Chapter 50: Laryn

Sir Orland Locksy is a weasel in every sense of the word. I hate him and I hate the realm he lives in. Mucky skies, putrid air, and immoral people. I call it hell's realm. It's also my favorite place to collect treasure. My dragon brothers and I have been many times. It's always a challenge and, best of all, dangerous. I should feel apprehensive bringing my bride here, but what I feel is exhilaration clear to the tip of my dragon's tail.
She's dressed in the manner of the day for women. I played the lady's maid and helped with the heavy makeup and putting a hot iron and pins to her hair. There were several advantages to playing a lowly servant to get her ready. I told her that I could only perform the artistry needed while she was unclothed. The sparkle in her eyes let me know she didn't believe a word. She uttered no objection, though. It took much longer than we planned and now we are late for the ball.
Smelly people all. We're in a large chamber filled with gluttonous humans. The candles have coated the walls with black halos of soot. The perfume of the guests only adds to the rancid smell of the place. My dragon's nose may never be the same.
My bride is holding up well. She's curious and mystified at the same time. I had to give her a quick course in realm jumping then answer close to a million questions. No, we are not alone. The realms are endless and each a unique experience. Vast lands and civilizations caught in time. After thousands of years of exploration, I'm quite bored with them. Until I hear of a special treasure that cannot be stolen. Dragons live for the unattainable.
I'm also proud that my bride handled jumping realms so easily. It can be quite painful. Many brides refuse to do it. My new bride was too excited about the pending theft of her own treasure that impatience was her only response.
I peer down at her.
"Where is this Sir Orifice you spoke of? I feel faint from all the bad smells coming from the people," she says in a hushed voice.
I glance over her head and see our target and host heading over. "Behave," I whisper. She will slip and call him Sir Orifice at the worst possible moment and I've warned her of this. I can't say more because he's upon us.
I immediately hear the tension in his greeting. "Lord Maccabee, to what do I owe the honor of your visit? And I do not see your brothers in attendance. Have they by chance been arrested?"
I ignore my bride's raised eyebrows and answer Locksy in a bored tone. "My brothers are well and I have no idea why you would think them arrested. If that is a joke, it's in quite poor taste." I know damn good and well that Locksy suspects us of stealing from him. I turn to my bride and take her hand. "This is my sister Guinevere. She's of age and I promised her a celebration for her birthday."
I clench my jaw as Locksy stares at her breasts. Her cleavage hangs over the ruffled trim of the low-cut gown. He takes her hand from mine and kisses the backs of her fingers. "A pleasure to meet you, my lady. I was not aware Lord Maccabee had a sister. You look nothing alike and must tell me how someone as fair-skinned as Maccabee could have a sister with your fire."
My bride's tinkling laughter is quite perfect. "Well, Sir, you ask of a delicate matter that is very ungentlemanly of you. May we leave it at we are half-brother and sister with him on the titled side of the blanket?"
Locksy's guffaws turn the heads around us. He looks to me. "I promise to show your sister a good time." He places my bride's hand on his arm and stares at me with cold eyes. "A rare treasure of mine went missing the last time you visited. Would you know anything of that, Lord Maccabee?"
I flick unseen dust from my tailored coat and reply in an uninterested fashion. "I have all the treasure I need, as do my brothers. You are holding the arm of our rarest, gem, so do be careful with her."
He stares at her breasts again. "I will be exceedingly careful. Please enjoy all my party has to offer, Lord Maccabee, and I will see that Guinevere has an exceptional celebration for her birthday."
They walk away as my anger simmers. I knew this part of our charade would be difficult. I didn't know that I would want to incinerate Locksy with dragon fire on the spot. My bride can handle herself and, after all, she needs to steal the treasure to call it her own. I am merely here to assist.
Over the next hour, it becomes apparent that Locksy has several men watching me. It makes the next part of our plan more difficult. I try to keep an eye on my bride when a lady, and I use that word loosely, demands my attention. In a split second, I lose sight of my bride. She must get into Locksy's rooms above the stairs and there is only one way that will happen. I also know I will kill the weasel before departing.
It's twenty minutes before I give my guards the slip. The lady who stole my attention from my bride is waiting for me in her chamber preparing herself for a night of debauchery. She will be quite disappointed when I don't show. Even if I didn't have my bride with me there aren't enough jewels in this land to entice me between that lady's thighs.
I make my way to Locksy's rooms and listen at the first door. I don't hear a sound from within, so I turn the knob and enter. A small light comes from his bedroom and I quickly cross to the threshold.
"What took you so long, dragon?"
Locksy is passed out on the floor, a large chalice resting beside his head along with a small slash of blood. I gaze at my smug bride. "It seems you didn't need my help."
She holds up an elegant jeweled bauble with a bright blue stone in the center. It will look lovely hanging at her throat. I also know Locksy has larger, more valuable pieces. The arrogance in my bride's eyes tells me so much and pride envelops me. She has the undeniable heart of a dragon. She has chosen her first treasure because the blue stone calls to her soul.
"Is he dead?" I ask with delighted optimism.
"Bad dragon." She gives me a naughty grin. "He will have a great headache when he awakes. The man is all hands, and I fear that I broke a few of his fingers after I hit him over the head."
I look down. The mangled fingers save the miserable man's life. I smile at my bride. "It's time to leave. I can stand not another moment in this cursed realm."
Getting out is easy. My bride leaves her gown behind and we scale the walls with her in her warrior leathers that she wore underneath the dress. I can't get over her choice of prize. The finest treasure is always in the eye of the beholder.
We gather our larger weapons from a small alcove located in the back of an alley then run through the streets laughing. A woman's screams bring my bride up short and I lose her hand at her sudden stop.
"Ignore it, bride, there is nothing we can do." I grab her hand again, but she wrenches it away.
"No, that's a woman. We cannot leave her, Laryn." Her use of my name gives me pause. The next sound we hear is fainter and I fear we may be too late. I sigh and head in the direction of the screams. Around the next corner a group of men stand over something in the street.
"Well, well, well," a man calls out and all eyes turn our way. "Another fine piece to whet our appetites, gentleman."
My bride gasps and I've guessed that she sees the woman lying at their feet. She's bloody and bruised and chances are good she's no longer alive. A man stands from between her legs and secures his pants. No one is safe here and I truly hate this realm. The laws protect only those with money. The more corrupt you are, the more wealth you hold.
My bride slowly releases the loop that holds the blade of the halberd and pulls the grip from its sheath. The men start laughing.
"Your blade doesn't scare me. I have one of my own." The leader grabs his crotch in a lewd gesture. There are five of them total. They all carry swords and each but the man to speak has pulled his.
"What say you we end their worthless lives, bride?"
"I thought you would never ask, dragon."
I'm unconcerned they will have time to ponder our words. None will leave this place alive. My warrior bride charges first. I have about two seconds to admire her ability before dispatching the man stupid enough to grab his cock instead of his sword. My bride's first strike is true. I give no consequence to the blood that sprays me from her attack. Two men come at me with swords above their heads. Their mistake. Two heads roll to the ground. One man left. I watch as my bride dodges his blade, spins, and strikes beneath his raised arm nearly cleaving him in two.
Blood covers us both. My bride stands still, inhaling deeply, which causes her breasts to rise and fall rapidly. She's never looked more beautiful. She turns suddenly and kneels by the woman. I know we are too late because I heard her last agonizing breath. The men had literally beaten her to death.
I reach for my bride's arm, but she jerks away as she takes the woman's lifeless hand. "Why? Why would they do this?"
Nothing I say will help, but I try. "This land is ungodly. I told you I hate it here and this is only one of the many reasons. I am sorry you saw this."
She looks up at me with tears streaming down her face. "I am not sorry. I wish I had more men to kill."
She's glorious.
The words slip from my lips before I can stop them. "What is your given name, bride?"