I glanced toward the mountains, gathering my thoughts. "Eluria is complacent, Kailin. We've enjoyed peace and prosperity for so long that we've grown soft. Our military's capabilities have deteriorated while the Sitorians grew in numbers and military might, and their Shedun squads became even more rabidly vicious. My father and brothers don't see it, or don't want to see it. They're focused on commerce, on diplomacy, and on the internal politics of the Federation."
Kailin tilted her head. "So, what did you hope to gain by coming here? To learn Elucian military tactics?"
"Partly," I acknowledged. "But more specifically, to understand the Dragon Force. To learn its true capabilities, its strengths, and its weaknesses. Someday, I hope to advocate for a stronger alliance between our nations, perhaps even the establishment of an Elurian dragon rider corps that could supplement your forces. That's what I talked about with the shaman. We both agreed that the biggest obstacle is the limited number of dragons. Saphir believes that we can somehow find the dragons' eggs that were hidden during the Second Extinction War."
Kailin looked as skeptical as I had been in the shaman's office. "Even if that was possible, what about riders? Even now, there are more dragons than riders."
"More Elurians need to join the pilgrimages," I said. "Elurians and Elucians aren't genetically so distinct. We've intermarried for generations. I'm sure that there are many more Elurians with the gift who never even considered joining because they don't know they have Elucian blood or are just not interested in spending their lives serving on the Elucian Dragon Force."
I hadn't told Saphir that, but I had a feeling he knew. Besides, finding the eggs needed to happen first. Solving the riders’ problem would follow.
"So, how did he find out who you were?" Kailin asked.
"The shaman knew who I was from the beginning. He saw through me at the Circle of Fate."
Her eyes widened. "He read your mind. Of course he did. What did he say when he confronted you?"
I nodded, surprised by my ability to do so. Perhaps the fact that Kailin had said that and not I made it possible for me to simply acknowledge the shaman's ability to read minds.
"He seemed intrigued. He believed I might help find something important, though he was frustratingly vague about what or how, claiming he didn't know yet, and that maybe the talent would manifest after I bonded with a dragon."
"A special ability," Kailin murmured. "Like mine."
I nodded. "Only you can't tell me about it."
"Right." She pinned me with her intense gaze. "Does your father know you're here?"
I nodded. "He reluctantly agreed to my crazy plan, as he called it, probably hoping I would find that I wasn't gifted and would return home. As a fifth son, I'm kind of disposable, and my absence isn't disruptive. Codric's parents think we're touring the southern provinces and having a grand old time visiting taverns and chasing maidens." I chuckled. "They would be pleasantly surprised if they knew that their son was accepted into the Elucian Flight Academy and was helping me save Eluria. The thing is, Codric doesn't know about my grand plan either. I haven't shared it with him. He thinks we are here for the dragons and the adventure."
She took in a big breath. "I don't know what to think now. Should I call you Your Highness Prince Alaranthus Tekumuton the Fifth?"
"Please don't." I grimaced. "Not even as a joke. One of the things I like about being here is that people judge me for who I am, not for my title, and that I have friends who like me for me and not for what I can do for them."
"I get it," she said softly. "It must be difficult never knowing who your real friend is and who is a sycophant."
"Precisely." I took her hand. "You have no idea how much it means to me that you chose me, thinking I was just another guy, an Elurian who was a little too soft for your Elucian tastes but who still managed to capture a small part of your heart."
She squeezed my hand, a small smile forming on her lips. "That part of my heart isn't so small."
"So, you're not angry at me for keeping the truth from you?"
"No. I'm glad you did that because I don't know if I could have handled you being a prince before getting to know you. I'm still overwhelmed, but it's not such a big deal now. Besides, I've been keeping secrets too, just not for as long."
The relief I felt was so intense that it was almost painful. I hadn't realized how much I'd dreaded her reaction and feared her rejection until that moment.
"Thank you." I lifted our conjoined hands and kissed her knuckles.
"For what?" she asked.
"For not telling me to get lost. I was afraid you wouldn't want to ever talk to me again." I lifted my other hand and brushed a strand of hair from her face, letting my fingers linger against her cheek. "And just for being wonderful and understanding and sweet."
She leaned into my touch. "Is there some royal protocol that dictates how you're supposed to court a common Elucian girl? Special permissions required from your father? Treaties to sign?"
I laughed. "Fifth sons have considerably more freedom in their personal lives than firsts and seconds. Besides, I'm not exactly following protocol by being here in the first place."
"So, if you wanted to kiss me right now, there wouldn't be any royal regulations stopping you?" There was a playful glint in her eye.
"None whatsoever," I murmured, already leaning closer.
