“Will you help me explain the situation?” I asked. “I think everyone’s grown to like your delivery.”
“Oh, of course. It’s just natural that we should speak to the people together, anyway, isn’t it?”
He nodded, and I felt a surge of affection for him. Seron was truly starting to become king, a different sort of king than Aurekdel had been. He was understated, noble, and true.
“And I’ll go to jail now,” Aurek said. “You probably shouldn’t mention it to anyone, since some of them still seem to want to call me the king.”
Seron sighed. “I am going to mention it, because everyone should know that none of us are above the law. You’re so difficult to punish.”
“I just said I’m going to jail and I really don’t mind. I’m easy to punish.”
“But you seem like you want to be punished, so now it’s ruined.”
“I do want to be punished. I’ve been agonizing over this since Oszin left.” He hesitated. “Himika…there is a letter for you from Oszin… He wanted me to give it to you if something happened to him. It’s in the panel under my jewel box, so just…if or when you’re ready…”
“Oh… I—I don’t know if I am ready.” My whole body clenched, and a physical pain rippled through me. “Right now, the people need a queen and that’s—that’s who I will be right now. A queen. Just a queen and not…” I trailed off. I knew this was how it had to be, and I refused to cry. That would happen later, when I had the time. I would not be a weepy, useless queen.
Aurek came up to me. His hand found my chin, and he lifted my face just enough to brush a kiss on my forehead. “I am…so sorry,” he said. “But we’ll find him and get him back. He’s useful. He’s still alive.”
I trembled all over. Will he have a tongue? What shape will he be in?
Aurek went out the door and Seron came up to me now. “He’s right. We’ll get him back. And even if they hurt him, we’ll heal his wounds.”
“Some wounds can’t be healed!”
“Bodies can’t always be repaired…,” Ezeru said. “But people can still become strong again.”
Seron nodded. “Don’t cry. We’ll be strong for him, as long as we need to be.”
“Thank you…for caring about him.”
Seron nodded in a way that was really quite casual, but it said, Of course. There was never really any question.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Seron
A little later, Himika and I gathered the people and broke the news. Shock was quickly followed by rejoicing, another spontaneous party breaking out. There was a predictable bit of grumbling from the pro-Aurekdel contingent, as they clearly felt he was being punished for a bold and heroic act of leadership, but they kept it to themselves. His ‘punishment’ was purely symbolic, although I saw a few of his former favorites slip out of the room and I guessed they were probably going to bring him food.
Aurek made it so tricky for me to be a decisive leader. I couldn’t deny that we both had our own style and no matter what I did, some people would always favor him and others would favor me. But I couldn’t let him get away with undermining me like this, even if his punishment was mostly symbolic…some time to contemplate what he’d done without distractions would be good for him.
“Can you stay here if I just…go to my room?” Himika asked me.
“I could go with you. They’ll party by themselves.”
“But you’re the king. I think one of us should stay and share the celebration. I just…need a minute.”
I already regretted putting Aurek in a jail cell.
“Dvaro killed your parents, right?” Himika said. “Celebrate!”
“Yeah. My parents. Because I knew them so well. You’re my world now. For that matter, Oszin was more of my world than they ever were. If you’re sad, I’m not very happy either.”
“Okay, fine, I’ll stay and be happy then.” She looked impish now.
I shooed her off. “Go on, go on. I’ll give this party two hours.”
The very moment she left, my worst fears were confirmed, when a crowd of girls forced me into a group dance, very much against my will.
I kept looking at the mist dragons. I saw a few of my soldiers welcoming them to the dance, encouraging them along. They seemed to be joining the party, having wiped away some tears. The youngest woman was dancing with a soldier. They always had such traumatized looks on their faces…even now. I didn’t see Vorja’s aunt anywhere. Maybe she was paying a visit to the nursery. That’s good. The poor kid has seemed neglected most of the time.
Once I had put in my time dancing, I grabbed Avo and started talking strategy.
“This is good for us, for sure,” Avo said. “Dvaro seems to take the lead around there. Izeria will need some time to get a handle on things. We’ll move fast and just finish the job before they can fully react. Sounds like it’s Rothair we really need to aim for now.”
“Yes, he does seem to have his finger in all the pots.”
Somewhere in the middle of a particularly raucous dance, I heard sudden screaming. I wasn’t taking any chances. I had my sword out already.
“The rock dragons! They’re attacking the children!”
The room erupted into immediate chaos. The dance stopped, one of the musicians even flinging down his instrument, as everyone charged toward the doors to check on the nursery.
“That’s impossible!” Ezeru said. “They wouldn’t just attack like that! They’re well fed and—not even that close to the nursery!”
He was ignored and one woman cursed at him. “If your dragons hurt my babies, I’ll carve out your entrails,” she growled, before running off.
I locked eyes with Ezeru.
“This is some kind of a trap,” he insisted. “The rock dragons wouldn’t do that…unless someone provoked them.”
“Mist..,” Avo said.
“What would this trap be for?” I asked.
“Distraction? Where’s Himika?”
“Himika’s upstairs…and Aurekdel’s down in the basement,” I said, thinking of all the things I needed to protect.
“If my dragons have been manipulated, I can get them under control,” Ezeru said.
“Avo, can you check on Aurek? Just let him out.”
“Of course.”
We split up, and I ran for the back stairs so I wouldn’t get caught in the crowd. They were wet in places, slick under my boots, but I stayed surefooted and got to the third floor where Himika’s bedroom was located. Kajira came flying out at me with a cry. I heard the sounds of fighting ahead.
And I smelled smoke.
“Fuck…” I ran. Himika’s door was torn open, right off the frame. Smoke billowed out.
There were dragons in her bedroom. Raia in her dragon form, shooting fire, but weakening. The bed clothes were smoldering. And a mist dragon, filling the room with a sickening green-hued smoke. As soon as I caught a whiff, my mind started getting a little funny. What am I looking for? Oh—yes—Himika. Himika, my moonlight.
“Seron!” Himika was in the corner, smothering her nose and mouth with her sleeve. She was holding a jar of amber liquid in one hand.
“Get out of here,” I told her.
She thrust the jar at me. “This is the tea. It’ll enhance your senses for the fight. I was making some for the trip.”
“Never mind me, just go downstairs, find Aurek and give it to him.”
“But the mist dragon—”
“Yeah, I’ve got it handled. Please—go. It’s much better if I don’t have to worry about you. But be careful. There are more. Ezeru headed for the nursery.”
She bolted for the door, barefooted, her hair flowing behind her, and I had to force myself to pull my eyes from the sight of how delicate and lovely she seemed.
Don’t be fooled, I told myself. That girl can take care of herself. Still, my protective instinct would never cease to be overwhelming when it came to Himika.
“Uhh…” Raia was just standing there, leavin
g herself vulnerable. She changed back into a girl and collapsed onto her knees, naked and dazed.
“Raia! Get out of here!” I yanked on her arm and shoved her toward the door before I threw open the window and climbed out onto the frame. I needed fresh air. Then I turned into a dragon, spread my wings, and reached my jaws for the mist dragon.
For all my anxiety over the people I loved, I relished moments like this. I hated violence and death, but a good fight? Oh no, I couldn’t resist. If it occasionally led to violence and death, that was something to contend with after the fact.
“Come out here and let’s fight like dragons,” I growled.
Chapter Forty
Himika
I ran for the back stairs. It was painful not to stay and make sure Seron and Raia were all right, but Seron knew what he was doing. He could take on one mist dragon. Surely, he’d done it many times before.
He’d better be fine. I wasn’t sure how much more I could take.
But, Aurekdel was certainly the most vulnerable, sitting down in a basement cell. I went all the way down the lowest floor. My feet were wet, which was making me shiver even though the underground was generally warm. Kajira flew just ahead of me, giving me little chirps to encourage me along.
I had my knife drawn. There had been no time to get my sword before I had to flee.
I stepped out of the stairwell into the basement. It was eerily quiet down here…except for some faint voices. Was that Aurek? Kajira swept toward me and and nuzzled my shoulder. I felt like she was warning me. I stuck to the shadows, proceeding cautiously.
“Ahh…!” I stifled a scream as I turned the corner and saw General Avo’s body slumped in the passage.
Kajira jumped down and licked his face. She gave me an earnest look. I brushed my hand to his cheek.
Still warm. Phew.
But there was something lingering in the air that made me sleepy.
The mist dragons attacked us. I was infuriated with myself. Aurek told us not to trust them, and he was right. But then…we never will have any peace.
“You’re worthless at this point.” I heard a man speaking. “But it was useful that you and Seron were separated for once.”
“Where’s your little boy?” I heard Aurek asking softly. His voice was very sleepy. “Isn’t he in the nursery? Or…is he not your nephew at all?”
“King Dvaro thought that you would be more likely to let us stay if we brought him with us. And he was right, wasn’t he?”
“I don’t really make those decisions anymore,” Aurek said. “My good King Seron believed that you needed refuge. He opened his home to you. He would have done it whether you had a blind baby or not. And thus he is rewarded…”
“I came here on a mission.” The voice was Vorja’s ‘uncle.’ “To end your weak reign. Once you fall asleep, you’ll never wake up again. You will never say goodbye to Seron or your queen.”
“I’ll wait for them in the afterlife,” Aurek said. “If it takes a day or a hundred years. So…that’s all right. It’s been…a good run.”
I heard Aurek’s voice nearly break in the middle, but he managed to keep control of himself. He was fighting off the mist that had knocked out the guards, but he wouldn’t be able to do it for long.
I might have one chance to fight back.
And talk about a long shot.
I’d spent hours training with Aurek, until my entire body was limp with exhaustion, my mind frustrated with my own weakness. But I always got back up again. I wanted Aurek and Seron to be impressed with my determination, even if that was all I had. Aurek always reminded me that if I put in the work, I would get stronger, so slowly that I would hardly notice.
One chance…
I opened the jar and drank some of the tea.
Within moments, my senses sprung alive, and I felt the beating heart of the mist dragon who was standing over Aurek in his cell, his hands wrapped around the bars. I moved very very slowly toward them, holding the knife.
It was so dim here that I couldn’t see Aurek, but I sensed his body—his slow breath as he slumped to his knees, the mist taking hold. Closer…
The mist dragon heard me. I sensed his body tense. He turned toward me.
Kajira spread her wings, let out a cry, and flew toward him.
This was my chance, and I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t want to kill a man, but like Oszin and Seron, I understood what I had to do. I sprung forward, feeling the man’s beating heart before me, and drove the knife into it with all my strength.
He let out a terrible strangled cry before falling backward, Kajira still flapping at his face as he tumbled. I let go of the knife, screaming at what I’d done.
“Himika…!” Aurek struggled to his feet. “Himika…is it just you?”
“It’s just me. All the guards are asleep…”
He staggered for the door and shoved it open.
“Oh, thank goodness your cell wasn’t actually locked. I don’t have the key.” I let him lean on me. He looked like he was about to nod off.
“Aurek…stay with me. We need to get out of here before the mist gets to me too.”
“It’s fading off, at least…” He yawned and shook his head. “Damnit. I knew they were our enemies all along. I believed the worst and I was right. It’s hopeless. Kill or be killed.”
“I still don’t believe that,” I said. “But…we’ll worry about that later.”
“You’re shaking.”
“Well, I just killed someone.” I should take my knife back, but I couldn’t bear to do it; I couldn’t even look at the man’s body.
“My brave lady,” he said. “But why are you here all alone? Where’s Seron and Ezeru?”
“Seron’s fighting upstairs and Ezeru went to the rock dragons.”
“They’re the real targets here.” He gripped my hand. “Let’s hurry. If Seron can’t take care of it, we probably can’t either, but damned if I’m going to stay down here.”
“My—my knife,” I said. “I don’t have a weapon.”
“You’ve done enough for tonight,” he said.
I started to walk with him, but then—
I ran back to the man’s body, closed my hands around the hilt of the knife, shut my eyes, and pulled it out. I wiped the blood on his clothes. Most importantly, I managed not to throw up. “Okay, let’s go.”
Chapter Forty-One
Seron
I swept out the window, flying close to the ceiling of the cavern, soaking up magic from the crystal there. My magic was best for healing ability, and it was good to have some extra stored up in case I was injured. The mist dragon was crawling out of the window, staring at me as I flew away. She couldn’t fly.
Ha. I didn’t try to brag, but it was good to be a flying dragon, especially in a place like this. I flew back down toward her, trying to lure her away from the castle where she couldn’t hurt the common people. I let out a roar, letting the rest of the army know I was out here. It was better to wage this battle here, not in the castle.
Then I realized we weren’t along out here. Most of the mist dragons were outside the castle now, and they were all lurking down in the water where they could absorb the toxic fog. Even though it wasn’t so strong at this time of year, it would become more concentrated if they absorbed it and released it as magic.
That’s seven against one… And I would have to act fast before the toxins started getting to me.
Still, I had to break this up, at the least. I didn’t need to kill them yet; the rest of the army would handle that, but if I didn’t stop them from absorbing the fog, I’d lose more of my own people.
I spread my jaws and went right for one of them. She twisted away but I got her by the neck. We thrashed in the water. I usually preferred fighting with a sword, it seemed more honorable somehow, but there was something satisfying about unleashing the full force of my strength. She screeched, her strength nowhere near enough to get me back. The other dragons advanced on me. I knew I had to fight for
my life; it was my people or them.
I twisted her neck and broke it. Now they were all enraged at me, and I tried to take off. The water was too deep.
I swept my tail behind me, churning waves, and swam for the rocks ahead.
Too much hubris, Seron?
One of them managed to get in front of me. I realized this could be bad. One down, six to go. And swimming would tire me out. I tried to look for an opening.
“Got him, got him!” the one in front of me said. “Hurry! We’ve got him corralled and he’s having trouble taking off!”
“He’s too strong! We’ve got to use the dahna on him. I don’t think we have a choice. He already killed Andara like it was nothing!”
“She sent us here for Ezeru! She’ll be furious if we come home with him.”
“Well, it’s not working out that way. Ezeru didn’t rush right for the rock dragons like he was supposed to and I missed my opportunity. This might be the only prize we can win,” one of them said. “And he’s the king. That’s not a bad prize, is it?”
“I’d rather be married to Seron anyway,” said Emiri, the youngest one. “Ezeru’s not bad on the eyes, but he’s a rock dragon…”
“Married? What are you talking about? The rest of the army will be here any minute,” I said.
“I think they’ll be busy with the rock dragons yet.”
I realized that whatever their plan was, I had to stop it. “I don’t want to have to kill all of you.”
“Hurry, just get him!”
One of the mist dragons lunged toward me, shoving me toward one of the others. I battled them off and dove. They were after me in a flash. I turned, trying to get away. I couldn’t see much through the bubbles but every way I turned I saw tails and limbs moving in the water. I bit the closest leg and dragged one of them under, digging claws into the softer scales around his neck, killing him quickly with another bite and snap.
Now I had to come up for air. And the air had filled with mist.
I had to breathe. There was no choice but to take it all in.
The Kingdoms of Sky and Shadow Box Set Page 53
