Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 136009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136009 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
“I see,” Kerrigan said. If they were down to Audria as one of their most accomplished healers, then they were definitely struggling. “And the other healers went where?”
“Sonali took them to Rosemont, and the king and queen have closed off Bryonica to the Society,” Audria admitted wistfully. “I wish she’d taken me with her, but I was imprisoned then.”
Kerrigan considered this statement. The healers had protested. Bryonica was against the Society. It was as Gerrond had intimated—the houses were in open rebellion over what had happened. Kerrigan could use this.
“Do you think you can convince Roake to take you on as the healer again?”
“Uh…maybe,” Audria said slowly as if she realized that Kerrigan was strategizing.
“Maybe or yes?”
“It’s Roake,” she said softly. “I could probably convince him of anything.”
Kerrigan nodded. She agreed with that. Roake had always been in love with Audria. “And this scholar is the one who will speak with the Dragon Council?”
Audria nodded. “What are you thinking?”
Kerrigan had a lot of ideas, one in particular she thought could work if she had Audria on her side. That was a big if right now, but it was one worth pursuing. Especially if it could disrupt the Society’s plans.
“Do you want to change sides, Audria?”
“Yes,” she said immediately. Then a dangerous smile crossed her face. “Oh, Roake is going to hate this.”
Kerrigan laughed. “What else is new?”
“You’re not going to kill him, are you?” Audria asked. She frowned. “I know that he’s on the wrong side, but…”
“I don’t want to kill anyone.”
“That’s not a no.”
“I know,” Kerrigan said.
Audria accepted the answer. “What do I need to do?”
Chapter Eighteen
The Mission
A knife materialized in Wynter’s grasp, slicing upward toward Kerrigan’s middle. Kerrigan parried the attack, breaking Wynter’s hold on the weapon and sending it skittering across the torch-lit floor.
Wynter nodded and went to retrieve the weapon. “Your instincts are sharp.”
“As ever.”
“But you should have countered with your shadows, like we practiced.”
“Right. Right,” Kerrigan grumbled.
Chuckling could be heard as another figure appeared in the aerie. Wynter stiffened when she looked up.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I was in the area,” Dozan said.
“You know that we’re about to head out on the mission,” Wynter countered.
“I’m aware,” he said, slipping his hands into the pockets of his black pants. It was then that Kerrigan realized he wasn’t dressed in his usual suit. Instead, he was in flying attire with a cloak and gloves.
“You’re not coming,” Kerrigan said. “We’ve already decided.”
After her drop into Audria’s dreams, Kerrigan had come out drained to tell Fordham exactly what had happened. The sun was breaking over the horizon, and their time was up for that night. She might have been able to go back into a dreamwalk, but it was a risk that Fordham wasn’t willing to take. Instead, they dove into planning for the Society ambush with the details that Audria had provided.
“We can handle ourselves without you,” Wynter said dismissively.
Dozan lifted a brow. “I’m sure you can, but I wouldn’t want to miss the fun.”
Wynter huffed and opened her mouth as if to argue the point, which had already been argued. Wynter was going to have to shadow-jump, and she was quicker alone. Having to jump extra people in or out was draining.
Kerrigan remembered when those were Fordham’s limitations as well. The Daijan bond had extended his abilities to the breadth of the user that held the bond, which had been her mother, one of the most powerful Doma in existence. She’d stretched the bounds of his abilities before passing the bond to Kerrigan. And that stretch had remained. Now he could do things he’d only dreamed about before.
Fordham slid out of the shadows and appeared from nothing at their sides. “Did I miss anything?” He cast his eyes to Dozan, his eyebrows rising. Fordham glanced between the group. “Who invited Dozan?”
“I invited myself.”
“We were just telling Dozan he has to stay home. Wynter can’t jump more than one person.”
Fordham laughed as he came around Netta in all black flying leathers. “You’ll get there one day, sister.”
Wynter shot him a vulgar gesture. “I can jump more than one person.”
“Then it’s settled,” Dozan said with a shrug.
“That isn’t what she meant,” Kerrigan shot back.
“I thought we’d already gone through this,” Fordham said with a sigh. “The mission is set.”
“Then why does it look like you’re in flying gear?” Wynter demanded.
“Well…”
Dozan chortled. “You can’t send the king on the mission. It’s idiotic enough to take Wynter and Kerrigan, the princess and the future queen, on a mission, but the king as well? What happens if you’re all captured or killed? Barron would be in charge.”
Fordham ground his teeth together. “I’m a dragon rider. That’s who I am.”
“That’s who you were,” Dozan argued. “Right now, your place is here. Unless you want your enemy to sink his claws deeper into your throne.”