Page 55 of Wrath of the Dragons
Ladislava is packed with people spilling out of taverns and congregating along the roads. Verendus was too, but the citizens who live in the inner city don’t idolize Cayden as the soldiers in Ladislava do. Cheering echoes off the buildings as Cayden slows the horse on which we both ride, and pints are raised in honor of the king and queen. Ale splashes onto the cobblestones and turns the fresh snow to slush as tankards slam into each other. They revere Cayden because unlike most kings in Ravaryn, he fights alongside them, and unlike all Ravaryn kings, he was one of them.
I tug my pendant along the chain, knowing Cayden will recognizethis as one of my anxious ticks. His temper has been stewing like an oncoming storm, and I intend on wielding it.
“What did they say about you?” The words are forced through his teeth. He’s probably thinking the vile things the lords said have begun to sink in, but they hate me because I have more power than them. Their insecurity is transparent, and they’re not worthy of influencing my emotions or self-perception.
“It was nothing, Cayden,” I sigh. “It means nothing to me.”
He releases his hold on my waist to tilt my chin toward him. “It means something to me.”Oh, I’m counting on it.I’d feel bad for manipulating him if it weren’t for our benefit. He’s smart enough to know what I’m doing, but his anger overpowers logical reasoning.
He turns toward Ryder when he realizes I won’t talk. “Tell me what they said.”
He’s forced to raise his voice, causing several curious soldiers to glance our way. I make sure to lean closer to him when they do. Playing the part of the wounded woman even if it couldn’t be further from the truth.
“Too much,” Ryder sneers, his face distorting in genuine disgust. “I will not repeat the things they said they’d do to her body. Elowen can tell you if she chooses, but I’m sure you can guess.”
The shudder that rattles my bones isn’t faked. Violence against women is so normalized among men that they can sit around a table and jest about it as if we’re worth less than waste on the streets. I’ll never understand how they can look into the faces of their mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, or ordinary strangers who deserve to live their lives unscathed by misogynistic malice and proclaim happiness in the face of female suffering.
I also can’t understand why some men are so threatened by strong women. When they can’t fathom female power, they display the vilest of intentions to deface her, to diminish her, while women are too often taught that our strength comes from what we survive at their hands. And I hate that. I despise that our power is linked to how theydefile us. Strength comes from so many places, but for women, it comes from within us.
We are not defined by what is done to us, and we are made of more than the abuse we suffer.
“They made several treasonous statements aside from those. One lord even revealed that they’re searching for any bastard sons of Eagor to support his claim to the throne.”
A soldier unabashedly staring up at us as we pass hears Ryder’s statement.
“They won’t touch you,” Cayden vows menacingly. “I’ll cut every finger off their damn hands if they so much as reach for you.”
The soldier’s lips turn down, and I watch as he heatedly speaks to others in his vicinity, pointing in our direction as we round the corner. All it takes is one drop to create a ripple throughout a pond. There’s little people love more than gossip, and news of the lords’ treason will spread throughout Ladislava like wildfire.
“Not that I disagree with your tactic, Elowen, but aren’t we trying to avoid a rebellion?” Ryder asks once we’re far enough from the commotion.
“We’re avoiding a rebellion against the crown,” I respond. “But if the army chooses to revolt against the lords for their treasonous statements, then Cayden and I can dust our hands of it until we step in to diffuse the situation.”
“They will be painted as the villains, and the crown can show power,” Finnian adds.
“Exactly.” And I highly doubt their heirs and wives will stand by traitors as they’re sentenced to die. “I sparked the fire, but I’ll also put it out when the time is right.”
Two guards push open the tall wrought iron gates of Veles Manor and we continue down the road. I feel more at peace just having crossed the property line. “I know why you waited to tell me,” Cayden says. “You needed the soldiers to see my anger, and you played it well, but I meant what I said.”
“I know,” I softly answer. I won’t be at the mercy of another man again, and they will beg for clemency before I’m done with them. “We’ll end them together.”
“That we will.”
All four of us bound up the front steps and through the main entrance, removing our cloaks and boots for the servants to hang in the closet. Someone rushing down the hall catches my attention, and I crane my neck just in time to see Saskia round the corner and latch her dark eyes on mine.
“I found something!” she exclaims while carrying a several-hundred-page book in her arms. “I think it can be achieved!”
“You do?” I meet her halfway, ignoring the mumbled confusion behind me.
“We can test the theory tonight if you’re up to it.”
“What are we doing now?” Finnian groans.
Saskia threads her hand through mine and leads me to the sitting room while the other three follow hot on our heels. Cayden takes the spot closest to me on the couch, Finnian and Ryder sink into the chairs across from us, but Saskia paces in front of the fire, her dark purple gown dragging behind her. “Elowen and I spoke to Asena earlier today to discuss Elowen’s potential ability to possess magic.”
“Oh, yes, let’s trust the woman who chants in a circle around a fire,” Ryder mutters.
Saskia glares at him but continues speaking, “I scoured through whatever stories I could find regarding magic in Thirwen, given the bonds they share with animal familiars. There are prominent families mentioned in there whose magic dates back for centuries, but when someone born into that family lacks abilities by the age of twelve, they perform ceremonies to awaken dormant magic.”
