Page 92 of Of Blood and Banes
During the morning, the townspeople report the damage to Sethan in the community hall. Apparently, the reason the bunker wasn’t large enough to fit all the townspeople is because wild dragons haven’t come this far in almost half a century.
They weren’t prepared.
I say to Sethan, “Before she left, the fire dragon mentioned we stole her eggs. And that’s why they attacked?”
“Likely was the King’s Close Circle. Since he took the throne, he’s had a special operations group designated for extracting dragon eggs and bringing them back to Arterias to destroy them.”
Damn. So, the King’s Close Circle could have been here in the city? “My father wrote that during his time spying on the King, he found a locked room of eggs. Why not have his Close Circle members destroy the eggs immediately? Why risk bringing them back to the castle?”
Sethan’s lips twitch into a frown. “I’m not sure. There were many peculiar things the King did. While I was there, I tried to keep my head down and nose out of things.”
We sit in silent contemplation, before he says, “But…thanks to you, the city is still standing today.” He dips his head, swallowing. “Thank you.”
I nod, clearing my throat. “I couldn’t have done it without Daeja. She had taken a full blast of fire to the chest and saved me and the civilians before she fought off a fire dragon.”
He twists his head. “Really? Only fire dragons are tolerant of flame. She shouldn’t have been able to take such a hit without major damage. But…I suppose being a moon dragon, there’s no telling what she’s capable of. Perhaps she can reflect other elemental magic? Have you noticed any other peculiar powers?”
“She used to be able to turn invisible. Though, it seems to have faded since she grew.”
“Hmmm…perhaps just a hatchling power, then. Or one that may resurface once her mind matures enough to catch up to her body. A dragon of her size should easily be a juvenile. At least several years old.”
“Don’t let her hear you use the word juvenile in reference to her.” I grin.
A guard steps in, whispering into Sethan’s ear, before Sethan straightens and looks back at me. “We’ll stay one more night here in Vathstone to recover and assess our supplies. Tomorrow, we’ll press on to Ashfall.”
CHAPTER 31
SECOND RULE
“Whiskey,” I announce later that night, before I lift the flask in my hand.
“Sorry?” Darian raises an eyebrow at me from across the room, sitting on the floor with his back up against the wall and restraints hooked into the bricks.
It was an easy request to ask Sethan. One that wouldn’t raise any warning. “I remember that silly little flask you had back in Arterias?—”
His eyes flash with something I can’t quite place. Excitement? Hunger? Desperation?
Fear?
“—here’s the deal. If you train me how to fight, I’ll sneak in a drink for you.”
This has to be a step in the right direction. I always saw him drinking and pushed it to the back of my mind. But earlier today it struck me as I watched the townspeople roll barrels of the strong liquor down the bumpy cobblestone streets.
Darian’s back to watching me with that laser-focused gaze. “How am I supposed to trust there’s anything inside it?”
I shake the flask, the liquid inside sloshing. “That enough proof for you?”
“As far as I know, you could have filled it with water or piss.”
Arching an eyebrow, I take a few steps toward him as I uncork the flask. “Fine, then as an act of good faith, smell it?—”
He rips the flask straight out of my grasp, and before I can even try to fight him back for it, he throws the liquid into his mouth, gulping it down feverishly as it drips from the corner of his lips. He lowers the flask, then swipes the tip of his tongue to catch the excess, his eyes still burning with an unsatiated hunger.
“We didn’t even agree to any terms,” I hiss.
He tosses the empty container over onto the bed without a care in the world, then lowers his head and holds out a hand to me, ushering me forward in a silent challenge by bending his fingers. I ball my hands into fists, then pause. I’m still uncertain if I can actually trust him. He might have confirmed he can’t kill me, but it doesn’t mean he won’t beat the absolute shit out of me. And while I might have saved his life, that only seems to have annoyed him more.
His eyes narrow with impatience. “If I’m anything, I’m at least a man of my word. But you’re trying my patience here. Do you want to learn how to fight or not?”
