Dragonbound: Birthrights (Book 2)

Davin grit his teeth as he ran a hand over Kiaran's forehead, smoothing hair from her face. He leaned over her, shielding her from the rain. He was so close he could feel her feverish warmth and hear her halting breath.

"Damn it," he growled.

He looked up, praying to find a solution. And at that moment, he found it.

In the midst of the trees just ahead stood a tiny home, steam rolling from the little chimney. Maybe...that could be the other Destine. He darted toward the home, struggling to keep to his feet and to keep Kiaran in his arms. The mud clung to him as if it had been raining for days.

Nearing the house, he shouted, “Are you the Destine? We need help!” He came to the door, pausing. “Hello!” he yelled. “She is dying!”

The door swung open and a short, old woman watched him. Once her eyes landed on them, she looked intrigued verses appalled. “I see you’ve met with the spider’s children...” she said lowly. “You were in the lake. Is this how you escaped?” He gazed at her a short moment in disbelief. It was that old woman—the soothsayer.

“It doesn’t matter how we escaped if she does not live through this,” he replied harshly.

She allowed him in and led him to the lit hearth. The home was made up of just one, large room, divided into two by half a wall. One room seemed lived in, the other something like storage for strange looking items.

The little woman tossed several furs onto the floor for Kiaran to rest on. “I did not think to see Kiaran again--and in this state?” she sighed.

“You know her?” he asked as she gathered a few things.

“I was her father’s Destine. Of course I know her,” she laughed.

"And you are...Kimana?" he asked.

She smiled, nodding once. "I once was a part of the Zeil. I lived with Kiaran and your brother for a time."

Kiaran's breathing was nearly stopped, her eyes closed. She was unconscious and nearly unable to get any air into her body. Davin sat on his knees beside her, his eyes glued to her.

Kimana walked across the room, looking over a shelf of vials and bottles. A small, gray mouse scurried across the shelf, following her hand. It sat in a furry ball, watching her as she picked a small, blue vial.

She walked back over to them, saying, “Strip off her clothes, we need to tend to the bites.” His eyes shot to her, hesitant at first. “We cannot overlook any,” she said sternly. "Besides, she needs cleaned and redressed."

He first removed her boots and pealed off the reddened, wet socks. Her skin was red, hot, and swollen. The woman took a large pair of scissors from the nearby table and began cutting off Kiaran’s pants, from the ankles, up.

Several, large bites spread across her legs, the marks bleeding slightly and dark purple. Kimana wiped a rag over the bites, cleaning them with the liquid from the little, blue vial.

Davin helped her remove her coat and first layer of clothing. They looked over her arms and found nothing. The Destine began to cut away her shirt, and Davin lowered his eyes, staring at the wooden floor beneath him as his skin burned like fire.

The woman looked over her scars and tattoos, finding no other bites. Pushing Kiaran to her side, she looked on her back, finding a few more. Tending to those bites, she finally laid her back down. “Hand me that blanket, won’t you, boy?” she said, pointing across the room.

Davin took the folded, thin fabric and gave it to the old woman. She spread it over Kiaran’s naked body, the blood and dirt staining it. She watched Kiaran peacefully for a moment, smoothing the hair from her face and laying it across the floor. With a thumb, she smeared the dirt and blood from her cheeks.

Kiaran stopped breathing and her body grew still. Davin’s muscles tensed as he stepped forward. Kimana rested one hand on Kiaran's forehead and another beneath her rib cage. Dread weighed Davin down like solid lead ran through his veins.

Closing her eyes, the Destine lowered her head. A white light seemed to blaze between her hands and Kiaran’s body. Kiaran’s chest rose sharply as she inhaled.

Her piercing, old eyes moved to Davin and she said, “Your friend is healed...”

“Thank you,” he breathed. “There is nothing wrong with her now?”

“Only preexisting,” she shook her head as she stood again.

“Preexisting...?” he pressed. “Such as?”

“I hardly find this your business--Unless you are married,” she shrugged. “Than, perhaps...But you are not. Right?” she lifted a thin, gray brow as she eyed him. He shook his head and sat back down.

“Is it threatening?” he asked.

“Hardly,” she nearly laughed, shaking her head. “No. In any case, it might be in her better interest.”

“Does she know about it?”

“Unlikely,” she answered. Her eyes lifted to him and she grew serious. “I will tell you, and you must tell her, for I will not be here to tell her when she wakes.”

“Where are you going--”

“You want answers, young king?” His eyes widened and he nodded. “Alright, then. Hush, boy. Well, from the abuse she had to undergo as a youngster, she is unable to bare any children,” she replied.

“How do you know this?” he asked slowly.

“When I heal, I am linked directly to the body. It is like the body wants me to know everything that is wrong with it so I might heal it,” she explained. “Other than that one thing, she is amazingly healthy.” She touched a scar on Kiaran’s collarbone and lifted the sheet a bit to gaze at the Zeil tattoo on her chest. “Unnaturally healthy,” she whispered.

“That...is good,” he nodded. “Thank you, again.”

She nodded. “You may want to go and find your young healer, King Holloway.” His eyes widened as he darted toward the door. “The easiest way to get to the other side is to go a little further south. It will take you directly around the spider’s nest.”

“Aye, thank you, Kimana,” he nodded, bursting back into the storm.

Davin raced through the mud the best he could, trying to see through the dark. Something small began to climb up his leg just before he kicked it off. A low growl and a puff of yellow fire emitted from the creature’s mouth as it eyed him with orange irises.

“Nurra,” he sighed, “Help me find Ryker.” The dragon cawed and yowled like a cat and he said, “Kiaran is fine! She is fine, I promise you I would not leave her unless she was.” He was resting on his knees, hoping the dragon would understand.

After some consideration, he blinked and darted forward, releasing a few plumes of fire to direct Davin through the dark.

It took what felt like forever to get to the woods where the spider stalked. He and Nurra crept along the forest floor, keeping out of the spider’s view.

Finally, the storm broke, and they sky gave up its weeping, however it was still dark and splotched with clouds. In the distance was the tangle of fallen trees where Ryker was hidden.

Davin dropped to his knees, out of breath and wore out. He took a deep breath and reached forward, fire running through the tendons of his right shoulder. Growling and pushing past the pain, he yanked his coat aside and tried to wake Ryker.

The boy wiggled his way out from under the log, covered in debris and mud. Falling nearly in Davin’s lap, he apologized and stood. “Are you alright--Kiaran?!”

“She is fine, keep your mouth shut,” he yanked the boy down. He sat beside Davin. “She is fine. We have to sneak around the spider to get to the Destine’s house.”

“You found the Destine?” he asked, pleased. “Good, let us go.”

Before reaching the house, the rain had picked back up. Once at the Destine’s home, Davin and Ryker burst inside, rain draining off their bodies. Kimana stood, awaiting them. She gestured toward the table where three, neat piles of clothes sat. “I have fresh clothes for all of you. Especially the ones who had to go through the lake. I assumed that the young Healer may need something dry to wear.”

“Thank you,” they both nodded.

Ryker’s eyes moved to Kiaran. She was cleaned up and wore a sleeveless shirt of white silks. The blanket still covered her body, hiding the bites and scars from view. He could feel Kimana’s attention on him and he slowly turned to her. “She is healed, yes?” he asked.

“Of course,” she replied. “Kiaran will be fine.”

She walked across the room, her aged body wobbling slightly. Taking a cloak off the rack near the door, she draped it over her body and pulled the hood on. She took up a carved walking stick near twice her height, and held her hand out for her little mouse. Her bright eyes landed on them again as she said, “My job is finished here. I will leave before she wakes.”

“She came with questions, though,” Davin replied. “You are the Destine that we were sent to.” Shadows danced across the wrinkles on the old woman’s face. “She wishes to know of her father.”

“These are things of which a Destine has no right in talking about. I will tell you one thing, however, King. Going to Trindal-VinCar will not only begin a war, but it will open your eyes to all answers you seek.”

She turned to leave and Ryker stepped forward, asking, “But where must you go? It is storming out there!”

“Oh?” she smiled. Opening the door, they found it to be warm and a soft breeze flowing into the house. The sun was beginning to rise, the sky brushed with pinks and oranges. Stepping outside, she closed the door. Once the door was shut, thunder peeled throughout the sky and rain was crashing down like a tidal wave. Ryker swung open the door to find it raining again and Kimana was missing.

His jaw dropped as he said, “She opened the door to another area. She teleported.”

“This magic...It has endless abilities,” Davin breathed in utter shock.