Chapter 13
Lagina
I setthe book down at the sound of footsteps and was surprised to see Cora entering the library. She glanced around nervously, as if concerned that someone was going to jump out and attack her.
“We’re alone,” I called, hoping to help calm her.
Her hands were clasped in front of her, her body tense. “Good.” She walked into the library, then hesitated in front of the chair next to me.
“You can sit. You’re welcome to join me,” I offered. We’d invited her to help, but she’d been avoiding everything that had to do with the war. “Sophia and Aunt Katerina just went to get something to eat. They’ll return shortly.”
“I know. I saw them in the breakfast room. It’s why I came now. I wanted to talk to you,” she said as she settled into the chair.
I turned so I was facing her. “What can I help you with?”
“The alliance with the dragons is the only thing that might save us, isn’t it?” she asked.
I knew where she was going with this. “I’m sorry, Cora. If I could offer myself in your place, I would. You know I would.”
“I’m not asking to get out of it.” She blew out a long breath and I noticed that her hands were shaking. “I’m asking to have the wedding now. Before the fae arrive.”
My brows furrowed. “You want to marry the Dragon King now? Is it the mating bond? Are you feeling things for him?”
She shook her head. “Not really. He’s attractive, sure. But no, it’s not that.”
“What then?”
“I want to ensure the dragon’s loyalty to us. What will encourage them to help us while their own city is under siege? They could easily walk away from us. Let us all die. Athos can’t do this without them, I know that,” she said.
“You did hear about Drakous,” I said with amusement. “I thought you were staying out of all of it.”
“I’ve been keeping up,” she admitted. “Sophia gives me updates.”
“So you know Ara returned and that she’s leaving in the morning,” I said.
“I know. I’d rather she be here for this, but I understand if he can’t arrive in time. I’m sure she’ll understand,” Cora said.
“Are you sure you want to do this now? What if he dies in the fight? You might never have to marry him,” I said.
Her jaw tensed. “I’m certain. Can you send a message?”
“Alright,” I agreed. “I can’t guarantee he’ll leave Drakous to do this now.”
“He’ll come,” she said with more certainty than I’d ever heard from her. “We should plan for a wedding.”
“Cora.” Sophia’s tone was pure delight. “Come to join our research?”
“I was wondering when you’d leave your room,” Aunt Katerina said.
“I wasn’t feeling well, but I’m better now.” She reached for a stack of papers that was bound with twine. “What are we looking for?”
“Anything about half-vampires or about magic in Athos,” Aunt Katerina said.
“I found an old letter that was talking about how a farmer had too many crops back when we first settled here,” Sophia said as she grabbed a book and made herself comfortable the floor. “I think the magic might have once benefited us.”
“We do use it to warm our water,” Cora said.
“Think of what else we could get it to do,” Sophia added.
It was nice to see Sophia so invested in helping us. I think it was a distraction to prevent her from thinking about the change she went through. She was getting animal blood dropped at her door daily, refusing to let anyone see her drink it. One of these days, she’d need to work through it, but it wouldn’t matter if none of us lived through this.
Cora leaned over, then lowered her voice. “Don’t forget what I asked.”
“You’re certain?”
She nodded.
“You can take my chair,” I said to Aunt Katerina. “I have something I need to tend to.”
My aunt took my seat and I left to find a hawk. I wasn’t sure if I wanted Bahar to come and marry her now, or if I wanted him to delay things. Cora was right, a marriage vow would more publicly bind him to our city. It would be impossible for his people or ours to deny our alliance. But I knew how much she didn’t want to wed him. I had hoped they’d get a longer engagement.
I turned the corner toward the scribe’s rooms and found Laera and Vanth standing in the hallway, speaking in hushed tones. They stopped talking when they noticed me.
“I thought you were all resting until tomorrow,” I said.
“I don’t do well with rest,” Laera replied. “I think you’re the same, aren’t you?”
I ignored the question. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“You can inform your scribes that we’re not here to harm them. We just need a couple of maps to confirm the sorceress’s location,” Laera said.
I lifted a brow, studying the princess. I knew she had abilities to manipulate others, even if I didn’t understand it. “Your magic isn’t working?”
“I have been informed that we don’t use magic to coerce our allies,” she said, her tone irritated.
“It’s not what Ara would want,” Vanth said. “If we are successful, we’ll want to maintain a good relationship with Athos.”
“I appreciate the optimism,” I replied as I walked toward the door. There weren’t any guards outside the door. The scribes preferred to govern their own space. It was one of the few areas of the palace I had yet to explore or assert my new role over. They’d been responsive when I’d asked for materials and I’d given them their space. It was my way of hoping to keep them on my side through this transition.
I opened the door and noticed that only one scribe was in the room. “Hello?”
He bolted up from his chair, then dropped into a low bow. “Your highness.” As soon as he noticed the others behind me, his eager expression darkened. “You have the outsiders with you.”
“They are allies,” I explained. “They need your help finding some maps.”
“They are not my allies,” he said.
“You heard what happened in Drakous, I’m guessing?” The scribes always knew. Even before I sent anyone to formally tell them. It was something I was going to have to figure out eventually if I ever wanted privacy.
“I’m not sure how this impacts us. The Fae King got what he wanted. Athos is of no consequence. Even if he is irritated with your sister,” the scribe said.
“You’re clearly a terrible scribe,” Laera said.
The man glared at her.
“How can you not see that he’s not going to stop, ever?” Laera asked.
The scribe scowled.
“I need to send a message to the Dragon King,” I said, changing the subject. “Can you assist me with that?”
He reluctantly looked away from the Fae Princess. “Yes, of course.”
“Then I will need you to assist them with the maps they need,” I added.
He frowned, but nodded before leading me toward the back of the room where a large cage housed a beautiful hawk.
It didn’t take long to scrawl a short message for the king. The scribe helped me attach the message to the bird’s leg, then we opened the window and released the creature into the warm afternoon sun.
“You really think the Fae King will come here?” The scribe asked me quietly.
“I do,” I said. “And him coming to us might be our only hope at getting him unprotected enough to destroy him.”
He glanced over at the shifter and Fae Princess. “You think you can convince the sorceress to help us?”
“We don’t have a choice,” Vanth said.
“Don’t worry, Ryvin and Vanth can be very persuasive,” Laera said.
I wanted to ask for more details, but I wasn’t sure I needed the scribe to know any more than he already did.
“Tell me what you need,” the scribe said.
“We need whatever maps you have for the Isla Chamenos,” Vanth said.
I bit down on the inside of my cheek to keep from reacting at the name. The scribe didn’t hide his surprise. His eyes widened and his brows shot up. “Chamenos? You’re certain?”
“That’s what the queen told us,” Vanth said, looking over at Laera.
“She wasn’t lying,” Laera assured him.
“You know what they say is hidden on that island,” the scribe pressed. “So many have attempted to find it, none have succeeded.”
“Everyone knows the stories,” I cut in. “They will have to let us know if they are true when they return.”
“Very well.” The scribe walked to a shelf and removed a few rolled scrolls. He passed them to Laera. “This is everything we have on the island. Nobody has ever charted it. Just sailed nearby, but nothing too close. Anyone who gets too close doesn’t return.”
She lifted the scrolls. “Thank you. We’ll return them if we can.”
He nodded. “Good luck.”
I walked out of the room with them and as soon as the door was closed I turned to face them. “You really think you can do this?”
“We’ll get it done,” Vanth said.
“Just the two of you?” I asked.
“Ryvin and Vanth will go. I’m staying here,” Laera said.
Vanth growled. I took a step back, startled by the sound. I knew he was a shifter, but I hadn’t ever heard a sound so animistic coming from someone who appeared human.
“We didn’t want Ara to know,” Vanth added. “We don’t want her to worry while she’s with Nyx.”
“I understand. I won’t tell her,” I agreed.
Laera lifted a brow. “You’d lie to your own sister?”
“She’s not going to ask me and I’m not going to offer the information,” I clarified.
“Maybe you and I aren’t so different,” Laera said.
I wasn’t sure I liked that thought.
“When will you leave?” I asked.
“As soon as Ara’s ship is out of sight,” Laera said.
“What about the city? What can I do to prepare if they don’t return before the fae arrive?” I asked, surprised at myself for saying my concerns out loud. But Ara trusted them, and we needed the help.
“That’s what you have me for,” Laera said. “Worst case, I can help you get everyone out.”
“Lagina!” Cora was sprinting toward me and my heart stopped.
“I just sent it. Should I see if I call it back?” I should have waited, I should have known she’d change her mind.
She was panting when she stopped in front of me. “No, not the letter. The letter is fine. I found something.” She looked over at Laera and Vanth. “Maybe one of you can help. I think I found something big.”
She held a book up for us to see. Laera and Vanth moved closer, and I moved enough so we could all see. As I skimmed the ancient writing, the pounding in my chest accelerated. Not from fear, but from hope. I glanced over at Laera. “Is this possible? Is this real?”
“It might be.” She grabbed the book and studied it, her eyes darting back and forth across the page. We all watched, waiting. Finally, she handed the book back to Cora. “If this is true, and you used to have a magical barrier, you might be able to repair it. It won’t be enough to keep the fae out forever, but it could buy you some time.”
“How do we find out?” I asked.
“Where is the oldest building in your city? The first thing they ever built?” Laera asked.
“The temple to Athena,” Cora and I said in unison.
“Take me there,” Laera said.