Dawn of Legend: Dragon Dusk Book 1 (Dragon Shifter Romance) Read online

  “Don’t dawdle, Miss St. John. . .” my friend mimicked as we followed the lord into his castle.

  The interior was as majestic as the outside was imposing. The entrance hall was larger than my apartment. There was a polished stone floor and the walls were covered in colorful tapestries. The fireplace opposite the entrance was large enough to roast a cow with a couple of pigs on the side, and a warm fire crackled in the hearth. A wide staircase to the left of the fireplace led to the upper floors.

  Lina’s bag bounced on her back as she hurried over to the fire and held out her hands. The fire hissed as she dripped water over its warm body. “Now this is a fire!”

  Lord Merthyr set the suitcases beside the door. “If you would leave your belongings here, I will have my servants take them up while you dine.”

  “We wouldn’t think of intruding any more on your hospitality,” Miss Livingstone protested.

  He chuckled. “And I won’t consider anything other than a ‘yes,’ my dear woman. Now if you will come with me, I will have places set for all of you. My table is large enough.”

  3

  Lord Merthyr led us into the dining hall in the west wing. The room was wide and long, and the table was as thick as an ancient oak and twice as wide. There were enough chairs to seat us all with our host at the head. The stone floor clacked beneath our heels, but the tapestries along the right-hand wall dampened the noise. A great fire burned in a hearth between the hanging cloths. On the opposite wall was a row of tall, narrow windows that allowed us a good picture of the messy weather we’d just escaped.

  Miss Livingstone scurried over to the head, but the lord stopped her and gestured to the other end. “You may have the honor of the foot of the table, dear woman.”

  “Oh, that’s very kind of you, Lord Merthyr, but I’m sure I’d be comfortable beside you,” she cooed. My friend stuck her finger in her mouth and gagged.

  “I wouldn’t think of boring you with my company, so I must insist,” Lord Merthyr persisted.

  Miss Livingstone’s face drooped, but she rallied her spirits and nodded. “Very well, Lord Merthyr. If you wish.”

  She grudgingly took her seat and the others took theirs. I inspected the selection and looked to be stuck somewhere in the middle.

  “Miss?” Lord Merthyr called. I lifted my head and saw that he stared at me. He drew out the chair to his right and smiled at me. “This seat is unoccupied.”

  I could almost hear the low rumble of a growl from Miss Livingstone. Lina gave me a push. “Go on!” she whispered in a voice that was clearly heard by all present.

  I stumbled forward, but caught myself and sheepishly approached the lord. He held the chair as I sat down and pushed it in for me. “Thanks,” I told him.

  He took his own seat and bowed his head. “The pleasure is all mine.”

  Lina warded off the competition for the seat on my right and plopped herself down. A young woman walked out of the door at the end of the room behind the lord, and in her hands she held a large decanter full of luscious purple wine. She poured us all a glass and her lord last.

  Merthyr raised his glass to us and smiled. “To good company, and to fate which has brought us together.”

  “To fate,” we repeated, and drank from our glasses.

  The meal was then served, and plate after plate of meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables came from the kitchen.

  Merthyr leaned toward me and studied me with his bright eyes. “How have you enjoyed our country thus far?”

  “It’s very beautiful,” I replied as I took a bite of cheese. I noticed he hadn’t touched any food on his plate. “Aren’t you hungry?”

  He shook his head. “No. The treat of dining in such fine company has rather stolen my appetite. Now tell me, what is your favorite part of the country?”

  I paused and furrowed my brow. “I suppose if I had to pick something it would be the stories.”

  He arched his eyebrows. “The stories?”

  I nodded. “Yes. The legends and the old histories that surround all these wonderful places are really interesting.”

  He drew his hand over his mouth to hide a rather peculiar smile. “Then might I tell you that this castle itself has a rather interesting tale?”

  “You mean like headless ghosts?” Lina spoke up, spattering food everywhere.

  “Not quite, though it is unique,” he admitted, and the table chatter quieted.

  “Do tell us, Lord Merthyr,” Miss Livingstone pleaded.

  The lord looked to me. “Would you like to hear it?”

  I smiled and nodded. “Very much.”

  “This tale is rather old, even for this country. Nearly fifteen centuries have passed since the events that unfolded here in this castle, in the garden behind the stone walls. Long ago, this castle was once a mighty home of one of the nobler lords of the land. He allowed a Christian to enter his home so that he might learn more about the strange new religion that had captured the faith of so many of his people. The visitor was unafraid of this mighty lord, but apprehensive about his ability to show him the light of the One Lord. He took to taking late-night walks in the garden to ease his mind and compose his words to the lord the next day. On one of these nights a miracle occurred. There he sat on the edge of a gurgling fountain when he sensed a strange stirring in the air. A shadow fell over him and stretched across the ground in front of him. The man arose and turned, and his heart stilled at the sight.” He paused and swept his bemused eyes over our company.

  “Well?” Lina asked him.

  “There, standing comfortably atop the highest bowl of the fountain, he saw a strange creature, neither man nor beast but some mix of the two.”

  “What sort of beast was the other half?” I wondered.

  His gaze settled on me and when he spoke his voice was quiet, but full of the awe he instilled within us who listened to him. “It was a dragon.”

  Miss Livingstone chuckled. “Really, Lord Merthyr, this is quite unusual. A man who was a dragon is a little far-fetched, even for the tales of Great Britain.”

  He leaned back and smiled at her. “And yet this tale holds such a creature, but I won’t scold you for disbelieving the story. The Christian himself couldn’t believe his eyes. Here was a creature of no myth he had ever heard standing above him with eyes as red as the very coals of hell, and yet the man could do nothing more than gape at its wings and the horns that protruded from its head. He trembled for his very soul.”

  “Did he try to pray?” I asked him.

  The lord shook his head. “No. He thought only of fleeing, but his legs wouldn’t obey his command to move even as the creature opened its long leather wings and floated down to the ground beside him. The creature, he would have considered the thing a horrible demon had its eyes not held such soft sentience, turned to him. The Christian was not a small man, but this creature’s height was well-above six foot so that it towered over him. Then a more miraculous occurrence happened. The creature spoke, and in such words that showed good education. The creature told the Christian that he had wandered for a very long time, always alone, and sought companionship. The Christian, curious but not unafraid, asked in quivering tones what he was and where he had come from. The creature admitted he was not of this world, but of another where he was considered no less horrifying, but for other reasons.”

  Lina scooted to the edge of her seat and pushed against my side to get closer to the lord. “So he was an alien?”

  Merthyr shook his head. “No. He could not find the right words to describe himself as he didn’t know himself what he was. The Christian wondered what sort of companion he sought, and the creature again wasn’t sure, but yet he made one thing clear.” Merthyr’s eyes fell on me. “He wished for that companion to never fear him.” He chuckled. “Needless to say, the Christian admitted he wasn’t sure he could be such a companion to him. The creature asked if no one inside the castle could provide such companionship.” Merthyr cupped one cheek in his hand and closed his ey
es. A sigh escaped his lips. “The Christian admitted that such a creature as he would only be feared by the inhabitants. The creature’s face was impassive, and yet the Christian could sense his disappointment. He sought to suggest another castle, but the creature told him he had little time remaining before he had to return to his own world. A scream interrupted them and made the Christian turn around. One of the maidservants, a large woman who worked in the kitchens and who had taken a fancy to the Christian, looked in horror at the creature before him. Before he could speak a word of comfort the woman fled.”

  “At least she didn’t faint,” Lina quipped.

  “Really, Lord Merthyr, this is a fantastical story, and I don’t recall ever hearing the like in this area before,” Miss Livingstone spoke up.

  Merthyr nodded. “I’m not surprised. It’s little known even among the local villagers.”

  “But what happened to the man?” I asked him.

  He turned to me and smiled. “Do you mean the Christian or the creature?”

  I blushed. “I meant the creature.”

  Merthyr looked ahead and his eyes had a faraway look in them. “He returned to his own world, but he left behind hope in the form of a statue of himself. Should a maiden worthy of him touch the statue then they will be united forevermore.”

  The group fell into a subdued silence. Each of us pondered the tale and its simple theme of unfound love. I noticed the elderly couple I helped earlier hold hands and smile at each other. My heart ached for such a relationship, but alas, even a boyfriend wasn’t on the itinerary any time soon.

  “So is the statue still there?” Lina wondered.

  Merthyr nodded. “It is, by the grace of God and my ancestors. After the strange appearance of the statue the castle was considered haunted and abandoned. My ancestors purchased the remains some fifty years later and made it their home.” His eyes flickered to me. “We still hope to have the legend fulfilled and the dragon creature find one who will not fear him.”

  Lina jumped to her feet and put her hands on her hips as she grinned at the company. “Let’s go look at the statue!” At that moment a thunderous boom from outside shook the glass. She winced and plopped back down. “Or not.”

  Merthyr chuckled. “Perhaps tomorrow.”

  “As wonderful as your invitation is, Lord Merthyr-” Miss Livingstone spoke up as she stood, “-I’m afraid we won’t have any time tomorrow. I’m sure the bus will be fixed by dawn and we must resume our tour of the countryside as soon as possible in order to see all the sights on our itinerary.”

  “Of course,” Merthyr replied as he rose to his feet. In customary fashion we arose as well. “The hour is late and I must retire now, but if any of you should need anything feel free to ask any of my staff.” He bowed his head to us and left through the foyer archway.

  Lina dropped back into her seat and picked up her full fork. She studied the meat with a furrowed brow. “He’s a little weird, isn’t he?”

  Miss Livingstone’s face turned a slight shade of red. “Miss St. John, that is no way to speak of the lord who took us into his home!”

  Lina raised her eyes to the ceiling and inspected the room. “There’s something weird about his house, too. Like it’s too old, you know?”

  Miss Livingstone stood and crossed her arms over her chest. “If that is the direction our conversation will be headed then I believe we should all retire for the night. We have an early start tomorrow and I won’t have everyone’s day ruined by some late-night foolish chatter.” Our guide stared directly at Lina when she spoke those last words.

  Our company finished their dinner and proceeded into the foyer. A man in butler tails complete with a white shirt and spotless polished shoes greeted us with a bow. “My name is Trull, and I am the manservant of Chwedlonol Castle” He straightened and gestured to the stairs. “If you would all follow me I will show you to your rooms.”

  4

  Trull led us up the stairs and to the second floor. The long hall stretched across the whole of the house, and on either side were some twenty doors. He dolled them out to us until only Miss Livingstone, Lina, and myself remained. He came to the end of the hall where the passage turned a corner and followed the wall to the back of the house.

  Trull stopped and gestured to three remaining doors. “I hope you will find these comfortable.”

  I opened one of the doors and peaked inside. There was a four-post bed, a crackling fireplace, and windows that looked out on the green grounds. A plain ancient suitcase on the floor beside the bed told me the room belonged to Miss Livingstone.

  I turned and smiled at him. “It’s wonderful.”

  “But no TV,” Lina commented.

  Trull shook his head. “No, miss. My Lord dislikes such contraptions. We only have a phone for emergencies.”

  “Where might we find Lord Merthyr’s room, should we need him?” Miss Livingstone asked our guide.

  “My Lord’s quarters are on the third floor, but should you need anything please feel free to ring the bell beside the bed and I will try to satisfy your need,” Trull promised.

  My friend looked the elderly man over and shivered. I jabbed her in the side. She frowned and silently gestured to the older gentleman, but I sliced my finger across my throat as a final warning.

  Trull bowed his head to us. “If there’s nothing further then I bid you all goodnight.”

  We bid him farewell and he disappeared downstairs. Miss Livingstone stepped into her room, but turned and eyed us with suspicion. “I expect both of you to go to sleep at once.”

  Lina stiffened and gave her a salute. “Yes, ma’am!”

  I rolled my eyes and looped my arm through one of hers before I tugged her to the other two doors. Miss Livingstone continued to stand in her doorway until we had opened our own entrances. We slipped inside, and she stepped back and eased her door shut.

  I had almost shut my door when Lina peeked her head inside and grinned at me. “Wanna go exploring?”

  I leaned my shoulder against the back of the door and eased my weight onto it, slowly shutting the door on my friend. “I think I’ve had enough adventure-”

  “What about going to see the statue?” she suggested. I paused. My curiosity had been piqued by the lord’s story. A sly smile slipped onto Lina’s lips. “You want to go see it, don’t you?”

  I drew my weight off the door and shrugged. “Yeah, but we can’t. The storm is-”

  “Done,” Lina finished as she nodded at the windows on either side of the bed. “Or it’s just taking a break.”

  I followed her gaze and saw that the rain had let up, though no stars could be seen. I bit my lower lip before I returned my attention to my friend. “Maybe we can have a little peek-”

  “Great!” Lina replied as she grabbed my hand and pulled me into the hall.

  My pulse quickened with more excitement than I expected as we tiptoed past Miss Livingstone’s door and down the hall to the stairs. We reached the bottom of the steps and nearly crashed into Trull as he left the dining room. He stumbled back, but Lina and I grabbed an arm to keep him from falling.

  “I’m so sorry,” I apologized as we righted the help.

  He straightened his suit and shook his head. “It’s quite all right, miss, but might I be able to help you with something?”

  “How do we get to the garden?” Lina asked him.

  He nodded at a narrow hall on the other side of the fireplace. “Through there, miss. Follow that hall and it will take you to a pair of French doors. Those lead out to the garden.”

  “Thanks!” Lina replied as she tugged on my hand.

  I tugged back and took the lead. We politely walked across the foyer and into the hall. The passage was narrow with dark paneling that shrank some of our enthusiasm. The dim lights above our heads did nothing to quell the apprehension as we walked to the darkened end. The crackling of the fire faded into the distance until we were left with only the sound of our own footsteps.

  “Maybe this
wasn’t such a good idea. . .” Lina whispered.

  “There’s nothing to be afraid of,” I comforted her as I looked around. “Except for the ghosts.”

  “Ghosts?” Lina squeaked as she whipped her head left and right to all the many doors. She fumbled for my hand and I found that she was shivering.

  I gave her hand a squeeze. “I’m just joking. I have no idea if there are any ghosts here.”

  “So you’re saying there might be?” she asked me.

  I smiled at her. “If there are then we’ll scream loud enough to scare them away.”

  Lina grinned. “We can scream pretty loud, can’t we?”

  “Loud enough to break glass,” I confirmed as we crept down the hall.

  “So do you think there’s even a statue out here?” she wondered.

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. Let’s just see if there’s a garden first.”

  We reached the end of the hall and found ourselves in a sort of rear foyer with more tapestries and paintings.

  “This guy sure does like his hanging rugs,” Lina mused.

  The wide French doors were as Trull had said, and through them we could see dark shapes outside. We stopped at the glass and peeked out. The shapes were perfectly trimmed and rose up from seven feet. An opening in them indicated a path.

  “Those look like hedges,” Lina mused.

  “And they probably taste like hedges,” I teased.

  She laughed. “You think they smell like them, too?”

  “There’s only one way to find out,” I told her as I tried the door handle.

  Unlocked. The door opened and we slipped out. The rain had gone for the moment but left behind its cool scent. The wood floor beneath our feet was replaced by smooth stones. The hulking shadows were indeed well-trimmed hedges. The wall of bushes went in either direction on our left and right, and created an archway in front of us.

  Lina wrinkled her nose. “He didn’t say anything about a maze.”