Page 78 of Crown of Ashes and Awe

If we still had a dragon, we might have escaped then…

The monsters in the stands gasped when the black figures of three giant dragons passed overhead and circled the structure. As they spiraled lower, the DeNoy beasts fled their perch to make room for them. A small purple dragon trailed behind, but instead of perching on the rim, it continued to spiral down to the arena floor. It was as large as Skullcrusher had been, but a dwarf compared to its traveling companions.

Its rider was a woman. Behind her sat another woman and a lean man with gray hair who wore a full suit of gray leather armor. He dismounted first, then lent a hand to the woman as she made her way to the ground. As soon as the couple stepped free, the purple beast lunged into the air and joined the black dragons on the rim.

Still unable to straighten completely, Ciro’s pained steps took him around the end of the barrier and into the center of the floor to greet the newcomers. He reached for the woman’s hand, but when she pulled it away, he knelt instead.

“I was not expecting you, Prophetess.”

My gasp was awkwardly loud in the quiet amphitheater, and I seemed to be the only one surprised. Could this be Moire?

Her rich dark hair was piled high on her head, pinned in place by glittering things that had fared relatively well in the wind of dragonflight. Curls poured down her back and over her shoulder and blended with the fur collar of her coat. Her skin was flawless, her black eyes were both kind and clever. Beneath a dainty, pointed nose, her lips were pink perfection.

“Not expecting me?” She leaned down to hiss at the back of Ciro’s head. “You’re a fool to think I wouldn’t know! And you will pay for the lives you took to keep your secret.” She pulled herself upright again and spoke loud enough for all to hear. “How dare you play your twisted games with one of the royal family!”

All eyes turned to me, including Ciro’s. His surprise made him forget himself and he stood. “It is merely a costume?—”

“Not her,” the woman said. “Him!” She pointed at Griffon who, in spite of still consoling his woman, managed a relieved smile.

Ciro shook his head. “He’s a seraph. From Earth.”

“Yes,” she said. “And my husband’s son.”

The gray-haired man followed her pointing finger and strode directly to the wall in front of us. With his long legs, he hopped smoothly over the top and squatted in front of the couple, noting the wounds all over Griffon’s chest. “My son. Are you all right?”

Now I was confused. Griffon’s father was married to Moire? But in Hestian lore, her husband was exiled forever. So I had no idea who this man was. Surely, Griffon would have told us if Moire was his mother. But then again, Griffon’s only concern was Lennon and getting her and Kivi home. He’d never spoken about himself.

“Yes, father. I will manage. Though Kivi is dead.”

“No! Not Kivi!” As he stood, the man pulled Lennon from under Griffon’s arm and into his own embrace. “Oh, my girl. My poor girl. What a terrible price you’ve had to pay for our sakes.” After a long minute, he let go of her and took a step back. “Let’s get you out of this place.”

“We must take our friends as well,” Griffon said. “All those who survived.”

“We will take as many as you like.”

Hope finally penetrated the cloud around my brain. “It’s over?”

Griffon’s father reached down and patted my cheek. “Yes, child. It’s over.”

I looked past him to search for Tearloch. The guards in blue and black who had stood over him and Nogel were now on their knees awaiting their fate, being watched over by a few of the king’s guard in black and gold. Nogel grinned and wept while two other dragon riders pounded him on the shoulders. And Tearloch…had his arms wrapped around the woman Ciro had called Prophetess.

“Who is she?” I asked aloud.

Griffon’s father answered. “My wife, Moire.”

“And how does she know Tearloch?”

Sweetie nudged my shoulder. “Easy, love. We’ve worked for her for a few years now. I’m certain he’s merely showing his appreciation.”

“Let’s hope so,” the older man said, then chuckled and gave me a wink.

I was stuck on Sweetie’s words. “You mean you all know Moire. Why didn’t you tell me? You knew I wanted to find her.”

“Yes, we knew. And we came along to make sure you did.”

Tearloch stepped back from the woman, bowed his head, then looked for me. My heart held its breath while I savored each step he took in my direction. Then he vaulted the wall and reached for me. I wept shamelessly when he pulled me into his arms. My head still throbbed, but the joy of the moment dulled the pain.

People slowly moved away. Breath after breath, I regained my composure. And beat after beat, our hearts fell into the same rhythm, bumping against what little bone and flesh separated them as we pressed against each other.

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