The legionaries’ blades move swiftly and without remorse.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
ROMERIA
I open my bedroom door and frown at the regal figure standing next to Jarek. “Gesine?” She’s swapped her plain beige dress for an emerald silk gown, and her raven-black hair is as sleek and smooth as when I first met her. “I thought you’d be back to your books by now.”
“Good morning, Romeria.” She dips her head in greeting. “Or, closer to good afternoon. And yes, I’ll be back to the library shortly, but I wanted to see you first. How do you feel?”
“Like I got hit by a truck.” Once we were within the safety of Ulysede, I went back to work on Lord Telor’s wound, trying to repair the damage his son’s blade had done. By the time it felt firmly knitted, Zander had to carry me to bed, my energy sapped.
But already, that familiar and comforting buzz deep within my core has returned, my well of power replenished.
“A truck? What is that?”
I chuckle. “Something you sit in that gets you places. Never mind. How is Telor?”
“A little worse for wear, but he will recover.” She smiles. “You did as well as I could have.”
“I’m not sure about that, but … thanks.”
Jarek leans against the wall, arms folded, ankles crossed.
“What have I missed?” I ask.
“Let’s see.” The warrior leads us down the hall. “We executed Braylon and his conspirators at dawn, outside the gate. Telor gave the order.”
What must that be like? Probably as painful as having your son try to kill you, I guess.
“And Iago is back.”
My posture relaxes with that news. “How is he?”
“He’ll live. Resting now. He could use your healing, though, since that one still has a bird in her head.” He juts his chin toward Gesine.
“You didn’t lose your connection?”
She shakes her head. “Almost, but no.”
“And did the saplings come inside?”
“Yes. They are probably still sitting on the bridge, staring at the sun.”
I smile. I wish I’d been there to see their reactions as it rose. “And the Ybarisans?”
“We gave them an area near the orchards, and the last I saw, they were eating all our fruit like a bunch of locusts.”
“They’ve been hiding in the mountains for months. What have they been eating?”
“What all you Ybarisans eat … twigs and berries.” Jarek casts a smirk over his shoulder at me.
“Has that dragon been back?”
“No. They’re waiting for you in the war room. There is much to discuss that they need you for.” Jarek picks up his pace, but he seems to be giving us space to speak.
“The taillok has reached Cirilea and delivered your message. It awaits a response,” Gesine says.
To think I once lived in a world where I could send a message to a place thousands of miles away in an instant by clicking a button. Now we need magically fueled bird beasts from the Nulling. The thought brings a fleeting smile to my lips. “Do you think Atticus will respond?”
“That would be customary, but Atticus has not shown regard for customs.”
“No, I guess he hasn’t.” Sleeps with his brother’s fiancée and then hijacks the king’s army and steals his crown in front of an arena full of Islorians? No one’s going to give Atticus a gold star for following protocol.
“I hope he does send one, though, and that it is soon.” She gives her head a shake. “I can truly appreciate Yesenia’s plight now. She must be relieved to be spared this constant double vision.”
“That would drive me insane.” But a bird is not what’s on my mind. “Listen, about last night and that dragon … beast … thing.” I bolted awake this morning in a cold sweat, the memory of those few moments, of believing that was truly the end for me, a vivid nightmare. It took me long minutes to shake the discomfort and fear. “I appreciate what you were willing to do for me.” For all of us. I saw how quickly it moved, how powerfully it launched itself into the air. Had I agreed to run and it attacked, I doubt we could have reached the gate in time, but there is no doubt Gesine would not be walking beside me now. There’d be nothing left of her.
She was willing to give her life for a slim chance to save mine.
Gesine’s lips part, but she stalls to choose her words. “Despite what you and the king may believe, my only motive has ever been to provide you guidance in your journey to fulfilling a prophecy.”