We had to dress in our robes today for this. Questioning this mission was so stupid and all because Caleb didn’t feel part of this. He was such a kid sometimes.
My black robe with dark red and purple colors reached my ankles as my foot tapped against the floor listening to how Duclin accused Tanya and Herbert of being part of the royals assassination.
The room we waited in was small. Had chairs lining the wall with a table at the entrance and register where you had to sign in.
A soft cream carpet covered the wooden floor that matched the wooden wall panels. There was no window in this room, only a painting of what the building used to look like a long time ago. It was bigger now.
Dad sat next to me, wearing his black robe. He was no stranger to this room and to this building, just like me.
We kept watching the screen at the circus of a hearing. Caleb stood up and clarified his agenda. It had nothing to do with Tanya or Herbert. He didn’t believe that Elena was Albert’s daughter.
My gaze looked at Elena on the screen. She looked like a scared little mouse. I missed her so much.
Dad sighed at that revelation, but a part of me knew Caleb would make a lot of shit.
I chuckled as Tanya set him straight. She was feisty, and I realized I didn’t have many memories of her. Dragons never forget. We remembered the tiniest detail. Even the temperature of our egg when our mom laid on us.
“Now I get why you and Tanya didn’t get along?”
“Why?” Dad leaned back in his chair with arms folded.
“You are the same.”
“Oh, fuck off,” Dad scolded, but the corner of his lips curved upward.
Tanya had enough, and she walked out. Guards seized her and Elena jumped up. My inside froze as we stared at her, begging for their lives.
“She is a Malone through and through. The elders are stupid,” Dad said. I knew he took it still hard that he didn’t know about her. That his rider didn’t trust him with that knowledge that the queen was with child.
The one at the end spoke. He hardly opened his mouth at hearings. I always thought he was a wuss.
Dad chuckled.
“He can talk?”
“Adolph doesn’t speak when it’s not needed. He is one of the oldest Dragonians in Paegeia.”
“He’s not a dragon?”
“No, he was part of a dent, easily the first, from what Albert had gathered.”
“Gathered, why?”
“Adolph had a strange liking for the queen.”
My gut warmed when he asked Duclin to call me. I got up.
“Sit, he is making his point.”
Duclin didn’t answer.
“Just as I thought,” Adolph spoke.
“Albert never told me why, but in the beginning, it used to drive him mad. It stopped after a while.”
“The queen?”
“Many adored her. She was an exceptional woman, and I agree with Tanya. She deserved to have been a mother.”
