DARK HOURS, a Fantasy Romance by Linda Mooney - Chapter 1

DARK HOURS

Chapter 1

Through the thickness of tears, Emers stared down at her palms. In the wan moonlight she could just discern that her hands were bleeding, yet she felt no pain. At least, no pain that was greater than the one doing such damage to her heart and mind.

The initial wall of fear that had loomed over her and come crashing down around her had not completely dissipated. It still lay in large, terrifying chunks around her. Even now she would stumble blindly into it as the night grew colder and more forbidding.

It had struck her with such suddenness that, at first, she had been paralyzed with shock. She had awakened alone and naked in the middle of a vast, open field of stubble. Without warning. Without explanation.

How had she gotten here? Where was her home? Where was Noranye? And who was responsible for bringing her here?

She shivered against a sudden gust of wind. Her long hair afforded no protection against the late fall weather. In the dark, a phrase repeated itself over and over in her mind.

Am I going mad?

Her feet were moving but she couldn’t feel the ground. At some point she understood she could die from the elements if she didn’t find protection soon. Clothing. Food. Shelter. She tried to focus, staring out into the indiscernible distance for a light, for some sign of humanity.

She paused. There. In the distance. At first she thought she was imagining it until she realized it was real. It seemed far away, but it definitely was a fire. A cooking fire or one for warmth, it didn’t matter. It flickered. It meant safety, humanity, a source of protection from the darkness and cold. All that did matter was that she get to it as soon as possible, and hopefully, by the grace of the gods, someone would take pity on her and provide her with a piece of cloth and a scrap of food to sustain her.

How long Emers forced one numb foot in front of the other, she couldn’t tell. All she knew was that she had to keep her eyes on the yellow glow that steadily grew closer. Keep her eyes on it and keep walking. Keep walking and pray she would reach it in time.

It was as if her mind refused to acknowledge what was going on around her. From behind her came the heavy thud of what sounded like hoofbeats. A heartbeat later a dark form rushed over her, passing her as it headed straight for the light. A hard downwind from what had to be enormous wings nearly knocked her to the ground. Somehow, she was able to stay on her feet. She could only guess what had missed her, but by now it no longer mattered. Focusing on the light, Emers continued toward her destination.

There was a guttural roar, the deep sound of anger made by some animal, and a high-pitched scream answered. Another roar, followed by the sound of whimpering. The hoofbeat noises stopped behind her but she couldn’t make herself look back to see what was causing them.

The dark form came closer until it blocked out most of the light from the fire. She realized it was a dragon. Huge. Black. Menacing. Something dripped from its muzzle, and for a moment she stopped. She stumbled back, holding her hands out before her as if their thin, pale shapes could keep the enormous animal from attacking.

Bile rose in her throat. She could feel her fear rising, her breath quickening, as her eyes locked on to the dragon’s. Small words of pleading fell from blue lips as she begged the animal to take pity on her.

The dragon licked its muzzle. It sniffed the air and took a step closer to her. Immense ebony wings blocked out the night sky, but at the same time they blocked the frigid winds. Fiery yellow eyes stared at her, a strange stare. What could almost have been a human expression of puzzlement seemed to cross the creature’s features. Then, without explanation, the giant beast sidled up to her and pressed the front of its huge head against her.

An almost inaudible cry of terror escaped her before she realized the animal was not about to ravage her. As her hands shook with fear, Emers reached out. Her fingers involuntarily slid up the sides of its snout, above the gargantuan mouth with teeth larger than her hands. The animal’s warmth was intoxicating, and before she knew what she was doing, she reached up and wrapped her arms around the dragon’s neck, pressing her shivering body against the creature. The dragon responded with a low rumble, almost the way a cat would purr.

It wouldn’t hurt her. At least, not at this moment.

Something clanked in the distance. A gust of wind rushed over them, and it sounded again. An object glinted in the firelight. Releasing the dragon, she hurried over to the fire.

Emers stared in disbelief at the sight of the chainmail and armor lying in a heap a short distance from the pit. She reached down to push aside the shoulder guards when she caught sight of the breastplate. Of the emblem etched where it protected the owner’s heart.

Fear and hope rushed through her at the thought he could be nearby. She whipped her head around, trying to find her beloved. “Kayge!” The name fled weakly on the winds. “Kayge!”

There was no answering call, no sound of his voice. In the dark, distant night there was just her and the unnatural affection of the dragon helping to protect her. All black. Black on black—night and dragon.

“Kayge?”

Her mouth felt stiff. It was becoming difficult to move her lips, even more to call out. A faint thought brushed through her mind, and Emers straightened. She needed to survive. She needed to cover herself, or else she’d die of exposure.

As she lifted the suit of chainmail, she was surprised, yet not surprised, to find a shirt, leather jerkin, and pants beneath the armor, including his boots. Half-frozen fingers struggled with the buttons when she realized she could simply slip the shirt over her head. The jerkin and pants were not a problem, either. At one point she had to use her teeth to loosen the hard, nearly-frozen leather laces on the boots. Eventually they came undone, and she shoved her feet into them. As she knew they would be, the clothing was big on her, but she had no other choice.

She searched for a cloak or other outer wrap but didn’t find one. Emers pondered why Kayge would be out here without any, when it came to her that perhaps he was wearing it now. Without his clothing or armor, he’d need something to protect him from the cold.

Stepping back, she nearly tripped over an object. The long steel blade reflected the fire’s flames, and the sight of it caused her more worry. Maybe she could think of a reasonable explanation why Kayge had ditched his clothing and armor, but not his sword. Never his sword.

The night was unreasonably cold. Even with his oversized clothing enveloping her, she continued to shiver. Glancing down at the armor, she considered putting it on as well, but the metal was like ice. She tried to cross her arms and tuck her hands against her ribs, but it was like hugging two handfuls of snow. Her breath escaped her body in hot, white mists. Her nose had become a lump of skin on her face. She couldn’t feel anything. All sensation was deadened.

There was a snort, and something pushed against her back. The dragon shook his head, either with impatience or from the cold, Emers couldn’t tell, but it was enough to make her move.

The fire burned, flickered, inviting her to draw closer. The dragon was telling her to get closer to its warmth. Maybe Kayge was nearby. Maybe he was unable to join her now but would soon. If she added more fuel to the fire, he might spot it. It would also make waiting for him to return more endurable.

A warm fire. And perhaps a bite to eat.

The thought evoked a rumble in her belly.

The line of trees lay a short distance away. Emers went to fetch more wood. As she went around to the other side of the firepit, she spotted a smear of blood spreading away into the darkness and disappearing behind a clump of trees. Fear tightened in her gut. She wanted to follow it. See where it led. See if Kayge was at the other end.

She took a step forward in that direction when the dragon grunted. A puff of smoke came from its nostrils as it stared at her. There was no mistaking the look on its face. It didn’t want her to leave.

Emers continued to watch the creature as it settled on the ground and drew its wings around itself to preserve warmth. If she tried to investigate, would it physically try to stop her? Would it become angry and attack her?

The massive head turned, and the animal huffed again, this time indicating something a short distance away. She went over to where it wanted her to go and discovered a rabbit that had been skinned and gutted, leaving the carcass lying atop a rock. A shiny little dagger, still covered in blood, lay in the dirt beside it. A long branch, perhaps to spit and cook the animal, was propped next to it. Her first thought was that Kayge had been preparing it before he disappeared.

As her meal sizzled above the flames, the dragon sidled closer, drawn either by the scent of blood or by the fire’s warmth. Tossing the rabbit’s intestines toward the dragon, she watched the animal deftly catch and devour them. Now that she could see the creature more clearly in the fire’s light, it appeared more intimidating, more frightening than before. But she remembered its familiarity with her, and how it tried to give her its own body heat.

She managed a small smile. “Good evening to you, Sir Dragon. I trust your belly is full enough so that you won’t try to fill it with me.”

Two glowing orange-red eyes stared at her. Presently it broke eye contact and began to sniff the area, staying just within the ring of light. After a while it made its way back to her side and plopped down on the ground behind her. Emers shifted from where she sat so she could keep an eye on the creature at all times.

“Where did you come from, and why are you here?” she commented to the animal. “You may be friendly now, but will you be so at dawn?”

She wiped the blood from her hands in a tuft of frost-covered grass. Gathering a little of the small patch of remaining snow she found nearby, she ate some of it, letting the crystals melt on her tongue. The tightness in her throat lessened, revealing how dehydrated she’d been.

Between the fire, the clothing affording her its warmth, and the dragon’s body heat, Emers began to feel her eyes drooping from fatigue. A movement from the corner of her eye jerked her back to wakefulness until she saw it was the dragon peering out into the darkness, its ears up and alert. Suddenly the animal jumped to its feet and sprang into the night sky with a whoosh of wind. Its actions alarmed her. What was it going after? Her deepest fears arose like bile in her mouth.

“Kayge!” Emers scrambled to her feet. It had to be him. It had to be! Why else would the dragon leave? “Kayge!”

There was a yell, then a scream, both of which were punctuated by the angry roar of the dragon. As soon as it had begun, the sound stopped. Several silent seconds passed, and then a mournful howl floated through the air.

“Kayge!”

Her fear nearly choked her, keeping her from breathing. She waited for the sound of his voice. When it never came, Emers could wait no longer. She had to know. She had to see for herself. Snatching up his long sword, she ventured out.

The rocks were sharp, nearly causing her to stumble and fall. Regardless, she hurried to where a shapeless form lay in a heap just beyond the edge of the forest. The clouds broke at that moment, and the sickly moon revealed a thin frame covered in filthy, tattered clothing. From what she could tell through the matted blood, the man had hair. It was enough. She didn’t have to see his face. It wasn’t Kayge.

Which meant he could still out there.

Another growl echoed in the darkness. Moments later the black dragon swooped down close enough for her to spot in the moonlight. Landing nearby, it approached and sniffed the carcass, only to dismiss it. Then, like a spirit, the animal melted back into the black of night.

A frigid wind pushed against her, trying to find an opening in her clothing. It caused a shudder to go through her. Kayge would come back to her when he was able. When it was safe. If there was but one truth, it was that she knew he had to be out there. Somewhere. Protecting her. Out there amid the cold and the dark and the unknown, he had to be watching out for her, protecting her as he always did. As he always would. And as soon as he felt they were safe, he would return. As he always did. As he always would.

Until then she would wait for him. In the meantime, there was a rabbit burning on the fire and a dragon circling overhead, keeping its own vigil.

Turning back toward the small encampment, Emers Ammin of Deccatar went to look after them both.

TO BE CONTINUED

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