Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 112416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 562(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112416 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 562(@200wpm)___ 450(@250wpm)___ 375(@300wpm)
“Oh, fuck,” Adrian muttered under his breath.
Drayce’s wild cackle burst out of the phone and filled the room.
“We’ll discuss that later,” Caelan said, though it sounded as if he were fighting laughter. “In the meantime, I’ll contact Nori and Queen Noemi about getting our hands on shards of the two godstones. My only request is that these shards never leave Haru’s possession. I can’t fathom what they are doing with them, but it can’t be good.”
“Agreed,” Haru stated.
There was some more talk about logistics and timing, but the call ended soon after. Vitor thanked them for their help and left, saying that he needed to get in contact with other spies in the city to see what they had learned.
Adrian pushed to his feet and walked to the windows, staring out over the city with his hands shoved into his pockets. From up here, the capital was quiet and clean. Everything looked orderly and safe, but since coming to Bellcairn, Adrian had learned that it was all a thin disguise that was in danger of tearing at any moment. Unrest was bubbling up among most of the people who were struggling to put food in their bellies or terrified of the stories of people disappearing off the streets. Meanwhile, there was an entire cadre of rich people who were stirring up this toxic stew, wanting it to spill over so they could use it as a reason to scoop up control.
And in all the mess, Adrian suspected that the two sides were unaware something more sinister was happening. Magic was a rare thing in this world. Dragons had it. Gods had it. And a select few chosen had it. What would happen if those three were to gather? Could Ruben and his lackeys really hope to control them?
A firm hand landed on Adrian’s shoulder and smoothed down his back. He peered at Haru standing beside him, a concerned expression on his handsome face.
“What are you thinking?” Haru’s fingers rested on his waist, curling around his side.
“I’m worried about Shey. This is bigger and more dangerous than we were expecting when we set out from Stormbreak.”
“It is.”
“What if we can’t reach him in time?” Adrian slid the tip of his tongue through his mouth, touching each tooth as he weighed his next words. “I worry…what if Caelan sent the wrong person? Wouldn’t it have been better if he had come with Drayce, Eno, and Rayne? They’ve tackled gods and dragons and politics. I’m some punk with some street smarts turned soldier. I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Haru was silent for a moment before shifting, turning his body so that he was standing perpendicular to Adrian. “I have some thoughts. Will you listen to them?”
Adrian nodded. The dragon might have a strange point of view, but he was smart and well-versed in dragon clan politics, which didn’t seem to be all that different from human politics.
“Caelan and the others handling this is impossible. Many of the kingdoms are in turmoil following the battle with the gods. Erya needs Caelan’s calming presence in Stormbreak. It also helps Caspagir, Ilon, and my home. Even New Rosanthe breathes easier with Caelan in Stormbreak. Wishing that he were anywhere else is wasted energy.
“Second, you paint yourself as being less than Caelan. This is not the first time you’ve said these words to me. But it is not fair to judge yourself against what you’ve seen Caelan accomplish. When he began his journey at the behest of the gods, he didn’t know that he could outsmart gods, dragons, and scheming politicians. He did not know what he could do until he had to do it. The day he left Stormbreak, he had only the wisdom of a prince and a soldier. You have left Stormbreak with the wisdom of a punk and a soldier. You still stand near the beginning of this hard road. I am confident that you will succeed because you must. Besides, Caelan had a dragon at his side, and you have a dragon at your side.”
Adrian snorted, letting the smile fighting to break free cross his lips. Haru could be very persuasive.
“And finally, we both know Prince Shey. He is not a passive person. The prince is an excellent tactician, a skilled fighter, and possesses the power of the God of Storms. If he is being held by these people, I believe it is because he wishes to be there.”
With a gasp, Adrian’s head jerked toward Haru, and he turned to face him. “Seriously? You think he’s chosen to be a prisoner?”
“I think it is a possibility. If you had the power of storms at your fingertips, would you be easy to hold?”
That was a very good point. Adrian had continuously imagined Shey trapped in a prison somewhere, sitting in the dark and unable to move. But that wasn’t fucking Shey. Not unless he chose to be like that. Prince Shey was like Caelan, Drayce, and the others. He was a fighter.