Page 88 of The Dragoneers of Longbourn and Pemberley
Valeraine climbed the stairs onto the stage.
She would not let her dragoneering be erased. Better to fight for an egg than to let Kesley have it, rewarded for kissing her then throwing her to the side at the slightest chance of improving his own fame.
This was her win — her power — her truth. She would demand to be recognized.
Pemberley raised his fist to Valeraine. She answered it with a nod.
The master of ceremonies turned to her, an annoyed-yet-polite smile on his face. He was going to ask her off the stage, she saw the intention as he opened his mouth.
“I am the rider of Lelantos, from Longbourn house,” she proclaimed, loudly enough to be heard from the crowd. “This man is a fraud.”
The polite smile vanished from the official’s face. He turned his back to Valeraine, and asked Kesley, “You are...” he checked his ledger, “Mr. Yaeksley Sidton?”
“I am.” Kesley’s voice was confident. He didn’t look at Valeraine when he said it, as if she was of no consequence in this discussion.
“He didn’t ride the winning dragon,” Valeraine asserted. “I did.”
The master of ceremonies waved some men to the stage, gesturing to Valeraine. His meaning was plain: get her out of here.
Mr. Pemberley, still on the stage and holding his prize money, hobbled close to the race official, and said softly to him, “She speaks truth, sir. That man did not ride. I can swear to it.”
The race official looked relieved at this second opinion. As a man took Valeraine roughly by the upper arm and began tugging her off the stage, the official directed another man to escort Kesley as well.
He turned to the crowd and announced, “It seems there has been some irregularity with the registration and integrity of the dragon Lelantos, and so he is disqualified. All the previously announced winners move up one place.” He turned to Pemberley, and said, “Which means this gentleman is our winner!” He took Pemberley’s hand and brought it up to the air, to the cheering of the spectators.
Valeraine was released by her escort into the crowd.
Pemberley fumbled with storing the larger bundle of banknotes in his pockets so he could accept the egg being presented to him with both hands. It was a shiny black egg, with sparkling turquoise marbling. Utterly exquisite.
The egg Valeraine and Lelantos should have won, had deserved with excellent riding.
Pemberley stole her triumph. A single moment spent defending her was all he was willing to give.
Valeraine wished she had been hating him these past months, because it would make this moment much easier. Therewouldn’t be so much pain and disappointment. The egg which she had earned would be in the hands of an enemy, instead of a man who she had hoped…
Well. It was immaterial, now.
She had been cast aside so easily, and she had no future prospects. The gossips would be brewing their stories about her. The stain would spread from her to Longbourn, poisoning the whole house. There was no chance now of making a breeding deal, or a marriage — for her or her sisters. Longbourn would die with Lelantos, without dignity or any acclaim.
Valeraine had ruined herself and her house and the only thing she had accomplished was stopping Kesley from claiming her prize. Had it been worth it?
The Press were all excitedly taking notes and talking to their colleges. Several were still looking at her, including Uncle Haupter. He frowned, and his pencil stilled on his pad as they made eye contact. He gave her a little grimace, as if saying,“What a mess you’ve made.”
Valeraine had accomplished her goals — she had won the Royal derby! — and yet would have none of the rewards she desperately needed.
All she had now was the little fire inside her heart, which said she didn’t regret a thing. She had achieved the impossible, and even if no-one else would celebrate it, she could. She had stood up to Kesley, the betrayer, and done her best for Longbourn.
Now, her life would be a wreck. She was disgraced and thrown aside. But she would have Lelantos, and sleep sure in the knowledge that she had done everything she could. She had stood before all as a dragoneer, and wasn’t ashamed.
Whatever happened next, she would face it with a full heart.
Chapter fifty-eight
The Royal Derby
by our trusted correspondent, Scaleheart
You have most certainly heard the news that there was some irregularity with the winners of the Royal derby. Precisely how irregular it was is a matter of debate.
