Page 3 of Court of Fury
We land in the training area, and the princes’ dragons land beside me. Above us, the other dragon riders continue to circle, likely searching for any sign of the Hollowborn. Ebron lifts his wing to assist me off of his back, and I climb down, then rush out of the training yard. I need to go straight to the king to deliver the Hollowborn’s message.
“Harper!” I hear Prince Gareth shout my name from behind me.
I ignore him, knowing this is important.
“Harper! Stop!” he shouts again, this time closer behind me, but I’m on a mission.
A hand closes around my wrist and spins me back. Prince Gareth is breathing hard. His shoulder-length black hair is wind-swept around his face. His deep blue eyes are filled with confusion and anger. The anger is expected. The confusion is new.
“What the hell is going on?”
I don’t want to explain this to him. I don’t feel like he’s owed this information after the way he’s treated me, but I also know this irritatingly stubborn man. If I don’t tell him something, he’s not going to let me go.
“I need to speak to the king.”
“The king? Why?” I hear Prince Lucien ask, as he and Prince Alaric come up behind Prince Gareth.
The brothers are looking at me with equal intensity. Prince Lucien’s long blond hair is almost comically messy compared to how sleek he usually keeps it, and his green eyes are guarded, yet focused on me. Prince Alaric has his large shoulders drawn back, and his brown eyes are curious, willing perhaps to give me a little bit of a benefit of a doubt.
I sigh. “I have a message from the Hollowborn.”
“The Hollowborn?” Prince Gareth asks, his expression shocked.
Realizing that he still has his hand on me, I yank my arm from his grip. “Yes, and if you don’t mind, I’m going to deliver it.”
Spinning on my heel, I march through the academy building, out to the courtyard, and into the castle that’s connected to the academy grounds. There’s a scrape of boots as the princes fall into step behind me. As I approach, the guards’ gazes slide past me, ignoring me as they nod respectfully to the men at my back. I get the feeling I wouldn’t be passing without the three shadowing me. I start down one hall, but Prince Alaric says, “Other way. He’s likely in his study.”
Adjusting directions, I try to look confident as I continue on, but I truly don’t know which way to go from here. I was proud that I even made it this far. The academy grounds are pretty confusing just by themselves.
“To the right,” Prince Lucien murmurs, and there’s a knowing tone to his voice.
I turn to the right.
Suddenly, Prince Gareth is in front of me, leading the way, which I’m irrationally irritated by. These men have some kind of obsession with me following them like the “good little woman” I am. Except, in this situation, it finally makes sense that I would follow their lead. Much to my annoyance.
Prince Gareth finally reaches a door, and to my surprise, he holds it open for me. I shoot him a wary look and hurry inside, the three men filing in after me. Sure enough, King Vaelor Stormvale is behind a large desk with several frantic-looking men standing behind him. In a chair near the fire sits an older-looking man with white hair sticking up in all directions, a thin white beard, and a big white mustache. He’s wearing pale blue and gold robes, our national colors. They’re meant to inspire trust, but all they inspire in me is wariness.
“Why aren’t you in the skies? I was told Hollowborn were spotted above Elarwyn,” the king asks, an accusation in his voice.
“They came and went just as quickly,” Prince Gareth reports, sounding more official than I’ve ever heard him before. “One of them took Harper. She says they gave her some kind of message for you.”
All eyes are suddenly on me.
A little of the edge leaves the king’s voice. “Harper, do you have a message for me?”
“Yes… but should we discuss it in private?”
The king motions for the frantic-looking men to leave, and they do, right away, but then he says, “Elder Thorne’s expertise as my advisor is invaluable to me, so he will stay at my side.”
The older man gives a little bow, but I try not to look in his direction, even though I can feel his gaze on me. This whole thing is stressful enough.
I try not to look as intimidated as I feel. “To understand the message, I need to explain a little bit. I was knocked from my saddle, and a Hollowborn caught me–”
“Then why aren’t you dead?” Prince Lucien asks, sounding shocked.
“All those soulless monsters do is kill,” Prince Gareth mutters, and everyone in the room nods in silent agreement.
My thoughts slide around as I try to ignore the fact that everyone is waiting for my answer. “He didn’t seem interested in killing me.”
