Page 138 of Queen of Legends and Lies
“You’ll get used to it.” Agnar pats the council member on the back with a wry grin. “Just be grateful they’re fully clothed.”
I shoot my friend a half-hearted glare, unable to stop the smile tugging at my lips. With Xenon dead, we have one less obstacle in our way.
Now, we just have to destroy the bones of a dead god, along with his insidious soul-corrupting creation.
No pressure.
Chapter Forty-Five
The fiery sun sinks behind wispy clouds, painting the sky in vivid pinks and oranges. I cling to Dame’s scaly back while we soar high above the eyril field.
As the stalks undulate into view, I shiver with both fear and exhilaration. What I had reduced to a smoldering ruin the last time I was here is already starting to regrow. These plants are taller, thicker, and greener than any should be in the short amount of time since I burned the field.
“There!” Agnar points to a shadowed cleft in the rocky foothills bordering the field. “That must be the entrance to the caves.”
I nod as I guide Dame in for a landing. Though the pulsing glow of the eyril mocks me, whispering of madness and despair, I push those dark thoughts aside.
“That’s one way into the caves, yes. But there’s a faster, easier way to get there.” Pointing to the plants, I direct my group toward them. “With our powers combined, we can get to the real root of the problem.”
I glance over my shoulder at my companions flanking me. Sterling, Agnar, and Rafe sit atop Tanwen, Chirean, and Mygist,respectively. Despite the uncertainty ahead, they’re stalwart and resolute on their dragon mounts.
Two days ago, all but Mygist were being controlled. Now, they’re recovered and roaring for a fight. Their riders carry the antidote—vials of my tears—in case they get corrupted again.
Sterling catches my gaze and flashes me a quick wink, his beautiful, brown, gold-flecked eyes filled with love.
“We all came willingly, you know.” Agnar’s teasing comes through easily over the rushing wind, his rich baritone carrying his words like leaves. “So you can stop fretting over us.”
I regard my team, all of them dwarfed by their dragons’ massive forms. “Everyone knew the risks. But none of us can know what we’re truly in for.”
As if to emphasize my sentiments, an ominous black cloud forms behind us, growing larger by the second. It writhes and twists, moving from the ground up into the sky instead of the other way around. That can only be one thing.
A horde of drachen.
No doubt drawn by Xenon’s demise and hungry for revenge.
Sterling stiffens atop Tanwen.
My heart pounds, but I set my jaw. Our dragons are swift and nimble. They’ll outfly those hells-spawned beasts.
They have to.
Agnar guides Chirean in closer. “Orders, Your Majesty?”
Despite the use of my title, his wide grin and sparkling eyes reveal that our bond goes deeper than a soldier and his queen.
I return his smile, drawing strength from my friends, my family. “We stay the course. The merge site isn’t far. Our friends are risking their lives to draw the enemy away.”
Bastian, Leesa, Helene, Elijah—their mission is every bit as critical as ours. In order to keep the casualties low, they’re running attacks in the east and west as diversions. Along withnumerous Tirenese soldiers, they’re engaging the forces there and drawing away the reserves stationed here.
That’s our hope, at least.
As one, we urge our dragons onward, racing the dying sun. The ominous shapes behind us spur us faster toward our uncertain destiny, one we approach with only our wits, our magic, and each other.
I can only hope it’s enough.
Dame hovers over the sprawling orange and green eyril fields, and words stick in my throat like glue.
What can I possibly say in the face of such devotion? Such sacrifice?
