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Seren rose and turned me out of her embrace as she backed from the stable. I’m not laying an egg. I’m returning to Gorlassar. I’ll search as I work my way back to Kelyn and tell him you’re looking. That’s it. If you spot Kenrik’s light, tell me.
Seren, please. Don’t go.
I have to look for him. You stay with Caedryn. You’re in too fragile a state.
I’m not fragile! I yelled.
Seren stretched. Goodbye, Niawen. Find Kenrik. You’re his only hope.
She paused and flexed her wings. Ask yourself why Kenrik would leave. Ask yourself what Caedryn would do if he knew Kenrik came for you, that he wanted to bring you back. What would Caedryn do?
What are you saying?
Ask Caedryn if he knows where Kenrik is. Who lured you here so he could have you for himself? Who’s desperate enough to conceal his true nature? Who calls himself master of deception? Who’s the double agent?
Seren jumped into the sky.
That was in the past! I wailed.
Seren disappeared beyond the citadel’s wall.
“This is madness, Seren! How can you say this?” I screamed into the open air. Her accusations. Her insinuations. How dare she?
Niawen. Just ask. If you want me to fly you away—
NO! I ripped my dragon stone off and tossed it into the snow, cutting off Seren’s thoughts. I instantly felt cold, as if I was going into shock, as if I had cut my heart out.
She broke my heart. We were one. She was the friend who knew me inside and out. We breathed as one. We thought as one.
But I hid everything from her. I demolished the bridge linking our trust. I was selfish and uncaring for her and her feelings.
My dragon sister.
Without Seren I wasn’t even a dragon guardian. I had no ties to my home. No duty left. No honor.
“What have I done?” I crawled through the snow and pawed around until I found the stone. I slid it over my head. Seren?
No Answer.
“Seren!”
SIXTY-ONE
I paced in the infirmary. I couldn’t see Kenrik. I discerned for roughly an hour, scanning the countryside. Miles of Rolant. Miles of Talfryn. I found Kelyn easily, near the base of the mountains in his country. I even saw Sieffre and Sorfrona in the palace on the hill. Tiwlip sat beside Brenin’s light. I imagined her rubbing his back while he cried in his bed, clutching the cow I knew Kenrik had carved for him. Why did these lights spring readily into my mind and Kenrik’s didn’t?
No light.
It meant death.
He was dead.
No no no. If Kenrik were dead, I’d know it. As sure as I knew the sun would rise tomorrow and blood still flowed in my veins and heart.
Kenrik! I gripped the desk, searching. My chest was exploding as my heart slammed against my ribs.
Niawen. The word was a groan. His groan. Niawen. Faint.
I almost expected him to be lying on a bed.
