Chapter Eighteen
The sun was just setting as we entered the town of Two Rivers, named for the rivers that intersected nearby.
Our arrival immediately garnered the attention of the locals, who must have been on high alert after the Crimson Feathers raid.
They came out of their homes and shops to cry out in shocked delight when they saw their friends, neighbors, and loved ones sitting in the wagons.
Shouts of recognition came, and then cheers.
We gathered a crowd that followed us to the center of town, where we finally came to a halt.
As soon as the wagons rolled to a stop, the freed captives jumped out of the wagons and ran to their loved ones.
Raventar helped me out of the carriage, and I stood pressed against his side, his arm around me and my wing around him as we watched the happy reunions.
All but Tara. She stood to the side, her arms wrapped around herself, watching with a blank expression.
Raventar and I shared a worried look. He nodded, and we headed over to Tara.
Just as we reached her, the sound of hoofbeats came from the road to our right.
Everyone turned to watch the approach of a group of mounted humans dressed in the traditional leather garments of the Lamatoka tribe.
A man on the lead stallion, his long black hair braided back to emphasize his sharp cheekbones, stared over the crowd with narrowed eyes until he saw Tara.
His expression went relieved, and then joyous.
With a cry, he jumped off his horse and ran to her.
“Tara!” He swept her up into a hug. “My love.
You're safe.” He eased back to look at her and stroke her hair back from her face.
“We've been out searching for you. We couldn't track them after they took flight. What happened? How did you get free?” He looked around at the people with their loved ones and then at the King. He went still. “King Raventar?”
“Yes,” the King said. “You are Tara's husband?”
“Yes, I'm Turinoca of the Lamatoka Tribe.” He stepped away from Tara to bow, but then immediately drew her in against his side. “Why are you with my wife, King Raventar?”
“We came across a suspicious caravan. We stopped it and discovered many captives taken by members of the Crimson Feathers.” He motioned at the chained Okons still in one of the wagons. Your wife was among the captives being transported. We freed them and escorted them home.”
“I am in your debt, Your Majesty.” Turinoca bowed again. “My wife is dear to me, but she is also from the Macveren tribe. We married to seal an alliance. If her people discovered I had allowed her to be captured, they would have waged war on us.”
“That explains her hair.” The King glanced at Tara. “I've never met a blonde Lamatoka.”
“Yes, she is a prize.” Turinoca grinned.
Tara did not grin. She didn't change her expression or add anything to the conversation.
She barely looked at the husband who supposedly adored her.
Watching them together reminded me of Bara and me.
I had been much the same when he hosted dinner parties.
A prize was something you put on display, not a person with feelings whom you respected. My fists clenched.
“Tara, are you all right?” I asked.
Startled, she looked at me. “Yes, thank you, Eliel. I'm just tired.”
“Your Majesty!” A Deldin man dressed in fine clothing stepped up to us and bowed. “I am your humble servant, Governor Juvin Harsho.”
“Yes, of course. How are you, Governor?”
“Much better now that our people have been returned to us!” He opened his arms and lifted his long, furred, pale ears as he turned in a circle to encapsulate the crowd.
They cheered as the governor came back to face the King.
“You are as heroic as the stories say, Your Majesty. We cannot thank you enough for returning our lost ones.”
“I'm glad I happened across them.” The Dragon King lifted a hand and smiled at the cheering crowd. “It was luck that brought me to your people. But now that I'm aware of the threat within my kingdom, I will handle it. The Crimson Feathers will be brought to heel!”
The crowd cheered again.
Tara huddled against her husband.
“My love, are you well?” Turinoca stroked Tara's arm and bent his head to her. “Did they hurt you?”
Tara looked at me.
I stared back, silently telling her it was her choice what she wanted to share with her husband.
“Not badly,” she murmured. “I just need some rest.”
“Of course.” He inclined his head to the King, but the King's attention was on the Governor, who was prattling on about a celebration they would have that evening in honor of His Majesty's heroism.
Seeing Turinoca's behavior toward Tara changed my mind about him.
She had been abused, and so I saw myself in her, but she wasn't cringing away from her husband.
And calling a wife a prize was not unheard of in this region, especially in an arranged marriage.
He obviously cared about her. I had to stop seeing the world through the lens of my trauma.
“Go,” I said. “I'll tell the King that Tara needed to rest.”
“Thank you, sir.” Turinoca inclined his head to me.
“Uh, will you attend the celebration tonight?” I asked before they could leave.
“That's up to my wife.” Turinoca looked at Tara. “Do you think you'll be up to it, my cornflower?”
“Yes, that would be nice. I just need to bathe and rest first.”
Bathe. That was it. I knew firsthand how filthy she would feel. She couldn't even start to heal until their filth had been washed away.
“I'll look forward to seeing all of you there tonight,” I said.
“Ah, you're attending?” The Dragon King turned back to our conversation.
“Yes, they need to go now. Tara's tired.” I laid a hand on the King's arm. “But they'll come back tonight.”
“Wonderful.” The King smiled at Tara. “I'm relieved to see you reunited with your family, Tara.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Tara bowed her head.
“Thank you,” her husband repeated and then ushered her toward the horses.
I watched Turinoca mount and then help Tara onto the horse behind him. Tara looked my way, and our gazes met. Her lips shifted up slightly, and she lifted a hand. I lifted mine in return. In a thunder of hooves, she was gone. I prayed she was where she wanted to be.
“She's fine.” The Dragon King laid a hand on my shoulder. “She needs time to heal, that's all.”
I nodded and looked at the dispersing crowd. Families were headed to their homes with their returned loved ones clutched close.
“The local Talons have taken the prisoners for now,” he went on. “And we've been given rooms at the hotel. Come, let's make use of them.”
As Raven escorted me across the street to a two-story building, I peered down the road. The town was small, but still large enough for a governor and a Talon force. It was surprising that Nahel would take people from there. Bold.
“Why didn't the Talons stop Nahel's men?” I asked as we climbed the wooden steps, our footsteps echoing hollowly.
Sir Foxren and Sir Lohawk were ahead of us. Foxren held the hotel's white door open for us, but Lohawk went inside first to scan the room. After a few seconds, he moved out of the doorway for us to enter. The Dragon King barely noticed the security procedures. He was focused on me.
“The Okon flew in and swept people off in unison, taking all the captives at once. No one had a chance to put up a fight. And you can't track someone who flies. Even the Okons on the Talon Force couldn't find them.”
“How long ago was that?”
“Three days.”
I thought of Tara. She'd been tortured for three days. That sounded horrendous, but it was a short time compared to the years I'd been a captive. I already felt strong again, nearly healed. I hoped she recovered even faster than I did.
“Your Majesty!” A dark-haired man came around a counter to bow to the King. “I am Alven. I have your rooms prepared. The entire upper floor is yours. I'm sorry I don't have a royal suite for you, but our rooms are clean and comfortable, and I've reserved the best for you. May I show you to them?”
“Yes, thank you.” The King nodded.
Alven led us to a grand stairway opposite the entrance. Short and stocky, the human clerk took the stairs with a spring in his step. Raven and I followed while his knights brought up the rear. We came out onto the landing on the second floor. It was quiet up there and smelled of pine oil.
Alven took us down the corridor, opening doors as he went. “These rooms can accommodate three men each.” He handed some keys to the knights and then glanced at me. “Will your companion be staying with you, or will he need his own room?”
The Dragon King looked at me.
“With you,” I whispered.
“He will be with me,” the King said to Alven.
“Very good, Your Majesty. Our best room is right here.” He opened the final door and motioned us in. As the King passed him, Alven handed him a key. “If there is anything you need, please let me know. I can have a meal sent up?”
“Yes, and for my knights.” The King paused. “My drivers will need rooms and meals as well.”
“I've got them downstairs, Your Majesty. Don't worry. We will take good care of you and your entire entourage.”
“Thank you.” The Dragon King waited for Alven to bow and turn away before he shut the door and locked it. With a sigh, he took in the room.
I had gone from my treehouse in Hanhepi to Bara's mansion, and then to residing in the royal palace.
But after sleeping in a tent, this room, as modest as it was, looked like paradise to me.
The bed was large enough for both of us, a tall window let in the cool evening air, and there was an attached bathroom.
“This is perfect,” I said.
“It's not nearly fine enough for you.” The King frowned at the simple cotton bedding.