Shattered Magic (The Chronicles of Arand)

Chapter Two



A scream rose in Rowan’s throat as she ran for shelter in the rocks. If she could find a cave, mayhap she could duck inside.

Above her the great wings beat, and she felt a searing heat at her back.

Fire! It was shooting fire.

A shout of anger rose. Not her shout, or the dragon’s. Someone else.

Ducking behind a rock, she peered out to see a dark-haired man racing toward her, brandishing a sword. He was dressed much as she was, in simple leggings, boots and a loose shirt. But he had something she didn’t possess. A weapon.

“Fight me, you bloody bastard,” he shouted, waving the sword aloft.

The beast circled around, immediately switching its attention to the man as though it had been after him all along and only been using her as bait.

When it wheeled back to attack, the man stood his ground, sword raised in both hands.

Could he pierce the monster’s tough scales? Perhaps if he struck at the neck or under the chin.

As the monster landed, Rowan snatched up a rock that fit her palm. At the same time, she reached for the mental powers she possessed, summoning them to her aid. Hurling the rock, she gave it force beyond her physical strength. With the energy of her mind behind the throw, the missile picked up speed, hurtling toward the beast’s back.

It hit with a jarring force, making the dragon roar in pain. Before the beast could swing toward her, the man struck with his sword, aiming for the neck.

But the dragon moved, and the sword clattered against the scales of its shoulder. Still, the blow was enough to give it pause.

She waited with her heart pounding before the dragon rose in the air, then she whispered a prayer to the gods. “Please let it leave.”

Instead it circled in the air, sending down a rain of fire.

The man rushed toward Rowan.

“Hurry.” Grabbing her hand, he led her farther into the boulders, and she saw where he was going. Ahead of them was the wide mouth of a cave.

As the dragon’s fiery breath shot toward them, the man ducked inside the cave, pulling Rowan in back of him as he turned to face the beast.

It roared in anger as it lay down a barrage of flames, blackened the rocks and sent some of them hurtling to the ground.

As the man leaped out of the way, Rowan turned her attention to the cave’s mouth. It was wide and high, but the falling chunks of stone were already changing the shape. All she had to do was loosen more to build up a barrier, leaving an opening too narrow for the monster to cross.

With all the force she possessed, she centered her mind’s eye upon a section of the ceiling, just inside the doorway. To her frustration, her power wasn’t enough to break it loose. But the dragon unwittingly helped her. As a stream of fire hit it, she redoubled her efforts, working with the monster instead of against him.

A grinding noise reverberated through the cave as the roof near the entrance gave way.

Reaching for the man’s shoulders, she pulled him away from the falling rocks.

His dark eyes went wide as he turned, then dropped his sword, which clattered beside him.

Taking Rowan in his arms, he pushed her to the cave floor and covered her body with his while chunks of rock rained down around them.

Rowan squeezed her eyes shut and held on to him, pressing her face against his shoulder as the cave seemed to dissolve around them.

The ground shook. The dragon roared. Her heart pounded.

Finally, after an eternity, all was quiet, aside from the blood pounding in her ears.

When she opened her eyes, everything was deathly silent and dark. But she was aware of the man’s body pressing along the length of hers as though they were lovers in a bed.

Her heart still pounding, she held perfectly still. The man above her was well muscled and fit. And brave. He had turned to fight the dragon, then shielded her with his own flesh.

But she had trapped the two of them together in a dark cave. Was he a threat to her?

When she gripped his arm, he stirred.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“I think so.”

Sitting up, he pulled her with him.

Moments ago he had been sprawled on top of her. As he cradled her in his arms, it felt almost as intimate. She didn’t know him, and propriety dictated that she should break the contact, but she had almost met death, and the feel of his solid body against hers was comforting.

When his hand stroked over her back and shoulders, she trembled, but she stayed in his arms. She had little experience with men, but she had a good sense of people, and she knew he could have left her to her fate and run from the dragon’s fury.

In the darkness, her hand moved along his arms and shoulders as she asked, “Did any of the rocks hit you?”

“Only small ones.”

“Thank you for fighting the dragon.”

“I fear it was a losing battle.”

“No. I would have been dead if you hadn’t come along. It was brave of you to defend me.”

He made a scoffing sound. “No man of honor would have left you there.”

His hold tightened on her for a moment, and she closed her eyes, blocking out everything but the feel of him, his scent, the warmth of his body. When he eased away, her eyes blinked open to darkness.

“Stay there.”

She did as he asked, straining her ears as she tried to hear what he was doing now.

She heard him moving around, and she remembered seeing a travel pack and equipment neatly stowed in the cave.

She turned her head, trying to make out where the entrance had been.

“We’ll have light in a moment,” the man called out.

How? In Valleyhold she might bring light with the force of her mind. Of course she dared not do that here.

She heard a scraping sound, then saw small sparks in the darkness. Flint and steel! She’d heard men who’d gone into the outside world tell of it, wonder in their voices. You could make fire with rock and metal, if you knew the right ones.

The sparks fell on a small pile of kindling enclosed by a circle of stones. Tiny flames grew larger. Smoke rose, and she was relieved to see it drawn toward the holes in the rubble.

“I was camping in here,” he said. “I heard the dragon and your scream.”

“Yes.” She hadn’t had much time to study him. Now she focused on him in the flickering light and judged him to be a few years older than her own eighteen years. His dark hair was long and tied back at the nape of his neck. His features were pleasing with a strong jaw, well-shaped lips, and eyes set wide apart. Though his attire was simple, a loose shirt over leggings and boots, it seemed to be of good quality.

Apparently while she was studying him, he was doing the same to her. “You’re dressed like a boy. In rough clothes. What are you doing out here in the wilds?”

She swallowed, wondering what she was going to say now. She had thought she had time to plan her explanations. Now they were thrust upon her.

“I needed to be alone for a while.”

“Why?”

He had no right to demand answers from her. Well, mayhap he did, since he had saved her life.

When she didn’t answer, he pressed, “Are you in trouble?”

His voice had the ring of command, and that made her think he was used to giving orders.

“I don’t have to discuss that with you. In fact, I could ask you the same question. What are you doing out here, dressed in travel clothes, camping in a cave?”

He gave a sharp laugh. “All right. I had a dispute with my father. I came here to be alone.”

He seemed to be waiting, as though he expected some comment.

Instead, she dragged in a breath and let it out as she glanced at the wall of rubble in back of him. “My reasons are similar. I was at odds with my parents.”

“But you are a woman.”

“I do not take your meaning.”

“No woman should be off by herself, far from any settlement. You put yourself in danger.”

She hadn’t thought of dangers, only escape. When she didn’t answer, he said, “It must have been a serious dispute.”

“Yes.”

“You admit that much.”

She angled her body away from his and pulled her knees up to her chin. “Do not press me with questions.”