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“They’re stalking us,” Evya murmurs low in my ear. Her gaze darts to and fro as we cross the southern courtyard.
“I know. Try to look unassuming. They might just be curious.”
I pull her into the shadows of the large water barrels that line the edge of the courtyard, feeling anything but unassuming. On the parapet above us, a trio of guards keeps silent pace with us. The silhouettes of more soldiers lurk by each of the courtyard’s main gates.
They could be on their usual patrols. But there are more guards than there should be, and their attention seems fixed on us rather than on any potential threats outside the fortress.
We wind through the rows of stacked barrels until we reach what I was aiming for—the small door that leads to the stables. The door is held fast with an iron bolt, but I spread my hand over the metal and focus magic into my palm. Light spreads out through the iron, glowing brightly for a moment as it turns into a rune designed for corrosion. Then the metal turns to rust and crumbles away. The hinges give a loud creak as we pull the door open and slip through.
“If the guards weren’t suspicious of us before, they will be now,” Evya says with a sigh.
“At least we’re almost to where we need to be.” I try to sound reassuring. I shut the door as quietly as possible and step out into the moonlight beyond.
The stable yard is eerie in its stillness. The hitching posts in the wide, cobbled yard stand empty, and I spy none of the soldiers who serve as caretakers to the dragons. I glance around the perimeter of the walled space, which is lined with stalls made of stone and heavy bars of iron. Most of the stall gates stand open.
We move forward. A loud reptilian roar fills the night. In the stall nearest to the gate, an enormous green dragon rears up and spreads its wings, snapping at us with a wide mouth filled with fangs. Evya gives a startled hiss and freezes in place.
“Are you all right with this?” I whisper. “It isn’t too late to risk the sea instead.”
I mean it as a genuine offer, but she shoots me a defiant look and forces her steps forward. “I’ll be fine. I’ve ridden dragons many times. Although the ones in Lanta Koriashen weren’t trained to eat tuath on sight.”
We make a wide circle around the dragon’s stall. He watches us, head bobbing as he gauges the distance for a strike. Each movement brings a clink from the chain attached to the iron band on his neck. My heart leaps to my throat as the dragon lunges and slams against the gate of his stall, sending a tremor through the ground. The sturdy gate doesn’t budge. The dragon gives a snort and retreats, settling in a back corner of his stall and continuing to glare at us.
My skin prickles as unnatural silence settles over the stable yard once more. We slip past the stalls as quickly as we can, taking stock of the few dragons who have been left behind. All of them appear injured in some way.
“Nehanir wasn’t exaggerating when he said Falamar sent out all his dragon riders,” Evya mutters, her tone bitter. “I wouldn’t ask these creatures to carry us.”
“Then I suppose the king will have to lend us his own dragon.” I grin as I nod toward a stall in the back left corner of the stable yard.
I give a short series of clicks with my tongue. A deep, musical keen sounds in answer from the depths of the stall. A large, silver-scaled head appears from the shadows, set with two shining eyes of blue fire. Falamar’s star dragon—one of the ancient creatures who once dwelled in the celestial cities, and who came to Tandith with the elves. She’s smaller and more elegant than the common dragons native to this world, and her eyes flash with sharp intelligence. Evya’s face lights up, all apprehension swallowed by wonder as the star dragon stretches out her vast, glittering wings and dips her head low, bowing to us.
“This is Nadria,” I say quietly. “She’s been with Falamar’s family for generations, but she dislikes Falamar so much he has to keep her chained so she doesn’t fly away. I’m sure she won’t mind carrying us out of here.”
Evya flashes a smile. We start toward the star dragon, still keeping to the darker parts of the stable yard. We’re halfway across the yard when the main gate starts to creak open.
Evya darts into the empty portico, motioning for me to follow. I start after her, but my steps falter as the gate swings inward and Falamar strides through. His gaze falls on me, and he walks toward me with measured steps. I stand my ground, resisting the urge to make a run for the star dragon’s stall. Fleeing from Falamar would only invite him to blast me with a stun rune from behind.
“I thought you might try to leave this way again.” His voice is equal parts stern and exhausted. He glances around quickly. “Where is the tuath woman?”
“She’s ... elsewhere, at the moment.” Before I can stop myself, I glance in the direction Evya ran. I catch a glimpse of her white skirt as she swings herself up into the rafters of the portico. After that, I can’t see or hear any trace of her, and I force myself not look again.
Falamar narrows his eyes. “You don’t seriously mean tomarrythat creature, do you?”
The way he says the words spikes disgust through my heart. “Her name is Evya Atathari,” I say firmly. “Princess Evya, technically. You should get used to calling her that.”
“I won’t become accustomed to your absurd notions.” He stands taller as if he’s trying to intimidate me. “Keliveth, stay here among your own people. This is your last chance. If you leave Kara Davonashi again, my mercy cannot follow you.”
A pleading note in his voice gives me pause. I look at the king for a long moment, and see him change before my eyes. Gone is the friend I thought I had. In his stead stands someone who is so terrified of losing his place in the world that he is letting his own soul be destroyed.
“Stop posturing.” I step toward him, growing bolder as I remember Evya’s account of his callousness last night. “And stop deceiving yourself. Your mercy could extend as far as you want it to, if only your pride would allow it.”
“Be silent and listen to me,” Falamar retorts. “You have five minutes before this place is swarming with soldiers. The guards have gone to tell Lord Thëalanin and the others. Soon the entire council will be here, and they will detain you and Evya by whatever means necessary. I will not stop them.” His voice quavers ever so slightly, and I catch a glimpse of the young man behind the façade. “I didn’t want it to come to this. I thought you would come to your senses and stay here.”
“Because it would be more convenient for everyone if I just lie low and let you slaughter the Atathari.” My voice is sharp. “Just as it would have been convenient if I had bled to death last night, if only your accursed oaths didn’t make things so complicated.”
Falamar opens his mouth, then shuts it again. He can’t deny anything I just said. I start walking, this time toward the star dragon’s stall. A faint creak comes from the rafters of the portico. Hope flickers within me as I glimpse Evya balanced overhead, carefully making her way across the beams. She nods toward Nadria and flashes me a smile. I realize she means to untether the dragon herself.
We might still have a chance at escape, but I need to keep Falamar distracted for a little longer. Thank the Creator, the words flow easily. Something deep within me seems to split open, and I realize all the things I should have said to Falamar ages ago. I cannot leave them unspoken any longer.
