Dragonbound: Birthrights (Book 2)

Torin slowly woke to Lianna running a hand up his bare back. They were beneath the blankets where it was warm, though her hand was cool. He reached back, took her hand, and wrapped her arm around himself, hugging it to his chest.

Her cheek rested against his shoulder as she whispered, “You haven’t spoken about your visit with King Davin yesterday.”

“I’d not like to,” he answered.

“It went that badly?”

“No,” he groaned as he rolled onto his back, rubbing his tired eyes. Tallin slept in the crib at the foot of their bed, dead to the world. “But there are some things troubling me. He is not well...Sick in a sort,” he explained. “...I am afraid for my brother, Lianna.”

“Why?” she asked, her brows drawing low. He didn’t answer her and sat up, his feet hanging off the edge of the bed. “Torin.”

“There are things of which I cannot tell you,” he muttered. “I wish I could...but I cannot.” She frowned, but said nothing, simply watched him stand and dress. Her fingers clutched on the blanket as her heart sank. Visibly, she grew worried and heartbroken. “I am going to speak with Brick. I’ll return this evening. I’m sure my mother would take you out if you wish for sight seeing.”

“The only sights I’ll ever love are the mountains and you,” she answered softly.

The corner of his lips curled slightly as he lowered his eyes. “And I feel the same.” After pulling on his boots and jacket, he stopped by the oak crib and leaned over to kiss Tallin on the head.

“Although her father is gone, you are the best man to ever take that role...Even better than him,” she said.

His heart throbbed as he flushed slightly. Lianna ran a hand over her swelling belly as she lowered her eyes. “I love you, Lianna,” he said, finally.

“And I you, my husband,” she smiled.

He crept down the stairs where Anille was already cooking. “Good morning, son,” she smiled.

He returned the greeting, then asked, “Mother, could you take Lianna out for the day? I have a few more things to handle.”

“Of course,” she nodded. “I’d be delighted.” She tasted the berry jam that she just opened and then asked, “Is your wife pregnant again, Torin?”

He flushed heavily, his eyes averting her gaze. She grinned widely and he said, “Yes.”

“Oh, Torin, my child, that is wonderful,” she beamed. Clasping her hands together at her bosom, she said, “I love Tallin, as do you, but there is nothing like having a child of your own flesh and blood. How wondrous! Torin, this is great news.”

He laughed uneasily as she hugged him again. Kissing his cheek, she pulled back and rubbed her lips. “You aught to shave, dear, you’re a little...scraggly.”

“Aye,” he snickered. “I’ll get right on that, Mother.”

Torin and Brick had met up at Cotton Pub, something they used to do often. They talked over some ale and food.

“He said that?” Brick lifted a brow. Torin nodded. Although he was unable to tell Brick everything, he told him the bare essentials, most of which he had already known.

A small man, short and skinny, ran into the tavern. “Have you heard?” he panted to the men sitting at the long bar. They mumbled questionably, and he said, “King Holloway has disappeared! He desecrated the throne--burnt it, he did! Then, a group of assassins took him away!”

Before Torin could even look to Brick, the large man was already on his feet and put himself directly before the little man. Leaning in so they could be eye level, Brick spoke lowly, saying, “Tell me details.”

The man rattled on, possibly exaggerating. After a moment of listening, Brick nodded his head and asked, “How reliable is this information, Allend?”

“I know she was blind, but the girl spent the night with the king. She heard the fight, and he was dragged off.”

“...Assassins...abducted the king?” Brick asked flatly.

“That’s what they said.”

Torin watched Brick take something from the man's hand. Then, skeptically, he left the man to rattle on with the others and he took his seat.

The air weighed heavily as Torin's chest tightened. Brick exhaled slowly through his nostrils as he stroked his beard. He grumbled a bit, his massive stature emanating a look of discomfort and stress.

“I have the undeniable sense that we must alert Kiaran,” Brick finally muttered.

“And tell her what?” Torin asked. “Why go to her? She is in Avestitia and has her own problems. What reason would she have to abandon her country for ours?”

“I know he was taken to Trindal-VinCar...or maybe Trindal.”

“How do yo know that?” Torin asked.

“Well, this for starters.” He flashed him a broken broach with the royal crest of Trindal. It was old, before Trindal-VinCar had broken off as its own country. He shook his head. “From what I was taught, Trindal was never a very friendly country to Avestitia. They are the ones who took him.” Torin's jaw tightened. "As a mutual enemy, I am sure she'd like to know."

“Aye,” he muttered.

“Besides,” he began, “I feel that she would want to know what has become of her friends.”

“Aye,” he breathed, hardly audible.

That evening, it proved near impossible to leave his thoughts behind. As he ate dinner, Lianna and his mother recounted their day and Tallin tried to talk as well, most of it not words but silly sounds. Torin tried his best to appear calm and untroubled, yet his hands were unstable and his eyes rarely left his plate.

After dinner, Torin took some plates to the kitchen where his mother cleaned them. He turned to head back to the table, but she grabbed his wrist. Keeping his head bowed, he faced her and she asked, “What is wrong, son?”

He opened his mouth and let out a long, dreadful breath. “I must speak with Father beforehand. I’m sorry.”

“Alright,” she sighed. “Go and speak with him. I hate to see you or your brother upset like this.”

He forced a smile and walked past Lianna as she entered the room. Her gaze lingered on him as he walked out the front door.

Torin stepped onto the porch where his father played with Tallin. She bounced excitedly as she clutched a new toy carved in the shape of a horse. He sat on the other side of his daughter as the sun hit her flaming hair.

“What is it?” Milas asked, his deep voice as smooth as ever.

“Davin,” he began lowly, “He was taken from Rishana.”

He shot his green eyes to his son with a look of anger and anxiety. “What?” he hissed.

Torin proceeded to tell him the news he had received and all that Davin had previously told him--but careful not to break his promise to his brother.

Milas ran a large, scarred hand over his face, exhaling slowly. “I am leaving with Brick to go to Avestitia.”

“Why?” Milas asked. “To run after his abductors?”

“Kiaran may know how to address this. And I...” he paused. “I know she will help get him back.”

“Find him,” he said, his voice deep and gravely. “Find your brother and bring him back.”

Torin nodded and hesitantly asked, “Father?” He lifted a brow. “Could Lianna remain here?” his question was needless, knowing that he would agree to it. When he did, Torin said, “I want to be sure she remains someplace safe. The Zeil are not on good terms with any king of Rishana, and they are weary of Davin’s rule. If they find out that I am still on his side...I don’t want them angry with Lianna.”

“Understood,” he nodded. “We’ll keep her safe and happy here. Best return before she has that child, though.”

“Aye,” he smiled.

“Congratulations, Torin,” he clapped his shoulder, holding it firmly. “You’ve a good head on those shoulders of yours--narrow or not.” Torin withheld a chuckle and Milas added, “You’ll be a good father, son. You are a good father.”

“Thank you,” he swelled. It wasn’t often that his father complimented anything about him.

That evening, as he and Lianna readied for bed, they remained quiet. Even their steps were silent as not to wake Tallin. Torin adjusted the blankets over the bed and Lianna stood across from it, her hands folded together at her waist. She watched him intently, his skin burning under her worried eye.

“Davin was taken,” he finally said.

“What?” she gasped.

Again, he told her everything he could and said, “Brick and I are going to see Kiaran. Hopefully she will have some clue as to what to do." Lianna remained still, her expression weakening. "Also, I hope she will have some sway over Kane and Raven. They do not like Davin, but he is my brother. He's not well, Lianna. I need them to understand that I'm not doublecrossing them so that you can return home safely.”

He sat with his back to her, his naked feet flat on the wooden floor beneath. “She will help us find him.”

She moved to his side, sitting closely to him as she held his hand. “Torin, I believe you, but...Is it not dangerous to keep this from the Tribe?”

“They will learn soon,” he muttered. “I am sure Walter has already told them plenty. But I must do this...I want you to know, though...Walter...may be a traitor.”

“That is difficult to believe,” she said softly. He frowned and she sighed softly. “It is right,” she breathed, her loose hair falling in bouncy locks down her shoulders and back. “He is your brother, and I am sure he needs you. It's right of you to go.”

Her words were true, and she believed them, but a panicked look took over as she locked eyes with him. She was visibly scared, unwilling to let him go, though she knew she couldn’t keep him.

“My parents will continue to keep you here until I return,” he said, though it only deepened the frown on her face. “I promise I’ll return,” he whispered, kissing her cheek as she leaned into it.

Before he could pull away, she returned the kiss on the corner of his mouth, and then one on his lips. He ran a hand down the side of her head, her hair as soft as silk against his skin.