“Cylas, you’ll take Reign with you to Cyron. I’ve been told that’s where his second in command is.”
Cylas nods. I had assumed all of this would be behind us. After everything that has happened recently, it was looking like the rebellion had been dismantled.
Maybe for King Cimmerian dismantled isn’t the same as destroyed.
Rebellion or not, I know I’m not going anywhere. If it’s not the rebellion forces he needsme for, it’ll be something else.
“How are the military units looking?” The question is directed at Ryder, and I now realize that’s where he’s been all this time.
“They’ve been handled, and the traitors have been dealt with.”
A sinister grin spreads across the king’s face. “Very good.”
After the meeting ends, I’m brought back to my cell and told I’ll be leaving with Cylas in a few hours. I have yet to find out what the king has planned for us in Cyron, but my gut is telling me it will be much worse than simply starting a fire.
“How’d the meeting go?” Kane asks once Orien is gone.
“Oh, you know. Just the king deciding one dead rebel leader isn’t good enough.”
Kane rolls his eyes. “Of course not.”
“Ryder’s back. Apparently, he’s been with the military units, cleaning house.”
“That makes sense. Other than the king himself, Ryder is the next best thing to scare them into submission.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Slader pipes up. “I hate to admit it, but that is one scary dude. If it weren’t for his father wanting to keep me around, he would’ve killed me the night he found us… well… you know.”
“Torturing me? Yeah, I do know.”
“Okay… anyway,” Kane mumbles, trying to break up the tension between me and Slader. “Anything else we missed?”
“He’s sending Cylas and me to Cyron today to find the rebel leader’s second in command. Other than that, I don’t know much. He’s already made his public execution, so maybe this is business he wants to handle quietly. Either way, I’m not looking forward to it.”
“You really think the rebellion is still thinking about attacking?” Slader asks Kane.
“No, but I do think this is the first time the king has felt truly threatened, and he’s not taking any chances.”
I tried to sleep as much as possible before Cylas came to get me, but most of the time was spent running through different hypotheticals of how today could go. Knowing what’s about to happen wouldn’t change anything, but I’d rather be mentally prepared.
“What’s the plan?” I ask Cylas, who seems to be in a rush by how fast he’s dragging me through the palace.
“You’ll find out when we get there.”
Once we’re outside, he pulls the same colored vial from his cloak and throws it to the ground just as he had before.
The dark blue mist that reminds me of Emeric’s dragon scales is still evaporating when several armed men ambush us. Cylas is pulled from me before I even have time to take in the new surroundings. A hand comes from behind and covers my mouth, muffling my screams.
There are too many of them, and everyone is moving in different directions, like they each have their own orders. Cylas fades from my view as I’m dragged into a nearby alleyway.
I’m pushed up against one of the walls by the man who was just behind me.
“Remember me?”
Recognition instantly sets in. I could never forget the face of the man who taught me how to throw daggers that day in Cyron two years ago. The scar on his cheek only confirms it’s him.
“You can trust me, Reign.”
I nod my head and he slowly removes his hand from my mouth. I don’t know if I can fully trust anyone anymore, but I do know I’m better off with him than a member of the Royal Circle.
