Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
TYNAN
“Sir, Alsaard is on the other side of the mountain range,” Mayer’s voice sounded in my head.
Making sure Alina was well secured on my back, I banked in the air. After the chaotic morning, the group of white clan knights escorted us to Alsaard following the orders of the old clan leader.
I scrutinized Steiner, the first knight to the clan leader.
His dragon was slightly darker than the other warriors from the white clan.
His scales appeared to be light gray, almost the same color as Victor’s.
And like Victor, he was not very tall. Steiner was about sixty, clean shaven with a lean, well exercised body.
The way he addressed me was not very reassuring.
It was clear that no one had expected us to come, and behind his forced politeness, was an underlying hostility.
I could not blame him for his feelings. He probably watched Rutherford grow up and take his father’s post, only to lose his leader to an enemy’s clan.
When he saw Alina, his demeanor completely changed.
I had witnessed that before when she spoke to the clan elders, and when the soul searchers of Riolle bowed to her.
People had instant respect for her. Whenever I thought about the way she had been mistreated in the capital, anger burned my insides.
She was so much more than any of those high ranking officials who took over Talman and considered themselves elite.
Sage moved closer to my side, but I hardly reacted.
He took it upon himself to check on Alina with annoying frequency.
The old man had completely lost his head.
To him, Alina could do no wrong, and it was quite entertaining, most of the time.
He even softened his attitude toward me, considering me a necessary evil.
The land surrounding Alssard was vast, full of vegetation and freshwater that created intricate patterns when seen from above.
The city stretched over several hills and filled the spaces between them.
Sturdy wooden logs created a wall surrounding the settlement, and beneath it was a deep trench that circled around the city.
It was meant to catch the crawlers and easily dispose of them.
The wooden bridge, unlike the one in Riolle, must not have been used much because we flew over the gates.
Then the white clan warriors landed in the clearing by their castle, one by one.
The central building of Alsaard was carefully crafted from chalk white bricks with narrow windows.
They even went so far as to paint the roofs lighter colors to intensify the contrast between the sky, and the lush vegetation of the mountains behind the building.
I observed the line of people who waited for us in front of the castle.
Our stance would be made clear as soon as we knew who came to greet us.
If the old lord waited for us below, that meant that the clan was ready to acknowledge me as their ruler.
But if there were only servants and knights, things could get complicated.
My legs touched the ground and I lowered my body so that Alina could get down.
“Milady, careful.” Sage was already beside her.
“Thank you.” Alina accepted his outstretched hand.
I could not explain why I found it so irritating.
I adjusted my shoulders, watching Alina.
Her hair was braided and pinned atop of her head.
To the untrained eye, she appeared confident and in control.
But, I could see the faint trembling of her fingers, the paleness of her cheeks.
She was tense, uncertain. I could also feel her like never before.
With every passing day, our connection only grew stronger.
The ripple went through my body as I transformed.
I turned to the dragonborns who were waiting for us.
As I looked at the faces of nobles, my eyes unexpectedly landed on familiar features.
Erin. The coward was here. Probably came straight here after leaving Darragh.
Realizing that I was watching him, he disappeared into the crowd.
I inhaled and took a step forward, concentrating on the task at hand.
Steiner attempted to intercept me, but I did not need his permission to approach the leaders of Alsaard. Alina and I walked straight to the entrance, followed by Sage, with Steiner behind him.
“Milord, milady.” A tall, middle aged woman with an elongated face and straw colored hair gave us a slight bow.
It was set. Lord Rutherford could not face his clan’s rightful successor.
That told me everything I needed to know.
We were officially entering hostile territory.
I glanced at all the men in white leather who surrounded us.
Even if there were thousands of knights and we were outnumbered, we could do so much damage in an open fight, it would hardly be worth it.
That being said, I was not going to be reckless.
But I had to consider every citizen of Alsaard as a potential enemy.
The young woman in front of me straightened, her pale blue eyes taking in the number of warriors from the black clan, probably harboring a similar conclusion. Then her eyes landed on Alina. I could see nothing but a carefully guarded coolness on her face, not the usual reaction.
“Lady Rutherford.” I bowed.
Her eyes lowered to my family sword and her face hardened as she clenched her hands in front of her. No doubt, the blade reminded her of the brother she had lost, taken by this very steel.
“Would you care to join us inside? I am sure Alsaard will not disappoint you,” she added.
“Thank you,” Alina smiled, but the woman only stared at her.
I did not like this woman.
After a short pause, we followed Augusta into the building. Her long dress slid up the stairs as she walked with her back artificially straight. I frowned, offering Alina my arm.