Chapter 46
Forty - Six
Atlas
We only stop once in Bava to rest only because Sylvane insisted.
Despite wanting to get to Midori as quickly as possible, I heed her warning.
I'm still new to the world of dragon riding.
She knows the creatures better than I do.
She's lived life with them, cared for them, even fought in battles with them.
I've only read books about them. We are not the same and I willingly accept that fact.
Our campsite is near the spot Shaye sank my ship.
That seems like an entire lifetime ago. I recall the fire spreading fast across the deck and shouting for the others to get out.
That's when I spotted sharks. My heart sank watching her swim right in the midst of danger and having no idea how close to death she was.
Before we all abandoned ship, I showed Eris the shark fins poking out of the sea and she used her magic to create a water-shark to defend Shaye.
When she reached shore, I was relieved. Anger and irritation quickly filled me when I made it to the embankment, and she took off into the jungle. I should have known then I would be chasing her the rest of my days. Despite the dangers lurking, I would willingly follow her anywhere.
Those memories fade quickly as my hands hover above our make-shift fire. All four dragons are resting in the sand and Sylvane is fast asleep on her pack. It's peaceful, but I can't help the overwhelming dread settling in the pit of my stomach.
I stare up into the night sky. The stars are twinkling brightly. Is it possible she's in a place where she can look up and see the same constellations? Or is she trapped in another realm consumed by darkness?
"You need to rest," Sylvane says, her eyes still closed. "You will need your strength tomorrow in Midori."
"I can't sleep," I mutter, tossing a twig into the flames. "I can't stop thinking about what Shaye might be – "
"Don't." She sits up and stares intensely at me. "Don't do that to yourself. Don't allow your imagination to run wild."
"You aren't worried?"
"Of course I'm worried," she shoots me a menacing look.
"She's my daughter. I've already lost her once before.
To lose her twice…" she clears her throat.
"We are soldiers. If we don't focus on the mission at hand, then our judgment will be impaired.
If we don't rest, our movements will be stiff.
We have to be at our best if we are to succeed.
Dreading and worrying about what Aurelia is enduring won't change anything.
It will only destroy us. She needs us at our best. Are you at your best right now?
Hunched over the fire lamenting her state, refusing to sleep, barely eating? "
I swallow hard. Her chastisement is well-warranted. I haven't been taking care of myself since Shaye was taken. When I revisit the last week in my head, I realize she's right. I haven't eaten much. I've barely slept. And I'm feeling sluggish and heavy.
My shoulders slump forward and I exhale a labored breath. "Can I be honest with you?"
She nods. "Always."
"I'm afraid." My eyes meet her and her face softens. "I don't think I've ever been this scared before and I've seen some horrific shit."
"It's normal to be afraid." She fingers through her long hair absent-mindedly.
"When Aurelia was first taken, I lived every day in fear.
Would today be the day I found her? Would today be the day I received news of her whereabouts or worse her murder?
Would I ever see my daughter again?" She stares at the sand at her feet.
"My faith had to be stronger than my fear.
When doubt would creep in, I would fortify my belief that I would see Aurelia again.
Though it took two decades, she found her way home.
To me." She smiles and my chest swells. "I believe we will see Aurelia again.
Whatever she deals with we can help her overcome. "
I inhale deeply, steadying my nerves and keeping the emotions welling in my throat at bay. "Do you think the Midorians know where she is?"
She shrugs. "I don't know. What I do know is they'll work with us."
"How can you be so sure?"
A smirk snakes across her face. "We have dragons. You can bend nearly anyone to your will when they come face-to-face with one."
I chuckle. "You and I sound very similar when it comes to diplomatic missions."
"When in doubt, bring a dragon," she winks and I see so much of Shaye in her it nearly chokes me. She must notice the shift, because she motions for me to lay on my pack as she reclines. "Sleep, Atlas."
Reluctantly, I recline into my sleeping bag and force my eyes to close. The crackle of the fire and the waves sloshing up to the shoreline eventually lull me to sleep.
The next morning, we rise early and fly to Midori. The Golden Palace gleams in the sunlight nearly blinding me as we approach.
Screams of the Midorians swirl up to meet us in the clouds. Well, it's very apparent we've been spotted. I fear we're about to receive an unpleasant welcome.
Since the Midorians don't have dragons, there's nowhere suitable for us to land, so we circle the city searching for a place to perch.
Sylvane motions to the palace. On one of the largest balconies, we spy the king and queen.
They wave at us to land in the garden. It's as good a place as any from what I can tell so we dive toward them.
Once all four dragons touch down, we slide off our mounts and watch with keen interest as the welcoming committee slowly approaches. The royals aren't among them.
"His Royal Highness, King Garren, wants to know who you are and why you have come to our city?" the attendant asks, voice shaking just as much as his knees are knocking.
Seraxes growls, baring her fangs and he leaps back a few steps.
Whether she liked his tone or not or just didn't like how close he got to us, something upset her and she isn't scared to enforce boundaries with strangers.
I pat her side and drag my hand up her scales to her snout.
My touch isn't miraculous by any means, but she seems to accept the soothing motion.
At least, she's no longer growling at the Midorian.
I circle around, putting myself between the Midorian and Seraxes. "I'm Atlas Harland of Tronovia," I begin, waving my hand to Sylvane making her way to my side. "And this is Sylvane Basilus-Sol. We need to speak with your king. Tell him it is in regards to Ilaria Shaye Kitarni."
The clerks' eyes nearly pop out of his head. "Come," he motions us to follow him up the steps and into the Golden Palace. "Your dragons will be safe here, I assure you."
I shoot one last glance over my shoulder at the four dragons before we follow him inside.
It's weird being inside the palace in the broad daylight.
The last and only time I had stepped foot in here, it was under the guise of night, and I couldn't appreciate the grandeur the Kitarnis boasted.
White marble is everywhere and anywhere they could incorporate gold, they did.
I suppose it makes sense for a residence called the Golden Palace.
We're led through the curved halls until we make it to a sitting room. I half expected us to be brought before the royal couple in their throne room, but they've chosen a more informal setting.
As soon as Sylvane and I step inside, the doors close behind us, leaving us alone with the king and queen. My gaze darts to all corners of the room, but there aren't any guards or servants. We seem to truly be alone.
"It's been decades since I've seen a Tronovian and Frost Elf traveling together," King Garren starts, wringing his hands together. "And it's been a long time since I've seen your face, Sylvane."
I always forget most of the people who fought in the Great War know one another. I'm not sure if this will work in our favor or not.
Sylvane doesn't offer any friendly or warm greetings. Her face doesn't falter from the stoic and stern look I'm used to her sporting. "Garren." She shifts her gaze to the queen. She has deep bags beneath her eyes and appears to have been crying before we arrived. "Keres."
"Why are you here?" Keres rasps, her bloodshot eyes darting between us. "Have you come here to kill us?"
Her question catches me off-guard. "Why do you think we're here to kill you?"
"We now know who our Ilaria really is," Garren wraps his arm around Keres' shoulders. "She is your daughter," he says softly to Sylvane. "We had no idea when we adopted her."
"I know," Sylvane says, void of emotion. "My father preyed on your desire for a child in order to discard an heir he did not want."
"Wait," I hold out a hand. "How did you know?" There's only one way they could have discovered this news.
Keres' bottom lip trembles, her body skittish, as if she's waiting for some horrible nightmare to manifest itself. "He told us."
"He?" Sylvane takes a heavy step forward. "He, who?"
"Bastian," she hisses. "Oh, it was awful!" she wails, holding her head, tearing at her hair. "He was monstrous. He killed him. There was blood everywhere. So much blood," she trails off, wrapping her arms around her torso and gently rocking back and forth. "So much blood."
"Bastian was here?" I press, hope breathing into my lungs. "Is he still here?"
Garren shakes his head. "He was here weeks ago. Told us about Ilaria and then he…" the king swallows hard.
What the hell happened here? They're terrified. I exchange a look with Sylvane. When I thought about coming face-to-face with the Kitarnis, I expected haughtiness, maybe even resistance, but this is something I never could have prepared for. They're hollow shells, tormented and afraid.
"Then he what?" Sylvane asks when the silence stretches too long for comfort.
A tear slips down Garren's cheek and disappears into his beard. "He transformed into a monster right before our very eyes. He killed his father."