Page 53 of Song of the Dragon Rider
Iwaited at the border between Dragon Valley and the Northern District for hours. My legs ached and cramps tightened my calves, but I refused to leave until I saw her carriage.
Uncle Bai sent a message that Lady Arya would be at the palace for the emperor’s Nightwing banquet. I had hoped to see her before she departed with her brother, but unfortunately, she’d already left by the time I snuck into her room.
All night long, I’d had a bad feeling. A nagging concern I hadn’t been able to kick. And until I saw her return safely home, I wouldn’t be at peace.
Under the cover of night, the distinctive rumble of an approaching carriage echoed through the cool air, breaking the silence that had settled around the outskirts of Dragon Valley. It was dangerous for me to be so close to the palace, but this was a risk I had to take.
I tensed, my senses heightened as I peered into the darkness, waiting for any sign of Cat. The sound grew louder as the rhythmic clatter of horse hooves against the cobblestone road drew near.
As the carriage came into view, the soft glow of a lantern illuminated the Ryder family symbol—a plum blossom. This unmistakable emblem confirmed it was indeed the Ryder’s carriage. My heartbeat quickened as I prepared to intercept it.
Stepping into the road, I raised my hand, signaling for the driver to stop. The horses, startled by my sudden appearance, neighed loudly and reared before the driver, a seasoned old man known to me by sight, pulled hard on the reins. He didn’t recognize me with the hood over my head and the darkness surrounding me. The wooden carriage wheels screeched against the stone, grinding to a halt just a few feet from where I stood.
The scent of damp earth and the musky odor of horse sweat wafted to my nose as I hurriedly approached the carriage. Pulling aside the curtain with a swift motion, I was met by the sight of Cat, her features drawn tight with worry, clutching a barely conscious Jacob. The dim light from the carriage’s interior drew ragged shadows across their faces, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
I climbed inside, my voice heavy with concern. “What happened?”
Cat’s eyes, wide and shimmering with a mix of fear and resolve, met mine as she hastily relayed the events. “It’s a disaster, Damien. Julian attacked him at the banquet because of me. There was chaos... and then Klaus showed up. It’s all spiraled out of control!” she cried.
Jacob, pale and barely hanging on to consciousness, shifted weakly in her arms, a stark reminder of the severity of their plight.
“Klaus?” My frown deepened as I pieced together the implications. “Who is Klaus?”
Her eyes widened in shock as if she’d revealed something she wasn’t supposed to divulge, then she gulped. “My fae friend,”she said quickly, her voice barely above a whisper. “He appears whenever I’m in danger.”
My mind raced with the information, calculating our next move and ignoring that little tidbit of information.Klaus…Why does that name sound familiar?I shook my head and focused on the issue at hand. “We need to get Jacob to safety.”
Cat tapped the front of the carriage. “Go!” she commanded the driver.
The carriage rocked gently as we set off again, the sound of the horses’ hooves now a steady beat in the night. Inside, the close confines felt like a sanctuary from the chaos left behind at the palace.
As the landscape passed by in dappled shadows and moonlight, I reached out and squeezed Cat’s hand reassuringly. “We'll sort this out,” I promised, my voice steady despite the turmoil.
“Damien,” she grimaced, “that’s not even the worst of it.”
I frowned. “What else happened?”
She shook her head and sighed. “There’s a new song floating around Elaria. It’s called…Song of the Dragon Rider… and it’s about us.”
I furrowed my brows. “What? Are you sure?”
She nodded. “Yes. It’s obvious. The emperor killed the singer who sang the song tonight in front of everyone.”
While I wasn’t surprised by my father’s actions, I was alarmed that he let his emotions get the best of him in front of so many distinguished visitors. Nowthatwas unlike him. “Does he know it’s about us?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so… I mean, I don’t know. There aren’t a lot of people out there with a twin flame mark, Damien,” she deadpanned. “So, he could easily assume it’s about you, at least.”
My eyes widened. “The song mentions the twin flame mark?”
She nodded. “It was so specific, Damien. It’s like the person who wrote it knows you!”
“No, they merely know the legends. It’s said that when a Dragon Rider appears, they will be twin flames,” I said knowingly. “This is common knowledge.”
She snorted. “Obviously notthatcommon, if I didn’t know about it.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re not from here.”
“Shh,” she shushed me and motioned to Jacob in her arms.
