Page 21 of Heart of Shadows

“You sent for me, my king?” Dimitri swept into a low bow, waiting until he spied the jerk of Toroth’s hand to rise. He tugged his dressing gown around him for emphasis.

The great hall was cool, though not as cool as he pretended. The fires had already died to embers, and all traces of that evening’s meal had been cleared by the servants. Only the hounds lingered by the fire, as close as they dared, and Dimitri did not fancy bedding down with them.

His attention snapped back to the king, whose eyes were wide with rage as he stalked from side to side on his dais. “One of the… Something has been stolen from my vaults!” he growled.

Dimitri could barely see Toroth’s face in the darkness of the hall, save for the rage-filled spark in his eyes reflected from the embers.

“I am most sorry to hear that, Your Majesty. Have you apprehended the thief and recovered the object?” Dimitri asked smoothly, with a touch of dismay.

“No!” spat Toroth, now trembling with rage. Rage Dimitri hoped not to bear the brunt of. That current of fear curdled through him and he fought to keep his face blank.

“That is grievous indeed, Your Majesty. How may I be of service?”

“I have every member of the Kingsguard searching, and I shall send every member of the Winged Kingsguard on the hunt.”

A large enough treasure to warrant a full dragon-rider compliment to be sent out? Dimitri was slightly taken aback by it. Did the king really place that much value on one Dragonheart? Dimitri almost raised an eyebrow at that, but knew to do so would be too dangerous. Even if he did not know what had gone missing, that would have been a clue in itself.

“I will find it.” The king gritted his teeth as he paced back and forth like a caged beast. “You will assist.” Toroth turned the full measure of his baleful glare on Dimitri.

“Of course, sire,” Dimitri answered, sweeping into a low bow. His pulse settled. He was safe. The king had no idea of his involvement. There had been the slightest touch of dread Toroth knew all along—and had lured Dimitri to his demise with false hope of his ignorance. Fear like that was never far away in this court. “What is it I seek?”

Toroth scowled at him.

Reluctant to tell me what you hide in your vaults? Very well. “I must know what I seek if I am to have any chance of finding it for you, my king,” Dimitri said in a painfully affable tone, his head bowed in deference for his intrusion into the king’s privacy. He knew how to play Toroth like an instrument.

Toroth muttered a curse under his breath. “Fine. They stole the Heart of a Dragon from me. My warden will give you details.” The king’s tone was short once more, and Dimitri sensed what little patience he had was running out.

“I shall do everything in my power to locate it. Do you have any leads I may follow?”

Toroth glared at him, but Dimitri stood his ground. “No,” he finally admitted. “Ask the general of the Winged Kingsguard to be brought up to speed with any new developments. Report solely to me. Discretion, secrecy, and speed. Get. It. Back.” With one last glare, he flicked his hand, dismissing Dimitri.

Dimitri bowed and quickly retreated, lest he be subject to the king’s ire. His panic had decreased at the confirmation Toroth knew nothing of his involvement, but now it spiked back to life again. The whole of the kingdom sought that Dragonheart. He would have to reach it first.

20

HARPER

Aedon sighed and ruffled his hair. “Well, I mean, there might be one way back, but it’s really very unlikely.”

“Tell me,” Harper pleaded. Panic fluttered at her edges, threatening to devour her and only kept at bay by years of resourcefulness at surviving any situation thrown at her. But this? This was beyond finding her next meal or a safe bed for the night… this was world-shattering. She was thousands of miles away from everything she knew—and Betta. Guilt stabbed and twisted inside her. Betta would be worried sick that she had not returned home that night. Would the old woman go out to search for her in the storm? Would harm come to her on Harper’s account? She could not bear it.

Aedon shrugged, unaware of her inner turmoil. “If the Dragonheart truly brought you here, perhaps it can send you home. Unfortunately, no one here knows how. Perhaps there are elves elsewhere, or even the king’s mages, who would know of such magics. But you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who will help you when, no offense, you have nothing to offer in return.”

It was clear from Aedon’s dismissive tone that he thought the notion hopeless. Harper’s heart sank a little at that.

“Mind, I think he’d want his Dragonheart back first, and there’s every chance you wouldn’t even get to petition the king. You’d be presumed to have stolen it and left to rot in some dark hole for such a treasonous act. Dragonhearts are incredibly precious, and the king lays claim to them all.”

Harper recoiled, her arm protectively encasing the Dragonheart. “It’s mine! I found it.”

“Well, perhaps the king will look leniently on you if he believes that, but as I said, it’s a long shot. In any case, there’s nothing we can do about it tonight.” He leaned back against the tree he sat under.

“I’m stuck here for now?” Harper said, swallowing.

“Yes.”

She nodded, silent for a moment as she tried to take in that fact. She had not realised that, having gotten to this strange place so easily, there would be no way to go back. She huffed, a mirthless chuckle. Way to get what you wished for, Harper, she berated herself. She hadn’t meant this—had she?

“Pelenor isn’t all that bad!” Aedon said, nudging her and grinning. She forced out a small smile, but it did not reach her eyes. “I mean, it’s better than Valtivar.” He chuckled, but no one joined in. He threw up his hands. “Oh, come on, you grumps. Lighten up.”

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