Thessa turned from the battle, heading for the thick of the mountain range, and Soren whipped her head back as they gained altitude. Vane wielded a stream of fire, twisting it with Heles’ and obliterating the last enemy dragon and their rider. As they fell, he shouted at the others, who began to follow her and Thessa.
I promise, if I wasn’t sure we could make it, I wouldn’t have told Thessilnn to go.Vane’s voice was breathless but gentle in her mind.But you could barely mount her, and I couldn’t focus on getting us out of there while worrying about you falling off her back again.
She didn’t reply, not trusting herself to not accidentally reveal what Thessa had told her. Heles caught up to them quickly, though, flying next to her. Every few minutes, Soren saw Vane glance over at her in between scanning the horizon. She wanted to argue she was fine, but she didn’t have the energy to do much but stay awake.
They landed on a large outcropping of stone just as dawn crested over the horizon. Ahead, the entrance to a cave loomed, but none of the dragons appeared uneasy. In fact, they seemed to relax as they saw it.
Thessa landed next to Heles, and Vane slid off her back, calling, “Let go. I’ll catch you.”
“I am fine,” Soren muttered, though her voice was thin from exhaustion. He caught her as she stumbled to the ground, adding, “I just need food.”
Vane’s mouth curved. “We’ll see to it. Stop trying to walk.”
“You are not going to carry me into a dark, unmarked cave,” she argued, but he was already sweeping her up.
“It’s not unmarked, or at least not unknown. Not to us, and not to the dragons.”
Cion approached, and Soren squirmed uselessly in Vane’s arms. The princess’ lips twitched, just barely. “I suppose it isn’t too difficult to believe you two are actually married.”
Vane didn’t smile. “Does anyone know, besides the riders you gathered?”
She lifted her chin and said quietly, “I told them the commander turned traitor and killed my father. They all report to me now, given I am Queen of Aren.”
“And why do they think they’re here?”
Cion shifted, crossing her arms. “I told them there is a way to restore magic to the mortal world.”
Soren sighed sharply.Let me down.
No.“This isn’t some magical quest.”
“Remember who you’re talking to,Mòr Maslach.I don’t plan on keeping some barbaric hold on you like my father, but I will protect myself and my people against any threats. That includes Kronos. Don’t include yourself in that list.”
“And Mise? The rebels?” Soren said.
Cion worried her lip. “All three kingdoms are in chaos. Kellmere is dead and so is my father. My plan is to call a meeting with the kings of Meesling and Mise and propose a truce, as long as they agree to aid us in a solution.”
“And if they don’t.” Vane began walking to the cave entrance.
Cion followed and replied crossly, “I haven’t gotten that far.”
He turned down the first tunnel on the left, shifting Soren to one arm and using his other palm as a torch. Footsteps behind them told her the other riders were joining.
When Vane stopped again a few minutes later, the tunnel opened into a small cavern. He flicked his fingers, and a ring of torches lit up the space, revealing a few sleeping mats, an abandoned clay mug, and a dusty scroll directly in the middle of it all.
After setting Soren down gently on one of the mats, he looked Cion directly in the eye and said, “Figure it out. And deal with your riders, preferably away from here.”
“Where do you suggest we?—”
“In a second cavern, about a quarter of a mile down that tunnel,” he said shortly, pointing to the corner. “There should be a store of supplies there. They’re old but should do just fine.”
“Right,” Cion said flatly. Soren was surprised she didn’t argue, instead just grabbing one of the torches from the wall and shouting, “Riders, with me!”
They filed into the tunnel, and Soren closed her eyes, mumbling, “You didn’t lie, right? There is another cavern, not a gaping hole where they’ll all fall to their deaths?”
Vane chuckled roughly, brushing her hair off her forehead. “I did not lie. I just needed them to not be here.”
She opened her eyes. “Vane, there’s something?—”
