I knew that look. “You don't have to go home yet. I still haven't. But I will soon.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the King flinch. Glancing at him, I was shocked to see his expression full of terror. Maybe he was worried about Nahel or what had been done to Tara. I couldn't explain it. But I pushed aside my concern for him. She was my priority.
“You can stay with me for now,” I offered. Then I remembered that I didn't have the right to offer that. “If Your Majesty would permit it?” I looked at him again.
The terror was gone, replaced by kindness, though it looked brittle. “Yes, of course. Whatever you wish, Eliel.”
“I want to see them.” Tara lifted her chin. “The Okon men. I want to see them in chains.”
“This way.” The Dragon King led us down the line of wagons, past groups of freed captives who huddled together.
At the front of the caravan, the Okon drivers stood, hands and feet manacled together and wings bound in strips of leather. Three Dragon knights stood guard over them, arms crossed as they glared at the Okons. Six of them, just as Tara had said.
“Do we know where these people were taken from?” The King went to speak with Sir Vanoak, to the side of the prisoners.
“Yes, sire. Most are from—” Vanoak's voice faded into the background for me.
All I heard was Tara's harsh breaths. Her hand trembled in mine. Her stare was locked on one of the Okon men in particular. The bastard grinned at her. Chained and facing his victim, the motherfucker grinned! Fury surged through me. Suddenly, the man wore Bara's face. All these bastards were the same. Unrepentant. Evil to their hearts. My gaze slid to the Dragon King. His lava-glass sword hung on his hip, but there was also a smaller blade in a sheath bound to the outside of his sword's sheath. A dagger.
“One moment, Tara,” I whispered.
“What?” Her eyes went wide. “Don't leave me.”
“I'm just going to have a word with the King. Right there.” I lowered my voice. “Trust me. I'll be back in a few seconds.”
She blinked and then nodded.
I went to the King. Surprise showing in his lifted brow, he turned toward me. His surprise magnified when I slid an arm around his waist.
“Eliel?” King Raventar looked down at me, pausing his conversation with Vanoak to put his arm around my shoulders and pull me close.
“What will you do with them?” I nodded toward the Okon men.
“Question them.” He paused. “Vigorously.”
I nodded. There were six men. The loss of one wouldn't hurt us. My hand slid over his back and then drifted away—to his side. “Will we be moving on soon?”
“Yes. I just need to determine where we're headed. It looks like we'll be veering south. It means a delay in finding Nahel, but these people deserve our protection on their journey home.”
“Yes, they do.” I slipped the dagger free. “Your Majesty, I . . . you are a fine king.”
Raventar searched my eyes, his lips parting slightly. “Thank you, my foundling. We'll talk later, all right?” He lifted my hand and kissed it. “I'm so proud of you.”
We'd see how proud he was in a few minutes.
“Thank you.” Tucking the dagger between my back and my wing, I eased away. “Can Tara ride with us?”
“Yes, of course.” He cupped my cheek. “You did so well with her.”
I smiled at him and then nodded at Vanoak before turning away and returning to Tara. I placed myself between the Dragons and her, stretching my right wing to hide her and the dagger that I handed her.
Tara looked down at the blade. Her hands trembled as she clasped the handle.
“You don't have to do it. I will do it for you if you wish,” I whispered. “Or you can be a better person than me and forgive them.”
Tara's face twitched. “Fuck that!” She set her gaze on the Okons. “And fuck them!”
I gripped her wrist before she moved. “Just one, Tara. We need the rest for information. You only get one, so choose well.”
