Chapter 13 #4
I tell him about our journey back and Auranius saving us. Finally, I mention joining the academy, but as part of the cleaning crew.
As innocently as I can, I add, “Your orders, I believe?”
The corners of his mouth tighten. “Yes. And trust me that it’s far from the worst place you can be sent to. Go on.”
Why is at the tip of my tongue.
Why couldn’t I join the academy? Why was I sent to the cleaning crew? A familiar anger stirs in my stomach, but I tell it to quiet down, and continue to tell the commander about locating the eggs, then the hatchlings, finding Ava in my room, and coming to see them.
“How did you get into their room? Into their hallway?”
I shift in my seat, wishing I could keep this piece of information to myself, but I can’t figure out any convincing, truthful explanation. “Alayel gave me a copy of the master key.”
Mallor’s forehead wrinkles deepen even more. “There’s no such thing as a master key, Mayara.”
“I’m not lying.” Even then, he’s probably going to ask me to hand him the key, and I hate that idea.
“I know.” To my surprise, he changes the subject. “And what happened when the rider came?”
“I… wanted to waste his time, so I teased him, and soon the guards came.”
Mallor rings the bell. “There’s more, isn’t there?”
That’s unfair. What I told him was quite close to the truth, but I decide to give him more details. “I pushed his staff, so it fell, then we fought for it.”
“It didn’t burn you?” No surprise in his tone.
“No.”
“And the rider didn’t use that magic on you again?”
“He tried, but somehow it didn’t reach me. Then he pushed me to the floor, but I think he heard the guards and ran away.”
“He blew a hole in the wall.” Mallor leans back and crosses his arms, his expression grave.
“You wanted to do something that matters, right? Congratulations. You did. You proved your value, no question. What if, instead of staying here, you were offered enough money to travel to Cainara and forget about this place? Would you take that?”
This must be some kind of test, and yet Kaio comes to mind. “My brother would. Not to move to another kingdom, but to join a merchant ship as an apprentice. As for me, I’d rather stay.”
“Because you want to serve Dracolius?” His tone is careful, gentle even.
“Yes.”
He leans back again and rests his face on his hand, thinking. “Right. Serve Dracolius, then. I have a mission for you. You and the prince, you’re friends, is that not so?”
“We’re acquainted, yes.” I’m not sure if I’d describe our connection as a friendship, and don’t want Mallor to ring that dreadful bell again.
“Right. Alayel had a roommate, Balen. His body was found on the Outer Beach. Had his throat slashed.”
I shudder, remembering the ease with which he killed those smugglers, but it might not mean anything.
Mallor’s eyes glint with a hint of satisfaction, as if he noticed my reaction, and he asks, “Could it be the prince’s fault? I don’t know. There’s something else I don’t know. Is he truly King Solano’s son?”
“Can’t you tell? If you notice when people lie?”
“I should, yes, but the prince is disturbingly…” He presses his lips together.
“Difficult to read. Or maybe he’s telling the truth.
Regardless, use your connection to figure it out.
You’ve proven yourself valuable and you have a great future in the academy, so this is the task I’m assigning you. Is it clear?”
I nod, and he continues, “It might even benefit Prince Alayel in the end. Hush the malicious whispers, if they’re false. Can you do that?”
I can’t imagine pulling information from Alayel against his will, but I don’t want to say no to this commander. “I can try.”
“Great. Now, you’ll need access to the hatchlings’ room. Official access, so you can return the little dragon if she decides to visit you again.”
“Really?” I can’t hide my smile, my surprise.
There’s no joy or friendliness in his face. If anything, a cloud of sorrow taints his eyes. “Yes, but don’t get attached. Hatchlings are fragile creatures.”
Ava climbs down from my shoulder and settles in my chest, where I wrap her with my arm as if I could protect her from all the dangers in the world.
“What happened to them?” I ask. “To the previous eggs?”
“That, I cannot answer. Now, the hatchlings will remain in the same room, but with guards stationed in the area. It’s a trap. If any rider tries to find them again, they’ll be caught. Still, be extremely careful. Riders can be dangerous.”
“Why don’t recruits learn about it? About their magic, I mean?”
“They’ll learn. Eventually. The odds that recruits will come face to face with a rider are minimal, and the chance that they’ll survive it is almost none. Keep it a secret. The hatchlings, too. My orders as well. I assume you can do that, can you not?”
“Yes.” My chest is light, while my mind can’t even comprehend what’s happening. It’s like a wondrous dream, the kind you don’t want to wake up from.
Am I really getting everything I wanted? Or is this some kind of trick?
He then adds, “When Cardiana’s Festival comes, I’ll reassess your position.”
Right. So there is a catch. And the festival’s in only a few weeks. Vigorlu help me.