Page 69 of Hearts on Fire

“But Lord Elex possesses the royal magic, does he not?”

I squinted at him. “You really are well-informed about life at the castle.”

I expected another brush-off reply about some vague sources of his, but he rested his stare on me, explaining calmly, “A gargoyle named Trusad joined us a few days ago. He’s painfully young, barely twenty, and still so very naïve. He came to the Bozyr Peak to offer his life to the king. Only, you see, Trusad was born without wings. Every now and then, it happens. The gods single a man out for some unknown purpose. The gods might have their reasons, but people are ignorant. Trusad was ostracized in his village.”

“That’s just cruel of the villagers.”

Voron shrugged. “What is a dragon without wings but a lizard?”

I shot him a glare. “You’re cruel, too.”

My words didn’t seem to faze him.

“Maybe I am. But I took Trusad in when King Edkhar kicked him out after a few days of keeping him in the dungeon below the castle. Such is the hospitality of the great king,” Voron said sarcastically. “Anyway, Trusad happened to be in the dungeon when Lord Elex used royal magic against his jailers. Trusad didn’t see it with his own eyes. He was in another cell, but he heard enough to understand what happened. Lord Elex is of royal blood. It’s very easy to tell with gargoyles.”

“Is it more difficult to tell with sky fae?”

“Yes. Our magic is far more complex,” he dismissed, rather haughtily.

I chewed on my bottom lip. It was safe to assume Voron was honest about his source. He could’ve just as easily told me he learned about Elex from a servant, and it would’ve been believable enough. There was no need to make up such a detailed story.

“People can be related by blood,” I said. “But it doesn’t mean they’re alike.”

“Oh, that’s so true,” he said with a bitter smile that made me wonder what other stories this man might be hiding. “The royal blood, however, always comes with some claim to the throne.”

“Elex is not interested in the throne.”

Voron set his wine glass down. “He should be.”

“King Edkhar isn’t looking for someone to pass on his crown to any time soon. And even if he was, Elex isn’t his heir.”

“But he’s the closest one the king has for an heir right now. And he certainly shouldn’t wait until there’s more competition.”

I stared at him incredulously. “What do you want Elex to do? To start a riot? Hasn’t there just been one? The rebels lost.”

He flicked his wrist dismissively. “They were destined to lose. They had no cause.”

“I heard the reason for the war was an insult to a woman’s honor,” I said.

“No.” He moved his head from side to side. “Men don’t fight for women’s honor, even if they say they do. In such cases, we fight only for our egos. But a bruised ego of one or two isn’t enough of a motivation for the rest. The Rebel Lords never had a bright enough spark to give their armies a sufficient fire for the fight. That’s why they lost.”

I sipped my wine, watching the dancing flames in the fireplace.

“So, all of this was just a dick measuring contest? That’s all there was behind this war?”

He smiled at my choice of words. “Behind any war, really.”

“But how would a new rebellion be any different?”

“It wouldn’t if you just replace one king with another. But it all depends on what kind of king Lord Elex would be.”

“He’d be great.”

I knew it in my heart. I might be way over my head at the very idea of plotting to overthrow the king. I had no clue what I was doing here. But one thing I was absolutely certain about—Elex could be the ruler this kingdom so badly needed.

“Elex was born to rule this place,” I said passionately. “He has Dakath’s interests at heart. Always has had. There is nothing he loves more than his kingdom.”

Voron rested his chin on his hand.

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