Page 57 of Veiled Flames
He drops his hand from my face, leaving only the heat from his fingers. “What do you know of my grandfather? And how?”
I shrug, fighting to regain my composure. “I’ve heard talk, that’s all. Talk of how he treats his servants—and even his wives—no better than animals.”
My heart gallops. I shouldn’t have mentioned the wives, providing yet another clue to my identity.
“Oh!” Tynan chuckles cruelly. “You’re very wrong about that.” He rolls his eyes. “Grandpapa treats his animalsfarbetter than he’s ever treated his wives.”
Still chuckling, he backs away from me, keeping his eyes on my face.
“Mark my words, Rosshall, I will remember where else I have met you.”
Twenty-One
Rosomon
Other candidates push past me as they clamber out of the wagon, everyone cheering and crying out with surprise.
Calling this place a camp is beyond misleading. The wagons’ portals were covered for the final ten or so leagues before our arrival, and I now think that was done for maximum impact.
We’ve stopped in a mountain valley, the air is fresh and clear, and the courtyard we’ve entered isn’t only far larger and finer than the one in my father’s castle, it’s decorated with more flowers than I’ve ever seen in one place. The scent is heavenly, far sweeter and stronger than Achotia’s fields in springtime, and so beautiful Othrix himself would be impressed.
In fact, this place seems to have been built for a god, not for a bunch of rag-tag, travel weary rider candidates.
“Have you ever seen anything like this?” Samyull asks. Turning toward him, I shake my head.
“This way,” a female voice calls out. “Give the horses room to pull the wagons.”
We all drift toward the voice, and I tug the strap of my rucksack higher on my shoulder, unable to stop staring as I take it all in. Behind us, wagon wheels clatter over stones as the horses pull the carts back through the gates we came through.
“Come,” says the same female voice.
A woman, about the same age as Nurse, if I had to guess, beckons us to step through a large archway at the end of the courtyard. Her silver hair is piled atop a smiling face with a bright complexion and darkly pinked cheeks. Her dress is simple in design but sewn from what looks like very fine fabric, red with flowers embroidered in burgundy and pink, accented with sparkling gold threads.
As we pass the woman, she welcomes each of us in a friendly voice. The space we enter is yet another courtyard, also open to the skies. And this one is even more awe inspiring than the first. A portico lines all four sides of the ground level square, its stone arches supporting two rows of galleries above. Everywhere I look there are more flowers. Garlands adorn every column and balustrade, and ring the basin of a stone fountain standing in the center of the space.
“Gather forward,” says a strong male voice, and I duck around the fountain. At the end of the courtyard stands a platform with three men atop, and one of them is Saxon.
My heart skips when I see him. As if sensing it, his eyes flick toward me but quickly shift away.
The three men are dressed in dark leathers. Heavy, fur-trimmed capes with hoods, rest over their shoulders. Saxon’s garmentsare much like the ones he wore when we first met, but even finer. Together, the three are an impressive display of masculinity and strength, but it’s Saxon alone who commands my attention, far more handsome than the other two.
I force my eyes off him. It only hurts to think about what I can no longer have.
Hearing voices, I glance up. The galleries are lined with young men, leaning over the balustrades and looking down. Rider candidates I presume. Perhaps some are already dragon riders, like Tynan.
One of them meets my eyes, and he sneers, shaking his head.
Clearly Prince Tynan isn’t the only one who thinks I’m too small.
Saxon steps to the front of the platform, and I can no longer pretend to ignore him.
“Welcome rider candidates,” he says, in his deep booming voice. “What do you think of camp so far?” He grins.
Cheers ring out through the crowd.
“During your time here, you will face many perils and endure many challenges, both mental and physical. The least we can do is provide you with a comfortable place to sleep, and good food for your bellies.”
Cheers ring out again.
