Sky and Storm ( Warriors of Vis #1)(36)
“Where’s Fury?” Storm asked, his eyes trained on the road ahead.
The man, tall and solid like a mountain appeared next to him, his horse falling into rhythm with Storm.
“What orders have you, my Dragon?”
Fury was a combination of extremes. Deep, powerful voice which he molded into kind words and a soft-spoken manner. Huge and strong, yet warm and kind-hearted. Slow to anger and quick to let go of his sorrows, despite his name. A sort of gentle giant, until thrown into a battle field. Storm’s most trusted general was pure fury unleashed on Vis’s enemies.
“What’s the mission?”
“Spread my riders throughout Vis. Have them question everyone, especially the servants and those who were on guard.”
“You suspect treason?”
“Sky was taken from Vis after a bloody fight. We’ve had no birds carrying messages from Vis before he came.”
Fury grunted and fell silent, his eyes searching the horizon. Storm knew that look, and knew to wait for the man to reach his own conclusions.
“Unless they knew he’d left to bring you news, you are right. There’s betrayal in Vis. But I don’t believe the servants are responsible.”
“There were servants involved, even if not by choice. Someone knows something. Find them and take them with us.”
“For questioning?”
Storm shook his head, his lips pressed tight together. “To make sure they don’t disappear. I reckon those involved directly are long gone.”
Fury growled. “There is no hiding from the Dragon’s riders.”
“Not that kind of gone, my friend. The cover-tracks gone. Eliminated.”
Fury’s face twisted in a disgusted grimace. “Murdered.”
“Yes. And their killers will pay. Every one of them.”
Fury clapped Storm’s back and disappeared, leaving the Dragon alone. If anything ever happened to Sky, he’d fall apart. In a way, he had, on the inside. His heartbeat was erratic, his body permanently drenched in sweat, a relentless fear gripping and squeezing his heart. His mind, though, was clear. Storm’s everything was focused on how to retrieve Sky and how to punish those responsible.
And underneath, guilt lingered. If Storm hadn’t been so stubborn and afraid, Sky would have ridden with them. But no, he insisted on keeping his husband safe from one more battle, one more war zone. What he’d done was push him off a safe boat into shark-infested waters. Storm would make sure he dulled all those shark teeth before killing them. It wouldn’t appease his guilt, but it would quench his anger.
***
It was midday when Storm’s army reached Vis. The head of the guards came to greet him, a full report falling from his lips. Storm asked why they hadn’t sent any birds, and the man looked shocked. It was a good sign that he wasn’t part of this.
The next to greet him was Cloud. To Storm’s surprise, she looked disheveled and exhausted. Red-rimmed eyes, messy hair, and she’d abandoned her fine silk for what looked like a small sized warrior’s outfit.
“Brother,” she muttered, giving him a curt nod. “Follow me.”
Storm didn’t get a chance to ask anything, as Cloud’s determined steps took her further down the castle corridors. He ran to catch up with her and followed in silence. He expected to be taken to see his parents, but realized they were going through the bowels of the castle, headed somewhere towards the south wing, far away from the throne and council rooms.
“Cloud, what’s going on?”
“If I knew, you idiot, I wouldn’t be leading you through filthy passageways, would I? I’d have people bound and gagged for you to punish.”
When Cloud’s voice broke and she started sobbing, something within Storm exploded. A dam that had kept everything he felt at bay. His steps faltered, but he pushed himself further, until he was within reach. Storm caught Cloud’s shoulder and squeezed. “There is no hiding from me and my riders. I will find him and bring him back.”
Cloud turned on her heel, tears, snot, and a fiery anger marring her beautiful face. “It’s been days. There’s been no ransom call. What if they kill him? What if they already have?”
“Sky is my husband. Do you believe anyone would risk my wiping out entire nations just to kill him? No, they intend to use him against me. There’s been no ransom, but they want something from me. Vis’s reign is not one where secrets can stay buried for long.”
Cloud used her sleeves to wipe her face. “True, you’re right, as always. Storm, this wasn’t a small-time affair. Someone important played a part in it.”
Cloud turned and continued her journey through the bowels of the castle. Storm followed, his mind lost in possibilities of who had taken Sky and why. They reached a small, hidden room. Despite the dampness of the underground corridors, the air changed when they entered. On the top side of the Northern wall there were several small windows, letting light in.
“Welcome home, Dragon,” Sera said, pushing her old body up from the simple bed she was sitting on.
“Why are you still alive, daughter of the Interfectrices?” Storm grabbed the top of her shirt, pulling Sera close. He towered over her, but the old woman didn’t flinch. “You were by his side for one purpose only. Protect him!”
Sera gently patted Storm’s shoulder. “Unfortunately, Dragon, I am but a mere servant. There are places in this castle where I cannot follow him. I armed him, and that is the only reason we found out so quickly. He wounded one and killed another of his kidnappers. That is why they were delayed and Eagle stumbled across them as they were fleeing. A few moments faster, and we wouldn’t have found out as quickly.”