Page 55 of Kingdom of Ashes & Bone
“Yeah, I know, I’m one to talk. But I don’t feel comfortable resting until we’ve recovered everyone we could. What if someone was still alive, and me taking a break was the difference between them living and dying?” Honest distress flashed in his eyes.
Zariah huffed.We’ve been over this. You can’t help anyone if you’re unconscious. Sabrathan said—
“Some help he was!” Zion cut across him, face twisted with frustration. “Lift a few boulders and just disappear with our mother. Wouldn’t answer any questions or leave us with any answers. Useless.”
I offered him the remaining half of my massive drum stick, one eyebrow raised.
“Zariah made me eat,” he grumbled at me, crossing his arms over his chest.
I finished my meal while they stared broodily at the ground.
“Mari, there’s something else.” Zion’s tone was halting, and he shot a look at Zariah as though the golden dragon would stop him at any moment.
I told you that in confidence,Zariah rumbled, getting to his feet and stretching his long body out.
“Mari is our confidence,” Zion fired back, which would have warmed me if the news didn’t appear to be so dire.
“What is it?” I demanded, tossing my bone to the ground.
“Zariah is trying to dismiss it, but … we need to leave.”
I stared at him, dumbfounded. “Leave?” I asked in disbelief, my voice rising to a higher pitch than I thought possible.
The dragons, at least,Zariah rushed to add.Those who have been … organizing things have mentioned that there is a lot of distrust for the dragons. It’s understandable. They don’t think the kingdom can properly rebuild with us around. There’s been too much pain and trauma.
My jaw dropped. “You saved hundreds!”
“And to many of the people here, another dragon killed thousands,” Zion was quick to point out.
My fingers flexed, curling into fists at my side. “I’m not leaving you.”
Zion laughed. “We’re not suggesting that.” He took my hand in his, giving it a squeeze while giving me a pleading look. “Come with us.”
Come … with them? Leave the kingdom?
It was a cruel joke. Some sort of jest. We’d finally defeated the oppressive system that had kept my people down for centuries, and I couldn’t stay to see the changes.
“My mother,” I whispered pathetically. “My friends.”
Zion pulled me into a hug. “I know, flower. I know.”
We would never ask you to leave your friends and family if that wasn’t what you wanted,Zariah added, smoke unfurling from his jaw as he gave a sharp look to Zion. Zion let me go, his expression troubled.
I backed away as if physical space from them would give me mental space as well. Could I leave everything behind that I’d ever known? I’d just managed to see things—well, not necessarily set right, but everything was at least changing. It was what I’d wanted to see for so long. It was what the king had claimed couldn’t be done.
The king.
“Is your father—”
“The Nobles are in much disarray, but they’re united in their support for our father,” Zion said. “Zariah, why don’t you continue? You’re the one who talked to everyone.”
The golden dragon shifted, and both of my princes stood before me, tired and disheveled. Their fancy tunics were gone, baring their muscled chests which looked a little thinner than I remembered. The ghost of dark rings were visible under their eyes, which were large and tired. Dirt and ash smeared them head to toe in random places. I wanted to take a rag and wipe every inch of them clean, but it would erase the physical proof of their love for their people and kingdom. The refugees needed to see it.
So it would stay.
Thin, ragged breeches clung tightly to their thighs and bottoms.
“You figured out pants?” I asked, raising one eyebrow.
