The compliment further eased my tension, and my legs became solid again. "Thank you. I hope we will not disappoint him or you. I am sure you want to find those lost eggs as much as he does."
She lowered into a crouch, which I assumed was what dragons did when they wanted to sit down."Not only the eggs. Riders are even scarcer than eggs. Many shamans are missing, and if they have been fruitful in the worlds they inhabit, we might also gain quite a few potential riders. After all, the blood of Elu flows strongly in shamans' veins, and they were all riders first."
I knew then that she was aware of my dream. Onyx must have read my thoughts on the way back to the Citadel, and he'd betrayed me by telling the Queen.
"Do not be angry with Onyx,"Nyxath said."You would have told Saphir as soon as you saw him anyway, and there are no secrets between him and me. Now, tell me exactly what you dreamt."
"It was just a silly dream."
She chuffed."Your dreams are anything but. Tell me."
That was not a request but a command. "I dreamt that I was in the Circle of Fate, and I was the shaman conducting the ceremony and calling to the gifted among the pilgrims. But the call did not stay confined to those inside the circle. It rippled outward, past even the boundaries of Aurorys's atmosphere and further yet."
"How far?"The queen asked.
That was the embarrassing part I wanted to avoid, but I had to tell Nyxath. "To other worlds," I whispered. "Do you think it could be real? That one day I would be able to actually do that?"
Nyxath tilted her head."Perhaps. Your powers keep growing, and neither you nor I nor Saphir understands where they are coming from. Your lineage goes back to one of the first shamans, but that doesn't mean much after so many generations. There are thousands of Elucians who share this lineage."
"I didn't know that I came from a shamanic line. How do you know? All the records were destroyed during the First and Second Extinction wars."
"Not all, and some of those who returned remembered their heritage. I'm the first returning hatchling, and I met the first Elucians who returned to these lands. Some of them still carried on the family traditions. Besides, I can smell it in you. That was one of the reasons I wanted to meet you in person."
"Smell what?"
"Elu's blood. It's much stronger in you than it is in your brother. It is strange how human genetics gets transferred from one generation to the next. Some might exhibit nearly none of their ancestors' traits, while others can suddenly manifest them strongly."
My head was spinning.
"I don't know what my purpose is. Saphir is talking about the prophecy of the seven and how we are supposed to save the world together, and I feel like I'm spiraling out of control. Why is it happening to me? Why couldn't it have happened to Dylon? We share the same blood, but he's much braver than I, stronger."
The queen chuffed."Oh, my dear Kailin. You still doubt yourself. No more of that, child. Embrace your destiny and your greatness. Wear it like a queen."
Frankly, I was surprised that Nyxath didn't begrudge me assuming her powers. Well, perhaps assuming wasn't the right term. I wasn't taking them away from her. I was just manifesting similar abilities but also surpassing hers.
I didn't want that. I didn't want to threaten anyone's position. I didn't want anyone to even pay attention to me. I wanted to disappear into the background and do whatever I could for Elucia from the shadows of anonymity.
"I can't," I said quietly. "It's just not me."
"Perhaps your humility is why you were chosen,"Nyxath said."You are not power hungry, which means that you will use your abilities responsibly."
I looked into her eyes. "Chosen by whom? We both know that Elu isn't divine or wasn't. Is he still around somewhere? Did he go back to where the other gods reside?"
"I cannot answer this question, Kailin. But what I can tell you is that power is dangerous in the wrong hands. But in the right ones, it can reshape the world."
"I don't want to reshape the world. I just want to serve Elucia and protect my people."
"Sometimes reshaping that which has gone askew is the only way. This world is teetering on the edge, and it is a miracle that Elu's truths are still spoken and dragonkind is alive. The Sitorians with their Shedun squads are gaining power again, and this time, there are not enough dragons to protect our young, let alone Elucia. We need a miracle, and some force in this universe must have heard our pleas and answered by giving us you and your friends."
Talk about pressure. "I'm just one, inexperienced woman. How am I supposed to save Aurorys?"
"You are not alone. You have the other six who were prophesied, and you have Saphir and me and many others to guide you and support you. But you also have enemies, andI'm not referring to the obvious ones who arrive behind a burrowing worm."
The blood chilled in my veins. "Who?"
"That remains to be seen. Power always attracts those who fear it, or wish to control it, or just see a different path and believe in it as strongly as we believe in ours."She rose to her full height."Don't be afraid of your power, Kailin. Drink the tea tonight and dream deep. Remember, you are not alone in this. You have me and Saphir and your friends. Be well, Kailin Strom."
With that, she launched herself from the terrace, her massive wings catching the wind and carrying her upward with feminine grace that defied her size.
