Page 9 of Heart of the Desert

I blinked, and I sensed Keera was surprised as well.

“But uniting the clans…” she started.

“After you left last night, I volunteered to join the group who would ride to the other clans and persuade them to join us in besieging the city. Lord Elion suggested I stay behind though, observing that I tend to persuade with a blade in hand, and that killing our allies would not be helpful.” Her nostrils flared and she bit out Elion’s name with no small bit of frustration. “In fact, after I helped you rob Izumi, my presence may make an alliance more difficult. But sitting idly by while others work to restore the desert—it does not befit a true lord.”

The fierce edge to her dark gaze brooked no argument, and I understood why Keera and Dhara had quickly found a sort of kinship.

“We should discuss with Lord Elion and the others,” I pointed out. “We need to make sure there are enough strong warriors here to protect the clans.”

“Lord Elion does not command me.” Dhara’s eyes flared. “And Lord Koen was already prepared to lead and protect all the clans gathered here.”

Keera and I shared another glance.

“There will be worse dangers than lava wyrms between us and the ocean. Do not tell me you escaped the last encounter with a lava wyrm so unscathed that you would refuse the aid of another warrior.” Dhara flicked her fingers, and flames weaved between them like coiling snakes. Her power was not to be underestimated.

I grimaced at the reminder of Keera’s state after our battle with the lava wyrm, but Keera reached out a hand.

“We will be happy to have your sword.”

The women clasped forearms, and it was decided.

Chapter four

Keera

Ifound Aderyn at the edge of the horse enclosure. She stood with her roan mare’s rear leg braced between her own, bent down to check the horse’s hooves. I watched as she put it down and moved to another.

I hoisted myself up to sit on the fence, watching her work. She didn’t greet me at first, continuing to thoroughly examine her horse’s feet before letting them drop and bracing her hands on her hips with a sigh.

“You’re not coming with, are you?” She asked without preamble.

I shook my head, and her words sent a pang of guilt through my chest, so painful I cringed. I had known it was coming, but it still hurt.

“I’m not sure I would be much help. We already saw how thoroughly I tend to fail at diplomacy.” The words came out more bitter than I intended.

Aderyn narrowed her eyes at me. “War is coming too. You’re good at that. It’s how you became queen in the first place.”

“You’re good at war too,” I pointed out.

Aderyn’s shoulders slumped. The posture accentuated just how weary she looked. She had always been pale for somebody who lived in the desert, but it seemed exaggerated now. “I thought I was good at protecting my city. The ways of the clans are new to me, though, and… Kelvadan needs you.”

I shook my head. “I’m the reason the city fell.” Saying it out loud burned like retching up lava, but I did it all the same, almost relishing the pain.

“Don’t blame yourself for something Calix did. And it doesn’t mean you couldn’t help the clans retake her. You seem to understand the clans—the desert. How to fight outside the confines of city walls.”

My lips twisted. “I have had lots of experience surviving in the wilds. That’s why I’m going to the ocean with Erix. I was a terrible queen. But I might be able to do this.”

The last of Aderyn’s argumentativeness seemed to drain from her, and she finally approached and hauled herself onto the fence next to me. She had to jump, being a good deal shorter than me, but her strong arms lifted her up the rest of the way easily.

“You’re helping the desert, and I know that,” Aderyn admitted. “But I still wish you could stay and help us retake Kelvadan.”

“I’ll come back,” I promised. “When the Heart is restored, I’ll return and fight alongside you.”

“We don’t have a lot of time.” Aderyn sighed.

“Then I better ride fast. We leave in the morning.”

“So do Lord Elion and I.”