His finger pressed to his lips, as though he were thinking. “Not that I’m aware of,” he answered.
“Then yes, black is my color,” she said proudly.
Nadir huffed amusedly. “I hope they’ve a crown fit for you back at your home,” he said then.
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean…” He stepped forward, one hand shoving into his pocket. “I’ve lived through four sets of your elders, of the Promised kings and queens of the past, and you’re the first to actually treat our people as… well, people. As allies and not enemies. Equals instead of slaves.”
“Four sets?” she balked. “How old are you?”
“Eighty-seven,” he replied.
Her brows raised, and she gave his young facade and handsome face a full once over. “Eighty-seven? And you look like this?”
He grinned, white teeth shining at her. “Immortality. Don’t you know the stories?”
The noise of children running past them diverted her attention. Aydra’s chest swelled at the colorful scene around them. The laughter in the air. The children running in the grass and playing on the beach nearby. The hugs and kisses exchanged as their soldiers came home from the battle.
“It amazes me the freedoms of you and Draven’s people,” she said as she stood there with him. “The joy they share with one another. I wish to see my people with the same.”
Nadir frowned at her. “Your people do share this freedom,” he argued. “Your Dreamers in the towns and villages across the Preymoor and Hills of Bitratus, they feel such joy. I’ve been there during festivals, brought supplies in for birth moon celebrations and parties.”
Aydra’s weight shifted, and she suddenly felt as if she knew nothing of her own people aside from the ones residing at Magnice. “But—”
“The Dreamers residing behind your fortress and those in the outskirts are very different. Why do you think Zoria traveled to the Village of Dreams so often?”
She quieted for a moment and hugged her arms around her chest. Nadir stepped forward and draped his arm around her shoulders again.
“Come on. I’ll walk you back to the Venari roost. Unless you’d like to stay here,” he added with a quirk of his brow.
She rolled her eyes at his attempted smolder. “I’d appreciate the escort back.”
He grinned widely. “Good. You can tell me about your sister along the way. Whether she’s as maniacal and beautiful as you are.”
Aydra almost laughed. “More beautiful, and you’re not to touch her.”
He clutched his chest in his hand. “Come now, Sun Queen. That hurts. You don’t trust me?”
“When it comes to my sister? No, not in the least,” she mocked.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
A FEW OF Nadir’s people walked with them back to the Venari kingdom, carrying on about the fight that day, speaking valiantly about their brethren that had been lost to the fight. Nadir told her about their own funeral ritual that she would not see the following day. They would place the bodies of their people on separate rafts with their favored flower and send them up the Impius River aflame. He told her if she traveled far enough inside the Forest the next day, she would see the rafts. Aydra made a mental note to try to time it right so that she would see it.
It was nearly dark by the time they arrived back to the Venari home. A somber energy radiated over the whole of the kingdom, but Nadir and his people quickly changed the energy with their joyous laughter and fill of stories. Aydra left Nadir’s side and went to Lex, who had settled herself at the bottom of the steps to Draven’s home. Her gaze flickered up to the balcony as she stood by Lex’s side. Draven was leaned over the banister, his eyes staring absently into the fire, not a single muscle moving on his body.
“Has he been like this since getting back?” Aydra asked as she took a seat next to Lex.
“I’ve only heard him whisper a few words to Balandria. Nothing more,” Lex answered. “I didn’t realize he and Dunthorne were so close.”
“He was his Third. The strongest of the pure Venari born,” Aydra knew. “Also one of his greatest friends.” She looked up and watched him a moment, watched the flames flicker in the shadows of his face. “I cannot imagine his pain. It would be as if I lost you,” she continued, meeting Lex’s gaze.
Lex reached over and squeezed Aydra’s thigh. “Never,” she promised.
Aydra gave her a small smile, and she laid her head on Lex’s shoulder with an audible sigh. Her eyes were beginning to droop, the length of the day finally catching up with her aching body.
“Nadir told of their funeral rituals,” she said, sniffling a yawn. “We should rise with the sun to find the river, watch as their boats float up river.”
