Page 94 of The Dragon Queen

Hetowersoverusall,deckedoutinebonyrobesandfursandjewels.Mystomachrevolts,aninstantmigraineformingbehindmyeyesasItrytolookhimintheeyes.Hispale,paperyskinmorphsinandoutofmyvision,obscuredbyanillusionofahandsome,healthyman,buthe'snot.

He'shardlyamanatall.He'samonster.

Iblink,andallIcanseeisrottenfleshstretchedoversunkencheekbones,andablackcloudofmagicsodeepitreachesclearintomysoul.

Hesmiles,andsomethingwithinmecracks.

"Why,isn'titobvious?"Hisvoiceisevenmoregratinganddissonantthanhisappearance,echoingandscreechinganddeep. "Jianyu,proud,onlysonofKingHaoyu.CrownPrinceoftheGreatStoneKingdom."

He'ssayingthewordsasifthey'recompliments,buteachoneisablade,sneakingundermyribs.

Henarrowshiseyes,andwhenhissmiledeepens,itrevealsfangs. "Iofferedthemtheirlives."

Boltsofpurplelightningrendthesky,deepblackcloudsswirlingatthefeetoftherulersofthegreatdragonkingdoms.TheWaterQueenholdsherheadhighaselectricitywracksherframe,butshe'sgazingatMalikwithapleaforunderstandinginhereyes.TheFireKinggrumbles,andKingZephyroftheAirRealmwinces,steppingback.

Myfatherstandshisground,butinhisrigidexpression,Iseethepain.

Erembourhasthemallunderhiscontrol.Hethreatensthemandtorturesthem,andtheycowtohim,andit'spathetic.Aninsulttothemillenniaofhistorystretchingoutbehindus.Ourlegacy,destroyedinonefellswoop.

"You'reweak,"Isay,mymouthnumb.Therealizationhitsmelikeabomb,andmyfatherfinallyflinchesasIvolleythetruthrightbackathim. "Allthistime--you'retheweakone.Youcoward--"

"Enough,"KingEremboursnaps. "They'vewontheirliveswiththeirfealty,butIcanextendnosuchoffertoyou."

Mydragonroars,hisgreatstonewingsbeatinghardagainstmychest. "Asifwewouldeveraccept."

"Oh,youwould."Erembour'ssmiledripsacid,andtheheadachegrowsbehindmyeyes. "Orwouldyoutradeyourfealtyforsomethingevenmoredear?"Hisgazedartstotheside. "Forthelifeofyourbeloved?"

RafestepsinfrontofEmberbeforeanyoneelsecanreachher,hishandsablaze.Stormsummonsaswirlingcloudofthunderingair,andMalikpullswaterfromtheicysea.Ishaketheground.

"Ah,yes."TheShadowKinglaughs. "Thatwoulddoit,wouldn'tit?"Hismouthcurlsintoadisdainfulsneer. "You'resoeasytomanipulate."

"We'renot."Isoundlikeachild,tauntedontheplayground,leftwithnothingtoreplywithexceptsputteringdenials.

Andheknowsit.

"Youare."TheShadowKingsnapshislong,bonyfingers,andmoreblacklightningcracklesthroughthesky. "Why,allittakesisaplanteddaggerandafewmuffledwhispers,spokenintothecorrectears."

Thelightninglandsinthesea,butithadmightaswellhavestruckdirectlyinmyheart.

Iwhipmyheadaroundasechoesofmemoriesassaultme.

ThebladefoundbytheguardsatthecastlewhenIwasaboy.Thechaos,theaccusations.

Rafe,justachild,standingthere,innocenceinhiseyes.Ireachedoutforhim.Hewasmyfriend.Butmyfatherwasyelling,drowningoutRafe'sdenials.Icouldn'tlisten.Iwaswhiskedaway,thedoorslammed.

Itwaswar.

ButRafewastellingthetruth.Allthoseyearsago--heneverplottedtoassassinateme.Hewasn'taweapon.

Hewasapawn.

Imeethiseyesnow,andremorsecrushesmychest.IbelievedeverythingIwastold.Hebetrayedme.Triedtomurderme.Ourentirefriendshipwasalie.Butthelieransomuchdeeper.

KingErembourcackles,clappinghishands. "Oh,yes,evennow."Hislaughterdiesaway,replacedbypureice. "It'salmosttoosimple."

"Youusedusastools,"Ispit. "Wewerechildren."

"Childhoodisnotaluxuryaffordedtoroyalty."Myfatherglaresatme,andoh--howmanytimeshaveIheardthatbefore?

---