Page 29 of Crown of Ashes and Awe

Asper stopped and turned, then stepped to the side so she could see past her entourage. Her face brightened for a heartbeat before she sobered.

The tall guard followed her gaze. “My lady?”

She took a deep breath, nodded once, and waved to the gatekeeper. “Allow my servants through, good sir. I couldn’t possibly leave them behind at a time like this.”

Her guards were displeased. The gatekeepers made no move to obey her. After a long-drawn moment, she returned to the gate. “Good sir, these people saved my life when I might have burned in a fire. I owe them more than just transportation to Ristat.”

Both men stubbornly lifted their chins. Tearloch nudged Minkin, but her assistance was unnecessary. Asper reached through the gate and rested her hand on one man’s forearm and his shoulders soon fell. He nodded to his companion, then motioned to those on the wall. The gates opened a second time and Tearloch hurried his friends through. Once inside, he glanced back to find the one man still staring at the spot Asper had touched.

By the Fates, who is she?

They entered the building through a small door and surprised a lone dragon rider—marked by his red and black cloak. After a quick word with the head of Asper’s guard, he led them deeper into the drakehouse with archways as large as the outer gates. It was hard to imagine there were dragons too large to fit through them, but it was true. The capital city still had a few of the oldest and largest that had ever lived.

The party was led to a rotund man who sat in a cage the size of a wagon turned on its end. Tearloch couldn’t imagine it would be much of a deterrence against an angry or hungry dragon. But perhaps he was being punished.

The officious man in question sat at a narrow desk, scribbling on a wide ledger. He looked up, then tried and failed to hide his surprise at the sight of Asper in her regal state. Awkwardly, he got to his feet, offered a shallow bow, then seated himself again. He couldn’t be bothered to look her in the eye.

“Royalty in Sunbasin? I was certainly unaware.” He spoke with only one side of his mouth and his tone proved he didn’t believe it in the least.

Tearloch moved closer so he could hear the interaction. Though he couldn’t see Asper’s face, he could hear the smile in her voice.

“Good sir,” she said. “In times like these, I see no more need for discretion.”

The dragon rider cleared his throat. “Sir.Miss Edeeninsists that this lady and her entourage be taken to the palace in Ristat at once.”

The big man chuckled. “Miss Edeenhas business withher?”

The tall guard in black bent at the waist to peer into the cage. “Not your place to question, Farlton.”

Again, the big man’s eyes flew wide and beads of sweat squeezed onto his swollen forehead. “Didn’t…didn’t see you there, Morrow. Beg your pardon. No offense meant.” To the dragon rider, he barked. “Don’t just stand there! Take them back! Choose the fastest, most rested dragon!”

“But sir, the stables are empty tonight,” the rider said, “what with the patrols doubled and the…the deserters.”

“You have Old Grim?”

“Aye…aye, sir, but?—”

“He must suffice. Fly him yourself. Do not fail me, Nogel.” The big man leaned forward to look up through his cage at Morrow. “Give Miss Edeen my regards, sir.”

* * *

I thoughtI’d left them all behind—thought I’d left Tearloch behind. And now, there were so many emotions coming and going through my body, I couldn’t think clearly. Of course, on the outside, I looked like a calm and cool-headed princess.

I couldn’t imagine why I thought dragons would be magical. After all, they were beasts that functioned like any other, and for that reason, the drakehouse smelled to the moons. But as we were led through the cavernous, weakly lit building, I saw no sign of dragons or men to fly them. Had the desertions included beasts too, or just the people who were tasked with cleaning the place?

“The drakehouse is housing for the Guardian Riders,” Nogel explained as we passed under yet another tall archway and into the open, where we were greeted by a rush of cool, clean air. The back of the building was open to the elements, as if cut in half, or maybe destroyed by a dragon’s tantrum. “The dragons nest in there.” The dragon rider gestured to a vast black crack in the ground, blacker than the moonless night.

I watched closely, peering through the darkness, expecting a huge creature to emerge at any second. Then I remembered the dragons were gone, all but one. So I wandered to the edge to take a look and Dower suddenly appeared at my side. For a brief second, I worried he might want to give me a shove.

"Not too close, milady," he said, reaching out a hand as if he would catch me if I tried to jump.

I laughed. "I do not wish for death, sir."

“And you mustn’t call me sir. We must keep up appearances, yes?"

I dipped my chin. "For now."

He stepped back, inclined his head, and walked away with a slight smirk like he’d tricked me into giving away more than I’d intended. For some reason, I was still the enemy, though I had hoped his opinion had changed when we last parted. He obviously had worried I was a real princess and needed to alleviate that worry.

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