Page 211 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
Despite Myra’s protests, they strolled out of the tent. Myra squinted at the sky and held up her hand to block the sun. Several hours had passed, and the sun was now setting, its golden rays blinding.
She scanned the camp and frowned.
Within a few hours, nightfall would soak the land. Yet the battle still persisted.
She returned her attention to the sky, sending a prayer to the gods. As she did, a streak of vibrant color filled the space beyond the trees, as if the sky was on fire.
"What was that?" she asked.
"Shit. This can’t be good," Moris said, jumping to his feet. Other soldiers followed suit, their attention fixed on the sky.
A dark shadow swirled above the foliage. Distorted by the foliage, its massive form plunged the camp into darkness.
"Is that a drakonis?" Myra asked, struggling to identify the creature.
"No," Moris said, snatching his sword from the ground.
"Then what was that?"
"A dragon."
"Did those bastards fuck with your head, too?" Sylvia asked, propping a hand on their hip. "Because I swore you just said thatthingwas a dragon."
"I did," Moris confirmed, shoving his sword back into its sheath. He stood and looked around at the confused faces staring back at him. His mouth formed a small O when he realized no one understood what he was saying.
Moris scratched the back of his head. "Right, none of you know. Dragons exist. In fact, Graeson is one."
"I’m sorry. He’swhat?" Myra asked, her jaw hanging open.
Moris exhaled a heavy groan. "Look, I don’t have the time to explain," he said, running backward. "Graeson can shift into a dragon. It’s how we got here before you all. But that’s not Graeson."
"What do you mean that’s not Graeson?" Myra shrieked.
"He’s too big!" Moris shouted over his shoulder before taking off.
Sylvia ran after him, shouting aimlessly at him. But Moris didn’t stop. His wings beat even faster as he wove through the trees and headed toward the capital.
Myra’s knees shook beneath her as Moris' words sank in.
Graeson was a dragon.
But if that wasn’t Graeson, who was it?
Chapter 90
GRAESON
In the secondsin which Domitius placed the mask around Kalisandre’s jaw, sealing her mouth shut, Graeson wished he could redo everything.
He regretted not listening to his instincts when he had heard the chains rattling.
He regretted not being strong enough to escape the chains.
But most of all, Graeson regretted leading them to Domitius and falling into his trap.
His gaze flew across the landscape, trying to find a way out. Trying to figure out how they could make it out alive. But all Graeson saw were the encroaching soldiers, their weapons drawn.
He looked at Kalisandre, the woman he cherished above all else. Graeson would have burned down the entire world for her. He would have set it all ablaze if it meant that the two of them could escape alive.
