Page 169 of Iron Hearts and Dragon Magic

These words only made the Ironhold prince sink deeper in his chair. He looked at Leah. “I’m so, so sorry.”

She hadn’t exactly forgiven him for helping his monstrous brother, but she understood that he had also been a victim, and didn’t want to carry anger in her heart. “Help me leave it behind, then.”

“We should go,” King Azir said.

They took two carriages to the portal hub, where servants had arranged a pulpit and chairs. It wasn’t comfortable or ceremonial, but it was enough for now.

Venard was the first one to give a speech.

“I stand here, not to apologize, not to explain away my family’s mistakes, but to state them clearly, so that they will never be repeated. My family conspired against the white fae. They blamed the accident in Formosa on them, they created illusions that the fae were attacking us, all for power, all so that they would have an Ironhold Empire. It was a lie. I wasn’t part of that lie, but I’m still ashamed of their actions. They dealt with deep, dangerous magic, and brought death upon themselves, upon some of you as well. I knowsorrywon’t bring back your loved ones, but it’s the only word I have. Before you hate me, before you hate my kingdom, please take some time to see that I’m not hiding, I’m not lying, I’m not displacing blame. My family made mistakes, but they paid for it, and I don’t plan on repeating those mistakes.”

He glanced at Leah. “My wedding was a mistake. Not because Princess Leandra isn’t honorable, but because it was forced upon us by my family. Marriage should be about love, not about alliances. We can still be allies without getting married. My wedding was annulled according to the laws in Aluria, but our alliance is still strong.”

This was Leah’s clue to come to the podium. She had practiced speaking in public many times, but still felt nervous. Her heart calmed down when she saw Fel, ever so handsome, standing by his father.

She took a deep breath. “My kingdom was betrayed. My father was betrayed by his own friends. It was Ironhold who attacked us, while blaming the fae. But they are dead now, so I guess they are paying for their crimes. This is not the time to look back at what happened, but to look forward to a new dawn in our continent, a time of peace. The fae have helped us, wanting nothing in return, but I believe they deserve a few words.”

River came to the pulpit. “I am the king of the Ancients, or white fae, as you call us. All we want is to live in peace. Perhaps our scars run too deep for us to come back to our old settlements, but all I’m asking now is for you to stop hating us, stop fearing us. Yes, we killed the kisilis, but it was because we knew how to do it, and we live in Aluria as well. I hope that one day, in the future, fae and humans can shake their hands again as friends. For now, I believe most of you need to return home and heal your castles and your own wounds.”

The Haven king wanted to speak, and told the crowd that some of his advisors had seen signs of dark magic used by Ironhold in Umbraar, when they had attacked them.

Then the Greenstone king came into the pulpit. “Isn’t it a coincidence that these strange magical creatures came, and the fae were the only ones with a solution for it?”

Leah couldn’t believe that man was her uncle.

“Not strange,” Venard said. “My parents were dealing with old, dark magic. The fae know old magic and know how to fight it. They were kind enough to offer to help us.”

“But they were hidden all this time,” The Greenstone king said. “When they show up, this happens?”

River listened to it in silence, not even looking at the king. He had predicted that this would happen, and perhaps found it better not to argue.

Venard shook his head. “It was my family that locked up the fae. They knew they could defeat them. Perhaps you think they found freedom just in time as a coincidence, or maybe some evil plan. I prefer to believe in a greater plan, that there’s a force for good in this world.”

“This will remain to be seen,” the Greenstone King said.

It would. And it was unfair. The fae were a little odd, for sure, but all they’d shown so far was good will. Then again, some scars ran too deep, except that fae were the ones with the true scars, and yet they weren’t the ones complaining.

* * *

Was it possible to breathe?To believe it was really over? It seemed so. But Naia wasn’t really good at breathing today. It was her wedding. The human wedding at least, since fae apparently didn’t do anything special unless they wanted to, and River had been super busy. River and her. She was trying to be a good queen.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to abdicate his crown, but rather that neither of his sisters wanted it. River wanted to become a diplomat, to try to work on a lasting peace with the humans.

Anelise had shaken her head. “Brother, if you want to go to human kingdoms and talk to them, go as our king. They will feel more honored and more important, and more willing to listen. It’s also symbolic that you’re marrying a human princess.”

River ended up accepting the idea. His people were in the Ancient City, but also had a settlement in Umbraar, and a large area of Ironhold had become the Fae Kingdom. Venard, the new Ironhold King, had offered it out of his own good will. This kingdom was important not only because it meant that the Ancients had their own land, but also that they now controlled the area around Mount Prime, and could allow it to heal, and for nature to grow on it again.

Ancients were not great farmers, though, and would depend on some exchange with humans. For this reason they were building the Fae City, along a main road, which was meant to be a point of contact between fae and humans. It was there that they would get married.

It was part of his promise, to marry her according to human traditions, but also a symbolic political move, as their union symbolized a union on the continent. Still, some kingdoms allowed the fae to return to their old settlements, but River still didn’t want his people to mingle with humans while unprotected. The memories of the war were still fresh in their minds, memories of innocent families killed for no reason, without an army to protect them. River wanted the Ancients to live closer together, at least for now, while these wounds were still healing. Naia hoped one day they would be healed.

Some of the dragons had come for the wedding. Naia was super happy to meet her dragon cousins. Soon she would need to study with them, especially Tzaria, learn more about her dragon magic, and maybe even learn to take her dragon form. She felt a thrill of excitement imagining herself soaring up into the skies.

River claimed he had seen her dragon form once, and that she was a white dragon. Naia would love to take that form one day. That said, Tzaria had warned her not to have contact with other dragons. They were still having conflicts, there were still Boundless in Fernick, and it would be dangerous for her if they learned she was an iron dragon. For now, she could have contact with Tzaria, Risomu, and her uncle and cousins. There was also a dragon that they had found in Ironhold, still healing, still unable to take his human form, and living in the mountains in Umbraar. Tzaria and Ekateni were taking care of him.

Speaking of dragons, they were going to help Umbraar reopen the seas to connect the two lands. Yes, deathbringers could keep sea-serpents away, but so could dragons, who had an affinity with the creatures. It would mean many changes for Aluria.

Naia looked at herself in the mirror. She wore a silver dress with embroidery bright like stars. It was a fae dress, and very beautiful. Leah and Ursiana were in the room with her. Naia was starting to like the Frostlake Queen. Not queen anymore—the Frostlake Queen was Leah.

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