Chapter 49 Destination Here
~ brEN ~
Emberholt, as a city, was massive, and nearly circular.
Donavyn had explained before we reached it that the city existed in several concentric layers, each increasingly wealthy the closer one drew to the center, which housed the palace and the estates of the court families, each layer within the city walled to separate it from those “below.” The city was built on the terraced sides of a peak high enough to assist the flow of water.
Water, which was purest at the center, drawn from wells and natural springs upon which the palace and rich estates had been built.
The run-off drained through the districts, all the way down to those nearest the wall, who were the poorest, and their conditions harshest.
And just like the water, the city sang with gossip, beginning in the central powers, and draining down, even to the poor.
Apparently, they’d all heard news of the Vosgaarde dragons impending arrival.
The only gate the dragons could fit through on foot was the Eastern Gate, so once we reached it, we’d been forced to circle to find a good landing spot nearby.
Our appearance in the air had drawn attention, and by the time we entered the gates, people lined the streets and gathered in crowds.
And as we passed through each district, the crowds—and the noise—grew.
The Jewel district, just below the center where the castle turrets soared higher than any other structure, and the grand estates of the nobles sprawled around it, was beautiful. When we reached it, the ever-widening roads were a cacophony of cheers and shrieks.
Ahead of me and Akhane, Kgosi trumpeted and pranced, delighting and frightening the crowds who scrambled back to avoid his tail and fluttering wings.
But atop his withers Donavyn rode, calmly waving with one hand, while keeping a firm grip on the neck strap to offer stability to Lady Faye, who hunched in front of him, beaming.
She’d dressed in her finest—a gown of layered, whisper-thin silks and sheers that I was fairly certain was being decimated by Kgosi’s scales. But she didn’t seem at all worried, waving with both hands, blowing kisses, and smiling until it seemed her face would split in two.
I rode Akhane alone, while Benji and the servants sat in the boxes on the back of the transport dragon, only noticed after Kgosi’s display because that creature was so massive he almost didn’t fit between the buildings.
I’d watched our team be jostled as the dragon slithered between buildings when a tight corner was navigated, and winced when it looked like Benji might be tipped out of his box at one point.
But we made it safely, if somewhat weary.
I reached forward to pat Akhane’s neck and sighed. ‘Don’t you want to prance and show off like Kgosi? The people will cheer for you.’
Akhane huffed. A small stream of smoke and vapor poured from both nostrils, and the people nearest shrieked. Someone screamed, fire! But was quickly shushed by others.
‘No, I don’t wish to impress,’ Akhane sent in the most impatient tone I thought I’d ever heard from her. ‘This display reeks of pageantry.’
I knew what she meant. I’d been warned that Fyrehold was a culture that prioritized wealth and appearance in ways even beyond Vosgaarde’s class structure. And if Lady Faye was an example of their nobles, I worried Donavyn might find himself pawed to death by the noble women at some point.
But I found Kgosi’s prancing amusing. ‘I think it’s funny,’ I said, watching the Primarch toss his head and open his mouth to reveal his teeth so the eyes of the people went wide. ‘He’s teasing them.’
‘He’s enjoying the attention,’ Akhane said bluntly. ‘And the screams. The adolescent in him still schemes about ways to startle unsuspecting humans.’
I grinned. ‘Kgosi likes to play pranks?’
‘Haven’t you noticed how he frightens the stableboys, and pretends he didn’t notice them running from his tail?’
I hadn’t thought about it, but it was true. We’d often entered the stables behind Kgosi and Donavyn, and I’d seen stableboys yelp and dive into piles of dirty bedding to avoid his swinging tail.
‘He does that on purpose?!’
‘He’d never hurt them,’ Akhane said, a hint of her humor finally warming her tone. ‘He would chastise himself if he accidentally harmed any of them. He sees them like… children of his children?’
‘Grandchildren?’ I offered.
‘Yes, that’s the human term. He entertains himself making their eyes big, or their cheeks blush. But in truth, he seeks to improve them all, and prepare them for their own dragons one day.’
I loved Kgosi, and hadn’t been frightened of him since the day he’d forced me to face my fear.
But I knew most of the stableboys walked small around him, and some of the Furyknights too.
Even Donavyn had said he was glad for his bond with the Primarch.
If he’d had to face him without being in his mind and heart, and knowing how softly he loved, he would have been terrified.
Another wave of the crowd screamed and scrambled back from the road as Kgosi swung his head and huffed plumes of smoke and vapor.
‘Well, it looks like he’s getting his way, today,’ I sent to Akhane. ‘And Lady Faye is loving it. Look at her.’
I knew Donavyn found her presence irritating in the extreme, yet he knew she’d be an easy introduction into society here.
So, he’d been a complete gentleman with her, assisting her in mounting Kgosi, and patiently riding with her as she giggled and waved.
I just wished she’d stop clinging to his arms and leaning back into his chest. Even though I saw the way he tensed each time, it felt ugly.
‘That is, in part, what Donavyn feels at the thought of your role here.’
I knew she was right, and it was a confrontational thought. I’d been angry with him for feeling upset about the idea of me even flirting as these nobles did. Yet, here I watched on as Lady Faye—a very unsubtle woman—put a hand on his thigh when Kgosi side-stepped.
I squirmed in my seat, and took my eyes off of her to scan the crowds around us.
But as we passed through the final wall, into the central ring of the city—the Crown District—to my surprise, instead of the road clearing as grass appeared, wide rolling lawns patchworked between estate homes and stable buildings, we were suddenly bracketed by dozens of coaches.
Flashy, expensive vehicles drawn by snorting, high-stepping horses whose eyes rolled and their pace picked up at the sight of the dragons.
I feared some of them might bolt before we were done.
While there was no screaming, well-dressed men and women still hung from the windows of their carriages, gaping at the dragons, and calling to Lady Faye, who preened in response.
It seemed so strange to be paraded into a city that we entered as spies. But that was the nature of this particular mission.
These people knew who and what we were. What they didn’t know, was why.
As I watched an open coach roll up next to Kgosi’s right wing and its inhabitants call up to Lady Faye, I wondered how these people would regard us in a few weeks. As new friends? Or outright enemies?
Would we be revealed and imprisoned? Or would we maintain our facade and be heralded by the very people we were investigating?
Apprehension trilled in my stomach.
Akhane did jog then, as if my fizzing nerves had communicated to her.
The Crown District was massive. Many miles wide, and holding more than a dozen estate houses, with the castle reaching for the sky at its northernmost point.
As we approached the impressive structure, it became clear that the twin flags of each turret had been replaced, so each flew one royal banner for Fyrehold, and one flag for Vosgaarde.
An assurance of friendship? Or a balm to soothe us into a false sense of security?
I was scared—and a little excited—to find out.
Eventually, the dragons’ heavy steps crunched on the pebbles of a wide, circular drive that looped in front of the castle then returned back to the road between estates. Many of the nobles had whipped their horses into a run, so they could be at the expansive, castle steps to receive us.
My stomach tightened, churning.
This was it. The beginning. What I’d been working towards since the day Akhane chose me.
I swallowed hard when Kgosi and Akhane lumbered to a halt at the foot of the castle stairs, which were twice the width of our barn at home.
A spearhead of polite people awaited us. Nobles, servants of the crown, all lined up in two rows that led upwards, directly to the king and queen at the peak.
As we dismounted, a crier called from the top of the stairs, his voice echoing over the land, and through the marble entry behind him.
“The King and Queen of Fyrehold, the crowns and thrones, welcome General Donavyn Arsen to our humble lands, and beg his favor. And we the people exalt the divine ones, Kgosi and Akhane, the Primarch and his mate, and bid you welcome among us!”
What a mouthful.
My cheeks heated as I turned from Akhane’s side and hurried past Kgosi to meet Donavyn at the base of the stairs.
He had offered his hand to Lady Faye, to assist her safely up the steps towards the king and queen, who only saw her front.
Which was a good thing, because the layers of her seat were haphazard, pulled and ripped and looked like nothing more than a bird's nest. She hadn’t torn through all of them, so her undergarments weren’t bared.
But her backside looked like something had exploded from her, sending the fabric pieces in every direction.
It was very unfortunate. And funny enough that I nervously struggled to keep a straight face as I followed her and Donavyn up the steps.
The servants and Benji stood in a line behind me, all of us waiting as Donavyn greeted the king and queen formally, and introduced each of us.
When it was my turn, Donavyn reached back for my hand and pulled me forward, no doubt relieved to finally let go of Lady Faye.