Chapter 29
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
Zander leaned against the stone archway, his arms folded, the fading sunlight casting golden streaks across the planes of his face. His expression had softened from the tension earlier.
“There’s something strange about Remy’s relationship with my father,” he said suddenly, his voice low.
I blinked, surprised by the shift. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know the whole story,” he admitted. “No one does. But the king... favors him. Always has. More than he’s ever favored me. More than he ever did Darmon.”
My brows furrowed. “Why?”
“That’s the strange part.” Zander shrugged, but the movement was tight. “He’s not highborn, and yet my father trusted him with assignments most riders never even hear about. He gave him access, freedom, information. Things I had to earn.”
“That must’ve caused... friction,” I said quietly.
Zander gave a humorless smile. “It caused more than that. Dorian tried to be diplomatic about it. Darmon avoided Remy altogether. And Theron?” He paused. “Theron seems to like him.”
That settled wrong in my stomach.
Theron liking anyone was rare.
Theron liking Remy was alarming.
I felt the air tighten around me, like every secret I’d ever carried was suddenly sitting on my chest. The swirl of emotions rising inside me, confusion, guilt, anger, was too sharp to ignore.
“I should go,” I said quickly, stepping back. “I need to clear my head.”
Zander didn’t argue. Not aloud. But the way his eyes lingered on mine, worried, heavy, told me he didn’t want me to leave.
Still, he gave a small nod.
And I turned before he could say anything else.
I walked with purpose, my boots echoing softly off the stone. My hands clenched at my sides, trying to contain the storm within as I made my way toward the northwest tower.
Where the shadows were thicker.
Where I could finally breathe.
The northwest tower was quieter than the rest of the castle, the stone walls cool beneath my fingertips as I walked the narrow corridor.
I wasn’t sure why I came here, only that I needed away.
From Zander, from Remy, from all the questions that felt like they were suffocating me from the inside out.
As I rounded the base of the stairs, I spotted a familiar figure.
Quinn.
He was halfway to the first landing, shoulders hunched like he carried too many burdens for someone so young, so quiet. I called out before I could think better of it.
“Quinn.”
He paused and turned, a small, surprised smile blooming across his face. “Ashlyn.”
I crossed the space between us quickly and, without hesitation, wrapped him in a quick hug. He stiffened at first, then relaxed, his arms loosely returning the embrace.
“How are you?” he asked, stepping back. “You look... tired.”
“I’m good,” I lied with a smile, then tilted my head. “How are you?”
He hesitated. Then frowned. “I’m okay. Things have been...” he trailed off.
“I know about the other warders,” I said softly. “Were they friends?”
His expression tightened. “I’d met them. But they were far more advanced than me.”
I looked around the empty tower base. “Where are your guards? I thought the warders had protection now.”
He gave a half-hearted grunt. “They come and go. They think being assigned to me is babysitting duty, so…”
My blood boiled beneath my skin. I forced my face to stay neutral, but Kaelith stirred sharply in the back of my mind.
You are in distress, she said.
No, I bit back. I’m mad. Quinn has no security. The guards treat it like a joke.
Kaelith growled, the sound low and vibrating through the bond.
The protection of the humans and our hatchlings is the very reason the Unification Treaty was forged. I will speak with our representative and call him back.
Siergen? I asked, the realization clicking. Is that why I haven’t seen him?
Yes. He has more important things to do than flirt with you, she said in a gruff tone before she disappeared from my thoughts.
I couldn’t help it. I laughed, a short burst of sound that caught even me off guard.
Quinn raised an eyebrow, confused. “Did I miss something?”
I shook my head, still smiling. “No. Just… dragon things.”
He looked mildly concerned. “Should I be worried?”
“Only if you insult her flying,” I said.
“It must be comforting to have a dragon protecting you. A friend like that I mean.”
Quinn gave me a sad smile, but the shadow behind his eyes lingered.
And I silently promised I’d do something about that.
I touched Quinn’s arm gently, halting him before he could take another step up the stairs.
“Hey,” I said, “if you ever feel like you’re in danger, if something feels off, if anyone follows you, or even just if you get that gut feeling, come to our barracks.”
He blinked, surprised.
“We’ve got plenty of beds,” I added. “And you’re always welcome. My squad won’t ask questions. You’ll be safe there.”
“The Master wouldn’t like that,” he said softly.
My brow furrowed. “The Master?”
He nodded. “The Head Warder. He’s the most powerful. He trains us... when he has time.”
My frown deepened. “You mean you don’t have a rigorous schedule? With warders dropping like flies?”
Quinn shrugged, and I immediately saw how my tone had made him uncomfortable. His shoulders tightened, eyes shifting away.
“I’m sorry, Quinn,” I said, lowering my voice. “I’m not trying to interrogate you. I just… I like you. And I want you safe.”
That cracked something.
His expression softened, and the smile that followed was warm and genuine, brighter than I’d seen on him before. “Thank you. I… I like you too.”
There was something in him that reminded me of Cordelle, quiet, thoughtful, observant. But Cordelle had Kass. He had us.
Quinn seemed alone.
I placed a hand over my heart. “Come visit me. Anytime. Whether you want to talk or feel unsafe, okay?”
He nodded, more firmly this time. “Okay.”
And then he turned and ascended the tower stairs, his steps a little lighter than before.
I watched him until he disappeared from view, then exhaled slowly and continued on, winding through the quiet corridors.
Something still didn’t sit right.
And I had a feeling it wasn’t just Quinn who needed protection.
I made my way down the familiar corridor toward the Healers’ Quadrant, the scent of herbs and salves growing stronger with every step. The halls here were quiet, the kind of silence that didn’t feel peaceful, just tired.
As I turned the corner, I passed a healer I didn’t recognize. A tall man, pale with sharp eyes, robes too new to belong in a place that thrived on wear. He didn’t look at me, didn’t smile, just walked past like he belonged.
Odd.
But I didn’t have time to dwell on it because just ahead, Meri appeared from one of the rooms, wiping her hands on a cloth already stained with dried blood and salve.
“Ashlyn?” she asked, brows rising. “Are you hurt?”
I gave a small smile. “No, Meri. I’m just… checking in on you.”
She blinked. For a moment, she looked so caught off guard, it almost made me laugh.
“That is… kind of you,” she said, brushing a loose curl from her cheek. “I’m well.”
I didn’t miss the tired crease between her brows. “Are you really?”
Meri hesitated, then sighed, leading me to a bench near the corridor wall. “There’s been an uptick in injuries. Minor things, mostly, but… the numbers are rising. More falls during training, more power-related wounds. I’m treating burns again, and that hasn’t happened in months.”
“Is that why there’s a new healer?” I asked. “The one I passed?”
Her lips tightened. “No. He’s from the castle’s reserve, sent in after two of our senior healers were reassigned.”
“To where?”
She glanced around and lowered her voice. “Outer regions. Small villages and military outposts.”
“Is that normal?”
“No.” Her tone was clipped. “We usually send apprentices or rotating trainees, not specialists. And we’re not told why they’re being moved. They just go.”
A chill crept up my spine. “Do you think it’s tied to the warder deaths?”
Meri looked at me for a long moment. Then nodded. “Partly. But there’s more.” She lowered her voice even further. “There’s talk, quiet, cautious talk, that some of these transfers are tied to that sect that’s been recruiting commoners.”
“The rebellion?” I whispered.
“Some call it that,” Meri said. “Others call it preparation. Either way, a number of those reassigned had common backgrounds. High magic. Quiet reputations. And now they’re gone.”
“Vanished?”
“Officially? Reassigned. But no one hears from them again.”
I leaned back, pulse quickening.
“Be careful, Ashlyn,” Meri added, her voice quiet but sharp. “You’re more valuable than most. And that makes you a target, on all sides.”
“Thank you, Meri,” I said softly, rising from the bench.
She gave a small, tired nod. “Watch your back, Ashlyn. The castle isn’t what it used to be.”
I stepped back into the corridor, my thoughts a blur, each new revelation folding into the chaos that had already begun to fray at the edges of my understanding.
Healers being reassigned. Commoners vanishing.
A rebellion that wasn’t quite a rebellion.
The pieces didn’t fit, but I felt the shape of something larger—looming.
Maybe one of my squad has a friend in the First Guild, I thought absently as I stepped into the crisp air of the Yarrow Gardens. The light was softer here, filtered through the hanging vines and lavender blooms that brushed the old stone walls. A place meant for quiet.
But my mind was anything but.
You are not staying out of trouble, I see.
Siergen’s voice curled into my thoughts, silk and smoke, threaded with humor that never quite masked the edge beneath it.
I slowed, scanning the open space with narrowed eyes. Where are you?
Not at the castle, he responded smoothly, as if that explained anything.
I sighed aloud and began walking again, making my way toward the Ascension Grounds. I have missed you.
Really? he asked. I was under the impression that Hein’s rider was keeping you busy.
I rolled my eyes. You know his name is Zander and that is personal.
He chuckled. If you say so beauty.
I smiled. Have you been gone long?
Long enough to miss a few assassination attempts, he said dryly. And I’ll have to leave again soon. There are many concerning things happening on this continent.
Are you going to tell me what you’re actually doing?
There was a pause, then a soft, familiar chuckle in my mind. No. But I will tell you this—War isn’t coming, Ashlyn. It’s already here. You just haven’t seen the front line yet.
A chill moved down my spine.
Siergen…
Be careful, he said, and his presence began to slip away, like smoke through cracks in the mind. Even dragons can be outmatched when they don’t see the blade coming.