Page 70 of Earth Dragon
“We’re not ready,” she shook her head.
“Yes,” Ewan said firmly, stroking his arms comfortingly up and down her arms. “We are.”
Another toll of the bell reached them, and another.
The door to the house opened behind them. The others had felt it to and now they gathered outside. They all seemed to believe they could win, and Shannon let their conviction seep into her, drown out her doubts.
***
They walked together through the streets of the citadel. People were waking, there was some movement, heads turning to watch as these eight highborn and two castle guards passed them. Lady Marigold had said that she would join in her own time, and Shannon supposed they would all have to rely on that promise.
She did rely on it.
She knew the lady would not let them down.
The bell was still tolling, though not as frequently.
Her father’s impatience hitting her with every new movement through the air.
She could have stopped him sooner. She could have drugged him and locked him in a box. But that wouldn’t have made her any better than him. The past was the past. What she did not want to regret was the present.
Ewan had kissed her, held her hand, told her he would be there right by her side.
There were no regrets to be had.
He was taking the lead, guiding the group to the gates of the castle. She was a step behind him to his left, Malcolm to his right and the others fanned out behind them. She glanced at Malcolm, who still would not look at her if not absolutely necessary.
“Mal,” she said. No response whatsoever. “I never got to tell you that I’m sorry. Truly. I want you to know that.”
“I do not care what you want,” he said.
She thought it best to leave it at that, remembering Ionna’s gentle hold on her hands and the strength of her presence. Her kind words when they arrived. There was a possibility for true forgiveness from Malcolm too. It would simply take some time.
It was worth being patient.
And should I die, she thought to herself.Then at least I shall die trying to better myself. And that must count for something.
They reached the castle gates and, when the guard spotted his prince, he immediately got the gates open. It appeared there would be no obstacles on their way to the castle forest.
“Are you okay?” Ewan asked, keeping his gaze on the gate across the courtyard. The same gate they had ridden through the morning prior. It felt a lifetime ago.
“Yes,” she said shakily, squeezing her palm around the crystal.
It was their only weapon against her father, and she knew what she had to do as well as the moment in which she had to do it, but if even the slightest thing went awry, it might mean her life.
The crystal had to touch her father’s skin while she spoke the incantation Lady Marigold had taught her.
Shannon repeated the words at the back of her head. It was short and sweet, but she knew she had to infuse each word with true purpose. Her purpose.
And she still was not entirely clear on what that was.
“What do you dream about?” Ewan asked.
He had an uncanny habit of appearing to read her mind, but with him it never felt intrusive. It felt like recognition. He could tell her mood simply by looking at her. He thought he was bad at such things, but with her she didn’t think he ever had been. She had nudged him when they first met, but he succeeded in their conversations because he had been so willing. So open and curious. To listen. To see.
“I’m trying to think of it,” she admitted.
“How about I rephrase the question? What do you fear?”
