The Dragonscale Throne Read online

  The Dragonscale Throne

  Lost Queen of Althea Book 2

  By Rachel Medhurst

  Copyright 2019 © Rachel Medhurst

  Please note that the author is English so spelling is in British English.

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  CONTENTS

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Empire of Embers

  Free Books

  Copyright

  Author

  Chapter One

  I will find you...

  The whispered words filtered through my mind as I shot up into a sit. My hand sought the handle of the sword that lay beside me, resting against the stone rock I had chosen for my hiding place. The cave in the woods had provided us with shelter after fleeing from the battle. We had been hiding in the woods for seven days. It had been so boring, I had almost lost my mind.

  “Layanna,” Larnika hissed.

  The others were up, their shuffling an indication that they no longer slept. The fae's call had been urgent, so I sprung from where I sat and joined them by the dying embers of the fire that had kept the cave warm throughout the night.

  Standing in a circle, Sarsia, Daniel and Trenton were whispering among themselves. The only light came from a lit torch standing by the stone wall, its flame licking the grey surface.

  “Someone's outside.” Sarsia indicated that I go to Larnika.

  Tiptoeing over to the former guard, I lifted my skirts to prevent the sound of them swishing on the dirty ground.

  Larnika clutched my arm as I reached him, pushing me to a crouch as twigs outside the cavern entrance snapped under what sounded like feet. All fell silent as the noise echoed.

  “There's no boar here,” a high pitched feminine voice said loudly. “Let's go back to the raiding party.”

  “Hush!” A man ordered his friend to be silent. “The reward to find the princess is far too good to pass up. My tracking instincts tell me that I'm close to them.”

  “Them?” The voice was shrill.

  Footsteps came even closer to the cave. “Yes, them... there's several of the bastards protecting her.”

  Larnika's hand flexed as it neared the handle of his sword.

  My palm was already wrapped around my weapon, even though I barely knew how to use it. It was hard to tell if those outside where Seelie or Unseelie, but either way, the man was hunting us.

  “I don't see what all the fuss is about, I thought she was beautiful when I saw her on the battlefield.”

  Without speaking, Larnika exited the cave.

  Following, I pulled the hood of my cloak over my head and tucked my hands under the warm folds. The morning air was crisp, the white puff of my breath almost blocking my view as our boots dragged through the fallen, damp leaves.

  “Who goes there?” the man called.

  Larnika extended his sword as we came into the small clearing in front of the cave. The man was a dwarf, his small frame only just visible by the trees. His companion stood a short distance away, her long red hair flowing down her back. Her eyes widened when they landed on me, the blue of them hiding occasionally when she blinked.

  “You!” The dwarf drew back the axe, aiming it towards me.

  Holding out a hand, I envisioned wind whipping around us. The element instantly increased, throwing the fallen leaves up into the air and into our faces.

  Larnika swiped at them, scowling when the dwarf planted his feet and took hold of his axe in both hands, ready to throw.

  Letting the wind drop, I stood my ground, waiting for the attack. If I focused hard enough on the weapon, I should be able to stop it from hitting me.

  Larnika had other plans, though. Diving forward, he swiped his sword towards the dwarf. The man flipped his axe upwards, preventing the blade from slicing through his head.

  I was about to order Larnika to stop when something hit me in my lower back. Spinning, I almost laughed when the female dwarf held up her hands, ready for a fight. Glancing at them, I swallowed hard when I saw that she wore heavy metal rings on each finger. The snarl that ripped from her chest before she launched herself made me lift my arms in defence. She ploughed into me, her fists pounding into my cloak, some of her punches connecting with my side and back.

  The others stayed in the cave, watching from their sanctuary.

  As the dwarf's ring grazed my elbow, cutting the skin, I took a deep breath and pushed her with all my strength. She stumbled back, her small frame harder to attack considering I was quite a bit taller than her. Placing my legs apart as she spit on the ground, I reminded myself of the fighting moves that Larnika had taught me when we'd been captured by Heck.

  “Oh, the princess wants to play.” Barking a laugh, the woman ran for me, aiming for my legs.

  Staying solid, I swiped my arm to the right, smacking my fist straight into her head. She collided with me, her arms wrapping around my legs as she grunted. Grabbing her hair, I pulled hard, ashamed that I had succumbed to a fist fight. Her scream made me let go, pushing her away from me so forcefully, she flew back and landed on the ground.

  “Enough!” I shouted.

  Larnika and the man stopped instantly, their cheeks red as they tried to resist the order I had given them. That meant the dwarfs were from the Seelie Court of Althea.

  Looking around as I sucked in a breath, I noticed that the others stood in the entrance of the cave, watching us. Their expressions were amused, which did not amuse me.

  “We hate you,” the woman spat as she clambered to her feet, brushing the leaves off her worn light green dress.

  The leather that hitched her in at the waist was barely holding on. Once again, it was a reminder of how poverty had ravaged those of Althea.

  “What is the reward offered for my capture?” I asked, my voice strong as I took my sword out of its scabbard and came closer to the woman.

  Extending my weapon, I stared into her eyes, not allowing her to look away. She swallowed, the movement in her throat the only sign that she was intimidated. The swirls on the blade started to glow, the pale blue light growing brighter the more I concentrated on it.

  “It really is her, there's no denying it,” the female dwarf whispered.

  The male huffed loudly, his scowl followed by the sound of his axe being dropped on the ground. “Jordeek offered any person, fae or human, a castle and lands safe from the shroud if they could bring you to him, dead or alive.”

  “And, you believe that he will fulfil this promise?” Sarsia came out of the cave to stand beside me. “He is a traitor king, after all.”

  “Regardless,” the male said. “I would risk it.”

  “You can't now, can you?” the woman chimed in. “We're going to be killed because of your stupidity!”

  Her fierce glare was aimed at the man she travelled with. I had to stifle a laugh when he rolled his eyes and dismissed her complaint with a wave. They were undoubtedly married. They argued too much not to be.

  “What shall we do with them?” Larnika asked me. “We have to be on our way.”

  Taking a deep breath, I tucked my sword away and drew my cloak around me. The excitement of fighting had worn off, leaving me colder than before. The dwarfs watched me, knowing full well that I could choose to have them executed for treason, even though I wasn't rightfully queen yet.

&nbs
p; “Give them money, then send them back to where they came from.”

  Walking towards the cave, I smiled to myself at the gasp that escaped almost every person in the area.

  Layanna? Larnika's voice in my head made me look over my shoulder at him. If you show weakness, you'll be vulnerable.

  No, I replied. There's power in mercy. My people will not suffer at my hands.

  Before he could reply, I spun and marched into the cave.

  Daniel followed me as the others dealt with the dwarfs. I could hear Trenton telling them that they were lucky that I hadn't ordered their heads to be cut from their tiny bodies. The fairy could be quite mean when he wanted to be.

  “I've never seen small people like that before,” Daniel muttered as I gathered our things and started to bundle them.

  Crouching, he helped me, laughing when our hands brushed against one another. I smiled briefly, my mind distracted by what the dwarfs had said. Jordeek was offering a handsome reward for my capture, one that would be hard to resist for many Seelie, let alone the Unseelie. We were in terrible danger, and the others were constantly in harm's way because of me.

  “What were you like as a child?” Daniel asked as he stamped out the embers of the fire.

  My arm froze in mid-movement. What a strange question to ask someone. And yet, my heart squeezed at the memory of my human parents playing with me in the snow.

  “I believe I was quiet, contemplative. No one bothered me that much. Or at all.”

  Flinging the satchel over my shoulder, I moved to leave the cave. Danial caught my wrist, preventing me from taking another step.

  “That was a noble thing you just did. The others may think you are weak, but I believe that your strength will come in your fairness.”

  Looking up into his blue eyes, I smiled before I ducked my head. He was handsome and strong, and yet, I tugged my wrist out of his grasp.

  “Thank you,” I murmured as I stepped away from him. “We must go.”

  Without hesitating, I left the cave. The others were talking amongst themselves, the dwarfs’ no longer in sight. My protectors would have had to do as I asked, which meant they were probably discussing my decision between them. Not allowing them to draw me in, I headed for the horses, who were tied by a tree nearby.

  “Are you ready to leave?” I called as they all watched me.

  Trenton grinned, his small frame jumping on the spot. He was an insane fairy. However, his quick wit and deep affection for the affliction of the fae made him a strong ally. I would feel much more comfortable with him at my side. The others were good, and yet, their hearts were closed. I had to find a way to make sure that they re-opened them. If I couldn't, my position as queen would be in doubt. Not from anyone else, but myself.

  Tying my satchel to the saddle, I smiled to myself as they moved into motion. The sound of their feet shambling through the leaves was the only reply I received from them.

  “The princess is getting her confidence it seems,” Larnika muttered as he came to the other side of my horse. “Do you need a leg up, Your Highness?”

  Raising my eyebrows, I shook my head. “No, thank you. However, when we get to the next village, I would like you to give me another lesson in combat. That dwarf nearly defeated me.”

  Larnika's lip quirked into his cheek. Inclining his head as he righted his tunic, he winked at me. “I'm not sure the dwarf did much damage, but I will give you another lesson.”

  Turning, he leapt up onto his horse. He had been very quiet for the first few days after the battle. I had tried to talk to him about his brother, but he said that he needed time to process what had happened. Killing his own brother must weigh heavy on his heart, even if he had gone to the enemy’s side.

  Swinging onto my saddle, I looked at the others as they mounted. Daniel watched me, his eyes wide as I nodded. The human wasn't wholly trustworthy, but he had stayed by our side when Jordeek had attacked. If he wanted a reward or anything of the sort, he would have been able to turn me in by now.

  “Just so you know,” Trenton called from the back of the group as we made our way through the trees. “The next village is going to be different from any you've seen in Althea so far.”

  Tucking my hood over my head, I glanced behind me. His eyes were twinkling with mischief. “And why is that?”

  Shrugging his shoulder, Trenton shook his head. “Let's just say, the gateway to the Northern Lands is a vibrant place.”

  Gateway? I had no idea that we were heading towards the Northern Lands. Tales of the miles of barren land had scared me as a child. There were stories of long stretches of sand with no water in sight. The icy mountain that could barely be seen through the trees’ canopy looked nothing like the pictures in the scrolls I had managed to read.

  Not answering Trenton, I concentrated on the narrow path in front of me. My thoughts about reading had reminded me of the letter my mother had left for me. It was currently tucked in the pocket of my cloak, hidden from sight. I hadn't dared to read the rest, unable to bring myself to study the handwriting and learn what my powers were.

  Sliding my hand into the pocket, I touched the rough paper. My heart skipped in my chest, my breath huffing out white. So much had happened since the day in the woods when the others had given me the letter from the Queen of Althea. Unable to resist any longer, I pulled it out and unfolded the paper.

  Skimming the first part again, I reminded myself of my mother's words. I had already started to play with nature. The wind seemed to do my bidding with just a thought. I had used the power just this morning with the dwarf, and yet, I hadn't taken the time to acknowledge how easy it had been. There was no denying my place now.

  Glancing back down at the page, I read the next part. She had said that she was giving me a short lesson on my powers, and she really did mean it.

  Your animal will come to you, showing itself in a way that is undeniable. You will be able to shapeshift into the form of the creature that visits you on a full moon.

  My breath sucked in, drawing the attention of Sarsia, who rode beside me. “You're reading the letter, I see.” Her words were quiet, her dark blue eyes meeting mine briefly.

  Glancing at her sideways, I blinked as I frowned, my forehead creasing. “I don't understand how one can shapeshift into an animal.”

  “Royalty and High-born Fae are the only ones able to do it. It's a case of seeing yourself as the creature. Larnika will know how it's done, he used his many times when he was leader of the Althean Guard.”

  “He did?” I stared at Larnika.

  He looked over his shoulder, frowning when he saw us both watching. “I heard my name.”

  “We're talking about shapeshifting. Layanna will need a lesson in that too, although-” Sarsia's breath sucked into her as her eyes rolled into the back of her head.

  She wobbled in her saddle as her breath came fast. Larnika was by her side before I could react, supporting her with an extended hand. His other arm grabbed the reins of her mare and tugged her to a stop. The whites of Sarsia's eyes were visible as her lips spoke silently, quickly.

  “She's having a vision,” Trenton told Daniel when the human's throat released a squeak.

  Swallowing hard, he looked at me. My palms were slick as I gripped the leather of my reins and patted my horse's neck. I knew exactly how Daniel was feeling in that moment. Bewilderment wasn't an easy emotion to swallow when faced with the revelations of the fae. As our gaze met, I nodded to let him know that all was well.

  “We're in danger,” Sarsia gasped as her head rocked forward and her eyes shot open.

  Looking all around us, she breathed heavily as her ponytail flicked. Gripping Larnika's hand where it held her shoulder, she squeezed. He kept his fingers grasped on her for support, even though she was fully alert. My skin warmed as they gazed at one another, for a moment caught up in each other.

  “We know we're in danger,” Trenton interrupted their little love moment. “Tell us something new.”

  Lar
nika scowled at the fairy as he went to overtake us. “You know that's not what she intended.”

  The witch’s abilities were still a little confusing to me. The prophecy she had seen played heavily on my mind, but I had tried to push it away. Not taking her gaze away from Larnika, she clenched her hands into fists.

  “It's Liliya, she's searching right now.” Gulping, Sarsia looked at me. “She's using black magic, sending a wraith, which means we have to hide Layanna. Now.”

  Larnika was off his horse, his arms reaching for me before I could react. Trenton was also down. One moment, he was standing next to his horse, the next, he had spun into his tiny form. Coming closer, he hovered by my head, his dust falling from his feet and settling on my cloak.

  “It's not going to be enough,” Sarsia said as Larnika instructed Daniel to tie up the horses. “I can cloak us and the horses, but Layanna's power is becoming stronger.”

  The rushing around made my heart pound in my chest.

  Trenton landed on my shoulder, his little frame light as he put his hands on his hips. How he would protect me at that size was a mystery.

  “Trenton is able to fire his fairy darts at the wraith, although it won't do anything to stop it seeing where we are. Liliya will be able to see through its eyes to tell Jordeek our location.”

  He watched Sarsia as she climbed down from her horse. The atmosphere was full of tension, my own skin sweating from the fear of whatever a wraith was. If the others were afraid, I should be very worried.

  “I have an idea,” the witch said, coming over to me and taking my hands. “We were just talking about shapeshifting. This is your chance to practice. The wraith knows what to look for, but he won't be able to sense you're a fox if you change.”

  “I... I can't... W... What do you mean fox?” I stuttered.

  My insides quivered at the thought of being recognised by a dark creature sent by Jordeek. However, I had no idea how to shift my human shaped body into an animal.

  A screech sounded in the far distance, the noise unlike anything I had ever heard before.

  Sarsia took hold of my arm and pulled me away from the horses. Standing in the clearing, I tried to sustain the shaking of my whole body. She was afraid, I could see by the paleness of her skin and the line of sweat above her lip.