Firedrake - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,101
Mace to help temper his volatile emotions when dealing with Sir Declan. Nico, and even Roland, sat in on those first few sessions when Drake began to call on his fire, hoping to show Declan how to do the same.
Dec wasn’t the only one astounded when the fire came much easier to the older knight than it had to his son. Declan was a natural and the dragons confirmed what Drake was astonished to learn. Declan’s fire was even closer to the surface than it had been in Drake. It explained a lot about Declan’s temper and the tight control under which he’d always lived.
Now that the fire was released, Declan’s disposition changed as well. He was much more easygoing than ever and began to see the humor in life as well as the struggle. It was a positive change for them all.
Drake took his place at his fathers’ sides as a close counselor to the king. Declan and Ren had always been valued advisors, but now with magic more prevalent in the kingdom, Drake and Mace were called upon to offer their expertise as well. They spent part of each morning with Roland, often with Nico and some of the other royal princes present as well, going over communiqués and talking strategy.
It was on one such morning when a near breathless messenger arrived from one of the southern cities. He rushed into the throne room, then fell to one knee before Roland.
“My liege.” The man breathed hard, as if he’d run all the way from Tipolir to Castleton. “News from the south. A flight of gryphons with mounted warriors heads this way at a slow pace, though they can’t be more than a few hours behind me.”
“From whom did this news pass?” Roland asked
“The news started with a messenger from Tipolir, thence to Bayern, Hallowet, Sewell and on, but I saw them myself, my liege. They overtook me on the road and shadowed me for a time, but let me pass unmolested.”
“How many would you say?” Nico helped the man to his feet, handing him a glass of water since the poor man looked well-worn from the hard ride.
“A dozen that I saw. The reports stated twice that many, but I only saw twelve gryphons—each with a mounted rider, though the riders blended so well with the gryphons’ golden plumage, they were hard to make out. My liege, I never thought to see the like.”
“Thank you for making haste to give us this news,” Roland said, calmer than Drake would have credited. He signaled to Nico and the Prince of Spies led the man from the room, questioning him quietly as he led him to the great hall where he could rest and have a meal. Drake also saw Nico pass the man a few coins for his trouble. Nico had never skimped on paying for good service. It’s what made him such an able spymaster.
Roland turned to Drake and Mace, a raised eyebrow enough to make Drake share his thoughts.
“I think it’s safe to bet these could be some of Gryffid’s folk.”
Drake sent a quick message to Jenet. “Sweetheart, are you with Wil?”
“He’s flying out near the southern edge of the new town with some of the others. He’s safe.”
“Gryphons are coming, Jen. They’re close to Castleton.”
“My brother Wil is flying to the south,” Roland confirmed, informing the rest of the gathered advisors. “I’ve asked him to wait, but I doubt that will hold him.” Roland stalked toward the door. “If your partners are near, mount up and fly with me. I’m going out to meet them.”
Drake, Mace, Ren, Declan and several others of the king’s advisors were hot on his heels. The knights raced for the ledges where their dragons waited, ready to fly. Roland, Nico and a few of the other princes shifted and took to wing as black dragons, the large contingent heading south to meet the wizard’s emissaries.
About the Author
Bianca D’Arc has run a laboratory, climbed the corporate ladder in the shark-infested streets of Manhattan, studied and taught martial arts, and earned the right to put a whole bunch of letters after her name, but she’s always enjoyed writing more than any of her other pursuits. She grew up and still lives on Long Island, where she keeps busy with an extensive garden, several aquariums full of very demanding fish, and writing her favorite genres of paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi romance.
Bianca loves to hear from readers and can be reached through Facebook, her Yahoo