The King didn't look convinced. “You have?”
I lifted my eyebrows. Had this arrogant asshole really found a cure?
The King stood up. “Show me.”
“I have everything prepared at the armory, Your Majesty. If you would—”
“I had the armory barricaded,” King Falken cut Vanre off. “How did you get down there?”
“The guards know I'm working on a cure. They let me pass.”
“They shouldn't have done that without asking me for permission.” The King looked at me.
I shrugged and stood up. “I advise you to wear a mask over your nose and mouth, Your Majesty.”
“The rot does not affect living things,” Vanre scoffed. “You'll be fine, Sire. I assure you.”
I shook my head at King Falken.
“Bring me three breathing masks!” the King shouted as he went around the table and down the steps. At the bottom, he stopped and looked back at me. “Master Sevarin?”
I grabbed my satchel and hurried down the steps to stand beside him, tail curled around my leg in anxiety. I didn't like the casual way Vanre was handling things. “Your Majesty?”
“I want you to observe.” Then the King motioned at Vanre. “Lead the way, Alchemist.”
As we strode down the hall, a servant ran over to us with three masks, the sort used for chemical work. He offered them to the King.
“Wait.” I took a mask and inspected it. “These have enchantments to filter the air.”
“Yes, sir,” the servant said.
“We can't use these. The rot may infect them. Could you bring three strips of thick fabric that we can tie around our heads?”
The King nodded.
“Yes, sir.” The servant ran off.
By the time we reached the stairwell to the armory, the servant was back with three long strips of thick cotton fabric. The King distributed them to Vanre and me. I immediately tied the piece of tan fabric around my head, covering the lower half of my face. The King did the same, but Vanre only tucked the cloth into a pocket.
“Cover your lower face, Vanre,” the King said. Then he motioned at the guards stationed beside the boarded-up stairwell. “Remove the boards.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” They pulled their daggers and used them to pry loose the boards.
“Where are your Dragon knights?” I asked the King.
The King looked at me, his face mysterious with half of it covered. “What do you mean?”
“Every Dragon King I've met has had a King's Guard of Dragon knights, but I've yet to see any Dragons besides you.”
“They attend me when I leave the palace. Here, I'm safe enough. And I don't like being followed around.”
I widened my eyes at him. “And your dread allows that?”
“I'm the King. It's my decision.”
The last board came away, and as if my words had summoned them, a group of Dragon men came rushing up to us.
The King grimaced and pointed at them. “Stay here.”
