He’s nearly there, Viridian said.
I was pulling away, ready to put the book back where I found it, when a bookmark fell free. Leaving it on the floor would make clear what I was up to. Opening the book to a random page, I sought to shove it inside, when I saw a curious thing. A drawing of a wooden staff, dragons writhed around the shaft of it, then three dragon heads opened their jaws to secure a glowing ball of what I assumed was dragonstone in the centre. For several heartbeats, all I could do was stare.
Now, brother,Viridian insisted.Move now!
Book snapped shut. My feet moving right before I threw myself down into the chair. I had seconds to arrange my body into a relaxed pose. Glancing up, the door opened and in walked the general, looking terribly pleased with himself.
“Divide and conquer,” he said. “It was only a matter of time before those idiots turned on each other.” The man sat down and turned to face me. “Now, tell me everything that happened on the trip. Don’t leave out any of the details, no matter how small.”
I watched his eyes narrow.
“I cannot share the reason why, except to say some very important information has come across my desk and it makes clear that Auren can never be allowed to mate with the silver dragons. I must have all the facts before I can put my plan into place.”
How he missed my stricken expression, I didn’t know, but I cleared my throat and then straightened up.
“Of course, general. Where would you like me to start?”
Chapter 58
Auren
So this general thought he could hide all the human knowledge away from me? My wings ruffled as I made for the exit of my den. He still operated as if he had absolute control over Nevermere’s dragons. The man was about to find out how limited his power was.
We can melt the stones around this male’s den, Slate growled, stalking closer.
Smash the windows, ‘Fang added.
Then pull this little man free and force him to bend a knee to our queen, Argent finished.
I liked this plan. Springing into action rather than sitting around, waiting for the humans to stumble upon what we needed. I should’ve had this human in my claws and dangled him off the side of the keep the moment he dared to declare I must be mated ‘for the sake of the corp.’ We would rectify that mistake now by?—
And the other humans?We all turned to see Viridian had joined us.We don’t know if they are also part of this plan to prevent you from learning more about the ancient queens. If you damage the structure of thekeep, who knows who else could be hurt?His claws flexed reflexively.Lance is inside.Slate’s throat began to rattle.So are your riders, along with Fern.
We will get our riders out of there first, I said.Then make clear all the other humans must leave the place, lest they be crushed by the rubble.
And what then?I should’ve heard his wings beating, noticed that my father had arrived. He landed on the lip of my den, then walked inside.If you reduce the keep to stones, then what, daughter?
I will access these books, I said, my head snaking low.My human will read them?—
Before or after they are torn apart by the collapse of the building?he asked.Humans store their knowledge on paper, which is frighteningly easy to burn up, destroy. You will do the general’s work for him, ensuring that you and no other dragon ever discover what those books contain.
So what do you propose, Father?I asked, stalking closer.This is an outrage and you know it.
The general is doing what humans always do when they feel weakened, he said with a sigh.Knowledge is power, and the man is grabbing what he can to try to strengthen his position.
Because he fears me,I shot back.
Because he fears you.My father settled down on his haunches, his wings folding tight against his back.What you and your sisters represent. Your mother died bringing a whole new generation of queens into this world.
Not that, I thought, my head whipping back and forth. Not that again.
Those deep bronze eyes met mine, and hadn’t I stared into them so many times over the years? When I was just a dragonling, no other beast seemed as large, as powerful as my father. Perhaps that’s why I stopped still now, unable to understand his mood. Defeat, that’s what it felt like, but how could that be true of the great Hadrian?
But she wasn’t able to live long enough to protect your place in it. Your mother and I, we knew what this would mean. Humans in Nevermere have used our protective instincts to ensure the country remains free of the tyranny of the mainlanders, but how do they do that without dragons?
His head lowered down onto his claws.
The human king is ostensibly the most important human in the country. The prime minister takes care of the day-to-day running of it for him. But all of that is possible, because their armed forces support both institutions. The human army is led by the general of the dragon corp and the Royal Riders…?
