“I think we’ve got a pretty good draft here.” Mortimer scratches at the blonde stubble on his chin. “Astralux, I know you suggested an order of command, but I feel like that could quickly be taken out of context.”
Astralux, her head on a giant pillow so that she can easily look up at Mortimer at the desk, frowns a little. “But they might have questions about who’s in charge,” she says, her voice low and raspy.
“I think what Mortimer is getting at is that that would be a discussion that’s best in person,” I say. Dipping the towel into the bucket of water again, I pull it out, wring it, and whip it through the air to cool the water off further before placing it back on Astralux’s forehead. “It might be really easy for someone to be offended.”
“Oh.” Astralux gives a weak shrug. “Politics are dumb.”
I smile, glad to hear Astralux’s personality coming back. She’d spent most of the first twenty-four hours of her illness asleep. Now, two days after she passed out, she’s at least able to stay awake for periods of time and even contributes to Mortimer’s and my conversation as we work on the letters to the countries of Drakonia.
Mortimer chuckles, writing a few more lines on the parchment papers before him. “Well, I think this is enough to start sharing with others to review. I’m going to go take this to Veremund.”
“Alright, we’ll see you later.”
“You keep resting.” Mortimer pats Astralux on her neck before walking out with a wave, whistling as he goes.
“Can I get you anything?” I ask Astralux.
Astralux smiles a little and shifts so that her head is no longer on the pillow, but beside it, tucking her nose under her paw. “You’re too nice. Go for a walk or something. You haven’t left our room in days.”
I frown. “I don’t want to leave you alone.”
“I’m fine. And I can promise you, Domagoj is probably on his way now.” Astralux’s smile broadens as there’s a knock on the front door. “There he is now.”
Sure enough, Domagoj pokes his head in, a couple of strands of his ebony hair hanging loose around his face. “Good to come in?”
“Yep,” I say.
“Estelle needs to go,” Astralux says.
“I do not! I don’t want to leave you,” I say.
Domagoj chuckles as he wheels in a cart with another bowl of hot blood soup for Astralux. “Go on, Estelle. It’ll be good for you to get some fresh air.”
“Really, I’ll be fine,” Astralux says.
“I….” I glance at the heavy curtains, seeing a glint of sunlight. “Alright. But I really do want to stay with you.”
“I know.” Astralux noses me in the side before laying her head down. “Just don’t go near the other dragons until you wash.”
“Okay. I’ll take a quick walk and be back.” I slip on my worn leather boots—the cobbler is still working on making me shoes that fit my petite feet—and step outside of the room onto the inner balcony. The bright white glow of the open space causes me to blink, my eyes adjusting, as I walk down the spiral stairs to the first floor. My heart skips a beat when I spot Amon, standing in a doorway with his back toward me. I detect a deep voice, like someone is talking from the room beyond, which I think is a lounge room for when the weather turns unpleasant. “Amon?”
Amon turns a bit quickly, his eyes wide. “Estelle! You startled me. I thought you were with Astralux?”
“I think she had enough of me,” I say lightly. As I walk up, I glance into the lounge area but see no one. “What are you doing?”
“Oh, observing.” Amon gestures to the large stained-glass windows on the far side of the room, through which sunlight is splintering into a dozen gorgeous colors. “I enjoy the windows.”
“They are beautiful,” I say.
“Not as beautiful as you,” Amon says
It came out so easily that it shocks me, and I stare up at him with my mouth open. My cheeks flush as a small smile forms on Amon’s face at my stunned silence. “Thanks,” I finally manage to whisper.
“How is Astralux?” Amon asks.
Glad for the change in topic, I clear my throat. “She’s recovering. She’s doing a good job resting.”
“Ah, yes. She isn’t one to rest well. I’ve been meaning to come visit but have been preoccupied. Of course,” Amon adds, “I could have visited in this brief moment instead of staring at the windows between meetings and scouting. I apologize.”
“It’s fine,” I say. “Besides, Mortimer and I have been busy working on the letters.”
“How is that going?” Amon asks.
“Good, we’re about done,” I say. “At least, ready enough to show Veremund.”
“Did you decide on a location for the meeting?” Amon asks.
“Remyssus, assuming King Mahlir will allow the meeting to take place there,” I say.
“Which, I heard you are going to deliver the letter to King Mahlir?” Amon’s golden hazel eyes peer at me intently. “It will be a dangerous trip, no doubt.”
I frown. “More than it was before? Have you heard something new?”
Amon smiles. “You’re a smart woman.” He takes my hand. I stand still, staring up at him as my heart thuds in my chest. I instinctively shift a step back, feeling a little rushed into this moment, but also glad for it. “I wish they wouldn’t send you to King Mahlir.”
“Why?” I ask, surprised.
“You don’t deserve…I don’t want you to get hurt,” Amon says softly. “I still, somewhere in my depths, can’t accept….” He swallows, and for a moment, I see something in his face I haven’t seen in Amon before—worry.
“It will be okay,” I say. “Ariadna is with us.”
The worry dissipates on Amon’s face, and his small, handsome smile returns to his face. “Your faith is strong.” The Ward gives my hand a squeeze and then drops it. “Well, I have to get back to scouting. Take care of yourself, Estelle.”
I smile. “You too, Amon.” I watch the Ward as he walks out of the Wards’ Palace through the back doors, taking deep breaths to calm myself.
“I thought you two might be a thing.”
I spin in surprise to see Lyssa having stepped out of the dining room doorway. “What, who? Amon and I?”
Lyssa chuckles. “Amon hasn’t been able to take his eyes off of you since you showed up.” The tall girl sighs, tugging at her blonde braid. “And why shouldn’t he? I’m kind of surprised Volkan and Thorn haven’t tried to get your attention yet. Or maybe I just haven’t caught on to them.”
I blush. “I, I’m not trying to get anyone’s attention.”
Rolling her eyes, Lyssa shakes her head. “That. That is what makes me….” She pauses, watching me, and then drops her hands to her sides. “Actually, I was coming to talk to you anyway, if you have a moment.”
“Sure,” I say.
“Is it alright if we take a walk?”
“I’d prefer that,” I say. “Astralux sent me out to get some fresh air and I still haven’t made it out of the Wards’ Palace yet.”
“Got a little distracted, did you?” Lyssa chuckles as my cheeks heat up again. “There’s a nice walkway through the gardens this way.” She leads me out the front doors and around the side the palace.
I squint for a little while as my eyes adjust to the brightness outside. But I can feel my soul invigorating at the apple blossom scent in the cool mountain breeze, and the sound of birds chirping, people chattering from Adytol, and life all around.
“There’s a pretty little fountain over here,” Lyssa says. “I forgot about it. I haven’t been out this way in a while.”
I glance at Lyssa, surprised by her abrupt cordialness. “Why haven’t you been out here recently?”
Lyssa goes quiet, her brow furrowing a little. “I guess because I’ve been struggling for a while.”
The trainee leads me along the stone path through the rich green grass, and sure enough we come to a small fountain, where water trickles out of the mouth of a stone dragon statue and falls into a pool of water, which then continues on in a pretty stream through the winding landscape we’re walking through.
“I….” Lyssa clears her throat and then snaps her heels together and turns, facing me. I can’t help taking a step back, thinking she means to start a sparring session. Maybe a real fight. “I wanted to apologize, Estelle. I’ve been mean to you, because you so accidentally fell into the very role I’ve been longing to be forever. When Tristin passed, I thought Astralux and I were going to be the perfect bonded pair. We would avenge Tristin, we would avenge Dolores and Scheiflen, and we would become the fiercest warriors the Wards have seen yet. And then you showed up, already bonded to Astralux. And…well, you showed me how lacking I was.”
“Oh, Lyssa,” I start to say, embarrassed.
But Lyssa holds up her hand, stopping me. “After years of training to become a Ward, I realized I’m still not ready. And that made me mad. So I directed it at you.” Her gaze turns sad. “That doesn’t excuse my actions, but I wanted you to understand. I’m really sorry, Estelle. Please forgive me.”
“Of course, Lyssa,” I say. “It’s okay. I heard a little bit about what you’ve been through—I’d be mad in your place too.”
Lyssa laughs drily. “Oh. My. Gosh. Can you pretend to be mean and prideful for a bit and just tell me to stop being a jerk?” Lyssa shakes her head as I hold out my arms to her, and I laugh. “Annnd you offer me a hug. You’re just rubbing it in now.”
Grinning, I hug Lyssa tightly when she wraps her arms around me. “But really. It’s all good.”
“Thanks, Estelle.” Lyssa gives me the first warm smile I’ve seen from her as she steps back. “I have to admit, I really am glad that there’s a female Ward around again. I was just too busy blaming you for everything to tell you that.”
“And I’ve been wanting to ask you for additional training,” I say. “I was just afraid you were going to take advantage of it and smack me over the head—repeatedly.”
Lyssa chuckles. “Ah, yeah. I did think about it a time or time.” She sighs. “Ugh, I’m so not ready to be a Ward.”
“No one is perfect,” I say. “Ariadna isn’t looking for us to be perfect, but to grow in her light.”
Leaning over to throw an arm around my shoulder, Lyssa smiles. “Thanks, Estelle. So you can teach me to have more of the heart of a Ward, and I’ll teach you to have the hand of one.”
“Agreed,” I say.
“I don’t suppose you’ve found a weapon of preference yet?” Lyssa asks.
“No. I was talking with Undabouclier about whether to go for a blunt weapon to avoid drawing blood, or to try to kill as quick and painlessly as possible, but I don’t like either option,” I say quietly. “I know I need to learn how to fight but I don’t look forward to it.”
“You know,” Lyssa says, “you might want to focus on disarming and disabling your opponent. It’s trickier, but you strike me as the sort of person that would put the time and practice into learning how to do this well.”
“Neil mentioned that to me yesterday,” I say. “But I wasn’t sure what weapon he was referencing?”
“It’s just a particular style,” Lyssa says. I sigh and Lyssa glances down at me. “What?”
“I’m just so glad that you’re not mad at me anymore,” I say. “I really wanted to be friends.”
Lyssa grins. “Me too. Is it cool if I come with you see Astralux? I’ve wanted to check in on her but thought it would seem weird until I talked to you first.”
“Of course!” Patting Lyssa on the back, we head toward the Wards’ Palace. “Maybe we can chat through some of this fighting style you’re talking about. Or braid each other’s hair, because I really like the braid you have. Maybe both?”
“Yes! Girl time! It is so nice having another woman in the Wards again!” she repeats.
I chuckle as we head back inside, my heart feeling light with hope and joy.
Tamara Rivers 
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