Chapter 24
My heart thrums as I stare at the woman who raised me, trying to find the right words to explain the mess I got myself into.
Perhaps no words will ever be right. “I… made some mistakes.”
“Everyone makes mistakes. What do you need to fix them?”
“A boat?” My voice cracks. Maybe it’s the desperation, the fear, or the fact that I’m finally opening up to her. “To take me to the Kingdom of the Riders?”
She tilts her head and narrows her eyes. “Why do you want to go there?”
“Can you keep a secret?”
“Of course. Now, your brother, I’m not so sure. He’s too young. But you can tell me.”
“I stole two dragon eggs.” It sounds like a strange lie, impossible words that shouldn’t be true.
She doesn’t blink, doesn’t stutter, doesn’t even widen her eyes. “How?”
“A long story. There was a boat. A bottle of dragonbane. I was with Alayel, the—”
“Bastard prince?” Her eyebrows finally shoot up. “Are you really betrothed to him? Because I heard some rumors, and—”
“Yes. We’re together. But I have bigger problems.” The words drop out of my mouth like in a deluge.
“So I brought the eggs, and they hatched. They’re the cutest, most loving, sweet little dragons.
I call them Ava and Vos. It’s a boy and a girl.
I know they’re our enemy, but they’re innocent, and I shouldn’t have taken them.
If I don’t get them out of the kingdom, they’re going to die.
Auranius is going to eat them, but I’m thinking that if I can take them to the Riders’ Sea, a dragon will see them and take them where they belong.
And then I’ll be able to live with myself again. ”
Her expression is focused, but she shows no sign of fear or shock. “All right, let’s go part by part. Is the prince willing to help you?”
“No.” Odd that the admission doesn’t stab my heart. “I haven’t told him. I’m afraid he’ll stop me. Also, there’s something else. Do you know Commander Mallor?”
“Yes. He’s come to the restaurant a few times. Asked a few questions. Always paid generously. Why?”
“He’s our father. I just learned it the other day. Did you know that?”
“I… suspected it, Mayara, but I wasn’t sure.”
“It’s why you never told us.”
She tilts her head. “That, and I figured that if he wanted to let you know who he was, he’d do it himself.”
“Well, he finally did,” I say. “Maybe it slipped. But what matters is that he can help Kaio find an apprenticeship. Soon.”
Laristella’s expression turns grave. “Does he know about the little dragons?”
“Yes, but he doesn’t know I want to save them.
I don’t think he’d support me. But… I saw something I shouldn’t see.
I know things about the academy, and he thinks I want to leave because of that.
He’s offering to get me on a boat to the Sorensen Kingdom, and get Kaio away from here before that happens—just in case. ”
“In case they catch you escaping.”
I nod.
The glow from the lumos jar turns eerie, and Laristella’s serious expression betrays her advanced years.
“Let me get this straight. You want to remove two baby dragons from the academy, and nobody knows about your plan. Is that correct?” Her tone is pragmatic like she’s trying to salvage a pot of stew that has too much salt.
“I… don’t fully trust anyone.” The thought hurts, as I wish I could share more with Nelly.
“Once you take the hatchlings, there’s no way back for you, is there?”
The thought is like a chasm opening before me.
No way back. But it’s true. Horrifically true.
“They’ll know I’m the one responsible. I don’t think Commander Mallor will be able to protect me.
Even now, what he’s suggesting is getting me away from the academy, and it’s because his reach is limited.
The prince… I don’t know. I don’t know what he’ll do if he finds out, and I don’t know how much he can protect me. ”
She pierces me with her stare. “Are you willing to give up everything for these little dragons?”
I sigh, and even then the knot in my chest only tightens. “What’s the alternative? To live with the guilt for what I’ve done? How can I face Thantos when I die? I know it sounds unreasonable.” A bitter chuckle leaves my lips.
“It’s not unreasonable. Me too, once I found two little ones under my charge. Not dragons, but humans. And I’d do anything for them.”
I stare at her. Disbelief, confusion, so many feelings coursing through my mind. And I see her, see the enormity of her love for us, something I was never able to acknowledge. My eyes sting with strange tears.
“Really?” I mutter.
“Yes, Mayara, except that I never imagined you’d put me in such a tight jar.”
Her words only increase my shame. “I’m sorry, I… You asked me to tell you…”
“As you should! I’m here to help. Let me see if I understand. You want Kaio out of Dracolius before you attempt to save the little dragons because when you do, if something goes wrong, you don’t want him to be hurt.”
“Yes.”
“And you need a boat with people you trust to go to the Riders’ Sea?”
I nod, realizing the enormity of the task ahead of me.
Laristella doesn’t look shaken, though. “All right. There’s only one person I trust for that trip.
A small merchant ship, Rosalinda. The captain’s name is Roco.
I don’t think they’ve traveled to the Kingdom of the Riders in a long time, but he’s been there before, and he could do the trip again—if I ask him.
He’s not in Dracolius right now, though, so I’ll need to wait for him to get here.
It should be soon. I will talk to him, and I will talk to you.
Don’t get anywhere near the port. It’s how they find recruits planning on running. Do you understand?”
I tremble, unwilling to believe that she’s ready to go that far for me, that help’s at hand, and yet I don’t even have the words to tell her how much it means. “Yes. Thank you.”
She waves a hand and huffs. “Now, your brother. No way I’m letting him alone in a boat with grown men. That’s a no.”
My stomach sinks. “But—”
“I’ll travel with him. We’ll take some vacations together. Maybe we can restart our life across the sea.”
“What about the restaurant?”
She half shrugs. “I’ll close it. I’m tired, you know, and I’ve always wanted to travel. It’s what your brother wants, really. I don’t think he wants to be a merchant. We’ll see what we do when we get there.”
My breath stills in disbelief at this woman’s strength, at her selflessness. “You’ll upend your life for him?”
She lets out a huff. “Aren’t you about to do the same for the little dragons?”
“But it’s my fault.”
“You’re my charge. I took you in and told you I’d protect you, so that’s what I’m going to do.”
I look down. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. Some things are meant to be. Now, do you know how you’ll get the dragons out of the castle?”
A chill takes my stomach. “I’m thinking I can hide them in some bag, something. Right now, I’m allowed to walk in and out of their room, and I could get them out like that—I hope. But I’ll also need to find something to disguise their scent from Auranius. And then I just need the boat.”
“No. You’ll need to go somewhere else, change clothes, and then walk to the port. We’ll rent a little room in the city, get you a wig and a cloak. How big are the dragons?”
“Like kittens, but with wings.”
“Satchels, like book satchels, would they work?”
I’m surprised at her ingenuity. “Yes, but with some holes, so the dragons can breathe.”
“Come here in two days. Maybe I’ll have news about Roco and his Rosalinda.”
“What should I tell Mallor? He said he’d get an internship for Kaio.”
“Tell him your brother’s going on vacation with me. You can tell him that you hinted at the possibility of running away, and I decided to protect him.”
Some of the heaviness lifts from my chest. “Thank you. A thousand times thank you!”
“You’ll see. Everything will work out in the end.”
Thunder rumbles in the sky, and I remember Alayel’s request. “I have to go.”
“Come back the day after tomorrow. I’ll get some spices for you, so you can figure out a scent that will distract Auranius.”
I wish I could hug her, but it’s too late for that, after ten years, so I wave and run back to the academy, my heart lighter.
Rain clings to my hair when I reach Alayel’s room. Now that my mind is clear and that I’m starting to see a way to save Ava and Vos, I feel lighter, and I’m even looking forward to seeing my handsome betrothed—whom I’m about to betray.
The thought of leaving him, of abandoning my life in the academy, ruins some of my mood, but then I remember we’re under a pile of half-devoured bodies, and my will to leave this place strengthens.
Alayel opens the door and gives me his dashing, heart-stopping smile. I wonder if it’s on purpose, because now I wish I could stay with him forever, marry him, become a queen if it comes to that. How can I be willing to throw it all away?
He kisses me with the force of the thunderstorm raging outside, then holds me as something precious. We make love as if we were meant to be together. Forever.
I lie down beside him, the dying sun glowing on his stunning body, as I mentally debate if there’s any way to save the little dragons without losing Alayel.
“Where were you yesterday?” he asks.
“I went to the hatchlings’ room and fell asleep.”
He runs the back of his hand over my face. “You sure love to spend time with these little dragons, don’t you?”
“Well, they won’t be around forever. Let me enjoy their presence while I can.”
“Dragons live for a long time, Mayara. Perhaps one day you could even bond to them. Wouldn’t that be incredible?” He frowns, confused. “What do you mean they won’t be around?”
Does he really have no idea? I could tell him some of the truth, but then he could get suspicious.
“I mean as little dragons. Soon they won’t lie on my belly or perch on my shoulder,” I say, keeping my tone light. “But you’re right. If I can bond to them, it will be great.”
He kisses my forehead. “Are you planning to become a dragon rider?”
“Maybe. For now, I’m quite happy being Alayel’s rider.”