Total pages in book: 210
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
The group halts nearly fifty feet away, their guarded gazes on the beasts behind us as their lips move in quiet conversation. Whatever King Cheral is saying, Atticus doesn’t seem to agree with it. He charges forward, earning a glare from the king before he follows, wagging a “come with us” finger.
The conjurer and another woman—a slight mortal in her twenties, by my guess—trail.
From the hill above, the soldiers watch as the group of four comes to a stop maybe ten feet away from us.
Atticus’s blue eyes dart between Zander and me, then to the dragons. “I promised my dear friend King Cheral here that if your beasts want to kill us, we will be dead, whether we stand this close to you or with the soldiers back there.”
“That is a fair assessment, Brother,” Zander says coolly, emphasis on the label. Is it to remind him of what they still are or of how far they’ve fallen?
The two of them share a long, hard stare, like two titans taking measure, to see where the other stands.
The corner of Atticus’s mouth flickers with amusement that disappears the moment his attention shifts back to me. “I’ve heard I have you to thank for my ability to breathe after that arrow, as well as for the countless beasts that now roam our lands?”
“You’re welcome,” I offer dryly.
King Cheral clears his throat.
“Where are my manners? This is the glorious ruler of Kier who made a risky and ill-gotten arrangement with the late lord of Kettling and now realizes his folly.”
The older man cuts a scowl Atticus’s way.
“This is my brother, Zander, once the king of Islor until his well-meaning but idiotic brother betrayed him. And this is someone who calls herself Romeria, but she has not been the princess of Ybaris for a very long time. I do not know if that is a blessing or a curse for us yet.” Atticus meets my stare, an unreadable look in his. “She is also a key caster, the queen of Ybaris, and”—he frowns—“Ulysede?”
“You are rather well-informed.” Zander smirks. “But you forgot Mordain’s Prime.”
That earns Atticus’s raised eyebrows. “It seems congratulations are in order. Soon you will be as prolific at conquering realms as Empress Roshmira. I believe Seacadore once had four kingdoms, each with its own ruler.”
“No, thank you.” I spear Zander a “See?” glare.
Zander analyzes his brother for a lengthy moment. “It is good to see your recent adventures have not deflated your obnoxious spirit. Well met, King Cheral.”
Kier’s king dips his head in greeting, but I catch his fleeting grin. “It is a pleasure to meet you both. We have watched your trials and achievements from afar with the help of Tuella.” He gestures to the conjurer, who regards us through bold black eyes that leave me feeling cold. “This is one of Udrel’s Azyr.”
“Now it’s your turn to be shocked, I know,” Atticus says as several eyebrows arch. “Wait until she tells you how they don’t bow to gods.”
“Not even to the nymphs?” I ask, though Agatha alluded to as much.
“We bow to the light that brings balance to the shadow,” the conjurer Tuella says in a thick, harsh accent.
“And yet you wear the nymphs’ writing on your forehead,” Zander muses. “That is what it is, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I answer before she has a chance. I’ve spent enough time staring at those stones in the crypt to recognize the same swirls in the faded scrawl.
“They claim the gifts, but they do not honor the gifter,” Lucretia says behind me, her serpentine eyes locked on this Azyr like an owl watches a mouse.
“What does devotion to these fates grant your people but pain and suffering?” Tuella responds calmly, unfazed.
“She’s not wrong,” Elisaf whispers.
“Who you bow to is of little consequence to us,” Zander says. “Let us focus on the issue at hand, before our dragons grow restless and hungry. You are aware of this new king who has claimed Islor’s throne for himself.”
“King Malachi, yes. He has written to me,” King Cheral says.
“‘All will bow before me,’” Zander echoes the signing line. “From the sounds of it, he has written to all corners of the realms. I imagine he will wish to claim them all soon enough.”
“It would certainly appear that way.”
“Where did he come from?” Atticus asks, the usual humor missing from his voice.
“That is a long story, but it is the Malachi himself, and he came through the Nulling to conquer our lands.”
“The creator of flame,” Tuella says, and she doesn’t seem surprised by that.
“So then you know how grave this situation is.” Zander folds his arms, narrowing his gaze. “You say you have seen what approaches us. How?”
King Cheral pauses, as if deciding whether he wishes to admit the truth. “Through the Azyr’s seeing stone.”
Seeing stone? I bite my tongue against the urge to ask questions. We have more important issues to address besides curiosities.