Page 93 of A Forgery of Fate

“I was a boy when I was first brought to Nanhira, and the anemones dislike being poked by curious dragon claws. They gave a few warning stings.” The corner of his mouth made the barest lift. “Her Majesty kindly sent this tea by way of consolation.”

“What did it taste like to you?”

“It was sweet. My predilection is for more bitter brews.”

“He has the taste buds of a dragon,” Queen Haidi commented. “Just like his father.”

His father, whom he never mentioned. “He brought you here?” I dared ask Elang.

There came a wrinkle in my husband’s charming facade. “Yes.”

“Elangui doesn’t like to speak of his parents,” Haidi murmured. “We’d do well to change the—”

“There is no need,” said Elang. “I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to tell Truyan what happened to my family; they are as much hers now as they are mine.”

The ends of Haidi’s hair swirled about her arms. She was observing us keenly. I only wished I knew what for.

“My mother was human,” Elang began, “a sorceress of considerable talent. She protected me, taught me, and raised me on land—until my father interceded. Against her wishes, he brought us both to Yonsar. He thought that I’d be safer in Ai’long under his care, and that he might convince my grandfather to let me live. He was wrong.

“My mother died protecting me from the Dragon King’s assassins. Soon after, my father brought me to Nanhira to seek sanctuary.”

“I came close to taking him in,” said Haidi. “Very close. But in the end, I refused.”

Hearing Elang recount his past so calmly and without feeling, I could venture a guess why. “Because he has no heart?”

“That was the reason I gave Lord Ta’ginan. But truthfully, I refused because your husband asked me to. He came to me, disguised as one of my folk, and declared:

“ ‘With due respect, Your Majesty, I cannot stay trapped in your realm. I am going to find my pearl, and when I do, I will become the greatest dragon Ai’long has ever seen. Greater, even, than the Dragon King.’ ”

I mustered a smile. I could envision this young Elang, full of pride and mettle—and desperately yearning to become a dragon. I wondered what had changed him.

“Grand words for a boy, no?” Haidi tickled one of the seaanemones that had opened by her side. “I see that his quest is still ongoing.”

“I’ve had setbacks,” Elang said.

“Yes, banishment and a curse, so I’ve heard. And now your castle is falling apart.” Haidi cocked her head. “To be frank, I used to think youwouldhave fared better staying in my realm.”

“But then, I wouldn’t have met Lady Saigas.”

“Indeed.” The queen lowered her cool gaze to me. “Tell me, Elangui, if she breaks your curse, will you choose to rule the Westerly Seas as a dragon, or will you become a human and live out your mortal days with your wife?”

“You make the choices sound so disparate,” Elang said.

“Don’t evade the question.”

“I will go wherever Truyan is.”

“But what if she is not accepted by the Oath of Ai’long? What if she doesn’t want to become immortal?”

“We have yet to cross that bridge. And when we do, I might have a better option.”

“Oh?”

His lips lifted an infuriating fraction, almost a smile. “I will persuade her to become a whale with me.”

“A whale?” I repeated, choking on my tea in surprise.

“They’re fascinating creatures,” he replied seriously. “They sing and play together, they grieve, they love.” Was it my imagination, or did he linger on that last word? “It would be nice to be a whale.”

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