Page 50 of Consort's Dragon
“Soon.Most likely when we stop and camp for the night.I know they’ve been eager to meet you, too, but alas, they’ve been rather busy preparing for this day.”
“Preparing what?We toss in the eggs, and poof: dragons.”
“The guardians have long awaited this day.They want everything about this moment to be perfect.”
“And how do you know you can trust them?What if their guidance is bad?”
“Call it instinct.The guardians gave me a second chance.Have answered every question.Helped my country move past catastrophes.All they’ve done is good.So yes, I trust them.Should they approve of you, I imagine you will be given the same elixir as me.You could be young forever.”
Extend her life?She could understand the appeal of not fearing dying of old age, however… “Did you ever wonder how they did it?”
“Magic.”
“What kind of magic, though?One would think if it were simple, it would be widespread, but you’re the first I’ve heard ever managing to reverse aging.”
“I said it was possible, not that it was easy.I’m not sure of the exact method they use to create the serum, however, I do know it is taxing.”A soldier shouted from up ahead and Titus lifted a hand.“If you’ll excuse me.”He trotted off to get a report and Avera watched him.
He’d answered and didn’t.Said the right thing, and yet at times it felt as if he hid more than he told.
Should she marry him?If the dragons could get rid of Zhos—and scare Benoit from the throne—why would she?Rather than share her time between countries, she’d prefer ruling full-time at home and maybe returning to Verlora to verify if Griff truly had died.However, would refusing cause Titus to react poorly?Daerva couldn’t handle a full-scale war, not with the army he could muster and a fleet that could sail to her country’s shore.
On the plus side, he was handsome, intelligent, and well-loved by his people.If she’d never met Griff, she wouldn’t have noticed the lack of spark between them and probably accepted.
They rode all day, the pace steady but by no means harsh.They set up camp outside a town alongside a beautiful lake, a veritable oasis after the dusty travel.Avera gladly kneeled on its shores to splash her face and sluice the grime from her exposed flesh.Titus had offered to rent her a room in the town, but she chose to camp outside with the rest of them, her provided tent more luxurious than expected with an actual mattress and a chamber pot so she didn’t have to do her business outside.Prielli shared the space with her, content with her bedroll on the carpeted floor.
For dinner, she proceeded to Titus’ tent, where she found him sitting atop cushions.She joined him and they shared a cup of wine as they waited for his viziers to arrive.Finally, she’d get to meet the infamous witches.As they entered, Titus stood and held out his hand to help Avera rise.
“Queen Avera Voxspira of Daerva, may I introduce my viziers: Klothi, Kachezi, and Karoki.”As he spoke their names, they removed their veils, revealing women ranging in age from forties for Kachezi, late twenties for Karoki, and fresh-faced late teen for Klothi, the only one to not boldly meet Avera’s gaze.
Avera inclined her head.“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“And we are most honored to have you here with us on this momentous journey, Your Majesty,” Klothi stated.“It’s been a long time in the making.”She spoke like a woman much older than her appearance indicated.
“Titus says your sect has been waiting a long time for the return of dragons.”
“Since they were sacrificed.”
“I’m surprised your members didn’t know where the eggs were hidden.”
“We knew,” Kachezi murmured.“However, it was also prophesized that to bring back the dragons too soon would result in great catastrophe.And so we bided our time, waiting for the right moment.”
“Which Basil almost ruined by stealing them,” Avera noted.
“Basil did as he was supposed to,” Kachezi replied, and Avera’s eyes widened.
“Wait, you knew he would take the Dracova stones?”
“Yes.We told him to,” Karoki primly stated.
The revelation rocked Avera.“But why?”
“Because it was time for the dragons to return.”
“But by having them removed, you gave Zhos a way to escape!”Avera couldn’t help the accusation.
“As foretold,” Kachezi murmured.
“I don’t care about your supposed future-seeing, you intentionally set in motion the events that led to my mother’s death.That turned Verlora into a place of death.And now, on your word, we’re supposed to hatch four more dragons?”She turned to Titus.“How can you trust them?”
