Ember of Hope
Chapter 40

To explain anger they say “angrier than a wild boar in a stampede” but what Damien had just witnessed, they had to update the proverbial grammar. He didn’t know anything about a wild boar but what he did know was that Valiance, if let loose, could burn a whole kingdom down with his rage… and Damien would be right by his side. Valiance was out of his mind with fury, pain, and worry for his mate. It had taken four of them to subdue him enough to sedate him. He had no doubt that Valiance would have torn apart the entire kingdom to search for his mate. No he wouldn’t think about Sarah – his own mate… if she chose to become so… no… Valiance needed him… and he would be there for his friend… but he couldn’t help the despair and sick worry clawing at his being. He’ll replace them both… his mate and Valiance’s…

Dimi was standing near the shack from where the girls were taken, in hopes to replace some more clues. Late in the night when some people from the town came running to them with the news that they had heard a dragon who sounded injured he and Valiance had come here to inquire and to take the girls back but they had found a dead dragon in their stead and no sign of the girls… the shack showed signs of struggle and fight. And the dragon’s scent was unknown to them. The roar that Valiance had roared; he was sure whole Evreux had heard it. The nearby dragons had come to help in case there was a problem… and they were right to have come… It was not in Dimi’s hands to control Valiance alone… he was a force of nature. It was Dimi’s reluctant decision to call a healer and ask them for a sedating potion for Valiance. How they had made him drink it was another story for another time. To his chagrin; Valiance was now being held in the dungeons; heavily sedated…and he’d remain that way until Dimi could replace a clue… but it was for his own good… and his mate’s… Dimi had promised his friend that he would replace her. So here he was.

There were scents here. Many scents… and none he could pin to any of his brethren. This was a clue left by Raegan – the dead dragon… because those were her knives embedded in the dragon. He was impressed. Raegan was a remarkable quick study and she had proved her metal by quick decision making and brutal efficiency in a situation where many would’ve just given up. She was good for Valiance. Against all odds; their women hadn’t gone silently. And they had left a crumb for them to follow. But how? Where to start?

Was it possible that they had a traitor amidst them? That their enemies had struck once again? That this dragon was not from Evreux? And nor were his companions who took Raegan and Sarah. Was it possible that these were Titan’s lackeys - Titan who was following in his dead father’s footsteps? No, they wouldn’t have been able to enter the barrier without sounding the alarm… or what if…. His blood boiled at the idea of his soldiers deceiving them in such a horrible and unacceptable way. He didn’t want to believe it but there was no choice than to investigate the border patrol. So he started his long flight to the border of Velar with a hammering heart.

The wind brought him the news before he could see it with his own eyes. Blood… massacre… his soldiers hadn’t betrayed their homeland… they had died fighting… he landed hard in front of the watch tower and saw his men lying in pools of blood in both human and dragon forms. He went to a dragon with burnt orange scales; a lava breather, and sniffed at his wound… Dragon’s bane… likely mixed in their food to weaken them. So someone was involved in this… someone from within.

Damien let loose a roar of anger and pain. Five men, he had lost. And now he had to be the bearer of this wretched news to their families. Five more names to adorn the walls in the hall of heroes. He’d rather it be his name instead of theirs. But this wasn’t the time to mourn… that time will come later when he had avenged them. For now he had a traitor to hunt whose hands were red with his brothers’ blood.

He sent summons to his soldiers to take care of the dead bodies so he could start searching for the traitor. It could be anyone from the other shift or as the clues suggested; the servant who brought food to the post. It would’ve been too easy for him to spike the food with the bane. And the poor souls would’ve been in no shape to fight to their fullest for the bane not only weakened the body of a dragon but also put a stopper to their gifts. So that’s where he would start his interrogation. He had to hurry for God knew they couldn’t keep Valiance for long. The bastard was too powerful for his own good.

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Raegan’s body felt numb where the dragon was gripping her in his claws. Her head was pounding due to the fall she’d taken. She craned her neck to see how Sarah was doing but she wasn’t in her line of sight. A slight current passed her like a whole body shudder. They were so far up in the sky that she couldn’t make out the lay of the land below. The air was almost frosty up here. Dejected; she closed her eyes against the onslaught of cold wind.

After a flight that was hours long; they were thrown in a huge room that was completely bare with the exception of several shackles hanging from the walls on the far side of the room and a plain wooden table in a corner. The floor was covered with hay and nothing else.

The kidnappers had bound their wrists and ankles and thrown them in there, not feeling the need to put a guard in the room. Then again, it wasn’t like they posed even a little threat to the dragon kind, especially weapon less and bound. Raegan waited a few heartbeats after the door was shut and locked from the outside to ease down her breathing and push down the panic creeping up her spine.

Making her way on bound hands and knees, Raegan reached Sarah who hadn’t moved from her position at all. Her tears had dried in streams down her grimy cheeks and her breathing was choppy. She’d crossed panic and entered into silent shock. Silently she took Sarah’s bound wrists and started working on the bonds. It took some time to undo the tight knots with the limited movement of her fingers but she got it done.

When she’d freed her friend from the ropes, she caressed her hair back from her tear stained face, “Sarah, honey look at me” she said softly, taking her chin in her fingers and tilting her head so that she could look at her.

“I promise you we’ll make it back home, okay? Val and Damien will know where to look for us. We just need to hold on” slowly, Sarah sat up and silently started working on Raegan’s bonds.

“What just happened Ray? Who are these people? What do they want from us?”

“If I were to take a guess, I’d say we’re not in Evreux anymore. On the flight here, I felt the sizzle of the portal and I fear we’re in Velar”.

“Where?” Sarah asked confused.

“Velar. The kingdom that went to war with Evreux 50years ago. Katherine; who cursed the dragons back home, was one of Velar’s witches”.

“But Ray that was 50years ago. What do they want from us now? After half a century”.

“They are a bunch of vindictive coward assholes Sarah. The stories Val’s told me about Velar – They’re never up to any good”. There was a slight tremor in Raegan’s voice despite her trying to put on a brave face for her friend’s sake.

“Great. Now we just have to wait and see what they have in store for us”, Sarah sighed miserably.

The door opened with a bang and both of them jumped. The clown walked in with a mocking grin on his stupid face, “Hello again darlings, I see you’ve helped yourselves. Good, good”, he rubbed his hands together in glee, “It was very rude of my men to leave you ladies bound like that. I’ll have a word with them for the future”.

“What do you want asshole?” Raegan spat with venom dripping from her eyes.

’Now, now. There’s no need to be rude love. I merely came to offer you some refreshments. I believe you must be hungry after such a long flight”, he put two fingers in his mouth and let out an ear splitting whistle. Two men entered carrying trays and put them on the table near the far wall. After they exited the room, leaving them once again alone with the asshole.

“I’m Titan Varamont – King of your new home and your host. And I urge you to eat your meal while it’s still hot. The roasted duck is quite delicious. It’s my favorite actually” he clapped his hands together and plucked a piece of meat to pop in his mouth and moaned. He started walking backwards, “I’ll leave you to it now. Enjoy your food, who knows when you’ll get it again” he grinned devilishly, “We’ll meet again” with that he bowed deeply with a hand on his chest, showcased his damn teeth yet again, and left; closing the door behind him loudly.

They both let out the breaths they’d been holding.

“Varamont. Shit” Raegan mumbled to herself but Sarah heard.

“What? What’s wrong?” she asked worriedly, chewing on her lips.

“This is not good Sarah”, Raegan wiped a hand on her suddenly sweaty forehead.

“What are you talking about Ray? Tell me already”.

“Varamont was Velar’s king during the war. King Alex killed him. So this clown must be related to him somehow. His son maybe or a brother”. Raegan explained. “He probably plans revenge”, she looked at Sarah worriedly “We’re screwed”.

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