Page 96 of Crown of Ashes and Awe

“Asper! What are you waiting for? Climb on. They’re coming. We have to go!”

I tried to hide my distrust when I faced him. “I’ve tried to tell these men that we’re going to need a bigger dragon. I won’t leave my family behind.”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry, sweetie, but we can’t take them with us now. Not right now. But we can send for them when it’s safe.”

“Why not?”

“Because we have to move fast. We’ll have the master dragons after us soon. We’ll have to be agile, be able to maneuver.”

“Then we should escape into the city?—”

“No!” He caught himself and pasted a patient smile on his face while he tried to pull me aside. Trouble was, Tearloch came with me. “Let me explain,” he said. “With your royal blood, we can start a new but valid regime! The king is dying. Everyone knows it. And if we allow Moire to choose his successor, we’ll never be out from under her thumb. But if you come with me now, we’ll be free of all that. Free to turn Hestia into whatever we dream for it.”

Tearloch smirked. “And I suppose you expect to be her King Consort?”

“She can make that choice when she’s ready.”

I beamed. “I’m ready now.”

Viggo’s fingers dug into my arm. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re fresh out of the canyon, Asper. You don’t know how the world works.”

“Oh, but I do.”

We were distracted by the rush of fifty soldiers flooding onto the launch patio. They surrounded us, threatening my friends with the points of various weapons, all wearing the uniforms of the king’s guard.

Traitors. Like Viggo.

“I’m sorry, my love, I’m afraid I must insist.”

“Fine,” I said, as Tearloch was forced back to join the others against the wall. “But you should know that he and I are heartbound.”

Tearloch frowned, but I winked at him and he stopped resisting and moved where he was told.

Viggo smirked. “You’re telling me he’s going to be a problem, and that we should kill him now?”

“No. I’m telling you if you separate us, I won’t have much reason to live.”

He chuckled. “That’s all right. I’m sure I can find the proper motivation for you.” He leaned close and sniffed at my hair. “I have missed you. Now get on the dragon.”

“All right. But first, are you sure you want to be up there with me?” As we neared the dragon, I pointed to the sky beyond the ledge.

“Why not?”

“Oh. You haven’t heard about Old Grim?”

“The dragon who died mid-flight? Yes. Your friend Nogel told me. In fact he’s been very helpful.” He pointed to the row of captives at the back of the room. Nogel stood among them.

He looked more angry than frightened this time. “I’m sorry, Princess! I didn’t know!”

I turned to Viggo with a knowing smile. “But were you told about Skullcrusher?”

My old neighbor paled. “Yes. I can’t wait to hear how you did that.”

“With Old Grim, I was just experimenting, but I perfected it with Ciro’s dragon.”

“Perfected what?”

“I’ll show you.” I reached out for the dragon, as if I were starting to climb. But I put my foot back on the ground and concentrated. The poor thing slumped to the ground and complained with a pitiful bellow. I took some of its energy but not all. Just enough to frighten Viggo and his friends. “Wouldn’t you hate to have this happen while we’re flying to…where was it you intend to take me?”

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