Page 102 of Destiny of a King

Dravic glanced at Merek. “Does everyone here possess magic?”

Merek glanced at him. “Magic does not make us extraordinary, King Dravic. It is simply part of who we are.”

The words stayed with Dravic as they walked. So far, he had seen a woman thaw water and a light help an old woman find her way. Hardly a threat to a kingdom. But he was only witnessing the good. What about the evil side of magic?

Adira suddenly stopped beside him.

Dravic turned. “What is it?”

She was staring at the base of an enormous tree.

At first, he saw nothing. Thick roots rose from the ground before disappearing beneath the snow, leaving dark hollows between them.

Then something moved.

Dravic’s hand went immediately to his sword.

Adira caught his wrist.

He looked down at her hand and then at her.

She shook her head.

He shook his head in return. “You do not know what it is.”

She continued to shake her head as her hand slipped off his wrist, realizing she should not have touched him. And she saw that others had taken note of it.

Dravic paid no heed to those around him as he shook his head more firmly. “Let it be.”

That he shook his head should have been warning enough, but his added scowl should have stopped her. It didn’t.

She ignored him and crouched.

“Adira,” he said, his commanding tone enough to stop her, if she could hear.

She glanced up when he stepped toward her, his leg faintly brushing her shoulder, and smiled.

Dravic frowned. “That smile will not save you if the thing has teeth.”

Something small poked its head out between the roots.

Dravic stared at it, which had Adira turning to see it.

The creature was no larger than his hand, covered in silvery-white fur so thick that it appeared almost round. Two pointed ears stood high upon its head, twitching as it looked cautiously around. Its eyes were enormous and dark, and a long tail covered in delicate white feathers curled from behind it.

Adira’s face lit with delight, but her smile vanished when the creature disappeared.

A moment later its head popped out from another opening between the roots.

Adira laughed silently.

A second creature appeared. Then a third.

Dravic noticed people were watching, Merek one of them.

Adira extended her hand slowly, and the first creature crept forward.

A woman nearby said something beneath her breath.