Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
TYNAN
My eyes turned toward the sun. The chilly, crisp air brushed the scales of my dragon skin and even through its reinforced, hardened surface, I could feel the difference in temperatures.
I lowered my body, catching a ride on the warm thermal current, and for a moment, I could relax my muscles, letting the force of nature carry me forward.
Then I felt something else. I moved my head, seeing Alina stretched out on my back.
A familiar, warm feeling of comfort and security rose up from my chest. I spread my wings wider, enjoying this moment of peace.
“Wake up,” Alina’s voice called.
I looked back, but she was gone. Confused, I glanced ahead.
“Wake up!”
The tone of the voice changed, no longer soft or melodic. It was rough, and low, like it came from someone who indulged in heavy smoking. That brought the worst associations. It sounded like Sage was right beside me. I frowned, finally opening my eyes.
Beside the bed stood the old man I remembered very clearly.
The one who endlessly played on my nerves, and showed me his pointed dislike every time we met.
Except now, he looked well put together, washed up and wearing a clean set of clothes.
I looked around. I was in a vaguely familiar room, and the city drunk was right beside me.
“Sage?” I tried to sit up.
“Yes. Who else could it be?” he snapped.
He had trimmed his beard, changing the overall shape of his face. If I did not know him any better, I would never believe that the man who stood in front of me was homeless. But none of that mattered, he was still the last person I wanted to see.
“What’re you doing here? Where’s Alina?” I rubbed my eyes.
“That’s why I came. You have to stop her. She’s going to appear in front of the clan elders instead of you.”
“What?” I sat up and the whole room blurred in front of my eyes.
Cold gripped me from the inside, spreading through my veins. Already out of breath, I struggled to inhale. My heart threatened to shatter my ribs.
“She is brave, I give her that. Truth is on her side, yes, but she’s just a woman. A woman who is determined to face hundreds of power hungry, aggressive brutes.”
I stumbled out of bed and my legs gave way, I growled catching myself.
“Where is she?” I picked up my suit.
“She’s waiting for her idiot maid to bring her Rutherford’s sword. So hurry up! The gods are my witness, I protested, argued. You have to stop her!”
My hands shook as I buttoned my suit. Pain exploded in my shoulder, reaching all the way to my lower back when I laced my boots.
“Hurry up, will you? Don’t forget your sword!” Sage hurled at me.
“Why the hell didn't you stop her?” I shouted.
“I tried, she wouldn’t listen. And that stupid maid of hers was going along with her crazy plan. You need to get rid of that woman. She’s dangerous.” Sage followed me around the room.
A cold sweat had formed on my forehead. I clenched my jaw, fighting the burning ache in my limbs, and searched for my weapon.
“You don’t look very sharp.”
I glared at him, opening the door with force.
In the hall, I paused trying to remember the fastest way to get to the exit.
“Hurry! There’s no more time to waste!” Sage panicked behind me.
I rushed down the stairs, clenching Hanoch’s sword in my hand. If something happened to her, there was no way they would see the light of a new day. My beast roared deep inside. There was no line I would not cross. There was no depth I would not descend.
Finally, I made it to the main door. The servants pressed their backs to the walls, letting me through.
Their faces pale and frightened. I pulled the thick wooden door open wide, hitting the wall behind it.
The explosion of scents that filled the fresh morning air assaulted my nose.
Among them were the smells of grass and soil, smoke, and steel.
It did not matter what our situation was, I was going to fight and die protecting her, and nothing else mattered.
“You have to remove that woman, her maid. She’s trouble. I tried to talk Lady Alina out of this, but that girl . . .” Sage’s voice sounded in my ear, but I hardly listened.
My muscles ached, and I could still feel my injuries. Those were signs of a body that did not have enough time to heal.
“There!” Sage pointed, half-running beside me.
The round shaped clearing that was used for fights and for burial ceremonies was just off the main path to the castle. A gathering of warriors, dressed in black, blue and white, filled the space.
My breathing sounded raw and strained to my own ears. Could it be that I was too late? Could it be that it was already over? No. Because I did not feel any disturbance in our bond. Alina was fine. But where was she?
Just then my eye detected a slight movement up ahead.
Someone was walking through the crowd with determination and confidence.
It was a female, much smaller, much more daintily shaped than the grotesquely large bodies of the clan warriors.
Her suit, black as a raven, so similar to my own, attracted the attention of everyone present.
Alina’s hair, a vibrant burst of scarlet and copper cascaded down her shoulders just like flickers of flame.
The morning light broke through the clouds and kissed her delicate profile, the feminine curve of her neck.
She was like a summer storm, untamed, fierce, and beautiful.
In her right hand, she held the blade that belonged to Rutherford.
Its clean, well polished lines reflected the light of the morning sun, shimmering like liquid silver.
“What is it?” someone shouted.
The men laughed.
“Did he send his wife to negotiate?”
“Did she forget where the kitchen is?”
“Go fetch your husband!”
More warriors laughed.
Alina stood in the center of the clearing with her head raised up high, looking like a goddess.
“I came here today to tell you what’s really happening in the capital.”
Alina raised her voice for everybody to hear. Her words rang with honesty, her tone noble and sincere.
I stopped at the edge of the crowd, unable to take my eyes off her, forgetting about everything else.
“I came here to give you the truth you all deserve.” Again she paused, waiting for everyone’s attention. “The truth that was carefully concealed from you. Concealed from your clans . . . by the council.”
A ripple rolled through the clearing. Never before had so many clan elders heard someone speak out so openly against the capital. Words like that were deadly, treasonous, but they were also truthful.
“The council lied to you. For years, they robbed you of your best people, your rich resources.”
Alina continued and I could clearly see that some heads in the crowd were nodding along.
“They told you that by giving all the powers to the council, you are ensuring peace. They told you that it was the will of the queen.”
“What are you saying, girl?” some old man shouted.
“They lied to you. They manipulated you. They took what was given and used it for evil.” Alina turned toward the old man.
For the briefest of moments, I could see her eyes. Beautifully dark, with thick eyelashes. They were filled with storm and fire. She was a force to be respected, powerful, wild.
“They tell you that they’re fighting the disease, but they aren’t.” Alina lowered her voice, because it was suddenly eerily quiet.
The thick, chilly air, itself, could not wait to hear her speak. All the males were under her spell, and I was among them.
“They are the ones who spread lies. The council wants to keep you defenseless against the real danger. I came here today to tell you what really happened to your queen, and name the people in the council.”
Alina straightened her shoulders, her gaze unyielding, but open, devoid of deceit, untouched by even a flicker of uncertainty.
“Everything they told you about the balance, about their plans to defeat the undead was a lie. No one in the capital thinks about any of you. They just want to bleed your lands dry and use the lives of your children to secure the future of the privileged few families.”
“And who are you to address us?” A familiar voice sounded in the crowd.
Erin. The traitor felt comfortable enough to raise his voice, but I remembered what he did. How he led the enemy clans through the mountain pass. And I was never going to forget his betrayal.
“I am the descendant of the red clan.”
“What about the queen?”
“The Red Queen is dead.” Alina clearly pronounced every word.
Gasps and protests sounded from every direction. Warriors looked at each other unsure what to believe.
“The queen died many years ago, but her death was concealed from you. To keep you obedient. The council has been lying to you all this time,” Alina continued.
“Why would they do that?” someone else asked.
“To keep several well connected families in charge of Talman.” Alina turned the other way and I could no longer see her face.
“That’s bullshit. I saw her. I saw the queen as clearly as I see you.” Erin looked at the people beside him.
“I saw her body with my own eyes. They kept her in one of the rooms in the bowels of the palace. They gave her her throne and chained her to the wall.” Alina shouted.
“You said she was dead!” Erin smirked.
“She was infected. Gods know how long they kept her there, surrounded by the bones of the human servants they were feeding her. But she’s no longer there. I killed her.”
Fire flickered in her eyes as she studied every face of the clan warriors who stood opposite her.
Slowly, she sheathed her sword, and then her body rippled and shimmered.
The carmin lines extended, weaving around her body, consuming her human form and exposing her beastly shape.
The next moment, her dragon, with scales red as rubies, appeared in the clearing.
An audible gasp rolled through the crowd.
The scarlet dragon extended her wings and moved her head from side to side.
“The red clan.”
“The queen.”
“She’s telling the truth.”
“A red dragon.”
“Red . . .”
The Red Queen.”
Multiple voices sounded all at once.
“She’s a miracle sent to us by the gods,” Sage whispered beside me.
Alina stood silently, allowing the others to see her. Then her body started to change back, and I saw the familiar patterns of her coal black suit. Her bright hair swayed in the light morning breeze as she stood motionless, allowing the others to regain their senses.
“Are you saying that we should go against the strongest army in all of Talman just because you’re related to the queen?” Erin raised his voice, seeking approval from the others.
Alina unsheathed her sword and moved through the crowd. Everywhere she stepped, dragonborns moved out of the way, letting her pass. Finally, she stopped in front of Erin.
Erin looked up at my mate, and there was no confidence in his gaze.
Alina took her time, examining his face.
“Kneel before your queen,” she said quietly.
Then the crowd woke up from their stupor. Warriors shouted and shook their fists in the air, some extended their weapons and whistled.
“Kneel!” Alina raised her voice.
Her hair fluttered in the wind, contrasting with the opaque black leather of her flying suit. She pressed the tip of her blade to Erin’s neck, her eyebrows furrowed. His eyes filled with fear as he slowly lowered to the ground. Alina took a step back, still training her sword at the traitor.
From every side of me, men of different ages, statuses, and standing in the clan were lowering themselves to the ground. It took just moments until I was the only one who remained standing.
Alina’s gaze flickered in my direction and her eyes widened. I took a step forward, entering the clearing. With my uninjured hand I gripped my blade and pressed it across my torso, taking a knee.