Page 95 of Crown of Ashes and Awe

“And?”

He surrendered. “And then you showed us your connection with the heartstone.”

“Lots of people can?—”

“No.” Minkin came to me and touched my arm so I would feel her sincerity. “No, they can’t.”

I sighed. “Only thegevri?”

She nodded.

Tearloch took my hand and spun me toward him, then cupped my cheek with his hand. “And Asper, if you ever again question that we are heartbound, you and I will have words.” He pressed his forehead to mine, looked into my eyes, then winked.

He had a way to make everything else insignificant. If we had each other, if we could stay together, what else mattered? And now I understood then why we were fleeing—there was a very good chance someone would try to separate us again. Probably Moire, and maybe for good.

Raised voices headed our way and we set off running. Again, I wished Demius was alive. If I truly was Asimi, I had new questions that only he could answer. Why had he stolen me? Was it the sin of putting a child away that forced him to act? Or was I just another way to hurt Moire along with stealing the books.

Unworthy…

And what had that note really meant?

45

SHADES OF SILVER

The Palace of Ristat sat on a hill, a pale citadel that rose high above the rest of the city. On the back side, the next level down was the drake house for the king’s dragon riders. And the level beneath that provided the caves for housing those massive black dragons that protected Hestia and kept watch for blue dragons.

On the other side of that shelf of caves was a canyon that separated all the officious space from the south side of the city, accessible by a single bridge. When we paused to choose the best path, Tearloch pointed to that bridge. “If we are separated, we meet on the other side!”

Feet pounded close behind us. Tearloch and Sweetie turned to fight, but it was Lears and Poole, rushing to join us.

Sweetie shouted. “Did you see Griffon?”

Lears shook his head. “He’s with the king.”

Sweetie would have said more, but Tearloch was already on the run again, dragging me behind him. He had to step carefully down a sharp incline that ended in the yard of the drake house, and when we reached the bottom, one of theArd Draoiheld open a small, man-sized door, beckoning us to him.

Zelan had helped us, had gotten word to the palace. And though he’d paid with his life, he had saved us. So when Tearloch looked at me for an opinion, I nodded and told him why.

“Lennon,” Tearloch called. “Can you ride any dragon?”

“I don’t know. But I’m willing to try!”

We funneled past the druid into the drake house. It smelled only slightly better than the one in Sunbasin, but it was just as empty.

Another druid led us through the building to the open side where a small dragon waited, a short string of saddles already perched on its back.

I shook my head. “We need a bigger dragon.”

Two druids to either side of the beast held out their hands in a calming gesture. One of them bowed to me. “We have a rider for you, princess. We need only wait a few moments. He won’t be far behind.”

“And just how did you know I’d be coming?”

He shrugged. “We are always watching. Always prepared. We haveawaitedyour return since Demius took you. We’ve beenexpectingyou since the blue dragon was first seen. As it was prophesied.”

Prophecy couldn’t explain this dragon being saddled and ready to go. And I repeated, “We will need another dragon. I won’t leave without my family.”

He bowed again. “The dragon rider will explain.” His full sleeve lifted, indicating someone behind me. Before I even looked, I knew it would be Viggo. And Demius’ warning had been fresh in my mind since he’d found me in the gardens that afternoon.

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