Read dragon archives 04 - dance with a dragon for Free Online Page A

Anna’s room overlooked a narrow lane, and the rain made the view even more miserable. Puddles filled the ruts, creating cesspools of mud and manure, while a large, gray rat scurried along the side of the wall. Anna slammed the shutter closed with a shiver and made her way downstairs where she joined the others.
    “Alfred most humbly requested the pleasure of my presence when I arrived in the city,” Aaron was saying to Favian as Anna entered the room. “Keira and I will go there today to pay our respects. And a reminder of our presence in his kingdom wouldn’t do any harm.” Aaron glanced at Keira, seated by his side. “You know I would prefer you not come, but your presence will make mine less of a threat.”
    “You worry too much, Aaron,” Keira said. “I promise to take no notice of the beautiful ladies at court, nor be plagued by unpleasant memories.” She turned to Anna and asked, “Would you like to come?” but Anna shook her head.
    “The city looks too dismal. I would rather just stay here and keep dry.”
    The day passed drearily, the rain dampening the mood of adults and children alike. When Zach and Lydia grew bored of playing in their chambers, Bronwyn cheered them up by playing hide-and-go-seek. And when they tired of that, she told them tales of a king who had become the loyal subject to a powerful dragon.
    Aaron and Keira were gone until mid-afternoon. When they walked into the hall, Aaron’s skin was steaming from the rain, but Keira was shivering beneath her damp clothes. Anna handed her a cup of wine as she went to stand before the fire. “Why anyone would choose to be out today is beyond me,” Keira said, “but the rain did not keep people away from the palace to view the body of the king.”
    “Did you see it?” Anna asked.
    Keira shook her head. “No. People were lined up out the building, across the courtyard and through the gardens. Besides, Aaron complained that he could not bear the smell. He moved so quickly past the hall, I had to run to keep up!”
    Anna laughed. “A dragon who does not like the smell of dead flesh!”
    Aaron walked over to where the women stood by the fire. “Dragons do not eat carrion!” he said with mock consternation. “It needs to be warm and fresh!”
    Anna shuddered. “That sounds … delicious!” Aaron grinned.
    “So you saw the new king?” Favian asked, entering the room.
    “I did,” Aaron said. “I gave him a little reminder of who I am, to make sure he remembered his promise to keep our secret for the safety of his kingdom. And I also assured him of my loyalty to him as sovereign king of the human realm.”
    Favian nodded. “Do you think he has kept his silence?”
    “I think so, for now at any rate. But he has a long reign ahead of him, and the burden of our secret may become too heavy for him to bear alone. But there is no more we can do now. We will just have to wait and see what happens.”
    The funeral service was the following day, and although the rain had stopped, the clouds were low and ominous, and the air was damp. The service was to be conducted in the large cathedral that soared high above the city skyline, but despite being the largest edifice in the kingdom, no more than a few hundred people could be squeezed into the nave, and the guest list had been strategically pared down to include only the most important guests. The nobility, of course, were invited – a new king had to ensure he offended no-one who could pose a threat to his rule; foreign dignitaries also made the list; the church elite – the kingdom’s scribes and bearers of blessings – had also been invited; and the Dragon Master. These people would bear report to the rest of the kingdom of the ceremony given to the old monarch. Of course, anyone who chose to could watch the coffin proceed from the palace to the king’s final resting place within the cathedral.
    Except for Aaron and Keira, the entire Drake household, including the staff, set out early in the