Prince of Spies

chapter Thirteen

Far away in the capital of Draconia, Riki’s lost family was sitting down to breakfast in the castle.

“The Jinn have taken over the town. It’s like a festival down there. You should go see.” Prince Collin entered the family dining room as his eldest brother, Roland, rose and went to the long window overlooking the town. His new queen, Lana, sat at the table.

“When did this happen?” Roland asked as he surveyed the town of Castleton, far below. The castle was built into the side of a mountain standing far above the town, sheltering it in its shadow and warmth.

“Overnight, it seems.”

A herald came to the door and drew inside, seeking the king’s attention.

“Your Majesty, an ambassador from the Jinn has arrived and seeks an immediate audience.”

It was unusual, but not unheard of, to entertain ambassadors at breakfast. Roland looked around the room. It was just family here. They all knew of the troubles facing their land and were united in helping him protect the people and dragons of Draconia.

“Show him in.”

The herald coughed politely. “It is a woman, Your Majesty. Magda of the Black Dragon Clan is the name she gave.”

Now this was different. Most often, Jinn women were seen and not heard. All Roland’s previous contact had been through male ambassadors, but he was by no means averse to dealing with women.

“Thank you. Show the lady in.”

The herald retreated, appearing a few minutes later with a woman in tow, though she towered over the teen. She was raven-haired and buxom, a fact he saw his younger brothers note with interest. He sent them a private warning.

“Put your tongues back in your mouths, boys. This is a diplomat and we cannot afford to offend her.”

Lana heard the comment in her mind as well. She rose to greet the woman with a warm smile hiding her amusement.

“Be welcome, Lady Magda. Will you have some breakfast with us?” Lana was already making motions for another place to be set at the long table, across from her and Roland.

The Jinn woman smiled and her beauty only seemed to increase. She had startling green eyes, Roland saw…the color so very familiar.

“You must be Queen Alania. I am Second Steward of the Black Dragon Clan, come to bring news of your sister, Arikia.”

“My sister?” Lana’s face lit with eagerness and went pale with fear at the same time. “What can you tell me of my sister?”

The woman sat as Lana did. Roland took his wife’s hand and squeezed it in support as the other woman spoke.

“Prince Nicolas has found and rescued your sister. They are even now with my people at the Jinnfaire near the northern border of Skithdron. A messenger arrived in the night with the news and bid me gather all the Jinn here, for their homecoming. They were married last night, in the ways of our people, and your sister was crowned Queen of the Jinn.”

“What?” Lana’s eyes were bright with unshed tears of joy. “Nico and Riki? That’s fantastic! But how can she be Queen of the Jinn? Was she with your people all this time?”

Magda shook her head and told them all she knew of Riki’s imprisonment and escape. Magda had a great deal of information from reports of the Jinn musicians Lucan employed. They’d watched the sad, green-eyed girl and reported news of her over the months of her captivity, each separate report coalescing over time to indicate she might be the girl of whom the seers spoke.

Roland listened with quiet interest. What this Jinn woman told them was nothing short of miraculous. When she explained the origins of the Jinn, he was completely astounded to find there were other descendants of Draneth the Wise spread all throughout the lands. Even more fascinating was the idea that the Jinn were a matriarchy, not a patriarchy as he had always assumed. Oh, these people were clever. Not even his infamous Spymaster brother had divined all their secrets.

“There is more, Your Majesties,” the woman continued speaking as breakfast was all but forgotten. “The Black Dragon Clan counts many shapeshifters among its ranks. I am one. The First Steward, Estella, is another. But we add another to our ranks today. The visions proclaim Queen Arikia of the Jinn will find her wings this very morn. Your brother and his mate will fly home together. They will bring an honor guard of black dragons, sent here as liaisons between our forces and yours.”

“More of the Jinn are coming here?” Collin asked from his seat a few feet down the table. “I thought all of them were already in town.”

“All who were within a night’s ride, Prince Collin,” the woman said softly. “The Jinn are numerous and spread all over the lands in many different clans, but all are ruled by my sister, Estella, Steward of the Black Dragon Clan and now by your sister, our new Queen, as well. Our seers tell us a time is coming soon when our forces will unite and fight together to prevent catastrophe for all the lands.”

Roland stood, pacing, while he tried to absorb the strange turn of events.

“Your news is both welcome and troubling,” he said at length. “While I’m overjoyed my wife’s sister has been found and my brother married, I’m concerned by these dark visions of the future. I respect the reputation and skill of your Jinn seers, but I can only hope they’re wrong about what’s coming.” He held up one hand to forestall the argument he could see forming on the woman’s lips. “Nevertheless, all help is welcome, and new black dragon kin even more so. I’m pleased to welcome your people as allies, Magda, and hope we can find a way to work well together.”

The raven-haired girl beamed at him then, and he saw his brothers’ jaws drop as her beauty stunned them. Luckily, the Jinn magic had no effect on him. He loved Lana too much to have his head turned by a pretty girl. Jinn or no.

“With your permission, then…” Magda rose and ruffled her full skirts around her legs, “…we will set an encampment to the east of the existing town, at the base of the castle mount, bordered by the river tributary on the east, the existing town on the west and the open fields to the south.”

“You planned ahead, I see,” Roland teased as she grinned. “Just how many of your brethren are you expecting?”

Magda shrugged daintily. “Several thousand at least, by week’s end. Castleton will become a city by month’s end, and we have plans to develop the open fields to the east, to grow crops to support our people. If we have your permission, of course.”

Roland knew when he’d been outfoxed. The idea was mind-boggling. The Jinn, who were known far and wide as homeless nomads, were putting down roots in Draconia. At the base of his castle, no less. Never did he think to see anything like this in his time.

“Your people are welcome to farm any land not already claimed, Magda, but you realize we must keep the herds for our dragon kin, right?”

Magda laughed and the tinkling sound had his younger brothers squirming in their seats. “But of course! The Black Dragon Clan, above all, knows the importance of working with dragons. We have no desire to rule, but we will fly into battle at your direction, King Roland. We will need training though, with your Lairs. Unfortunately, flying is something we have only done in secret up ’til now and we need more practice working with other dragons in battle.”

Just at that moment, a dragon-sized door opened at the end of the large family chamber and a gleaming silver dragonet tumbled in. He was huge by dragonet standards and far shinier than any other dragon in the land, but he was family. Tor, the baby Ice Dragon, stopped short when he saw a visitor in the room, eyeing her carefully as he came to sit on his haunches behind Lana and Roland.

“Son, this is Second Steward Magda of the Black Dragon Clan of the Jinn. Her people will be building on to the town below.”

“Greetings, Sir Tor.” Magda surprised them all by speaking in the silent way of dragons. “I’ve heard much about you.”

“Lana, she feels like a dragon.” They all heard Tor’s words in their minds. “Like you and Roland.”

Magda laughed, the pleasant sound teasing everyone’s senses. “That’s because I am.”





Riki spread her wings, flying in a secluded area near the Jinn encampment with Nico watching over her every move, coaching and coaxing in the most loving way. The feeling was just amazing. She’d never felt so free in her life, nor so happy. The man she loved flew beside her, guiding her, showing her how to be a dragon, encouraging her and yet, letting her fly free. He was such a special, thoughtful, attentive partner, but never stifling. He was just perfect.

A slithering form below caught her eye and struck fear into Riki’s heart.

Skiths. A lot of them. Heading straight for the Jinn encampment.

“Nico!”

“I see them.” His voice sounded grimly through Riki’s mind. “Come on, we’ve got to warn the Jinn.”

Turning more sharply than Riki could follow, Nico winged back toward the Jinn encampment, but she wasn’t quite so agile in the sky yet. Cutting her corner too tightly, Riki began to lose altitude, coming dangerously close to the skiths far below.

“Nico!”

But it was too late. Riki’s panic translated poorly in her newfound dragon body. She began to tumble, falling closer and closer to the danger below. In her panic, she began to shift, the black mist swirling as her body instinctively sought a more familiar form. The wings slowed her descent at first, bringing her closer to the canopy of tall trees, but then the wings were gone and she started to pick up speed.

Riki reached out blindly, falling through the tops of the trees, breaking the smaller branches near the tops, slowing her descent once again. Leaves and branches struck her tumbling body, slapping her in the face and causing her to cry out in pain until finally she came to rest with a jolting thud.

Caught in a tree.

Blessed be the Mother of All.



“Riki!” The black dragon trumpeted Nico’s distress as he made his way back to where she’d fallen.

“I’m all right. I landed in a tree. I’m pretty high up. I don’t think the skiths can reach me up here.”

But they certainly had spotted her. Nico could see that easily enough from his position above. Several of the deadly creatures paused at the base of her tree, trying experimentally to spit at her, but thankfully, she really was out of their range.

“Can you shift and fly out?” Nico knew it was a long shot. She was too new to her wings to be able to shift and fly from such an awkward position.

“I doubt it. Not right now, anyway. I’m too shaken up. I’m content just to stay here for a bit. Nico, you have to go warn the Jinn.”

“I can’t leave you!”

“You must. Nico, even the magical circle around the encampment won’t keep out this many skiths. This is an attack. An organized one. Even I know this many skiths don’t just appear on their own. Especially not this far north.”

Nico had to acknowledge she was right. Someone had herded these skiths to attack the Jinnfaire. The people on the ground were mostly defenseless against such fierce creatures. Only dragons could adequately defend against an army of skiths, with their fire. It was the one thing skiths were afraid of.

But the Jinn claimed there were black dragons among them. Perhaps there would be enough to defend the huge number of people at the Jinnfaire. He wasn’t sure, but it really was their only shot.

“Nico, you have to help them!”

“I don’t want to leave you.”

“But you have to. You must.”

Nico sighed with resignation. He knew what he had to do.

“You’re right.” Nico flew in a circle above Riki for a moment more, wishing he could kiss her, knowing he couldn’t. “Stay right there, sweetheart. Don’t move a muscle. You should be safe from the skiths where you are, so don’t try to go anywhere else, all right?”

“Believe me, I won’t move an inch. I’m still shaking too badly, for one thing.” Her little chuckle carried through her thoughts. Sweet Mother! How he loved this woman.

“All right. I’ll be back as soon as possible, with help. Stay right where you are and remember that I love you more than anything in this world.” His thoughts softened as he turned to wing away toward the Jinn encampment. “Without you, I’m lost, Riki. Stay safe for me, my dearest love.”

“I love you too, Nico. Warn the people, then hurry back to me.”



Riki sat in the tree, content to be safe for the moment from the spitting skiths so far below. Most had given up on her, but a few still lingered at the base of her tree, keeping her penned. The rest were moving steadily toward the Jinn encampment and that worried her. Those people had little to defend themselves against such a massive incursion of the deadly creatures.

But they claimed to have a few dragons among their number. She’d seen one already when Estella changed right in front of her. So they had some protection, at least. They would probably need Riki’s healing skills when it was over though. People and dragons were sure to be injured and she would do all she could to help heal them. They’d been so kind to her, she wanted to help them in return.

“Is that you, little witch?”

A sickening, slithering voice sounded through her mind in a perversion of the way she communicated with Nico. Riki looked around for the source of the voice. Someone was watching her. Fear skittered through her already adrenaline-charged body.

“Come, little witch.” She would swear it was Lucan’s voice. “Come home to me, little witch, or my brothers will sever your head and eat your entrails.”

She felt the anger rising with the words, but where were they coming from? Lucan was nowhere to be seen. In fact, she couldn’t see one single human within range of her high perch. The only living things left in the area were skiths. All the animals had fled before the evil creatures or been eaten.

Then Riki noticed one skith in particular seemed to be watching her. The others slithered around below the tree in a mass of scaly flesh, but this one stood apart, its slitted eyes trained on her. It made her skin crawl.

This was where the voice originated. Could Lucan somehow channel his thoughts through the skiths? The idea was terrifying, but it explained why these skiths were so far north and why they were heading en masse toward the Jinn encampment without a single human soldier driving them.

Lucan was controlling the skiths.

It was the only explanation.

Loralie had warned of this, in her oblique way, all those months ago. She’d told Lucan, in Riki’s presence, how he might discover a way to communicate with and control the creatures with which he was blending his essence. Lucan had crowed in delight at the thought, but Riki had always felt the significant look Loralie gave her was meant as a sort of warning. She hadn’t understood it at the time, but many things she’d seen and heard back then were starting to make a horrific sort of sense.

Lucan could not only control the skiths, but he could see through their eyes. And he’d found her. He knew exactly where she was. Panic set in until she realized she was well and truly stuck in this tree. To move was suicide. To stay was even worse. Lucan would send his men to recapture her and who knows what tortures he would think up when he finally had her back in his control.

Despair washed over her. The only choice she had left was how she would die. Should she wait to be recaptured and let Lucan kill her by slow degrees over the course of what could easily be years? Or should she jump and end it quick, letting a skith sever her head?

Anger rose up to smother the fear Lucan struck in her soul. There was another choice.

Defiance.

And this time she wasn’t alone. Nico would help her. He would return for her any moment, and the Jinn had promised their aid as well. She could do this. She could stand up to Lucan for the first time in her life, and she knew there would be others standing with her, if she needed them. She wasn’t alone anymore.

“Damn you!” she screamed at the evil creature. “Damn you to the seven hells and back again!”

Anger bubbled up and with it came the heat and fire of the dragon. Never before had it been so close to the surface, though she recognized it as the power that had lain dormant in her soul all her life. Only now, she could tap into it.

Riki reveled in the fire, letting the power bathe her soul in its purity. Renewed, she opened her eyes and pointed to the skith.

Flames shot from her outstretched hand, shocking her. But it felt right. The flame was real enough, but it did not burn her, for it was of her, part of her very soul.

Calling on the fire of her dragon nature, Riki poured all she had into the flame, sending it to the skith through which Lucan watched, reveling in its screams of death.

The other skiths scattered, slithering away from the flame that burned pure and hot. This was magical flame and it consumed only the skith, leaving the forest around it unburned.

Riki felt triumph rage through her. She’d just killed a creature that should never have lived in the first place. For some reason, that knowledge made her feel good, though she’d never taken a life before. Riki had been taught as a child that all life was sacred, but she’d learned the hard way some things were too evil to live.

Lucan was one of those. Skiths were another.

Killing the skith didn’t fill her with the dread she expected. Instead, she felt…not exactly happy…but rather, justified. She felt the rightness of her actions and would shed no tears over it.

Skiths were just…wrong. She felt it in her soul. They didn’t belong to this world and should never have been created.

That was it. That’s the secret knowledge that clicked into place, though she had no idea how she knew it. Skiths were no creatures of nature. No, they’d been created by wizards, and evil wizards at that.

Riki didn’t know where the knowledge came from, but she didn’t question it. Nico might know the truth. She would ask him when he returned.



Nico arrived at the encampment in the nick of time to warn the Jinn about the oncoming army of skiths. He was amazed by the way these nomadic people responded to his trumpeting cry. Within moments, a legion of black dragons flew over the sprawling encampment. Nico had never seen the like. At least a dozen black dragons filled the sky.

When Draconian forces took to the sky, the dragons came in a rainbow of colors, with leather-clad knights on their backs. Once in a while, a black dragon would lead such a contingent, but there were precious few blacks left in his homeland. This, though, was an embarrassment of riches. Nothing but riderless black dragons filled the air over the camp while the Jinn scurried in organized chaos below.

Wagons moved to encircle the tents and barricades of all kinds sprang up around the perimeter. Men with sharp weapons stood ready behind the barricades and rows of women stood ready behind them, armed with longbows. Other women—the old and the very young—stood ready with braziers and oil to light the arrows and do other tasks to help the fighters.

But the dragons were disorganized. Nico could easily see they’d never fought in formation before. They were like young recruits, not knowing how to keep out of each other’s way.

There was little time to organize them and no time for diplomacy. Nico flew into their midst and took charge, dividing them into pairs and assigning sectors like the general of dragons and men he truly was. None questioned his right to command them, and within short order, the defense was ready.

Just in time, too, for the skiths encircled the camp and attacked from all directions at once. Nico had just enough time to offer up a prayer to the Mother of All before diving into the fray, flaming skiths as he went, with the help of the other black dragons.

“Where is your mate?” Estella flew close, frying skiths with broad swaths of her flame as she passed.

“She’s safe for now. Look out behind you!”

“Damn these creatures!” Anger filled the woman’s words, along with frustration as a stream of venom narrowly missed her. “How do your knights and dragons do this day in and day out?”

“It is a lifelong quest,” Nico answered soberly, keeping an eye on the entire battlefield. He had to shore the Jinn dragons up, darting in where needed. Already three of the Jinn dragons were badly hurt and out of the fighting. Women on the ground were dousing their venom wounds with water and healers were tending them.

“This is a battle for which we are ill-prepared. I see that clearly now.” Estella’s determination sounded through his mind as she flew past. “But that will change. Prince Nicolas, you must see to Riki. Her safety is crucial.”

Nico looked around at the battle. The Jinn dragons were sloppy fighters in the air, but they were getting the job done. Over half of the massed skiths were dead already and the rest would soon be joining them, a result of both the skilled assault of the ground fighters and the disjointed dragons fighting from the air. He judged they were well on their way to victory, which meant he was free to go rescue his new wife from that tree.

He’d just turned in the direction of her perch when a single black dragon flew over the forest.

“Riki!”

“Sorry I’m late.” Humor and love sounded through her voice in his mind. The other dragons welcomed her with trumpeting cries and she answered in return, though her voice was unsteady—so unused to being a dragon she was.

“By the Mother, am I glad to see you.”

“Me too, Nico. Me too.” Relief sounded through her voice and he was never happier to hear her wry spark of humor. “Uh, Nico? Um…how do I get down?”

He chuckled and smoke issued from his dragon mouth. “Watch me first. I’ll set down on the ground and catch you. All right?”

“I’ll try.”

Joy filled him, just watching his remarkable mate. Landing skillfully in the center of the encampment, he picked a clear area so she’d have a little room to maneuver. Nico turned, holding out his wings, coaching his mate into his arms.

“Aim for me, sweetheart. This is the way we teach our babies. Maybe someday soon, we’ll have a baby of our own to teach, eh?” He couldn’t resist teasing and chuckled when her wing beats faltered at the idea.

“Really? A baby?”

She seemed astounded at the idea. “Yes, my love, our baby. A little prince or princess to love and cherish. Part of us. Part of our love. Didn’t you think of that when you agreed to be mine?”

“I hadn’t gotten that far yet.” She chuckled and he saw smoke streaming out behind her as she aimed her flight path for him. “I don’t want to hurt you. Just let me tumble if I land hard, all right?”

“Sweetheart, you could never hurt me. Trust me to catch you and protect you. It’s what I was born to do.”

“You say the sweetest things.” Her voice sounded softly through his mind. “Watch out now, here I come.”

“You’re doing fine.”

Nico continued to encourage her as she slowed and dropped, aiming for him. She stumbled a bit at first, but all in all, she made a good showing for her very first landing. Nico caught her in his strong dragon arms, twining his neck with hers in a dragonish hug. She was so beautiful, so brave and special. She fit him in every possible way.



Riki stepped back, facing Nico as she willed the shift. When she stood once more in human form, she was fully dressed, but her feet were bare. She peered down at her toes in puzzlement as Nico chuckled smoke.

“Where are my shoes?”

“Elsewhere, obviously. Sweetheart, when you shift, you have to hold the image of your clothing—all of your clothing—to you when you come back. Actually, you should be quite proud. Most first-timers come back completely naked. You have your dress at least.”

“And my wedding band.” She held up the glittering gold ring to show him and it sparkled in the sun. Nico growled and it sounded like pure male satisfaction to her. “But I really liked those boots. How can I get them back?”

“Want to try again? Shift to dragon, then back again. Picture yourself fully clothed, including your pretty boots.”

She did so, noting that each time she shifted, it became easier. When she stood before Nico once more in human form, her boots were on her feet and a wide smile adorned her face.

“You’re a natural.”

They both turned as a dragon trumpeted in distress.

“You’d better go help them. I’ll help the healers.”

“Stay in the center of the camp. Promise me you won’t get out near the edges. The ground fighters are better than the dragons, but some of the skiths still might get through.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll stay safe.”

She hugged the secret of her newly discovered ability to throw flame even in human form, close to her heart. She’d tell Nico when they had more time. Right now, those Jinn dragons needed him. It was clear, even to her, they were not very well organized in their flight. Riki had already seen several near misses in the air and was glad to be on the ground, out of the way.

Nico took to the sky with a powerful beat of his wings. No matter how often she saw him in dragon form, he never failed to impress her. He was so beautiful, so competent, so sure of himself and his direction. She wished she could be just half as sure of herself, but she was getting there. With each new discovery, each little success, she was learning just who she was and what she could do.

Soon, she hoped, she would be a woman Nico could be proud of—and that she could be proud of herself. Little by little, she worked toward that goal.

Looking around at the scurrying Jinn, Riki set off in the direction of the injured dragons. She knew what to do for skith venom wounds all too well and would be happy to help these brave people.