Blood of Dragons

‘Yes. Carson and my dad were like brothers. He’s raised me and talks straight to me. So I know who you are. And I don’t think much of you.’

‘Really. Why is that?’ Who is Carson?

‘Sedric’s been pretty honest with Carson. Well, not at first maybe, but now it’s all in the open between them. I know you treated Sedric real bad. And he’s happier now, living simple with Carson, than he ever was in your fancy house with your rich friends. He told me that.’

‘Did he?’ Hest turned away from the boy and looked at the floor. ‘There are two sides to every story,’ he said huskily. He glanced up to find Davvie watching him intently and lowered his gaze again lest the boy read his eyes too well. ‘Two people can love one another and still hurt each other. Still make mistakes, big mistakes.’ He shook his head slowly. ‘I know I can’t win Sedric back. I see that perhaps he’s better off here. That doesn’t mean I have to be happy about going back alone. Doesn’t mean it won’t leave a big hole in my life.’

The scaled youngster was silent, full of listening. Hest shot him an earnest look. ‘You’re lucky to be out here. I see how things are in this place. Oh, maybe it’s a thin, bare life here, but you can love who you want, and no one shames you. I’ve never had that. Never. Maybe if Sedric and I had been able to be open with everyone around us, maybe …’ He let his voice die away and shook his head regretfully. The boy leaned closer. Such an easy target. Young and still inexperienced, his heart freshly broken. Hest wanted to smile. Could he take a better vengeance on Sedric and his damned Carson than seducing this boy? He looked at Davvie with wounded eyes. ‘I tried to give him a good life with me, as much as I could manage. We travelled a great deal together. And when we were in town, there were many evenings with our friends. Fine wine, good food, wonderful fellowship.’ He shook his head sadly. ‘I thought it would be enough for him. I shared with Sedric all I had, introduced him to a life he had never known. We would go to the theatre together. Or go out riding. Or simply to a tavern to drink ale and listen to music. Every night we were together, experiencing all that a city has to offer young men.’ He broke off to look at the boy more closely. ‘Have you ever been to Bingtown? Or any large city?’

Davvie shook his head. ‘Carson was teaching me to be a hunter and a trapper. Now that I got a dragon of my own, I’m a keeper. I wanted to be a keeper mostly so I could stay with Lecter. But now that he’s thrown me over, and my dragon is all busy with other things, I’ve wound up with nothing.’ He lifted a hand and touched his own cheek. ‘Don’t think I’ll ever visit Bingtown or any other city looking like I do. I’d be a freak there now.’

‘A freak?’ Hest laughed heartily. A few heads turned his way and he quieted. Attention from anyone other than Davvie was not what he wanted. ‘No, my young friend. Not a freak. An Elderling. Rarest of the rare and honoured wherever you might go. Why, everyone knows the names of Malta and Reyn Khuprus! They stayed for a time at the Satrap’s court in Jamaillia and were honoured with balls and feasts every day they were there. Showered with gifts and attention! I have no idea why they chose to go back to the Rain Wilds.’

‘The dragons needed them,’ the young man said, surprised that Hest didn’t know such things.

‘Ah, of course. They did. But your dragon, you say, does not? So are you not free to go where you will?’ Hest pushed a hand through his dark hair, tousling it slightly. He tapped his fingertip on his lips, drawing the boy’s eyes to his face. ‘You’re a handsome fellow, and wealthy. You could travel to the city. Or anywhere. See more of the world. The right companion could show you off, teach you everything you’d need to know to fit in there. Introduce you to people who would appreciate you. After all, you can’t mean to spend the whole of your life here, can you? You’re much too young and too wealthy to settle in one spot.’

Davvie gave a snort of laughter. ‘Wealthy? Me? I’ve the clothes on my back. A knife. My own bow. Little enough beside that.’

Hest was astonished. ‘Young man, wealth is all around you here. Surely you are entitled to a share of it? There is so much in this city that, presented to the proper buyer, would bring you a fortune. I see others wearing Elderling jewellery; why do you not?’ He touched the back of the boy’s ringless hand, drew his finger slowly away. ‘I’ll tell you this; a single Elderling bracelet would buy you a year of carousing in Bingtown. Easily.’

‘I’ve never worn jewellery.’