“And instead I let her go,” Jakob said hoarsely. “Because my instincts would get her killed.”
Sven studied him for a long moment. “Or they might save her. Dragons aren’t only destroyers, Jakob. We are also wardens and capable of incredible love.”
Jakob stood before he could respond. He hadn’t expected such a simplistic explanation. He left Stagholt before lunch.
Sven’s words haunted him all the way back to Onyxheim.
That night, the castle alarms rang.
Jakob was in his chambers when the alert sounded, sharp and unmistakable. Intruders.
He moved fast and his dragon rose hot and eager beneath his skin. Guards converged in the lower hallway and flanked him as he hurried to find answers.
Someone had breached the treasury corridor which was no small feat without inside knowledge or desperation bordering on madness.
Whichever was the case, they caught one of the intruders at dusk.
One of the Ruecrags. Barely more than a boy. Jakob smelled fear on him, along with a body that hadn’t seen a shower in a long time, and almost gagged at the stench.
Jakob dismissed everyone but two guards and approached the boy, slowly and deliberately with each step an act of control.
“You defaced my home,” Jakob said softly. “You frightened my people.”
“We…we needed supplies.”
Jakob leaned closer. “You chose the wrong kingdom to steal from.”
At first, the boy chose silence.
“What’s your name?” He could see the boy’s lip quiver and wondered if he would cry.
No answer.
“I’m only going to ask you one more time. If you don’t answer me, things are about to get a lot worse for you.” Part ofJakob wanted the boy to choose the hard road, but part of him already felt sorry for the kid.
“Lars,” the boy whispered.
“Tell me, Lars. Why did you think it was a good idea to attack the castle?”
“We…I was hungry.”
“And instead of earning your way, it’s easier to steal it? Whose idea was it to terrorize my town?”
“It wasn’t the plan,” Lars blurted. “At least not at first,” he mumbled.
“Not at first? Robbing my treasury wasn’t your objection?”
He shrugged. “It was tonight. But this…this was after.”
Jakob’s pupils narrowed. “After what?”
Lars swallowed hard. “After we failed.”
“Failed at what,” Jakob demanded in a low voice and layered with something not entirely human.
“We were supposed to have a big payday. One that would keep us fed for a long time.” His eyes met Jakob. “We’ve been so hungry since we lost support from the Skelvarns. But everything went wrong.”
Jakob waited but Lars didn’t say anything else. He turned to the guard. “Make sure everyone is alert. This kid didn’t act alone so there are others.”
