Page 41 of The Forgotten Throne

A sleek blue dragon that was covered in scars approached Izel who reached out to him with a hand. The dragon pressed his forehead into the touch causing Izel to smile in such a carefree way that I’d never seen before. Clearly the dragon had been through a lot and I couldn't think of a better person to help him with those mental wounds than Izel. May was picked by a red dragon spouting fire out its nose daring the woman to shy away from its advances but May stared the dragon down without batting an eyelash. It let out a puff of smoke that enveloped them and when it cleared May was already on the dragons back as it leapt into the sky. Becka was wrapped up in a green dragon’s tail possessively as it hissed at the brown dragon that was standing behind Dayson. The two dragons growled at each other, but Dayson set a hand on his dragon’s chest pulling its attention back to him. He murmured something to his new companion and they ventured off towards the water together leaving Becka laughing as her dragon licked her face. This left another purple dragon and a golden female to pick between Abbott and Gavin.

The purple dragon moved forward but the golden flung out her wings blocking the other dragon with a warning hiss and a lash of the tail. She moved forward as if she was a court lady on her way to claim her betrothed and I couldn’t say that I was surprised when she curled up around Abbott letting out a heavy sigh. The purple dragon flapped his wings and propelled himself towards Gavin and skidded to a stop before the prince. They looked at each other for a good long while before Gavin took the final step and reached out to the dragon who bowed his head to accept the touch. With that final move all my guardians were blessed with their very own dragons which in a way made things much simpler in the long run.

Ninnat, Tahir, and Ifra mingled among the new dragons greeting each other and welcoming them into our family. We stayed at the oasis for a while letting the new riders get to know their dragon companions but all too soon we had to depart and return to reality. Everyone was all smiles as we climbed up on our dragons and took off falling into formation with Vasin and I leading with the two golden females flanking us while the others followed in a staggered formation.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Late Night in the Castle

Once we returned from the dragon lands with our new companions, it was full steam ahead on the coronation and getting the castle set up for us to live in. When I thought I had been busy before in my life it was nothing compared to this. Some days I felt like I never had a moment to think before another person was coming to ask me questions or needed my approval. Seeing as there was more that needed to be done to get ready for the coronation even with all that was accomplished when I opened up the castle, I pushed it back another week. Each night I would fall into bed at Marta’s house praying I would be left to sleep until the morning.

My guardians were kept busy as well, many of them switching off to deal with things they needed to. They had determined that I would always have at least three of them around if no more to keep an eye on things. When I went to the barracks, all of them showed up feeling on edge with the fact it was the largest group of people who could hurt me. I was pleased to discover that those who didn’t agree with me becoming queen had partnered with Naytan and had already been dealt with. Many of the soldiers were eager to meet me and swear their fealty to the Dragon Queen. Through my studies with the viceroy, I learned that my guardians, consorts or not, were above General Alsten and when they gave an order, it was as if I gave them myself. This helped as I left them to deal with how to station things at the castle and work with Alsten on a rotation of men leaving the valley to keep an eye on what was going on with the Lost King.

“Your Majesty, you really should take a break for food you’ve been working for hours,” Ann commented as she set a plate of food down for me on the desk that I was using. “It’s not good for the mind to work that hard by candlelight.”

This brought a smile to my face as I thought of the early days of training when Sal gave me mountains of work to do. “I’m sure you’re right Ann, I have a terrible habit of getting lost in my work.” When she pulled the lid off the plate, the aroma of fresh bread and cooked meat made my mouth water. How long has it been since I’ve eaten?

“At this rate, Talia is going to have to adjust your dress with how much weight you are losing.” Ann tutted, pouring me a glass of water.

“I doubt that between what you and Marta have been feeding me,” I answered with a smile. “Thank you for looking after me while I’m here. I know it can’t be easy with the trouble those men who pretend to be old get into.”

“It is a pleasure to have someone who doesn’t need constant looking after spending time around here. Although I think Sal is also helping keep them grounded as they pour over the books and scrolls he brought with him to Sheca,” Ann said with a sigh. “Eat your meal, when I come back I expect it all to be gone.” She warned, giving me a pointed look.

“I promise,” I answered, shifting the books I was looking through to the side so I could pull the tray over.

Days that I was here pouring through books I took out of the castle library I was left pretty much alone with one of my guardians roaming around the place while more were close by but didn’t need to be in the same building. I didn’t really move from the desk that Mathew had given up to let me use while they worked in another room they were setting up for the history of the mercenary clans. To my surprise Gavin would join them learning alongside them about the people who had adopted him while I was trying to catch up on the past. King Cardon had said everything I needed to know would be in these books. I was beginning to think it was a lost cause having been buried away in the vast library. As I munched away at my meal, it made me wonder if he’d kept what I needed to know in his office, that he was being literal in the fact that that room held what I needed to know.

Shooting to my feet I dashed out the door finding Jade pacing on the patio. “Little bird, what’s wrong?”

“Nothings wrong, I think I just figured something out though,” I explained with a grin. “Care to join me on a late night adventure to the castle?”

“I’m not sure that’s a wise idea, they were working on the bridge today,” Jade cautioned.

My grin widened into a smile. “Good thing we don’t need to use it. Vasin found a roost that connects right to the king’s bedroom and that is where I need to go.” He narrowed his eyes at me as if weighing the risk of us going without any of the others. “It will be fine no one stays at the castle this late and we’ll be on the third floor or are you telling me the mercenary assassin isn’t up for the challenge.”

Jade stepped up into my personal space coming nose to nose with me, his light green eyes flashing with the challenge. “Don’t start something you can’t finish, little bird.”

His breath was warm on my face, and I wanted nothing more than to close that last bit of space between us and let him show me just what I was starting. Instead, I grabbed his hand and dragged him down the steps to the road that led up to the castle.

“Vasin, any chance you’re around to give us a lift up to the castle?”

“I’m never far from you Cass even with all that is going on. What is it you are seeking at the castle this late?” Vasin asked as I felt him head in this direction.

“King Cardon said that all the information I would need would be in the history found in the castle. I’ve been pouring through the books in the library but I think it’s what I’m supposed to be looking at is in his rooms, not the library. It would be easier for him to keep things hidden away there than in the public space anyone in the castle had access to.”

“That is a good theory,” he agreed as he landed before us. “Come, we shall discover what the past has to hold for you.”

Jade scooped me up and settled me on Vasin’s back before he climbed up behind me making sure to at least secure one of the straps around my waist. I knew that he still wasn’t over the time that he caught me as I was free falling through the sky when I fell off Vasin. Allowing him to keep me safe made me feel treasured even if I did want to smack him every so often. Soon we were gliding through the air circling the tower that had an opening and platform just for this purpose. Stairs led down from the tower into the closet of all places in the king’s personal chambers. We lit a lantern that I’d left in the room when I’d been back here last knowing it would be useful.

“What is it exactly we are looking for?” Jade inquired as I started pulling all the journals, scrolls and any other tidbit of information I could find on the shelves.

I paused and set the lantern down on a side table as I met his gaze. “When we first came to the castle and I searched through this room, I found a letter addressed to me.”

“Many of us did, it seems the king expected the castle to be occupied again at some point.”

“No Jade, this was different, he used my name—not the title of Dragon Queen by my given name.” I walked to the desk and pulled it out from the journal I’d slipped it into handing it to him. “He knew a lot more about me and even you, my guardians. It’s how he knew to build the fourth floor the way he did, Kind Cardon knew we—as in you and I—would be here at some point.”

“How can this be? He writes to you as if he knows you, if he’s seen the outcome of our people why doesn’t he tell you how to fix it?” Jade questioned as he gazed down at the letter. “He speaks of things as if they have already happened for him.”