Chapter 1 #2
Adjusting directions, I try to look confident as I continue on, but I truly don’t know which way to go from here. I was proud that I even made it this far. The academy grounds are pretty confusing just by themselves.
“To the right,” Prince Lucien murmurs, and there’s a knowing tone to his voice.
I turn to the right.
Suddenly, Prince Gareth is in front of me, leading the way, which I’m irrationally irritated by. These men have some kind of obsession with me following them like the “good little woman” I am. Except, in this situation, it finally makes sense that I would follow their lead. Much to my annoyance.
Prince Gareth finally reaches a door, and to my surprise, he holds it open for me.
I shoot him a wary look and hurry inside, the three men filing in after me.
Sure enough, King Vaelor Stormvale is behind a large desk with several frantic-looking men standing behind him.
In a chair near the fire sits an older-looking man with white hair sticking up in all directions, a thin white beard, and a big white mustache.
He’s wearing pale blue and gold robes, our national colors.
They’re meant to inspire trust, but all they inspire in me is wariness.
“Why aren’t you in the skies? I was told Hollowborn were spotted above Elarwyn,” the king asks, an accusation in his voice.
“They came and went just as quickly,” Prince Gareth reports, sounding more official than I’ve ever heard him before. “One of them took Harper. She says they gave her some kind of message for you.”
All eyes are suddenly on me.
A little of the edge leaves the king’s voice. “Harper, do you have a message for me?”
“Yes… but should we discuss it in private?”
The king motions for the frantic-looking men to leave, and they do, right away, but then he says, “Elder Thorne’s expertise as my advisor is invaluable to me, so he will stay at my side.”
The older man gives a little bow, but I try not to look in his direction, even though I can feel his gaze on me. This whole thing is stressful enough.
I try not to look as intimidated as I feel. “To understand the message, I need to explain a little bit. I was knocked from my saddle, and a Hollowborn caught me–”
“Then why aren’t you dead?” Prince Lucien asks, sounding shocked.
“All those soulless monsters do is kill,” Prince Gareth mutters, and everyone in the room nods in silent agreement.
My thoughts slide around as I try to ignore the fact that everyone is waiting for my answer. “He didn’t seem interested in killing me.”
The whole room starts laughing. It’s booming laughter that becomes nearly hysterical.
Like the very idea that the Hollowborn might not have wanted to kill me is ridiculous.
It makes me pause and rethink my whole interaction with the man.
This was my first time meeting a Hollowborn, but I’m certain every man in this room has met one before, and had the Hollowborn try to kill them, so my impression must be the wrong one.
I’ve heard all the stories of what our enemies are capable of from the time I was a child.
And since coming here, I’ve been reading the books I’ve been given, and listening to the snippets I gather from the men.
All of it has led me to believe the Hollowborn are deadly creatures with a thirst for killing anything living.
Well, everything led me to that impression until I actually met one.
Finally, Prince Alaric stops laughing and looks at me.
“Harper, all Hollowborn want to kill us. It’s just the way they are.
They’re bloodthirsty animals. Creatures of death and carnage.
They seek us out because we are life. Because we can bond with the dragons.
Because their lands lack all resources. All they want to do is take from us.
To hurt us. Even when we’ve had brief moments of peace with them in the past, it never lasted long.
They’re just not capable of being at peace with anyone or anything. Not with their dark souls.”
The older man stands from his chair. “The Hollowborn can never be trusted.”
“Elder Thorne is right,” the king says, his gaze sharpening as it moves from his advisor to me.
“I believe you,” I say, “of course I believe you. Every Dravari is aware of the stories. I’m just telling you what my experience was with him.”
I remember. He smiled at me. He smirked. He tucked my hair behind my ear. And he… Did he kiss me? He did. Sort of.
“Tell us what happened,” Prince Alaric says, his soft brown eyes looking into mine intently.
I’m incredibly nervous now. I have no idea why I was so eager to speak to the king. “Well, the Hollowborn and I… talked. He asked me questions. Then he asked what kind of sway I had with the king before explaining that his people want to make a peace agreement with the Dravari people–”
Prince Gareth laughs again, but the sound isn’t friendly. “Peace? The Hollowborn was tricking you.”
“Peace brings us nothing,” Prince Lucien says with equal anger.
For some reason, their words bother me. They’re the leaders of our people. They should want what’s best for us. That doesn’t mean being stupid and simply trusting our greatest enemies, but that also means not scoffing at the talk of peace, something that would benefit all our people.
“He said that he had something to offer us in exchange for making peace, and for trading with his people.”
“They have nothing to offer us,” King Stormvale says, his lip curling.
I press on. “He said they know why the dragons haven’t been having male hatchlings. He says that if we wait much longer to solve the lack of males, there won’t be enough of them to have healthy babies.”
The three princes start smirking, but it’s Prince Lucien that says, “They’re bullshitting you. They don’t know anything.”
Frustration rises inside of me, for some reason. Male dragons are almost more myth than reality now… at least except for Ebron. There’s clearly a problem, and we should be taking this offer, and what the Hollowborn said, seriously. Which means considering the Hollowborn’s offer.
“So, does that mean you don’t have any concerns about the dwindling number of male dragons?” I ask.
Their moods sour.
King Stormvale speaks, his tone serious.
“The Hollowborn have never shown an interest in anything except taking the dragons for themselves and killing our people. I didn’t even know they were capable of studying the dragons and learning about them, but this must be the prophecy at work.
Because out of all the things a Hollowborn could say, this is the only thing that I would consider working with one for.
That, combined with the fact that legends say a female dragon rider and male dragon will bring about peace between us and the Hollowborns, is not something we can simply ignore.
This could be fate. This could be the prophecy at work, presenting a chance for peace.
Either way, we have to take this opportunity seriously. ”
“You’re kidding,” Prince Lucien says, sounding shocked.
But the king’s expression doesn’t waver. “This is something worth looking into.”
Elder Thorne draws himself up taller. “Your highness. You can’t be serious. I’ve been with you, and your father before you, watched as we’ve been attacked by the Hollowborn over and over again. They are our enemies. That’s all they’ll ever be.”
“Maybe,” King Stormvale says slowly. “Maybe not.”
Elder Thorne doesn’t like that one bit. I can see it on his face. While the princes look angry, he looks like he’s calculating a math problem and not liking the answer.
“The Hollowborn said that I’m to fly alone to the south, past the city, to the mountain that looks like a thumb, with your response.”
King Stormvale’s expression grows thoughtful.
“Like hell,” Prince Gareth says, taking a step toward me. Then his gaze swings to his father. “You can’t seriously be considering letting her do that.”
“Of course he’s not,” Elder Thorne scoffs.
The king sits back in his chair, looking tired. “I will speak to my advisors and decide the best course of action. You will know my decision the evening of the upcoming ball. You may return to your rooms.”
All three of the princes and the advisor look like they want to argue, but none of them do.
Our group exits to the hallway in silence and makes our way back to the academy.
I kind of want to ask them what they think the king will decide, but it’s not like they’ve ever confided anything in me before, so I keep my questions to myself.
A servant comes running around the corner of the hall in front of us and sees me, and his eyes widen. He runs right up to me and says, “I have a message for you from your fiancé.”
I stiffen. “Could you–?”
I’d planned on telling him to give me my message in my room, but Prince Gareth interrupts and says, “What is it?”
“He says that he has heard the news of you becoming a dragon rider and will be here as soon as possible.”
Fucking great. Just great. “Thank you.”
The servant bows and walks away.
All three of the princes are suddenly way too close. Prince Lucien leans over me. “When were you going to tell us you were engaged?”
Like it’s any of their business.
I give them all the dirtiest look I can muster. “It’s complicated.”
Then I turn and walk away, ignoring their intense stares on my back. If they can be all jerky and unhelpful, so can I. They won’t be getting gossip, or more fuel to harass me, any time soon.
Now, I just need to go to my room and try to figure out how to handle things from here.