Page 181 of A Court of Thralls and Thorns

Our dragons landed with heavy thuds that shook the earth beneath my boots. Kaelith shifted her weight as Hein dropped to the ground beside her, far too close for her liking. Her lips curled back in a warning snarl, low and guttural. Hein responded with a narrow-eyed glare and a low rumble in his chest, but he took a step away, curling his lip as if laughing.

Show-off,Kaelith grumbled.

I tried to hide my smile.You started it.

We placed the saddles on our dragons as our flight would be long. And I was the last to get all the buckles in place.

Zander mounted Hein in one fluid motion, no rope, no effort—just raw strength and practiced ease. I couldn’t help but envy how effortlessly he moved. He belonged in the sky, and he knew it.

I swung my leather rope over Kaelith’s neck and hoisted myself up. She didn’t wait for me to settle before her wings flared wide, and she shot skyward, wind whipping my hair back. The others had to scramble to get airborne in time to follow.

You’re showing off now,I scolded.

I am reminding them who leads,Kaelith corrected, her tone smug.

I tried not to laugh as we cut through the sky, wind stinging my cheeks. Hein kept a safe distance behind us, and I swore I saw his shadow dip just a little lower than Kaelith’s—like even he knew better than to push her right now.

That’s right,Kaelith hummed in satisfaction.Let him sulk.

I wasn’t sure if she was talking about Zander or Hein, but I felt free either way and embraced our journey. The Order wouldn’t know where I was, and that gave me some breathing room to figure out how to smooth things over with my father. Like it or not, the Order had intel I needed, and Cyran was the best way to get it.

The coastal village of Amdar stretched below us, a patchwork of weathered buildings and narrow dirt streets. The small port was tucked into the rocky coastline, with ships swaying lazily at their moorings. Most of the vessels were fishing boats, but a few larger ships sat farther out—likely traders waiting for high tide to dock.

The castle loomed in the distance, high on a bluff overlooking the village. Its stone walls were weathered by salt and wind, and though it bore the banners of Warriath’s nobility, everyone knew they rarely visited. The villagers relied more on themselves than on the absent lords who claimed to rule them.

We circled lower, Kaelith’s wings slicing through the air in powerful sweeps. The others stayed close, Hein a shadow at Kaelith’s flank.

When we landed in a clearing near the village’s edge, Zander gave a sharp whistle. “Take a short flight,” he instructed the dragons.

I frowned.That was rude,I told Kaelith.

It’s a recon mission,she answered.We’re scouting for threats while pretending we’re just stretching our wings.

Oh. Okay.I relaxed slightly.

Kaelith flexed her wings, tossing a sharp gust of air over the group before she took off with Hein and the others.

Stay out of trouble, Rider,she warned with a teasing growl before disappearing into the sky.

I had no intention of causing trouble, but it always seemed to find me.

The village magistrate met us at the dirt road that led into town. He was a thin man with sharp features, dressed in a long coat that had seen better days. He greeted us stiffly, glancing at Zander before his gaze locked on me, lingering on my white braided hair.

My pulse quickened. He knew exactly who I was.

“This way,” the magistrate said, voice clipped. He turned abruptly, motioning for us to follow.

He led us to a large warehouse near the docks. The moment we stepped inside, the cold, stale air struck me. The place was practically empty—just a few crates shoved into corners, some sacks of grain leaking their contents onto the floor.

“Who could have gotten away with so many supplies without anyone noticing?” Jax asked, his voice low.

The magistrate’s gaze slid back to me. “That’s the question, isn’t it?” His tone was cold.

Jax shifted closer to me, positioning himself slightly between us. “Could the Order pull this off?” he asked.

I nodded grimly. “Easily,” I said. “But why? They have stockpiles of food, and they take care of their own. Attacking the castle warehouse will force the nobles to lean on the village for more supplies. It’s the last thing they should want.”

The search around the warehouse had turned up nothing. No footprints, no traces of magic, no lingering scent of dragon fire. Whoever had raided this place knew what they were doing—and they’d covered their tracks well.