Page 94 of The Dragonrider and the Void
“A Night Court ember, far from her shadow,” observed the second guard. “And bringing a mortal to our threshold without invitation.” They turned their attention to Lark, examining her with unsettling intensity. “This one bears strange energies. Dragon-touched, yet something more.”
“We seek an audience with your Queen,” Lark said, meeting their gaze steadily. “The matter concerns both our realms.”
The guards exchanged glances. “The Summer Throne does not receive uninvited guests,” the first stated firmly.
Lark felt a surge of frustration. She thought of Venrick fighting corruption, of White Eye tearing apart the Vermillion Keep to reach her, of the Void Drinker preparing to take over the cosmos. There was too much at stake for protocol.
Drawing on her connection to both Nix and her distant bond with White Eye, Lark channeled a small demonstration of her dual power. The energy manifested between her palms, swirling with both the fiery essence of Nix and the deeper draconic magic of White Eye, perfectly balanced despite their opposing natures.
The guards stepped back, golden spears raised defensively.
“I am no ordinary visitor,” Lark said, her voice steady. “I bring a message of warning that the Void Drinker has escaped.” Lark saw a visible shock ripple through both guards. “I seek theknowledge needed to bind it once more before the Flashover thins the realms enough for it to use the Realmstone and tear gaps in the fabric of all our worlds. If your Queen values your world, she will want to hear what I have to say.”
The guards conferred in whispers, glancing repeatedly at the fae and draconic energy still swirling between Lark’s hands.
Finally, the first guard nodded. “We will escort you to the Waiting Gardens. The Queen’s seneschal will be informed of your presence and your unusual request.”
Lark allowed the energy to dissipate.
“Do not mistake this for a welcome,” the second guard warned. “Until the Queen decides otherwise, you remain uninvited guests. Step carefully, mortal. The Court has rules you cannot begin to comprehend, and the consequences for breaking them are severe.”
As they were led toward the floating structures, Nix shifted nearer to Lark.
“That was bold,” she murmured. “And dangerous.”
“We don’t have time for anything less,” Lark replied quietly. “The Flashover is coming, and with it, the Void Drinker’s chance to break through permanently. I’ll risk whatever I must to prevent that.”
Nix’s flame brightened with what might have been pride. “Just remember, Lark—in the fae courts, words have power and promises bind. Speak carefully, accept nothing freely offered, and above all, never lie. They’ll know if you do.”
“No lies,” Lark agreed, “but not all truths need to be volunteered.”
They approached a crystal bridge that arched gracefully upward toward the nearest floating tower. As Lark stepped onto it, the material shifted beneath her feet, becoming solid yet somewhat yielding, like walking on packed sand. The view from the bridge was dizzying. Below them stretched the crystal forestthey’d traversed. From this height, Lark could see that it formed an intricate pattern. It made a massive spiral extending outward from the Court’s central towers.
The Waiting Gardens proved aptly named. After being escorted to a floating platform lush with plants Lark had never seen before—flowers that sang quiet melodies when brushed against, vines that reached curiously toward visitors before retreating—they were left alone without any indication of how long they might wait.
Lark paced restlessly, her thoughts continually returning to Sataran and what might be happening there. Despite Nix’s assurances about the different flow of time, she couldn’t shake the urgent feeling that every moment here was precious.
“Tell me more about this Vaerdium alloy,” she said, stopping near a fountain where liquid silver flowed upward.
Nix settled onto a bench formed from twisted vines. “It’s a material that was created during the original Concordat, when dragons and fae first bound the Void Drinker. Neither purely of one realm nor the other, but a perfect fusion.”
“Like brismil?”
“It’s similar, but different in composition. Brismil is dragon scale transformed through the god’s realm. Vaerdium is a true alloy, combining dragon scale with metals from each of the fae courts.”
Lark considered this. “And these metals have magical properties?”
“Everything here has magical properties,” Nix replied with a gesture that encompassed their surroundings. “But yes, each court possesses a unique metallic essence that embodies their domain of power. When combined with dragon scale, they create channels capable of directing the combined magics needed for the binding ritual.”
“Which is why we need all four courts to cooperate,” Lark concluded.
“Precisely. The original binding used contributions from all courts, working in harmony with the twelve original dragons.” Nix’s flame dimmed slightly. “Such cooperation seems almost unimaginable now.”
Before Lark could ask why, the air before them shimmered. A tall figure materialized, dressed in flowing robes of gold and amber as if they contained captured sunlight. His features were sharp but beautiful, with eyes the color of honey and hair like spun gold that floated around his head as if underwater.
“I am Solarian, seneschal to Her Radiance, Queen Aurelia of the Summer Court,” he announced, his voice resonating like perfectly struck crystal. “I understand you claim knowledge of the Void Drinker and seek our Queen’s audience.”
Lark stepped forward. “I don’t just claim knowledge. I’ve encountered it directly. The Void Drinker has escaped its prison beneath Sataran and now prepares to use the coming Flashover to permanently breach the barriers between realms.”
