Dragonlands(83)

Bastian pulled his hand back. “I am sorry for your imprisonment.”

She smiled, her teeth stubs of bark. “It is well, human. It is well. Journey on with my blessing. And if you ever need me to protect your village again, I will help. All you need to do is ask. Leave now. Seek your destiny.”

“Thank you,” Bastian said. He climbed down carefully, reaching the ground quickly. “Those of you with family back in Hutton’s Bridge, head home quickly and let them know the way out. There is a city ahead, but it isn’t friendly to outsiders. You can stay in Hutton’s Bridge, but know that seeking your fortune elsewhere may not result in a happier life. I will forge ahead and look for medicine.”

He wanted to forget all of it and search for Tressa, but now that the fog was gone, she could find her way easily alone. If she still lived.





Chapter Fifty-Two


A bell rang in the distance, awakening her from the edge of slumber. Men scrambled out of their beds. Feet fell on the floor, echoing in the room.

“Get up!” Jarrett yelled at Henry.

Tressa slipped out of bed, not knowing exactly what was going on. “What is it?”

“We're being summoned to Stacia's side. Something's wrong." Jarrett glanced at Henry. He gave the boy a poke in the ribs. "Get up!"

The other men were putting on their armor, metal clanging on metal, ringing in Tressa's exhausted ears.

She pulled her armor from under her bed and tugged it on. She glanced at Henry out of the corner of her eye. He was still human. After transforming in the back alley the night before, Jarrett reassured her he'd change back before the sun rose. They just had to stay with him and protect him until then.

Every hour or two, she and Jarrett traded sleeping and keeping watch. Just before the sun rose, Henry's form settled back into the one she'd known since the tournament. They all stumbled back to their quarters, exhausted and ready for the day of rest that had been promised to them.

Tugging on her gloves, Tressa sighed knowing that rest was far from attainable. The clanging of the bell only became louder, more insistent. Two of the men had already left their quarters, rushing to Stacia's chambers to relieve the men who'd been there all night. They'd been promised whores on their return, but Tressa had been relived to find they'd all cleared out before morning.

Horny, grunting men was the last thing she wanted to hear while she'd tried to grab the last few moments of sleep. At least something went the way she wanted it to.

Henry rubbed his eyes, not eager to get out of bed. After what he'd been through the night before, Tressa felt sorry for him. She didn't see him as the lazy child she'd taken him for just hours ago. Most children went through a change as they entered adulthood. Many times it lead to them making poor choices or having trysts with others in the back of a barn. For Henry it meant pain. Exhaustion. Confusion.

She wanted to take the boy in her arms and hold him until the pain went away. Tressa looked up at Jarrett. "He's not well enough to go."

"He must," Jarrett said. "He'll cope." He reached over and pulled the rough woolen blanket off of Henry's balled up body. "Up, boy. We have a job to do."

They were the last to leave the room. Henry dragged listlessly behind Jarrett and Tressa's insistent tugging.

The rocky walls blurred by Tressa. She ran as fast as she could without letting go of Henry. He'd finally woken enough to be dragged out of bed. Jarrett had splashed water on Henry's face and droplets still fell to his armor from his hair. It had been enough, though.

A determined look swept across his face. He seemed more alert than Tressa had ever seen him, almost making her wonder if she'd imagined his bizarre behavior in the pub the night before.

Henry tugged his arm back, slipping it easily from Tressa's grasp. Truth was she hadn't been trying too hard. He'd never offered resistance. She turned around and glanced at him over her shoulder. Yes, he was definitely more in control than ever.

"It's part of the transformation." Jarrett whispered to her. They couldn't be too careful in the palace. Ears were everywhere. "He's a good boy. Strong. He just becomes weaker before, well, you know. I felt it was coming last night, but wasn't sure. It's completely unpredictable until he learns to control it."

Henry jogged between Jarrett and Tressa, barely a puff of exhaustion on his face. "Sorry I've been so childish lately. Sometimes it's hard to work through the fire pumping in my veins." He winked at Tressa.

She stared at him, her mouth gaping. Back erect, muscles flexed, and confidence in his face had changed Henry from a petulant boy to a young man.

"I'm embarrassed about my behavior during the tournament. I would have much preferred taking a few heads myself. Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling myself that day."