Page 16 of Wrath of the Dragons
“Did you know dragons are also highly intelligent? Far more intelligent than most people, though that’s not really a compliment.” I latch my fingers around Jarek’s chin and jerk his head up. “Where is Lycus? Tell me now and I’ll grant him the mercy of a quick death. Fail to inform me and I’ll make him beg for it once I find him.”
“He’s not here,” Jarek states. “He did not betray you, nor did I.”
“Quiet,” Zander growls, but Jarek continues despite the order.
“He refused his pardon, apparently told Ailliard to burn it several years ago and to never speak of the matter again. They were kept under a loose floorboard in Ailliard’s room at your house. Lycus drew his sword against us as we left Aestilian but was wounded. I don’t know how he fares.”
I tighten my grip, bitterness and fear for Lycus swelling within me. I can only hope he made it to Nyrinn. She’s never needed magic to perform miracles with a needle and herbs. “And I suppose it’s a mere coincidence you’re traveling with traitors?”
I roughly release him, letting his head hang in shame as I glare atthe other three. I wonder how many times they spoke of returning to Imirath over tables filled with food provided by me.
“In a time of war, allegiances are swayed,” Nessa begins. “Once we learned of your betrothal, we knew you would return to Aestilian to seek soldiers to fight for your cause, but we could never fight against King Garrick.”
“So you try to scurry through the kingdom like rats to get back to a king that doesn’t want you,” Finnian snarls, his face contorting in disgust as he steps up beside me with a hand on the hilt of his blade.
“You murdered Ailliard!” Zander cries out, voice shaking for his fallen friend.
“You’ll soon realize that’s how I solve many of my problems.”
He spits, but it lands short of my boot. Cayden is the first to unsheathe his sword, followed by the soldiers around me. “He was your family. Your flesh and blood. You murdered him!”
“What I did was necessary.” I place my hand on Cayden’s to keep him from ending the interrogation, and he moves the blade in front of me to form a steel barrier. “And there is no need to repeat yourself. I believe we all heard you the first time.”
I turn to Nessa and Esme next. It was only a few weeks ago that I spoke to Nessa about Aestilian and her and Esme’s daughter while we drank tea. “Did you abandon Moriko?”
Nessa sucks in a sharp breath. “She died of a fever. Nyrinn couldn’t save her.”
“My condolences.” Something in my chest twists painfully. Moriko was an innocent just starting out in life and was taken away unfairly soon.
Cayden takes over for me and addresses Jarek. “You never stated your purpose.”
“Ailliard entrusted me with Queen Elowen’s safety on several occasions and blatantly stated his disapproval of this union,” Jarek states with more confidence than one should possess on their knees.
A beat of confused silence passes before Cayden speaks. “And?”
“A queen deserves better than a demon,” he spits.
Esme chuckles under her breath. “We took him with us because he’s a good soldier, but we didn’t think his request would be granted. Ailliard promised Elowen to Jarek if she didn’t find a suitable match after coming to court.”
“Esme,” Jarek growls.
“He wanted to prove his worth in the war and negotiate her survival to marry her. Garrick has no other heirs and Jarek would agree to whatever Garrick’s terms were, even if it meant keeping Elowen confined to their chambers. He wouldn’t shut up about it the entire time we rode here. We would’ve taken a boat if it weren’t for the storms, and I’d have thrown him over the edge.”
“Bitch,” Jarek snarls.
“We’re already dead,” she answers calmly. “We may be on different sides of a war, but she’s still Elowen. I’ll give her answers where I can.”
She’s still Elowen.
A sentence that should bring me comfort only turns my stomach. I’ve spent years beside these people, bled for them, fed them, fought for them, and even that wasn’t enough.
I wonder what it would feel like to be enough exactly as you are. Sometimes it feels like I could fight until I’m an inch away from death and still fall short even then.
Cayden tilts his head in my direction, and I nod. His blade shimmers in the rising sun as it strikes, cutting off Jarek’s plea as Cayden beheads him in one swift swipe. Blood splatters Zander’s face and the head thumps on the ground. I nudge it away when it comes close to my boot.
“I find you guilty of treason against the crown. I, Elowen Atarah, queen of Vareveth, queen of Aestilian, princess of Imirath, dragon queen, sentence you to die.” I’ve spent years of my life beside them. Though I suppose it’s true that love and hatred walk a fine line, and the latter can slowly bleed into the former, poisoning it without someone realizing.
I step forward after ordering the soldiers standing behind the prisoners to move away and lower my voice so only they’re able to hear.“You knew what Garrick was doing to my dragons when you left them behind. You watched me walk through life with five missing limbs and never once did you offer any information of the Imirath castle no matter how much I begged.”
