Page 104 of Kingdoms of Shadow and Ash

'It is not that way in my kingdom. I would have no control over that which is yours, and you would not control that which is mine. In my lands, marriage is a partnership of equals … couples make choices together.' Fyia smiled, and the delight in her eyes made Cal's heart thud faster. 'But what if two men, or two women marry in your lands?'

Fyia's expression became shuttered. 'They can't. One of the many rules I intend to change.'

Cal's father had always said the Five Kingdoms were as backward as they were advanced, and now he understood what he'd meant.

Fyia stepped away. 'You are the most tolerable prospect so far, I will admit. Not only are you handsome …' Cal smirked, 'but an alliance with your nation makes sense for both of us. But …' she paused, taking care over her words, 'I've been against the idea of marriage for so long … have only seen what it means in my kingdoms … I need time to digest the idea.'

Cal resisted the urge to pull her back to him, to reassure and claim her. He would respect her wish, even if doing so hurt his heart.

Fyia moved away from Cal, not trusting herself to be near him. She sat on the bed and studied him … his relaxed demeanor, his new hair, his deep green eyes. She could never hope for a better match, so why was she hesitant? What was she so afraid of?Venir and his cronies, said a voice in her mind. For she had not yet changed the marriage laws in her kingdoms, and didn't know if it would be wise, on top of all the other changes she'd forced through.

Maybe the Spider had been right. Maybe she should have taken things more slowly … should have played the damned political game. For in her kingdoms, cities burned, food was scarce, and the Emperor had seized a quarter of the Kingdom of Sea Serpents.

If she'd been less rash, perhaps she would have avoided two of those three problems. But then, how many women were now in the guilds, or attending the university who could not before? How many honest traders could sell their goods in the markets who'd been kept out or extorted? Were those gains not worth the sacrifice?

Cal sat in a plush armchair, drawing her attention back to him, her insides clenching as he openly appraised her. 'You told me your lands have suffered,' said Fyia. 'What did you mean?'

Cal held perfectly still for a beat, then exhaled. 'We haven't always known about the dragon scales … in fact, they are a fairly recent find. The devouts of the Order of the Dragon hid them, considering them sacred relics that no one could touch, let alone trade. Only the most senior members of the Order knew of their existence, and they believed the temple would collapse if the scales were removed.'

'Wow,' said Fyia.

Cal half laughed. 'They believed the spirit of the last dragon would return and melt the whole place to the ground.'

Fyia shook her head. 'Crazy.' It was amazing what people could be convinced of, especially when higher powers were involved.

'You don't believe in the Gods?' said Cal.

Fyia frowned. 'I believe in magic. Maybe there were those in the past who had powers to eclipse anything we have today … but the Temple of the Dragon is still standing, despite your trading scales with the Fae'ch.'

Cal nodded. 'It is.'

'Who discovered them?'

'The Queen Mother,' Cal said darkly.

'How?'

Cal chuckled. 'She was a member of the Order of the Dragon. They may not have romantic partners, but my father caught her eye—and she his—during the annual pilgrimage. She was beautiful and mysterious, and she told my father she would show him a secret that would change the fortunes of our people, if he agreed to marry her.'

Fyia raised her eyebrows. 'You can't fault her ambition.'

Cal looked at the carpet. 'She had many attributes that made her an asset to my kingdom, but she had an ego to match. It was like she always had something to prove, despite her position. She was responsible for a great deal of good, but …'

'People are never wholly one thing or another,' Fyia said gently.

Cal nodded. 'Before she showed my father the scales, our people lived hand to mouth. They raided other lands, and only ate what they could hunt, steal, or grow. Until recently, we could grow crops along our southern border, but now we can't even do that; it's too cold all year round. When the scales run out, we will have little choice but to abandon our lands, or turn to raiding once more.'

'I know a Queen who wouldn't like that very much,' said Fyia, with a look of mock affront.

Cal smiled. 'When that Queen marries me, my people will be her people also.'

When. Fyia's chest went tight. 'If only the King of the Black Hoods had the same certainty about finding the dragons, for then his people could grow crops of their own once more.'

'Would you chase me if I raided your lands?' Cal asked.

Fyia couldn't help but laugh. 'I couldn’t let a foreign King take such liberties.'

'You'd never catch me … I've had a lot of practice, you know.'

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