Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 127026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 635(@200wpm)___ 508(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 635(@200wpm)___ 508(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
“Hey,” Kerrigan said, jogging forward out of line.
Alura glared at her. “What are you doing?”
“You are no less a dragon rider. They should have accommodations for you.”
“No one else needs accommodations,” she snapped.
“That doesn’t make them any less vital.” Kerrigan put a hand on Alura’s. “Can I help you up?”
Alura sighed heavily. “Fine.”
It took some maneuvering to get Alura onto the back of her dragon. But once she was seated, proud and unwavering, Kerrigan knew it was worth it. They should have had a ladder of some sort to assist her. Just another problem the Society didn’t care to fix.
Alura was called into the arena, and she disappeared into the skies, where she belonged. Kerrigan climbed onto Tieran’s back, and he rumbled approvingly. Then, all she had to do was wait.
It felt like forever before her name was called. Too long to think about everything that awaited her, but as soon as she was called, it all disappeared. She could only deal with one thing at a time. If she won this election, she’d have so much more power to deal with the Red Masks. Cut them off before they overran the city.
Tieran shot out of the aerie, and Kerrigan whooped with joy. Flying had always been her favorite. The tricks she had learned from Alura came to her as they soared down to the lit arena below with the sun setting on the horizon beyond. As they came inside, Kerrigan hopped to her feet. The crowd roared their approval as she slid backward, down Tieran’s tail, and flipped off of his back, rolling through the dust and coming up onto her feet. Her ceremonial black robes were speckled with dust, but she didn’t care. The crowd cheered so loud at her appearance that it rattled the stands.
She touched mind to mind with Tieran before he flew in another circle and landed next to her.
The five nominees for the council stood in a row with their dragons while Helly and Bastian stood before them in the center of the arena in their position for presiding officer.
The master of ceremonies handed over the spotlight to Master Zoh, the current presiding officer of the Society council.
He held his hand up to silence the cheering. Then, his voice boomed across the arena. “Thank you all so much for attending. These are our official nominees for the Society council. It has been a joy to serve as your presiding officer these long years, but it’s time for me to stand down. That opens two positions on this council as well as my current position. Three of you will be chosen, but those who are not chosen are no less important to this great institution.”
More cheers rang out. Some people started chanting for Durban, which made Kerrigan’s stomach turn. He was most likely to win after Alura. Another bigot on the council—big shock.
“Now, for the moment you’ve all been waiting for, the first winner of a seat on the council goes to …” Master Zoh said. He opened an envelope and pulled it out to read. “Mistress Alura Van Horn!”
The crowd boomed with joy. Kerrigan applauded, catching Alura’s surprised expression settle into resolve. She truly had believed that she wouldn’t have to do this. That no one would pick her despite the influx of people wanting to spend their time with her. Or she had still been grieving too much to consider it. Whatever the case, she had won. And now, she would do her duty. She put her cane down and slowly ambled toward the stage.
Zoh spoke the oath of acceptance to uphold the council. Alura nodded her head. Zoh held up an official rod. Alura touched her hand to it, and her magic flared to seal her fate. He applied a council pin to her robes and offered her a place to stand at his side. Kerrigan frowned in irritation that they hadn’t thought to offer her a chair.
Once the crowd died down, Zoh held up the second envelope. “Your second member of the Society council goes to …” He tore open the envelope.
A hush fell over the crowd as he didn’t immediately read the name.
He cleared his throat and glanced around the arena before back to the name. “My apologies. I was informed there would be a different name on this ballot.”
Everyone whispered their suspicions about it. Had Kerrigan won, but they’d given him Durban’s name? Had Durban won, but someone else had been put in his place? Speculation was rampant.
And after a few terrible minutes, where Zoh confirmed the name was accurate, he said, “Apologies again. This is the correct name. I was informed before final tallies. Your next Society council member is … Mistress Kerrigan Argon.”
Kerrigan’s jaw dropped. What? She had won? Durban had such big support. Half the people didn’t even like half-Fae. There was no way this was possible.