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Tzaria looked at her, then glanced at River. “So you know what happened to your brother?”
No. She was missing the most important part. “I don’t know if he survived.”
“I believe his human form was safe,” she said. “Even if I’m not sure where it was, or how he swapped.”
“But he couldn’t swap forms,” Naia said.
“He would come back here, wouldn’t he?” Tzaria asked. “I say we wait.”
Agonizing wait. Naia looked down.
Tzaria then looked at River. “I know you.”
He unglamoured himself. “Same. I asked you to spare the Ancients and all you did was push me away.”
“Ircantari did that. But we went to Ironhold to investigate. We took your claims seriously, fae.”
“Oh, yeah.” River gestured vaguely at Naia. “I can see how focused you were on the investigation.” He then changed his tone. “But I’m glad you’re here. We’ll need your help.”
It was true. The dragons would know more about Cynon, would know more about what River had seen, and perhaps, if they worked together, they would stand a chance.
Someone then knocked on the door. Naia was hoping it wasn’t any nonsense, but opened it regardless.
Emotion swelled up in Naia’s chest, and tears in her eyes.
* * *
It feltlike forever that Fel hadn’t hugged Naia. Holding his sister in his arms was pure joy. He kissed her forehead, then saw how tearful she was.
“I feared you were gone,” she said, so much emotion in her voice.
Fel chuckled. “Can’t get rid of me that easily.”
He then noticed Tzaria and Ekateni and was overcome with relief. “You’re alive too.” River was also there. And yet someone was missing. His joy fizzled. “Where’s Leah?”
“She went into the hollow and hasn’t returned yet,” Tzaria said.
Like his father. Would she be lost like him?
River put a hand on his elbow. “Time can be different there. And she’s a deathbringer. I’m sure she’ll return.”
Fel’s father was also a deathbringer, and yet… Tzaria and Ekateni then noticed Risomu, who had brought him. It had been a long flight, and yet the dragon had carried him all the way to Umbraar, after his cousins had contacted him.
“This is Risomu,” Fel said, more to Naia and River.
“I know you too,” River said. “Now, as much as I’d love to have some long introductions and explanations, I’m afraid of what’s about to happen. But I’m glad there are a few dragons here, as we’ll have to plan.”
“And be fast.” Tzaria nodded. “I know.”
River told them that he had actually been the vessel, and had even made Ekateni kill Fel. This was surprising. He rushed through the details of how he had used a dagger, then even killed his own father and taken the white fae throne. He then told them about something that Ironhold had left in each kingdom, something that he feared could be activated, and something important in the Iron Citadel. “I know this is all quite vague,” he explained.
“It is not,” Tzaria said. “It’s lucky that you were the vessel, and could gather so much information.”
Fel wasn’t sure about that. It was quite obvious that the Ironhold castle had something important, and if they had been visiting other kingdoms…
Tzaria continued, “To come back to this world, he needs both forms. What’s probably in the bottom of the castle is his dragon form. Hopefully still as an egg. Now, as to the gifts to the kingdoms, he can give them something like… The best description would be eggs, though the form will vary. They can also open gaps and bring creatures from other realms. My guess would be the eleventh realm.”
More gaps? Fel couldn’t believe it. “But what about the circle in Frostlake? Doesn’t it mean anything that we destroyed it? That we stopped him from connecting with those realms?”
