Page 86 of Fire in Stone

The High General shifted uncomfortably. “I believe we have an idea, Your Majesty.”

“An idea?”The king smirked. Nearing Elex, he tilted his head. “Why is it so hard to make you speak, outsider?”

“It’s not, Your Majesty.” Elex met the royal stare straight on. “All you have to do is ask questions, and I will answer you.”

The king roared in laughter. “Did you hear that, High General? Did you forget to ask him questions? Is that why you still have no answers?”

The single eye of the High General threw daggers in Elex’s direction, but he ignored it. Now that he finally stood in front of the king, the other man didn’t matter.

“I prefer to speak to you directly, my king.” Elex jerked his chin at his escort. “With no witnesses.”

The king arched an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

“Yes. I’ll tell you everything I know and leave my fate in your hands. But I’ll speak to you only, and to you alone.”

The High General leaned forward, lowering his voice in warning, “He’s dangerous, Your Majesty. He brought forth fire down in the dungeon, without shifting to his dragon form.”

“He did?” Interest thickened in the king’s expression.

“One of my men was incinerated.” The High General’s voice sounded grave.

“Just one?” The king chuckled. “He couldn’t be that dangerous then.”

The other man remained serious. “My king, I can’t leave you alone with him. It’s not safe.”

“So, you think I have to be afraid of some spy you fished out of a river?” the king scoffed, jerking his chin up.

“No, but—”

The king stopped him by spreading his arms. His body grew, expanding high and wide and ripping his clothes to shreds. Armor of scarlet scales grew over the king’s freckled skin. The ruby crown on his head turned into a crown of dragon horns.

“Leave us,” the dragon roared. “His fire won’t harm me now.”

The High General bowed, turning toward the exit. As he was leaving the hall, he gestured for his guards to follow.

“Well.” Left alone with Elex, the king-dragon curled up along the floor under the tall dome of the hall. “Let’s start, shall we? Who are you?”

Elex spread his feet wider, straightening his back under the penetrating green gaze of the dragon.

“My name is Elex,” he introduced himself with an elegant bow, using the finest manners his mother had taught him, despite the pain that shot through his body at that gesture. “I am the eldest son of King Raygh and the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Dakath Mountains.”

The dragon jerked his head. His mouth opened with a cloud of smoke and fire churning inside his maw.

“I am the one true king of Dakath!” he roared. “There is no King Raygh.”

“But there will be.” Elex stood his ground, faced with the royal wrath. “In a few centuries from now. Two generations after you.”

The dragon rose to his feet, his long tail lashing against the floor barely two paces away from Elex.

“What prophecy is this?” the king demanded.

“It’s not a prophecy. It’s the truth. I am your descendant, my king. And I can prove it.”

Elex carefully bent his injured leg under him, getting down on one knee. Splaying his left hand on the floor stones, he listened for the magic stirring through the mountain. Its deep rumble warmed his hand, making his skin tingle.

His call to it was more conscious this time, and far more controlled. Instead of a wild blast of fire, it flickered from under his palm. Then, it fanned out along the floor in a circle a few paces around him.

The dragon shuffled back cautiously.

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