by Effie Calvin
And they could finally find out when they should expect Carinth to start talking. Adale only hoped it would be during her own lifetime. She did not really think it would be that long, but she knew that dragons could outlive Men by centuries, so it was not completely impossible.
Would Talcia do that to them? To Esofi, who had done so much for her? It seemed cruel. And what about Carinth? What if he was still a child when Adale and Esofi died of old age? Would he even remember them as an adult?
These were questions she never allowed herself to dwell on for long and she had never brought up to Esofi. Nor had Esofi mentioned them to Adale. It was as though they’d both simultaneously come to the decision that they did not want to worry over something they could not possibly control. Not when there was so much work to be done.
Chapter Four
ESOFI
Adale was worried about her.
Perhaps it was to be expected, given everything that had happened over the last few days. Adale was protective by nature, even as Esofi repeatedly insisted she did not require protection.
If she was honest, Esofi supposed that the heart of the problem was that she could not begin to explain the present without first explaining her past. And that was something Esofi did not want to do. Not only would it take hours—if not days, or even weeks—but there were many parts she did not care to think about, let alone describe aloud. And then at the end of it, she just knew Adale would stare at her with pity and confusion on her face, and that would make things even worse.
She imagined it was something like a soldier trying to describe the experience of war to one who had never known anything but peace. As soon as the thought entered her head, Esofi pushed it away. To compare growing up in a palace with the battlefield was disrespectful to every soldier who had ever lifted a sword.
She knew Adale wanted to talk to her, to understand. But right now, the cost of that understanding was more than Esofi was willing to pay. So instead she pretended like nothing was wrong and that she did not notice Adale growing more and more concerned.
“We should write a book of our own,” said Adale over lunch. “Of everything Ivanedi tells us. So in ten thousand years, when someone else has to raise a dragon, they know what to expect.”
“Do you think there will still be Men in ten thousand years?” asked Esofi, passing a chicken leg over to Carinth. He gripped it in his little claws and began to pull the meat off the bone.
Adale laughed. “Don’t you? Why shouldn’t there be?”
Esofi shrugged. “It was only a thought.”
“Think about other things,” Adale suggested. “Make a list of what you want to ask Ivanedi. I know the minute I see him again I’ll forget everything I wanted to ask.”
“I can’t imagine Carinth ever being that size,” Esofi sighed. “He’ll have to live outside.”
“Nonsense, I’ll build a castle for him. Dragon-sized.” Adale leaned back and waved her arm, no doubt envisioning something absurd. “Everyone who sees it will say… ‘Oh! Crown Princess! What a terrible waste of money!’”
Esofi could not help herself. She burst into laughter, and Adale sat up and grinned.
“There,” said Adale. “I knew I could make you smile.”
Someone knocked at the door, and Esofi looked up. “Come in,” she called. But the door was already opening. Mireille stood there, her face pale and stricken.
“Mireille?” asked Esofi. “What’s the matter?”
From the expression on Mireille’s face, Esofi nearly expected her to say that a dragon was in the process of attacking Fenstell. But the young woman merely stood there, staring with wide brown eyes, lips trembling.
“Mireille?” repeated Esofi.
“She’s here,” said Mireille.
“Who is here?” Adale asked.
“Her majesty, Queen Gaelle of Rhodia. She has come to Fenstell.”
Esofi’s eyes flicked toward the window. Even in an Ieflarian dress, she probably would not fit through it.
“What?” demanded Adale, leaping to her feet. “Why didn’t they send a courier to warn us?”
“I don’t know! I don’t know anything! I just know that she’s just arrived, and she’s out there in the courtyard, and she wants to see you!”
“Wait here,” said Esofi, getting up and adjusting her dress. “Both of you.” She hurried to the door, brushing past Mireille. Adale caught her by the arm.
“I’m coming as well.”
“I said to stay!”
“Who is the Crown Princess here?” Adale’s voice was surprisingly forceful, and Esofi’s mouth fell open. Adale had never once used her rank to overrule Esofi before. Esofi had all but forgotten that Adale even could. “I’m coming with you. Mireille, watch Carinth for us.”
Esofi moved quickly down the hallways, her mind spinning. She was aware that Adale was speaking to her, but she could not process the words. As she approached the main doors to the fortress, a guard opened them for her.
Esofi stepped out into the frosty afternoon light and saw a carriage standing in the courtyard. Standing in front of it were two women, both blonde, both dressed in Rhodian gowns. Some of the Rhodian mages, including Lieutenant Vaseur, were already gathered before them.
Esofi reached for her skirts, only to remember she was wearing an Ieflarian dress. Feeling underdressed for the first time in over a year, Esofi moved forward with Adale at her side.
Gaelle did not look any different than she had the last time Esofi had seen her, on the day she departed Rhodia. Her sharp face still showed only a few signs of age, and her hair still had most of its pale blonde color. She wore a silver and white gown, still elaborate by Ieflarian standards but considered suitable for an older, married woman in Rhodia.
Esofi glanced to the other woman behind her mother and was surprised to realize that it was Lexandrie. Unlike Gaelle, Lexandrie did not seem at all like herself. Her hair was limp and badly styled, and she appeared thinner, so much so that she was almost lost in her own gown. When she realized Esofi was staring at her, she refused to make eye contact and stared down at the ground.
Esofi turned her eyes back to her mother, soft puffs of icy breath dissipating into the morning air. Naturally, Gaelle was the one to break the silence.
“Oh, good,” she said. “You’re pregnant.”
Esofi found her tongue. “No, mother. Just fat.”
Gaelle made a short, sharp sound that might have been a laugh. “Where is my grandson? I’ve travelled months to see him.”
“What?”
“The dragon. Did you think I would not come as soon as I heard? Or had you hoped to hide it from me?”
Esofi swallowed, being careful not to show any trace of emotion on her face. “I did not think you would care. You showed no interest in Esolene or Matheo’s children.”
“Esolene and Matheo’s children cannot fly.”
“Carinth cannot fly yet either,” said Esofi.
“Is that what you named him?”
Esofi nodded. “It is a name from Ieflarian legend. We—”
“I want to know exactly how you came to have him,” Gaelle interrupted. “I am skeptical of Lexandrie’s tale.”
Esofi looked back at Lexandrie again. “I am surprised to see you here. It seems you only just left.”
“I needed an attendant, and Lexandrie is already familiar with this country. She was the sensible choice.”
Beside her, Adale cleared her throat.
“Mother, this is Crown Princess Adale,” Esofi said, switching over to the Ieflarian language. “We were married last spring.”
Gaelle’s eyes flicked over Adale briefly. “It is too cold to talk out here. I’m going inside.”
She swept past Esofi and Adale and into the fortress. Esofi turned to Lexandrie, who still did not meet her eyes. For a minute, she considered saying something, but then decided against it. Her mother required her complete and undivided attention. Hopefully, there would be time to talk later.
But Gaelle seemed uncharacteristically pleased by him.
“So small,” marveled Gaelle, tapping at the horns on his head. “How long before he is grown?”
“We’re not certain. I am hoping the other dragons can tell us.”
“Does he breathe fire?”
“Not yet.”
“And he does not fly.” Gaelle sounded more thoughtful than annoyed. “Well, I’m sure I can make something of him nevertheless.”
“He is not yet two years old,” Esofi reminded her. “If he was a child, he would still be in the nursery.”
Gaelle did not respond to that. Instead she said, “When do you intend to return to the capital?”
“Within a few days, I think. You needn’t have come all this way.”
“Nobody could tell me when you were planning on returning. I do not have the time or the inclination to sit in a foreign castle waiting for you to remember your responsibilities.”
Esofi fought down a frown. “This is not an excursion. Adale and I came to Fenstell to meet with a representative from the Silver Isles, to foster peace between our races.”
“I can’t be away from Rhodia forever,” said Gaelle. “I want this business done with as soon as possible.”
“And what business is that?” asked Adale. Gaelle pressed her lips together, openly disapproving. Adale’s entire body tensed, and Esofi glanced over at her worriedly. Adale was frowning, and her hands were curling into fists.
But Gaelle did not reply to the question. Instead she petted Carinth’s head again and said, “Have there been any threats against him? I’d think perhaps some people might want revenge, given Ieflaria’s history with dragons.”
“We were afraid of that, at first,” said Esofi, moving to sit down in the chair beside Adale. “When he was still an egg, I didn’t trust anyone but our Rhodian mages to guard him. But nobody has expressed any desire to harm him. In fact, he seems to be popular.”
“What about the Xytan Empire?” Gaelle pressed. “They must be concerned.”
“We hear very little from Xytae. Their ambassador sent congratulations, but I don’t know if the news has truly reached Ionnes. He spends more time in Masim than at home.”
Gaelle looked discontented, so much so that Esofi wondered if she truly was worried about Carinth’s safety. That would be very much unlike her. But then, Carinth was a dragon, not a child. So perhaps there was no knowing what to expect.
“How are things in Rhodia?” asked Esofi, eager to change the subject. “Is Esybele still at home?”
“She is off sailing with the Alliance. Perhaps I ought to find her a husband. Though I do not know who would ever agree to marry her.”
“What is the Alliance?” asked Adale.
“It is the force that deals with threats from the Elven Lands,” explained Esofi. “All of the Thiyran nations contribute to it. We are also aided by the Mer.”
“Two elves came to Ioshora when I was a girl,” said Adale. “I didn’t think much of it at the time, but now I’m surprised they managed to get past you.”
“Men do trade in Domeysil. There’s not much we can do to stop them, unfortunately. Perhaps they booked passage on a merchant ship,” suggested Esofi.
“What did they want?” Gaelle’s eyes narrowed.
“I’m not sure, I was too young to really understand. I think they just wanted access to our lands. My parents could tell you better than I.” Adale shrugged. “In any case, they didn’t get what they wanted. I never saw another elf again after that day.”
“You had one in the castle?” The disdain in Gaelle’s voice was like poison.
“Two, actually,” said Adale. Either she was oblivious to Gaelle’s reactions, or she was enjoying them. Esofi suspected it was the latter. “I don’t think they stayed long. Nobody liked them very much.”
“Elves may not set foot in any of the nations of Ioshora,” said Gaelle harshly. “And yet you had two in your capital? In your castle? How was this allowed?”
“Don’t blame me, I was a child at the time.”
“It was a single incident, I am told.” Esofi hurried to quell Gaelle’s temper. “I believe they were trying to establish diplomatic relations. But their offer was rejected, and they never returned.”
“They tried Xytae and Vesolda and Ibaia as well,” Adale added. “Nobody took them up on it.”
“Why didn’t you arrest them?” demanded Gaelle.
“I don’t know. You’ll have to ask my parents. They didn’t do any harm while they were here though.”
“As far as you know,” said Gaelle.
Adale just shrugged, untroubled.
“Lexandrie,” said Esofi, desperate to change the subject. “How was your voyage?”
Lexandrie looked up from her teacup, surprise in her face. It seemed she had not been expecting anyone to address her. “It was fine,” she said, her voice barely more than a murmur. “Uneventful.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” said Esofi, forcing enthusiasm into her voice. But Lexandrie did not reply.
The silence stretched on painfully. Beside her, Adale was starting to fidget, a sure sign that she was about to do something absurd for her own amusement.
“You have been speaking with dragons?” said Gaelle at last.
Esofi nodded. “Yes! It was a great surprise to learn they are capable of speech. When Ivanedi returns tonight, I am hoping to ask him some questions about Carinth’s development.”
“How do they feel about you two raising one of their own?”
“We have not told him yet. But…I do not believe he would attempt to take Carinth from us.”
“No?”
“I should start from the beginning,” said Esofi. “So much has happened since I arrived here.”
Gaelle listened impassively as Esofi described her arrival in Ieflaria and the first dragon attack at Birsgen, where she had learned that they were capable of speech. Esofi skipped over the complicated mess that had been her courtship with Adale, and the research they had done together. She knew her mother would have no interest in that.
She described the Emperor’s attack on the night of her betrothal and how he had blamed Men for the fact that Talcia was no longer granting magic to his kind. With his death, the attacks on Ieflaria had stopped, and they had heard nothing more until a few days ago, when Ivanedi arrived in Fenstell.
“I know they want their magic back. They’re hoping I can help them with that,” concluded Esofi. “That is why I don’t believe they’d risk stealing Carinth from me.”
Gaelle looked down at Carinth again. There was something calculating in her eyes. She got up out of her chair, and Esofi tensed again.
But then Gaelle crouched down so that she was level with Carinth. Esofi frowned and readied herself to lunge across the table at the first sign of trouble.
Gaelle held her hand out between herself and Carinth, only a short distance away from his own nose. Carinth sniffed at it, then settled back, assured that she was not hiding anything good in her palm.
Gaelle curled her fingers and a little spark of blood-colored magic flashed to life, dancing like candlelight. Carinth sniffed at her hand again but didn’t seem terribly interested. If he could not eat it or hoard it, it wasn’t important.
But Gaelle did not move. She frowned and shook her hand meaningfully. After a brief pause, Carinth raised his front arm in the same way she had, little claws curling inward.
Esofi felt her lips part to ask a question just as a little spark of azure light flickered at the edge of Carinth’s silver claws.
Adale spat her tea out onto the table, and Esofi jumped up so quickly that she nearly knocked her chair over. She was beside Carinth in a moment, but the magic was already gone. He looked from Esofi to Gaelle, who was now
sipping her tea calmly. His ears flicked, like he was not certain if he was in trouble or not.
Esofi took Carinth’s claw in her hand very gently, waiting to see if he would summon his magic again. But he only looked in the direction of the table, clearly more interested in the sugar bowl than what had just transpired. Heart racing, Esofi took a few deep breaths. What did it mean, that Carinth had magic? Was Talcia giving magic to all newborn dragons? Or was Carinth a special case because he was being raised by her? Would only the young dragons be granted magic, or would it be a repeat of what had happened in Birsgen two springs ago, when grown adults found themselves suddenly blessed?
“Did you not attempt to see if he had been granted magic?” asked Gaelle scornfully.
“I did not think…” Esofi shook her head.
“Evidently not. Well, I think this settles the matter. I must bring him to Rhodia.”
“What?” Adale interrupted. “No!”
But Gaelle was not even pretending to care about anything Adale said. “You can’t expect anyone here to be worthy of the task of teaching him, let alone competent enough to do so. Letting him remain here would be negligent. I will not allow it.”
Esofi’s mouth had gone dry. She wanted to speak, but it seemed she had forgotten how. She gathered Carinth in her arms and stood up, trying to think of something to say, acutely aware of the lump rising in her throat.
“Carinth isn’t going anywhere,” Adale said. “He was given to us, and he’s staying with us. Esofi is more than capable of training him.”
“You did not even know he had magic,” Gaelle waved her hand dismissively. “I won’t let you two raise him to be an embarrassment to my family.”
“Then it’s a good thing we don’t need your permission.” The venom in Adale’s voice surprised Esofi. “I don’t have to sit here and listen to this. Esofi, let’s go.”
“What?”
