48. Tempest
48
TEMPEST
“ I think Kinart was purposefully killed during the raid,” Reyla said with tears in her eyes.
My body sagged but I stiffened my spine, making myself remain upright. “Because he discovered this?”
“I think he was investigating, and someone didn’t like it.”
Another reason to make sure Ivenrail died a painful death.
“It can’t be true,” I said. “The dregs are born from the wasteland. They told us that many times during classes at the fortress.”
“Because that’s what they want us to believe. Or what the fae king wants us to believe.”
“Maybe Kinart misheard.” My mind was spinning, dragging me from one thought to another. I couldn’t fathom even a bit of what this might mean.
“He heard right. The fae king himself confirmed it to me recently. ”
“How in the world did Ivenrail do that?” I leaned away from Reyla, unable to comprehend what I was hearing. “It’s not possible.”
She shrugged. “No one pays attention to us Nullens, and for good reason. We’re the perfect staff because we’re easily trained, and we rarely talk, let alone about what we might overhear. I barely remember arriving here after the Claiming, let alone everything that may have happened since I got here. I told you that I’ve been pretending I’m still drained, and it paid off.”
“How?”
“When I was unpacking a fae lady’s belongings, she handed me a wooden box and told me to deliver it to the blue parlor. This wasn’t the first time I was asked to do something like that. They’re placing the wedding gifts there on long tables.”
She peered around again before lowering her voice. “The high advisor and the king were there, sitting on sofas near the fireplace on one end. They looked my way but ignored me. Since I heard the high advisor say something about Lieges, I paused. I didn’t want to leave right away, so I knocked a pile of gifts off the table. The high advisor snarled at me to be careful. I picked up the gifts, slowly placing them with the others and tried to listen in on what they were saying. They made me leave pretty fast, though.”
“One of them actually confirmed that the Lieges and dregs used to be Nullens?”
“The high advisor asked how the experiment was going, and the fae king said not well, that none of the dregs had shown the ability to wield magic after being given the gift. His advisor told him to feed more power into those they’re experimenting on, but the fae king got angry and told him he wasn’t going to keep wasting it, that he needed it.”
I shuddered, unable to believe what I was hearing. What about flight? Was he still working on that or was it already accomplished? “Can you imagine trying to fight off dregs who control magic?”
“Bad enough they’re huge and vicious.”
“So Kinart believed the king was changing some of us into dregs?” I said.
Ember’s Shadow mentioned powerless Nullens, and as far as I knew, they didn’t exist. But maybe they had. Maybe they’d been changed . We had power, though Vexxion said it was suppressed. Our spark of power could make it impossible to change us into dregs.
According to the book, powerless Nullens were supposed to maintain the balance. I couldn’t imagine how dregs stealing villagers and either eating them or draining their power would maintain anything.
Except . . .
“Dregs only randomly attacked the villagers in the past,” I said, speaking my thoughts out loud. “Riders have always patrolled the border, but it’s only in our recent past that we’ve had to spend so much time defending the villagers.”
“See?” Her sad smile bloomed, and I was so grateful to see a normal expression in my friends eyes that my eyes got weepy. “You really did pay much attention in history class, didn’t you?”
“I tried. Training’s tiring. So is killing dregs.”
“The attacks increased when Ivenrail’s father was still alive. I think whatever’s been happening with the dregs began a long time ago. Maybe not long after Nullens left the fae kingdom and formed the treaty.”
Maybe changing them had been part of the treaty.
Ivenrail was determined to suck up whatever power he could from every single Nullen in my kingdom. He wanted to rule the world and he needed a vast amount of power to do it. The core power of each court wouldn’t be enough, but that, combined with the power he sucked from Nullens, might just do it.
“Did they say anything else?” I asked.
“No. I was standing there, staring at the wall but actually listening, when they told me to leave. The door slammed closed behind me, and I didn’t test it to see if it was locked. I was just glad to get out of there without one of them slamming his thumb against my forehead.”
“Stay away from them.”
“I intend to.” Her horrified gaze met mine. “I’m not sure what to do about this, but we have to do something . They killed Kinart. They don’t want anyone discovering what they’re doing.”
“Vexxion and I have a plan.”
“One I suspect you’re not going to share with me. You’re going to ask me to trust you, and I already said I do. But I want to be a part of this if it makes them pay for murdering Kinart.”
“I understand.”
“You’re not alone. I’m here to stand by your side.”
I gave her a long hug, grateful to have my friend back.
We leaned back and grinned at each other, though it held the taint of sadness .
She gave me a pert nod and glanced down the hill toward the castle perched between this peak and the next like a bird of prey. “Are we walking back?”
“I’ll flit us to the aerie. Now that the lords and ladies have gone inside, there’s something I have to do.”
“Does it relate to all this?”
“Maybe.”
“Then I want to be a part of that too.”
“I discovered a new trick, and I’ll teach you.”
“If magic’s involved, it’s past time I learned,” she said. “I can’t rely on my finger for every situation.”
After flitting to the shed next to the aerie, I showed her how to guard her mind. That was the first thing Vexxion worked on with me, and the more Reyla knew, the more someone could steal.
“I’ll practice,” she said.
“As often as you can. Eventually, you’ll find you can keep the barrier there without purposefully thinking about it. Even when you’re asleep.”
“Perfect.”
We left the shed and crossed the bridge without encountering anyone. Thank the king for holding court in the evening and requiring all the fae within the area to attend without question. At least it kept them from grabbing us and attempting something awful.
I strode up to the door, noting the pretend Iasar writhing in the right panel. If I didn’t know how amazing Vexxion’s magic was, I’d think Iasar had been recaptured and pinned back in place .
Amronth contorted himself, seemingly oblivious of us standing nearby, staring at him. As he moved, hints of purple scales shone through the spell the king had cast to bind him. How long had they been trapped inside this door? From what I’d learned, Ivenrail had been high lord of Bledmire for a very long time. He’d murdered his father—per the rumors. Nothing I’d read stated this outright, but that was the impression I’d gleaned.
“What is this?” Reyla asked, her eyes sparkling with tears. “That poor dragon is alive and trapped in there, isn’t it?”
I nodded, unwilling to say anything further when we might be overheard. Bad enough I was going to try to free him where someone might see and report my action to the king.
This creature had been robbed of his freedom. I mourned his clipped wings and quelled fire. It must be torturous to be trapped like this. A feeling of solidarity gripped my heart.
“You think flitting is exciting,” I whispered to Reyla, waving to the left panel where Amronth cavorted, his craggy face twisted with agony. “Wait until you see what I can do with this dragon.”
I pulled a blade and handed it to her without hesitation. “Watch out for me while I do this, will you?”
She stared down at the dagger. “Do you trust me with this?”
I gave her a quick hug. “You didn’t try to kill me. Farnoll lulled you and made you do it. That’s why I taught you how to guard your mind. If you can perfect a guard, you might be able to keep someone from manipulating you.”
“What a bastard,” she snarled, backing away with a gleam in her eyes sharper than the blade .
“He’s now a dead bastard, courtesy of Vexxion.”
Her voice softened, and she stared into my eyes. “Are you happy? I teased you about him, but he always came across as harsh to me. He’s not hurting you, is he?”
Shaking my head, I leaned close to her, keeping my voice soft. “I love him, and he feels the same.”
Her long sigh let go. “He’d better. That’s all I’ll say.”
“I’ll gut him if he doesn’t.”
A light laugh bubbled up her throat. “You haven’t changed.”
Oh, but I had.
The humor fled her face as she tightened her grip on the blade, and her wild gaze spiraled around us, though we remained alone. “I can’t believe we’ve been standing out in the open this long.” A shiver tracked through her, and she rubbed her bare arm as if to chase away goosebumps. “We shouldn’t be out in the open like this.”
Hide, she meant. Had that compulsion been instilled inside her as well?
“We will. Soon. Watch.” I sucked a lot of power from my well, because I suspected it would take more than the average amount to free a big creature like this. Size may not make the difference, but I bet those the king hated the most were locked up tighter. Freeing Iasar had been a fluke. No true skill had been involved.
I cast the spell, shooting it out at Amronth.
He stopped moving and stared at me.
I was vaguely aware of Reyla stepping backward again, of her muttered curse.
“What are you doing?” she hissed. “I felt something, like shadows clawing across my skin. A rush of warmth. This is scary, Tempest.”
“I have to do this. I promised. Protect me.”
“I will but hurry up. We’re standing in front of the main entrance. Someone’s going to see us, and they’re not going to like what you’re doing.”
No, they would not.
I closed my eyes and pictured my well. Power no longer sloshed across the top. I’d drained quite a bit already, but I had more to give. Scooping up as much as I could, I pictured squishing it together, molding it into a ball and packing it tightly. I added more. And more. Until the ball was bigger than my head.
As I opened my eyes and met his gaze, I drove the power straight at Amronth like I would a sword through the heart of a Liege.
It hit him squarely. He shuddered. An almost feral hope blazed in his eyes. Then he slipped from the door, plopping onto the stone landing in front of us.
“Back away,” I cried out shrilly, grabbing her hand and leaping off the platform. We stood on the walk, gaping as the terrifying yet blazingly gorgeous dragon grew. And grew until it towered over us as large as Iasar.
His scales shimmering like molten amethysts in moonlight, his massive body towering above the landing fronting the stone castle that appeared like a child's toy next to this beast’s magnificent shadow.
With each breath he exhaled, the air crackled with sparks and the taint of ancient power. My heart hammered behind my ribs as though desperate to flee from a doom I’d never escape. The beast stretched skyward on sturdy hind legs, his wings unfurling in tapestries woven by the fates themselves. His maw opened wide, and he tipped back his head, releasing a gush of fire, painting the evening sky with green flames.
One swipe of his monstrous claws could annihilate us. Fear wrangled with my soul as I took in how beautiful, how glorious he was.
“Get out of here, Tempest,” Reyla barked, leaping in front of me, slashing out at him with the small blade I’d loaned her. “Run.”
“He won’t hurt me,” I said, urging her behind me.
She hissed. “What did you do?” She flung herself forward. “Don’t you come near us.” Her shriek echoed in the valley.
My friend would give her life to save mine. My chest heaved with pain, each breath a dagger twisting in my heart.
“He won’t hurt us,” I said softly. “I promise.” Even as I spoke, my voice shook. I hoped he wouldn’t hurt us.
I’d come to this castle to kill the king, but I’d also come here to protect my friend who appeared well able to take care of herself. We were both stubborn. Determined. We’d been hardened by life in the fortress, but we still gently cupped a softness for each other inside our hearts.
“Which of you did this?” Amronth snarled, his head snapping down close enough that the sparks from his breath blasted across my chest. Smoke coiled from his nostrils, clogging my lungs, making it impossible to take a deep breath. Where Iasar spoke with an almost snakelike charm, Amronth’s speech was clipped and articulate .
“Me,” Reyla said, trying to shove me aside yet again, her chin lifting. “I did it.”
Even now, the bravery, the willingness to sacrifice herself blazed in her voice.
Amronth’s head slid in her direction, and his brow creased. “You, little one, do not yet possess the power to do such a thing.”
“You know it was me,” I stepped forward, close enough my belly nudged the tip of his snout. While my hand ached to do so, I didn’t dare touch this mighty beast.
“ You freed Iasar,” Amronth said, huffing sparks down the front of my leathers. They sparkled on the stone for only a moment before winking out.
I jerked out a nod. “Guilty.”
One side of his mouth coiled backward. A dragon smile?
It fell, and he shot Reyla a glare. “You must go. She will stay.”
“Fuck, no,” she said, hefting the knife.
“If you don’t leave, I will scorch you where you stand.” While his words came out soft, the snarl locked within them raked across my skin.
“Go,” I said. “I’m fine. I freed him, and he has something to tell me.” I hoped he did. Maybe he just wanted to burn me without a witness.
“I can’t,” she whimpered, though her arm holding the dagger dropped to her side. “I think you freed me too, and I can’t leave you to whatever this dragon plans to do to you.”
“It’s alright.” I nudged her toward the door. “We’ll meet up at Brenna’s tomorrow. In between, you can practice your guard. ”
Her eyes pinching closed, she shook her head, but after giving me one last look of worry, she eased around the dragon and nudged the door open, stepping inside and closing it behind her with a dull boom.
“Iasar waits.” The anticipation and longing in Amronth’s voice cut through me with the sharpest of blades. I knew what it was like to love someone so much you’d do anything to see them, to touch them again. “Your memory is strong, tiny fury?”
“How did you know . . .” What Vexxion calls me , I didn’t say.
“The other female called you Tempest, but I believe you’re mightier than a storm. When you’re unleashed, the world will finally know.”
“Know what?” Was the second half of the riddle buried among his words?
“Everything,” he breathed, sparks swirling down from his snout. “Mark my words well.”
I stiffened, sharpening my mind. He’d only tell me once, and it was vital that I remember. I knew this as well as I did my own soul.
“Seek a land with a lady unjustly dethron’d.” The corner of his mouth curled up again before gliding back down. “One you will find while chasing down the crow in silvery flames.”
For one moment, I worried I wouldn’t remember this, but no . . .
He was right.
I was the tempest.
I was the storm.
I was the fury .
In my heart, I knew that when the time was right, I’d remember, and I’d act as I must.
“Deeper still lies the hidden breach—through a sapphire canopy beyond Nullen reach.” He huffed out a shower of sparks. “Mark well my words, little one.”
I nodded.
“As good gives way to blight, and between two souls bathed in evil’s forgotten light.” He bumped me with his snout as if he couldn’t resist playing. This breed of dragon might not be the same as Seevar or Madrood, but in their heart, they were all the same.
“And the last,” he intoned. “Are you listening?”
“I am. Tell me,” I breathed, closing my eyes for only a moment before opening them, meeting his black ones where green flames of his fire swirled.
“Whispers will reveal what shadows keep. To lose all hope or dare to take the leap.” He grumbled. “I didn’t write this.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t.”
“Do I hear mockery in your tone, puny storm?” he growled, the flames in his eyes frantic.
“Never. You’re as articulate as any high lord within this court.”
“ More articulate.” He drew himself up, the spikes on his long neck stiffening. “They are insignificant when compared to one such as me.”
“You’re right.” For the first time since I’d freed him, I smiled. “No one can compare to you.”
“You try to flatter me.”
“I’d never . How about a good grooming instead? Your scales are cracked, and your claws appear brittle. I have oil that will help.”
“One day, I will find you and allow you to do this for me.”
“I look forward to that time.”
“As you should.”
So regal. So conceited. But if I was as magnificent as him, I might act that way too.
“The last,” he said. “Remain sharp, fury who will soon be unleashed.” He swallowed. “When nature bends and true love speaks with all its might, only then will justice end this bitter blight.”
He scrambled around me and up onto the bridge railing, adding cracks to the ones created by Iasar. Taking flight, he burst into flight.
The world parted, and he flew into the crack, disappearing.
I could picture the two dragons flying side-by-side before soaring into the sky as high as they dared.
They’d spiral toward the ground, their necks entwined.