Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 117336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
So I poke at my dinner, then take a tiny bite. "You look like the cat that ate the canary," I say. "Might as well spit it out."
"I exiled a man today," he says, watching me. "He was hoarding scavenged supplies. More than I've ever seen before. The men wanted me to execute him, and I considered it, but I exiled him instead because I thought it would please you to be lenient."
I stare at him for a moment, my lips parted. That's a lot to unpack. "I…thank you?"
"Your advice has been excellent thus far." Azar takes a delicate bite of his food, and I watch him eat. He's meticulous, never letting a crumb stray. His long fingers brush against his lips and I turn back to my plate. "Now, when I make decisions, I compare what I would do and what you would do. I value your input, you know."
"I'm glad." I try to ignore the flutter of pleasure in my belly at his praise. That he's taking my words to heart and trying to become a kinder ruler. "So…exile, huh?"
He nods, and as we eat, he tells me about the man. How they'd gone into his hovel at the edge of the fort to find it full of foodstuffs and other useful supplies. Of electronics and toiletries and stacks and stacks of books. Of medical equipment and medicines, which sends a little thrill through me, especially when he says they'll be delivered to my clinic tomorrow. The militia soldiers had been outraged at how much this man was keeping, and Azar confesses that he'd thought to make an example of the man in the hopes of frightening the rest of the black market smugglers. He decided to choose another way because he thought of me, and again, I'm flattered.
"I have to admit," I say. "I'm impressed. I thought you would be a tyrant when you took over, but you've been doing some good things. You really are making things better for the people here. The children have a school. There's a well for the public to use, and I see a lot of other programs to help people in the works. So just…thank you."
"A kingdom of ashes is no kingdom," he says, sipping his drink. "People want to be led. I am giving them the leadership they want."
"Helps that you have some big honking dragons working at your side," I point out. "I don't know how you do it. When I met Claudia's dragon, he was scary. Like, he looked human, but there was this wild edge to him that made me think he could fly off the handle at any moment. But those dragons on the walls, those are so…calm." I shake my head. "It's almost like they're zombies."
Azar is quiet for a long moment.
A funny feeling churns in my gut. "Please tell me they're not zombies."
"The mindless undead? I have heard the soldiers talk about those. No, they are not." The smile he gives me is faint. "But their situation is unique. The drakoni have lost their minds here in this world, and since I have not, I can, essentially, offer shelter to them. I protect their minds in exchange for their service."
Something about that doesn't sit right with me. "So…they are mindless."
"In a sense. If you speak to them, they are not there. I am puppeting them. Their movements are mine. I control them. Their bodies serve me."
"Mind control?” I'm horrified at the prospect. “You’re enslaving them?”
"Not slaves," he says, just as swiftly. He gives me a studied look. "Why would you think they’re slaves?”
I shake my head. “Our world has a history of slavery. It’s an especially sore subject for people of color, because we were the ones that were typically enslaved.” I gesture at myself. “But if I misinterpreted, I apologize.”
Azar grunts, expression thoughtful. “The drakoni—I control them because they have mentally retreated to a quiet place inside their minds. I am protecting them. Taking care of them. In exchange, I use their presence to push away other crazed drakoni that would attack this place. I assure you they are in no pain. You disapprove?"
"I don't know what to think," I confess. The thought of him enslaving dragons makes me want to vomit, but if he's right and they've mentally retreated, does it harm anything to prop them up on the walls and use them to protect the people here? "I know there's a parable about the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few, but there's something about it I don't like. Not at all. It's wrong to own someone. Morally, reprehensibly wrong."
He inclines his head at me. "The moment you wish for me to free them, say the word and I will. I can release them now, if you like. It is a strain to constantly hold their minds safe, but it is one I willingly undertake to protect both them and the people here." Azar watches me, his eyes swirling in myriad shades of gold. "Simply say the word."