Page 96 of A World of Ruins

I shake my head. I’ll have to talk to Lorcan later about fixing his patience with others, or with Rydan in this case. No one gets on Lorcan’s nerves more than Rydan does. What Lorcan fails to notice is that it’s Rydan’s way of showing affection.

‘It’s not because of that,’ Rydan mumbles, his already pouty lips jutting out as he stares at the grass. With a sigh of defeat,he looks at me. ‘You’re going to be queen someday alongside Darius.’

My stomach dips at the image of me wearing the crown Hira had shown me.

‘Freya is a witch and learning new ways to cast spells with Leira and Aelle. Your brothers are content just seeing you thrive; Link can’t stop kissing Illias in every corner of this castle—’

Link turns bright red, choking on his saliva, but Rydan doesn’t seem to care.

‘The Venators and shifters are . . . ’ He pauses and grimaces. ‘Well, they’re not exactly getting along, but that will likely sort itself out, and I am just here, annoying everyone with my presence.’

Link and I share a glance, guilt weighing us both down.

‘Rydan,’ I say softly, planting a hand on his shoulder.

‘I don’t want to lead,’ he confesses quickly. ‘And I don’t wish to become a ruler of anything. But I do want to be something.’

I find myself rubbing my hand along Rydan’s back and nodding. I know that feeling all too well. At least I did when I left Emberwell to go in search of the Elemental Stones.

‘Why do you think I joined the Venators?’ he adds. ‘I mean, yes, I hardly took it seriously, but at least I wasn’t nothing back then.’

That seems to be the story for many who joined the Venators. What Rydan needs to understand is that he has never been justnothing.

I remember the moments he would sneak up on me, figuring certain things out that I would have missed, or calculating what move to do next up against another trainee. He always knew what he was doing; he protected me from bullies, and he didn’t leave me when he found out I had gone against Sarilyn.

The flap of a crimson dragon wing from the corner of my eye makes me look to my left. A few of them are brawling, baringtheir fangs. Then I feel a tickle of fur on my free hand, and I know it is neither Zuru nor Naryx. I glance down and see a scarlet songbird nuzzling its head against my fingers.

I smile. It shouldn’t be here; it should be hidden in the woods and the trees with its family. But quickly, I realise that I am family to most animals out here. With the grass becoming inedible for animals and leaves slowly dying, creatures are seeking me for guidance.

Puffing my chest out, I return my gaze towards Rydan. If my future is to protect life, so could his, in many other ways I might not be able to. ‘Have you ever considered becoming something along the lines of a Tracker?’

‘Tracker,’ he says slowly. ‘Like the phoenixes?’

I nod, allowing the songbird to perch upon my forefinger. Bringing it closer, I say to Rydan, ‘You are quite the solver.’

He grins, excitement returning to the deep brown colour of his eyes. ‘I am, aren’t I?’ But then his smile falls, as if he is realising something. ‘But Lorcan would sooner have my head on a stick than let me join the Trackers. I’d also need to be a phoenix to even enter.’

‘Or . . .’I release the bird into the air, hearing it sing as it flies. ‘He might be pleased to have someone at his side.’

Rydan shakes his finger at me. ‘That’s a good joke, Ambrose. At least you’re finally learning how to properly interact with others.’

I nudge his shoulder before noticing how quiet Link is. I lean forward. ‘What about you, Link?’

He purses his lips as the harsh air blows golden strands away from his forehead. ‘I’m not sure,’ he says. ‘I’m quite content where I am right now.’

‘That’s because you have someone worth being happy for,’ Rydan teases, but there’s a hint of jealousy beneath his tone.

Link frowns at him. ‘Not necessarily. Before you guys, I had no one. I was just some frightened orphan until I met you all. I’m just glad I’m not alone any more.’

His words have my heart twisting into a knot, and I look at him with the most loving smile before my gaze lands on his neck as he touches the necklace that Illias gave him long ago.

Rydan heaves out an explicitly long sigh and flops onto his back on the grass with his arms wide open. ‘Why must you always be so profound, Link?’

‘Because at least one of us has to be.’ Link grins at him.

Rydan chuckles, pounding his fist against Link’s side, and I laugh along with them. As I smack his hands, Rydan curls up into a ball, pretending he’s injured. Link and I are wheezing with laughter before the three of us settle down once again.

We each sigh with a smile.

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