Heart of the dragon, p.14
Heart of the Dragon, page 14
For the second time in a matter of minutes, chaos broke out in the courtyard. The troops burst out in a roar of shouted questions and comments and the sound of running feet could be heard within the castle once again. What looked like all the inhabitants of the castle were soon streaming out into the courtyard, crowding nervously in behind the army—maids, pages, stewards, grooms, even chancellors and clerics. Finely-dressed nobles appeared as well, pushing past the servants to try and glimpse what was happening. They balked at the sight of Madfall but didn't run away.
"Benfro, this is not a trifling matter," Sir Arnall said sternly, raising his voice to be heard over the hubbub.
"Let the boy speak." The voice that rose from the crowd wasn't louder than the knight commander, but somehow it silenced the whole courtyard. Madfall narrowed his eyes, trying to pick out the speaker. Beside him, Richard gulped audibly. The human, at least, had recognized the voice.
"Your Majesty." Richard dropped instantly to one knee.
A man stepped out of the crowd. Madfall didn't need to see the crown on his head to recognize the king. "Boy. Benfro, was it?"
Richard looked up and nodded hesitantly, awe in his eyes.
King Edgar turned a frown on Sir Arnall. "You told me he was dead."
"He's been missing for weeks!"
"Benfro. Rise and explain yourself."
Richard clambered to his feet, still not quite daring to meet the king's eyes. "Well, Sir Arnall sent me on a mission to kill the dragon…" he began, scrubbing awkwardly at the back of his neck. "And I found him."
"We can see that," Edgar said, his eyes fixed on Madfall. "Why did you bring the monster here?" He paused, his frown deepening. "How did you bring the monster here?"
"Well, Madfall really brought me, I guess," Richard said with a grimace. "He was the one flying, anyway."
"Please!" Another voice broke free from the crowd. A beautiful woman in a flowing purple gown pushed her way past the knights who tried to shield her. "You said you found my son."
Richard nodded emphatically. "Yes, Your Majesty. He's… um." He turned, beckoning to where Oenyn still sat crouched behind Madfall. Craning his neck, Madfall looked at Oenyn, who was too stunned to move. Richard held out a hand, gesturing for him to come out, but Oenyn didn't move.
"I'm not ready," he whispered fiercely, clinging to Gaf.
"Oenyn," Madfall rumbled, and several people in the crowd gasped. "It's time."
Oenyn looked up, meeting Madfall's eyes. He looked terrified.
"I'm here with you," Madfall said gently.
After a moment's hesitation, Oenyn nodded. Slowly, he stood and stepped out into the open. Madfall tensed, prepared to destroy everything around them if someone so much as glared at his boy. But no one moved as Oenyn came to stand in front of them.
"Your Majesties," Richard said, gesturing to Oenyn. "May I present Oenyn. The, uh, missing prince."
"Benfro," Edgar said sternly. "I don't know what you think you're playing at here…"
He trailed off as the queen took a hesitant step forward, and then another, and then another.
"Bronwen!" Edgar barked, alarmed. "Get back!"
She didn't seem to hear him.
"Bronwen! The beast! Stop her!"
The knights who stood at the queen's back seemed to snap out of their surprise and lunged forward, reaching for her. They were too slow. Quick as a flash the queen moved, sprinting across the lawn—straight for Madfall.
Cries of "Save the queen!" and "Destroy the monster!" rang out through the courtyard, but no one could take a shot at Madfall without risking hitting the queen. She crossed the hundred yards in a dash, surprisingly fleet of foot.
"Bronwen!" The king's anguished shout followed her across the wide expanse of grass.
She didn't listen. She came to a stop in front of Oenyn. For one second they looked at each other, stunned, and then the queen tugged him into a tight embrace. "My boy," she choked out.
Oenyn hugged back, his arms enfolding her slight frame with ease. "Mother," Oenyn whispered.
Something clenched painfully deep in Madfall's breast, worse than if one of the army's arrows had struck home.
Behind the queen, mayhem reigned as the army desperately tried to gather its forces amidst sobbing maids and blustering stewards. As it became clear that Madfall wasn't going to snap the queen up in one bite, however, the crowds subsided, straining to hear what was being said.
A grimace on his face, the King rallied himself. "Guards! Guards!"
Sir Arnall was at his side in a moment, shouting for his first order to fall in line. Twenty or so knights streamed after him, lances gleaming in their hands.
"Surround the beast!" the king snapped as they crossed the yard towards his wife. The knights didn't falter, though Madfall could smell the fear pouring off of them. They pushed in between Madfall and the queen—between Madfall and Oenyn. He stiffened, anxiety roiling in his stomach at the separation. But it would only cause havoc if he were to react, and Oenyn could get caught in the crossfire. He held himself stonily still, staring over the heads of the knights at Oenyn.
The next time Edgar glanced his way, however, Madfall let a tiny bit of smoke curl out of his nostrils just to see the man jump.
He had to give the king some credit, though; he didn't stop moving until he was at his wife's side. "Bronwen."
Bronwen lifted her head, revealing tear-filled eyes. Madfall sucked in a breath sharp enough to have a number of the crowd drawing back in fear. Her eyes—round and clear and blue—were identical to Oenyn's.
"Bronwen, what are you doing? You know that boy isn't our son," Edgar barked.
She merely stepped back, revealing Oenyn to the king.
Edgar gasped.
It wasn't hard to see why, now that Madfall could see Oenyn and the queen standing side by side. The resemblance was uncanny: they had the same eyes, the same fine flaxen hair, the same high cheekbones.
"All right…" Edgar said slowly. "But… that isn't definitive proof." He lowered his voice. "We've had so many pretenders, dear."
"Edgar," Bronwen said, her soft voice allowing for no arguments. "He looks exactly like my father. What further proof could you possibly want?"
"There's the birthmark," Richard put in eagerly. The king and queen looked over sharply, as if they had forgotten Richard was there. His eyes widened at the attention, but he continued, "He has the prince's birthmark."
Edgar's brow furrowed. "You've seen it?"
Crimson flared into Richard's cheeks, mirrored in the flush that crawled up the back of Oenyn's neck. Only Bronwen and Madfall seemed to notice, however, though the queen gave her son a knowing look.
"I had to be sure, Your Majesty."
"Well, of course." Edgar nodded. "And you've seen it? It's the strawberry?"
Richard couldn't quite meet the man's eyes. "Yes, sir," he choked out.
"The chief physician will have to do a full examination," the king said sternly, but Madfall could already see his eyes softening as he glanced back at Oenyn. Bronwen still clasped his hand in hers.
"And the dragon?" Edgar demanded.
Madfall waited to see what Richard would say.
But before he could speak, Oenyn cut in. "He's my father."
Oenyn hadn't spoken loudly enough for his voice to carry to the crowd, but the knights surrounding Madfall couldn't help but dart glances back over their shoulders at Oenyn's words.
"What?"
"I mean." Oenyn looked down, flustered. "I know you're my father, um, Your Majesty."
"You don't need to call him 'Your Majesty'," Bronwen interjected.
Oenyn gave her a grateful look, but then raised his chin proudly as he projected his voice across the courtyard. "Madfall has raised me and cared for me and loved me my entire life. He's the only family I'm ever known."
"Madfall?" Edgar parroted.
"The dragon," Richard supplied helpfully.
"Who kidnapped you?" Edgar looked incredulous.
"Accidentally appropriated."
Madfall couldn't help the snort that burst out of him, even though it meant several lances were suddenly at his throat, because it was Richard who corrected the king, not Oenyn.
"Madfall didn't mean to take me, and he did what he thought was best for me by raising me as his own," Oenyn said, his tone defying anyone to question his faith in Madfall.
"And he was good to you?" Bronwen questioned anxiously, shooting a nervous glance at Madfall.
"He's been the kindest and most caring father I could have possibly had," Oenyn said firmly. Edgar winced at his words, and Madfall found himself feeling sorry for the man despite the sharp blades pressed to his scales. He would be devastated to hear Oenyn say that about him. "He taught me to walk and read and to care for others, to hunt and fly, to fight and love."
"But," Bronwen's voice trembled, "he's a monster."
"Based on what?" Oenyn challenged. Madfall's heart swelled with pride at his son; he wasn't at all cowed by the gold that circled the king and queen's heads. "What he looks like? He can't help that."
"He's a killer," Edgar interjected.
Oenyn's brow furrowed. "Only of animals. Are you suggesting that you don't eat meat yourself?"
"No, of course not." Edgar shook his head, but then snuck another peek at Madfall. "You're saying he's never taken a human life?"
"Only in self-defense, and with great regret," Madfall rumbled. One of the knights guarding him squeaked in terror.
"Just because he has teeth and claws doesn't mean he uses them for evil," Oenyn said. "Any more than your army means you rule by violent force. Does it?"
The king clearly didn't like the fact that every accusation against Madfall was being turned back on him. Madfall smirked.
"Of course not," Edgar denied hotly. "The beast may not be a killer," though his tone suggested he was not convinced, "but he is a thief."
"He's given up stealing." Oenyn crossed his arms.
Edgar snorted. "Oh, really?"
"Now, dear," Bronwen said quickly, dropping her voice so that the gathered knights wouldn't hear her contradict the king. "You know he hasn't stolen from you in… what?"
"Six years," Oenyn supplied helpfully.
"That's… that's right," she agreed, surprised.
"I was twelve when he promised me he would stop," Oenyn told her helpfully.
"And he kept his promise?" Bronwen raised an eyebrow, an expression that Madfall had seen a thousand times on Oenyn's.
"He always does."
"Well," Edgar grumbled, stymied. "And what do you expect to happen to him now?"
"I had hoped he would be welcome here, with me."
"Child!" Bronwen gasped, aghast.
"My name is Oenyn," Oenyn reminded her gently.
The corners of her mouth turned down sadly. "We named you William, after Edgar's grandfather."
"I'm sorry." Oenyn squeezed the hand he still held, "but my name is Oenyn."
"The beast obviously can't remain here," Edgar snapped, interrupting.
"His name is Madfall, and I hope you'll take the time to get to know him and then reconsider," Oenyn said, his tone mild compared to the brusque tenor of Edgar's voice. "But if he's truly not welcome here, then we'll leave."
"Both of you?" Bronwen exclaimed.
"I go where Madfall goes," Oenyn said, looking up to meet Madfall's eyes with a smile. Madfall smiled back. The knights balked.
Edgar looked between the two of them, confusion writ across his face. "But… but… You belong here."
"Yes, I do. But I also belong with Madfall."
"Then you both will stay," Bronwen said firmly.
"Dear!"
She shot Edgar a resolute look. "I will not lose my son again."
"The dragon is a wanted criminal!"
"Surely he can be exonerated?" Oenyn asked. "Since he's reformed his ways? You are the king, after all."
Edgar crossed his arms, a hard look on his face. "And what of the things he stole before?" he demanded. "Is he just to be allowed to keep them with no consequences? Or are you suggesting the dragon will return his hoard?"
"I already have," Madfall said placidly.
The king still looked discomfited to be addressing a dragon, but he drew himself up to full height and demanded, "You have? I don't see any treasure with you."
"Oenyn is my son. Everything I own is his as well. As he's prince of this land, as far as I understand it, that means the whole of my hoard belongs to the crown already."
Two decades before the words would have cut Madfall more than any blade could, but two decades ago he couldn't have begun to imagine how good it felt to share his possessions with the child he loved. Now the words barely felt like anything as they fell from his mouth, except for the spark of pleasure he got when he saw the pride shining in Oenyn's bright eyes.
Edgar seemed flabbergasted by that argument. "So you're just giving us your whole hoard?"
"I'm not giving it to anyone. It already belongs to Oenyn."
Edgar seemed to mull that over for a moment before turning back to Oenyn. He dropped his voice to a whisper. "Just how much is in there?"
"Roughly?" Oenyn asked, an amused smile on his face. "Enough to buy this castle and the entire kingdom ten times over."
Sir Arnall let out a low whisper.
"At least," Oenyn added with a shrug.
"Oh." Edgar glanced back and forth between Oenyn and Madfall, ambivalence in his eyes. Finally he gulped. "I suppose you both may stay, as you insist on remaining together."
Oenyn let out a whoop of delight that echoed across the silent yard. Madfall couldn't help but turn an indulgent smile on his son. He was startled, however, to note a similar expression on Bronwen's face. Their eyes met briefly, over the line of gleaming lances that still rose between them. She looked just as surprised as Madfall felt.
After a moment, Richard cleared his throat. All eyes swiveled towards him, as if they had forgotten the poor boy stood there at all. "Could I, um," Richard stumbled over his words when confronted with the twin stare of the monarchy. "Could I see my father now?"
"Oh!" A delicate hand flew up to Bronwen's mouth. "Of course. You poor boy." She hurried towards him. "We must tell your father that you're alive."
"That would be nice."
"And we'll tell him what a hero you are, too!" Bronwen exclaimed, taking Richard's arm companionably. Oenyn smiled happily at the sight. "And I'm sure Sir Arnall is going to promote you, after such a successful quest," she continued cheerfully. Madfall snuck a glance down at Arnall, who didn't look nearly as certain as the queen sounded. He was willing to bet that Richard got the promotion, though. "To think! You've done what no other knight in my army could do—twice over! You found the dragon and brought my son home alive!"
Grumbles rumbled through the assembled knights at the queen's words.
"Well, Your Majesty," Richard said, blushing. "I didn't exactly fulfill my mission. I was supposed to bring back the heart of the dragon."
The queen's smile widened even as tears sparkled in her eyes. "And you did." She reached out, drawing Oenyn close to her side.
Edgar let out a resigned sigh and Madfall ducked his head to hide his smirk. It was clear who really made the decisions in the royal household.
"He was incredibly brave," Oenyn said to her, shooting Richard a grin. Madfall felt he might have been overstating Richard's achievements—he could point to several memorable occasions when Richard had screamed like the greenest page in the army—but he supposed he could let that slide.
"I'm sure he was. We should give him a medal," Bronwen said. The look she threw over her shoulder at Edgar told Madfall that Richard would have that medal before the end of the week, and probably an ostentatious ceremony to go with it. "But first, we should get you both inside." Oenyn shot a significant look back at Madfall and she quickly cleared her throat. "All three of you inside, I mean."
The grateful smile the boy threw her seemed to make the idea of having a dragon in her home entirely palatable. Madfall was certain the rest of the castle household wouldn't feel the same. Still, when Bronwen snapped her fingers, the lances pointed at his throat swiftly withdrew. Madfall smirked.
"There's Gaf as well, of course," Oenyn said.
"Gaf?" The king asked, shoulders tense. He craned his neck, probably searching for a griffin or a hydra in his courtyard behind Madfall.
"My goat," Oenyn said cheerfully.
The king and the queen let out twin sighs of relief. Madfall used his tail to usher the little nanny goat into sight.
"Does she need to sleep in the castle itself?" Edgar asked.
"Yes."
"Right." Edgar sighed again. Gaf happily trotted to trail at Oenyn's heels.
A shrill scream rang out from the assembled crowd as Madfall moved to follow them, and he was pretty sure at least one person swooned—a squire, if his eyes didn't deceive him. There were hundreds gathered on the lawn, and with every step he took, they withdrew two. It drew a chuckle from his leathery lips, even though that seemed to make them quiver all the more.
When it became clear that he was headed into the castle, a large portion of the crowd turned and fled. Madfall was certain more than one person in the castle would be sleeping with a knife under their pillow that night.
"Will Madfall fit inside?" Oenyn asked his mother as they walked towards the entrance.
"Oh. Well, many of the doorways are very tall," Bronwen said thoughtfully. "And of course he'll fit in the ballroom and the banquet hall and the throne room."
At the last, Edgar let out a grunt that sounded suspiciously like, 'over my dead body.' Madfall ignored it—as did Bronwen.
"And the rest?"
"Well…" she looked less certain. "He'll fit in the corridors, but most of the rooms…" she trailed off.
"That's okay!" Oenyn was quick to assure her. "We can expand doorways, can't we?"
The queen looked taken aback. "Well…"
"Or we could build a new wing!" Oenyn enthused. "One suited for Madfall."
Madfall watched Edgar's face as Oenyn chattered. He listened to his wife and new-found son with a stormy look on his face.
