Five days later, the first evidence of Drogon’s location came into view. In the distance, settled over the Dragonspire mountains, was something all too familiar. The storm cloud, illuminated by flashes of lightning, sat as if anchored. Thia shivered, grateful for the soft leather gloves she wore. There was more wrongness to the cloud than the one that’d been over Tanisal.
“Relax,” Jinaari told her. “Distances here are deceiving. That’s a full days’ ride yet just to get to the foothills. We rest up, find a way in the next day.”
“At least we won’t have to go into the city,” Adam said. “Unless it’s necessary for the Lord Defender to talk about a problem before he solves it.”
Jinaari snorted. “I’m a simple man. I’d rather take care of something over talk about the necessity of dealing with it.” He sighed. “She’s not there, anyway. I got news that the army and my brothers got ordered to march here. Her Majesty decided to watch me take care of the problem personally. We can’t avoid her that easily.”
Thia caught the disdain in his voice. “I can say Keroys needs me elsewhere and we can’t delay. Would that help?”
“It might.” His voice was curt. “Any guesses at what we’re in for when we get into the valley?” Jinaari asked Adam.
“He’s got to be in a tower of some kind,” the blond man replied. “I’ve been in there. There are no caves to speak of, outside of the ones leading into or out of the area. Those aren’t anything you’d want to hide in. They’re too narrow and well known. The grassland’s flat, and it wouldn’t be difficult to build. I’ve thought of doing that myself a time or two.”
“What’s the terrain like? Will we be able to find cover?”
Adam shook his head. “I doubt it. There’s nothing but a field rimmed by the mountains. We can get to the valley unseen, but not any closer. Unless he was stupid and put it against the rock instead of in the center.”
“It won’t matter,” Thia said. “He’s expecting us. He knows that I’m the only one that can stop him.”
Jinaari nodded. “She’s right. He wants something from her.”
“What he wants,” she said, raising her head, “is a rematch. I didn’t know what I was when we met before. He did, though. He’s the one that told me I was Marked. This is by design. Drogon knew Lolc Aon was after me, stayed quiet until Jinaari took care of her. He thinks my box should’ve been his. It’s not, but truth doesn’t matter to him.”
“He’s Forsaken, Thia,” Pan said.
“I know,” she replied. “Keroys made me his Daughter for a reason. Dealing with Drogon was part of it.”
“What about Alesso?” Caelynn asked.
“Thia gets Drogon. Jinaari gets Alesso. We three just make sure they can do their jobs.” Adam looked over his shoulder at Thia. “I’m just wondering if you’re going to leave the rest of us anything to play with.”
Thia kept her eyes on the cloud as they talked. It was full of rage but contained in some way. It wouldn’t take much to unleash it, though.
That’s what he’s drawing his magic from, she realized. The cloud over Tanisal, the machine . . . it was him trying to find a way to store magic until he needed it. He’s Forsaken. He has to draw his power from somewhere, a place it can stay until he calls on it. Drogon doesn’t have the stores I do. It was taken from him. “That’s it.”
“What is?” Jinaari’s voice broke through her thoughts.
“I know why he wants me, wants my box,” she breathed.
“Let’s hear it.”
She shook her head and took a deep breath, trying to find the words to explain it. “When we fought him underneath Tanisal, he said something to me. I didn’t understand it at the time, but I do now.”
“He said a lot of things, Thia,” Caelynn pointed out. “Lies are part of what he is. I wouldn’t put stock in anything that came out of his mouth.”
“But he didn’t lie to me, that’s the thing. He’s the one that told me I was Marked by Keroys. He knew Lolc Aon was coming after me. There’s nothing he said that was a lie.”
“What about the crap about your father being in that machine?” The elf asked.
“Even that was true. Papa came to me at the cloister, after I came out of my coma. His soul had been trapped in there. I didn’t destroy it. I set it free, same as the rest of them.”
“What did he tell you?” Adam asked. “I was trying to save the old man, so didn’t hear it.”
Thia smiled as Jinaari snorted at the nickname. “He said, ‘It should’ve been mine. A place for me to store part of myself.’ He was talking about the box that Papa made me. It’s the last one he ever made. He couldn’t make them again because of the agreement he made with Herasta.” She twisted in her saddle, fumbling with the pouch with one hand. “I thought it would only hold spell components. But then I looked at the cloud and put the pieces together. Drogon doesn’t have stores in him for magic, not like the rest of us do. He has to create things to put the magic into until he uses it.”
“Like the storms or the machine,” Jinaari finished her thought, nodding his head.
“Exactly. Since my box makes it so whatever I put in it never runs out—”
“He could put a small bit of magic in there and never run out. Damn.” Adam shook his head. “If he gets that box, he’d be unstoppable.”
Jinaari looked at her. “It’s keyed to you, though. No one can open it but you. He needs you alive to gain access to it.”
Slowly, she nodded her head. “Unless he can get me to transfer the attunement to him, that is.”
“Can’t we just destroy the box?” Pan asked.
Thia cradled the leather wrapped box in her hand, staring at it. “As a last resort, yes,” she said. “But I’m not sure what will happen when we do.”
“I don’t like how you said that, Cousin,” he said.
“The box is the last one Papa made. From what I’ve learned, the others that exist don’t do what this one does. Yes, they’re all made where the owner is the only one that can open them. That was part of the reason they were in demand. There’s no lock for a thief to pick. I talked with your mother about it. None of the ones the family have work like mine does. Those are all normal boxes, nothing magical about them. Keroys did something to mine after Papa made it. It’s the only one that keeps whatever you put into it.”
“And, since it’s attuned to you, that could rebound on you once it’s destroyed,” Adam shook his head. “It could make the headache I got when my staff cracked look like nothing more than a bruise.”
“We don’t destroy the box.” Jinaari’s voice cut off any argument.
She put the box back into the pouch and looked at him. “If it’s the only way to keep him from having it, I will do exactly that. You stay out of my fight, Jinaari, and I’ll stay out of yours.”
“Speaking of a fight,” Adam said.
Thia looked up, following where the warlock was pointing. Ahead of them, spread out across the foothills of the mountain range, was an army. Thousands of tents sat in neat rows around a series of larger tents in the middle. Banners fluttered in the breeze, emblazoned with both the symbol of Avoch and the royal seal.
“Looks like we found your mother, old man.”
Thia caught the dark shadow that passed over Jinaari’s face before he straightened in his saddle.
“Let’s go, then,” he said. “Her Majesty has been informed we’re coming, and she doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
Thia straightened in her saddle, her shoulders tensing up. She rode next to him but stayed silent. This is his world, even if he doesn’t like it. He’ll keep me from screwing up. Once they hit the sentries, they both would have to play the role that others expected of them. If I’m lucky, they won’t recognize me. I won’t need to be the Daughter of Keroys until after we leave.
“Pull down your hood, Thia,” Jinaari told her.
Reaching up, she pushed it back. “Why?”
“You need to be seen. The Queen will have been told who you are, what you are, and given a description of you by now. She’ll know everyone that travels with me. Duke Tomil would’ve informed her when we got back from Byd Cudd.”
“The Duke knew who I was?” she asked, shocked.
He nodded. “He’d heard rumors before we went to take care of Lolc Aon. Someone on his staff has a sister who works for Father Philip. They overheard you talking to him about being Marked.” He paused. “Be careful around her, Thia. My mother comes across as if she wants to be your ally, but she can play politics better than anyone I’ve ever met. Whatever she asks you to do, there’s usually five reasons beyond what she tells you. Never give her a promise that’s not clear and concise in what it encompasses. She’ll twist it to fit what she needs before you realize that you’ve been trapped.”
“I’d say that’s a horrible thing to say about your own mother, but mine wasn’t a paragon of virtue either.” They rode in silence for a few minutes. “Would it be wrong if I insisted on one of you being present any time she and I talked?”
“If Her Royal Majesty says she will talk with someone alone, then everyone clears the room. Even her guards and attendants. She’s in command and knows it. The power you wield should be enough that she’ll treat you with respect.”
“I heard a ‘but’ at the end of that, Jinaari.”
He shifted in his saddle before looking at her. “My family’s not known for embracing the Fallen. Even ambassadors and trade delegations went to Almair over Dragonspire because of it. Tomil would negotiate and send the goods to the capital.”
“Then why did you have me put my hood down?” she asked.
“She knows you’re part Fallen already. I hope that she’s done enough research to learn your full history. And that you’re more human than anything else.” He looked at her, his face softening. “She won’t hurt you, Thia. She wouldn’t dare. But her prejudices run deep. If I thought we had time, and it wasn’t as cold, I’d have you pull that dress out and wear it. It may be necessary, if she insists on holding a formal meal or requires you to join her in court. For now, though, you need to put your mask on. Don’t let her think you’re not sure of yourself. She’ll take advantage of it if she can.”
She nodded, mulling over his words in her mind. Their conversations at night had helped her prepare for this. The world only knows the Daughter, not me. I don’t have to show them the person Jinaari knows, or even Adam and Caelynn. Time to put it to the test, she thought. Closing her eyes, she took a few deep breaths. The image she saw in her mind was a confident, sure woman. Someone who was prepared to do what was necessary and wouldn’t take no for an answer. Opening her eyes, she glanced at him. “And how does the Crown Prince of Avoch wish to introduce me?”
He nodded. “Hold onto that as long as you can. The camp needs to see that strength as much as my mother does.”
The rest of the group moved behind the two of them, letting them take the lead. As soon as they came into view of the forward sentries, one took off running. “We’ve been recognized,” Jinaari muttered.
“That’s what we wanted, right?”
He nodded but stayed silent. One of the guards walked toward them, kneeling as they brought their horses to a stop. “Your Royal Highness,” he said. “Her Majesty told us to expect you and your companions. May I have the honor of escorting you? Your friends will be shown to tents.”
“Escort all of us or none of us,” Jinaari said. “My companions will stay with me unless Her Majesty tells me directly herself.”
The sentry rose, nodding. “Of course, I’m sorry,” he stammered, “I didn’t mean to give offense.”
“None was taken. I’m certain that Her Majesty is anxious to greet us. Lead on.”
Turning crisply, the soldier walked down the wide path between tents that served as a road. It was barely wide enough for them to ride side by side. Soldiers stopped what they were doing and watched as they passed. Many stared at her, their faces openly hostile. Thia kept her eyes on their escort, sitting as straight in her saddle as she dared. “You’re doing fine,” Jinaari whispered. “None of them would dare touch you right now.”
“It’s not now that worries me. It’s later when I’m asleep. Canvas can be cut with a knife.”
He moved his head slightly. “There’s a contingent from my chapterhouse here. I’ll get word to Drakkus, have him send some of my brothers to stand as your bodyguard when I’m not with you. After what happened with Alesso, none of them would dare let anyone near you.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
Six groomsmen came running toward them as they approached the central pavilion and grabbed the reins of the horses. Dismounting, she took a moment to let her legs get used to being on the ground. They’d been riding for most of the day and her body ached. She felt a hand on her elbow. Raising her head, she looked at Jinaari.
“This way, Daughter.”
She glanced back at the others. Adam and Caelynn’s faces were stony and reserved. Pan’s lit up with excitement. “I’ve never met the Queen,” he said, smiling at her.
“Try not to show your disappointment,” Jinaari told him quietly. “It’s considered rude.”
The horses were led away. Two armed guards stood at attention on either side of the wide awning leading into the pavilion. Thia stopped and Jinaari turned around, his face questioning her with a look. She took a deep breath to try to quiet the butterflies in her stomach. Nodding once, she said, “I’m ready.”
He put her arm through his. “Remember who you are. You’ve got more power than she ever will. That doesn’t mean you have to let her control you. You are beholden to Keroys and no one else, Daughter.” mm
They stopped in front of a decorated wall. A courtier bowed, then moved aside the flap, and stepped through. A voice broke through the silence. “Your Majesty, Prince Jinaari and his companions have arrived.”