Forty Two
Alara
“She’s just so angry,” I tell Rohan, feeling defeated. “I don’t know how to help her, and Halen made it clear I need to show him some progress the next time he’s down there.”
He runs water through my hair, my back to him in the tub.
“You’re doing all you can.”
“But it isn’t enough,” I say, frustrated.
Strong fingers massage the back of my neck, and I groan.
“We will figure something out. Maybe Drogonah can help, He’s just as grumpy.”
“Maybe,” I sigh. “But we’re running out of time. There’re only two games left.”
“I know.”
I turn to him. “I feel like we could be doing more.”
His eyes bounce between mine, his fingers running across my bare shoulder.
“Tell me,” he says, moving wet strands away from my face.
“Karag’s dragon, he’s scared.”
His eyes turn sharper. “And how do you know this?”
I bite my lip.
“Alara,” he warns, body tense.
“When you were at the castle, I went through the dragons to see if I could find anything. That’s what my task is. To help find who stole the eggs.”
“And…” he grits out.
“And…” I swirl a finger in the water.
“Alara.”
“I was with Vali, he was scared and worried, and I thought I could talk to him but then Darcia showed up.”
The water heats up instantly.
“Did she hurt you?” he grits out.
I shake my head. “No, I kind of… slapped her.”
He stares at me. “What?”
I lick my lips, his eyes following the movement. “She was saying things, like how she didn’t care that she went to the king.”
“We already knew she did after what Declan had told us.”
I nod. “I know, but then she didn’t care that there was a fire at camp, that Asseya…” I shake my head. “I couldn’t believe it and I got angry and I slapped her… why are you smiling?”
His grin stretches wider. “There is nothing I love more than when you let that fire out, Little Whisperer,” he says huskily. “I wish I could’ve seen it.”
I shift uncomfortably. “I… that’s not me, Rohan, I don’t hit people.”
His eyes soften. “I know, as much as I love your fire, I love your softness too.”
“You… you do?” I ask quietly, and he hums.
He palms my cheek. “Of course.” I sigh into his touch, leaning into him as my eyes flutter shut. “Did she leave after you slapped her?” he asks, and my eyes fling open.
“Uh, no. Karag turned up.”
He drops his hand from my cheek, gripping the edge of the tub, knuckles white.
“And,” he asks carefully, controlled.
“He told me to leave and said some other things. He was angry, coming toward me but… Rohan!” I grab his arm, stopping him from leaving the tub. “I’m fine, I promise. Sigrid turned up and he dragged Darcia off.”
“I warned him when it comes to you,” he snarls, breathing heavily.
“And I’m fine. I vow it.”
He looks at me for a moment before relaxing back into the water.
I blow out a relieved breath.
“My point is,” I continue, “I think we need to talk with Vali again.”
His fingers tap against the edge, eyeing me for a moment.
“Do you think he knows something?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be coming with you.”
“I know.”
His jaw ticks. “And then he may not react well to me.”
“I also know that,” I say, smiling softly.
“Okay, come.”
We get out of the tub and dress, Rohan helping me with eager hands and putting a quick braid in my hair.
“Let’s get the keys to the cages first.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea?” I ask, following him out of the tent.
“We’ll find out.”
We head to the gate, Rohan stopping to speak to a few people.
“Make sure to take extra meat for yourself,” he murmurs to Agnis. “You’ve been working hard.”
“Thank you, Dragonbond,” she says, bowing her head.
Bellamy walks past us. “I sharpened all the axes we have.”
“Good, I’ll ask for more,” Rohan replies, and Bellamy nods.
We continue, the clan watching Rohan pass until we reach the door, Rohan knocking once.
The window slides open.
“What?”
“Keys to Firehorn and Blackscale,” Rohan says.
Beady eyes look at him. “You’re only Blackscale.”
Rohan goes to his pocket, then holds up a little sack that jingles.
He tilts his head. “Let’s make a deal, shall we?”
There is a slight pause, and then the guard holds his hand out.
“No, keys first,” Rohan demands.
The guard huffs, but then he drops two keys into Rohan’s hand.
“Bag,” the guard demands, the gate already rising.
Rohan throws the coin bag through the opening, a grunt coming from within as he grabs my hand and walks me through the entrance.
“Was that necessary? Don’t we want them to… I don’t know… like us?”
He pulls me to a stop, frowning.
“Why do you want him to like you?”
I blink up at him. “So he could maybe help us?”
He tilts his head. “Coin speaks for many here, not… niceness.”
“Oh,” I mutter. “Okay.”
He pulls me closer, face inches from mine. “We do not expect nice here, and you are not to give it. They will get the wrong impression.”
“What impression?”
“One that means they can take what is not given.”
I pale. “That’s awful.”
He gentles his words. “That’s what they’re like, Little Whisperer. Give them anything, a look, fuck, even breathe in their direction, and they will think they can take it all. That’s why they guard the clans, because the king knows all too well what those types of people are like.”
I shake my head as we move down the hill.
“Has that happened?”
He nods. “One or two will go into a tent in the night, but what they fail to realize is that sometimes, they may succeed, but they will not be unscathed. We are Dragorie after all, and we fight until we can’t anymore.”
I admire that about the Dragorie. Yes, they hone their physical strength, but it’s the fact that they won’t give up. They will do their best to protect their dragons, each other, and themselves no matter what.
“I wish to be more like the Dragorie,” I tell Rohan.
“Where you are not as strong in body, you are more than strong in mind.” His fingers tangle with mine, and I squeeze them, glancing at him with a soft smile. “And you have taught me that is more than enough.”
We reach the dragons, all of them chuffing in greeting. “Why do we need our key?”
“Because,” he says, walking over to Escor as Drogonah eyes us. “Something needs to soothe the bonded if I’m there, and it certainly won’t be Drogonah.”
The dragon in question stands up and growls, ears flattening.
“Yeah, yeah.” Rohan waves him off, and I giggle at Drogonah’s expression, like he can’t believe he’s been batted away like a pest.
He growls again as Rohan unlocks Escor’s cage, and then he’s chuffing when Escor barrels over Rohan and comes straight for me.
“Escor, you little shit,” I hear before I’m knocked over, tongue dragging over my face through the muzzle.
“Escor,” I giggle, pushing his head away. “We don’t have to do this every time.”
He gives me one more lick and then sits back, tail banging on the floor, ears perked.
I laugh, getting to my feet as Rohan comes over, frowning at Escor.
“Push past me again and you won’t like what happens,” he growls to the young dragon. Escor leans down on his forelegs, butt in the air.
“Don’t you—”
He pounces on Rohan, his muzzled snout driving into his neck as he looms over him.
“For Morana’s sake.”
Drogonah chuffs, but when I look at him he turns his head away, nose in the air.
“Okay Escor, off now,” I tell him, trying to stifle my laughter.
He jumps off, coming over to me and sniffing my neck as I pat him.
“There, there. Good boy.”
Rohan lays on the ground, arms spread wide.
I laugh, doubling over. “You look ridiculous.”
He sighs, and it sounds so exasperated that it makes me laugh even harder.
The dragons all chuff at his expense.
“I’m glad you all find this funny,” he grouches and stands, wiping the dirt off of himself. “Stupid fucking dragon.”
Droganah rumbles his agreement, and growls at him, showing his teeth.
“Leave him alone,” I say, patting Escor. “He’s only little.”
Rohan’s stare is blank. “Alara, he’s bigger than the both of us.”
“So.” I shrug, and he sighs, coming over.
“Listen up, Escor, we’re going to see Vali.” Escor’s nose twitches. “I know, but we need him to be comfortable to talk, okay?”
His nostrils flare, looking between us.
“You’ll be good, won’t you?” I ask, and he deflates, his tail swiping back and forth.
Rohan runs a hand down his face. “Let’s get this over with.”
Escor walks with me beside Rohan, entering Clan Highwing’s area. The dragons here perk up at Escor, even sniffing him as he passes.
They are wary of him, but not outright aggressive.
Celeste purrs a greeting as we pass, and Escor stills, eyes locking on her.
Then, without warning, he bounces up and down on his feet, purring.
“What…”
He goes over to Celeste, tail high in the air, shoulders back and chest puffed out.
Celeste eyes him, head tilted as he turns in a circle, moving from side to side.
“Morana save me,” Rohan sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“What is he doing?” I ask, as Escor releases a variety of purrs.
“He’s trying to court her.”
My head whips to Rohan, and then back to the dragons. “What?” I whisper-hiss. “He’s a child.”
“He’s an older teenager who has his first crush it seems, for fuck’s sake.”
I turn to them and Escor is now on his back, legs moving like he’s swimming.
“Rohan, stop him.”
He shakes his head. “He’s yours, not mine, you stop him.”
“No he isn’t!” I protest.
He just stares at me.
“Fine,” I mutter, before walking closer to where Escor is now rubbing up at the bars while Celeste rumbles in amusement.
“Escor.” Nothing. “Escor!”
He purrs at Celeste.
Drogonah roars, causing Escor to still, but then he goes right back to it, tail high.
Celeste growls sharply, and that stops Escor. He moves backward, ears down, tail low.
“There, there,” I pat him. “Let’s give Celeste some peace, hmm?”
Escor whines, looking back at the white dragon one more time before walking with us again, and I’m sure Rohan mutters something like “as pathetic as I am” as we go.
“Do we let Vali out of his cage? Will he alert Karag?” I ask, nerves slithering up my spine as I remember the last time Karag caught me here.
Rohan shrugs. “It doesn’t matter if he’s alerted or not, we just need to try and get answers. If he doesn’t like it, I’ll make him like it.”