“We’ve all had difficult lives.” Dewdrop pointed at himself. “I’m a former street urchin who had to pick pockets to survive.” The finger swung Tate’s way. “She slept for centuries, lost all her memories and was then conscripted into a pirate’s crew.” Dewdrop pointed at Ryu and hesitated before switching his focus to Roslyn. “You left your family and social position when they violated your own code of honor. None of that is an excuse to act like an asshole.”
Tate patted Dewdrop on the head. “Alright, we get your point. Enough of that.”
He didn’t try to brush off her hand, instead folding his arms and glaring sulkily at where George waited impatiently.
Tate didn’t really blame Dewdrop for his words. That outpouring had been building for a while. Not just on his part either. As explosions went, it was somewhat lackluster. He’d held back, which was probably for the best given they were surrounded by the Lord Provost, the Duke of Spiritly, and half a dozen of the emperor’s guards. Not to mention the dragon slayer who was only a slayer in name.
“It was good to see you working with your father earlier,” Tate told Roslyn quietly.
They glanced in his direction. The presence of his relic buzzed in the corner of Tate’s mind like an overeager puppy craving attention.
A pair of sharp eyes met Tate’s when she glanced his way. She didn’t detect any hostility. None of the anger she’d expect from a man who might blame her for his daughter’s defection. It was more that he was watchful. A patient hunter determining how much of a threat she was.
Their study of each other only lasted seconds before he looked away, saying something to the Lord Provost at his side.
“It was a surprise to me too,” Roslyn said, her eyes lingering on her father. “I didn’t think we’d ever work together like that again.”
Tate stayed silent, understanding a bit of what Roslyn felt. There’d been yearning in her voice. She missed her father. No matter his faults, he’d raised Roslyn with all the love at his disposal.
Some might say he loved her too much. To the point he couldn’t even allow her to fail on her own terms. That inability to accept her as is had led to their current rift.
Only time would tell if they could heal their wounds.
George turned toward them. “How much longer are you going to make the emperor wait?”
“What emperor? I don’t see one, do you?” Dewdrop groused but started down the stairs toward the rest. “How did you grow up with someone like that?”
“George has always been a bit rigid in her views. It helps that I rarely had to deal with her outside of formal functions.” Roslyn descended as Tate and Ryu brought up the rear.
“Is there anything else I should know?” Tate asked in a low voice.
She thought of a reason she would be summoned to a place like this, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. If she recalled correctly, there had been two blazes earlier that night. One—in the palace wing where court was held.
The second a short distance from the palace.
According to Tate’s memory, the origin of that pillar of fire was very close to their current location.
“There are a lot of somethings,” Ryu answered.
Cryptic as usual.
And he wondered why she’d been hesitant to get involved with him.
Tate’s snarky response was forestalled as they reached George and the rest. She stood at attention, glaring Tate’s group down. “Whatever you see from this point forward is considered a matter of national security. Speak of it and we’ll cut out your tongue before executing you.”
“That’s not grim or anything,” Dewdrop said.
Tate’s lips quivered despite the seriousness of the situation. She knew she should encourage Dewdrop to present at least a facade of politeness, but she enjoyed his remarks way too much to ever do that.
George’s stern gaze landed on her friend for several seconds before moving away.
“There won’t be a trial and you won’t get a second chance,” George continued. “Only the dragon-ridden, the Lord Provost, and the Obsidian Lord will continue on from this point.”
There was a squawk of protest from Dewdrop.
George sent him a cool glance. “You’re not authorized.”
“Then why did you force me out of bed and demand I come all the way down here?” Dewdrop ran his hands through his hair in frustration, leaving it sticking up in tufts.
