CHAPTER 48
Sakura
Sakura narrowed her eyes as she watched Keenan cross the throne room. There was no way he believed Mother’s claim, and betraying a friend wasn’t in his nature.
So what was he up to?
“He clearly wishes to conceal his identity, so we should call him by his chosen name in front of the court,” Mother was saying. Sakura held in a sigh. “But when you see his sword, Banri, you will understand. The young man is a prince.”
“Do not listen to her, Father,” Sakura inserted, wishing she could roll her eyes. “There may be more to him than meets the eye, but Keenan is what he claims.”
“You would have me throw him in the dungeon then?”
“Of course not!” She lifted her chin. “He’s only—”
A roar and a flash of light preceded a chorus of screams and startled yelps in the hallway.
Sakura’s eyes jerked back to the door in time to see Keenan stumbling forward, then flipping over and scurrying away from the door like a crab before he got his feet back under himself.
Beyond the door, guards with swords in their hands pointed above their heads.
Oliver yelled something that sounded like, “Churippu, calm down!” but it was hard to hear over the next rush of flames pouring into the hallway.
Sakura started down the steps, but her brother headed her off. “Don’t even think about it,” he said in a rushed undertone. “I don’t care how much you like animals, an angry dragon isn’t going to listen to you!”
Metal clattered behind her. “How does this work?” Mother muttered. “Is there a word to make it reveal itself first?”
While Sakura struggled against her brother, Keenan rushed toward the door. The guards caught his arms, holding him back as he yelled after the little dragon. “Cherry! Cherry, this won’t help anything!”
The flames and the yelling receded. Hari finally released her, and she crossed the throne room as quickly as the appropriate speed of a princess allowed.
Keenan gave one last struggle against the guards restraining him, then dropped his head. “I don’t know what happened.” Turning to Sakura, he said, “She went berserk. Oliver ran after her to try and stop her before she sets fire to the whole city, but…”
“Release him,” she said quietly but firmly to the guards. “He will accompany me back into the throne room. Will you not, weapon-smith?”
He nodded wearily. “I don’t understand what happened,” he repeated. “She’s always been so mild.”
“Best not to trust a dragon,” one of the guards replied with a shudder. He released Keenan’s arm, then gave his back a solid thwack. “If you’re lucky, it’ll handle the justice on your cursed friend, and the king and queen won’t have to worry about it.”
“Yes, serve him right,” Keenan muttered, his eyes not seeming to absorb the world around him as Sakura guided him back to the dais. “Maybe I’ll just stay here… Not sure Prince Michael will believe a dragon ate his favorite guard. Or that Oliver was a traitor.”
His head lifted when a guard came jogging in. The man’s eyebrows were singed, and he smelled of burnt leather. The king beckoned him closer. “Well? What news?”
The guard bowed, breathing deeply before he straightened. “We lost them, Your Majesty. It’s too dark; when the dragon was breathing fire, it was all we could see. When it stopped, they were both too deep in the city for us to see without light.”
“I’ll go after them.” The cold glint was back in Keenan’s blue eyes. “I promised Cherry’s mother I’d look out for her, and if that traitor is with her, I’ll hunt them both down.”
“Peace, boy,” Father barked out. “You will be lost in the warrens of the city before the moon reaches its zenith. My men will search for him.”
Keenan looked mutinous, but he bowed his head. “As you wish, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, we cannot lose you so soon before the wedding,” Mother added. She smiled demurely, but Sakura thought she looked a little disappointed. “A guest room has been prepared for you. If you follow my servant, he will show you the way.”
The muscles stood out in Keenan’s jaw, but he snatched up his pack and strode after the servant.
“Am I the only one who finds it odd that Mother has betrothed Sakura to a weapon-smith?” Hari asked, raising a hand. “I expected more protests than I’ve heard so far.”
Father set his hands on the armrests of his throne and shoved himself to his feet. “If you have any complaints, you may register them with me in the morning. I may yet throw that boy in the dungeon.”
“Now that’s settled, you should head to bed,” Mother said regally as Father sauntered away. “I will see you in the morning, Hatori. Sakura dear, it may be late, but you still shouldn’t slouch.”
Sakura straightened her shoulders, wishing somewhat futilely that she were still in the mountains. She was not overly fond of being outside, and sleeping on the ground had been awful. But she missed the freedom of being out from under her mother’s watchful eye.
“So, a weapon-smith?” Hari stepped up beside her and dropped an arm around her shoulders. “Do you really intend to let Mother drag you before the altar with him?”
Turning away, she walked slowly toward the exit behind the thrones. “I could wish for more time,” she replied quietly. “But I do not believe it will be a great hardship.”
“Not a…” He trailed off, and then his boots clomped across the floor as he caught up with her. “Sakura, do you mean to tell me that you care about him? But what about the crown?”
“We’ll figure something out,” she said quietly. “We just need a little time.”
But with Hari’s birthday only two months away, time was quickly running out.