Chapter 37
Chapter
Thirty-Seven
We touched down on the Ascension Grounds beneath a sky streaked with fading light, Kaelith’s wings stirring the dust into brief spirals before she settled.
The events of the summit still concerned me, but I knew we wouldn’t have to say a word, news traveled faster on dragon wings than sound ever could.
Zander slid from Hein’s back just as Lirane from Stormforge came striding across the grounds, her expression grim and sure.
“Zander,” she called. “We have an issue.”
He turned fully to her. “What is it?”
“Lieutenant Saulter was caught passing intelligence to a Varnari contact.”
My stomach twisted. “Remy’s a lot of things, but he isn’t a traitor.”
Zander didn’t respond immediately. His jaw tightened, and I saw that familiar flicker of doubt darken his eyes. “Has your dragon spoken with his?”
Lirane nodded once. “It was Katama who informed Verna of the breach.”
That did it. Zander’s expression went still—too still.
“Arrest Lieutenant Saulter,” he said. “Bring him to me.”
His voice was soft, but there was steel beneath it. Katama wouldn’t lie. And if the dragon had turned on his rider…
Then something was very, very wrong.
We lingered at the edge of the training fields, far from curious ears and watchful eyes.
Kaelith and Hein circled above, silent shadows against the low clouds, but neither of us spoke for a long moment.
The scent of forge smoke clung to the air, and what Lirane had said pressed down like a fresh wound.
“Remy always had his own agenda,” Zander said finally, his arms crossed, voice low. “Even when we were younger. He never did anything without weighing the gain.”
“I know,” I admitted, my fingers tightening around the edge of my belt. “But I don’t believe he would betray the king. I saw the way he looked at Emlem. That wasn’t for show. He cares for your father.”
Zander shook his head, his jaw clenched. “A few years ago, I would’ve agreed with you. But he’s changed, Ashlyn. Ever since his time with the Order, he’s been… different.”
“Because of me,” I said, the words sharper than I intended.
His gaze snapped to mine. “That’s not what I meant.”
“No?” I asked, voice quieter now. “He left everything to infiltrate the Order. Everything. And maybe that changed him, but meeting me, leaving me… that hurt him.”
Zander exhaled hard, as if the weight of it all was catching up to him. “I’m not saying he didn’t pay a price. I just don’t know if we can trust him anymore. Not when Katama turns on him. A dragon knows.”
“That’s the part I don’t understand,” I said. “If he’s guilty, it isn’t because he stopped caring about Warriath. There’s something else we’re missing.”
Zander was quiet, then reached for my hand and held it tightly.
“I hope you’re right. For his sake.”
And for ours.
A castle guard approached us as we made our way to the lower levels.
He bowed stiffly as we approached the stairwell leading to the dungeons. “He’s in the second cell, Highness,” he said to Zander. “Been quiet, hasn’t asked for anything.”
Zander gave a curt nod. “Thank you. We’ll handle it from here.”
As the guard turned away, I glanced at Zander. “Let me talk to him alone.”
His jaw tightened, but after a moment, he nodded. “I’ll be right outside.”
I descended the cold steps, the stone slick from the moisture that clung to the air. The torches burned low, casting long, twitching shadows along the corridor. Remy was sitting on the bench inside his cell, his back against the wall, eyes fixed on the floor until he heard my footsteps.
Then he looked up and smiled.
“What the hell did you do?” My voice cracked through the silence like a whip.
He cocked his head. “What are you talking about?”
“Why did you betray us?”
His eyes widened, hurt flashing for just a second. “I didn’t. I did everything you asked me to.”
I blinked. “I didn’t ask you to do anything, Remy.”
“You asked me to trust you. To arrange a meeting between you and the Varnari leader. I passed on the message—”
He stopped, pushing to his feet and pacing toward the bars. “Did you set me up?”
My heart pounded. “I would never do that. And I never asked you to do anything, Remy.”
His face twisted. “You sent me a message to meet by the gate. We did. You told me to find the Varnari in the village, and to deliver your request personally. So I did.”
I stepped back. “That’s the problem with lying all the time, Remy. I don’t believe you.”
His expression shattered. Not into guilt. But into something worse.
Pain. Confusion.
Betrayal.
I pressed a hand to my forehead, the ache behind my eyes sharp and disorienting. “Tell Katama this is true,” I said, staring at Remy. “He’ll know if you’re lying.”
Remy looked startled, but then nodded slowly. “Alright.”
I reached out for Kaelith across our bond, Remy is—
I know, she cut me off, her voice quieter than usual. Katama says Remy shared his memory. He saw you, Ashe. You asked for the meeting. He assumed you wanted to flush the Varnari leader out.
Her words hit me like a stone in the chest. I stared at Remy through the bars. “I… I’ll figure this out.”
He leaned forward, fingers curling around the metal. “You believe me?”
“I believe your memory,” I said carefully. “Next time, fill your dragon in, Remy. So we don’t end up with you arrested while I’m out fighting a war.”
He huffed out a tired laugh, but there was no amusement in it. “Who could perfect a glamor like that? They had your voice… your tone… down perfectly.”
My voice was a whisper. “Cade.”
Kaelith stirred, her tone thoughtful. I’ll ask Voth.
I waited, barely breathing.
He doesn’t think so, she said slowly, but Cade’s been secretive lately. He’s hiding something.
“Of course he is,” I murmured. I met Remy’s eyes. “We’ll figure out who’s behind this. You’re not the only one being played.”
Zander’s voice rang through our link. Ashlyn. I need you. Now.
I turned from Remy’s cell, heart pounding, and jogged up the corridor. Zander was already waiting at the top of the dungeon stairs, his jaw tight with tension.
“Someone used a glamour to impersonate me,” I said without preamble. “We need to speak with Cade.”
He didn’t hesitate. “It isn’t him.”
“He joined Iron Fang. And Voth confirmed he’s been secretive lately.”
Zander gave a grim nod. “I’ll speak with him. But we have a bigger problem—” he glanced around, then leaned in, “—we have to find Elara. She’s missing.”
My heart slammed into my ribs. “What? When?”
“Not long ago. No one’s seen her since this morning.”
Without a word, we broke into a run, sprinting through the castle corridors. We hadn’t even cleared the main foyer when Quinn flagged us down, his expression urgent.
“You must come with me. Now,” he said.
“We can’t,” I snapped. “We have to find Elara—she’s missing.”
Quinn’s eyes darted around, making sure no one was in earshot. Then he dropped his voice.
“I know. She’s in the pool.”
We ran, boots pounding over stone, trailing Quinn as he led us to the far end of the tower and down the winding staircase hidden behind the ancient tapestry.
The door groaned as he pushed it open, revealing the tunnel I’d nearly forgotten—one few even knew existed.
Cold, damp air pressed in on us as we descended.
The torchlight flickered wildly along the moss-covered walls, casting strange shadows that only heightened my unease.
The tunnel opened into the vast underground cavern housing the sacred pool. It shimmered with an eerie stillness, untouched by the chaos above.
“Elara,” I breathed.
She floated in the center of the water, face turned toward the cavern ceiling, her long hair fanning around her like a silver veil. She was smiling. Peaceful. Serene. Like the chaos of our world had never touched her.
But her body… it glowed. Not bright, not blinding, just enough to bathe the water around her in pale-turquoise light. The effect rippled outward, making the corrupted edges of the pool appear even darker in contrast.
Zander fell to his knees at the edge of the water. “Elara?” His voice cracked, softer than I’d ever heard it.
She didn’t respond. But the light surrounding her pulsed in time with her breath, slow and even, as if the pool itself had bent to her will. Or maybe… it had chosen her.
“What is this?” I whispered.
Quinn stepped up beside us, eyes wide, reverent. “She entered the pool on her own. It didn’t reject her. It embraced her.”
I dropped to Zander’s side, unable to tear my gaze away. The cursed magic that once turned the waters black… was receding. From her.
“She’s healing it,” I whispered.
Zander’s hand trembled where it hovered just above the water. “But at what cost?”