Page 117 of Court of Secrets and Flames

“Of course, Your Majesty.” Bastian shoots me a questioning look, but I give a slight shake of my head.

Somehow, I’ve got to convince the king to listen to me. “What if what we face is not mere chance or natural disaster? What if something…awakened? Something ancient and forgotten, which is now feeding off the life of dragons and alicorns alike? And other animals too?”

King Jasper stiffens, like he’s preparing for a blow I’m about to deliver. “Go on.”

And then I divulge everything I know about the deer, the alicorns. My horrifying near-death experience today. Thedragons’ sheer terror. How I think it’s all related…that these shadow creatures are responsible.

When I finish, the room is so quiet I can hear my own heartbeat.

Bewildered. That’s the only word I can think of to describe every person in here and how they’re staring at me.

“I have been spending a significant portion of time in your Royal Archives. While hunting for information on dragoncallers and dragontending, I found another book,The Chronicles of the Mother Wurm.”

I swear, the king flinches in surprise.

I’ve come this far, so I might as well finish. “At first I thought it was a fictional story. It’s a tale of a monstrous entity that survives and flourishes by draining the life from animals. But after my encounter with these shadow creatures today…”

Sterling and Bastian listen with rapt attention. Even the king—no,especiallythe king—hangs onto every word, like my story has some merit.

“If suchcreatures did exist, perhaps long vanquished from history, that would explain what we’ve all witnessed…what I’ve seen firsthand.” Despite myself, my voice hovers between conviction and doubt. “I admit, it does sound fantastical, but much of our history, if not properly recorded, can become the fodder for myths.”

“You believe that’s what happened with these…creatures?” Bastian pauses, tugging his ear like he’s pondering my revelation. “Do they have a name?”

“In the chronicles, they’re referred to as creatures of shadows.” I’d just discovered that little detail yesterday. “Could such an abomination have been roused from slumber, growing more formidable with each siphoned life?”

The king’s face pales. “Creatures of shadows? Is that what you said?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

He utters a vicious curse and blanches even more. “The drachen,” he whispers.

For the second time since I launched into my theory, everyone falls silent.

Sterling’s throat works on a swallow. “The what?”

“They are called drachen.”

In a matter of seconds, the king’s private chamber starts buzzing with a flurry of questions and theories.

Finally, Jasper raises a hand and quiet settles over the space again. “Hold your questions, and I will explain. I have not readThe Chronicles of the Mother Wurm, but I was aware of its existence. My curiosity was piqued when you began reading it, Lark, and when you mentioned the creatures of shadows just now, that’s when I made the connection to the prophecy.”

What is he talking about? “I’m afraid I don’t understand. I’ve read the prophecy, and I didn’t see anything about creatures known as drachen.”

The king strides to a desk in the corner of the chamber, opens a drawer, and produces a piece of parchment. “I found an addition to the prophecy in a different book.”

As my gaze skims over every line, I commit the words to memory.

Heed the drachen

Creatures of shadows,

Born of darkness

Strengthened of bane,

Enhancement of elements

Death of many.

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