I laughed, wiping my hand on my skirts.
“He’s one of Er’oer’s kids, aye. Shorter than hoped—he’ll not carry a rider,” Hur said with a shake of his head. “Lemella’s kids will be the first trained under saddle.”
Anna’s weak, injured form flashed through my mind, and I forced it away as I took in the cozy room. “I’m pleased to see your home has been spared from the battle.”
A shadow flickered across Fiona’s face, and Hur’s smile faltered.
“We have been blessed by Elohios,” Hur said. “Not everyone could claim the same.”
I pressed my lips together. “The tenth level has been cleared—this was where most of the Velli came through?”
It made sense, since this level connected to the manor. They’d have more traffic than any other tier.
“Quill, Skye, beg excuse of your queen and see Oreo to your room.” Fiona nudged the children.
“Beg your pardon!” They both exclaimed, darting off, the boy dragging the goat behind him, hooves skidding across the stone.
“Please—sit.” She gestured to the table, and Hur hurried to pull out chairs for us.
I seated myself, spine straight, pride intact. Ronan perched beside me, leaning forward, hand never leaving his dagger.
“I would offer tea, but we dare not risk the streams during battle,” Fiona said. “I’ve not left the house in over a week.”
Hur grunted, dropping into a chair with a protest from the wooden legs. “I wouldn’t let her. The first night was the bloodiest. We were lucky to have our doors barred.”
“What happened?” I asked, searching their faces. I couldn’t fathom the terror of screams and battle outside, trapped in a windowless home, uncertain how long safety would last.
“They came in the middle of the night,” Hur said, fingers twitching over the table. “Velli devils led the way. They did their job well, causin’ the good folks to hide in their homes. Those who didn’t… Well, they paid with their lives—or worse, dependin’ on how ye be lookin’ at it. By morn, soldiers wearin’ Radaan plate were marchin’ down our streets. The strip of black cloth about their arms gave ‘em away, it did. That’s how we knew—this wasn’t King Kallias’ doin’. Nah, those traitors belong to his son.”
They had no idea Tallon was half-Velli, still hiding his lineage. Surely, they had to suspect. There was no way he could’ve painted enough armor on the move. I would search the bodiesfor black cloths, reveling in each one that marked a traitor’s death.
“Why didn’t you fight back?” Ronan’s stare was cold as ice, cutting into the room like a blade.
“They came in the night. With Velli.” Fiona repeated the words as if that explained everything, her tone taut with memory.
Ronan scoffed. “And the time of day determines whether your people resist a traitor or not?”
Wood groaned under Hur’s shifting weight, his friendly demeanor darkening as he leaned closer. “Sol’s not meant for fightin’, Yer Highness. She’s meant to protect. Those who fought were nothin’ but fuel to the fire. Kindlin’ for the flames. Their blood encouraged them. Sol’s outer walls fell that night, but her heart took longer.”
I kicked my brother under the table, subtle but firm. It wasn’t his place to accuse these people of failing against the Velli. “Sol’s heart?”
Fiona swallowed hard, hands clasped together, brow pinched with worry, wrinkles deepening with each measured breath.
“Ah, I forgot ye only visited once.” Hur’s dark gaze returned to me. “What ye see on the outside is only a fragment. Sol proper lies within the mountain. A great white city, large enough to rival Reem herself, pristine and lit with the light of the sun.”
“And it fell?”
“Aye. Though it’s not mine to advise ye, I daresay yer troubles start there. When foolish men opened their doors to fight…” He sent a glare to my brother. “They opened them to the Velli. Too few of them to hold it proper, but Sol runs deep. They could hide for weeks, if not months. Taking the outer levels is easy. Retaking Sol’s heart—that will be the true siege.”
If that rat bastard burrowed into the mountain, my dragons wouldn’t be able to reach him. What I had hoped would be aquick hunt ending with his demise might stretch into an endless search, house to house, level to level.
“Do you know where Tallon is?” It was pointless, but I had to ask.
Hur shook his head. “If I knew, I would’ve told my king when he passed. Alas, he could be anywhere.”
I schooled my expression, keeping disappointment locked behind carefully arranged features. They didn’t need my frustration, nor feel the devastating ache that my dragons could serve no purpose.
“I want to see this city,” my brother blurted.
