Page 27 of The Queen of Ash and Magic

“You were incredibly weak,” Eyrx says. “We can be more prepared with a saddle also so you will be far more stable than before.”

“What happened?” Drake asks.

“I fell off,” I laugh. “I hadn’t eaten in days, and I still had the potion in my system that Petra gave me. Eyrx caught me, obviously. Thenhe went after my teddy bear that mom gave me as a kid. That’s how it got his spit all over it.”

“I washed it myself,” Eyrx laughs. “You’re hung up on the spit.”

“You did that?” Drake asks.

“He’s a terrible kidnapper. He’s too nice,” I remark and lay my head back on Drake’s shoulder.

“Then this is what we will do,” Drake says. “Tomorrow, Lysa and Unika can work on the flyers. Tomorrow night, we will go to the wall and camp. The following morning, we will take flight to Thalorin. We will hit all major cities before returning to the neutral zone to set up headquarters. Once we get an idea of who is choosing to come here, we will plan further… Keril, I want you with us. Juli, I want you to help them with actually throwing the flyers. Nobles, I want you to delegate someone to act on your behalf here so we can keep things running smoothly. I want every one of fighting age without small children ready to fight, so they need to be at the wall with us tomorrow night.”

“What is the minimum age?” Keril asks.

“Twenty, for now,” Drake says. “If things become dire, we will take sixteen and up as well as the remaining ones who are of fighting age. I want to prevent taking parents away from children, but I don’t want there to be any chance that the Thalorin government gets here. Ignisium is something we can use but can be dangerous if they get ahold of it. I want plenty to spare for any hybrid witch.We will ensure to keep plenty with us for Lysa as well. I don’t care what anyone has to do, I do not want the enemy getting even a shred of that element.”

“Yes, Sir,” Keril says. “I uh… have a confession.”

“Oh?” Drake asks.

“I was… instructed to take Petra, the servant that was helping Lysa, to the neutral zone but…. I brought her here…”

“You did?” I ask happily.

“She’s your mate,” Eyrx says. “I thought I saw that connection when you two met. Where is she?”

“At our home,” he says.

“She is welcome to join us as well,” Drake says. “Fresh mates need to be together anyhow. It will cause you far less stress. Congrats, man.”

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Keril says with a bright smile.

“The servants know everything,” I say. “She can probably give more insight as to what exactly happened.”

“I’ll have her here first thing in the morning. She’s been a bit shaken from the change, but I think she will talk knowing Lysa is safe.”

“I can only imagine what she endured,” I say.

“Similar to you,” Keril says. “Only it was every male noble that came into the castle. Aldric has a lot of sympathizers that will cause a lot of issues.”

“We need as much information as we can get going into this, so whatever she can give us will be helpful,” Drake says. “I don’t want to push her if she isn’t ready, so make sure she knows that she is under no obligation to open those wounds for me. Okay?”

“I will, but she will reopen them for Lysa. She cares deeply about her,” Keril says.

“When did she become a servant there?” Mom asks.

“When I was ten,” I say. “She was the one who they had trying to help me develop powers. She turned into the one who would tend to me after any of the rapes or beatings.”

“Ah, yes. I remember her from your memories,” she says. “I would love to meet her.”

“I will pass that along,” Keril smiles.

“Alright, everyone. Let’s call it a night. I will see everyone tomorrow for the journey to the wall,” Drake says. “Now, if you’ll excuse me… I have a mate to hunt.”

“And on that note… We are going to bed,” Mom laughs. Drake stands us up and we all walk out to go our separate ways.

We get to our wing of the castle, and he stops. “What?” I ask, turning to look at him. He smiles innocently before grabbing the front of my dress and ripping it off my body.

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