AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We closed one circle, and a huge one, but his entire plan couldn’t have depended on that,” Tzaria said.
“Shouldn’t we return there?” Fel asked. “Destroy those creatures?”
The woman shook her head. “There weren’t that many left, and they would be spread out by now. We’re better off focusing our efforts on Cynon and preventing more harm.”
It made sense, even if leaving Leah’s city helpless pained him.
River was thoughtful. “It was a trap. A circle made of metal and glass? Who would it attract? My feeling, what I got from it, was that the portal in Frostlake was important, but not that much. He was satisfied when he killed you, or thought he did, not disappointed that his circle was gone. I know my impressions are vague.”
“What’s the priority now?” Naia asked. “Destroy his dragon form? As for the eggs, I want to warn the kingdoms, but I was going to wait until the sun has risen properly and they’re awake. I’m still not sure what to say or how to convince them.”
“Fel should talk to them,” River said. “They’ll think he was the one who warned them about the attack in Wolfmark.” He looked up, thinking. “Of course, if there was no attack, they’ll be unlikely to hear anything we have to say.”
“Let me try.”
The others stood to the side while Fel activated the mirror. This was one of those times when he wished his father had been friendlier to other kingdoms. Sometimes it was just a matter of getting them to hear you.
He tried Wolfmark first, but nobody was there to answer.
“Try Haven,” Naia said. “They also came to visit.”
Fel tried and got the same lack of response.
River shrugged. “Either everything is quiet and they’re all sleeping—or they’re all already dead.”
Naia scowled at him. “You can’t be so flippant.”
“It’s not like I’m celebrating it,” the fae said. “If anything, I was the one who raised the concern.”
“They were your enemies,” Fel said. “It’s understandable.”
“Were.” River chuckled. “You’re so optimistic.” He changed his mocking tone. “Now, it’s true that we do have a common enemy.” He turned to Tzaria, Ekateni, and Risomu. “Oh, mighty dragons, how shall we defeat the evil that you allowed to grow in our land?”
Naia rolled her eyes. Ekateni was staring at River, and asked, “Are you a mindmelder, or was it Cynon?”
River stiffened. “Me. And before you ask, I also happen to be partly human. And royalty. So my magic works everywhere, at least in Aluria.”
Tzaria was staring at the fae. “Did you really destroy the death staff all those years ago?”
“I did.”
The woman still stared at him. “Our kind has feared your people for so long, and yet, one of you might be our salvation.”
“I’ll be happy to save Naia, Fel and our land,” River said.
Fel didn’t miss the implied meaning that he was not doing it for the dragons.
Tzaria looked satisfied. “At least we know we can trust you.”
River rolled his eyes. “Fae can always be trusted. Our words are true.”
She looked at him. “I know you’re upset about your city, but we saw that there was a spell keeping it in stasis, we thought that we could wait, and that would give us—”
“You ignored us.” River scoffed. “That’s fine. What a small, little thing.”
The dragons had stayed away from Aluria to make sure nobody found out about Ircantari’s child. It sounded reasonable when Tzaria had told it to Fel, but now he agreed with River that it had been a cruel thing to abandon the white fae in those circumstances.
“I’m truly sorry,” Tzaria said. “For what sorry is worth. If it helps, dragons feel great shame in having to accept help from someone they wronged.”
