Page 13 of Song of the Dragon Rider
Shit. I wouldn’t know. But from my short interaction with Prince Julian, he didn’t seem one for pillow talk. “Not much,” I replied with a casual smirk. “Our relationship didn’t consist of much talking.”
Beside me, Damien tensed and a low growl escaped him, clearly displeased by my insinuation. But it was too late to take it back now.
Thorne laughed, a rich sound that echoed slightly in the dimly lit room. “Don't get jealous, brother,” he teased Damien. “At least Lady Arya is truthful. She could have lied to you since you're exiled to your island and don’t know much of what happens in Dragon Valley.”
“I have ways of finding things out,” Damien retorted, his tone icy and sharp as a knife blade. “Even from Dragon Valley.”
Thorne raised an eyebrow, intrigued but choosing not to press further. He turned back to me with a serious expression. “Well, Lady Arya, right now there are some problems in court. Someone, we don’t know who, is paying off ministers to make poor decisions in court. All we know is that the money source is coming from the vampires.”
“From the underground fights,” I murmured, a sense of dread settling over me. “Damn. Are you serious?”
He nodded gravely. “These decisions affect the emperor, but he doesn’t see it because he trusts his ministers unconditionally. I’ve brought it up to him on multiple occasions, but he doesn’t believe me. If I keep pushing, he’s threatened to strip my title as crown prince.”
“So cutting off the money supply is vital,” I concluded, then swiveled to Damien. “Which is whatyouplan to do.” He noddedin confirmation. “You think you can smoke out the person behind the curtain like that?” I asked skeptically.
“It’s worth a try,” Damien replied, though his voice was uncertain.
I shook my head, a trace of cynicism in my tone. “Cutting off the funds is a good start, but I don’t believe the mastermind will magically reveal themselves. I can almost guarantee this isn’t their only way of making coin. A good villain always has plans A, B, and C prepared.”
The room was filled with the subtle scent of aged wood, candle wax, and a faint hint of incense , adding a layer of mystique to the conversation and reminding us of the world that lay beyond these walls—a world rife with deceit and hidden dangers.
“What do you suggest?” Thorne pressed, his voice echoing in the opulently decorated private room.
“I suggest moving forward with Damien’s plan of eliminating the underground fighting ring,” I proposed, the seriousness of the situation making my voice firm.
“Uncle Bai and I planned to burn down the estate and the ring,” Damien explained, leaning forward in the lounger, which creaked softly under his weight. “That’s where the noblemen meet to watch the fights.”
“Good.” Thorne nodded, his face illuminated by soft candlelight that reflected a thoughtful expression. “And the coin?”
“It should be at the estate,” Damien replied.
“We should steal it,” I interjected. “It’ll be proof for the emperor once this all blows over.”
Both Damien and Thorne looked at me, their eyes widening in realization. “You’re right,” Thorne agreed, his tone decisive. “I can handle securing the coin. I know some warlocks and witcheswho can get in and out quickly, as long as you tell me the location.”
“That works, but we’ll need to do it before this Saturday, which is the next fight,” Damien said, his gaze sharp and calculating.
“That can be arranged,” Thorne assured, his voice echoing in the high-ceilinged room. “Now, Lady Arya, how do you propose finding this mastermind?”
I paused and considered the little I knew of Elarian court politics. “First, let me ask you this: What do you believe his goals are in manipulating the court and emperor?” I raised an eyebrow.
“We believe he wants to start a rebellion, hence why he’s working with the vampires,” Thorne stated matter-of-factly, the confidence in his voice mingling with the faint rustle of his cloak.
“So this person must be a dragon,” I stated pointedly, scrutinizing their reactions.
Damien and Thorne turned to me in surprise. “What? No!” Thorne exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief. “Impossible.”
“How come?” I pressed, keen to understand his certainty.
“It’s the fae. It has to be!” he firmly insisted. “They’re the only ones who would want to rebel.”
“But they’re sequestered in Faelight Forest,” I countered, tilting my head thoughtfully. “That whole forest is surrounded by iron, and they can’t get out. How could they possibly be planning a rebellion?” I couldn’t admit that my family hadn’t been providing enough iron to keep the fae at bay, nor could I admit that I’d freed Klaus, but hey, it still wasn’t enough of a reason to accuse them.
“Someone could still enter Faelight Forest,” Damien interjected, giving me a knowing look. I had ventured into the forest myself.
“Yes, but who would go in there and broker a deal with the fae, who are essentially powerless, in a way that would benefit them?” I pondered aloud, watching their expressions. “It doesn’t make sense. At least not yet.” I mean, sure. I sort of brokered a deal with the fae, but I wasn’t about to admit that, either.
While we couldn’t completely rule out the fae, my brief interactions with Klaus suggested they were more concerned with survival than conquest.
