Page 25 of Queen of Legends and Lies
I release a heavy sigh. “Not you too.”
“Me too…what?” His gravelly voice offers a grounding calm in the storm.
I ignore his question as my gaze drifts over the charred landscape. “What do you think happened?”
Eldor follows my line of sight, his expression unreadable. “I have theories. But they need more thought.” He pauses. There’s something calculated in the way he studies me. “Tell me about the dream with Knox. What happened?”
The question catches me off guard. Xenon had asked the same thing. “Why do you ask?”
“Because,” he starts pacing, taking in the mess around us, “whatever transpired here might be linked to you two. Fire is your domain. Water and ice are Knox’s.”
Confusion mingles with the creeping sense of guilt that has shadowed me since dawn. Could we somehow be responsible for this? “How is that possible?” I glance away, my question more to myself than to him. Then a memory suddenly surfaces. “When I woke after the dream, or whatever that was, the candles in my room were lit.”
“It’s just a theory.” Eldor stops pacing and meets my eyes. “I’ll do some research, see what I can find.”
As my grandfather leaves, Agnar reappears beside me, brows furrowed in concern.
“Did I hear something about you heading off somewhere? Alone?”
Ziva’s flames, I may as well just bugle my plans from the rooftops at this point. “Flighthaven.”
“That’s a shitty plan.” He scrubs a hand over his sooty face in exasperation. “Because then Xenon would kill you like he tried to before. Or worse, a drachen could corrupt you. Imagine a corrupted dragoncaller on the loose. And what would that do to the dragons you’ve bonded with?”
That thought alone sends shivers down my spine, and I nod, acknowledging the terrifying possibility. One I hadn’t even considered in my desperation to free Sterling.
I glance away, unable to face the truth in his words. “So you agree with the council.”
“Rarely. But I agree we cannot protect our lands without you.” His gaze remains fixed on the horizon. “Where would we be if you were taken? No you…no Sterling…no anyone to guide us. No one to keep the dragons from fleeing when the drachen next attack.”
His earnest, anger-tinged words aren’t meant to wound. They’re a plea, a call to reason that I know I can’t ignore.
I chew on my lip, staying silent.
“We need you, Lark.” He finally looks at me, his cerulean eyes searching mine. “If we’re going to save Sterling, if we’re going to do whatever crazy thing you have planned, we need you.”
“Dammit. I hate it when you’re right.” I still can’t help but bristle a little. “And I have no idea what to do to end this war. Anytime I bring this up to the council, they brush me off and start planning for the coronation.”
“That’s what I’m here for.” The hint of a smile in his voice quickly fades. “Is that really all they want to talk about?”
I stare into Agnar’s determined eyes. It was foolish of me to think I had to do this by myself. He loves Sterling as much as I do, and I know this man would do anything for me.
“That’s pretty much all. They don’t want to hear anything about saving Sterling. They either chat about the coronation or other trivial shit.”
“Then fuck them.” His scrutiny intensifies, as if he’s trying to see right through me. “But we can’t go barging into Flighthaven again. Not without a strategy. What other mad, unformed idea are you going to spring on me?”
Drawing in a deep breath, I let it out slowly.
Leesa’s voice slices through the smoke-laden air before I can answer. “What mad, unformed idea is she going to spring on us?”
I turn to find my sister and brother approaching again, Bastian’s arm around her waist. My heart clenches at the affectionate gesture. Not because I disapprove of their relationship, but because the person I long for isn’t here to hold me.
“Hopefully, it’s going to the council meeting.” Bastian keeps his tone gentle, like he’s addressing a skittish alicorn rather than his future queen. “I’m sure there’s much to discuss. Contractors need to be hired. Healing supplies need to be ordered.”
A heavy silence settles over the castle grounds. The smoldering remains of homes cast long shadows as twilight takes hold. We stand still, wrapped in our own thoughts until the muted blues and purples of dusk bleed into the fiery hues of sunset.
“Eldor said something.” Eventually, the words spill out of me. “He mentioned Sterling. And me. Our powers.”
“Okay, I’ll bite. What about your powers?” Leesa’s brow knits together with concern.
