The Dragon Bard (Dragon of the Island) by Mary Gillgannon

with the strain of moving so slowly. By the gods, what was happening? He’d never feared magic or sorcery. He had memories of his mother telling him about the old gods, the powerful ancient forces that governed the land, but he’d dismissed them as he had all the other deities he’d heard of in his travels. Now he wondered if there was not more to her tales than he’d guessed.
    He could feel some sort of power here, an almost palpable force. It felt as if he were at the whim at that force, as helpless as if he were in slave shackles with armed guards surrounding him. Was this spirit of the woods merely toying with him or did it have a purpose? So far, all he could be certain of was that he was hopelessly lost.
    Anger surged through him and he moved forward. He refused to cower before this unseen presence. If it struck him down, so be it!
    The ground sloped steadily downward. He must reach the bottom eventually. Unless he’d entered some other realm. Again, he experienced a sense of foreboding. Did the bewitchery of this place have anything to do with Queen Dessia? A ruler and their land were often connected. Bridei had heard of rituals where a king symbolically mated with the earth goddess to ensure his land’s fertility. And darker rites where a king was sacrificed to rid the land of a curse.
    Despite himself, Bridei shivered. For all his exertions, he felt cold. What was this place? He struggled forward, not knowing what else to do. At last, he reached level ground. A few steps further and the mist began to thin. He was in a kind of valley, and through the autumn woods he could see a lake. It glistened in the soft morning light like a vast moonstone.
    He walked toward the lake, feeling both relieved and awed. If sorcery had brought him here, then it must be a benevolent force, to guide him to such a beautiful place. As he approached the lake, he saw something that reinforced his sense of good fortune. There, in an open area near the edge of the water, was his quarry—the lovely Queen Dessia.

Chapter 5
     
    At first he couldn’t make out what the queen was doing, with her sword drawn and her shield at the ready. Then he decided she must be training herself in weaponry. She parried and lunged, as if engaging an invisible opponent. The intensity of her efforts amazed him. Her face was flushed and her expression and movements bespoke desperate concentration, as if she fought for her very life. He wondered if she did battle against some terrifying but invisible enemy. If she were in danger, how could he aid her? He had no weapon. Even if he did, he could hardly engage a foe he couldn’t see.
    But perhaps she didn’t need his help. Her movements were rapid and precise and she wielded the heavy weapon with remarkable strength. Who would have guessed a woman could appear so formidable? And yet for all her ferocity she remained the essence of grace and femininity, the lines of her body as elegant as the curving patterns on a brooch fashioned by a master craftsman.
    She seemed to be driving her opponent back. Back and back. Her enemy appeared to surrender. She held out her sword as if the tip touched her unseen opponent’s throat, forcing them to beg for mercy. Bridei was filled with satisfaction at the sight of her evident triumph. Although he was certain by now that her adversary was imaginary, it still pleased him to see her prevail. He clapped his hands in approval. “Well done, lady.”
    At the sound of his voice, Queen Dessia whirled around. Her green eyes met his, brilliant with shock. Then her expression grew hard. “What are you doing here? How dare you . . .” Her voice trailed off and she glanced around in obvious dismay.
    “I saw you leave the rath and followed.”
    “But the forest . . .” She shook her head in confusion. Clearly, she hadn’t expected the forces guarding the woods to allow him to pass. Encouraged, he drew nearer. The men’s clothing she wore emphasized her femininity, accentuating the