Page 218 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
Chapter 94
KALLIE
While the capitalcontinued to smolder days after the battle, the famed impenetrable Frenzian castle remained standing. Although its stone walls were intact, the front yard was a wasteland, the battle’s destruction evident.
The chains that had been used to restrain Graeson sat in an ominous heap beside the castle steps, the metal glowing from the nearby flames. They had tried to burn them at Graeson’s request, but the metal wouldn’t melt.
Although when Graeson mentioned to Terin, Kallie, and a few others that his father confirmed there were other demi-gods out there, an unspoken exchange passed between them. If there were other dragons out there, who knew if they would all be friendly?
With no other option but to put them back in the dungeon, the chains would stay there for now.
After the smoke had settled, they abandoned the camp outside the capital. When they traversed through the capital before reaching the castle, Kallie could practically see the to-do list in Rian’s head growing longer with every step and every destroyed building they passed. Rian nearly combusted when hefound the castle steps destroyed. Kallie had intended to leave Graeson’s name out of it, but Graeson had other plans, happily admitting to the deed just to piss off Rian. As if the king wasn’t already enraged enough after seeing his kingdom nearly razed.
Even now, Rian couldn’t help but tally off the items on his ever-growing list: resources that needed to be allocated from other kingdoms, buildings that needed to be rebuilt, interrogating the guards who had fought on Sebastian’s side, questioning his mother who had been locked in the castle. He hadn’t stopped debating which item should take priority since the battle had ended.
"Perhaps we should save the to-do list for another day?" Laurince suggested, sitting on the bench beside Rian.
Rian’s hand fell from his hair and landed on the table with a smack. "If we do not discuss what should be a priority, then we will never?—"
Laurince patted him on the back, the force of the smack jerking Rian forward. Rian’s mug slipped from his hand and crashed on the ground, shattering into pieces.
"Great! Let’s add new dishes to the list as well while we’re at it." Rian groaned and pushed himself off the bench. He knelt on the ground and started picking up the broken pieces.
Further down, Ellie leaned forward from her seat, her hair falling over her shoulder. "You know, now that I think of it, I think you’re missing something else from that list."
Rian glanced up, a horrified expression widening his eyes. "What else did I forget?"
"A statue."
"Another? Of whom?" he asked, aghast.
"You," Ellie stated with a wicked smirk.
Waving his hand dismissively, Rian returned to his task, plucking the ceramic pieces from the grass. "I don’t need another statue of myself."
Amusement wrinkled the corners of Ellie’s eyes. "But how else will we remember you on your knees? It’s a good look, don’t you think?"
Broken shards fell from Rian’s hands as his mouth parted. Kallie couldn’t tell if he was horrified or embarrassed.
Ellie clapped her hands. "Yes! Just like that! I think it would look lovely as an adornment in the new gardens." She looked around the table. "Don’t you all agree?"
As an argument spurred to life between the pair, Kallie rose to her feet and strolled over to the pyre. Her gaze trailed up it, watching the smoke and embers whip around the night sky. With no river nearby for a proper send-off, a pyre had been built in the front yard of the castle. Its flames bounced off the stone walls and lit the faces of those gathered.
There was much to do, but for one night, everyone put those tasks to the side to celebrate their victory and honor the fallen. Those who lost friends and family threw in any belongings they had left to give. A favored clothing item, a piece of armor, a favorite flower.
Kallie looked out toward the table, taking in the group of people who sat around it.
Ellie barked out a laugh, her head tipping toward the night sky, her cheeks glowing in the fire’s light. Rian spun on his heel and stormed away, his fists curled in frustration.
Myra sat beside Laurince, her head resting against his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her and tucked her closer to his side, rubbing warmth into her arm. His wings were spread out behind him as if to shield her from the breeze that beat at their backs.
Across from them, Sylvia and Moris sat, passing a pint of ale back and forth. They held it out to Terin, but he shook his head and returned his attention to the bundle in his arms. Smiling, Terin tucked the blanket tighter around the newborn.
Kallie couldn’t help but smile. There was so much loss, pain, and death around them. Yet this small group of people with the new tiny addition was living proof of the light that would come soon.
Someone nudged her in the side, and Kallie already knew who it was before he spoke.
"You know you’re allowed to hold her."
