Page 33 of Killian
“A guard will not serve you?” Marcus asked. “The castle is not safe. Petty wars have broken out between the survivors of the culling. Many of those who have held power since our Emperors died are dead. But like a pestilence, there are plenty more trying to vie for the right to rule dragonkind, splintered though it be.”
“A large group running around will be suspicious,” Madeline insisted, then took off running with her bag clunking loudly as it hit her back.
“The kitchens it is,” Brogan said.
Eager to see the sister he barely knew, Dravyn followed the men and ignored the pain shooting up his leg. Although he was free of his shackles, the damage to his limb would remain. They snuck through the castle and miraculously encountered only scared servants, who bowed to the Duke and scuttled away.
A lone woman with hair the same raven shade as Dravyn’s was kneading dough on a massive table in the hot kitchen. Her head popped up, and tears filled her violet eyes as she stared at Dravyn as if he were a ghost.
“Dravyn?” Noirin whispered disbelievingly.
“It is me,” Dravyn told her and huffed out a harsh breath as she raced to him and tugged him into her arms. Her hold was so strong he feared he could not drag in a breath.
“It has been an age,” Noirin murmured, her voice breaking on the words.
With his paper treasure in one hand, Dravyn held her tight and wished he had a fond collection of memories to remember in that moment. But he’d been separated from her at four and recalled nothing of their lives together. As D’Vaires, they’d barely had but a few days before Bernal separated and imprisoned them.
Noirin pulled away and smiled weakly at Dravyn. “Oh, it is good to see you. And you, Brogan. Why do you find yourselves in my kitchen?”
“News has surely reached you here of the events of the past few days. It took me some time to gather coin and other resources for us. We are leaving,” Duke Zane said.
“The others?” Noirin asked.
“Madeline has gone to fetch Larissa,” Marcus supplied.
“We are not leaving without Aleksander,” Noirin stated in a tone which brooked no argument.
“No, of course not,” Duke Zane said. “Gather your things. I thought to speak to him first, but he was most insistent I leavehim here. Aleksander fears that with his strange dragon and the gold in his eyes, he will be persecuted no matter where he goes. My father feared someone would think Aleksander worthy of ruling dragonkind without another dragon marked with gold. It is why Aleksander was kept hidden from most of the castle. Rumors about curses were merely a ruse to keep questions about that gold ring in his eye silent.”
“We thought if we had the rest of Aleksander’s court, you might help us sway him to leave with us,” Marcus added. “It was my job to keep the map of dragonkind accurate. I have removed a small plot of land far from this castle. There we can keep to ourselves, ensure Aleksander is protected, and live free of the ambitions of greedy men.”
With a nod, Noirin grabbed a few essentials and foodstuffs. Before she had the last loaf in her satchel, Madeline returned with a grinning orange-eyed dragon.
“Larissa. Madeline. How wonderful to see you,” Noirin enthused.
“Time for reunions later, we have a King to convince to leave his dungeon,” Brogan said, leading the charge out of the kitchen.
“With my father dead, no one has been ordered to bring Aleksander food,” Duke Zane explained. “I took the role upon myself so he would not starve. The servants hate this part of the castle.”
Marcus grabbed a torch from one of the metal brackets adorning the thick stone walls, and they followed Duke Zane down a long hallway. They stopped above a thick trapdoor, which opened with a squeak and groan.
“There’s a ladder we can safely climb. Be careful of the vermin,” Duke Zane explained. “There is a secret door hidden below that will enable our escape to go unnoticed.”
“Zane, go away,” Aleksander roared.
“And you see, we lack the element of surprise,” the Duke replied with a half-smile.
“What is going on?” Aleksander said as Brogan took the ladder first. Dravyn allowed everyone to go ahead of him, but Duke Zane refused to budge. With a shrug, Dravyn followed the others and hid his wince as he hit the ground after nearly a two-foot drop from the last rung. Something scuttled over his feet, but Dravyn pretended not to notice.
“Oh,” Noirin breathed out.
Dravyn followed her gaze and barely recognized his cousin. The last time he’d seen the cursed King, his beautiful black-and-blue hair was shorn to his scalp. Now, it fell past his shoulders in thick tangles, and pieces of it were caught in his long beard. He wore a long-tattered tunic and hose covered in filth. His skin was just as dirty, but his brilliant, remarkable eyes blazed with fury in his haggard face. Some invisible force kept the filth and animals away from his bare feet.
“Get.Out. Of. Here,” Aleksander snarled through his teeth. “Take my family far from this castle now that you have gained them freedom, Zane.”
Unintimidated, Duke Zane folded his arms. “We either leave with you or we keep you company down here in this paradise they have given you.”
“Hatred will follow me wherever I go. Danger is the only thing you court with me at your side,” Aleksander retorted. Marcus took a single step toward him with the keys in hand to undo the shackle around Aleksander’s wrist, but to Dravyn’s shock, the dragon was knocked on his ass. “You will not get near me without my permission.”
