“I believe that was sarcasm, not a joke, Your Majesty. And as it was tinged with derision, I did not find it amusing.”
The Dragon King's eyes went wide. He made a few shocked, almost-laughs, then frowned. “I suppose it was tinged with derision. Although, I didn't mean for it to be insulting. I apologize.”
Another surprise. They just kept coming.
“Thank you. That was very gracious of you.”
“Good. You think I'm gracious. Perhaps now you can proceed with whatever you were about to say.”
“Ah, yes. Well, here it is, sire. You knew about this murder before it happened. Maybe not precisely who, when, and where, but you knew something like this was coming. Now, I'd like to serve the crown as best I can. To do that, I need to know whatyou know. Perhaps you could start by telling me why you didn't notify the Talons of this possibility?”
As I spoke, the King drew back. He became more and more stern, shut off, slipping into the visage of the man I first encountered. Even after I finished speaking, he continued to slide into that mask.
“Sire?” I prompted.
The Dragon King flinched and then straightened. “Very well. Yes. Yes, I suspected something like this might happen. But I couldn't warn the Talons. I had nothing specific. Nothing that could have prevented the murder.”
“You believed the attack would come here. Against you directly.”
His brows lifted. “Yes.”
“Perhaps you were too good at protecting yourself.”
“Excuse me?”
I held up a finger as things coalesced in my mind. “A moment, please.”
The Dragon King looked as if he couldn't decide whether to laugh or strangle me as he laughed.
Talking about the murder helped me to control my attraction to him. With that fire banked, I could focus on the reason I was there. The Chelli. That man had been burned to death. Possibly tortured before that. Something a Dragoncouldhave done. And then there was this threat against the King. Who besides a Dragon would think they could kill a Dragon King? But that was too simple. Too obvious. Dragon fire would haveincinerated the Chelli, leaving nothing behind. Ash at the most. A Dragon had most decidedlynotdone this. Unless a Dragon had been holding back, controlling his fire to leave remains behind. As a threat. Possible, but not enough to determine that the murderer was a Dragon.
Fire limited the options though. Out of all the races that inhabited the Kingdom of Rushao, no other possessed Fire Magic of that amplitude. That being said, just because a race wasn't known for something, it didn't mean they couldn't do it. The Eljaffna had an ability that we had kept quiet from the dawn of our existence. Well, maybe not that far back. Something must have compelled us into silence, but as far back as recorded history went, our talent to control those we take blood from has remained a secret.
Without our secrecy, we'd have no willing donors. It was about survival more than anything else. So, could there be another race with such a secret? Absolutely. Did I think that was the situation here? No. There are other methods of burning a man to bones. Magic could be bought or even constructed if you had the talent. Or the murderer could be from another kingdom. I wasn't familiar with all the races of Serai. Perhaps one of them could do this.
“Hmm.” I refocused on the King. “You are worried that the murderer is a Dragon.”
“Yes,” he whispered. “How did you know that?”
“Someone burned a man to death.” I shrugged. “I do not believe it was a Dragon.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“I am not certain. I said that I didn't believe it was a Dragon. It is unlikely because of the remains, Your Majesty. The murderer burned everything but the bones, leaving a full skeleton that I used to identify the victim as male and Chelli.”
The King exhaled and sat back. “Of course. A Dragon would have left only ashes.”
“Yes. Probably.”
“Probably?”
“Do you think a Dragon could control their fire enough to leave bones behind?”
The King considered this. “That would be difficult. The most talented Dragons can focus their magic but that would pinpoint the flames, not control the intensity. Is it possible?” He shrugged. “Anything is possible on Serai. But have I heard of a Dragon who could manage it? No.”
“I appreciate the way you explored the possibilities. We can't eliminate Dragons, but I think it's safe to say that it is most likely someone impersonating a Dragon.”
“I agree.” His arm was slung over the back of the couch, making it a matter of simply adjusting the way his hand lay to touch me. He did just that. And it was no minor touch. He brushed my cheek with his fingertips.
