Tate didn’t say anything else as the woman led her into the recess of the cliff. Once inside, Tate’s eyes adjusted quickly to the warm, yellow light of the glow lamps. Light that wasn’t visible until you breached the entrance.
Wooden beams braced the passageway, leading to a set of elegant doors where another pair of guards stood at attention.
The woman stepped only a few feet into the cavern before stopping to let Tate continue on her own. To her surprise, the guard by the elevator didn’t try to stop or challenge her, instead stepping to the side and pulling a lever down.
Gears turned and the doors slid open revealing a cage that was as different as night and day to the ones that serviced the public.
Not wasting any time, Tate stepped inside as the guard returned to his sentry position. Only when the doors closed again, did Tate relax.
Moments passed as Tate silently ascended.
There was a barely perceptible jolt as the elevator stopped, reaching its destination. The doors whisked open.
Tate didn’t step out immediately. “Well, this is unexpected.”
Ben stood with his hands behind his back, amusement dancing in his eyes. By contrast, George’s expression reminded Tate of Night when he got a splinter in his paw and refused to let anyone touch him for days. Irritable and grumpy.
“How did you know I would come this way?” Tate asked, finding herself just a little impressed.
Because it was obvious they’d been lying in wait for her.
Could the emperor or the Lord Provost have already heard about Ilith’s shenanigans in the city?
Tate grimaced. In that case, she sort of deserved this greeting party. While shifting to the dragon wasn’t strictly forbidden in Aurelia, the emperor did expect a certain amount of discretion. Something Tate and Ilith had thrown right out the window.
“There’s only a few ways up from the Lower,” Ben said with a friendly smile. “One of which is destroyed.”
Well, that answered that question. The emperor knew. Lovely.
“The Hill would take much too long, leaving you only the emperor’s personal elevator.”
Tate pointed at him. “Wrong. There is one last option.”
“Ah, but your dragon isn’t the most graceful of fliers and it’d be difficult finding a place with enough room for her to get a running start in the city.” Ben leaned forward. “Also, your dragon is lazy so the chances of her agreeing to being used as transportation are small.”
Well, well, well. Someone had been paying attention.
Tate looked Ben up and down. “Are you watching me? You know me pretty well for a person I’ve only met a handful of times.”
He gave her a faint smile. “I pay attention.”
“Enough,” George barked, losing patience with their banter. To Tate, “You’re coming with us. You’ve been summoned. The emperor is waiting for you.”
NINE
Tate raised her hands, showing she was unarmed and didn’t intend to put up a fight. “Alright, you don’t have to be so uptight.”
George’s frown grew more pronounced, turning into a scowl Tate would have found more intimidating coming from someone she feared.
As it was, she couldn’t help but be mildly amused that George was so easy to tease. How did the woman manage to earn a moniker like dragon slayer if she was so easily pushed off balance?
Tate allowed the two to escort her through the palace. The smell of smoke permeated the halls despite the fact they were in the opposite wing from the one that had caught fire. To her surprise, they didn’t turn deeper into the palace toward the council chambers but rather took a route that led them outside.
A guard opened the doors as they approached, sending them a respectful nod as they stepped past before closing the door again.
Tate frowned but didn’t say anything as they moved further and further away from the palace. Across the lawn and through several carefully tended gardens. During the day, the grounds provided a relaxing sanctuary to stroll through. The air fragrant with flowers and sunshine.
Night was a different story. Winter had left many of the flower beds barren. With spring only beginning, it would be weeks before the gardens resumed their natural beauty. For now, strange shadows seemed to sprout from the topiaries and statues they passed as a result of the light from the moon.
