Total pages in book: 210
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
“Many,” Zander admits. “But not nearly as many as we could have. Lord Telor has named Radomir captain of Lyndel’s army. He is gathering information on those lost for us.”
“Yes, who is this fellow? I keep hearing his name.”
“He was a sapling until the blood curse lifted.” Zander chuckles when my jaw drops. “A story for another day. Suffice to say, he can be trusted.”
“If a sapling can win you over, there is still hope for me. What of Cirilea?”
“We leave for the city in the morning to reclaim my throne. A few lords have survived the battle.” He snorts. “And Saoirse, of course. How she continues to evade death is beyond me. It has become an art form.”
“For a cockroach,” Romeria mutters.
“If I were to give you one piece of advice, it would be to execute her now. Today.” I give him a stern look. “Believe me, she has earned the honor of both our blades.”
He pauses. “Consider it done, as my thanks to you for all your aid.”
“This Saoirse … she is elven?” Tuella interrupts.
“Yes. Why?” I ask warily.
“Because she may serve a better purpose, for my people.”
Zander crosses his arms, taking the stance of suspicious inquisitor. I’ve always hated when he does that to me. “And how is that?”
“It is a long story. Too long to explain now, but I believe your sister still lives.”
“What?” I bolt upright, forgetting my lingering pain. “Where?”
“In Udrel. If she fell to the sea, the wraiths will have brought her there, where the Azyr would certainly have retrieved her.”
In Udrel? “Why are you only telling me this now!” My voice booms.
“Because your focus was on the war, where it needed to remain,” she counters smoothly.
I glare at King Cheral. “Did you know about this?”
“I did not.” He shoots a reproachful look her way. “The conjurer does not reveal all her secrets to me either.”
“If your sister lives,” Tuella continues, showing no remorse for keeping this from us, “then perhaps this cockroach’s life in Udrel may be better served than her death in Islor. My king has been known to barter.”
“How do we get to Udrel?” I demand to know.
“We might have flown, if we had the dragons,” Zander says, urgency in his tone. He wants to find our sister as quickly as I do.
“It is a lengthy sail,” King Cheral admits. “Months at sea.”
“Fine. Then I sail. I will go right now and I will bring her back to Islor.” I throw off my blankets and then remember I’m naked beneath.
“There is a wormhole,” a voice purrs, as the snake-eyed creature suddenly appears in the room.
97
Romeria
Zander’s and Atticus’s eyes are on my back, waiting impatiently as we stand on Lyndel’s rampart. A fierce wind blows, scattering the dust from the battlefield. I can’t help but wonder if it’s somehow Vin’nyla, reminding me of her part in this.
With a deep breath, I call out Caindra’s name. If she won’t fly us to Ulysede, we’ll be stuck riding by horse, and that’s a week wasted, traveling. “I need your help one last time. Please. I’m begging.”
We wait several long minutes.
Until finally a dragon’s screech answers.
98
Annika
“Here.” I scoop another dollop of honey out of the jar with my finger and hold it up to Tyree’s mouth, his head cradled in my lap. “Eat.”
“I prefer the other way you served it to me in the loft. Can we do that instead?” he croaks, licking his dry lips.
I laugh to hide my fear. Whatever those little goblins did, they succeeded in bringing him back from the doors of Za’hala. But he has lingered here in this state of frailty since, and he doesn’t seem to be growing stronger. We have no hope of leaving this mountain while he is this weak.
Footfalls sound, and a moment later, Destry climbs through the tunnel.
“Anything?” I ask. The sun has set and risen again, and there has been no sign of any wyverns.
“They are all gone,” she confirms, but her face bunches with worry.
“What is it?”
“The Azyr have found us. They will reach us within the hour. King Hadkiel is with them, and many soldiers.”
My arms tighten around Tyree.
“Get back to that corner.” Tyree ushers me behind him. He’s made it to his feet, but leans on his sword like a crutch, his complexion pallid.
“You cannot fight them,” I hiss, while listening for the sounds of armor.
“Get back,” he urges, pleading with his eyes.
Reluctantly, I follow the order, gripping the dagger I found where Queen Neilina’s corpse used to be. Only a pile of dust remains. Whatever claimed the wyvern must have also taken her.
Destry hovers at the left side of the tunnel, her short sword ready.
They are both going to die for me today.
King Hadkiel’s soldiers will kill them, haul me back to the temple, and tie me up in their pool of life, where I will suffer for fates know how long. “Do not let them take me alive.” My voice cracks.