Page 137 of Fate and Flame
She slipped her hand into mine and squeezed. “He’s here, Temir. He is still with us.”
A scream in the sky silenced the entire crowd as King Fenlas landed his cetani in the distance. A wave passed through them like a ripple as they all took a knee before their king. Our king. Gaea and I were no exception. When we stood, she reached for me again and spirited us to the front of the crowd.
Fen saw us right away. His eyes became frantic as he rushed toward us. I imagine he lived on the edge of that fear. Something was always happening.“What is it?”
“Autus’ army are still a day north of Hrundel,” Gaea said. “We recruited a couple thousand soldiers but that’s all. Hopefully they can stay ahead of Autus.”
He nodded and turned to me.“Did you find something?” I could see the hope on his tired face.
I looked around cautiously. “I didn’t, but Nadra did. She can detect the artifact.”
He squinted his eyes and tilted his head, concern transforming into fear of hoping. “You’re sure?”
“She could feel the power in the tree we desecrated. I hadn’t thought about it, but she’s sure she can help find the artifact. We need to get her out into the dunes and start searching.”
“Let me finish up here. I’ll meet you back at the castle and we can make a plan. We’ll start tomorrow.” He smiled and walked toward Kai in the distance, his steps a bit lighter as he marched.
“I’m glad he said tomorrow.” Gaea yawned, pressing the back of her hand to her mouth.
We were back at the castle and parting ways moments later.
Nadra was already asleep in bed when I walked in, so I took my boots off and slid in beside her. She opened her eyes long enough to wrap her arm over me, and then she was gently snoring again. The sound was so peaceful I fell asleep not long after.
“So, Fae horses, then?” Fen asked the next morning at breakfast. I wasn’t sure he’d slept at all.
“We could try wind cleaving with Greeve,” Nadra said, “but I think he will move too fast for me to pick up anything.”
“No, horses are a better option. Temir, you’ve hunted down two of these already. You better come along.”
I nodded and looked at Ara for the third time that morning. Her eyes were heavy. Sad. She was so affected by the loss of the lesser fae in the Wind Court, I’d begun to feel guilty for not being more upset about it. But a lot of them hated me just as much as the high fae. I was the same as them in all ways but rank. As if status ever mattered to me.
She caught me staring and then caught Kai staring, and before long, she pushed her plate away and walked out of the room. Though everyone remained quiet, Fen’s face said it all. She was trying but failing. Her guilt was eating her alive.
“So just the three of us going, then?” Nadra asked, bringing the attention off of her friend and back to the room.
“I need the others working with the soldiers. We had a large group of Marsh fae come in last night after you left. Somehow, the dragons knew to let them through.”
“Dragons are actually very intelligent,” I offered. “I’ve read quite a bit about them from your books.”
“Let me know if you can figure out how to make them join a war.” He stood to follow Ara. “Otherwise, I’ll meet you in the stables.”
I had no idea how to speak to dragons, of course.
“How’s it looking today?” Wren asked Greeve, sitting at the end of the table.
“Same as yesterday, I suppose. We have a lot of mouths to feed at the border, but at least the city is safe. If they get past the dragons, they’ll have an army waiting for them.”
“That’s not the plan though, right?” Nadra asked. “We aren’t going to let them get that far south?”
“We wouldn’t want them to suffer the desert sun.” Kai winked. “We’re working on a plan right now.”
“I could help out with a plan, if you want?” Rhogan said with a mouth full of food.
“You have battle experience?” Greeve asked.
Rhogan nodded. “Iron Wars.”
“Great, you can meet us at the borderlands after breakfast.” Kai clapped him on the back.“Have a nice flight. Don’t get those wings too close to the sun, pretty boy.”
