Chapter 61
Fern
We are leaving. Auren’s rage was palpable, forcing my feet to move faster. We are leaving after I land on the keep roof and then force my way into the general’s office. He thinks to control me? I will pluck that fool from behind his desk and show him exactly what a wild queen dragon is capable of.
Neither of us wanted me walking back to my suite. However, the riders ‘escorting’ me there did.
Slade cast sidelong looks my way, then smirked at that big lunk, Frederick, right up until we reached my door.
“Well, you’ve done what was asked of you,” I said, turning to face the two of them. My dragon’s anger was pulsing through my veins. “Now, run along—”
“What’s the hurry?” Frederick seemed to think very highly of himself as he leaned against my doorframe. “No need for you to go and sit in that room by yourself.”
The audacity of the man was so great all I could do was stand there and stare for just a moment.
I will eat him, Auren insisted. I will tear this impudent male’s head from his shoulders, then make clear to his dragon the man’s folly.
There was no way for the rider to hear my dragon’s thoughts, but her roar? Some instinct wiped the smile on his face as his head jerked up, catching the sound of Auren’s challenge.
“I would rather walk face first into a wall at great speed than spend another second with the men who’ve appointed themselves as my captors,” I said.
Before they could reply, I ducked inside the suite, then locked the door firmly behind me, but then what?
I walked into my bedroom and saw it with new eyes.
When I first arrived, I was grateful for the amenities, to have a place to call home.
Now? While I had no bars on my windows, this was a cage nonetheless.
One I will break you out of, Auren growled. That man… Those men… They think they can bend us to their will, but they will discover just how wrong they are when—
“Fern…?” A muffled voice came through the door.
“Fern, is that you?” I pulled it open to see a rumple-haired Sparrow standing there, blinking owlishly.
Perhaps because it was the middle of the night and she should’ve been asleep.
“You’re back already? What happened to riding into the sunset on the back of your dragon? ”
“The general has other ideas.”
I didn’t dare give away too much. While Sparrow had given me a heartfelt farewell hug, she was born in the keep, and so that’s where her loyalties had to lie.
“The general?” She shook her head, then raked her hands through her hair.
“What has that man done now? He’s been in a foul mood all evening.
My best friend, Virginia, has served at the keep all her life, and he tossed her out on her ear for coming to clear his tray away, like she has every day for the past five years. ”
My lips pursed, and that reminded me of the state Rex had found me in.
At the tingle left by Dain, I couldn’t find it in myself to regret it.
My fingers went to my mouth as I recalled the big man’s confessions.
That journal… His drawings… Part of me wanted to clasp my hands to my bosom and sigh.
The other half wanted to march right up the stairs and into that idiot general’s office and make clear that I would never spare a single rider a kind look.
“Well, he caught me kissing Dain in the mountain, so that could hardly have improved his outlook,” I said.
“Kissing—?” she squeaked. Her eyes went wide as saucers as she bounced up and down.
“We were supposed to be leaving, but we got… caught up. Lance tried to break Kael and Lorien out of the stockade, but I’m guessing that didn’t work, either.”
Viridian says his rider is in the same cage, Auren informed me.
“Auren says they are all locked up now.” My hands became fists. “I don’t know what the man thinks he’s doing. There is no way he can contain four dragons, and ordering me to go to my room like I’m a little girl that needs to think about my actions will last as long as Auren’s patience.”
Marching over to the windows that spanned one wall, I flicked the curtains open, hoping to find an easy means of escape. Riders looked up, staring through the glass at the two of us.
“He can’t keep us here.” That was said more to myself than anything. “He can’t. Auren will break down the keep brick by brick.”
“And he knows that.” Sparrow moved closer, then she took my hand in his. “Which means he must have something planned.”
“But what? Auren’s father is king of the dragons,” I said. “He won’t stand for this kind of behaviour, and then there’s the agreement with the wild dragons. Even if the silver beasts don’t lift a claw, he won’t be able to force Auren to do anything.”
“But he thinks he can.” Sparrow frowned as she tugged her dressing gown tighter. “But what? Oh gods…”
“What?” I asked.
“Virginia…” Her finger shook as she pointed at the door, but I had no idea what she meant. “The general got terribly mad because she entered his office when he was out. All she went to do was take his tray away, but he had her pinned to the wall, screaming at her about a box.”
“A box…?” I blinked and then touched minds with Auren. Do you know anything about that?
I try to touch that male’s mind as little as possible, she replied.
It’s a diseased place, full of dreams of power he’ll never achieve.
I… Auren was the voice of confidence most times, but her voice trailed away now.
I am trying to read his mind, but I can’t see any thoughts or memories about a box.
I relayed that information to Sparrow.
“But Virginia definitely mentioned a box. I’m sure of it.
” Sparrow rubbed at her forehead. “I could go and ask her. She’s still bunking down in her quarters despite being given her marching orders.
Not a local girl, so where else would she sleep after being sacked so late at night and without references? ”
“Or we could go and take a look at the general’s office ourselves.”
I looked around me, trying to work out how that would be possible.
“Auren could scare off the riders outside our window,” I said. “We could… No, that would put the general on high alert and we have no means to force our way into his office.”
“The servants’ corridors!” Sparrow stared at me with a wild grin.
“They wind their way up through the walls, with doors that open up on every floor, into most rooms…” She nodded slowly.
“Including the general’s office.” Her cheeks flushed pink.
“Me and some of the other keep children snuck in there one day as part of a dare. My mother beat my butt raw when she found out.” With a sparkle in her eyes, she turned to me. “How do you feel about spiders?”
“I despise them with every fibre of my being,” I replied weakly.
No need for sneaking around, Auren assured me. I am coming.
“Auren says…”
My voice trailed away as we all spun around at a loud crash. Dragon roars followed that, then the muffled sounds of men yelling. The riders outside our window went running, but why?
“What the hell is going on?” Cora stumbled into our room, pulling on a dressing gown as she went, blinking just in time to see four dragons land beyond the window. I was moving towards it, unlatching the panes, then swinging them open.
Auren!
My dragon strode over, thrusting her head through the window and into me. Her volcanic hot breath bathed over my skin, forcing away the terrible chill that had set in the minute I was shoved into this room.
I am here, she said. But we must be away. Her head jerked up at the sound of other dragons roaring in the distance. My brothers are mobilising.
“Milady.” Lorien was there, holding out a hand with a grin and when I took it, he lifted me over the window sill, setting me down on the ground outside. “Are you alright?” His hands skimmed over my arms, my shoulders.
“He didn’t touch you, did he, lass?” Kael growled as he dropped off Slate’s back.
“Wouldn’t have wanted to.”
Dain’s scowl was a familiar thing, but it had quite a different vibe now. Perhaps because his eyes twinkled when they met mine and he shot me a small smile.
“We need to get you and Auren out of the city.” Lance was all business, looking far too pale. “Viridian has let Hazel and Zafira know what’s going on, and they’ll get word to Hadrian and the wild dragons. For now, you and Auren need to head to Dragon Rest—”
“There’s a box in the general’s office,” I said. “That’s where we need to go.”
“We are,” Kael corrected. “You are heading for safety.”
I stood taller then, and for some reason that had the man smiling.
“Are we a wing or not?” His grin widened. “If we are, we fly together.”
“Fern, no—” Lance went to say.
“She has a point,” Kael said. “Alright, get in the saddle, lass. Mine, if you like.”
I was pulling myself up and onto Auren’s back in seconds, gripping the saddle horn tight.
“We’re going to make the general think his precious keep is under attack,” Lorien explained. “Draw him and all of his riders out, while I sneak into his office and find out what the hell is in that cupboard of his.”
“I need to go to the palace.” Everyone turned to stare at Cora. “Not to report the lot of you, but…” Her lips pursed. “There’s been a lot of… concern about the general’s ability to lead the corp. My brother is king and he must be alerted of this development.”
“Fly slowly,” Kael suggested. “Then the king can come wandering into the keep once we’ve done what we need to.”
“Gods…” Sparrow hissed. “I wish I had a dragon. I’d fly with you. Putting the wind up the general sounds like such fun.”
“Well…” Lorien looked her up and down, then pulled off his jacket and helmet. The jacket was draped over her shoulders, the helmet on her head. “You can ride one today.”
“Lorien!” I said.
“Need someone to pose as me on ‘Fang’s back while I sneak into the general’s office.” He patted his dragon’s side. “You’ll look after Sparrow, won’t you, brother?”
My friend didn’t give him a chance to reply. She had the jacket on, the helmet chin strap tightened in seconds, then was up on ‘Fang’s back. Lorien climbed on behind Kael, ready to fly.
“Not what I meant when I offered to share my saddle,” Kael grumbled, but with a nod, he gestured forward. “The corp dragons are about to rise, so we need to get moving before them.”
“Get me as close to the general’s balcony as you can,” Lorien said. “It’s been some time since I’ve scaled the side of someone’s house and ‘let myself in.’”
“You got it, brother.”
At Kael’s response, our dragons moved as one. Sparrow let out a little whoop, then cleared her throat, trying to pitch it deeper, right before we took to the air.
‘Fang’s rider knows I will allow him this attempt to discover the contents of the cupboard in a more circumspect manner, my dragon said as her wings worked. But if he fails, I will ensure we succeed.
I leaned down low, feeling the rush of wind on my face.
With me by your side, I said, a wild grin spreading across my face.