Authors: Kate Sparkes
“Do you think that, given seedlings or seeds, you could feed people as needed?” Aren asked.
She crouched and brushed her fingertips over the plants closest to her. “Depends on the soil, I think. I can aid growth, but the plants need more than water and magic to grow. I’m only speeding things up. I think if I tried it too much without replenishing the ground, it would kill the soil. We’d need to rotate crops, fertilize... but yes, I think we could do quite well, given time and the right set-up.”
“Excellent.” Aren helped her to her feet again, and we headed back to the others.
Laelana waited for us on our return. A dark, angry bruise covered half her face. She glared at us.
“Goff told you to leave. The dragon is scaring the children, and we have no need for you here.”
I glanced toward Ruby. The great dragon lay with her eyes closed, chin resting on her crossed wrists. The children approached, led by Patience. When they got close, Ruby’s eyes snapped open. The children screamed and ran away, giggling and tumbling over each other. Ruby chuckled.
Laelana frowned. “Well. Doesn’t do to have them think all dragons are like that. And you never know when she’ll snap.”
I refrained from rolling my eyes. With most dragons, she’d be absolutely correct. “We’ll go, then. Patience can stay with you?”
“She’s one of our own. She stays.”
I explained the arrangement with the farmer, and Laelana nodded. “I’ll send some people over later.” She spun on her heel and stalked away.
Aren frowned after her, but didn’t seem too upset over us not having to stay with them.
No one else spoke to us. “I think we’re dismissed,” Victoria said. “And I think I’m glad.”
Victoria rode Florizel alone, and Aren and I packed ourselves back into the canvas bundle. “I’d give everything I have for some more healing balm so I can fly under my own power,” Aren muttered as we lifted off.
I relaxed against him, glad for one last chance to do so. “Just enjoy this while it lasts. Gods know what we’ll meet when we get back to your father.”
His arms closed around me. “I haven’t forgotten. I’m glad we had this last bit of time together. My life is certainly more interesting when you’re around.”
I laughed, though the resignation in his voice, the indication that he had accepted our fate, sent a tear slipping down my nose. At least he couldn’t see it. “More interesting than de-throning a king? I doubt that.”
“More pleasant, then. Dangerous at times. Occasionally terrifying. But at least you’re there.”
“What’s Ulric going to do now that we’ve disobeyed him like this?”
“I don’t know. I won’t let him hurt you.”
I shivered in spite of the warmth surrounding us.
We dropped, and then dropped again. Ruby set us on the ground, and sunlight flooded over us.
“That didn’t take long,” Aren said.
“They weren’t hard to find,” Ruby said quietly. “But listen. I have no desire to meet your human king, or any of these people. I don’t fear them, but I don’t think they’ll welcome me either. I leave you here. I may stay close by, though.”
“Too curious to leave?” Aren asked.
She snorted. “Just want to make sure I’ve seen the end of all of this before I choose my own end. It’s past time for me to die. I’m an embarrassment to my species already.”
I knew better than to try to talk her out of dying if that was what her ancient mind had decided on. “Thank you, Ruby.” My heart thudded as I stepped closer and placed a hand on her snout, as I’d done once before. That first meeting felt like a lifetime ago. “Thank you for everything. For your scale that saved my life. For not eating us any of the times you could have. For indulging your curiosity.”
“You’re welcome, human girl. Fare well. You too, prince.”
Aren smiled and nodded.
I kissed Ruby’s nose. Her hot scales burned my lips. “I’ll miss you when you’re gone.”
She laughed. “I doubt anyone’s ever said that to a dragon before.”
Aren took my hand and pulled me away. “No one who’s lived to tell of it, certainly.”
Ruby chuckled, then took off, quickly disappearing over the trees.
I was losing everyone. My family. Patience. Ruby. I couldn’t look at Aren. N
ot yet. Please. One more kiss, one more night, one more—
“We should move on,” he said softly. Fingers entwined, we walked through the forest. Victoria remained seated on Florizel, who showed no desire to have her gone. None of us spoke as we moved toward the sound of voices.
The full weight of what Aren and I had done settled onto me. The king himself hadn’t wanted us to go, and he’d been angry with me even before that.
Two people stepped into our path. Aren dropped my hand as Kel wrapped his arms around him.
“You’re back!” He released Aren and scooped me up. I held onto Kel’s strong neck and hugged him back. He set me down and turned to Victoria. “Hellooooo.”
Nox slapped his arm. “No.”
Kel grinned at her. She rolled her eyes and surprised me my throwing her arms around her brother. She’d never acted affectionately toward him before. “You are in so much trouble right now,” she murmured, and released him.
“Is he angry, then?” Aren asked.
“Just a bit. Tell me what happened—quickly, before he has you hanged.”
I hoped she was joking. The quick smile she flashed me was surprisingly welcoming, but not exactly reassuring.
Aren filled Nox and Kel in as we walked on. Nox was interested in Victoria’s gifts, and asked a flurry of questions. When Victoria decided she felt strong enough to walk, Nox took her arm and walked ahead with her.
We reached a camp comprised of five tents set up in a circle with an unused firepit in the center. They must have set up camp for the night just before our arrival.
“Rowan, Aren,” Griselda said. She smiled cautiously, but didn’t come closer.
Ulric came out of a green tent at full speed, headed straight for us. He drew up when he saw Victoria, and nodded politely to her. Victoria dropped into a shaky curtsy.
“Nox, please make our new guest comfortable.” Ulric’s voice was low and calm on the surface, but a storm brewed beneath.
Nox complied without question, and Kel followed her and Victoria into the largest of the tents. Ulric motioned for us to walk ahead of him into the woods, out of sight of the others. I trembled with fear, but didn’t dare reach for the comfort of Aren’s touch.
“Stop,” Ulric ordered, and we turned to face him. He didn’t speak for several moments, only looked back and forth between us. A vein throbbed in his left temple, and I stared at it. Better than looking into his eyes, which burned with rage.
He seemed to expect me to speak. I said nothing. His gaze snapped back to Aren. “Where’s the little girl?”
“I killed her when I found out you’d sent her. Cut her throat and threw her body into a ravine.”
Ulric’s jaw tightened. “Did you, now?”
“No.”
Ulric’s hand lashed out, quick as a snake, and struck Aren across the face. “I’m tired of your insolence.”
Aren didn’t offer a reply, and Ulric turned back to me. “Did you find what you were looking for? Are you satisfied?”
I opened my mouth, but it took me a few seconds to find my voice. “We brought Victoria back to feed your troops and help Nox with her potions.”
“You left without my permission, took my son with you when I needed him here.”
The cowardly part of me wanted to tell him that it had been Aren who came to me, it had been his idea, I was a good girl and please, sir, don’t hurt me. I looked to Aren, who nodded. This time it was his thoughts that were clearly visible.
Tell him.
My breath caught in my throat. Aren would take his punishment, and wouldn’t fault me for telling the truth that would save me a beating, if not banishment or death.
“Answer me!” Ulric roared.
“It was wrong of me,” I said, my voice hardly above a squeaky whisper. “I needed to see whether my family was safe, and wanted to help. I was afraid to go alone.”
Aren stepped closer, and Ulric held out a hand to stop him. “It was my decision, Father,” Aren said. “Rowan wanted to go, but she would have stayed. I said we should do it and not tell you, as you would never let me go. We need Victoria. Nox needs her, and therefore you do.”
Ulric’s expression didn’t change, and he didn’t look away from me. “So you’re a liar as well?”
I closed my eyes and tensed, expecting pain that didn’t come.
“I propose we leave off discussing this,” Aren said quietly, “at least until we calm down. You’re better than this, Father. You’re a fair judge when you can be dispassionate, but right now there’s no answer Rowan can give that will satisfy you. If she tells half-truths, it’s to protect me. This is my fault.”
I looked up. Ulric faced Aren with clenched fists. “Or you’re saying that because you think I’ll punish you less harshly than I will her.” He forced his hands to relax. “I should have you both tried for treason. Don’t think I’ll forget before this is over. For now, you work for me.”
“Yes, Father.” He lowered his head, as though a great weight had settled on his shoulders. “Whatever you need.”
“Rowan,” Ulric said without looking at me. “You help Nox. Do anything she asks. And stay out of my sight.”
“Yes, sir.”
I walked away, but slowly. The last thing I heard before I was out of earshot was, “Aren, you’re going away for a while.”
27
AREN
I
didn’t let my gaze follow Rowan as she left.
“Well?” Ulric asked.
“It’s over.”
He turned to watch her go, then studied me. “You ended it?”
I felt no anger now. Only sorrow, and I wouldn’t let him see that. “She did. She wants to help, and doesn’t want to hold me back. She understands what my future will be if we win.”
“And do you?”
I swallowed hard. “I do, now. I don’t like it, but I accept it. Where are you sending me?”
Ulric stepped back. If he was pleased with our decision, he didn’t say. At least he believed me this time. “To take a message to my brother. You’ll leave first thing in the morning. Fly as hard and fast as you can, come back with his reply.”
“Xaven?”
“Have I any other brothers left?”
Subtle threat, Father.
“I’ll do it.”
“Very good.”
The evening was beyond uncomfortable. Maks and Qurwin went hunting, and we all ate in silence. Even Kel didn’t try to lighten the mood that evening. He assisted Nox with whatever potion she was working on in her tent, and Rowan and Victoria joined them. I let the others work out their own sleeping arrangements, and settled for a branch outside my father’s tent.
He seemed pleased with that.
When I entered Ulric’s tent in the morning, he was already awake and dressed, writing out a letter for Xaven. He rolled the page into a tight scroll. “I don’t need to tell you this, but that should go to no one save for Xaven himself. If he’s not there, destroy it and return to me. No heroics.”
“I wouldn’t dream of that. Sir.” I controlled my tone, holding back the anger that welled up every time I looked at him. I’d told Rowan his pushing her away wasn’t personal. He didn’t write the laws, and he was doing what he thought best for his people. Perhaps even for me.
Such thoughts did nothing to lessen my dislike of him.
“You know where to go?” he asked.
“Show me where we are now, and I’ll find it.”
He tapped a finger on his map, indicating that I’d need to head north to find my uncle’s home, then handed me the scroll. I wanted to ask what would happen to Rowan in my absence, but sensed that would only make things worse for her.
It’s really over,
I reminded myself, though thinking it tore at my heart like dragon’s claws.
That path is finished. It was always a detour, if the most pleasant one possible. Look back to the road now. Grow up.
I left my clothing in Ulric’s tent and transformed, gripped the scroll in my talons, and took off. At one time, this had been the the safest way for kings to send important messages. Those rare Sorcerers with the ability to fly in bird form were far more reliable and secure than the enchanted birds of the non-human variety that might otherwise be used, faster and less conspicuous than riders.
I tried to clear my mind, focus on the mission, and enjoy the sun on my feathers, but even my eagle mind was now unable to let go of human concerns. If I pushed thoughts of family from my mind, Rowan took over. When I tried to think instead of my future, I saw myself bound to a throne, sworn to follow in my father’s footsteps, to put my country before all else. Before myself, before family or friendship. I would become like him, afraid to love in case it came to a choice between that and Tyrea. A good king, and a shell of a human.
Try as I might, I still couldn’t understand why anyone would scheme, fight, and kill for the privilege of being a powerful slave.
Give me my freedom, the wind in my feathers. Give me Rowan.
So much to ask.
The wilds of Tyrea stretched beneath me as I flew, forests broken by shining rivers, hills and valleys, deep ravines and towering rock formations that looked like they’d be more at home by the sea. Vast tracts of the land had thus far been left untouched by humans, and with good reason. The creatures of Tyrea had as much claim to this place as we had, and everyone benefited if we humans kept to ourselves and let the dragons, the fairies, the elves, the mer, the Aeyer, the gryphons, and all of the others live as they saw fit. It made for long travels when we had to go around these forests—or dangerous ones, if we chose to cut through—but that was a small price to pay.
A flash of shining white caught my eye as I passed over a clearing in a particularly lush patch of forest. I circled over, careful to keep my distance, but I needed something interesting to distract me.
It was gone. Nothing there but a clear pool and a few flowers.
I adjusted my wings to carry me away, and caught sight of it again from the corner of my vision. I circled once more, and when the white thing didn’t disappear, I looked down.