Whether my uncle is tired or knows debating with the likes of Thrane and my mother is futile, he sighs. Shoulders slumped. "Inform King Torben and Professor Riggs of the change." He rubs his fingers against his temple. "Ronan, you will join King Thrane, Kamari and your Aunt Soraya. The objective is Eris. Is that clear?"
Ronan bites his lip, mumbling something under his breath, but concedes "Clear."
"Good," Uncle Soren reclines in his throne, his eyes watery. He stares out the window but he's not looking at the city. No, he's far away. His heart is heavy, his mind bruised. But he holds himself together as a good king should. "Although things look bleak, wewill fight to the very last of us to ensure our freedom. Be safe on your travels."
Within a couple hours, Vidarr and Corvex are prepared for our flight across the sea. But it's Seraxes and Drexel who are giving everyone, including me and Sylvane, hell. Seraxes has been destructive since Shaye was taken and Drexel has refused to eat. Though no one is keeping them locked in the arena, they haven't flown away. They're grieving, feeling the loss of their riders. It's a desperation I understand fully.
"What should we do with them?" I ask Sylvane, my heart breaking for the creatures. "Seraxes might do something rash if she's left behind and I fear Drexel will die of starvation."
Sylvane watches the dragons, teary-eyed. "We cannot leave them. Seraxes has been left countless times before. I fear this time it might kill her."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"She and Drexel will fly with us." Sylvane meets my gaze. "They will help us bring Aurelia and Nyx home."
Across the way, Thrane and Kamari are readying their dragons. Ronan and my mother stomp over, armed to the teeth in knives. They're wearing borrowed riding suits from Thrane and Kamari. Ronan's doesn't look too far off from the size he would typically wear, but my petite mother wearing Kamari's leathers is laughable. She looks like a kid who was let loose in their mother's closet. My mother makes the best of it, rolling the sleeves and pants up so she doesn't trip.
"Ah," Thrane coos, motioning for the duo to join them. "Welcome, Prince Ronan. Soraya."
"In all your scheming, you forgot one very important thing," Ronan ignores his greeting, crossing his arms over his chest.
"What's that?" The Frost King seems almost giddy for Ronan to speak.
"We don't have dragons," he spits, tossing a finger between him and my mother. "How exactly are we supposed to – "
"You will ride with us," Kamari interrupts, tying her boot. "Soraya will fly with Thrane and Artax. You will fly with me and Syrinx."
Ronan's eyes widen. "Why wouldn't I fly on Artax? He's bigger."
"As lovely as it would be for you to wrap your arms around me the entire flight," Thrane drawls before Kamari interrupts.
"Artax would rather drop you into the sea than carry another male on his back." She shrugs nonchalantly. "He's particular."
Ronan grimaces. "Your dragon won't react the same way?"
"Syrinx is a good girl," Kamari strokes her snout and if dragons could smile, Syrinx would be grinning like a fool. "She is all right with a second rider."
"I thought dragons only permitted one rider?" I enter the conversation, too nosy for my own good and worried about my kin.
Thrane shoots me a lazy, bored look. "Typically, that is the case. However, Kamari doesn't adhere to rules very well. She was caught sneaking dates out for dragon rides late at night."
Kamari giggles, a twinge of blush crossing her cheeks. "What can I say? Sneaking is half the fun."
"Although a punishable offense," Thrane cuts straight to the point, "she has been granted leniency. It seems Syrinx has been trained for this moment."
"You're welcome," Kamari teases and reaps Thrane's ire.
"Don't push it, Kamari," he snaps.
"And what about my mother?" I ask, brows furrowed. "You think Artax will permit my – "
Thrane tosses a thumb over his shoulder. I glance past him and my jaw drops. My mother is petting Artax's snout and offering him a treat. Thrane smiles when my gaze darts to meet his. "I might have given her some advice on how to butter the old boy up."
I point a finger at him, tapping his chest twice. "Protect my mother."
His face softens, as much as Thrane's face can at least. "As if she were my own." A promise. And if there's one thing I've learned about Thrane is he doesn't make promises he has no intention of keeping. Though I'm nervous, especially knowing how afraid of heights she is, I put my faith in him. "Find them," he says as he marches to Artax.
I nod. "I will."
