Page 62 of Crown of Ashes and Awe

“And the chosen one?”

“He or she chooses a cloch realta. The rest I suspect you already experienced yourself. Touching the stone calls the dragon. The gold from the stone binds them together in mind, spirit, and body…”

“I’m sensing a but here.”

“However, if the dragon that appears is blue…”

“You can’t allow it to live.”

“Ah, you see? That is our dilemma. It used to be that we were required to slaughter any blue dragon, to prevent the prophecy from reaching fruition. But now…”

“Now you’ll just do it for fun.”

He heaved another heavy sigh.“If I am honest, I do not know what we will do. We will continue to discuss it. We have time. You just missed the last Moonless Quarter.”

“And what happens to my blue dragon in the meantime?”

“Well,”his voice turned icy again.“Luckily for you, I’m the one with the most sway in these matters. So, if you make me happy, things may fall your way. I want them to fall your way, Lennon. I really do. As to your worry about being here forever, you will have the same chances as the rest. If you stay, we get to have a special duel to make up for you taking a position here. Two names will be drawn?—”

“A lottery.”

“Yes. And those DeNoy and their dragons will face each other?—”

“This is your blood sport.”

He paused. Maybe he didn’t appreciate being interrupted.“One of them, yes. The two pairs will fight in the arena. Only one pair will survive. And the space for you will be created. But after this duel, your name will be added to the collective. The chances of your name being drawnwill be?—"

“One in fifty--”

“One in twenty-five. And since we do this four times a year, the chance of being chosen is technically one in eight. How long do those odds hold out? You see? You may be here for years, for a decade, but few last longer.”

Lennon laughed.“So this is your sales pitch? Come, stay here until you die in the arena. But cheer up, it’s going to happen sooner or later, and the smart money is on sooner?”

“I don’t understand the terms you’ve used, but that is the gist of it, yes. But don’t you see? Life is sweeter knowing it may end at any time. Every day is appreciated instead of spending century after century with nothing to stir one’s blood. We don’t waste our time with mates and families. Life is now too fleeting for such inanities. We enjoy every day as if it might be our last. You have no idea how our lives have improved since the old days.”

“Wow. I thought you were insane before. Now I know you are. And I’m going to give you a hard pass. Not interested in joining your island of misfit dragons.”

Ciro was quiet for a long time. It was torture not to be able to see his face.“Very well,”he said, followed by the scrape of a chair. “Tomorrow, we shall see how difficult it is to remove a seraph’s wings.” The sharp clip of Ciro’s boots moved to my door. The small, barred window opened, and his menacing eyes found me. “What about you, Princess Asper? Care to negotiate for your men’s lives? Or maybe just the one?”

I suddenly remembered my dream and Demius’ repeated warning. I forced my hands to remain at my sides so I didn’t reach for the key still hidden under my clothes. Obviously, it would interest Ciro due to the dragon image alone, and if I died in the arena, it would likely end up in his hands anyway. But that dream was still too fresh. And Demius still had a hold on me. Besides, Tearloch would never?—

“Asper, don’t you dare!” Tearloch couldn’t have heard, couldn’t have read my thoughts. He didn’t even know about the key. Griffon must have relayed Ciro’s proposition.

“I think,” I said, swallowing a lump in my throat, “that if you’re looking for companionship, Lord Ciro, you’ll have better luck…snuggling up to your blackhearted dragon.”

His eyes narrowed. “So bold, so brave. I see your imaginations have failed you, ladies. But very soon…you will look back on this moment and wish you had…capitulated.”

“Oh my gosh, Asper,”Lennon shouted. “Did that clown just make a joke?”

We laughed him out of the place, not stopping until we heard those boots marching up the stairs.

“Lennon,” I whispered, hoping no one else would hear.

“Yes?”

“If Tearloch is tortured because of me?—”

“Don’t say it. Don’t think it. Whatever happens, Ciro is to blame. The last thing they want is for us to make a deal with the devil?—”

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