Page 22 of Flameborne: Fury
I frowned harder.‘What do you need to conserve it for?’
‘If I knew, I wouldn’t need to take all chances, just in case, would I?’His tone was short. Irritated. Kgosi could be pompous, occasionally judgmental, andoftenneedling. But he was rarely impatient. And even more rarely sincerelygrumpy.
‘Are you sure you’re feeling well?’I asked him carefully.
‘Yes, Donavyn. But if you’re going to keep asking the same questions repeatedly, perhaps you could visit the hatchlings. They seem to enjoy that.’
I snorted, but my heart wasn’t in it.‘I’ll let you rest, old man,’I sent warmly.‘I might even nap with you. I’m waiting for Bren and Akhane to return. I have her orders for the third trial.’
I was still crossing the stable towards him, forcing a smile, when he shot to his feet with such a lurch, I expected the floor to tremble. Instinctively, I leaped backwards, giving him space as his wings shot out and fluttered agitatedly.
“Whoa! What’s—”
‘Bren received her orders already, Donavyn. What do you mean,youhave them?’
My head jerked back and I cursed. “Did Ronen bring them after all? I asked him to let me—”
‘No Donavyn,focus.The girls left before dawn. The messenger came—the boy who frightened her. I assumed that’s what you’d meant when you said she’d be challenged, though I’ll admit, it seemed a rather mean-spirited choice—’
“What?! No, Kgosi…No!”My pulse slammed in my ears and I rushed to him. “I have her orders, Keg. No one else has ever had them. Not—”
‘Then something has happened. Because she received orders this morning, and Akhane carried her before dawn. If they weren’t the orders for her trial, what were they?’
Panic roared to life in my chest, because I didn’t know.
I didn’t have a fucking clue.
Ronen gaped.
He and the squad had rushed to us the moment Kgosi passed the news to their dragons. They entered the stable on the run, forcing me to restart the story over and over until my body quivered with the need to move, todo.Something.Anything.
Kgosi paced the stable, a low, ominous growl rolling out of his chest, so deep it made the floor under my feet tremble and the rafters sprinkle dust.
“Somebody find that fucker, Faren!” I barked. “Tell him the General demands his presenceimmediately!”
“Yes, Sir!” Gil tore out of the stable and down the aisle. Ronen eyed me. I ignored him.
“While we’re waiting for him, have your dragons reach out. Meet minds with every dragon within range, find out who was flying at dawn, see if any of them saw the pair or knows in which direction they left—”
‘The dragons are mine to command, Donavyn.’
‘Then command, please. We need to know!’
‘Your impatience only serves to make you rash. Stop. Think. Plan.’
I raked a hand through my hair, then twisted it up and tied it at the back of my head when I realized it was still down. We might need to fly.
Ronen organized the men to spread out and question the servants and stableboys, while I stood there, feeling useless and helpless andso fucking angry.
Those little shits had done it again. Sabotaged her. I couldn’t believe they’d had the gall. Especially after last time. But why wouldn’t they? The King had let them off. Of course they wouldn’t think they were at risk. I ground my teeth, muttering curses under my breath.
“I want Lorr here, too,” I said darkly.
Ronen looked at Oros, who nodded once, then trotted off. There was grim satisfaction in that. The man was huge. AnyFuryknight would be wary to see him coming. Let alone a selfish little prick with—
Kgosi groaned and tossed his head. My agitation was making his worse.
I made myself breathe and pray.
