Page 73 of Caress of Fire
Fedryc paused at the challenge in the old woman’s voice. Like she was daring him not to protect her and the other people who had come to him for protection. Like she hadn’t really expected him to care.
Because she didn’t know him, but she had known the man who sat on the throne before. Maybe Lord Aymond would not have helped these people, not have cared for their suffering. He couldn’t be sure, but he could be sure of one thing.
He wasn’t letting these people down. They were his, and he would protect every single one of them.
“You did good to come to me.” Fedryc addressed the whole assembly. “You are welcome to stay in Aalstad castle for as long as you need.”
A current of relieved whispers went around the assembled people, most of them human, but also mixed blood and Delradon.
“We have walked a long time, my Lord. Our town is called Alwar, it’s all the way over at the border with Virhot, the first town at the end of the desert when it becomes Lord Anion’s kingdom.”
“You crossed the entire desert?” Fedryc brought his attention back to Aifa. “All this way with children, elderly people like yourself? That is at least four days’ walk. How did you survive?”
The old woman looked down at the child in her arms, then her old eyes clouded with pain.
“Not all of us did.” Her voice was softer, fainter than before, and the weight of her years showed in the way her shoulders slumped. “Those of us who made it out of Alwar—some were injured, some were just too weak or too scared to keep going. Many turned back after the first day. I have no idea what became of them. But of those who kept going, fifteen didn’t make it. Fifteen were left at rest in the desert. Four children, and most of those I considered my friends. The older ones.”
Fedryc locked gazes with her. So much suffering, so much loss. All for the ridiculous belief that the Draekons were meant to rule the world and that their fertility problems were caused by those impure of blood. An illusion. No, more. A delusion.
And it stopped now. Before it destroyed more innocent lives under his care. Fedryc cast a circular glance at the assembled people, locking eyes with as many as he could.
“You are welcome in Aalstad castle. Each one of you will be provided with all they need until peace is restored.”
“The children are hungry, they need water.” Aifa spoke again. “The adults can wait, but we will repay the debt if you could just feed the children.”
For the second time, Fedryc didn’t know how to answer. He had ordered food and water for the group as soon as he saw them huddled in the courtyard. Not just for the children, but all of them. And they would not repay any of it.
Just then, a group of Delradon servants entered the courtyard, transporting goods for the refugees. Water, food, blankets, extra pieces of clothing.
The refugees turned at the sight and relief gave way to a few giggles. A child shouted as a loaf of bread found its way into his hands and a mother grinned as she handed biscuits to wide-eyed kids who pushed the food into their mouths greedily.
These people hadn’t eaten in a long time. They had faced death, fled violence and horrors, but still, he had to extract information from them. He only wished Henron was there with him. He could use his friend’s sharp wits and intense focus, his ability to talk to people, make them trust him.
But Henron was gone, and he had to reach these strangers somehow.
“There is no debt.” Fedryc spoke loudly enough to be heard everywhere in the crowd but not enough to startle them. Whatever trauma they had been through, he needed to get through to them if he wanted to squeeze the Knat Kanassis’ threat out of their lives. And he really wanted to. “I am your Lord now, protecting you is my responsibility. Those of you who require it will receive medical attention. You will drink, you will eat, and tonight, all of you will sleep knowing you are safe. But to keep you that way, I need to know who did this to you.”
Fedryc pointed at the mark on the toddler’s shoulder.
Behind him, a woman cried out, a man cursed, but none stepped forward. Fedryc turned, meeting the eyes of the people all around him. But no one spoke. They either were terrified or knew nothing.
Then whispers sounded behind him and he turned to see a Delradon girl stepping through the crowd. She was young, maybe twelve years old, painfully thin, and her dress was torn so badly at the shoulder that she had to hold the sides of her bodice with her hands. As she approached, the edge of the hateful mark could be seen on her pale skin.
“I saw her.” The girl’s voice was small, but strangely steady. “When the men in hoods came, my mom hid me in the closet, but she didn’t have time to find a place for herself. Then they came in. They said our family had to pay for the treachery to our blood because her husband was human. After they were all dead, and the bad men were gone, I ran.”
The girl swallowed, her eyes overflowing with tears, but she didn’t break. There was steel in that tiny person, more than there ever would be in the cowards who called themselves the Knat-Kanassis.
“I tried to hide under the garbage in the alley. That’s when I saw her. The Draekon Lady who controls them all—her and her dragon.”
Fedryc became very still and at his side, the guards did the same. He watched her face as the girl struggled against her pain. It looked like she was losing the battle.
“Can you describe her to me?” Fedryc knelt in front of the girl, still towering over her, but at least not as much. “Tell me who hurt your family, little one, and I will make sure no one has to suffer like you did ever again.”
The girl bit her lower lip. She must have done so a lot over the past days, because it was raw and immediately started to bleed. After a while, she nodded.
“She was very beautiful. Tall, skinny with dark hair.” The girl’s eyes overflowed with tears. “But her dragon was all wrong. It was small, and it looked like a jewel.”
Fedryc’s ears began to ring and he got to his feet. He shot a short glance to the guard on his left. “Make sure she is seen by Dr. Ylco and has enough to eat.”
