Page 105 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
"Technically, he did attack Graeson," Ellie corrected.
"BeforeI realized it was him!" Moris exclaimed.
"We’re straying from the point, are we not?" Graeson asked. He leaned his elbows on his knees and massaged his temples with his fingers.
Without thinking, Kallie reached out and set her hand on his thigh. He released a heavy exhale that ran through his entire body.
Ellie threw up her hands and faced them. "Why can’t anything ever be simple when it comes to the two of you?"
Kallie and Graeson exchanged looks, but neither responded. They had no explanation or excuse to offer.
"It doesn’t help that all this one could tell me was that Domitius had amassed an entire army of flyboys." Ellie shoved her thumb in Moris' direction.
"Stop calling us that," Moris groaned.
"I will when you give me something worthwhile to work with!"
Moris rested his forehead against the tree trunk and sighed, exhausted. "If I knew more, I would tell you. Just because Domitius turned me into one of his pets doesn’t mean he trusted me with his plans or secrets. All I know is that he was in constant contact with the Frenzian king’s brother."
"Sebastian?" Kallie asked.
"Yes."
Kallie’s stomach twisted with nausea. Even now, she could feel the burn of Sebastian’s hand around her throat. She could feel the hatred spewing from him. That night, there was so much fear running through her veins.
Now, there was only rage.
As if sensing her anger, Graeson squeezed her hand.
"Domitius was constantly visiting Frenzia," Moris said. "That’s where the drakonises are being held. Something to do with cages for the dragons from way back when."
Graeson went rigid beside her, and Kallie swore she could see smoke billowing from his nose.
"That’s not going to happen to you," Kallie promised.
Graeson nodded, but the tension remained.
Ellie plopped down on the stump they had brought over earlier. "How long do you think it will take until Sebastian knows about Domitius’ fate?"
"Depends," Graeson said. "If there were survivors, who’s to say where they went—back to Ardentol to put it all behind them or to Frenzia to alert Sebastian?"
"Domitius didn’t trust many," Kallie said. "If he had trusted Sebastian to take care of the drakonises, he would be in close contact with him. Sebastian’s arrogant, but he’s not stupid. He will realize something is wrong when he doesn’t receive a letter or a visit."
Graeson rubbed a hand over his face.
"We need to return to Pontia," Graeson said.
Kallie straightened, the blood draining from her face.
Return to Pontia? Ever since she left Tetria, she had put any thought of returning behind her. Once they killed Domitius, returning should have been the obvious next step, but everything else had distracted her.
With her mind elsewhere, Kallie barely heard the rest of the words spilling from Graeson’s mouth.
Gather troops.
Army.
Plan.
