Dragon by Day Read online

  An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

  www.ellorascave.com

  Dragon by Day

  ISBN 9781419920264

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  Dragon by Day Copyright © 2009 Daisy Dexter Dobbs

  Edited by Briana St. James.

  Cover art by Philip Fuller.

  Electronic book Publication January 2009

  The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

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  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

  DRAGON BY DAY

  Daisy Dexter Dobbs

  Chapter One

  In the Distant Antediluvian Past, When the World was Young

  The searing sun was relentless. Her breath heaving, Suniko swiped the sweat from her eyes as she ran, wondering how fast and hard her heart could pound before it finally gave up and ceased beating. Breathless and exhausted, she stumbled, collapsing into a harsh patch of briers and brambles. They’d torn at her flesh often enough during her escape that she barely even noticed their sting now.

  A strong hand gripped her wrist and pulled. “Get up, Suniko. The sound of their horses’ hooves is still in the distance. If we don’t continue, the Pushgans will hunt us down and slaughter us like the others.”

  Suniko gazed at the man with the long sun-kissed hair who stood above her, urging her, encouraging her as he’d done since they’d made their escape. How strong and earnest Jayket was. How generous his thoughts to save her as well as himself. It was unfair of her to impede him any longer. He’d never have a chance to survive dragging her bone-tired body along.

  “It’s no use,” she said, clasping his hand and doing her best to smile up at him. “I can’t run another step. Leave me, Jayket. You’ve already done so much for me. I won’t let you sacrifice your life now because I can’t keep up.”

  “I won’t abandon you, Suniko. You can make it. I know you can.”

  She shook her head. “No, I’ll be fine. I’ll find a place to hide away in the woods where they won’t find me. Now go, Jayket. Flee!” She swallowed back the sob that threatened to burst from her lips at the thought of never seeing him again, of crawling in a hole somewhere and waiting to die.

  “Damn you, wench,” Jayket growled, gazing down at her with those mesmerizing eyes of his. They sparked like the deep blue sapphire that had once adorned her throat.

  “Don’t give up now. I’ve seen your inner strength, your will to survive.” He yanked her hard. “Get on your feet, woman. Run on your own two legs or I’ll throw you over my back and carry your weight.”

  Suniko’s legs burned, ached beyond measure, but she had no doubt the damn stubborn man would do just as he said. There was no chance whatsoever that either of them would survive if he had to haul her weight too, even as slight as she’d become from near starvation. Tears flowing freely, mixing with the dirt, sweat and blood on her skin, she cried out as she leapt to her feet.

  “All right.” She nodded, steeling herself to run, anticipating the throbbing pain deep in her limbs. “Let’s go.” And they were off again, Jayket’s hand still firmly clasped on her wrist, guiding her, pulling her. He was her lifeline. Her hero. And he was also a stranger.

  With all that had transpired, it seemed like a long time had passed since she’d met Jayket. How peculiar that it was but a mere three days ago.

  Rumor was rife among Tordanuk of Pushga’s prisoners that the prophesized queen had arrived in Zalvanus. Even amidst the hunger, torture and filthy conditions in which they were held, hope soared in their all but empty hearts.

  Intent on escape and embarking on the long journey to Zalvanus, throngs of prisoners rallied, crafting plans of flight from the walls of Pushga. In a matter of days the first prisoners had made their escape. The other prisoners were dismayed, horrified, when a few days later all but one of the escapees were brought back and set to the rack for torture as an example to the rest.

  Jayket was the one prisoner who avoided capture. But rather than make his way to safety, he journeyed back to Pushga each night, intent on helping as many others to escape as possible. It was on his final trip back that Suniko made her escape with the last band of prisoners who planned to flee. Those who remained behind were either too old, sick or had simply lost all hope or desire to escape and were complacent in their bleak captivity.

  It was near impossible to ignore the intermittent cries carried on the wind. Like random notes of sorrowful music, the agonized screams of other prisoners caught and slain was bone chilling. It seemed Tordanuk’s army was as ruthless as the searing sun. Jayket urged everyone not to look back, to look ahead to where their futures lay and to keep running, no matter what.

  Suniko had no idea how many others beside herself and Jayket were still alive, for it was agreed upon that they would be more difficult to spot if they scattered rather than remain clustered together. Their group broke into bands of two or three, each with the meager amount of food and water they’d been able to gather in anticipation of their escape. Suniko had shared her food with a pregnant woman who clearly needed the crusts of millet cake and bits of meat far more than she.

  Now three days without much rest or water had taken its toll. Ever-so briefly she wondered if they would have been better off taking their chances by remaining as prisoners. Then the ghastly reminders, the ugly realization of what they’d been through at the hands of the hulking, gray-skinned, three-eyed Pushgans galloped through her mind. And she knew it must be either freedom or death.

  For brief moments during their getaway, she’d indulged in the sweet refuge of reverie. How different things would be if she and Jayket, her brave, handsome rescuer, had met at another place and time. The man seemed to have a will of iron as well as a bottomless source of vigor, stamina and optimism.

  If they made it out of this hellish, terror-laced nightmare alive, she would do everything in her power to thank him—to pay Jayket back for his undying strength of spirit. Once they reached Zalvanus she would strive to restore her once-prized beauty. She’d soak in a bath of perfumed water, brush her long raven locks until they gleamed, rim her forest-green eyes with kohl, garb herself in flowing silk soft as rainwater. Then she’d lure her hero to her heart, keeping him there forever.

  They broke through the woods to a clearing and Jayket pulled her with more force. Suniko felt the fierce heat of the sun baking her once soft, smooth, pale flesh. Now she felt like a withered old hag and imagined that was probably just the way Jayket viewed her.

  “Make haste,” he insisted. “We must find brush cover quickly, Suniko.”

  In the center of the clearing, a riotous cry thundered above, bringing them to a shuddering halt. The sound was so deep, so piercing that it shuddered clear through Suniko�
��s bones.

  “Great Ko’Loran, what is that?” she cried, terrified by the unknown, unseen noise.

  “There’s only one thing capable of making that noise,” Jayket told her, looking to the skies. “A dragon. Look! See there?” He pointed in the distance and she could see and hear the mighty flapping of its wings. “It approaches fast. Run, Suniko! Your life depends on it!”

  She had little time to draw a breath much less utter a gasp before Jayket yanked her ahead and they set a hurried pace of foot to dirt.

  Again the great beast bellowed, causing her to shiver. Something about its call tore at Suniko’s heart, for it was akin to the sound of a wounded animal wailing its death song. Though tempted to look up at the dragon again, she followed Jayket’s lead and kept running, looking straight ahead.

  It was a good thing she did because she heard a roar and felt the scorch of flame licking at her back an instant later. Then came a resounding thud and the earth trembled in response. Even Jayket couldn’t resist slowing to see what had caused the crashing event. Finally, having reached the edge of the woods, he stopped hauling her forward and Suniko fought to suck in a breath.

  Looking back from where they’d come, her eyes widened when she saw a line of flame crackling high. At the end of it a magnificent green-scaled creature lay sprawled on the ground. Its flesh was pierced with several arrows and crimson blood seeped from its lifeless body.

  “Oh, Jayket, the poor creature must be dead,” she said.

  “Poor creature?” Jayket coughed with disdain. “It’s a dragon, Suniko. And by the looks of it we were meant to be its final bit of roast meat before its demise.”

  She noticed some blessed relief from the sun and gazed at the horizon where hazy streaks of orange and purple painted the horizon. “Night falls soon, Jayket. Do you think we’d be safe to rest here for the night?” Gods, how she hoped he’d say yes.

  He gazed at her for a long moment and then smiled. “You look beyond fatigued. You’ve been very brave, little Suniko,” he said, brushing his knuckle along her jaw and chin. “With more endurance than many men might have. Wait here a moment while I make a check.”

  She watched him move stealthily back into the clearing, past the dragon and the diminishing line of flame. Jayket got to his knees and bent low, resting his ear against the ground. He sniffed the air and made other checks before returning a few moments later.

  “I no longer hear the hooves,” he said. “And the Pushgans’ smell doesn’t hang in the air. No doubt they saw the dragon, singeing the earth with its fiery breath upon approach. Perhaps it was their arrows that felled the beast. In any case, I think it’s relatively safe to say that they’ve decided to cease their pursuit for the night. We’ll catch a few hours of sleep before we continue.”

  Suniko’s shoulders sagged as she hugged herself and indulged in a lingering sigh. “Sleep…I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like.”

  “I’ll build a small fire to provide some warmth and give us enough heat to cook.”

  Suniko chuckled at that. “Cook what? Roast grass and nettles?”

  “I was thinking about roast meat.” Jayket gave a bright smile. “Dragon meat,” he clarified. Gathering kindling, he nurtured a fire. Once it caught it shed a gentle glow and crackling warmth.

  Having served as a handmaiden to Princess Aladee of Rygava, Suniko had developed an educated palate. Oh how she missed her repasts of fruit-stuffed fowl, tender, fresh grilled fish, wine and figs and dates and nuts and honey and… She closed her eyes at the sublime memory of it all.

  Under normal circumstances the thought of ingesting dragon meat would sour her insides. However, slavery under the evil Tordanuk had taught her to appreciate whatever victuals she could get, no matter how unappetizing they may be.

  Now gnawing hunger had her salivating at the thought of eating any meat besides the maggot-studded vermin so often provided to Tordanuk’s prisoners. “Have you ever eaten dragon before?” she asked.

  “No, but I feel it’s only right that we have an opportunity to be the grillers instead of the grilled.” Jayket looked at Suniko and laughed. “Don’t look so uncertain. It can’t taste any worse than the foul rats filling Tordanuk’s fortress.”

  Jayket cocked his head. “Listen, Suniko. Do you hear that?”

  She stiffened. Dear gods, not more danger when we’ve finally had a chance to enjoy a brief respite from the horror, she sent up in silent entreaty. “What is it, Jayket? Horse hooves?”

  He clapped her shoulder, soothing it with his hand. “No, the trickling of water. There must be a stream nearby.”

  Suniko’s fingers flew to her lips, brushing over the parched, cracked skin. “Oh, Jayket, it’s been so long since we’ve had good water. Do you imagine it’s safe to drink?”

  “Let’s hope so,” he answered. “Fresh water would be a godsend.” He gazed at the violet sky. The relentless sun had been replaced by the pearly cool glow of the moon. “Will you be all right if I leave you for a short time to find the water’s source?”

  “Yes.” She nodded, not at all certain of her safety without brave Jayket at her side. “I’ll be just fine.”

  “Don’t wander,” he cautioned with a chastising finger.

  “I won’t,” she promised. “I’ll just take a quick peek at the dragon, that’s all. And I won’t get too close,” she added when she saw his warning expression.

  He reached for her breast and she felt her skin flush. It was near impossible to keep a sigh from slipping past her lips at the thought of his intimate touch. Perhaps even their first kiss. But it was the thin rawhide cord resting crosswise over her chest that Jayket sought. His fingers closed around the string and he pulled it over her neck. She felt the disappointment lodge deep in her belly.

  “I’ll bring both our goatskin pouches to fill,” he said.

  Once he was gone the increasing sounds of night crowded in on Suniko. She chilled at the thought that animals were chatting amongst themselves about what a meaty morsel her thigh might make, or how gnawing at her bony ribs might bring satisfaction. Even the crickets chattered, perhaps deciding whether or not her toes would make a tasty tidbit.

  Rubbing her arms and shuddering, Suniko got up from the rock she sat on and ventured toward the clearing to steal a look at the dragon. She’d never had the opportunity to see one up close before—few people had, and had lived to tell about it. While she’d heard many men brag of slaying dragons, hard evidence was forever lacking.

  Along the scorched earth, small flickers of flame still burned, guiding her to where the dragon lay. But when she reached the clearing, Suniko was stunned to see the sizeable beast had disappeared. How strange. She and Jayket would have heard the mighty flap of wings had it taken off, or its heavy footfalls if it had risen and lumbered away.

  If it had crawled off there would surely be a trail of blood, considering how severely it appeared to be wounded, but Suniko saw none. Instead, she stepped forward and tripped, falling over something.

  Her hands spread as she attempted to push herself up and she was aghast when she realized she was pressing against flesh and not the earth. Scrambling off the form and crawling away from it, she looked hard. In the moonlight she saw that it was a man, facedown in the dirt.

  He was naked and motionless. That’s when Suniko noticed the arrows jutting from his arms, legs and rib cage and her heart lurched. He was probably one of the escaping prisoners, hunted down by the Pushgans. Perhaps the dragon had him in its grasp when the creature fell to the ground.

  Moving toward his body, she touched her hand to his dark hair and stroked it, wondering what his story was, who his people were. She bit back a gasp when she heard him moan.

  “You’re alive,” she whispered, amazed that he could be with the extent of his injuries. “Can you hear me?”

  Another faint moan.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll help you,” Suniko told him, smoothing her hand across his back. “I’ll be right back.”

  By
the time Suniko reached the spot Jayket had chosen to spend the night, he was just returning, swollen goatskin pouches draped over his shoulder and a smile upon his lips.

  “I have water, Suniko! Drink with abandon. There’s plenty more.”

  She did, guzzling the water and savoring it as if it were the finest wine.

  “How is our dinner coming?” Jayket asked as she drank. “Have you decided whether you prefer roast leg of dragon or a meaty slab of ribs?”

  “It’s gone,” Suniko said, wiping the water from her chin. “The dragon has disappeared.”

  “But that can’t be.” Jayket was clearly astounded. “We would have heard something. Did you see it take off?”

  “No. There’s no sign of him, Jayket. It’s as if the dragon was never there. But there’s a man resting half-dead in his place. He’s badly wounded but he still breathes. I imagine he must be a fellow prisoner. I told him I’d be back with help.”

  “Here, bring your water pouch.” Jayket grabbed her hand and they started walking. “We’ll see what we can do.”

  “We must do all we can to save him, Jayket. I’m so heartily sick of death and grief.” She’d experienced more of it in this last year of captivity than she had all her days before. How helpless she’d felt, cradling the heads of dying men, women and children in her lap as they gazed up at her with the life ebbing from their eyes. How grave the heartache of loved ones left behind to mourn the dead.

  They reached the wounded man and Suniko saw that he hadn’t moved at all. They got to their knees and Jayket examined his wounds.

  “It looks dire.” Jayket searched the ground and picked up a sturdy twig, which he positioned between the man’s teeth.

  “What’s that for?” Suniko asked.

  “To give him something to bite down on if he rouses. It’s necessary to remove the arrows, but his pain and the blood flow will be great.” His fist tightening over an arrow, Jayket looked at her, his expression solemn. “Brace yourself, Suniko. He may flail and cry out. It’s possible this may even kill him, but it’s his only chance for survival.”