.”

  The wager seemed less important than the mystery behind the guard’s death. “What about the guard that was killed? Certainly the killer be still among us, and might have set the fire.”

  Elder Kinnon glanced over her shoulder, and she knew Evan stood at her back. She turned toward him and spied a surly looking man, wearing a smirk, standing behind Evan. He was unknown to her, but his soot-covered plaide added to the smoky odor from the fire.

  “Where be Maeve?” Evan asked.

  Startled at his query, Vika turned her attention back toward him. When Unna placed a tankard on the table in front of the old man, she found her voice. “Thank you Unna.”

  The young serving woman bit her bottom lip and her eyes flashed from her to Elder Kinnon.

  “Unna, do you want to add something?” Elder Kinnon asked the server.

  “Mistress MacFingan put Orin’s pretty little friend in a bedchamber at the top of the stairs. She be seeing to Sinna’s injuries, now. Orin carried him right up those stairs as if he weighed nothing more than a feather!”

  Any other day, Vika would have smiled at the young woman’s admiration toward her brother. Today, however, was a day filled with terror, fire, murder, and loss. She prayed that Spark was safe, and that he stayed far away from the village, until his fate was declared. If their kills had burned along with the cart, she would lose to Toal, and they might starve, come winter.

  “If you will excuse me, I must speak to me brother.” Vika patted the older man’s hand, then glanced at Evan. He stood as still as a wall of granite, and did not attempt to follow her.

  Praying all would turn out well, Vika headed toward the stairs tucked near the back of the dining area, adjacent to the hall that led to the council chamber and the back door. The odor of burning timber leached through the hallway, and she realized someone had left it slightly open. As she headed down the hall to close the door, a massive hand grabbed her by the throat. When another hand covered her nose and mouth, she knew her prayers had gone unanswered.

  CHAPTER 15

  “How be Sinna?” Elder Kinnon asked Orin, who had joined them in the tavern’s main room. The worry reflected in the old man’s face was touching, but his concerns would not awaken the injured guard from his unnatural sleep. Before he could answer, Evan grabbed his elbow.

  “Where be Vika? With Maeve?”

  “Nay. Maeve be asleep. I just checked on her, and didn’t see me sister. Why do you ask?”

  Evan ran toward the back of the tavern, bypassing the stairway.

  “Do you know what troubles him?” Orin asked the old man. His gut churned, and a vision of dark waves and dangerous men rose. Something was horribly wrong.

  Elder Kinnon set his tankard on the table, as his eyes widened. “Besides our murdered gate guard? Well, the lass stated she was heading upstairs to see you, and to inquire about your friend. Did you not see her?”

  “Bloody Hell! Has Toal stolen her away again?”

  Elder Kinnon waved his hand at him. “Nay, Lord MacMorgan disappeared in a puff of smoke. The only other person here was a man who I believe works at his estate. He headed toward the back door and…oh, dear.”

  Orin raced after Evan, certain the same idea had come to him. He’d already suspected someone had started the blaze, but had they also murdered a guard? His first thought was Toal MacMorgan. The man had numerous henchmen, and he would not put it past him to make sure he won their wager by any means possible. Had his man taken Vika?

  A thunderous roar echoed down the darkened hallway, and Orin raced through the open back door. Smoke rose from the smoldering ruins of the tavern’s barn, burning his lungs. He covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve.

  Vika’s scream ripped through the night. Hoof beats headed out of the village and the crack of a whip heralded the direction the kidnapper headed. He raced toward the barn intent on commandeering a horse. However, he slid to a stop as cinders blew around his head.

  Idiot! The fire destroyed the barn, and all the horses have run away.

  Orin shook his fist at the heavens. Sleet began to fall, as if laughing at his troubles. In order to save Vika, he needed a horse. Where was Spark? Where was Evan, for that matter? For a man who seemed interested in his sister, had he run off at the first sign of trouble?

  When he thought to run toward the other horse shelter, near the creek, the thunder of hooves made him pause. As his fingers pulled his hair in dismay, and sleet pinged against his nose and chest, galloping hooves grew louder. Spark came roaring by, out of the dark. “Wait!”

  The horse’s lungs heaved as it slid to a stop, and Orin mounted the unsaddled beast. A length of plaide was wrapped around his middle, tied on by a wide strip of leather. When Orin tightened his grip in the animal’s mane, Spark galloped after the receding hooves. As they reached the wall surrounding the village, he flew over the huge wall with the ease of a winged dragon. Luckily, Orin remained seated, and they followed the other horse through dark and sleet by sound alone.

  He assumed Vika was on the horse they followed, and he wished he’d had the forethought to grab a weapon. His only discourse was to pray his new dragon friend was watching, and could help. The only problem with that idea was that it would leave their cart unattended.

  “This be all Toal’s fault.”

  Spark raised his head in agreement, then lowered his long wet neck and ran like the wind. Orin huddled as close to the horse’s neck as he could, but had to close his eyes against the ice. He prayed Spark knew who they followed, and would not lose the trail.

  He had doubts that Toal had grabbed her, but she was gone. When Orin realized that they headed straight toward their farm, and the open sea, he urged Spark to run faster. Pirate ships plied the waters near their home, but he and his sister were never concerned for their safety. In truth, they often supplied the sailors with milk, cheese, and summer vegetables. Vika mentioned they ought to trade some of their meat to the pirates. The plunder with which the seamen bartered was usually coins. Vika and Orin traded those bits of gold for clothing and other supplies.

  He turned Spark slightly north, using a trail sailors would most likely use when heading into the mountains. Orin always assumed pirates buried their treasure in caves.

  He now knew that dragons existed, and the ones he had seen in action were fearsome creatures. He had no way of knowing if they were all man-eaters. The purplish dragon, who had unfurled his huge brown wings and scared him nearly to death in the burning barn, seemed friendly. Helpful, even.

  “I pray a dragon appears, and helps us save Vika.”

  Spark faltered, and Orin worried he smelled approaching danger. The hoof beats ahead had slowed to a trot, and Orin knew they neared the channel that led to the open sea. If whoever had taken her planned to board a ship, Vika might be lost to him forever.

  ***

  “We meet again, lass. I be happy you changed your mind.”

  Vika stared at Toal MacMorgan, unsure what she had expected to see. He had disappeared in a hot wind of flames and smoke, yet only his clothing seemed scorched. Sleet fell, soaking into their clothing, and she shivered. His henchman tossed her from the back of the horse, and she staggered to keep her balance. After he had removed his hand from her mouth, she had screamed. Unfortunately, when his arm crossed her chest and tightened, it had subdued her ability to breathe.

  Gasping for air, she turned her sights on Toal. He stood there, gloating, with a dozen men at his back. Several held torches. Behind them was the ghostly outline of a large ship.

  “I have decided to leave Scotland. After you and I share a bed aboard this vessel, we can discuss our future life together.” His sneer mottled his face.

  He smelled mostly of smoke, which was an improveme
nt, but his words made chills race down her spine.

  “You will not take me to your bed, not while there still be breath in this body.”

  The crowd of sailors laughed. Toal’s face grew purple.

  “Vika, me darling, you be mistaken. These men expect us to leave immediately, so stop your havering, and get in the boat.”

  “I will not--”

  Before the rest of her words escaped, the man who had snatched her from inside the tavern grabbed her about the waist, and tossed her into the dingy. She landed on her stomach. Before she could pull herself to her knees, half the men climbed into the boat, and began rowing toward a ship illuminated by a couple of swinging lanterns. She worried the rest of the sailors meant to go to the village, and hurt others. Sleet matted her hair, and the air was colder than she realized. Without the hired brute wrapped around her like a woolen cloak, she was chilled, and growing colder.

  Toal sat in the bow, glaring down at her. The thought to jump overboard crossed her mind, but the choppy sea and vicious current meant certain death. What else could she do to make these seamen, whom she feared were pirates, help her?

  “We have heard rumors, MacMorgan. Strange things be happening in and around the Cuillin Hills, and we fear for our lives,” the man nearest to her, said. His eyes roved over her damp gown, then glared at Toal.

  “As well you should. ‘Tis another reason we be leaving this island.” Toal waited until he had climbed the rope ladder to the deck of the large ship, and two men dragged her onboard, before continuing the conversation.

  “There be wolves in these hills, but other creatures ply the air. I have first-hand knowledge that dragons be real.” Toal brushed damp soot from his shoulder.

  Vika watched the men’s faces while she thought about an escape route. Their astonishment morphed quickly into fear, then anger. They did not believe him! Their reaction gave her an idea, and she used it to her advantage.

  “He be daft, and ‘tis why he wants to leave our village. He killed a village guard, and burned down a barn filled with people and horses. He thinks dragons be to blame for his misfortunes. Shame!”

  Grumbling men and enraged shouts made Toal back toward the center of the ship. He glared at Vika, who could not help the smile that tipped her mouth up on one side.

  “Bitch! She lies! I saw a dragon! It nearly killed me. It plucked me up, flew me across the sky, and dumped me near your ship. ‘Tis why I was able to book passage before she arrived.”

  “Did he pay you?” she asked the man she sensed was the captain. He dressed better, wore a huge jeweled sword at his side, and smelled like salted fish.

  “Nay, but he promised…”

  Vika’s eyebrow rose, as if answering his fears.

  “I will pay you once we reach our destination,” Toal screamed. When he stormed toward her, the captain’s blade slid from its scabbard and barred his way.

  Vika sighed with relief, and listened. They were still at anchor, and the sail lay unfurled, so what was the flapping she could hear high above in the sleet-filled sky? Could it be another ship, or a dragon? Was that a splash? She thought of sharks and other sea creatures, but she’d made up her mind. She dare not turn her head or gaze upward. The sleet pinged on the top of her head, and the wind whipped her hair and damp dress. She quietly walked to the far side of the ship, away from the argument. No one was paying her any attention.

  The captain drew his sword higher until the tip nestled beneath Toal’s left ear. The other sailors stepped closer, as if prepared to share in the death of a man not worthy of their time and patience.

  With no one watching her, Vika gazed over the rail at the dark water, far below. There was no future in leaving Scotland with Toal. If the pirates killed Toal, she was no better off. She’d seen the leers and hopeful glances thrown in her direction. Raped by pirates was on par with Toal’s advances, so her mind was made up.

  They had neglected to post a guard to watch her, and had not even tied her hands or feet. Did they assume she would not jump overboard?

  Foolish men.

  As the argument grew louder, she turned her back on them all, and contemplated the open ocean. Icy spray from choppy waves added to her damp clothing and straggly hair. She peered straight down and waited until a large wave nearly reached the railing, took a deep breath, and jumped.

  The icy depths closed over her head, and she screamed beneath the surface at the sudden shock. Her mouth filled with salt water. She kicked and pawed toward the sky, and came to the surface close to the hull. A huge wave picked her up, and battered her against the vessel’s slimy side. Washed under once more, the momentary disorientation worried her. If the current drew her deep beneath the hull, she might never find her way to shore.

  When her head broke the surface, she gulped air, then was forced down into the depths once more. All she could tell, before the salt burned her eyes, and her hair blinded her, was that the ship was far beyond her. Beyond the ship, was the shore. She was heading out to sea.

  CHAPTER 16

  Spark slid to a stop on the sandy shoreline, and sniffed the air. Another horse had ridden south, but he did not smell Vika in that direction. Raising his head, he spied something dark on the horizon, with ghostly shapes illuminated by two swinging lanterns.

  “What be that? A ship? Has he taken her aboard? Bloody Hell! How can we save her?” Orin dismounted and raced to the water’s edge.

  Evan knew she was on that ship, and he had to save her, but how? Horses could swim, but not well. Dragons could fly, but were not known to swim. Tales of a creature purported to be a wingless dragon that lived beneath Loch Ness on the mainland had reached their island. He, himself, had enjoyed his swim near the waterfall, but that was in his human form. Could he swim such a distance in his dragon form? The most he ever did was dive in, catch his dinner, and return to the skies. He wanted to stay hidden from the rest of the world, but swimming beneath the surface made his fur-covered skin crawl. Humans could swim, but could his dragon survive the currents and waves, before reaching her?

  And, don’t forget about sharks.

  He raced north along the sandy beach, ignoring Orin’s cries to stop. He decided to shift into his dragon, swim to the ship, but stay below the surface. If Vika spotted him in the water, would she be brave enough to realize he was not a sea monster? Should he change into his human persona once he found her?

  As the light show began, and the ripples of power swept through Evan, he ignored the euphoria of the shift, dropped his clothing he’d used as a horse blanket, entered the water and swam. He circled the ship with only his snout above the choppy surface, but her scent had disappeared. Worry propelled him farther and faster, until he tread water on the seaward side of the ship. A huge wave lifted him up, and a body slammed against his injured side.

  “Ouch! What the…” he grunted, and turned his massive head to find the nearly unconscious Vika. As she slid deeper into the trough between two black waves, he dove down, grabbed her gently in his talons. He swam swiftly beneath the surface toward the open sea. Once far enough from the ship, and knowing both he and Vika required air, he hurtled upwards. Flapping his wings, he faltered for only a moment due to the scale-pounding sleet. Curling Vika closer to his chest, he kept out of sight of the ship, and headed toward where he had last seen Orin.

  Had the lad stayed safe? He would not put it past him to do something heroic, like steal a boat and try to save his sister single-handed.

  Providence listened!

  The lad was standing where last he had seen him. When Evan flew low over his head, and landed in a small clearing farther inland out of sight of the ship, he lowered Vika to the ground.

  As he waited for Orin, he sniffed the air. More men had passed this way, and his concern about their possible return made him wonder if he should not wait for the lad.

  Orin broke through the trees, and slid to his knees beside his sister. He seemed unconcerned that she was still wrapped in the talons of a mighty dragon.
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  “Vika? Wake up!” When she did not respond, he looked up at Evan. “Has she drowned?”

  Evan shook his head, then blew warm air across her hair, face, and chest, taking care not to shower her with sparks. When she stirred, he released her, and padded backward. She opened her eyes, caught sight of him, and nearly screamed. Luckily for their continued safety, Orin covered her mouth with his hand.

  When she started to fight her brother, he whispered something that seemed to calm her. She stopped and glanced back at Evan. “He be friendly, you say?”

  “Aye, Vika. He saved you. Plucked you out of the sea, I expect. Even dried you. He was the one to help me save Sinna and our cart from the fire.”

  “Our cart be safe?”

  “I hope so, as I asked him not to eat our catch.” Orin glanced up at Evan. “Did you eat our meat?”

  Evan shook his head.

  “Did you hide the cart?”

  “Orin, you cannot converse with a dragon!”

  “I beg to differ. Watch,” he said, then stood and crossed his arms.

  He looked as fierce as a full-grown human warrior, but his shock of red hair was plastered to his head. If Evan was in his human form, he would have laughed.

  “Dragon, did you hide our cart?”

  Evan nodded.

  “See?” Orin said, turning to his sister. “Let us get you out of those wet clothes, Vika. Our cottage be none too far, and I sense other strangers in these woods.”

  “Aye. Six pirates stayed ashore. The rest will discover me absence and might come ashore in search of me.”

  Evan stepped closer. When he dipped his head to the ground, Orin asked, “Do you want us to ride on your back?”

  Evan snorted, and nodded again. Orin stepped on the joint where Evan’s wing met his body, climbed on his back, and stretched his arm down to Vika. She stood, shivered, and glared at his open hand.

  “I do not care he sparkles like jewels and be as purple as heather. Be you jesting?”