‘All I know is your father was murdered on his way from the fifth knight’s home, bringing the family here, the day of your birth, Wyn. He was found dead with the parents, but the baby was missing.’
Wynter was still the only one to speak. ‘Your father has my father’s book, so it’s safe to say it was the king who killed him, right?’ The confirmation was needed, and Lancen nodded. ‘So the king stole the baby?’
‘Yes, because a witch told him he could use a knight’s power to rule wyrmocs. Apparently, she found such a statement in some old scriptures. It’s what he told me when he caught me with the book. He tried to get me onside at first, but I was too afraid and ran.’
Wynter glanced around the table before returning her eyes to Lancen, who looked a thousand ways sorry. ‘The king actually believes he can control wyrmocs?’
‘With a knight, he can raise them from the ground before they are due to wake.’
‘So why hasn’t he?’ asked Wynter.
‘I don’t know why. I didn’t get to read all of the book. But I assume he has to wait until she is older.’
Wynter quirked a brow. ‘She?’
‘Yes, the book said a baby girl was born to the north. A dragon shifter.’
Raven finally found some words. ‘But there has never been a dragon shifter before. Dragons are just as mythical as wyrmocs.’
Lancen smiled softly. ‘Ranola said the same thing.’
‘What else did Ranola say?’ asked Cary, his arm muscles flexing in anger, the dark, intricate tattoos on his pale skin almost dancing.
‘With my help, she planned to break into the palace and take back the book, then she would know where the girl was, as the book would have documented her journey. Then Ranola was going to save the knight.’
Scarlen looked to Bear, who was still staring blankly out the window. ‘So that’s why they were at the palace. Not to kidnap me.’
Lancen bobbed her head, then turned to Raven. ‘And Ranola only told a few of the elders. You weren’t supposed to follow her. The book writes about your life as it takes place. With one look, the king would have known you were on your way to his home.’
Bear stood abruptly. ‘I killed them.’
‘It wasn’t your fault,’ said Wynter.
‘But it was my idea to follow them, help them. Try to be the hero. I had Rav and Ox and Harlex join me, and if I’d just stayed home after overhearing my mother’s plan to steal something from the palace, she would have succeeded.’
Raven scowled at Lancen. ‘Or if this wasn’t kept from us, we wouldn’t have followed.’ Before she could respond, he added, ‘I know it was Blyton’s wish for us to remain in the dark until the five of us were united, but we could have been training from childhood, been ready to help save the fifth knight, done something.’ He slammed his fists on the table. ‘I’ll not have Bear carry such guilt. We should have been told.’
Bear stormed out the room, and Scarlen stood, not knowing whether to go after him, but Wynter gave a subtle shake of the head in warning to leave him alone, so Scarlen slid back to her seat, feeling useless and afraid for her sister being so mixed up in their father’s cruelty.
Elbar filled the silence. ‘As there have been no reports of dragons soaring the sky, we know the king has a Ring on the knight.’ She huffed loudly. ‘I curse my ancestor who invented those Rings.’
Scarlen frowned at her friend. ‘Rings anyone can use?’
‘No, not anyone. You’d have to be part of our bloodline.’
‘Wait, is Jesserlie a relative of yours?’ asked Scarlen, eyes wide with shock.
‘I don’t like your tone, Smithson. We can’t choose our family. I’m sure if we could, you wouldn’t have picked your father.’
Scarlen found she had no argument.
Trinn was the next to stand. ‘This is a lot for us to take in all at once. We will talk again at dinner, but for now, let’s take a breath and figure out our next move later.’ Cary and Raven followed her out of the room.
Elbar asked the ones left to gather close. ‘Scarlen could go back to the palace and retrieve the book easily. She knows her way around better than most.’
‘Actually, I was confined to my quarters.’
‘We have a reveal day on our twentieth birthday,’ explained Lancen. ‘Until then, our father likes to keep his children out of sight.’
