Page 14 of Maleen

Feeling exhausted all of a sudden I turn to him. “I want to bring it to my mother later. I have some questions for her.”

He nods understandingly but eyes the jewelry in my pocket like it personally victimized him, which in a way it did. It made me forget them. With a few strides across the room, I grip onto his hand and pull the shadows around us. It takes a moment longer but eventually we’re engulfed in darkness and spit out on the other side—into the war room.

The room is full. Everyone is here including Batsil—our old Elemi instructor at Phixmery. I swallow nervously but straighten my shoulders. It probably doesn’t appear ‘royalty-like’ to be late to important meetings. Especially a meeting that will determine the fate of Damorleia.

“You’re fine, Little Dream. Everyone only just arrived themselves. Why don’t you come and take your seat?” Aemon whispers in my mind as he stands from his seat at the head of the table and moves to the seat next to it.

Nero soars off my shoulder and takes to the perch that has been added since the last time we were in here. “It’s a better view from up here. Don’t worry Rav, I’ll keep an eye on things.”

My feet carry me with confidence—and nerves—as I round the long table that holds a three-dimensional map of Damorleia. The pale stone chair sits proudly with a deep blue cushion awaiting my arrival. Without hesitation, I sit promptly, quickly adjust the blade at my hip to be more comfortable and look over everyone at the table.

Determination and exhaustion. That’s what I see. My family and friends have seen more than enough bloodshed and experienced too much heartache already. Especially Lennox. He sits there looking ready for war, though, and I don’t blame him. Yet as I scan the table I see the same resolution on everyone’s faces.

Including my sister’s. “Cynder, I’m glad you and the Safir Raiders could join us.”

She dips her head, the same pink eyes of my—our—mother flicking up at me before darting to the pirate that was injured. “Of course. We want to help.”

I smile softly at her, trying not to let the worry for her seep through my careful facade of being put together. Fake it until you make it, right? “If it’s alright with you, I would like to show you something after training this evening or whenever you’re free?”

Her brows pinch but she nods, agreeing, and I don’t know how I didn’t see it before. Whereas I look like my fathers, she is nearly a spitting image of the Queen, or at least how I remember her from my fledglinghood.

My hands clasp together as I place them on the end of the table. “Alright, where are we? Any word from our troops or pixies?”

Aemon pulls out a couple pieces of worn and dirtied parchment from his tunic before passing them to me. “According to the front, word has spread to the rebels about a call from their Queen and they have been pouring into Vathia to assist.” He hesitates for a moment before continuing. “Some have brought news of other villages and cities around Damorleia, and the Lords are working fast, it seems.”

My stomach tightens with nervous anticipation of what I know isn’t going to be good news. “Well, get on with it,” I state, needing to know.

“Smaller villages that have aligned with the hope of finding a new Queen… or hoping you are alive… are being razed to the ground. We have reports of five so far with minimal survivors—mostly fledglings and lesser fae protecting them who were found hiding in the woods outside of the razed zone.” His voice is firm, yet detached like he’s refusing to let himself become emotional while delivering the facts. “There have also been sightings of encampments outside the capital of each province. Although the reports on these are uncertain, we believe Nulls—er, non magicals—are being rounded up and kept here.”

Bile rises in my throat as I attempt to keep my composure. “Anything else?” I ask, while trying to put my thoughts in order. My parents worked so hard to give non magicals and different fae like pixies and satyrs the same rights and privileges as everyone else, and to hear about all their progress being undone has my anger brewing and ready to spill over, but I must remain composed. Patience. If one day I will be taking on my mother’s mantle, I can’t let my emotions rule me.

Jesper’s hand twitches like he wants to take me into his arms, but somehow he restrains himself.

“One last thing—it might be good news,” Aemon adds, feeling my inner turmoil. “My spies have spotted signs of Dragons in the Gratandi Mountains.”

Vasari’s interest peeks through our bond, so I open up completely to her, letting her hear the conversation.

“Signs?” I ask, glancing around the table.

Aemon passes me the parchment. “It arrived just before this meeting. I barely had time to scan it before you arrived. But yes, it seems they’ve found scorched trees and some loose scales in a clearing. It’s not much, but it’s more than we had. If the rest of the dragons have fled north from Phixmery… and if we find them…”

“Then we might be able to meet with them and arrange a truce,” I add. “Save their home in the Dreki Mountains in exchange for the chance for our warriors to bond with dragons.”

Because of the war, Vathians haven’t had the chance to go to Phixmery or visit the Dreki Mountains in hopes of bonding with a beast, and we will need more air troops if we are to have a chance at keeping our citizens safe and defending our home.

“Oh, Lost One. You forget, we are Queens. And dragons take what they want. We will bring them home, I can feel it in my bones,” Vasari states, sounding like the bloodthirsty Queen she is.

Nero scoffs. “Are you sure it’s not just the sheep you ate? All that fur can’t be easy to digest.”

Her growl cracks through the bond and I block them out because I know I’ll get distracted by their bickering and end up having to referee. “I’m assuming they are going to keep searching?”

Aemon nods.

“Okay, anything else before we try to figure out our next steps?”

Killian sits up and my stomach swoops. I’ve been trying to avoid looking at him knowing he was in my bed last night holding me. That his touch wasn’t just a dream. “I’ve talked with the others and we’ve sent contact to your elite warriors. They will be on their way here for your protection. As the future Queen in the middle of a war, you shouldn’t be without them. It was a mistake leaving them behind at the front lines.”

It takes all my willpower to stop my eye from twitching. I understand where he is coming from, but I wish I was included in that conversation, because I thought we agreed they were better off on the front line, that I was safe here at Aemon’s castle—