Page 39 of Realm of Wind and Vines
And suddenly everything is silent.
Quickly releasing my grip on my magic, I turn to look at our attackers. All of them are on the floor. Some managed to get to their knees while others are still on their backs. But all of them have a lethal shard of ice positioned against their throat.
Draven yanks out the knife that was still stuck in the shoulder plate of his armor.
Fear suddenly washes through the room.
After giving Isera a look, Draven tosses the knife on the floor. The shards of ice vanish as well a moment later.
“We are not your enemies!” Draven growls at the now thoroughly stunned crowd.
They all just stare back at him, apparently shocked that he just let them go instead of taking revenge.
“The Icehearts controlled me with dragon steel for two hundred years,” he continues. “And they’re doing the same to Rin Tanaka and god knows how many others.” His golden eyes blaze with fire as he sweeps his gaze over them. “I hate them more than you do. We need each other to break free.”
Only stunned silence answers him. It’s so loud that it almost echoes between the smooth wooden walls. Dancing candlelight flickers over the surprised faces all around us.
Then the door opens.
And Diana strides in.
“Smart choice,” she says, her shrewd eyes on Draven.
Turning to face her, he narrows his eyes at her with an incredibly impressive look of suspicion on his face. “This was a test?”
It takes great effort not to smirk.As if he didn’t already know that.
He really is a great actor.
A sharp smile plays over Diana’s lips as she shrugs.
“And?” Draven arches an eyebrow at her. “Did I pass?”
Everyone glances between the two of them while they continue watching each other. Then Diana lets out a breath of amusement and flashes him a smile. Sweeping her arm out, she motions towards a table closer to the back of the tavern.
“Have a seat.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
When Draven told us that Diana was suspicious of outsiders, I didn’t expect it to be to this ridiculous degree. Every time we try to convince her to help us, she brings up a new reason for why we can’t trust each other. It’s almost evening by the time Draven has dismantled all of her arguments.
“Fine,” she presses out at last. Blowing out a weary sigh, she waves her hand in defeat. “When the time comes, my clan and I will help you in whatever way we can. But not before you have more people on your side.”
“Good.” Draven gives her a nod in acknowledgement. “And we will have more people. It’s just a matter of time.”
She opens her mouth as if to argue again, but then just closes it and heaves another deep sigh. Leaning back in her seat, she rakes her fingers through her wavy brown hair.
The patrons who are eating and drinking in this tavern have come and gone several times since we first stepped across the threshold. I’m not sure how they structure their society here, but I’m assuming that most people can’t just sit around and drink all day.
This last group of people to visit the tavern is the most cheerful of the bunch so far. Laughter rings out from most corners, and they have even pushed aside the two long tables in the middle to make space to dance. From chairs by the bar, two people play a pair of instruments that I’ve never seen before in my life. Several couples dance a very passionate-looking dance to the dramatic notes.
“You left a damn mess behind after you betrayed the Icehearts,” Diana says. Dropping her hands from her hair, she sits forward again and instead wraps her hands around her mug. “A damn fucking mess.”
“I know,” Draven replies, his eyes serious. “I can imagine.”
“No, I don’t think you can. Your betrayal sent shockwaves across the whole continent. And then you just… disappeared.” Her green eyes slide to Orion. “I never could’ve imagined that you had gone to the Unseelie Court, of all places.”
The way she says it sounds almost like an insult, so before Orion can retort with something cutting, Draven smoothly changes the topic. “Who did they name as the new Commander of the Dread Legion?”
