Sisera's Gift 2: Sacred Blood Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Sacred Blood

  Sisera’s Gift 2

  Robyn Wideman

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Author’s Notes

  The Bloodlands

  After Dark

  SISERA’S GIFT 2: SACRED BLOOD© copyright 2017 Robyn Wideman

  Published: April 2017

  Publisher: Magicblood Media Corp

  1

  “Dive now!”

  Lady Isabella didn’t have to speak the words, let alone shout them at the top of her lungs, but something about using telepathy was not dramatic enough for their current situation. She grasped the horn of the saddle to which she clung and slid herself into a more tactical position. Isabella performed the maneuver with practiced ease but it still never felt comfortable. There was no teacher to give lessons on riding a dragon so she did the best she could with the knowledge she had. Kai Woods, the commander of her loyal guard, the Daxrah, told her to pretend it was like riding a large horse but as her earlier experience only taught her how to ride a stable-trained pony, she had no source of reference. And he didn’t know. He’s never ridden a dragon so he wouldn’t know.

  Sisera, her beautiful and rare gold-purple dragon, quickly pulled her wings back so she, and by extension Isabella, shot straight up into the sky. With a turn of her wing, she changed direction and flew down toward the shadow swimming in the ocean. The impact of the water still caused a shock, but it was handled with ease because of Sisera’s smooth form.

  You ok? Sisera could feel Isabella’s fear, but she hoped it was nothing to worry about. It happened every time they performed this maneuver but she couldn’t help but ask. She wouldn’t get a reply, anyway. It took everything Isabella had to hold on.

  Sisera snapped her powerful jaw and headed for the surface. This was a juicy one! She loved shark, and this was particularly nice one. She would carry it a safe distance away before she set to devour it but she enjoyed the few morsels she got when she nabbed it.

  As they broke the surface Isabella gasped for air but did not relinquish the hold she had on her dragon saddle. Sisera headed for a small cove she often used for feeding. As she landed Isabella was already in motion, releasing herself from the straps holding her in the saddle. They had practiced flying without them and had no problems but she wasn’t prepared yet to do it while hunting or in battle. Isabella landed on the soft sand with a thud.

  “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to that.” She laughed as she tried to shake the water from her hair.

  “I no longer feel as if you will fall off so that’s a good thing,” Sisera said as she went about tearing chunks from the large shark. It took Isabella a long time to get accustomed to her friend’s eating style. Now she barely noticed the gory scene in front of her.

  “I feel that too.” Isabella grabbed a handful of rocks from the shore and threw them as hard as she could into the air above the open water. She followed up the rocks with a quick series of fireballs. The stones lit up as they were struck by dragon fire. This was a training exercise that became a fun game to pass the time.

  You missed three. Sisera’s mouth was stuffed full of shark but she didn’t need to speak out loud for Isabella to hear.

  “I wasn’t even trying,” said Isabella, grabbing another handful of rocks. This time she hit every one of them. Her hours of tireless practice had developed her fire throwing skills to near thoughtless habit. Her dragon powers were boosting the skills she learned from her council of guardians and friends.

  After a half-dozen more perfect attempts she saw that her large friend had finished her meal. “We should be getting back. I have a training session with Raven this afternoon and she’ll kill me if I’m late again.”

  Isabella turned, giving Sisera a knowing smile, and sprinted, full speed, towards the ocean. Just before she hit the waterline she leaped so high into the air that she could look a flying gull in the eyes. Her companion laughed and pushed herself off the beach flying to catch her young friend who landed with a soft thud in the saddle. Sisera then banked hard left and headed back in the direction they came from. As they flew over the beach she could see the many deep pockets caused by her launches that were a tell-tale sign it wasn’t the first time they had performed that maneuver. They laughed together and headed east toward Mara and their home at the Tower of Kings.

  2

  “They are going to be late again,” Raven said as she threw her long braid of dark chestnut hair over her well-toned shoulder. She fiddled impatiently with the wooden practice weapons she was holding, scanning the practice yard but could see no sign of the young girl that she had protected for so many years.

  After two years, the Tower of Kings was starting to look like it was lived in again. As part of their training regimen, the soldiers of the Daxrah had transformed the fortress from an overgrown ruin into a magnificent sight.

  The main training yard was filled with groups of new recruits who travelled from all over to try to join the protectors of the dragonblood. Many were not suited to join the ranks but there was plenty
of other important work that needed to be accomplished in the Tower as well as the surrounding areas.

  A village had sprouted up around the outer walls of the tower and was growing rapidly. Many people traveled from all over to see if the rumors they heard were true. When they found that they were, many stayed to help in any way they could. A lot of people travelled south from both Kosal and Prozia to escape the turmoil in the north.

  “Typical teenager,” said Jaime, laughing as he chewed the last few bites of an apple before tossing the core into a refuse barrel.

  Raven gripped the weapons tight and turned to face her strong warrior companion. “I was always on time when I was that age. Being late could mean the difference between life and death. A warrior should never be late,” she said.

  “Well, I’m sure you were as typical as you are now.”

  Raven knew what he was talking about and shot him a dirty look. She stood out among the locals because she could stand toe to toe with the largest of men and look him square in the eye. Her Solotine barbarian blood set her apart in most situations. Her years of battle training and warring gave her an impressive physique that was rarely matched. She was known throughout most of Seron as a force to be reckoned with, even though she was a woman. It was not a position that she relished because it made her feel self-conscious when she could see groups staring at her and whispering amongst themselves. She hated that she felt that way, but she came to realize that was her weakness as a woman and worked at suppressing it.

  Raven heard a faint shout and turned her head to follow the sound upwards. In the sky above she could see a blur of purple and gold popping out of one cloud and just as quickly disappearing into another. Her eyes scanned the sky, watching for any more signs of the mighty dragon that doubled as her student’s mount. To the right one moment then across the sky to the left the next.

  “Am I late?”

  Raven jumped at the voice behind her. She was sure she would never get used to this trick. Isabella and Sisera both found it to be hilarious. Raven was not sure if Isabella was jumping from Sisera’s back and landing unscathed, as the bonded pair claim, or, if Sisera was secretly letting her off on the ground then flying by as a distraction while Isabella snuck up on her. It seemed impossible to survive a fall like that but then Raven had seen some impossible things in her life. This was especially true in the last two years that she had been at the Tower of Kings.

  “Isabella! How many times do I have to ask until you stop doing that to me?”

  “I’m sorry, Raven. I’m just testing your warrior sense. You may have to fight another dragonblood someday and I don’t want you to be underprepared.” Isabella took every chance she could to tease Raven. She grabbed one of the practice swords and playfully wiggled the wooden blade at the mighty warrior woman who towered over her.

  “That is doubtful,” said Jaime, a wide grin covering his face. “I’m sure they are all just as playful and charming as you are.”

  “Oshri says that dragonbloods can come in all shapes and sizes. I’m sure they are not all like me.”

  “Is that so? He must have met quite a few dragonbloods then to have such information.” Jaime grabbed the second training sword and made a half-hearted thrust toward Isabella who parried it with ease. The two moved and squared off to begin sparring.

  “Don’t be cruel, Jaime.” Raven was instinctively defensive of her young charge. She was incredibly proud of the progress the young girl had made since leaving her home in Prozia to escape a terrible arranged marriage to a power-hungry prince, Erik Ramsay of Kosal.

  “I’m not. I’m just teasing her,” Jaime said as he launched into a series of high and low attacks, all of which Isabella blocked and parried, as it was a routine they had often practiced. For the last two years, Jaime, Raven, and Kai had all had a hand in training the young dragonblood, in the hopes of teaching discipline, as well as fighting technique. Raven watched approvingly as they went through the motions.

  “You are teasing me,” said Isabella as she ducked and jabbed. “Shame on you, Jaime. I’m just a weak, defenceless little girl.”

  “You, my dear, are far from weak and defenceless,” said Jaime, laughing as he blocked a high swing then spun low to attempt a low slice at his opponent’s knee. Isabella leaped into the air and did a front flip over Jaime, tapping him on the head with her practice sword as she did. With his equilibrium thrown off from the surprise attack, Jaime fell forward into the dirt. Raven burst into laughter. Jaime pushed himself up into a sitting position and turned his head to stare in awe at Isabella who just gave him a wink.

  “Well it seems that Kai has been teaching her some of his old tricks.” Jaime laughed as Raven grasped his hand and pulled him to a standing position.

  “Such fancy tricks are not meant for real battle,” Raven said.

  “I know. That’s what Kai said too,” said Isabella as she moved back into a defensive starting position. “He also told me to use the element of surprise whenever possible.”

  “That’s good advice but you must also consider that in a real battle that it will not necessarily be a fair fight.”

  “Oh Raven.” Isabella smiled. “In a real battle, I will be riding on the back of a mighty dragon, raining down fire on my enemies.”

  “Isabella!” Raven’s face immediately turned sour. “You must take this seriously. Oshri says that we still don’t know enough about your bonded abilities to fully rely on them.”

  “I know what Oshri said, Raven, but I have been practicing my magic for the last two years and I’m really good at it. Plus, I destroyed a whole army using it. I just don’t see why I have to spend so much time playing with sticks when I could burn a whole forest to the ground.”

  Raven shot a look at Jaime that told him it was time for him to intervene.

  “You need to be a well-rounded warrior, Isabella. We have no idea the kind of opposition we will face in the years to come. The Sacred Blood will surely seek to rekindle the war against dragons and your kind and when, not if, that happens we will be in new territory.”

  Raven watched as the coloring of Isabella’s gold dragon scales altered with her mood, just as they did with Sisera. Raven noted that this happened more and more now that Isabella was entering womanhood.

  Isabella threw down the practice sword and turned to storm away then stopped. She fell to her knees and began to cry, hiding her face in her hands.

  Jaime gave Raven a helpless look and slowly backed away. Raven returned his look, then swore quietly under her breath. She did not have the skills that Amelia possessed when dealing with the young girl’s recent assortment of mood swings. She instinctively looked around for the girl's mother but she knew of course that Amelia was not present as she had her own duties as administrator of the fortress. Raven scoffed at herself. What kind of a guardian was she? She would run fearlessly into battle but a crying teenage girl made her nervous. Raven moved forward and knelt beside the sobbing girl. She hesitantly put an arm around Isabella’s shoulders and gave her a light squeeze.

  “We’re just trying to help you, Chipmunk,” Raven said, as gently as she could.

  Isabella suddenly twisted and threw her arms around Raven’s neck. She buried her face in Raven’s shoulder and began to sob harder. Raven held her close until the tears began to abate.

  “Can you bring some water?” Raven asked Jaime who nodded and turned toward the water wagon parked on the far side of the yard. A look of relief crossed his face as he took his chance to turn away.

  “I’m just so confused, Raven,” Isabella said between her slowing sobs.

  “I know, my dear. This is a tough time for any girl but it is so much harder for you.”

  “Sometimes I wish I was normal. That we were still back in Prozia. That none of this had ever happened.” Isabella looked up at Raven, her tears causing the dragon scales to glisten more than usual. “I wish I was normal.”

  Raven’s heart sank. She knew Isabella was feeling the pressure of her station.
Establishing a fledgling kingdom and commanding an army of seasoned soldiers was a lot for an adult to handle much less a thirteen-year-old girl. She pulled Isabella into a tight embrace and held her as the girl’s uncontrollable sobbing began again.

  Jaime returned with two wooden mugs of water. He placed them carefully next to Raven, giving her a sympathetic smile then made his way toward the newly completed barracks that now housed the Daxrah, sworn protectors of the dragonbloods.

  Raven waited until Isabella’s crying had slowed again, then offered her one of the cups. Isabella took a few deep breaths and a few sips from the cup.

  “I’m not really casting fear in the heart of my enemies right now, am I?” Isabella looked up at Raven and gave her the slightest grin.

  Raven chuckled. “Just another thing you must practice, Chipmunk.”

  “I know this is all necessary but sometimes I wish I could be a regular girl. I watch the village grow from my room on top of the Tower. I watch kids my age working and playing, and I imagine that I am one of them.”

  “I know it’s hard but if you were just a normal girl there is no saying what would have happened. We may never have found you and gods know where you would be right now.”

  Raven could see tears welling in the young girl’s eyes again. She knew that Isabella was reliving the experience of being kidnapped.

  “I know,” Isabella said finally, her voice just barely a whisper. She buried her face in Raven’s shoulder when the warrior woman put a heavily muscled arm around her.

  “This is a hard time in every girl’s life,” Raven said.

  After a few moments, Isabella pulled her face from Raven’s shoulder and nodded while Raven wiped away the tears that rolled down the young girl’s scaled face.

  “Let’s go get some tea,” Raven said, trying to perk up the girl. “Adina got in a new shipment from Partha. She has some jasmine tea, which is delicious.”

  Isabella nodded again and allowed the big warrior woman to pull her to her feet.

  “What about practice?” she asked, pointing at the wooden weapons now scattered on the floor.

  Raven smiled. “We’ll come back to it. There is plenty of daylight left.” She put her arm around the young girl and led her toward the kitchens.