Page 102 of Consort's Dragon
So was Griff.
It didn’t help that the next day Avera announced, “We need to leave immediately for Velunda.”The capital of Daerva.
The queen was going to take back her throne, and foolish or not, Griff would be joining her.
Chapter23
Avera hadno clear plan or idea as to how to deal with either Benoit or Zhos, just an instinct that told her to head to Velunda, and quickly.
Gustav tried to talk her out of it and when she wouldn’t be swayed, snapped, “If you won’t change your foolish mind, then I’m coming with you.”
He would too.He’d give his life for her, and in vain.Despite all his bravery and willingness, Gustav couldn’t do a thing against Zhos.On the contrary, he could be a liability.She’d not forgotten what happened in the spire, how Zhos overtook his mind, turning him against her.Sure, she could smear him in her blood, but what if that wasn’t enough in the presence of Zhos?
As she struggled for a way to tell him he wasn’t needed, she received help from the oddest source.
Starlight joined the discussion stating, “You can’t come.”
“Why not?”Gustav snarled.
“Because this isn’t a fight that will be won with blades.”
“Seemed to work pretty good last night.So long as the queen marks me with blood again, I’ll be fine,” the old soldier retorted.
“You prevailed against mindless creations.We’re talking about an entity powerful beyond your ken.Would you risk the chance you’ll turn your blade against your queen?”Starlight argued.
“I won’t let her do this alone,” was his stubborn reply.
“While your devotion is commendable there is a larger issue,” Starlight said.“The truth is while I can carry Avera, and because of my recent growth, possibly Griffon, I am not yet large enough to carry a third.”
It took Gustav a moment to cipher what was being said.“Wait, when you say carry…”
Starlight rolled her eyes.“I will turn into a dragon and fly them.How else would we get there in time?”
“Fly.”Gustav sounded faint.
“It would take weeks to travel by land, not to mention the indignity of sitting on a horse.”Starlight wrinkled her nose.“They taste better than they smell.”
“No eating horses,” Avera quickly admonished.“Or people.”
Argent entered the room in time to offer a dramatic sigh.“Again, ruining all my pleasures in life.”
“You probably don’t want to be here for this conversation as we’re discussing who’s going to the capital.”Griff rubbed his jaw.“Flying would be quicker.But at the same time, we don’t want to get there too early.Isn’t the rift a few weeks away still?”
“Actually, it’s coming much sooner than that.”Starlight shook her head.
“How soon?”Avera asked.
“If I’m correct, then sometime tomorrow, which gives us very little time to get to the castle and put all the pieces in place.”
“What’s the point of even going since we don’t know how to vanquish Zhos?Or have you changed your mind about donating blood and flying it through the portal?”Griffon pointed out.
“I haven’t changed my mind.I offer you flight because I shall be going in that direction to aid my captive kin.Whether you join me or not is your choice.I’ll be leaving shortly,” Starlight stated.
“How do you know the guardians and the other dragons are in Velunda?”Avera asked.
“Because they’ve called out for help and for just a moment, I was able to look through Karoki’s eyes before she slammed that access shut.”Starlight’s lips turned down.“There was a time the blooded wouldn’t have dared to do that.”
“Wait, when you say you look through their eyes—” Griffon started to ask.
