Chapter 12 #2
Zogar nods. “Very likely.” Then he turns toward Eldrath. “Why did you want to meet?”
“First, may I offer you some refreshment?” Eldrath asks.
A man appears. He’s human, I feel quite certain, and he carries a small tray of glasses containing an iridescent, bubbling liquid.
Zogar shakes his head, refusing to take one, and frowns as I accept mine.
“I assure you,” Eldrath says, “starseep fizz is quite safe—both for humans and dragons.” He smiles softly.
“You have a human slave,” Zogar blurts angrily, as the man again offers him a drink.
The human startles. “Sir, I am no slave, I assure you. I never have been. Eldrath is my employer, and this is the best job I’ve ever had.”
“Thank you, Marque,” Eldrath says. The man nods and then walks away.
“Your home is lovely.” I take a small sip of my drink, and my eyes widen. “And this is the most delicious concoction I’ve ever tasted.” It’s ice cold, faintly sweet, somewhat floral, but it’s also tart, and the bubbles dance on my tongue.
“I’m glad you like it.” Eldrath smiles. “It is made from many ingredients, but the not too secret, secret ingredient—” he winks “—is the nectar of starseep flowers. Very hard to find.”
“It’s delicious.” I take another sip. I like this elven overlord. He’s made me far more comfortable than any of the other superi sovereigns did. Certainly more comfortable than Lucian. Not that I would have ever expected to feel comfortable around a vampyre.
“Speaking of homes,” Zogar says. “I require one in this city. How does one go about finding a suitable property?”
Eldrath nods. “I’ll put you in touch with an agent who can help. I can also provide you with funds—”
“I do not require your funds.” Zogar interrupts Eldrath’s generous offer, then frowns. “Assuming I can find my hoard.”
“Perhaps I can be of assistance in that regard,” Eldrath says. “Our people have maps going back many centuries. They might help you pinpoint your hoard’s last location.”
Zogar’s eyes narrow. His distrust is so thick I almost choke.
“That’s very generous,” I say to Eldrath, and then shoot Zogar a look. I understand why he’s being cautious, but he said we need allies, and it seems to me that Eldrath is a far better choice of ally than Lucian, the only other sovereign who’s offered any help.
“I won’t reveal my hoard’s location,” Zogar says. “Not to anyone.”
“Of course not.” Eldrath nods. “I’ll make sure you receive copies of all the relevant maps. None of my people will know which areas you’re focussed on.”
Zogar’s posture relaxes—just slightly—and unease unwinds inside me as well. Until it began to release, I hadn’t realized how tightly tension had coiled in my belly.
“I wish you the best of luck in locating your hoard.” Eldrath says. “Although I must warn you that searching for abandoned hoards became somewhat of a sport after you dragons disappeared.”
Zogar’s brow furrows, and I fear he’s about to dispute Eldrath’s choice of words, but then he relaxes again, as much as my husband ever relaxes. “No doubt many of our hoards have been raided. Fucking wyvern.”
“I hope yours has remained intact,” Eldrath says. “And I’m glad to assist in your search in any way that I can. He picks up a small device. Its smooth surface, like glass, lights up as he lifts it, and Eldrath touches it several times in various places.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
Zogar is glaring at Eldrath.
“I am arranging for the maps to be brought here.” Eldrath sets down the device.
“This is called a phone,” he tells me. “It’s used for communication, and, well, for many other things.
It’s really more like a handheld computer, and a computer…
” He shrugs. “If you two plan to stay here for an extended time, you must acquire your own phones.” He taps the device. “Very useful. Even for elves.”
“I’m excited to learn more.” I glance at Zogar, and another frown melts from his face, leaving him with his resting skeptic face, which is better than his active angry face.
“Why are we here?” my husband asks, gruffly.
“Zogar,” I interject. “Eldrath has been very kind to offer his hospitality, and he’s already provided us with some very good information.”
Eldrath nods toward me. “Thank you, Queen Rosomon—”
“Just Rosomon, please.” I was a princess my whole life, but don’t enjoy titles.
“Rosomon, then.” Eldrath smiles softly, and multiple colors flash in his eyes. “I appreciate your kind words, but your husband is right. I’ve not yet touched on the reasons I asked you to come here.”
“Go on then,” Zogar says gruffly.
I draw a deep breath, hoping that if I grow calmer, some of it will transfer to my husband. His default emotions today are gruff, angry and skeptical.
“My primary objective in asking you here,” Eldrath says, “was to give you an open opportunity to ask your questions more freely.”
“I can’t speak freely at the council?” Zogar’s anger face has returned.
“Vespera invited only sovereigns she trusts, but I don’t trust everyone there. Not fully.”
“Whom don’t you trust?” Zogar leans forward.
"Lucian?” I ask.
Eldrath shakes his head. “I don’t want to disparage anyone. You should make your own judgments. Trust has become as rare and valuable as diamonds in this city, and everyone must mine their own.”
As he says the word diamonds, some of the gems embedded in his chair glow and sparkle, as if they heard their name called. Every moment I spend in this world reveals something new and amazing.
“May I ask a question?” I say, when Zogar doesn’t immediately pose another.
Smiling, Eldrath sweeps one of his elegant hands to the side, inviting my query.
“As I mentioned earlier, for as long as anyone can remember, minions of darkness—we thought they were demons—have been breaching the veil to enter the Light. Based on what I was taught, these demon invasions are why humans first mounted dragons.”
Zogar grunts.
I turn toward him. “Husband. I well know that my knowledge is highly flawed. When I make a mistake, do feel free to correct me.” My words are curt, but I offer him a soft smile.
“I know I have much to learn.” I grin, hoping he’ll recognize the joke we’ve shared about how often he told me that, when I first mounted him.
Zogar’s lips don’t smile, but his eyes flash with a speck of humor—and perhaps something else.
“Your understanding isn’t entirely incorrect, my queen.
But humans first mounted my people before the veil was fully constructed.
Riders were helpful to improve our vision, especially as the Darkness waned, and as the veil neared completion, we required human riders to fly. ”
“Oh,” I say. “I had no idea.”
He nods. “That said, after the veil was complete, it’s true that the humans’ efforts to remount us increased after the minions of darkness began to appear.”
“When did they first appear?” Eldrath asks.
“About a hundred and fifty years ago,” Zogar responds, and I’m happy that he’s at least talking to the elven overlord now.
“Our history calls that the Great Upheaval,” I add.
“Do you know who is sending them?” Zogar asks. “And why?”
Eldrath tips his head to the side, accentuating the length of his neck. “I have a theory.”
Zogar shifts forward. “Tell me!”
My heart beats more quickly.
“I believe demons are sending them,” Eldrath says.
I shiver. Until recently, I believed the minions were demons and was comforted when Zogar assured me they weren’t. But if demons are sending them…
Zogar’s face clouds with skepticism. “Why do you think that demons are sending them?”
“Because those minions are born of the darkest magic, most often practiced by demons.”
Zogar nods as if this makes sense to him, or he already knew it. “But why send them to the Light?” he asks. “Were they sent to attack? Or as surveillance? Are the demons planning to bring down the veil so they can rule over the Light as well as the Darkness?” Zogar is visibly agitated.
“I believe they are messengers.” Eldrath nods toward Zogar. “Sent to alert you.”
“Alert me to what?” Zogar grips his thighs so tightly I fear his legs will bruise. “What message would demons wish to send to the Light? To me?”
“There’s a resistance movement, and some demons have joined it,” Eldrath says.
“Resistance against what?” Zogar asks.
“Against the council,” Eldrath says as if it should be obvious. “Against Gabreal. Against autocratic rule in the Darkness.”
Zogar’s eyes narrow. “And demons are part of this resistance?”
“Not all demons support the current state of affairs,” Eldrath says.
Zogar slides forward in his chair, and it adjusts to his movement. “What is their message? Why were they sent? I did not receive any message. Until recently, my powers have been stifled.” He glances toward me.
Eldrath nods. “I believe they were sent to request your help.”
Zogar straightens in his chair, and his hands release their tight grip on his thighs.
“We didn’t know they were messengers,” I tell Eldrath. “Dragon riders have been killing the minions.”
Eldrath doesn’t seem bothered by this. “Minions aren’t sentient beings.
Even if your riders didn’t kill them, they wouldn’t last long in the Light.
On that side of the veil, the dark magic that created them would quickly lose power.
And I fully understand why humans would want to slay the vile creatures on sight. ”
He turns toward Zogar. “You say you didn’t receive their message, and yet you are here.”
“Yes, I am here.” Zogar nods. “Here I am indeed.” Zogar settles back in his chair, and his brow furrows. He’s clearly thinking through all that we’ve learned.
“What about the creatures on the plains in Lymbo,” I ask. If Zogar isn’t curious enough to ask, I certainly am.
“Ah, those…” Eldrath shakes his head. “Those poor souls are creatures who were banished from the Darkness.”
“That’s terrible.” I finish the last of my starseep fizz.