“I’msurprised that you still have statues of the old gods here, after all that’s happened.”
Avlynlooked out the window, their lips twisted. “Thisland belonged to theDragonsfor much longer than fae have existed.Thiswas their sacred breeding ground, and the people here lived in harmony with them until… well, until the end.Theold faiths are as alive here today as they always were, that’s not about to change.”Ididn’t ask more.Iknew that the greatDragonMalech—theWorldBreakerhimself—had been defeated byEmperorHadeonjust outside this city, andXyrsuffered terribly during the fighting.Someaccounts had called it destroyed.Butlooking out at it now, that was hard to imagine.
Thekings of this land had been the fae’s ambassadors to the dragons until theWarofFlameswhich had destroyed them all.Now, there were no dragons, andAbraxashad pledged his loyalty toHadeon, just like all the rest.
Ithought ofHadeonand the deranged wickedness he displayed when he sent his magic straight through my mother’s heart.AndAbraxaswas his right hand.Mynails bit into my palms andIpushed those thoughts away, leaving me with only the lingering palpitations of my heart.
Avlynstared at me. “What?”Iasked, incredulously.
“Doyou know much about theDragonKingdom’shistory?”
“Notmuch before the king murdered his own father to claim his throne.”Ithrew the words with the intention to wound, and it seemed they found their mark.Theyflattened their lips, andIsaw anger burning in their eyes.
“Soeager to see us as the villains,Princess.”
“Oh,I’msorry.Ithought that you had kidnapped me, maybe that’s what gave me that impression?Ormaybe it was the torture in the basement ofMetlinthat had me confused,”Avlyn’sface changed to shock, andIbarreled on, “Ormaybe it was the murder of my people that convinced me.”
Avlynstared at me, and for a momentIthought they were going to strike me.Iitched for it, wanting that altercation.Butinstead, they calmed, “Yourhands aren’t clean either,Princess.Youwere the oneIfound covered in blood.”
“Thatwas different, that was self-defense.”
“Yes, but that wasn’t the first time you’d killed, was it?”
Theywere right.Iremembered the face of the first manIhad killed like it was yesterday, not over a century ago.Ihad forced my way onto a patrol of the towns outsideNiata, and we had come across bandits raiding a small farm.Oneman had been closing in on a few of the farmer’s children, andIhad run my sword straight through him.Icould still feel the moment his heart stopped and the life fled from his eyes.I’dbeen sick for a week after, emptying my stomach endlessly, and scrubbing my hands until the skin bled, trying to wipe away that stain.
SincethenIhad killed again, and each one had been easier.Now,Icouldn’t even sayIfelt much about that male in the dungeon.Butthey had all been justified, to protect someone weaker than myself.Isaid as much toAvlyn.
Thecorners of their mouth twitched upward.
“I’mnot judging you,Princess.IknowIdon’t have a leg to stand on.Butstill, you sit here judging me and my people.Tellme,Princess, what would you do to protect those you cared for?Toprotect your people?”
Istraightened my back, “Anything.”
Theynodded, “Exactly, so perhaps you can understand us as well.”
“Ididn’t realize that thePearlKingdomposed a threat to you.Howwas that, exactly?”
Avlyn’sface went dark again, “Everythingoutside these borders is a threat to us.”
Ididn’t understand, but it seemed our conversation was over.Avlynleaned back and closed their eyes, “I’llget you a history book on it.Trynot to fall out of the carriage whileIget some shut-eye.”
Iwas stunned, butAvlynreally did seem to close their eyes and fall asleep, despite the jostling of the carriage.Ithought about bolting, but where wouldIgo?Iwas in a city controlled by my captors.Instead,Iturned to the window and did my best to memorize all the streets and buildingsIcould.
* * *
Thecastle was surroundedby a great dark wall that connected to the cliff on either side.Alumbering gate lay open, and our carriage passed through whileIobserved the guards stationed at the top.Morenotable were the large dragons carved into the dark stone of the gate.Eachbeast snarled down at me as we passed underneath, jaws extended revealing a tongue that snaked out, tasting the air.Theirspiked backs led up and over the wall.
Insidelay a courtyard that seemed to be full of vendors for a market.Makeshifttents and stalls lined the walls and people milled about everywhere.Theair was filled with the smell of bread and herbs, and the sounds of laughter and bartering.Froma distance, the castle cut an intimidating figure, not unlike the king who ruled here.Darkand sharp, carved from the ancient rock, and laced with menace as the ocean mists twirled up its tall parapets.Butnow inside, it felt so…alive.Notsome ancient relic, but the heart of the city.
Aswe entered the cobblestone courtyard,Avlynshot awake andIagain wondered if they had been feigning sleep the entire time.Thecarriage pulled to the great double doors that led inside the castle.Theywere taller than three fae and carved from deep, rich ebony.Eachdoor held another great dragon.Theyreared back on their hind legs, claws and wings outstretched, their tongues lashing the sky above.
Avlynhopped out of the carriage before it stopped and strolled up to the great doors.Thecarriage finally halted, andIpeeked my head out the still-open door.Moresounds and smells hit me, and a chicken ran right past my path, chased by two rowdy youngsters.
“Coming,Princess?”Avlynwaved to me.Istepped down and made my way up the few steps to the doors.Avlynnodded to the two guards who stood on either side and pushed our way in.
Theentry was a grand hall, towering even taller than the doors outside.Agreat iron chandelier hung over the entire space, tall wax candles twinkling.Isaw it too bore the dragon motif; the iron wrought into twisting versions of the beasts.
“Interestingaesthetic,”Imumbled.
