Page 25 of Haunted

I try to accept the truth as I stare at it. “Blood in the brain. Something ruptured.”

“A brain bleed. I’ve seen this before.”

I press inward with my light but stop. If dark energy is the culprit, I wouldn’t sense it with my light, and with my light ensconced in Nesta’s, my darkness cannot sweep the pathways. I dare ask, knowing Nesta will understand what I imply. “Is it natural?”

“That, I cannot say,” she whispers.

20

To my surprise, Siarl was grooming the mortals for my succession. I don’t receive the opposition I expected. Moreover, I’m surprised by the dragon riders who patrol the region. Though they serve the empress, they don’t bully my people. Trade at the docks goes without incident. The flight deck, to where the goods are carted so the dragons can transport them to other regions, flows like well-oiled clockwork.

I weave through the crowds. Neifion, so much has happened in my absence. The realms are prospering under the empress’s rule. Are we wrong to question her leadership?

Her last touch, several weeks ago, haunts me. I fold my hand into my cloak, hoping it wards off the stiffness that has settled into my knuckles when I think of her.

Patience, Caedryn. It’s all part of a greater plan, Neifion says. He’s at the edge of the docks. The crowd is too thick for him to follow me.

A plan Lord Siarl neglected to fill me in on.

I know one part. My part. I know nothing of what the lords are planning. I have to stay aloof. I have to remain separate from their schemes or the empress will learn them. I’m nothing but the spy, the informant.

I know his plans. Siarl trusted me with them before his death, Neifion says.

What? I stop next to a weigh station, and the man behind careens into me and pushes me into a dusty barrel.

He brushes the dirt off my robe while mumbling apologies. I wave him away, and he bows.

I’m the linchpin, Neifion says. Siarl gave me power to tell the lords when to act. All the communication goes through me so the lords remain undetected.

How’s that possible? You haven’t left Siarl’s side for weeks.

Siarl weeded out dragon riders who are loyal to our cause. Each lord has one assigned rider whose dragon is at liberty to come and go as he pleases. When they come for trade, we exchange information.

So you know everyone’s role? I ask.

Yes.

You’ve managed to keep this from me.

A dragon’s mind is a vault. I open the door rarely, Neifion says.

Her dragon riders have this bizarre link to her. They obey her every command.

Some have broken from her power.

How does she not know this? I ask.

That is why you are key. Caedryn, it’s time for you to return to the empress. She hasn’t sat idle over the past few weeks since you’ve been in Elidyr. You must learn her new mission.

I sigh. After all she’s done, I’m not sure I can.

You must.

I was afraid you’d say that.

My heart tells me I must go to the empress soon anyway. Who am I to deny my dragon’s request?

It’s what Siarl would have wanted.

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