Page 51 of Knight's End
Dane tapped the side of his teacup thoughtfully as he gazed at me. "True. True. We’d all like our way all the time.” He chuckled. “Life and weather don’t seem to cooperate like that. But storms lead to new growth, often allow young shoots to unfurl their leaves."
I couldn't help but think he wasn’t speaking about the weather. I felt sure of it when he glanced over at his daughter. But damn him for being like Donaloo! My smile was thin as I said, “I have a friend you might get along with. He likes metaphor, too. Drives me mad with it, actually.”
The prince smiled over the edge of his cup. “Sounds like a clever fellow. The unfortunate thing about driving people mad is that eventually the madness takes over.” His eyes flickered to the window and he stared at the wall.
Was he against it? Was he for it? Was the prince criticizing his wife for building it or was he saying that Raj and Isla had gone insane?
I’m about to throw my tea in his face, I warned.
Blue came hurrying over. He bent in front of me with a warning look as he said politely, “Let me take your plate—”
WHAM!
A teeth-rattling, chandelier shaking clap of thunder smacked my ears.
All eyes turned to look outside, where a group of soldiers on gargoyles, wearing Raslen blue garb gathered from a mountain near the sea, fluttered at the top of Sedara’s wall.
WHAM!
We watched a second gargoyle slam into the wall.
Diamoni shrieked, “Call out the elves! Repair the wall!”
One of her husbands hurried to do her bidding. But Dane stayed seated beside me.
Was it in protest or in shock? I wasn’t sure.
Again and again and again, the stone bodies clanged against the crystal. My ears rang but the gargoyles didn’t let up. They slammed one after another in a vertical line up and down the wall.
Warnings sirens went up throughout the capital—soldiers blowing through long conch shells.
People spilled out onto the narrow sidewalks like ants. The city had been dead when we’d arrived. Now it swarmed with panic as citizens realized they were being attacked.
I watched horror crease Princess Amabel’s face, and anger color Queen Diamoni’s.
My thoughts echoed Quinn’s whispers inside my head.
Good. We need them invested.
We needed Sedara in this fight. Needed their trained soldiers. Their ships. Their magic. And all the anger they could give.
A crack formed in the wall before Sedara’s elven slaves could climb up to repair it.
Princess Amabel appeared at my shoulder. “If they’re attacking us, you should leave.”
Queen Diamoni whipped around, eyes flashing. “How do we know you didn’t lead them? Invite them? Tempt them?”
“What incentive would I have to do that?” I asked. I was proud of how calm and emotionless the words came out. “I came here with the belief that we were allies.”
The crack spread and widened.
Diamoni turned to Declan and grabbed his arm. “Repair it. Use your power and repair it.”
Declan’s eyes flickered to mine. I held his gaze.
I tried to tell him I loved him with my eyes, tried to project my love across the room. I wasn’t certain if he was still blocking his ability to taste emotions.
But then a small smile crossed his face and he stepped out of Diamoni’s hold.
