Page 23 of Only Flames Remain

It wasn’t going to be easy business infiltrating the castle and poisoning the prince. What had I gotten myself into?

I didn’t want my last night with Kallias to be wasted on what-ifs and could-have-beens. I wanted to feel the solace of his arms wrapped around me, savoring the safety of his presence. I pushed all thoughts of my mission away and pressed my eyes closed, willing sleep to take me.

The sun had begun to rise by the time I finally drifted off, my thoughts chaotic despite Kallias’s steady presence at my back. It wasn’t long after that Enora was knocking at the door to collect me. Kallias was needed in the throne room for a council meeting with his father, King Faris, and the commander of his army, Galen Prynn.

I begrudgingly disentangled myself from Kallias and gathered my bags. He pulled on a pair of pants, needing to shave before meeting with the king. My heart fell realizing that he wouldn’t be walking me out, and this would be our last moments together.

He wrapped me in his arms one last time, pressing a kiss to my lips that had my legs buckling beneath me. I closed my eyes as he held me tight, willing this all to be a dream. That I would wake up and everything would be as it was yesterday morning, before the dragons had painted the skies of Majur with fire.

Before Queen Dyata had decided Prince Sorin could not be suffered to live a moment longer if there was any hope of Myros defeating Gothryn. Before King Faris had lost his temper and threatened to cross the Saltale Sea with his army to slaughter the Blackwater princes himself. A move that would leave our suffering kingdom irreparably broken.

When he finally released me, my eyes filled with tears. I tried my hardest to swallow them back. I was merely escaping the political mayhem that was about to unfold, visiting an old relative. There was nothing to be upset about.

Enora met me at the door, her expression sour. I knew she would be angry with me for insisting she accompany me on this mission—but I also knew she would do anything for her oldest and dearest friend. She would never have let me go alone anyway, but she would complain about it, nevertheless.

I glanced back at Kallias one last time as he disappeared into the washroom. I gripped the bag I had packed in my palm and called for Quinnick, who happily jumped from the bed to join me at the doorway. I turned to Enora, unable to stifle the laugh that bubbled to my lips at the thought of the two of us crossing the sea together to an enemy kingdom with a fox in tow.

“Did the queen secure a position for you?” I asked, closing the door behind us and starting down the corridor, Quinnick trotting along at our heels.

Enora nodded. “She did. I have an apprenticeship with a historian at the palace, so I can be right by your side.”

“Did she happen to give you any details about how I am supposed to infiltrate the palace as a servant?” I asked, forcing a smile as we passed a group of royal ladies from court.

They covered their mouths with delicately gloved hands as we passed, giggling and casting furtive glances in our direction.

“She did.” Enora laughed, ignoring the women. She wrapped an arm around my shoulders to draw me against her. “It appears the queen gave me more information than she did to you. But I assume you were rather busy with the prince last night.” She winked, but I couldn’t bring myself to play along with her teasing. Dread sat like a heavy weight in my stomach.

“I think the queen merely enjoys ignoring me and torturing me. The less time she has to speak with me or look at me…the better.”

We began to garner attention as we exited the castle and started toward the dirt path that would lead to the markets of Majur. Glances were cast in our direction, whispers reaching my ears that the queen must finally have tired of a human warming Kallias’s bed, that I was finally being sent off.

They weren’t entirely wrong.

Enora and I fell silent as we walked through the city proper of Majur. Most of the city had remained unscathed by the attack yesterday, but there were a number of houses and markets that burned. The response to the Blackwater princes had been swift. The dragons hadn’t lingered, allowing the people to tend to the fires quickly before they could spread.

There would be rebuilding, but it could have been much worse.

King Faris was right. This had merely been a show of power. A performance to put us in our place. Highlighting exactly how deadly they were. If they had wanted to burn Majur to the ground…they would have.

As I pondered the reputation of the Blackwater princes, it dawned on me that I didn’t know nearly as much about the rival kingdom as I should. I cursed myself for not paying more attention to Kallias when he discussed it.

If I were being honest…politics bored me. I knew that as queen they would be an integral part of my life, but I wanted to enjoy my time away from the drama of it all while I could. Despite what the queen had insinuated, I didn’t enjoy scheming. I yearned for a simpler life, but the fates had decided otherwise.

As we neared the dockyards, I could sense the palace guards at my back. A quick glance over my shoulder confirmed that there were four guards following closely behind us. They were likely sent by the queen to ensure I boarded the ship destined for Scaldrithor without incident.

I wasn’t one to cause a scene…Queen Dyata needn’t worry.

I kneeled to offer Quinnick my smallest bag, and he jumped into it readily. I zipped it only enough so that his head could poke out while I slung it over my shoulder.

The vessel was the largest in the harbor, its dark hull low in the water as it sat in the channel, flag snapping against the wind. Armed soldiers and humans alike milled about the deck, waving to the people gathered at the dock to say their goodbyes. The sun cast a warm light over Majur, but it did nothing to cut the tension building in my chest.

As we approached the gangplank, I turned, nodding toward the apothecary at the end of the row.

“Do I have time to say goodbye to my mother?” I asked the closest guard, meeting his gaze with steel in my own.

He shook his head once brusquely. “You will board the ship immediately. No detours. Queen’s orders.”

My heart sank into my stomach as I turned back to Enora.