Chapter Twenty-One
Vale
Prince Egan flies next to me. We’re of a size so we fall in easily, as if we were still winglings in training.
Mother moved us around a lot, but I did spend summers in Guivre, for training, once I was old enough to be left. I trained with him and Ilma and others of our age, though not as hard as Egan and Ilma trained, given that old fart ran them year round.
Behind Egan and I, sixteen dragons fly in three sets of four, or at least, that is the intent. The four little coppers flit and roll through the formations. They are foolhardy Fae at their cores, no matter their form.
The rich aquamarine of the calm Dannet Sea starts to lighten as it shallows, nearing the Isles so I lead us up, into the clouds. We need to wait for Lo, Kai, Ollie, and Finn on the slower griffons.
I had been rather put out that Ollie had insisted on riding her griffon, but given my mission, I decided it was safer this way. But as I circle, the thick mist below me, my stomach turns over yet again at my treasure in harm’s way.
I’d much prefer she was humming off-tune in our kitchen, or greeting customers in her shop, or drinking with Colette and the gang.
Shit, even fucking those rebels would be better than this.
I push down my worry for her. I’ve always known she was headstrong to the point of foolhardiness, and brave, and incredibly kind-hearted.
It shakes me a bit that the woman I love with my entire being hid this need for revenge from me for years.
She’s stronger than I knew, and I will trust her.
I will show her that she can trust me, that she need not hide herself from me.
I catch a glance of Finnick, his green skin looking healthier than back at the field.
He’s nervous. I had wanted to curl my body up around his as he stood there, looking so worried, but I didn’t know if it would be welcome or not.
He’s such a sweetheart, I understand how Ollie, and even Lo and Kai, fell for him so quickly, because I have too.
Perhaps there’s something to that old dragon saying ‘watch your heart lest it run off on its own and bring you back a pet.’ Because I have spent numerous decades hating near everyone I’ve come in contact with, yet here I am, a simpering idiot for these three Fae my star has connected herself to.
Lonan, who obviously adores Ollie, and catches everyone’s emotions easily.
Even Kai, the big, dense moron, who dotes on my treasure, and hides his true self.
I want to get to know them all more, and show them all that while I am a prick, I could be their prick, who has a soft spot for each of them.
I snort, shaking my head. Lonan and Kai have made it clear they expect me to return to my and Ollie’s empty home after this. Alone. Whilst they continue to try to overtake the throne.
Yeah, that’s not happening. I can’t leave my treasure. Even if she won’t heart bond with me, I am going to have to trail after her like a lovesick wingling, because I am. I cannot live without her, and if all I get from her are crumbs, I’ll take them and thank her.
They close in on us as we circle. I signal for the thunder to stay in formation as I drop down as slowly as I can to not spook the griffons.
Lonan yells, “It’s just east?”
I nod. My eyes flick to Ollie and I speak into her mind.
I love you, star.
I love you too, Vale.
“The five of us will land on the southern end. Have the thunder wait until the sun is high to reveal themselves.”
I nod again and rise to pass the message to Egan.
We fly east a ways. Soon, we all start to drop sharply.
I follow the griffons as we veer precipitously downward towards a shrubby, flat field surrounded on three sides by black, sharp cliffs.
I flap my wings to give the griffons enough space as they go in to land.
I spread my wings, backdrafting hard as I head to the ground fast.
“Vale!” Ollie calls as I hit the grass hard. She hurries to me and I stand, swinging my head towards her. Her arms wrap around my head and I snort softly into her body.
The rest of them cross to us.
“One more time,” Lonan directs quietly, as Kai puts an arm around Finn’s waist reassuringly.
“We land on the smaller dome outside the basilica. Korben’s map from his reconnaissance several years back says that the Mother and Father have rooms above the chapel, with a balcony near the smaller rotunda.
Finn, Vale, Ollie, try to stick together but if you get separated, meet on the other side of the isle.
Kai and I are hunting Rafe. When we get Rafe, one of us will take to the air to circle over the Cathedral.
Hopefully we can all be in and out before the armada gets near and the dragons let loose and burn them to the waterline.
Vale, your half of the thunder will burn the Cathedral.
Ollie, you stick with Vale. Vale, if things get hairy, you grab her and fly. ”
Ollie glares but I nod firmly.
“Wait, how are we getting Rafe off the island?” Finn asks, eyebrows furrowed.
“For all I give a fuck we can remove a limb or two to make him lighter,” Kai grumbles.
Lonan shrugs.
Ollie lets out a giggle at my suggestion. “Vale says we can let the copper dragons play catch with him on the way home.”
“I approve this plan,” Lonan responds. “Let’s go.”
“Wait,” Ollie blurts, loud even over the waves crashing against the cliffs, “I know the Ordained and Soothsayers must die,” she pauses, looking worried, “But the servants, the townspeople. I want to spare them. They’ll be my subjects.
Killing innocents will not go over well politically, aside from being morally wrong. ”
Lonan’s face softens and he steps into her, wrapping her in his arms. “Oh, sweetheart,” he murmurs softly but I have a dragon’s hearing, “You’ll be an incredible queen. We’ll do our best.”
She clings to him a moment but they part.
“Come here, all of you,” Ollie commands, voice strong.
I lower my head and she wraps an arm around it as Finn presses his body to my cheek and Lonan and Kai complete the circle.
“My family. My boys. I love you all. We’ll come through this safe, do you understand me?”
Her voice brokers no argument. We all nod or murmur agreement.
“Alright,” Lo clears his throat, “Let’s fly.”
As they walk across the field strewn with a riot of colors from all the late season wildflowers, I roll, itching my back and taking in the sunlight of a pretty southern autumn day. Narisa, please, let it not be our last, I pray.
I’m not really the praying kind of Fae, but it seems like the right thing to do.
I launch off the ground, flapping hard. I catch up with them easily and we head a bit further north, staying above the clouds in hopes of avoiding being seen. Lonan had mentioned that they keep minimal watches, given how isolated and protected they are.
Lonan signals and we drop, again steeply, angling towards the smaller rotunda off the enormous Cathedral.
It is made of cut black stone, like the cliffs that surround the isles.
Both buildings are circular with large domed tops.
Huge, ornate archways surround the entirety of the outer wall of the main chapel.
The smaller domed building has only one arch.
As we drop, I catch a glimpse of a small belvedere with a large balcony, facing the northeast to the near cliff face and the tempestuous sea beyond.
Those are the Mother and Father’s rooms.
I land at the apex of the smaller building, talons scratching, and wrap my back claws around the large finial as I backdraft as silently as I can. My front legs scrabble on the roof, the feel of the smooth black stones under my toes. I cringe. So much for a silent arrival.
The griffons land easily, their large, leonine paws spreading out like camel hooves over sand. Lonan and Kai look over at us.
“Vale says ‘good hunting boys,’” Ollie tells them for me.
Lo winks at me and my heart flips over. Odd.
Kai nods and locks gazes with Finn and Ollie.
“See you in the skies over the armada, soon,” Lonan declares firmly, and him and Kai take off.
Finn and Ollie edge their griffons next to me as I do my best to stay still. I swing my neck around to watch as Finn, followed by Ollie, quickly pull the thin, leather leads off both beasts and tuck them in their pockets. The griffons take off and Finn and Ollie both carefully climb onto my back.
Once seated, Ollie pats my shoulder. I crouch, pushing off with my back legs. I lift up, giving a few quick flaps to get over to the Mother and Father’s tower.
When I land silently on the balcony, Finn and Ollie slide off smoothly as I crouch. Finn pulls his short sword and Ollie clenches a hand shut as the curtains billow in the sea breeze.
The snap of the blood-red fabric is strangely loud as we stand for a moment.
Finn reaches out to rip the curtains back.
I watch as his fingers fist into the cloth, when all of a sudden, Finn is knocked forcibly backwards.
Ollie lets out a little squeak before she catches herself, slapping her other hand over her mouth.
I leap forward into the room, yanking and thrashing the damn curtain, trying to see our opponent. As the entire rod comes clattering down, my vision clears and there is nothing.
No one. An empty bedroom that looks more like a mausoleum than anything else.
A huge, pristine, white, lacy bed, draped around by more lace from ceiling to floor.
Multiple large windows, glass open to the sea air and red curtains rippling in the wind.
Two wooden chairs sit at a table laden with moldy food, and nothing else in the enormous, airy room.
Not a curio, or washbasin, or any sign it’s lived in.
“A ward,” Ollie whispers, as Finn climbs to his feet, “A powerful one,” she mutters. She holds Finn’s arm. “Are you alright?”
He nods slowly, blinking. I think he may have hit his head.