Page 30 of Wynter and the Stone Dragon

“Ceto! There is no need—” Eirene gasped.

“Please, Your Graces. Wynter is harmless,” Arastan protested in alarm.

“You can’t do this! Pow-pow never harmed anyone. How can you kill him? At least send him back to his world,” Wynter objected, fighting against the guards who came closer to detain her.

“The creature knows too much of mages and the worlds that you have traveled to. You are the one who has condemned him,” Ceto declared.

Eirene turned to her peers. “This has not been voted on, Ceto. I strongly object and vote nay on both orders.”

Ceto turned to the other three members of the council, her eyes flashing. Two members voted in agreement with Ceto. Only one, Phaunos, shook his head and said nay.

“Three-to-two in favor. Take her away,” Ceto ordered.

Wynter was horrified, and her family was stunned. Harmonia was shaking her head and holding onto their parents’ arms, begging them to be calm. Fear for them burst through Wynter along with the need to protect Pow-pow.

“Move it along,” the guard said, cuffing her wrists in magic-restraining cuffs and pushing against her lower back.

Wynter stumbled as they exited the council room. Fear almost paralyzed her. Behind her, she could hear her parents pleading and Eirene demanding to know what right Ceto had to make such outlandish claims. She peered under her eyelashes. She was surrounded by guards.

Pow-pow, hide,she warned.

Break free. We fly away,Pow-pow growled.

I can’t until I know my family is safe. Don’t let them catch you. I… will come as soon as I can,she replied.

They no catch me.

She sniffed and lifted her shoulder to wipe away the tear rolling down her cheek. The guard ahead of her opened a door that led to a set of dark, spiraling stone steps. Her heart beating wildly, Wynter stepped through the doorway and began her terrifying descent.

* * *

The faint clicks of heels on stone woke Wynter three days later. She sat up and tiredly rubbed her eyes. Rising from the rickety cot, she walked over to the door and gripped the bars. Her eyes widened when she saw her sister’s worried face.

“Harmonia, what are you doing here?” she hissed.

“I wanted to tell you that Father and Mother have returned to Zelos. Ceto has banished them and ordered that all of Father’s Rings of Power be confiscated.”

“What is going on?Whyis Ceto— Why would she….?”

Harmonia glanced over her shoulder before leaning closer. “Ceto has always resented Eirene’s influence. She’s tired of fighting diplomatically with other mages. She wants the Rings of Power, and she needs you to show her how to turn them into a portal. No one else can do that. With you and the rings, she can take control of an infinite number of more primitive worlds where no one will challenge her.”

“How did she know I was from Erindale?” Wynter muttered.

“I don’t know. All I know is that Ceto has ordered the guards to bring you to the tower at midnight,” Harmonia whispered.

“What’s in the tower?” Wynter whispered back.

“The Mind Mirror,” Eirene answered. “Whatever happens, it must not be used on Wynter.”

Harmonia bit back a cry of dismay when Eirene stepped out of the shadows behind her. Wynter wanted to reach out and grip her sister’s hand. Instead, she warily waited for whatever Eirene would do.

Eirene surprised both of them when she waved her hand over the locking mechanism. The door Wynter had been holding disappeared, and she stumbled forward. Harmonia held her steady.

“We must leave quickly before the guards realize that you have escaped,” Eirene said.

“I… what about you and Harmonia? Will you get in trouble for helping me?” Wynter asked.

Eirene’s lips curled into an almost cruel smile. “Ceto would never dare accuse me of such a devious thing, and Harmonia is currently being seen upstairs enjoying dinner.”

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