I do not ask them about it. I do not think I can deal with that right now.
“There are more guards and soldiers outside the palace,” says Aurelion quietly.
“Don’t kill them.” This suddenly seems very important.
His expression darkens and his wings flex. “I would kill every last one if you commanded it.”
“But she has not,” Jah’ruud cuts in. “And she will not.”
Aurelion sighs. “Forgive me. It is my fault for not seeing the extent of the danger in bringing you here. For not keeping you safe.”
I lift my hand to touch his cheek and he stills. “It is Tharael’s fault. He violated our alliance.” “And he paid the price,” returns Aurelion coldly. I wonder if he truly has no regrets for killing his own brother. But I do not judge. I never had a sibling.
“Is it safe for us to stay here tonight?” asks Kaelun.
“I will make it safe,” declares Jah’ruud.
“I will help.” Aurelion straightens.
Before I can call them back they are off, leaving me with Kaelun, who sits beside me on the daybed, tucking a light blanket over my legs.
“Lie with me?”
He does not say anything but tucks himself into the space behind me and holds me for a time. Eventually the numb leaves my limbs and I am warm again. “What have we done?” I whisper, thinking of all the dragons who until today had been living their lives, oblivious to the fact their king was stealing Vathiran water.
“What he would have done to your kingdom if we’d let him.”
I sigh. “Does that make it right?”
Kaelun is quiet for a while and then he speaks. “I am not a prince. I am not educated. I do not know how to rule a kingdom, but since you asked me, yes, I think it does. I think it’s OK to stopother people doing awful things to you and yours. Even if that means doing violence. Because I think in the end you will help make everyone’s lives better.”
“What if I cannot?”
“You will try.”
I tuck the blanket higher, snuggling back against his warmth. “I’m not sure if that’s enough.”
“It has to be.” He kisses the back of my head, and I close my eyes, though I do not sleep.
After a very long time, Aurelion and Jah’ruud return and assure me the palace is secure and the city is subdued for now.
Aurelion marches in a line of dragon maids, their starched white uniforms standing out beautifully against their colorful scaly skin and wide delicate wings spanning out behind. “You must eat and bathe. A room will be prepared for you.”
“I am not hungry.”
Nevertheless, he leads me to a series of small chambers filled with steam or cold plunge pools or hot oiled stones. I am stripped and steamed, oiled and massaged and bathed and oiled again until I look almost like myself. Then a maid takes me to a grand banquet hall, and we sit down to an elaborate dinner, just the four of us, but I cannot eat a bite.
When the others have finished their meals, Kaelun leans to Aurelion. “Where did you say that room was being prepared? She needs to rest.”
“You are right.”
Once again I’m gathered up and carried like a small child to a new room without any real concept of where we are going. Palace servants scurry to and fro, bowing to us as they pass. I wonder what they are thinking. I wonder if they wish for their king back.
When Aurelion ushers us into an enormous suite, the first thing I notice is the wind that stirs my long hair and instantly cools me. I look around at Jah’ruud, but it isn’t him.
Aurelion grins. “The royal suites are built to take advantage of the sea breeze.” He shows us through the space to where a whole wall of the room is open to an expansive balcony. The balcony looks out over a long drop to the ocean which rages against the rocks below.
I feel like a falcon up here. I stand so close to the edge Aurelion winds his arm around my waist and draws me back a step. “Be careful, rhkash. Remember you cannot fly.”
