Page 53 of Dragon Throne: Part One

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Standing in front of the hearth in my room, I watched the flames dance in the darkness, the pages of my mother’s letter burning within their fiery grasp.

The truth never to be seen again.

“Brax, are you okay?”

Evie’s voice broke the trance the flames had created as I watched my mother’s words melt into the fire, and I turned around to see her standing by the entrance to my room.

“I’m fine,” I lied, taking a few steps towards her. “You can come in.”

With a small sigh that said she knew exactly how I truly felt, Evanna stepped inside with Kingston right on her heels.

“How did everything go during dinner?”

Resting a hand on the spear at his belt, the chief nodded. “Your father’s name has been cleared with our people, the truth accepted, and his honor restored.”

“Our people have questions,” Evanna added, conveying it was only natural. “They want to know more about the Harbinger’s mission in the Mirror World, and what that means for us. I expressed that soon it would all be revealed to them, and we just needed a few more days. I hope you’ll agree it was the right thing to do.”

“It was,” I assured. “Soon…” I just needed to find a way to get a handle on this freaking shit show first.

“You should have been there to see it,” she offered, reaching for my hand when she moved closer. “It was beautiful to see them recognize your father’s sacrifice and legacy.”

With a shake of my head, I stepped away to face the window. “Too much has happened. Besides, the Elevated Warriors need time to process everything they learned, and to be honest, they probably didn’t even want me there.” Something else crossed my mind. “Did the people see the accord?”

“I’m having it displayed in the throne room tomorrow, protected by glass,” Evie answered, “They won’t be able to read it, but when they gaze upon it, they’ll see the bloodmarksfrom your parents.”

Right. That reminded me I needed to resume the classes I started after discovering only Evie and some of her guard knew how to read. We didn’t have many lessons, but at least those who attended knew the alphabet now. It was a start.

“The warriors do need time to process,” Kingston conceded behind me. “But they are still your brothers and sisters. It wasn’t so long ago that I was the hated one. The enemy. Now, here I stand, as their leader. They trust me and respect me for who I’ve shown them to be. The bonds we create here, through hardship and fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves, are not so easily broken, Braxton. We stand together. Shoulder-to-shoulder. Always. And this will not change that.”

I hated to admit it, but his words gave me hope. He had indeed been “the enemy” once, a sentry for the Warlock King. Their captor, and sometimes, even their torturer. And still, he had been forced into that life just like our people had been forced into slavery. He’d been a slave as much as they were. However, his heart was honest and pure, and he’d shown them that by turning against Raithian the first chance he got, helping them escape the Crimson Fortress during the Uprising. He’d shown them who he truly was by protecting them every day since then.

Kingston was a great man, who’d suffered as much as everyone else here. Perhaps more since he carried the reminder of the worst time of his life in his disfigured hands every day… for everyone to see.

My fingers unconsciously reached for the scar on my ribs for a moment. The chief wasn’t the only one who carried a reminder of the worst thing that had ever happened to him. In a way, many here did.

Turning around, I found Kingston offering me a knowing, considerate smile.

My eyes suddenly widened. “Wait. Are you saying they hate me now?”

He shrugged, as though saying exactly that, and Evie’s eyes narrowed on him.

“Stop it, Kingston,” she chided, causing his lips to twitch in amusement. He was totally making fun of me, or making light of the situation, but still.

“Are you actually smiling at me?” I challenged, just to see his fierce scowl return.

“I have arranged for your things to be moved into the princess’ quarters tomorrow morning,” the chief informed, changing the subject radically. “Now that she announced your pairing, you must be with her. You must show everyone you are stronger together.”

“I still owe you a conversation.”

He scowled, making Evie roll her eyes.

“I haven’t announced it to our people yet,” she clarified, calling my attention back to her as her fingers wrapped around mine. “I wanted to wait for you. Do it together.”

Her words brought a smile to my face, and I kissed her… for a second, because Kingston cleared his throat so harshly that I thought he had bronchitis.

“Move,” he ordered, throwing me out of my own room while Evie tugged at my hand with a chuckle.

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