Page 57 of The Flame King's Captive

Dusan immediately steps in front of me and brandishes his halberd. I put my hand on his arm. “It’s all right. She’s a friend.”

I step around my guards and feel them follow me as Odanna reaches my side. She asks in her throaty voice, “Isavelle, are you all right? I’ve been so worried about you.”

I assure her that I’m fine and introduce her to my bodyguards. “Fiala and Dusan of the wingrunners. Wingrunners ride the wyverns, which are the smaller flying creatures that we’ve seen in the sky.”

Odanna flinches at the sight of their weapons, but a moment later she forces a smile and greets the guards. Fiala watches Odanna with a frown, but that could just be her usual expression.

She turns to me, her expression wretched. “I’m so sorry, Isavelle. I froze when you were attacked, and then I ran away and left you when I heard the dragon coming. I’m so sorry I abandoned you.”

“I promise you don’t have to feel bad about that,” I assure her. “There’s nothing you could have done about the Brethren, and Scourge terrifies me as well. I wouldn’t blame you if you never got used to dragons being around. Scourge killed two people right in front of us.”

The memory of the man being eaten away by dragonfire makes me shudder. What a horrible way to go.

Odanna rubs her hands against her arms as if she’s cold, and hesitates before she adds, “It’s terrifying seeing the dragons up close.” For a moment, she searches the skies for wings, and I wonder if that wasn’t the first time she’s come close to a furious dragon.

“What happened here during the invasion?” I ask.

Odanna describes a sky that seemed to be filled with dragons. People screaming and panicking in the streets. Children crying. Men brandishing axes and pitchforks as if they would do them any good against dragons.

“I hid in the stables, holding a hammer, wondering if I would be burned to death, trying to gather the courage to fight. Thankfully, no one needed to because when the Maledinni soldiers entered the city, they made it clear they had no interest in hurting us.”

As Odanna evokes the smoky, terror-filled day, I can’t help but picture my own village and wonder what happened there. If dragons flew overhead making Waylen sob in terror. If Anise grabbed a gardening implement, bravely resolving to fight the dragons herself if she had to. Wherever they are now, I know that Anise will be protecting our little brother. A lump rises in my throat as I remember her huge, scared eyes when the Brethren came for a village girl. The way she gripped my wrist and refused to let go at first, insisting I hide with her. Maybe she knew something that I wouldn’t admit even to myself, that I was going to hide poorly so I would be the one taken. Maybe she knew because it’s something she would have done herself to protect Waylen.

Odanna must realize that I’m thinking about my family as she says, “I’ve been asking around in a few taverns about your family and hometown. I wish I had some news for you, but all anyone wanted to talk about was you and the Flame King.”

I smile at her, my heart lightening. “Thank you for trying. I appreciate it more than you can know.”

“Speaking of you and the Flame King…” The young woman trails off and bites her lip. I think she’s trying to be a good friend and stifle her curiosity.

“Go on. Ask me what’s on your mind.”

“The word around the city is that you don’t want to marry him, but why not? He’s so handsome, and he’s the king. If he wants to marry you, you’ll be Queen of Maledin and live in luxury for the rest of your life.”

“All the Flame King wants is for me to fall at his feet, but I’m not in a falling mood.” I picture going down on my knees before him and kissing his fingertips while gazing up at him with a flirtatious expression. Soon my mind is wandering down heated little pathways where I feel him cup my face with his large hand. He gazes at me adoringly. Lets me suck his fingers while he tells me how beautiful I am.

Zabriel would love all that.

I don’t want that, though. Absolutely not.

Odanna nods sadly. “I can imagine that wouldn’t be possible for you, and that’s all right. What I wouldn’t give to…” She trails off and sighs. “I was in love once.”

“Oh? What happened?”

“He didn’t love me back.” Odanna puts her arm through mine and walks with me down the street. We arrive at some stables, and I guess that this is where Odanna works because she starts introducing me to the horses. A brown and white mare snuffles affectionately at my hand. Fiala and Dusan are standing quietly a few feet away.

“I’m sorry to hear that you had your heart broken,” I say.

“He tried. He really did, but I think that just made it worse in the end. I knew what his kisses felt like. What his protection meant to me. But never his love.” Her face scrunches at the memory like she’s about to cry. “Sometimes I can’t breathe when I remember just how long ago it was. Isn’t that funny?”

Odanna forces a smile and a husky laugh, but there’s nothing funny about it.

She strokes the black horse’s nose, a faraway expression in her eyes. “If the Flame King loves you, really loves you, then you’re blessed to have the love of a man like him.”

I gaze at the young, dark-haired woman before me and sense so much sadness radiating from her. I don’t think she’s had an easy life.

I hug Odanna and promise to come back and see her as soon as I can. “It means more to me than I can say that you were asking after my family. I’m getting closer, I can feel it.”

“Good luck, and I’ll keep trying.” She gives me a hopeful smile and a wave as we head off.

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