The Emperor's Betrothed Consort

Six

T he long bridge to the center of the lake was made of worn hardwood, smoothed by decades of use. I didn’t recognize the tree it came from, but the railings had dark knots in them, and the bridge itself was slightly curved in the middle, as though everyone who crossed it used the exact center—too nervous to get near the side.

Curious why, I moved to the edge, glancing over. The water reflected the bright morning sun, moving choppily despite the winds being no more than a slight breeze. I saw a hint of scales, but the flash of silver might have been merely a reflection.

“Is it true that in the north, magic lets you speak with animals?” Velethuil asked.