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Though I still can’t see beyond blurry shapes, I sense the Wards around me well enough to know that it’s Neil who sets a tray on my lap. Mortimer guides my hands to a bowl of soup and a spoon set inside it. I take a sip and hum with delight—it’s a beef and vegetable stew, and it’s hot and seasoned with fresh basil and crushed garlic. I devour it, burning my tongue in the process.

“How much do you know?” I ask in-between bites.

“I know a bit,” Thorn says, still standing near me. “I saw you and Astralux slip into the Malum Palace. And Astralux told us that you went down the spiral stairs into the palace itself. I then learned enough from the Vladykars to know that you got Ariadna’s Star but that it had melded into you. And then at some point they took you to that pit of cold, murky water.”

(more…)

“Estelle!” Astralux shouts, her voice booming over Thorn and me.

The sound of my name from my bonded dragon sends a quiver through me. On top of the emotions that are coursing through me from our bond, I’m shaking from head to foot with exhaustion and cold. If Thorn weren’t carrying me, I may well have just curled up on the ground and wept. As it is, I still can’t open my eyes, the sunlight blinding me even through my eyelids.

“Wards! There are Wards!” a dragon shouts—this voice sounds familiar to me. Saurentais. A Vladykar dragon in-training Astralux and I had met months ago. He can breathe acid.

“Vite, Astralux!” Thorn shouts. “Cover us!”

(more…)

I don’t know how long I’ve been floundering in this pit of murky cold, thick water, here in the depths of Malum Palace. But even with Ariadna’s Star melded into my chest, surging with fiery energy through all my limbs, I’m not sure how much longer I’ll stay afloat.

This strange, dense liquid saps my strength, chilling me to the bone. I shivered for what felt like hours, and then shook violently as the cold settled into me. I stopped altogether sometime long ago, too exhausted to tremble anymore.

As if that’s not bad enough, the oppressive gloom in this room hangs like a heavy net over me. There’s nothing. Not a single light. The only hope I have is every now and then, when I lift an arm above the oily water, sometimes Ariadna’s Star ignites a small flame on my hand for a brief moment. But that takes more than I can spare, the light searing in my vision, and I fall back into the oily water.

(more…)

Ariadna, help me. I was expecting to meet a Vladykar, maybe two, down here in the lower levels of the Malum Palace. Perhaps even some trainees.

But I did not expect Vladykar Malyncor, the leader of the Vladykars, to be here.

And now he stands across this small room from me, with Vladykar Lochan at his side. Vladykar Malyncor’s eerie, solid black eyes bore into me, and I tremble as I lean against the stone doors behind me, clinging to Ariadna’s Star in my hands. I can faintly feel Astralux’s worry. Mostly I’m just filling up our bond with fear.

(more…)

My heart thuds so hard I’m certain that Astralux can hear it at the top of the spiral stairs. It certainly wants to go to her the more that we separate, and I rub the outside of my leather armor over my chest. The anxiety alone is suffocating, nor does the gloomy darkness help, as I walk down into the depths of the Malum Palace.

Still, I do see some light below, and it gives me the courage to continue down. I keep one hand on the shortsword sheathed at my side, though I debate drawing it now. But I’m more likely to hurt myself than be effective, given my nervousness. And, I haven’t seen a soul inside the Malum Palace.

(more…)

Despite my anxiety, we have no trouble at all as we fly northwest into Klevor, following a wide, slow river that winds through the forested region. A few hills and small mountains break up an otherwise flat terrain. Even still, Vitegadium is quiet for once, and all four of us stare ahead as the sun rises behind us. Perhaps we’re expecting to see dragons springing out at us at any point. I’m not sure, but I cling to the saddle horn with one hand, my other hand on the strap that holds my shield to my back.

“Vitegadium,” Astralux calls over the wind. “We should probably start separating now.”

(more…)

Chapter 9: The Light Inside

While I’ve been around the Wards for several months now, even I’m not ready for the sight of us—all six of us, plus Prince Philander and Oneiro—flying towards Remyssus. And these are my allies!

Despite the fact that Kalteratem is able to fly faster than all of our dragons, he takes our flight at an easy pace, flying beside Oneiro. With this many dragons, it isn’t possible to talk. The rushing of wind is too noisy. But in a way, the quiet is needed—I spend our two days of travel enjoying the warm sunshine on me, looking down at Amenyl passing underneath, dreading our next trip.

(more…)

As we sit at the stone table in the Sun Room, Veremund catches my eye and glances at the seat next to Prince Philander. Perhaps he wants to give the prince a familiar face, since Thorn and I handled the diplomacy last time. Regardless, I nod once and take the seat next to Prince Philander.

The Prince of Amenyl, for his part, is looking around with intrigue. “We did not get much of a chance to speak with Ward Estelle and Ward Thorn of your abode. The craftsmanship in here is spectacular.”

“Thank you.” Veremund reaches out, picking up one of the insulated metal pitchers of coffee remaining from breakfast. “You must have journeyed all night.”

(more…)

Chapter 8: A Call of Hope

I debate my words all the way until and through breakfast with the Wards the next morning. There’s a strange stillness over us, as if the same thing is on our minds but no one wants to broach the topic. At last, however, Volkan sets down his porcelain cup of coffee with a sigh.

“Tikokaftos and I…we’re willing to go,” Volkan says, his voice quiet. “But I don’t know that we’re the best option. Not for a stealth mission.” His face twists, as if this was one of the hardest things he’s ever had to do in his life. “I’m sorry.”

Veremund nods. “Thank you, Volkan and Tikokaftos, for recognizing this. It isn’t cowardly to admit to where your strengths don’t lie.”

Afraid that Thorn is going to volunteer, as he looks at Vitegadium, I clear my throat. “I should go,” I say.

The Wards stare at me.

(more…)

“We need to get Ariadna’s Star back!” Volkan slams his fist onto the stone table where the Wards sit. “Now!”

“At ease, Volkan,” Veremund says. “We aren’t in disagreement about that.”

His golden hazel eyes alight with rage, Volkan’s furrowed brow lowers even more. “At ease? We’ve lost so much to the Vladykars! I don’t understand why we aren’t bearing down on them this very instance.”

(more…)