“Why?” Slade asks.
“Wick wanted to make sure no one disturbed you. Said we were to wait right here and then help escort you to our gathering place so you didn’t have trouble finding it.”
The other Vulmin crosses the street and stands before us. “Lyäri,” he says, bowing at the waist. “Lord Rot. We can take you there now, if you’re ready?”
Slade and I exchange a look, and then I motion for them to lead. We start making our way down the empty street, my senses on high alert.
“Lord Rot?” I murmur with an arched brow.
I hear Slade snort under his breath.
The buildings we pass by are dripping with plant life and molded with meticulous architecture of smoothed stone. There are pretty domes, ornate steeples, and perfect symmetry. Each doorway and eave seems to be a piece of art.
I’d love to be able to walk along the arched bridges and explore the covered walkways. Would love to climb up the molded stairs I see notched along the braided trunks and twisting branches, up to the taller buildings above where the floating lights brim among the leaves. It’s beautiful, but right now, it’s also eerie with emptiness.
“Where is everyone?” I ask.
The blond turns, walking backwards as he answers. “Because of you two, the soldiers fled as soon as the king disappeared. Then the Vulmin were able to take over the city. We’ve locked it down.”
“What about the citizens?”
“Most of them are lying low. We closed this street while you two…occupied it,” he says, clearing this throat. The male beside him cuffs him on the back of the head, and he turns around again to face forward, right after sending me a sheepish look.
A blush threatens to heat my cheeks.
“How many days have passed?” I ask.
“Two.”
Slade gives me a smirking look that makes my cheeks burn even hotter.
I clear my throat. “So none of the Stone Swords have attempted to storm the city?”
“Not yet,” the other male answers as he slows to walk at my side. “Between the magic from the two of you, and the manifested dragon, we think they’re trying to formulate a plan.”
“And the king?” Slade puts in. “Has he returned?”
“We don’t know. Haven’t heard a thing. My guess is he’s up in Glassworth, and he’ll make a plan to take the two of you out.”
Slade chuckles darkly. “He can certainly fucking try.”
“Manifesting a dragon has made you quite confident,” I tease quietly.
He shoots me a smirk.
The blond whirls, lanky limbs carrying him backward once more as he grins. “So it’s true? Did you actually manifest a dragon?” he asks with excitement.
“Yes.”
He whistles sharply before a wide grin spreads across his lips. “Amazing! I mean, I saw the road. The bricks are all smashed up where it stepped, and there are scrape marks along the buildings from its tail. But still…a realdragon. Right here in Lydia! Everyone is terrified!”
He sounds ecstatic, and I can tell Slade is amused by his enthusiasm. The creature was huge and threatening. I’m not surprised it made everyone run.
“And, Lyäri, the way you made the Stone King flee! Everyone is talking about it. About how you showed up and tossed back your cloak, with golden armor covering you. The arena is covered in spots of gold! Everyone keeps going to look at it,” he says excitedly.
“Including you,” the other Vulmin says with a roll of his eyes. “He’s been four times already, Lady Auren.”
I can’t help but smile, though I feel uncomfortable with the praise.
