Page 38 of The Storm of the Empire

I still wasn’t quite following what he was saying. “Why would they want them to look like other kinds of dragon eggs?”

“Because then it would be easy to switch them.”

“But why would they…” I didn’t have to finish the question. If someone was stealing healthy eggs and telling poor parents they never hatched, it wasn’t a leap to think they were also disguising the eggs to move them around. My heart dropped into my stomach, and I felt sick.

“What?” He looked out to the field and back to me. “What did you realize?”

“They are inspecting Alora’s egg for health tomorrow. Dad mentioned in passing earlier because the whole kingdom is excited that we are due another dragon in a matter of months.” Everything in me didn’t want to believe it, but the timing of these mysterious painted eggs was too suspicious.

“Who is Alora?” He asked with a frown.

“She’s the only storm dragon currently with an egg in the kingdom.” I replied

Luka’s gaze turned concerned. “You don’t think?—”

“I don’t know.”

I pressed my eyes closed. “You swear you saw eggs?”

“I swear to you, Hazel.” He squeezed my hand.

“We need to ask my brother if any stones have gone missing recently.”

“Would it be recent?” he asked, trying to keep up as I marched across the damp field. “Couldn’t they get them from the mines?”

“They don’t mine them anymore. At least not for any other kingdom.” It’s why we had to protect them so fiercely. There weren’t anymore, and if we lost too many, our way of life would be over.

“What?!” he called after me, but I was already trudging through the field. “Where are we going?”

“To find out about the eggs.”

“Wait!” He grabbed my sleeve. “We can’t tell anyone.”

“I’m not telling anyone. I’m finding out where the paint came from.”

When I came to the first male in the field, I stopped. “Good morning, Leal. Have you seen Calixtus?” I asked.

“Hazel!” He picked me up in a hug. “How’s our big city girl? You home on a visit or business?”

I glanced back at Luka, not having thought this far ahead. “Visit. Are you alright after that storm? Do you guys need anything out here? I’m sure Dad and crew are cooking you up a big meal, but in the meantime, can I get you anything else?”

“We’re good. The storms are always a nice break from flipping. Least it’s quiet.”

“So you got in a nap is what you’re saying?”

“Yes, ma’am. But don’t let me keep you. Your brother is helping reset a couple of the big boys up in the north field.” He nodded in their direction.

“Thank you.”

“May the Goddess bless the storms,” he replied.

“May she.” I led the way, Luka still following close behind me.

“They really only let the males do this?” he asked when we were out of ear shot of Leal.

“It’s not that they don’t allow females, or that they think we can’t do it, but we’re seen as too valuable to be in the storm fields.” I didn’t love it, but that was the way of things.

“Too valuable? Like they have to keep you safe?” He made a face.

---