Page 18 of War Of Fire and Fortune
The wind whipped through my braids as Emeris soared through the inky night sky. My hands gripped her scales, cool and smooth beneath my fingers. Behind me, I felt Atreya's steady presence, her arms wrapped around my waist.
"How are you feeling?" Atreya's voice carried over the rush of air.
My hand drifted to my stomach. "Fine. Just wish Baron could be here."
Leaving him behind had been harder than I'd anticipated after being apart for so long before this. His fierce protectiveness had only intensified since learning of the pregnancy. But duty called, and the rebellion needed a leader in our absence. I felt better knowing a dragon was helping guard them while we were awaythough. Baetos had been running around with Emeris since Emelyn had returned, so when I took Emeris, he would stay behind and keep watch.
We dove into a bank of clouds, the mist cool against my skin. When we emerged, the vast expanse of Woodhaven spread out below. Forests blanketed the lower slopes, a sea of shadowy green.
"We're getting close," I murmured.
Atreya's grip tightened. "Remember, we can't risk being seen. Stay in the clouds as much as possible."
I nodded, guiding Emeris higher. We skimmed just beneath the cloud cover, catching glimpses of the terrain below. A river snaked through a valley, its surface black as obsidian.
"Do you think they’ll grant our request?" I asked, unable to keep the uncertainty from my voice.
Atreya was quiet for a moment. "They have to," she finally said. "For all our sakes."
I swallowed hard, pushing down my doubts. We had come too far to turn back empty-handed. Emeris banked sharply, and I caught a fleeting glimpse of the capital city nestled in a valley below in the distance. Soon, we would land and continue on foot. I didn’t want to get too close with Emeris.
"Have you spoken to Emelyn yet?" Atreya asked from behind me, her voice barely audible over the rush of wind.
I tensed, my hands tightening on Emeris's scales. The question I'd been dreading. "No, not yet," I replied, keeping my eyes fixed on the sky. Emelyn deserved to know the truth, all of it. But how could I face her after keeping such secrets?
I sensed Atreya's hesitation, could almost feel the unspoken words hanging between us. There was so much more to say, so many truths still hidden. Emeris rumbled beneath me, sensing my unease. I stroked her neck, drawing comfort from her warmth.
Atreya's voice cut through my swirling thoughts. "I'd steer clear for a little while. She knows that we knew about Kade. She needs time to cool down," she said.
My stomach dropped. Well, one secret was out. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady as I asked, "Who told her?"
"She came to my tent asking questions. I told her the truth, as there was no need to hide it any longer. Kade had already told her they were mates and that he was Crow.”
My heart thudded in my chest. Atreya's honesty was both admirable and terrifying. I knew the weight of the secrets we carried, the potential for devastation if they were revealed at the wrong moment. I twisted in my seat, fighting against the rushing air to look back at Atreya. "Did you tell hereverything?" The wind tousled my box braids, whipping them around my face as I struggled to catch Atreya's eyes.
"No, not everything," she said, her voice barely audible over the rush of wind. "She only knows about Kade and Rhet. And that we knew that her and Kade were mates and that he and Rhet have been working with us against Ember. I didn’t tell her anything else, and she didn’t ask anything more.”
"When do you plan on revealing it all?" I could see the conflict on Atreya's face, the same struggle I felt within myself. How much truth could we afford to share?
Atreya's jaw tightened, her eyes scanning the horizon as if searching for answers in the vast expanse of sky. "She'll find out when the time is right. Everyone will," she answered, her voice carrying a mix of determination and weariness. "Right now, we need to remain united. I don't know what Valos's next move is, but I have a feeling it isn't going to be good, and we need to be ready."
I nodded, but the thought of keeping things from everyone didn’t settle my unease. All the lives depending on us presseddown on my shoulders, and I knew Atreya was right. The truth would come out eventually.
We were close now, too close for comfort. I leaned forward, pressing my body against Emeris's warm scales.
"Time to go down, girl," I whispered, guiding her into a steep dive. The wind whipped at my face as we plummeted. As we neared the ground, I cast a wary glance toward the capital. The thought of Ember soldiers potentially lurking in the shadows sent a shiver through me. We couldn't risk being seen, not now.
Emeris landed with a soft thud, her massive body absorbing the impact. Atreya and I slid off her back, our legs bending to cushion our fall. The forest floor was soft beneath our feet.
I turned to face Emeris. She took a step toward me, clearly intent on following. "Nooo." I shook my head, fighting the urge to embrace her. "I need you to stay back. We will be in the capital for at least a day, maybe two. I will call for you when we are finished, and you can meet us here." I gestured to the dense woods surrounding us, the thick canopy perfect for concealing a dragon. Emeris narrowed her bright yellow eyes. A puff of smoke escaped her nostrils, enveloping me in a cloud that smelled of ash and milkweed roses.
The scent hit me like a blow to the chest, memories of simpler times flooding my mind. Days spent in sun-dappled meadows, before the weight of rebellion and impending motherhood rested on my shoulders. I inhaled deeply, feeling my racing heart slow.
Emeris lowered her massive head, gently nudging my swollen belly with her snout. I had gotten a lot bigger this past month. A lump formed in my throat.
"I know," I whispered, running my hand along her scales. "I promise I'll be careful."
I pressed my forehead against her angular head, closing my eyes for a brief moment. The connection between us thrummed like a living thing.
