Page 23 of Lightningborn

Her father’s jaw tightened. “What do you think I have been doing, Gemillia?” he asked, not angrily, but Gem could see he wasn’t happy with her. “Do you think I have been doing nothing this entire time? There is no way to safely send ships into the Maelstrom to search for creatures that have been elusive and in hiding for centuries. And even if we managed to find them, there is no guarantee that they will be able, or even willing, to help us. We have had virtually no contact with the True Dragons since the Shattering of the World. We don’t know what they are like now, if they are still favorable to humankind, if they still retain their sentience, or if they have changed drastically over the centuries. We know virtually nothing about the Ancients, only that they have chosen to remain hidden and isolated within the Maelstrom, so it could be that they want nothing to do with us, either.

“As such, I must make the choices I know will yield results,” the king finished, “rather than chase myths and rumor in the blind hopes that they will be able to help us. So, while I am aware of the Ancients and True Dragons, I cannot waste resources pursuing them. I’m sorry, Gemillia. I know that is not what you wanted to hear, but you need to forget about the dragons. There is nothing I can do to find them.”

“Yes, Father,” Gem murmured, but her mind was already working. “I understand.”

He gave her a faintly suspicious look, as if he knew she might be planning something even now. But then a pair of guards appeared around the corner of the hallway, bowing deeply to the king. “TheRoyal Bastionhas landed, sire,” one said, referring to the king’s personal sky ship, an armored monstrosity that required three storm mages to move through the air. “We are ready to depart, on your orders.”

Gem glanced curiously at her father, who sighed. “The archmage and I must travel to Wyndhaven to speak with Duke Nox about the storm crystal crisis,” he said, referring to their closest neighboring island. “I might not return for a few days.” He put a hand on her head with a smile. “Stay out of trouble, Gemillia. That is an order from the king. I’m leaving Matron Edea in charge of your schedule until I return.”

“Yes, Father,” Gem said. “Have a safe trip. I will see you when you come back.”

He ruffled her hair in a rare show of affection, then turned and walked away with the guards. Gem waited until her father had turned the corner, listened until his footsteps had completely faded away, then hurried into her room.

Leaning back against the door, she took a deep breath. Her heart was pounding, but the path was clear now. Gem knew what she had to do. Somewhere, beyond the borders of the kingdom, were the True Dragons. The True Dragons had been around since before the Shattering. They were ancient and wise and, according to some stories, immortal. They had to know something about the failing storm crystals and how to fix them.

And if her father couldn’t send anyone to search for the True Dragons, then she would go herself. She had a name. She had the island where Sir Bartello was headed last. If she could find him, he might know where to find the Ancients. It was a long shot, but at the moment, it was the only lead she had.

She had to do this. She was the princess and future queen. This was her kingdom, her people, in danger. Her father was doing everything he could, but there were things that hecouldn’tdo as king. Gem wanted to help. She wanted to save her people. People like Lighthouse, and Sir Cassandra; she couldn’t bear the thought of them dying in the Maelstrom. This was something she could do that her father could not.

And if she did find a way to save the kingdom, maybe then her father would be so proud, he would finally start treating her like a daughter.

Quickly, she planned out what she would need for a long flight to the outer islands. A few extra sets of clothes, a little money, and some rations from the kitchen. Not much, only what would fit in Cloud’s saddlebags. She thought about taking an airship all the way to Cutthroat Wedge, but if people recognized her as the princess, there would be lots of questions, and it could get back to her father. Better that she go alone. It was a long way to the outer edges of the kingdom, but dragons had been bred to carry their riders over long distances. She knew Cloud was strong; he would be able to get her there easily.

If she didn’t get them lost.

She closed her bedroom door and was about to head to the kitchens to grab the rations for her journey when she heard a cough in the hall behind her. Turning, she jumped as Lighthouse stared down at her with wide blue eyes.

“Lighthouse! You scared me. What are you doing here?”

“The college announced that they were shutting down this morning.” Lighthouse gave her an accusatory look, as if she had been the cause of it. Or at least, that she had known and hadn’t told him. “They had us all pack our bags, and my father came and picked me up. He was furious. Do you know what’s going on?”

“Where’s your father now?”

“He came here to talk to the archmage, but both the king and the archmage have left the castle. Everyone at the college is scrambling around, and no one knows what’s happening. It’s pretty bad. Something is really wrong, Gem. Do you know what it is?”

Gem bit her lip. She didn’t want to lie to Lighthouse, but she couldn’t tell him the truth. She had promised her father she wouldn’t, but even more than that, she knew that Lighthouse would panic if he knew about the failing storm crystals. And then he would tell his father, who would tell the other nobles, and things would go from bad to worse. She did not want her father to come home to a rioting kingdom.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “Sorry, Lighthouse. I have no idea what’s going on, either.”

He narrowed his eyes, taking in her thick cloak and the pack slung over her shoulders, and her stomach clenched. He didn’t believe her. “Are you leaving?” he asked. “Where are you going?”

“Lighthouse, please.” She sidled around him, trying not to look at his face. “I can’t tell you.”

“You know something.” He followed her, trailing her down the hall. “What is it? What’s going on, Gem? Tell me. Or at least take me with you.”

“I can’t! I’m sorry, Lighthouse, but I have to go. Don’t follow me.” She gave him one last guilty look, then took off running down the hallway with her cloak flapping behind her.

It’s better this way. Lighthouse doesn’t have a dragon. He can’t come with me. And I certainly can’t tell him what’s going on.

Still, guilt gnawed at her as she made her way to the kitchens and then the dragon stables. She kept glancing behind her every few paces to make sure she wasn’t being followed, but Lighthouse had never been very athletic. It seemed he had given up chasing her in the hall.

For the first time, a prickle of fear went through her stomach. She was really doing this: taking her dragon and flying away from the capital, away from her father and her home and everything safe and familiar, to a pirate-infested island on the edge of the kingdom. Searching for what? A delusional old sky knight whomightknow the location of the legendary True Dragons. There would be no one to help. No guards to protect her. No one to tell her where she should go next. She would be doing this alone.

I’m doing this for Father. And for the kingdom. I can’t let being scared stop me.

Avoiding the stable hands and the few sky knights wandering the stables, she slipped into Cloud’s stall and quickly closed the gate behind her.

The white dragon blinked at her in the dimness, cocking his head. Obviously, he was surprised to see her again so soon after last night’s adventure. Gem stepped forward and hugged his neck, pressing her face into his cool scales. He gave a soft trill, and she took a deep breath to calm her roiling stomach.

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