Chapter 23
I’m up earlier than I would like to be, but I have a lot to do today.
I have plans to bombard Adrian with my presence at the training grounds, so I dress in light black pants, boots, and a lightweight purple shirt that ties at the chest with tiny strings.
I tie my hair into a long braid, dust just a little bit of color on my cheeks, and I’m satisfied.
I’m tired of him giving me flaky answers, so I’m simply going to show up. I know he’s training today.
After that, it’s back to the library again. I don’t know if the dragon idiots will be there and I don’t care. I’m still irritated with them. I’m irritated with Raef simply for his association with Daegan. The prick. I’m sure I’m being irrational, but I want to stew in it a little longer.
But before all of that, I’m going to question my father about the prisoners.
I couldn’t face him last night while I was in such a mood, and it was a late hour anyway.
I don’t dare disturb him after dinner, nor do I want to witness whatever he gets up to at that hour anyway.
I’ve heard stories that I’d rather block from my memory forever.
I fill my bag with all the essentials I may need for training and head out. I’ll be back before my library session for a bath.
When I approach his meeting rooms, the doors are closed and there’s a guard standing in front, indicating that he is in fact in there. It was a gamble showing up this early, hoping he’d be here before breakfast.
“May I have a word with the king?” I ask the guard. My tone isn’t as kind today as usual. I have less patience.
“He’s in a meeting with General Lyriel.”
“Then I’ll wait,” I say, moving to a far wall and leaning against it. The guard eyes me.
I pull a small fruit out of my bag and eat while I wait. It’s a little something to keep my energy up so I can skip breakfast and head straight to training after this.
After that I pull a book out to skim through while I wait, finishing a decent chunk of it before General Lyriel emerges. His red with silver-streaked hair is overly styled so it almost appears wet, and his wily, conniving eyes fall on me almost immediately as I stand. It’s not a friendly look.
I don’t trust him at all.
When I was young, I would avoid him at functions and parties because he frightened me. The others my age used to make up stories about him haunting children, his unsettling, pointed features appearing in the darkness above you at night if you were naughty.
I try not to visibly shudder as he rests his icy gaze on me now. “Princess,” he says with a cold, dead tone.
I simply nod and brush past him into my father’s rooms without permission, shutting him out behind me with a slam of the door.
“Elysande,” the king says in greeting, sitting in his oversized chair at the head of the ostentatiously long table as usual. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit so early?”
I sit a few chairs down and grab a pastry, taking a bite before I answer.
As I finish chewing the surprisingly soft yet flaky chunk, I decide to get right to the point.
“I was roaming the castle yesterday, as I often do, and I came across two prisoners. A Dothronite and a Skeldaryn.” I pause to check his reaction.
“Why were you in the dungeons?” he asks with moderate interest, revealing nothing.
“As I said. I was wandering. As I do.”
“Alone?”
I return his calculating stare, debating how to answer. He has guards all over this castle. Someone easily could have seen us, and he may very well know already. Perhaps I’m a fool, but I’ve never really been afraid of my father. “No.”
“Adrian, perhaps?”
Something tells me he doesn’t believe I was with Adrian even a little. It’s almost like he’s baiting me.
I shake my head, then lift my chin. “Daegan Vaelor.”
The king’s eyes narrow in on me as he rubs his chin. “And have you gathered any useful information from him? Anything that would give us reason to be suspicious about them?”
I hang my head “No.”
I hear him sigh before I lift it again.
“Do you like him?”
“What?”
“Daegan Vaelor. Do you like him?”
“No. Why would you—” I cut myself off, shaking my head. “No, father. Of course not. He’s grumpy, rude, and extremely unpleasant to be around.”
“Good. Because Captain Greenwood has made his interest in you known.”
“To you?”
He gives one curt nod.
“Okay, well, with all due respect, Father, I did not come here to talk about my personal affairs.”
“Then what did you come for?”
“Why are they down there?”
His eyebrows pinch together in the most subtle way.
“That’s none of your concern, Elysande.”
“It is my concern. I talked to them. They seemed kind. Said they came all this way to simply use the library.”
His jaw twitches, but besides that, his face reveals nothing.
“Is that true?” I press.
“And why would two random travelers come all this way to use our library? What do you think they’re trying to find?”
“Is there something we’re hiding?” I counter back.
“No.”
“Then what’s the harm?”
He heaves a deep sigh. “I can’t simply allow people to come into my castle and do whatever they please.”
“Then I’ll monitor them. Whenever they’re in there, I’ll be in there. I’ll vouch for them.”
One of his eyes narrows. “Why do you care? Why would you do that for a couple of strangers?”
I hesitate. “I don’t know… I’ve always loved my library. I would hate to deny anyone else access to all the knowledge and company it’s provided me.”
He releases another heavy breath and glances away. “You’ve always had too big of a heart for your own good…”
“What’s wrong with that?”
He looks at me again, an unreadable expression taking over. One that seems resolute. “Nothing.”
I rise from the chair, glancing at him one last time. He still reveals almost nothing as he watches me.
“I’ll take care of it and let them know the conditions,” he says.
“Thank you,” I say with a subtle bow.
I finish my fruit-filled pastry as I leave his office and begin the long journey to the training grounds. It’s located just inside the walls on a small hill overlooking the backside of the castles.
I walk the dirt path up there, wondering if Meela will show. I highly doubt it. I should have knocked on her door before coming, but I don’t feel like turning all the way back now.
Intimidation creeps in as I reach the top of the hill and see hundreds of soldiers scattered around the expansive grounds, which has an entire perimeter of torches surrounding it for extra light.
Even though it’s morning, they’re still lit.
I’m not sure how much it helps. The world’s still a gloomy gray in my eyes, the swirling haze of the veil above us a constant reminder of how powerless we really are.
I stop at the edge of the grounds and glance around. A few of the closest bodies begin to take notice, and two of them approach me.
“Are you lost, princess?”
The tall, muscular male doesn’t sound like he’s teasing. He’s genuinely curious.
“No. I’m looking for Adr—Captain Greenwood—could you point me in his direction?”
They immediately point toward the middle of the grounds, where I recognize his gait immediately.
He’s wearing a dark green tunic with light armor on his shoulders and chest, walking slowly while conversing with another male as they circle an elevated stone square.
Two small steps lead to the dark platform, where two soldiers are dueling.
He doesn’t notice me as I approach, seeming deep in conversation with whoever he’s speaking to. “The king says to play nice and let them join. Just don’t reveal too much. They need to think—” Adrian pauses as I tap him on the shoulder from behind.
He turns with an irritated, almost angry expression.
I sense he’s about to give me a lecture, but then his gaze falls on my face and surprise colors his expression.
“Hi,” I say with an eager smile.
“Elle,” he says, still shocked. “What are you doing up here?”
“I told you I wanted you to teach me. Here I am.”
He glances behind me as if searching for someone. He looks strong in his full armor, and as I take in his perfectly styled black hair, green shirt to match his eyes, and authoritative expression, I remember why I’ve always had such a crush on him. Somehow, I’d forgotten. For a moment.
“She’s not here,” I say. “You were right.”
“I didn’t say she wouldn’t show.”
“Your face did.”
He softens and lets out a small chuckle. “Listen, Elle,” he says, leaning in to speak more softly. “Today isn’t a great day. Your father’s letting the dragons come train with us for a few days. I just got the word this morning. So I need to keep a close eye on that.”
“Why?” I ask, furrowing my eyebrows.
“Why did he let them? I don’t really know, to tell you the truth. I think it’s a bad—” he stops himself. “It’s the king’s wishes, and we shall abide by it.”
“No. I mean why do you have to watch them? You don’t trust them?”
His faces scrunches. “Of course not. Why would I?”
“You don’t know much about them.”
“Exactly.”
He looks at me with disapproval, like he has a lot more to say. Then he glances behind me, and his posture stiffens.
I turn and look at what caused the reaction in him, finding six tall males approaching, plus one female. All in black.
I stand beside Adrian, and we all wait.
When they get closer, Daegan’s eyes shift to me only for a moment. It’s enough.
Raef doesn’t wear his signature grin, and for a moment, I’m concerned. But then I realize—it’s still pretty early in the day. He’s not a fan of being up early. Plus, he’s likely trying to look intimidating as he walks onto his enemies’ training grounds.
They all look so serious, actually. You’d think they were walking into a battle. Even Yara, who I try not to make eye contact with.
Then again, they probably do feel like that, in a way. We’ve been enemies for thousands of years. Even before the curse.
“Captain Greenwood,” Daegan says, approaching Adrian. I wonder if this is the last of them that remained behind.
Adrian nods. “I was only just informed you would be joining us today. Forgive me, I wasn’t prepared.”