Page 141 of The Shadow Path
“Your father is a sea god!”
“I have done nothing.” And yet despite the panic below, despite the confusion of the dragons, the dark-haired fae did not look surprised. If anything, he looked slightly amused. “He’s a sea monster, Duncan. Did you think he was tame?”
“He’s supposed to protect the city,” Duncan growled. “If the Great Serpent is abandoning London, what does that mean for you and your allies?”
Dru shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Is this a game to you?” Duncan was shouting. “Because there are people I love following you into battle. And I’m half tempted to throw you over the side of this coracle right now.”
I do not know either.Cadell’s voice was soft.Perhaps the surly human is correct. Perhaps you should return to the Brightlands, Nêrys.
And leave you here to fight without me?
This is not your home,Cadell said.He is correct. This is not your battle.
“I’m staying.” Carys looked at Duncan. Then at Dru. “I’m staying.” She felt a surge of defiance in her breast. “Because let’s be honest, I’m going to battle with a dragon.” She leaned toward Dru. “A fuckingdragon. Your brother may have magic and power and maybe even a serpent longer than four school buses, but he does not havedragons.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
Harold, newly crowned king of Anglia, stood on Lud’s Hill, wearing his fur-trimmed coronation robes and a simple gold crown. His long face was drawn and pale, and the gold-rimmed spectacles he often hid during public addresses were not hidden that day.
He stood in front of the gathered citizens of London as they waited on the riverbank. Carys, Duncan, and Laura watched from the hill where they’d observed Harold’s coronation only two weeks before.
To Carys, it seemed like it was months had passed, not weeks.
Diarmuid mac Lir, dark prince of the fae and a frightening specter in black robes, stood beside Harold. On his head was a strange, twisted crown of blood-red coral, and his face was marked by deep blue sigils.
Beside the fae prince, Prince Lachlan of Alba stood in full, shining armor, his long hair tied back and his blue-and-white flag flying.
Dragons circled overhead, clutching war coracles loaded with Cymric soldiers waiting for battle on Saris Plain.
Along the sides of Lud’s Hill and up and down the river, lines of red-coated soldiers stood in formation while massive barges waited in the river to take them upstream, where Dru would open a fae gate that would take them to Saris Plain.
“People of London.” Harold’s voice was amplified by a mage standing next to him, holding a long staff. “Two weeks ago, I stood before you to claim my title as your king. Today I stand before you—my allies at my side—to claim the title of your protector.”
“He’s not going to mention the Great Serpent,” Duncan muttered.
“What can he say?” Laura asked. “Sorry the giant, terrifying supernatural snake that used to guard our city left? I’m sure it’s all cool though?”
“I know you have fear,” Harold continued. “I know you doubt that your families will be safe. But we know who we are, and we know who we fight for.”
A few in the crowd let out a muffled cheer, but an ominous quiet hung over most of the gathered humans and magical creatures of London.
The residents of London stretched out for miles along the riverbank. Some flags flew, but most of the faces who watched the new king were gaunt and worried.
Food had become scarce as crops rotted in the fields. Animals were dying, and pastures that had been bursting with grazing sheep only weeks before were nearly empty.
The only thing that had been feeding the city was the plentiful catch of fish from the river, and now with the Great Serpent gone, even that bounty seemed to be in danger.
“We live in a city where all are welcome,” Harold said in a louder voice. “Humans of Anglia. Fae and trolls. Dragons, unicorns, and wolves alike.” His voice grew louder still. “Visitorsfrom distant shores are as welcome in London as the smallest sprite that lives on the river.”
Carys felt the mood in the crowd shift. In a city full of suspicion and fear, the king was smart to remind Londoners what their community was made of.
“The high fae of Temris stole our children because they wanted us to fear them and hate each other.”
A low murmur began to run through the crowd around Carys.
“Theywantedto divide us,” Harold continued, “but we will not be divided. We will not turn on our neighbors.”
