“Go,” Brajon said. “I’ll be waiting for you at the base of those steps. Scream if you need me.”
“Desert foxes don’t scream,” Silver said. “They snarl.”
Silver saw Ferdi sidle up next to Brajon and Mele, and having them there boosted her confidence. She could even feel Hiyyan tentatively paddling down the coastline, from the cove to Calidia, as the most important moment of her journey beckoned. She would get Kirja back.
Silver climbed the steps and entered Queen Imea’s grand throne room.
FORTY-FIVE
Queen Imea cut an imposing figure. Her throne was constructed of swirls of tall iron, upon which colorful embroidered cushions perched. It sat upon a raised dais made from thick glass. A stream flowed through the room and under the dais, and in that stream, two Abruqs circled lazily.
Each throne arm was an iron water dragon, and Queen Imea placed her palms over their two heads. Another dragon head, this one pure gold, hung from the ceiling, surrounded by dripping gemstone tassels. To the right of the queen’s throne, five gilded wooden boxes sat on a small table. Each one contained, Silver assumed, a small fortune in coins. But it was the view behind the throne that caught her attention most.
Three ornately tiled arches led out to a stone balcony. Beyond that, the obsidian sky opened up over the sea. From there, Queen Imea could watch every water dragon race—and she probably had. The view stretched so far that Silver wondered if one could see all the way to the Island Nations. Now, though, Arkilah stood on that balcony, her back to the throne room, staring up at the stars. How much had Nebekker’s once-friend told the queen about Silver? How much could the heavens reveal?
“Sagittaria Wonder,” the king regent, standing to the left of the queen, announced, summoning her forth.
Silver watched as the queen’s favorite water dragon racer stepped onto the dais. She bowed before Queen Imea and took the wooden box offered her without a single word passing between them. They had obviously done this many times before; Sagittaria looked almost bored with it all.
“She will bring the desert great glory,” came Arkilah’s prediction from the balcony.
Silver didn’t miss the way Sagittaria clenched her jaw, almost like she was suppressing a grimace. Or was it laughter? Perhaps the water dragon racer and the nomad didn’t get along, each vying for the queen’s favor. But then again, it had been Arkilah who’d led Sagittaria Wonder to Kirja.
The other three winning racers were called up in turn, two of them requesting the contents of the wooden box, while another requested a gift of farmland for his extended family in the southern regions.
“What a thoughtful and selfless request,” Queen Imea said. She smiled and doubled the amount of land the racer had initially asked for.
“The riches to come to your family will exceed all that stood upon the table,” Arkilah said.
The southern water dragon racer grinned and bowed again. All requests had been granted with a warm smile from the queen, which gave Silver confidence.
“Desert Fox,” the king regent announced. Silver lifted her skirts and walked forward. She tried not to pay attention to the way Sagittaria Wonder noiselessly set her wooden box on the ground and folded her arms across her chest, or the way the other racers squinted to try to see under Silver’s veil.
“Queen Imea,” Silver said, bowing. When she rose again, she noticed that the queen had not reached for a wooden box like she had with the other racers. Instead, Queen Imea sat so still and blank of expression that she could have been carved from granite.
Silver swallowed. Had those guards, positioned along the arches in the back of the room, shuffled a few inches closer, or was that Silver’s imagination? Was there more noise behind her, streaming in from the courtyard, or was that a trick of the room?
The way everyone watched her, waiting, was no trick. Silver’s arms went cold, and her head went light. She could really use one of Ferdi’s diversions right then.
I need you, Silver said to Hiyyan. Her body warmed. She could tell that her Aquinder was close to Calidia now.
Before Silver could make her request, Arkilah reentered the throne room, standing to the side of the dais. The queen pressed her hands on the iron water dragon heads impatiently and snapped at Silver: “Who are you?”
The question hit Silver with the force of a sand storm, bringing her to life.
“I am Desert Fox,” Silver said.
The queen stayed silent, waiting expectantly.
With her blood pounding in her ears, Silver slowly pulled the veil off her face.
Sagittaria Wonder started forward, her mouth twisting in a frown. “I know you. You’re that annoying little ele-jeweler from Jaspaton.”
Silver began to cringe, but then she stopped herself. She wasn’t ashamed about where she came from. It was a jeweler who’d taught her to work metal, so that she could make bindings for Hiyyan’s wings. It was a yarnslady who’d taught her to work wool, so that she could disguise herself for the races. It was a community of family and tradition that had taught her to be strong and resilient, that had sent her into the world with useful gifts and the desire for greatness.
Silver Batal had all those things, and more.
“I am Desert Fox,” she repeated, her voice carrying through the throne room and into the courtyard. “I am the ele-jeweler. I am a yarnslady’s daughter. I am a Jaspatonian.”
Her voice grew even louder, pride swelling in her chest. A roar began in her ears, as though all the deep desert applauded her efforts. The healing wound on her wrist burned deliciously, like it was brand-new. Somewhere in the sea over that throne room balcony, Hiyyan was sending Silver feelings of strength.
Silver threw her shoulders back.
“I am Silver Batal, Aquinder racer!”
The noise in the courtyard grew once more. There was a commotion behind her, but Silver didn’t have the courage to look away from the queen. Queen Imea smiled down, her lips pressed together. Those violet eyes flashed, and the light bounced off her platinum hair like molten metal.
“Yes, Arkilah has told me a bit about you. She has a keen interest in studying you, and I think I’ll allow her.” The queen tapped her fingers slowly back and forth. “Silver. That’s one of the lesser metals, isn’t it? I do believe your father had promised me gold. Disappointing.”
Before, the remark would have crushed Silver, but as she held the queen’s gaze, a sleeping little memory came to life.
“You were going to be named Ruby,” Sersha Batal had whispered to Silver. “Your father’s favorite gemstone. But the night you were born was the clearest I could remember. The moon was full, and you opened your eyes and stared at the silvery light for a long time. Then you smiled.”
Silver’s father had gathered her close. “You’re still my favorite gemstone, but your mother was right to pick Silver instead. My wondering, mysterious girl. You will accomplish such great things in this life.”
“I am no disappointment,” Silver said.
“I don’t care what you are,” Queen Imea said, waving away Silver’s words. “Bring me the Aquinder you raced.”
“That Aquinder belongs to me,” Silver said. “I raced him, so I’ve claimed him. But the other Aquinder, the one Sagittaria stole, belongs to someone else. And now, before you at the Winners’ Audience, I demand her return!”
Queen Imea stood, her presence so commanding that two of the other racers quickly left the room, their wooden boxes tucked securely under their arms. Silver heard shouting and screams from the courtyard. Had Ferdi finally started his distraction?
“Ridiculous child,” Queen Imea said. “Both Aquinder must be destroyed. That is part of ancient treaty. To allow them to live would mean war.”
“Then you must pick which law to follow. I raced my Aquinder, so he’s mine. You would steal from me? According to the law—”
“You fool,” Sagittaria Wonder said. “The law does not apply to the queen!”
The Abruqs moved closer.
On the sea, so did Hiyyan.
Before Silver could react, a group of people burst into the throne room. It was Ferdi’s companions and another man, the tallest Silver had ever seen, who threw back his cloak and released waves of thick white hair.
“Queen Imea!” he boomed. “The royals are servants of the law, not above it.”
As the crowd around the man bowed their heads, the queen had the grace to look shocked. But she quickly wiped her expression and bowed her head.
“King A-Malusni. Your ambassadors sent your regrets some weeks ago and told me your son would appear at our festival in your place. Imagine my surprise at seeing you now.”
Over her left shoulder, a shocked voice rose. “Father?”
FORTY-SIX
Ferdi stood at the entrance to the throne room, Brajon and Mele on either side of him.
Silver’s mouth dropped open. “Ferdi? That’s your father … You’re a…”
The king of the Island Nations held up a hand. “The girl is in compliance with the law, no matter what breed of dragon she rides.”
Queen Imea stroked the front of her silk gown and gave an acquiescent smile. “You are correct on that count, King A-Malusni. The matter of the Aquinder is a complicated one. Perhaps we can discuss the ancient and sacred words of the treaty in detail and come to an understanding between our nations.” Her sweet smile fell, and her eyes blazed. “However, this girl used an illegal and highly dangerous substance in her race.”
“What?” Silver yelped. The queen’s final card.
“The possession of camouin is illegal, and you are under arrest. Guards, seize her!”
The room erupted in chaos. The queen’s men pushed toward Silver, but Ferdi’s companions—King A-Malusni’s men—cut them off. Arkilah rushed from the dais, and the two Abruqs met her in the middle. Most peculiar of all, strange figures dressed in huge water dragon costumes streamed into the room, dancing riotously.
With all the commotion, Sagittaria Wonder slipped past everyone and reached Silver first.
“Let’s go,” Sagittaria said, dragging her backward by her arm.
“Brajon, help,” Silver yelled, but her voice was lost in the noise.
She stumbled down the throne room steps and into the courtyard, yanked along mercilessly by the queen’s water dragon racer.
“Let go of her,” Brajon yelled. He tried to follow but was held back by two guards. A third had his arms around Mele. More water dragon–masked dancers added to the chaos, like some kind of nightmarish desert festival.
“Move faster,” Sagittaria Wonder said. “Do you want the guards to catch you?”
Sagittaria hauled Silver through the courtyard grove, swerving left to right around the orange trees.
“What do you mean?” Silver gasped. Was Sagittaria Wonder helping her escape? The pain from Sagittaria’s grip rushed up her arm. Silver’s gown wrapped around her legs, causing her to falter, but Sagittaria Wonder kept going. When they reached the palace entrance, Sagittaria quickly ducked between two guards, but Silver ran into the chest of a third.
“Please, help us,” she whispered.
“I knew there was something special about you,” the kind guard said. He looked down sternly, then nonchalantly shoved two of his colleagues into the pools. “Run, Desert Fox.”
“But my cousin!”
Sagittaria Wonder grunted and pulled Silver around a corner. She paused in a shadowed nook but didn’t release Silver’s arm. “You have strange friends,” she said. “Guards, princes, cleaning girls—”
“What about you?” Silver said. “Why are you helping me now? Why didn’t you turn me in before this?”
“Even if I had, the queen would have wanted to make this matter as private as possible. There will be chaos when news of the Aquinder spreads. I sent those posters out in the hope that someone would turn you in as a thief and I could convince you to leave before you got too far into this dangerous game. But you just won’t hold back, will you?” A spark lit up Sagittaria’s eyes as she appraised Silver. “You need to understand that I’m not your friend and never will be. But, Desert Fox—Silver Batal, Aquinder racer—your courage has impressed me. I see myself as a girl in you. You are a water dragon racer. You are a winner. And you should be allowed to bring glory to these desert lands through your racing.”
Emotion swelled inside Silver like music. She didn’t know what to say to Sagittaria Wonder, queen’s racer … hero. The words that rang in her ears were the ones she’d wanted to hear her whole life. Her thumb pressed hard against her burn mark.
“You think I’m a winner?” Silver asked.
“Well, not at everything. Your fiber arts need a bit of work,” she said. And here, Sagittaria Wonder actually laughed. “But your connection with your dragon is something special. Racer to racer, I would never cage that up. Nor cage you up. But Arkilah is different, so you must run, desert girl. Get your Aquinder and get out of here.”
“I can’t run! My cousin’s in there. And Kirja—”
“Listen to me! I didn’t drag you out of there so you could sacrifice yourself for others. They’ll let your cousin go soon enough.”
“And Kirja?”
“Isn’t yours to worry about! Save yourself. Save your Aquinder. The queen is lying about killing any Aquinder—they’re too precious. You may one day know freedom, and when you do, you’ll race again. Run!”
Hiyyan was cutting through the sea and getting close to the docks. Silver could feel his movements, and his uncertainty.
She could also feel his hope. That she, Silver Batal, water dragon racer recognized by the greatest water dragon racer of them all, had saved his mother. She had finally won Sagittaria’s approval. But that wasn’t the promise she’d made Hiyyan.
“I can’t run. And Kirja isn’t the queen’s water dragon.”
Silver darted from Sagittaria Wonder.
FORTY-SEVEN
Silver yanked the jewelry from her face, hitched her gown up, and got to the docks as fast as she could. It was much quieter on the streets of Calidia than it was in the palace, and either the guards posted outside didn’t know what was going on, or they were inside the palace looking for her. She ran past the inn, merry with late-night storytellers, then the dark vendor carts, hulking in the shadowed corners of the streets.
Finally, she made it to the docks, passing under the wooden arches and over the shimmering black waves lapping the pilings. At the end of one dock, Hiyyan waited.
Without a thought, Silver leaped onto his back and threw her arms around his neck. My Hiyyan. She pulled the camouin from his sides and tossed the metal into the depths of the sea.
“Too much trouble to be worth it,” she said, hooking her slippers into Hiyyan’s wing joints. “Okay, my friend, let’s rescue your mother.”
She led him to the open harbor, then to the seawall. But soon, dozens of dark blobs were closing in on them.
“Abruqs. Oh, there’s Ferdi, too!”
Before the Abruqs could reach her, Ferdi and Hoonazoor sped to her side.
“How did you find me?” Silver called out.
“Never mind that. Follow me,” Ferdi said, and pulled his reins to turn his water dragon around.
The Glithern’s speed was remarkable. Even faster than had been revealed in any of the races. Ferdi became a blur, and Hiyyan had to spread his wings and take to the sky to keep up.
“You’re a prince?” Silver shouted down at him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“There was never a right time,” he yelled back.
Hoonazoor disappeared into a narrow cut in the shore on the opposite side of the palace from the seawall. Hiyyan kept near, sweeping so close to the palace that Silver’s heart rose up her throat. But the guards were on the ground, scrambling to get across the palace beach, their heavy boots sinking into the soft sand, and the little Abruqs couldn’t possibly keep up with the larger, faster water dragons. Back at the seawall, harpoons were being loaded, but Hiyyan swept
around the corner long before they were released.
As they soared around the palace towers, spurred on by renewed shouts from the crowds, Silver spotted a huge lake with several water dragons. The fabled Royal Pools of Calidia. Silver squinted to see better. Several dragons … but not Kirja. But for the first time, the pendant stone pulsed with heat, and an intensity that hammered Silver’s chest. Kirja had to be near.
“Where is she?”
Hiyyan let out an excited sound and dove for the ground.
“Do you see your mother?” Silver peered over his shoulder. She still didn’t spot Kirja, but she did see a girl, waving her arms over her head. “It’s Mele! Fly close to her.”
Hiyyan swooped down and slowed.
“Where’s my cousin?” Silver called to Mele.
“They let him go. But I showed him how to get underground earlier today like you asked,” the girl said. “He should be down there somewhere. Hopefully, no one follows him.”
“I wouldn’t count on that. Be on the lookout,” Silver said.
Hoonazoor turned a circle in the holding pools.
“We have to hurry,” Ferdi said. “Follow me.”
“Come with us,” Silver said to Mele.
But Mele shook her head. Her gaze went to a Shorsa not far away. “I can’t.”
“Is that your dragon? Bring her and come with us,” Silver said.
“I can’t. That’s stealing.”
“It doesn’t matter what some list says. You belong together. It’s water dragon law.”
Mele hesitated. “But not our law!”
“Please, Mele,” Silver said. “Guards are coming. I can’t leave you here to get in trouble for me.”
“I don’t know the way. Not through these pools.”
“Ferdi’s dragon does.”
Shouts came from the other side of the lake.
“Mele, we have to hurry,” Silver said. “Please!”
The pretty Shorsa watched them, swishing its tail slowly, like she was waiting for Mele to make a decision.
Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races Page 23
