Chapter 50
Chapter
Fifty
EVIE
“ T his still feels strange,” I muttered as we neared another village.
The setting sun bathed the thatched roofs in a warm, purple light, the stars already blinking in the distance. I readjusted my seat, feeling every sore and ache. I didn’t know sitting could hurt so much or make the muscles in my back seize.
My body wasn’t used to riding for a full day. Zorin absolutely loved it, seeming to gain more energy with each mile his powerful hooves trotted. He loved leading the convoy, swinging his mane and tail at the smallest gust of wind.
“Which is why leaving the Capital right now is brilliant,” Adara said, riding her own horse like she didn’t know the definition of pain. “Too bad Zavoya and Eldryan’s brains have rotted to the point where they not only can’t develop a strategy, but try to stop a good one when they hear it.”
“You’re making me half-heartedly remind you their minds are not their own and I don’t like it.”
“Then don’t.”
“Banu and Valuta are controlling them.”
“They could have resisted.”
“You don’t know that.” A cold shudder traveled up my spine, and I couldn’t blame it on the coldness seeping from the thick forests around us. The memory of Valuta trying to access my own thoughts was still lodged in me. I wondered if I’d ever rid myself of it. It was strange that such a short moment could linger for so long. “They never tried to sway you?”
“I wasn’t that important to their schemes. And they never could enter the Arena,” Adara said with a grin. “But they tried it with you.”
“I had a Protectorate spell on me.”
“Don’t care. Zavoya and Eldryan are queen and king. They should have known better.”
They should have. If not for the Clan, at least for their own son.
“Fear the heads that don’t deserve their crowns,” Grandpa Constantine used to say. How right he’d been about everything.
My tired sigh formed into a misty cloud. The further we rode high up into the heart of the Blood Brotherhood territory, the colder it became–and the nearer we got to the village, the stranger the plants.
The trees had no leaves, the shrubs were wilted to the ground, and the earth was cracked.
“How did the Serpents do this?” I asked. They hadn’t ridden through this part, it was too far South.
Adara huffed a laugh. “They didn’t, the Blood Brotherhood civilians did. Poisoned the wells and destroyed their crops so the soldiers couldn’t drink or eat.”
I stared at her. That was brilliantly spiteful.
“Don’t look so surprised,” Adara said. “Your dear Dria Vegheara was the first to use this strategy and everyone else borrowed it.”
Of course the Stolen Princess would have come up with such a stubborn scheme. It made me proud to call myself a Vegheara for what felt like the millionth time.
About a hundred civilians from the convoy picked up their pace, whistling as they passed us.
Another shiver raced down my spine. This one felt like fingers ghosting across my skin.
I didn’t need to turn to know he was approaching; the familiar sound of Madrya’s hooves stopping right behind us. Zorin slowed down and shifted to the side, the movement sending a fresh wave of pain through me. Maybe we should have used the saddle just this once.
“We rest here tonight,” his gravel voice travelled over the group as more and more people raced toward the village and torches began to light the dirt paths.
With a deep, centering inhale, I turned to him. “How? There are hundreds of us.”
His face was still emotionless, the bond on his end stiff and cold.
“We can’t ride day and night. We have been invited and no is not an acceptable answer.” He tilted his head to the side. “This is a battle not even we can win.”
I frowned. Who–
“The Blue Queen hesitates because she has yet to know true Blood Brotherhood hospitality in that cold Capital,” a familiar voice resounded.
Eryn stopped next to us, her eyes shining bright as she looked at the village. From her small, battered pouch, she took out the leather necklace I’d seen on the night of the fire; that mean-looking fang must have belonged to a creature at least three times her size.
As she draped it around her neck, I noticed a few of the locals bow their heads. Eryn was the leader of this village.
“My brothers and sisters,” she announced. “With the grace of the gods and the struggles of the Rohen Dynasty, we have returned home victorious! Come and celebrate with us in the ways of Verynmoor. You will rest your heads, fill your bellies, and tell your descendants they will always find shelter here if their heart is pure.”
A chorus of cheers erupted from the convoy, all exhaustion forgotten.
“Blue Queen, you fed us when we were hungry,” she said, turning to me. “Now, prepare for a feast.”
The rest of my questions about space and food died on my lips as the village was lit up in a flickering, golden glow. The strongest of the locals took up rakes and shovels, striking the cracked ground with fervor only to reveal secret chests. The younger, limber ones scaled the tallest trees, lowering huge crates with hidden pulleys. Rocks were turned, attics were opened, and concealed barrels were hoisted out of the river.
Soon enough, I found myself sitting in a circle around an enormous fire. Cauldrons bubbled with fragrant stews, preserved meats and salted fish roasted on the grill, and root vegetables sizzled and blistered between the coals.
To my right, Adara was pretending she definitely was not cutting her carrots and lamb into bite-sized pieces so Anya could steal them more easily from her bowl, while Goose and Leesa sat knee to knee, whispering about things that made both of them blush.
Across the flames, the warriors had gathered together, regaling everyone with tales from the war, while The Dragon didn’t eat, same as me. He kept piling food into his bowl and then passing it along to whoever he was talking to, so naturally that the other person didn’t even notice and began eating.
“And then The Dragon told him a Serpent could never defeat a Dragon.” One of the warriors gestured wildly. “And I swear Kleonos shit himself then and there.”
“Nah, he was still gloating,” another said. “But he wasn’t when the river came after them. Wasted in a blink. Not even Xamor himself could have struck down an army that fast.”
“Bite your tongue,” an older warrior growled. “The gods don’t take kindly to being compared to mortals. You’ll bring their wrath upon The Dragon with your foolish words.”
The Dragon simply grinned, trapped in a conversation with a small old woman that kept wishing him happiness and a “powerful seed”.
“ Cha . The gods are pleased.” Eryn joined the circle, the flames’ reflection dancing on her fang necklace and hair, making the red strands seem alight. She raised a bone cup in the air. “The Dragon won the war and the Blue Queen guarded the Capital. For the good of the Blood Brotherhood!”
A chorus erupted once more. After an entire day of avoiding each other, The Dragon raised his cup toward me, rooting me to the spot with his intense gaze. Goosebumps skirted along my arms. He kept staring at me over the rim as he sipped in tune with his warriors, like he had in the dream before the war. When we’d had our last imagined kiss.
“A merry night indeed.” Eryn plopped down next to me on the woven blanket, yanking my gaze away from him .
“Thank you for your generosity,” I said.
She’d been right, this village’s hospitality and its locals friendliness could beat the Capital curious stares any day.
“It’s the way of the Verynmoor. The mountains provide and it’s our duty to cherish and share.” She looked at the tall peaks guarding her village. “It was hard, leaving everything behind.”
“You managed to hide it very well.” They were still pulling barrels of mead out of the stream.
“I’d be damned if those Serpents drank a single sip of our wine or a bite of our mutton. I’d rather it turn to bitter vinegar than have an invader quench their thirst on the backs of my people and our lands.”
“You have a lot of work ahead of you.”
“There’s always work.” Eryn shrugged. “Our river is safe, our farms are hidden high in the mountains, and our flocks have survived. We’ll live like kings this winter. This…” She raised an imperious hand at the wilting plants. “Is just a ploy to scare the Serpents away. We poisoned only the biggest trees and plants and flooding season is only a few weeks away. A few good rounds of leeching and everything will be back to normal. We have peace and sleep with both eyes closed at night. That’s all that matters.”
All around us, a comforting hum of war tales, stories from the Capital, bread recipes, and weeding tricks buzzed in tune with the flames. The civilians could talk freely about the violent past because they knew their future would be peaceful.
Few things were as comforting as this.
Hope.
Despite everything, a kernel of it settled in my chest. I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring but, for tonight, for just this moment, I could breathe a little easier, even with my back and feet trying to kill me and my marriage being stuck in this messy state.
“It was hard.” Eryn lulled me back to reality. Her eyes glazed over as she looked at the fire. “Convincing everyone to leave with only the clothes on their backs, promising them we would be safe and cared for when I doubted it myself. But that’s what leaders do, whether they sit on a golden throne or guard a village in the mountains.”
You will have to carry the burdens we won’t and most can’t. We’ll curse your name if you do it wrong, and congratulate ourselves that you’re on our throne if you do it right , Leesa words from our first meeting whispered in my ear.
Even if The Dragon and I had followed the exact same steps, but fate hadn’t ruled in our favor, nobody would have been toasting to our health and Eryn wouldn’t have been congratulated for moving her people to the Capital.
It wasn’t fair.
It was the life of a ruler.
“You need to try the spiced lamb.” Erin handed me a bowl with the same ease as The Dragon. Maybe it was a skill all leaders developed at some point. “My village takes great offense if you don’t accept. I don’t make the rules.”
I took the bowl and smiled. “As the ruler, you do.”
Eryn shrugged, nodding at the crown I would wear throughout our voyage. “I don’t want my people rising up because I didn’t feed our future queen properly.”
“Yes, you’ll be dealing with a full blown rebellion.” I huffed a laugh, even as my eyes searched for Kaya. I didn’t like the pallor of her–she could have benefited greatly from this feast.
“The Jewel has already retreated to bed. The mountain air doesn’t suit everyone.” Eryn reclined back on her arms. “But it suits us just fine.”
“This feels like a good place to live.”
“It’s the life we know. It’s hard and painful, but it’s true and peaceful. After living in the Capital, we’re even more grateful for it.” Her gaze traveled my way slowly. “The civilians there are not happy, Blue Queen.”
I sighed. “We’re trying our best–”
“No. The civilians are not happy now , though few allow themselves to notice,” Eryn pressed. “All they need is the right spark to show them it can be better.”
My fingers gripped the bowl tighter. “Is this a warning?”
“It's advice from an older leader to a future one. One you might find useful,” she said gravely and lowered her voice. “You and The Dragon must act quickly. The time is now.”