Ruein: Fires of Haraden: Action/Adventure Necromancy Series (Books of Ruein Book 2), G.O. Turner [little bear else holmelund minarik txt] 📗

“Fate,” Kaea finished.

Shegar smiled at Kaea. “You remember your scripture.”

Alright. Now this is just becoming exasperating. Liv’s head weaved. “What are you two going on about?”

“Patience.” Kaea nodded. “I asked for his say. So hear him out.”

Shegar reached over to Caleb. The man rose from the cot, lifting his aide with him. The move was effortless, routine. Shegar gently settled him to his feet. Caleb blinked himself clear of slumber and straightened out his long nightshirt. He smiled.

“Caleb, you should see to feeding yourself. If the family doesn’t mind, mayhaps the children can lead you to their stores.” Shegar motioned to the twins.

“Yes. Of course, Sire.” Caleb nodded, opening a hand for Arim and Nayr. “Come along, sprites. What see you’ve got to break an old fast.”

The three tottered past Ruein. She turned, watching them exit the tent. Once cleared and on their way to Kaea’s galley, Ruein rounded back to stare.

“Before you ask”—Shegar raised a hand—“I cannot undo what has been done. The boy’s been marked. Dragons are not gods. However, an old dragon like myself is likely to give one pause, may even be more trouble than it’s worth.”

He lowered his head and opened his hands. “You could leave him here with us.”

“Aye.” Kaea stepped to his friend. “We’d protect him. Shegar Negrath could be a ward all his own.”

Liv squinted. “Leave him?”

“Yes,” Shegar said. “In return, Ruein here would do something for me.”

“Agreed,” Ruein snapped.

Liv glared. “What? You haven’t heard what—”

“Doesn’t matter. The answer’s yes,” responded Ruein.

“Excellent.” Shegar exhaled, crossing his arms. “There is potential in your son. Caleb can help him make his first steps. You’ll task for me. We will watch over him. Haraden is not an evil place. If they are calling for help, you will aid them. And so long as there is a flame in my furnace, nothing will befall your children.”

Liv gaped as her eyes flicked between her father and their guest. “You’re…shipping her off?”

Shegar regarded her. “Murder is murder. Resolving it might be the one good a necromancer can do.”

“I see.” Liv looked away.

Shegar continued to Kaea, “The path was laid before us. We need just recognize who paved the way. As you say, Light provides.”

Liv nodded. “You’re right. The truth will out. How quickly do we need to move?”

Shegar’s brow snapped higher as he shot Liv a look. “Child, I’m not requiring—”

“Ruein is not going alone,” said Liv.

The dragon rolled his head, then closed in over her, lowering his voice to a calm lull. “You do not understand. Haraden is not an evil place, but it is a godless one. You’d likely cause—”

“All the more reason to call upon a Lightbringer.” Liv stared back.

Their guest maintained his softness. “Haraden is Haraden. They will not brook any other way than their own.”

“Is there a harm in merely setting an example?”

“Would you chance my errand into a fool’s one?” Shegar leaned closer.

“There are some things I dare to chance.” Liv eyed Ruein. The ache in her craw turned. “What’s left of my family…is not one of them.”

Abandoning Ruein after all they’d been through—Liv might as well have thrown herself bodily into that hole in her gut. It didn’t matter how wise and powerful her father’s friend was. Her mind was made.

The heat between Liv and Shegar wasn’t a physical one. It built all the same. Two righteous wills radiated “what was best” at each other. She wasn’t about to give, not here, not on Lightbringer land. Yet this…dragon…clearly had not expected such resistance.

Shegar turned to her father.

Kaea shrugged. “She has a will all her own.”

Something ratcheted in the dragon’s throat. He relented, sagging a bit. After a draw over his goatee, he said. “Very well.” He took Liv’s wrist.

There was no denying him. Liv found herself pulled to the tent’s far corner, where he placed her. With his back to Kaea and Ruein, he tugged at his vest and slid a hand within.

Shegar drew out something small, slender, metallic. Taking Liv’s hand, he placed an ornate, diamond-crowned pin in her palm. It was warm to the touch, no doubt from being held close to the dragon’s chest. Gold filagree worked over the head. Beautiful curving lines meandered around, haloing it in a lattice. Liv turned it slowly, pausing only when the curvature formed a calligraphic H.

Shegar lifted Liv’s chin with his finger. “Pack for the cold then. It is in the far north, beyond the spine. I’ve made trade with Haraden. When you wear this, you represent me. You will speak in my stead so long as you have this adorned. Do try not to say anything rash…little human.”

The gift was not in the gold. He was entrusting her with his good name. Liv nodded, offering a conciliatory smile. “I may not promise a civil tongue, but I’ll not bring shame.”

7

How much say did this “dragon” have?

Ruein scuffed at the hard ground, then crossed to her father-in-law. The diffused morning light inside the tent seemed to halo Kaea as he raised a steadying hand. His downturned palm hovered, a sign to calm. His trust of this…Shegar, was it that absolute? Ruein watched the two in the corner. Clearly, they exchanged more than words.

“What are they saying?”

Kaea turned. “He is telling Liv what she needs to know.”

“Apart from us?”

“Shegar Negrath is a force in the world, a force for the good. Whatever his reasons, he has my allegiance.” Kaea lowered his tone. “Something you…do not.”

Yes. Ruein shouldn’t have expected that to have changed. Undoubtedly, it was good that Kaea reminded her. She needed to remember her place. Abominations had no right to be at all, let alone be here.

They were going to protect her children, despite what she was…or…because.

Shegar stepped away, releasing Liv. Unabated, she marched the distance to Ruein. Her Lightbringer determination hammered home her resolve. Yet past that, was there more?

Liv grabbed at her sister’s hand and turned them about. “Let’s go. We pack for the north.”

Ruein resisted and turned instead to Shegar