Chapter 1 Rhianelle #2
“Coral is my companion,” I say, finding my voice despite the knot in my throat. “She may not breathe fire or soar through clouds, but she’s saved my life more times than I can count.”
“How wonderful for you,” Alys replies, her tone suggesting it’s anything but.
She moves closer to Landon, her hand brushing his arm.
The ease of the gesture makes it clear she is familiar with him.
“The commander saved my life countless times too. We’ve flown together for nearly a century. Haven’t we?”
I can feel Landon’s embarrassment through the bond, though his expression remains neutral.
“We’ve served together long,” he acknowledges, stepping subtly away from her touch. “As have all my warriors.”
He gestures to the rider of the dark wyvern who has been watching our exchange. “This is Eacharn. He rides Bloodthorn.”
Eacharn grins, revealing sharp canines. He’s lean and wiry, with dark hair that falls to his shoulders. “A pleasure, Your Highness. Though I’ll admit, harboring us wasn’t what I expected from the Elven Queen. We’ve done your people no favors over the years.”
“No,” I reply, meeting his gaze steadily. “You haven’t. Perhaps this is where we begin doing better by one another.”
Theo steps forward. His expression is grave. “You offer us sanctuary, and we are grateful. But I think it’s only fair to be honest with you, Your Highness.”
My stomach tightens. I know what’s coming before he says it.
“When our king brings his full force against your borders, will you expect us to fight our own brothers?” He holds my gaze, steady and unflinching.
I feel Landon tense beside me.
“The queen hasn’t asked for our swords,” Glenn says calmly. “She only offered us shelter.”
“Yet,” Alys adds pointedly. “She hasn’t asked yet. But surely that’s coming?”
She tilts her head, studying me with those ruby eyes. “Let’s be honest, shall we? Why else would an elven queen shelter fae warriors? Certainly not out of kindness. Perhaps she thinks sharing her food and fields entitles her to command us.”
Eacharn folds his arms across his chest. “It would be a clever ploy. Keep us close until King Eirik attacks, then place us between his army and hers.”
“Enough.” Landon’s voice cracks across the gathering so sharply that even the wyverns fall still. He steps forward, anger hardening every line of his face. “You are guests here. You will show the queen the respect owed to her, or you will leave Volundr before nightfall.”
Neither of them moves. The air grows thick with tension. I can feel the weight of their stares, their expectations.
“My apologies, Commander.” Theo gives Landon a brief nod before turning his full attention back to me. “And to you, Your Highness. I’m simply protective of my squadron.”
“I understand suspicion,” I say, straightening my spine despite how much I want to shrink away. “You’ve been betrayed by your own king. Trust doesn’t come easily after that. I’m not asking for it. I’m not asking for anything except that you respect the peace of Aelfheim while you’re here.”
The other warriors shift uncomfortably. Some, like Kieran and Theo, seem genuinely grateful. Others, like Eacharn, watch me with calculating eyes, weighing my worth. Alys looks at me like I’m a thief who’s stolen something precious.
“Some of us are grateful, Queen of Aelfheim,” Glenn says quietly. “But make no mistake. We will not raise blades against our kin.”
A low murmur of agreement ripples among the others. Even Kieran nods, his earlier warmth fading into something more serious.
I glance at Landon. He says nothing, but his jaw tightens just enough to betray his displeasure.
Coral presses closer to my side with a nervous chirp. I look around at these powerful warriors, their massive wyverns, and realize the precarious position we’re all in.
“I would never ask you to raise arms against your blood,” I say carefully. “That’s not a choice anyone should have to make.”
Alys laughs, a tinkling sound that would be pretty if it weren’t so clearly mocking. “How noble. But when your kingdom burns and your people die, will you still feel that way?”
She’s not wrong and we all know it. The strategic value of having Landon’s squadron on my side is immense. Their mere presence might give the Fae King pause. Without them, Aelfheim is vulnerable.
“I understand the position you’re in,” I say, meeting each of their gazes in turn. “You’ve been betrayed by the king you served. You’ve lost your home. The last thing I want is to ask you to lose your souls as well.”
I take a breath, feeling the weight of my crown. “But if you’re asking me whether I’ll demand you fight for Aelfheim, the answer is no. That choice is yours alone.”
Theo studies me for a long moment. “And if we choose to leave? If we decide sanctuary isn’t worth the risk of becoming enemies to our own people?”
Landon answers before I can speak. His voice is cold, commanding. “Then you leave. You’re not prisoners here.”
He turns to face his warriors fully. “No one will be forced to fight. But nor will anyone undermine the sanctuary we’ve been given.”
His eyes find Alys. “Is that understood?”
She meets his gaze with something heated and challenging. For a moment I think she might argue. Then she smiles.
“Of course, Commander.” Her voice is light, almost playful. “I’ll be the perfect guest. Quiet as a mouse, harmless as a flower.”
No one believes her.
“I welcome you to Volundr,” I say firmly, trying to reclaim some authority. “And I thank you all for your honesty.”
The warriors incline their heads, some with respect, others out of simple courtesy. But tension remains, as palpable as the shifting breeze whispering through the valley.
As we walk among the wyverns, Landon tells me their names and histories. His voice carries a love for these creatures that I haven’t heard when he speaks of anything else. I find myself watching his face more than listening to his words.
“You love them,” I say.
He pauses. “They are my responsibility.”
His gaze meets mine, and something passes between us through the bond. Maybe it is understanding, or the beginning of it.
Landon’s hand brushes briefly against mine. “You did well. Better than most could.”
But the weight on my chest remains sharp-edged and uncertain. I’ve met his warriors. I’ve seen their power and their reluctance. I’ve made no enemies today, but I’ve made no true allies either.
I wonder how long my sanctuary can truly shelter them. I don’t even know if my kingdom can survive what’s coming.
Coral nuzzles into my palm when I reach for her. She blinks slowly at me, her trust absolute. She may not breathe fire, but she’s mine.
Movement catches my eye. One of the younger wyverns, darker gray with lighter striations along its wings, approaches Coral cautiously. It’s still massive compared to her but smaller than the others.
“That’s Shadowfyre,” Landon says quietly. “His rider, Flynn, died in the betrayal.”
The sadness in his voice makes me want to comfort him. I reach for his hand and he doesn’t pull away.
“Shadowfyre is lucky they hadn’t bonded strongly yet,” Landon continues. “Otherwise he would have died too.”
The thought makes my chest tighten with fear for Coral. “He seems to like her.”
“Shadowfyre is young and less intimidating than the others.” Landon watches them together. “Perhaps they’ll be good for each other.”
I watch Shadowfyre lower his great head toward Coral and my stomach drops. Even young, he is much larger than she is. One careless swipe of his tail could send her tumbling across the field.
“Is that safe?” I ask. “He might hurt her without meaning to.”
Landon shakes his head slowly. “Wyverns have their own way of communicating through body posture, breath patterns and the angle of their wings. It’s not so different from how wolves read a pack.” He pauses, watching them. “Shadowfyre knows she’s smaller. He’ll adjust.”
“But Coral doesn’t know any of that.” I can’t keep the worry from my voice. I cannot remember how my wyvern came to me without pain splitting through my head, but I know she never had a clutch to teach her.
Landon is quiet for a moment. He tilts his head, something shifting in his expression. “That may prove to be a challenge.”
Shadowfyre drops into a low crouch and pushes off the ground in a short, sharp burst, his wings half-spread. Coral watches him before attempting the same movement. They play together in the field, and I realize Shadowfyre is teaching her something. Coral is clumsy at first but eager.
For a moment, watching them, I let myself believe that maybe this can work. Maybe it doesn’t have to end in blood. But Alys’s ruby eyes follow me as we leave, and I know it won’t be that simple.
The meeting doesn’t end as cleanly as I had hoped.
Landon dismisses his warriors with a curt nod.
They disperse reluctantly, as if they’re not quite finished making their point.
Theo exchanges a long look with Landon before mounting Pyraxis.
Kieran offers me a respectful bow that feels genuine.
Glenn simply nods. Eacharn grins as if this has all been tremendously entertaining.
Alys is the last to leave. She moves slowly, adjusting Nightshade’s saddle straps with more care than necessary. Her ruby eyes flick to me, then to Landon.
“Commander,” she says sweetly. “Will you be joining us for evening drills?”
“Perhaps,” Landon replies.
“I do hope so. We fly so well together.” She swings into her saddle with fluid grace. “Your Highness, it was truly a pleasure.”
She speaks with perfect politeness, though every word feels edged like a blade.
Nightshade launches into the air with a powerful downbeat of wings that sends dust swirling around us. I watch them climb, that beautiful dark creature and its equally beautiful rider.
We walk back toward the keep in silence. Coral trots beside me, occasionally looking back toward the field where Shadowfyre still lingers. The young wyvern watches her go with a slow blink.
“They’ll see each other again,” Landon says, noticing my glance.