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River clicked his tongue. “I’m sure there was a reason they were in a different realm, though. Ciara, what do you suggest? We don’t want another war.”
His sister nodded. “They could go anywhere, and promise to stay hidden and not interfere with humans or us.”
“Then do it,” Leah said. “I am thankful they helped save my city.”
Ciara nodded, then turned to River. “I’ll have this settled, then I’ll be back.”
Naia wondered if his sister had omitted anything in her words, if there was something they were missing. But it was unlikely that anyone would find out a mistake any time soon.
Her father then appeared at the door. “The guest is gone?”
“She had to leave,” Fel said.
Azir then took a long look at them. “You all look like you’ve been awake for a week. I’m fetching baths and a meal, then you can explain some of what happened, and I suggest you rest for now. Tired soldiers can’t fight a war.”
Naia was still anxious about those eggs or whatever that could open in all the kingdoms, even if part of her knew that it could happen now just as much as it could happen in a thousand years. “I wanted to warn the kingdoms. There’s a trap left in each of them. And watch the communication mirror.”
“I’ll watch it,” Azir said. “I’m here, and it’s my duty to relieve some of this heavy burden you’ve been carrying.”
The water wastepid and Naia almost felt like screaming, but it felt refreshing to wash away any traces from Ironhold, from Cynon, wash away the blood from Harold’s body. She jumped out of the water quickly and then put on fresh, clean clothes, then got down to the refectory, where they had a soup with rye, some vegetables and meat. Ursiana was sitting by Leah, who sat by Fel. The woman was here because Azir had rescued her, and yet… There was just something when the Frostlake Queen and her father looked at each other that Naia couldn’t shake. On the other side, Tzaria sat between Risomu and Ekateni, who was still recovering. Naia wished she could talk more to them, ask about her family, ask about dragon magic, but the opportunity would hopefully come soon. Naia herself was sitting between River and Azir.
Naia’s father turned to River, Tzaria, Ekateni and Risomu. “My excuses. Our accommodations here are simple. Nothing worthy of a king or dragon lords.”
Tzaria shook her head. “Our ways are not extravagant.”
River stared at him. “If you’d like me to leave, please ask clearly.” There was no anger or hurt in his voice, just blunt curiosity. “We don’t deal well with dubious hints.”
Naia took his hand. “He doesn’t want you to leave. He’s just saying that this isn’t a castle.”
“Exactly,” her father said.
River chuckled. “You should put me in the dungeon, not feel sorry you can’t offer me luxurious rooms.”
Her father gritted his teeth. “You think both feelings can’t coexist?” He then smiled. “I’m joking. I want Naia to be happy.”
River kissed her hand and said, “Then we’re of the same mind.”
Naia and Fel tried to explain to their father some of what had happened. Azir listened. He was calm enough that no detail shook him. At this point, if he’d stood still while Naia murdered a man in cold blood, just trusting her word that it was the right thing to do, she didn’t think anything would faze him.Umbraar men truly didn’t flinch—and maybe women too.
When he learned that Ekateni was their uncle, he reached a hand to greet him again, and said, “Thank you for looking after Fel.”
It was subtle, but Tzaria rolled her eyes. Perhaps not that subtle, but nobody else noticed the reaction.
Her father took both Naia and Fel’s hand. “You are my pride, my joy. I’m proud of what you’ve done.” He glanced at Leah. “Proud of you three.”
Leah just looked down, embarrassed. This had been an acknowledgement that she was his daughter. Naia had suspected it for a while, and yet it was still strange to see it, especially considering Leah and Fel’s situation.
Perhaps to diffuse the tension, Azir turned to River. “Proud of my future son-in-law too.”
River raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“I’m sure you protected Naia. Cynon or whatever his name that was taking over Harold wasn’t expecting her to be able to hurt him, didn’t even know she was an ironbringer or a dragon. That was your doing, wasn’t it?”
“I tried.” River looked down, then back at him. “I tried to make him think Naia was harmless, to forget her, not to see her power. I did do that, yes. Even when she used fire on me, he thought she was using his own power.”
“So your role was key, River,” her father said. “Welcome to the family.” He then added, “To be fair, had you done nothing, you’d still be welcome.”
Had it always been that easy, had her father always been so accepting and Naia had refused to see it? And then, maybe something had happened in the time he’d been away. All he’d told her was that he’d been trapped with Ursiana, then trapped alone, suspended in a daze. Perhaps it had done something to him. And then, perhaps the truth was that Naia had never asked her father for permission to marry, had never told him what afflicted her heart, had never opened up, fearing to upset him.
