Page 31 of Storm of Blood and Shadow

“Fine. I swear it,” she says. “On my father’sbones.”

A bone oath is sacred, not to be sworn lightly. But Thelise is not a dragon. The oath does not carry the same weight for her. She’s using the term because she knows our culture, which feels manipulative to me. But her promise apparently convinces Kyreagan, because he says, “Very well.”

“I’ll just need a little time, and a lot more wine,” Thelise declares. “And my bag—you remember which bag it is, pet?”

“Pet” is apparently her name for Ashvelon. He shuffles through the bags with his claws and locates the one she asked for, a leather one covered in symbols.

“Give me eight or nine hours, and it shall be done,” says Thelise. “There are precise calculations to be made, chants to be written, ingredients to be blended. Oh, and princelings—make sure all your people sleep on the ground tonight. Dragons and humans.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Don’t question the sorceress, darling,” she reproaches me. “And don’t worry your horrible spiked heads about anything. It’s in my best interest to do what you want, isn’t it, since I obviously crave my freedom and want to return to my little shack in that salt-crusted town by the sea? So rest assured it will all be done exactly as you need it to be. By this time tomorrow, you and your human captives will have far more in common. Fly away, sweet monsters, but remember to keep your captives on the ground and be at their sides around sunset. The change may be disconcerting for those involved. Can’t be too careful.”

Kyreagan, Fortunix, and I leave the cave and head for the sunlit peak of the mountain. Kyreagan has an affinity for sunshine, and Fortunix likes it as well. Since he’s an Elder dragon, the heat feels good to his bones.

I prefer lightning storms and moonless nights. They feed the darkness inside me like nothing else. But I can appreciate a good sun bath occasionally, so I don’t protest their choice of landing spot.

“Do you trust her?” I ask Kyreagan.

“She swore on her father’s bones.”

Fortunix seems inclined to distrust her. Apparently the sorceress held him and Ashvelon captive in her stable for a short time. But he admits that she accompanied them willingly to Ouroskelle after learning more about their mission.

I don’t feel right about any of it. I don’t like the fact that she was able to confine two full-grown dragons, or her sudden change of heart, or her decision to come here. Nor do I fully believe her “bone oath.” But I keep my misgivings to myself.

If Thelise cannot transform the women into dragons, our species will perish. Our extinction will be a tragedy, but at least Jessiva will remain human. I may as well let Kyreagan hold onto the hope that his plan will succeed. In the meantime, we’ve been tasked with a duty of greater importance—flying to the mainland to secure our bargain with Rahzien, King of Vohrain.

I’ve never liked or trusted the King. During our flight to the meeting place at Ehren’s Point, I fret constantly about whether or not he will keep his word to our clan and give us the Middenwold Isles. But when we reach the Point and converse with him, he seems enthusiastic about fulfilling the bargain. He even offers us another prized region, the fishing grounds of the Parrock Banks… on the condition that Kyreagan gives him Princess Serylla of Elekstan.

Kyreagan does not take kindly to the idea. In fact, the longer Rahzien talks about the Princess, the angrier my brother becomes, until smoke unfurls from his nostrils and his breath grows heavy and heated. At last he snarls, “No,” at the King, declares the bargain concluded, and flies away in a storm of angry wings.

Fortunix sighs and nudges me with one scarred gray wing. “Go after him,” he mutters. “I’ll stay here and finish the conversation with our allies.”

“Formerallies,” I say in an undertone. On Kyreagan’s behalf, I give Rahzien my most vicious glare before I take to the sky.

Moments later, I catch up with Kyreagan and glide alongside him. “That was rather abrupt, even for you,” I comment.

“He was planning to harm her,” Kyreagan growls. “But she is mine.”

“Nevertheless, you could have ended the meeting more gracefully. Fortunix stayed behind to smooth things over.”

“Good for him. You’ll come with me. We’re going down the coast to fetch a few things before we return to Ouroskelle.”

“Things?”

“Blankets,” he says. “And some fucking tea.”

“Tea?”

“The Princess likes tea, and I have decided that I should try to please her. What of it?”

“So youdowant her.”

“Did I not tell Rahzien that she is mine?”

“You did. And I must confess, it is a relief to hear you state it so openly. Earlier I wondered if you might be considering Jessiva as a potential mate.”

“Perhaps, but only for a moment, because I was angry with the Princess.” Kyreagan eyes me sidelong as we angle toward the coastline. “If I had truly wished to invite Jessiva to my cave, I would have asked your permission first.”

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