Page 42 of The Shattered Rite
The guard didn’t answer at first. Then, “One room per survivor. Hot water, clean clothes. Food.”
She raised a brow. “There’s food?”
That actually pulled a dry laugh from him—a huff of amusement that surprised them both.
“That’s your question? Not‘Where is your med-wing?’Not‘What’s the next trial?’But‘There’s food?’”
Eliryn shrugged, smiling faintly. “Seems relevant. I nearly died yesterday. And the day before. I could eat a mountain. Though, it would be nice to know where things are located here.”
He shook his head, still chuckling, though wariness lingered in his voice. “You’re in the North Wing of Castle Othren. Built before the last Sundering. The wings shift sometimes—by design. You shouldn't leave the castle grounds until the last test is complete.”
She tilted her head slightly. “And the cuffs? Why won’t they work on me?”
That erased his grin. His voice lowered. “They’re soul-forged. Meant to suppress will. Control breath. Anyone who resists is slowly drained of their magic. They’ve worked on kings. Mages. Even bloodborn.”
“But not me.”
“No.” He looked at her again. “They don’t work on dragonblood.”
She touched her wrist absently, where the cuffsshouldhave been, where they had rested just before the start of the trial.
Vaeronth whispered,Because you are not theirs. We belong only to ourselves. And we do not kneel for any other power.
She shrugged, wrestling with the idea of being bonded to something so powerful. “Well… I am sorry I scared you before with my word vomit.”
“I wasn’t scared,” he said too quickly, then winced. “Okay. Maybe a little.”
She gave him a crooked smile, softer now. “I’m… not going to hurt you.”
“I know that.” His tone was gentle now. Honest.
A beat.
“I think.”
She laughed once, short and real.
“So, Dragonrider?” he asked softly, glancing at her again. “Is that what you… are?”
Eliryn hesitated. “I guess so.”
She rubbed at the marks on her arms, fidgeting.
“I didn’t… mean for it to happen.”
He was silent for a moment. Then, quieter:
“I think most important things happen that way.”
She blinked, glancing at him in surprise.
His expression was open, earnest despite the fact that she definitely still terrified him.
“Thanks,” she said softly.
“For what?”
“For… that.”
