Chapter 46 #2
My eyes widen. "Your High General is dead?"
"Bastian assumed his title," Garren explains. "We've been held captive in our own home. Up until he left, everyone has been terrified. Bastian kept saying he would bring Ilaria home. Said she was brainwashed and he would make her see the light."
"But he wasn't the one to truly fear," Keres chimes in, hoarsely. "It was the woman with red eyes."
"Vesper," I say and she nods, flinching when she hears the name.
"She is pure evil. She whispers in Bastian's ear constantly.
" Keres drags her hands down her cheeks.
"Why can he not see she is using him? He thinks he's in control," she shakes her head, cloudiness overtaking her eyes, "but he's a pawn in her game.
By the time he realizes it, it will be far too late. "
"Do you know where he is now?" Sylvane interrogates further, surprising me with how calm and collected she is under this immense pressure. It can't be easy listening to this report and not be worried. "Where he might have taken Aurelia?"
"Aurelia," Keres says with reverence. "Right, that's her real name, isn't it? You picked a beautiful name for her, Sylvane. I'm so sorry we…" her lip trembles. "I'm so sorry we robbed you of motherhood."
Sylvane finally softens and makes her way to Keres. She places her hands on the queen's face. "The one responsible for Aurelia's kidnapping has met justice. You were also a victim in this. There is no blame laid at your feet in my book. But right now, Aurelia needs our help."
"Help?" Keres' eyes widen. "What's happened to her?"
"Bastian and Vesper attacked Tronovia and took her," I skip right to the part that matters. "She is Enver Sol's daughter and heir. They need her blood to open the portal to Malvolio."
Garren pales. "The portals were destroyed."
"Bastian's Soul Eaters have rebuilt theirs," I say simply and watch as he turns ashen white. Fear grips him, I can see it plain as day.
"But if what you say is true, and all they need is her blood to open it – "
"We need to find her," I interrupt him. "It might already be too late. They had a head start when they captured her."
"The portal to Malvolio was somewhere in the desert," he recounts, rubbing his temples. "I am so sorry, I do not remember where it was located exactly."
Screams once again erupt from the citizens of Midori. I rush to the balcony. There's chaos in the streets as an enormous shadow zips overhead.
I catch a glimpse of another dragon spearing through the clouds. I squint as Sylvane joins me. "Those aren't our dragons."
She shakes her head, holding her hand above her eyes for a better look. "That's a sand dragon."
I whip to look at her, "Sand dragons are alive?"
"It would appear so," she says as if it's the most normal thing in the world. "Meaning Alem Naziri did survive. The only reason he'd send a messenger is because something earth-shattering happened."
"Like a portal in the desert being opened?"
We exchange a look and march back inside. Within minutes, a man with brown skin and golden riding armor is escorted into the room. He eyes everyone one by one before taking a heavy step toward Garren. "I bring a message from General Naziri of Vashbehtan."
"Alem is alive?" Garren looks as if he might go into cardiac arrest if more ghosts of his past suddenly reappear.
The courier ignores the king's open-mouth shock and delivers the message. "The portal to Malvolio has been reforged and is now open. Creatures and demons are preparing to launch their assault on our realm once again."
My head drops to my chest. The war we've all been dreading is coming.
"The General also sends word that our patrol scouts found and rescued three people who escaped Malvolio. One a Tronovian, another a Frost Elf, the third we believe belongs to you. He goes by Bastian Tarkin, but we know him as the Beast of Midori."
"The Tronovian and Frost Elf," Sylvane jumps into the conversation, drawing the messenger's dark gaze. "What are their names?"
"Nyx Harland of House Delaney and Aurelia Basililus-Sol, daughter of Enver Sol and Sylvane Basilius," he says calmly, not realizing who they are to us.
"They're alive?" My voice doesn't sound like mine.
The courier takes me in, eyeing me head-to-toe. "Injured. But alive."
"Thank the Stars!" I let out, running fingers through my hair. I crouch to catch my breath, my heart thundering in my chest. "Can you take us to them?"
"Who are you to them?" he stares down at me, skeptical. I don't blame him. The sand dwellers have kept a healthy distance from the other kingdoms after the Great War for self-preservation. Bringing outsiders to their city is a risk.
"I'm Aurelia's mother," Sylvane presses a gloved hand to her chest. "I am Sylvane Basilius-Sol. This is Atlas Harland, Nyx's brother. We came to Midori to find them. Bastian attacked Tronovia and took them captive."
The answer seems to satisfy him. "Are the dragons in the garden yours?"
We nod.
"Then you will follow me." He stares harshly at the Midorian rulers. "No Midorians are permitted to enter Vashbehtan. General Naziri only sent his message as a warning. Midori will certainly be the enemy's first target. Plan accordingly."
"What should we do?" Garren balks. "We don't have enough soldiers to fight them should they come. In the Great War, we had dragons and magic wielders to protect us."
The messenger smirks. "Perhaps you should have considered that before you attempted to execute General Naziri. Good luck to you. Our hands are clean." He motions for us to follow him, sliding his helmet on. "Come. I'm ready to rid myself of the stench of this city."
Garren grabs my arm, worry marring his face. "What do we do?"
"Once we have Aurelia, we will return to strategize," is all I can say. "For now, have everyone prepare to evacuate."
With that, I chase after Sylvane and the courier. "What's your name?" I ask him and he doesn't break stride as we march into the garden courtyard where our dragons await.
"I am Amir Sur," he motions to his gold dragon who is slightly bigger than Seraxes. "This is Zalina. She's fast, so try to keep up."
Seraxes snorts, as if a challenge has been laid at her feet and she's ready to dust us all.
Matching his speed, Sylvane and I mount our dragons and we collectively spear into the sky. We fly directly for the desert wasteland. Hope stings my lungs.
"I'm coming, Shaye," I whisper. "Just hold on. I'm coming."