So he did.He gathered all of his notes, stacked them in a neat pile, and reread the first few sentences on the first page.Repeating the words to himself helped him calm down, just like Killian’s arrival did.Killian might be the king, but Palmer was used to talking to him.He knew the king better than any other dragon in the room, so it was easy to smile at him as the last stragglers arrived and took their seats around the table.
“Welcome, everyone,” Killian declared, looking around.“And thank you for being here.I’m sure everyone knows Palmer,” he said, gesturing in Palmer’s direction.Palmer felt like an idiot when he raised his hand and waved, but most of the dragons around the table smiled at him, which helped him relax.
He recognized a few of the dragons around the table beyond Killian.Most of them, though, he was pretty sure he’d never seen before.His gaze caught on a dragon whose hair and scales were a vibrant cerulean blue.It reminded him of the sea, and he swallowed, wondering who the dragon was.They kind of looked a bit like Killian, and Killian was blue, too, although a lighter shade.Palmer wouldn’t be surprised if they were related.After all, Killian had dozens of half-siblings.
From the little Palmer knew, Killian didn’t trust most of them.If one of his half-siblings was here, though, it had to mean that wasn’t the case for all.That was good.Palmer couldn’t imagine not being friends with his brother and trusting him.Family was important.
“If you want to begin, Palmer, go ahead,” Killian said.“Everyone is here.”
Palmer opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, the door swung open.Everyone turned to look at it, and Palmer blinked when he recognized one of the dragons walking in.
He hadn’t realized that Pearl was invited to this meeting, and he was surprised.When he looked around the table, he realized that everyone else was, too, including Killian.The king was quick to school his expression, though, and his two bodyguards, Marlin and Birch, stepped closer to him, framing him as if to protect him.It was a good idea considering that Pearl was actively trying to get Killian off the throne in any way possible, including hurting him physically.
Palmer didn’t know who the other dragon was, but they also were a shade of blue, and he was quickly starting to realize that probably meant they were related to the king.Pearl was blue, too, although she was so light she was almost white.The second dragon was a much darker blue, almost purple.
“Pearl,” Killian said.“Alatar.To what do we owe the pleasure of your presence here?”
“This meeting is to discuss the health of the clan, isn’t it?”Pearl asked.“I wasn’t informed of it.”
“That’s because there’s no reason for you to be here.But yes, it is to discuss the health of the clan, including the human clan members.If you need to see me, you can make an appointment with my assistant.”
“I don’t need to talk to you.It is my right to sit in on this meeting and participate.”
“Why would it be?”
Palmer sucked in a breath, and he heard several dragons around him doing the same.They were watching Killian and his half-sister like it was an entertaining movie, and Palmer couldn’t deny that it was interesting, but he was also worried.Surely Pearl wasn’t about to try something against her brother right there in front of everyone?
“I’m your sister, Killian,” Pearl said.
“Yes, you are.Not all of our siblings are here, though.In fact, only one is.”
Pearl’s gaze flickered to the cerulean dragon.“Why was he invited while I wasn’t?”
Killian arched a brow.“I don’t know, Pearl.Why do you think that is?”
The silence in the room was tense.Palmer had to resist the urge to clear his throat to break it.He didn’t think that attracting more attention was a good idea.Pearl probably wouldn’t do anything to him in front of so many people, but he didn’t want to put a target on his back.Most dragons were lethal, and Pearl especially so.
“As you can see, this meeting was by invitation only,” Killian continued.“And you weren’t invited.Neither of you were.I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“Killian—” Pearl started.
Killian shook his head.“Like I said earlier, if you want to talk to me, you can organize a meeting with my personal assistant.For now, you need to leave.”
Pearl glared around the room.Palmer had to fight the urge to hide under the table.
“We don’t need humans,” she said.“What does this man know about dragons that our healers don’t?Why would any of us want him to have anything to do with our health?”
“Palmer is here to learn, and our healers are eager to learn from him, too.”
“He doesn’t know anything about dragons,” Pearl insisted.“It would be dangerous to allow him to treat any of us.”
“Our healers disagree, but you know, Pearl?You’re right.Palmer doesn’t know as much about dragon physiology as our healers do.That’s why I had the idea of assigning him to Rune so that our brother can show him around the infirmary and all the medical books Palmer will need to learn more about.”
Palmer blinked, not having expected that.From the look on the cerulean dragon’s face, he hadn’t, either.Palmer suspected that the dragon was Rune, Killian and Pearl’s half-brother.Was that why he was here?So that Killian could assign him to Palmer?Whywas Killian assigning him to Palmer, anyway?Palmer didn’t need a babysitter.
But hedidneed to learn more about dragons and how their bodies worked.He didn’t know if Rune had any experience with that, but Palmer would take any help offered, especially when the one offering was Killian.
Killian turned to Palmer.“I also want you to look over the database.You’ll find a lot of precious information there, and you need to start adding your own.”
