Chapter 2 #2
A tickle of bubbles burst across my tongue as Ember half-coughed, half-snorted behind me. I was glad she found the queen amusing.
Unfortunately, the noise drew Lucinda’s clear blue gaze. Her brows rose as she glanced between Ember and me. I didn’t care for the appraisal.
“I think only of your safety.” I gave a stiff bow, drawing the queen’s attention.
“Well, clearly not, as you brought a new dragon into my kingdom. Where did it come from, Sebastien?”
The rumble from Charon’s chest grew louder. The guards, whose weapons had only lowered slightly, retook a defensive position.
“He doesn’t like being claimed,” Ember spoke from behind me. I wanted to look to the sky and beg the chaos goddess for patience, but I knew it wouldn’t change anything. Ember was a light that couldn’t—wouldn’t—be dimmed.
The queen tilted her head, her attention once again on Ember. “And who are you? Sebastien has never traveled with a … companion before.” The queen’s nostrils flared, proving my point beautifully. To her, it was distasteful for anyone to choose to spend time with a Champion of Order.
“My name is Emberline Arkova. I’m, as you say, Har—” She stopped herself, hesitating over my name. I wished she’d finish. Hearing her use my chosen name was its own decadent sensation, one that had little to do with our magic. “I’m Hart’s companion.”
With careful steps, she reached my side and slipped her gloved hand through the crook of my arm.
A cold wave of her sadness washed down my throat even as her face remained carefully blank.
I wished the cool feeling was only that of the sea air on the eastern side of the capital.
I wished her hand, holding tight to me, was our reality and not a show for a foreign ruler.
Fucking Chaos. I was a mess.
The queen appeared to reserve her judgment as she repeated her question. “Where did the dragon come from?”
We’d flown faster than messengers from Kavios could ride, but I didn’t think that would last. Father might not out Ember as his traitorous jeweler, but he’d certainly do something about our departure.
We couldn’t have stayed. We would have risked the entire kingdom while he searched for us, but we weren’t safe here, either.
Whether Rodric would send honeyed words urging the queen to turn us over, or an assassin’s stealthy blade, I hadn’t yet decided.
I couldn’t ignore Charon’s story, anyway. His captivity was one of my many sins. One I could finally right. No matter how many unsuccessful attempts I’d had with Alaric.
“My father has had Charon imprisoned since the Kingdom of Kavios’s founding. He’s free now. His choices are his own.”
At that, Charon chuffed, and smoke billowed from his nostrils. He didn’t breathe fire on me and everyone in our radius, so he must have found my explanation acceptable.
“Am I to assume that your father will not be happy with his departure?” Lucinda asked.
“You would be correct. But it is not Charon who requests access to Ciril. It is us.” I gestured between myself and Ember, her hand still wrapped around my forearm.
“While I accept that a dragon’s fate is their own”—she dipped her chin in Charon’s direction—“I can’t ignore the fact that such a loss will stoke Rodric’s ire.” Charon growled, and the queen corrected herself. “The loss of what was never his to begin with.”
I nodded. “I’m glad we understand each other, then.”
Lucinda looked frustrated, as if I had intentionally missed her point.
Of course Father would be furious, but in no world would he attack Linia to try to retrieve a dragon he couldn’t control.
He’d only kept Charon in line because he was trapped in the mine.
Attacking Linia was not only futile, since it wouldn’t return his lost pet, but also stupid, because it would waste the resources of his Blessed when he needed them within the kingdom to maintain control.
None of this could be explained to Lucinda, though. I ran my hand through the stray wisps of hair freed from the low knot at my neck as I considered what to say.
“We seek knowledge, Your Majesty,” Ember said before I could.
Her voice was steady, but her fingers dug into my arm.
Surely, it was unintentional, a nervous reaction at best, but the fact that she steadied herself with my presence was gratifying.
“Hart has spoken highly of his time in the Library of Linia and the knowledge preserved by your kingdom. We wish only for the opportunity to use it again. Then we will leave you in peace.”
Not exactly what we’d discussed, but at least she leaned on the fact that I wanted to revisit books I had already read. In a small way, it told me she still trusted me to keep her safe.
My goals required a foothold, and this was a start.
The queen dipped her chin in thanks, seeming to cede to Ember’s request. “Knowledge is free in Linia. It is a tenet we hold dear. You will be my guest at the castle. We have a special suite where your friend”—she gestured again to Charon—“will have access to visit via the balcony.”
Ember curtsied before I could protest that an inn would be fine.
I didn’t know Charon’s plans, but I considered him as attached to Ember as I was.
She seemed yet to acknowledge the significance of his presence in regard to her goal to free Kavios.
He would destroy the castle for her if she let him. As would I, with my bare hands.
But that was a conversation for another day.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. We will make ourselves scarce and be out of your halls as quickly as possible.”
Lucinda smiled at me then, carefully, but with a look that said she knew she’d been backed into a corner and she would do the same to me before this visit was over.
“I wouldn’t dream of a rushed visit, Sebastien.
” Her gaze rested on Ember, as if she’d found the gap in my armor.
“In fact, I insist on a meal with the royal family to celebrate your arrival. Even if you’ve read them before, I’m sure you wouldn’t turn down our guidance on the kingdom’s vast stores of knowledge. ”
Ember’s fingers dug more tightly into my forearm. I felt the same apprehension at the words, even if I didn’t show it.
“Wonderful. Shall we?” I gestured for Lucinda and her guards to lead the way as the bitter flavor of Ember’s fear dried my mouth.