Look ahead,I said, banking slightly.Silvervale.
The landscape had been gradually shifting for some time now. The volcanic rock and fields of Emberforge’s territory had given way to alpine forests and snow-capped peaks. Silvervale Court rose ahead of us, carved into silver-veined cliffs that caught the dying sunlight like frozen lightning.
Where Emberforge was all dark stone and fire, Silvervale gleamed cold and beautiful. The architecture was different, more angular, more austere.
It’s beautiful,Adele said softly.
It is.I angled toward the formal courtyard.Don’t expect the same welcome we got at Brightmore. Silvervale is different.
In what way?
You’ll see.
I landed in the courtyard with barely a sound, my claws finding purchase on the smooth stone. No crowd had gathered to greet us, though we’d sent word we were coming. I spied four guards in silver armor standing at attention along one side, and a dragon shifter with silvery blonde hair waiting with her arms crossed on her chest.
Queen Mortiven. I’d dealt with her before. She was fiercely protective of Silvervale’s independence.
After Adele slid off my back, I shifted back to my usual form, putting an arm around my wife to support her while she found her legs again after the long flight.
Mortiven’s eyes tracked the movement, her expression unchanging. She stepped forward and gave me a short bow. “King Raoul. We weren’t expecting you to bring company.” Her gaze slid to Adele with barely concealed suspicion.
My protective instincts flared hot. I stepped forward. “This is mywife, Queen Adele. She’s here to help with your infant crisis.”
“A witch.” Mortiven’s tone made it sound like an accusation.
Adele stiffened, but before I could respond, she joined me, squaring her shoulders. “A weather witch with expertise in atmospheric conditions and ways that can affect dragon physiology. If you’d prefer your babies to continue suffering, I’m happy to leave. But I was under the impression you’d welcomed assistance.”
I bit back a smile. That was my strong-willed weather witch.
Mortiven’s gaze narrowed. “We handle our own problems. We don’t need a witch’s interference.”
“This isn’t interference.” I kept my tone diplomatic rather than commanding. Mortiven was right about one thing. I was a king, but notherking. Like Emberforge, Silvervale operated independently. I had to tread carefully. “This is one court offering aid to another. Unless you’ve already solved the problem yourself?”
From somewhere in the cliff dwellings behind Mortiven, a baby’s cry erupted, followed by a distinctive sneeze and then more wailing. Then another sneeze from a different direction. And another.
Mortiven’s jaw tightened. “The situation is under control.”
“I can hear that,” Adele said dryly.
More sneezes echoed through the courtyard, and faces appeared at windows of the cave dwellings lining the steep walls, exhausted parents holding crying infants, darkcircles under their eyes. They looked desperate, and who could blame them?
“We’re not here to undermine your authority or Silvervale’s independence,” I said. “We’re here because babies are suffering, and Queen Adele might be able to determine why. That’s all.”
A long pause stretched between us. Finally, Queen Mortiven’s shoulders dropped. “Very well. I’ll have you shown to the guest quarters. There’s an adjacent hot springs bathing area. Meals will be brought to your suite.” Her gaze sharpened. “Please remain there and don’t wander through our cave system without an assigned escort.”
“Understood,” I said.
The queen gestured, and one of the guards stepped forward to lead us away. As we followed him into the cliff face, I caught Adele’s hand and squeezed it.
That went well,she said in my mind, her tone heavy with sarcasm.
Better than I expected. She didn’t throw us out.
The guard led us through a series of passages carved into the living rock. Silver veins caught the light from luminescent stones set into the walls, creating an ethereal glow. Beautiful, but cold. Impersonal.
He stopped at an arched doorway, swinging the wooden panel open. “Your quarters.” He waited until we’d stepped through before turning and leaving without another word.
The cave suite was stunning. Silver-veined stone soared overhead in natural cathedral arches. The floor was made up of polished smooth stone , and furs covered a bed big enough to accommodate a dragon in half-shifted form.Through an archway at the back, I could see steam rising from the hot springs Queen Mortiven mentioned.
