The queen appeared to reserve her judgment as she repeated her question. “Where did the dragon come from?”
We’d flown faster than messengers from Kavios could ride, but I didn’t think that would last. Father might not out Ember as his traitorous jeweler, but he’d certainly do something about our departure. We couldn’t have stayed. We would have risked the entire kingdom while he searched for us, but we weren’t safe here, either. Whether Rodric would send honeyed words urging the queen to turn us over, or an assassin’s stealthy blade, I hadn’t yet decided.
I couldn’t ignore Charon’s story, anyway. His captivity was one of my many sins. One I could finally right. No matter how many unsuccessful attempts I’d had with Alaric.
“My father has had Charon imprisoned since the Kingdom of Kavios’s founding. He’s free now. His choices are his own.”
At that, Charon chuffed, and smoke billowed from his nostrils. He didn’t breathe fire on me and everyone in our radius, so he must have found my explanation acceptable.
“Am I to assume that your father will not be happy with his departure?” Lucinda asked.
“You would be correct. But it is not Charon who requests access to Ciril. It is us.” I gestured between myself and Ember, her hand still wrapped around my forearm.
“While I accept that a dragon’s fate is their own”—she dipped her chin in Charon’s direction—“I can’t ignore the fact that such a loss will stoke Rodric’s ire.” Charon growled, and the queen corrected herself. “The loss of what was never his to begin with.”
I nodded. “I’m glad we understand each other, then.”
Lucinda looked frustrated, as if I had intentionally missed her point. Of course Father would be furious, but in no world would he attack Linia to try to retrieve a dragon he couldn’t control. He’d only kept Charon in line because he was trapped in the mine. Attacking Linia was not only futile, since it wouldn’t return his lost pet, but also stupid, because it would waste the resources of his Blessed when he needed them within the kingdom to maintain control.
None of this could be explained to Lucinda, though. I ran my hand through the stray wisps of hair freed from the low knot at my neck as I considered what to say.
“We seek knowledge, Your Majesty,” Ember said before I could. Her voice was steady, but her fingers dug into my arm. Surely, it was unintentional, a nervous reaction at best, but the fact that she steadied herself with my presence was gratifying. “Hart has spoken highly of his time in the Library of Linia and the knowledge preserved by your kingdom. We wish only for the opportunity to use it again. Then we will leave you in peace.”
Not exactly what we’d discussed, but at least she leaned on the fact that I wanted to revisit books I had already read. In a small way, it told me she still trusted me to keep her safe.
My goals required a foothold, and this was a start.
The queen dipped her chin in thanks, seeming to cede to Ember’s request. “Knowledge is free in Linia. It is a tenet we hold dear. You will be my guest at the castle. We have a special suite where your friend”—she gestured again to Charon—“will have access to visit via the balcony.”
Ember curtsied before I could protest that an inn would be fine. I didn’t know Charon’s plans, but I considered him as attached to Ember as I was. She seemed yet to acknowledge the significance of his presence in regard to her goal to free Kavios. He would destroy the castle for her if she let him. As would I, with my bare hands.
But that was a conversation for another day.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. We will make ourselves scarce and be out of your halls as quickly as possible.”
Lucinda smiled at me then, carefully, but with a look that said she knew she’d been backed into a corner and she would do the same to me before this visit was over.
“I wouldn’t dream of a rushed visit, Sebastien.” Her gaze rested on Ember, as if she’d found the gap in my armor. “In fact, I insist on a meal with the royal family to celebrate your arrival. Even if you’ve read them before, I’m sure you wouldn’t turn down our guidance on the kingdom’s vast stores of knowledge.”
Ember’s fingers dug more tightly into my forearm. I felt the same apprehension at the words, even if I didn’t show it.
“Wonderful. Shall we?” I gestured for Lucinda and her guards to lead the way as the bitter flavor of Ember’s fear dried my mouth.
3
You’ll figure it out. I gave you all the tools you needed, if very little of the actual information.
— ALARIC SARE’S PAPERS FOR EMBERLINE ARKOVA
Iyanked my hand from the crook of Hart’s arm as soon as the queen turned away. The layer of my gloves and the sleeve of his tunic did nothing to suppress the heat that emanated from our connection.
A connection I refused to acknowledge.
Something cool and … minty coated my throat. I glared at Hart, and his brow furrowed as he stared at where my hand had rested. The way the lines on his face drew together wasn’t sharp like his anger, but soft. Like dewdrops on the grass before the sunrise.
Was it sadness? His sadness?
No. I shook my head. I could nottastehis emotions. Nothing remained between us except for a matching curse.
