Page 54 of Song of the Dragon Rider
I’d forgotten all about him, he was so quiet. Looking at him nestled in her arms made me grit my teeth and fight to hold in a growl. I reminded myself that he looked at her as a sister, even though they weren’t really siblings.
“We need to be more cautious,” I said, my voice low and even. “If that song is about us, it could bring unnecessary attention that we don’t need. Someone must have seen us last night.”
She frowned and shifted Jacob to a more comfortable position. “I get it, Damien. But what are we supposed to do? Go around asking every bard in Elaria to please not sing about us?”
“The first thing we need to do is find out who wrote it,” I stated, my mind already racing through possible ways to track down the origins of the song. “If we can stop them from spreading it further, we might contain the situation.”
Cat nodded, though the skepticism was clear in her eyes. “And how do you propose we do that? It’s not like the author is going to come forward and admit to writing a song that got someone killed.”
“We have our ways,” I offered cryptically. “Uncle Bai has contacts in the lower districts, including bards and storytellers. We’ll start there. And then I have my connection in The Gilded Serpent.”
Turning her attention out the window of the carriage, Cat pulled the curtain aside and watched the trees pass by in a blur. “And what about the emperor? If your father suspects the song is about you…”
“We’ll deal with my fatherifandwhenwe need to,” I interrupted sharply. My tone was colder than I intended, a defense mechanism I couldn’t always control. “Right now, we focus on the immediate threat.”
Cat nodded slowly, then turned back to look at me. “Okay, what do you need me to do?”
“Just stay safe,” I said, concern for her seeping through my firm exterior. “I can handle the inquiries.”
“Because that’s worked out so well in the past,” she retorted, her voice laced with sarcasm.
I clenched my jaw and decided to let her comment slide. Arguing wouldn’t help, and deep down, I knew her barbed words were born of frustration and fear, not malice.
The carriage creaked and jostled over the uneven road, the moonlight intermittently illuminating the tense faces inside. Jacob, groggy and disoriented from pain but with his military instincts still sharp, shifted uncomfortably in Cat’s arms. “Where are we?” His voice was hoarse, his gaze darting around as he tried to piece together his surroundings.
“We’re heading back home,” Cat reassured him, her grip tightening around him protectively.
Jacob’s eyes narrowed as they focused on me across the dim interior. “And who is he?” Suspicion was evident in his tone.
“He’s... a friend who helped out tonight.” Cat speared me with a glance that screamed to tread carefully.
I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. “I was nearby when things at the palace escalated. Just lending a hand to ensure you get home safely.”
“A lending hand?” he scoffed. “I highly doubt that. My sister doesn’t have casual male friends. Who are youreally?”
Cat’s eyes widened as she looked between us. I found no reason to lie anymore. “I’m Prince Damien.”
Jacob’s eyes narrowed on me. “You’re breaking the rules established by your father! You shouldn’t be on the mainland, if you’re really His Highness.”
I smirked. “That is true. But when I heard Arya would be at the palace tonight, I had a bad feeling and decided to see if she was okay. And I’m glad I did, seeing how you fared.”
Jacob snorted and straightened, shaking out of Cat’s hold and sitting up on his own. “All due respect, but our family affairs have nothing to do with you, Your Highness. The emperor has made it painfully clear that we are to have no ties with you whatsoever.”
I nodded. “That is true, but unfortunately, I can’t cut ties with the Ryders that easily. I hope you can understand.”
Jacob peered over at Cat accusingly and grimaced as if the motion hurt. He turned back to me and scrutinized my face, clearly unsatisfied but too weak to press further. “What exactly happened at the palace?” His memory tried to claw back the recent events, each fragment laced with pain.
“You were punished by Julian,” Cat stated bluntly, her tone mixing irritation with a touch of her usual sarcasm. “He had his servant slap you... repeatedly. It was unjust and grossly public.”
Jacob’s jaw clenched, the memory flaring sharply in his mind. “I knowthat, Arya!” he spat, the recollection igniting anger despite his weakened state. “He made a spectacle to humiliate me. But I would like to knowwhy.”
Cat cleared her throat, looking first at me and then Jacob. “I, uh… used to have a… relationship with Prince Julian,” she admitted awkwardly.
Jacob’s eyes widened. “Pardon? Since when?”
Cat didn’t know the answer to that, since it happened before she came here. So now she would have to lie.
“It wasn’t long,” she answered vaguely. “But when I ended things, Prince Julian was angry. During the luncheon our family was invited to a couple of weeks ago… he attempted to force himself on me.” She whispered the last part with a grimace.
