Page 71 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury (House of Embers #1)

Another kid shook his head wildly. “No, they didn’t!”

“They did!

“It doesn’t matter how the great evil allied with the gryphons.” Kieran stepped forward. “What matters is you have a great enemy to fight. And to stand a chance, you all need to work together.”

The children’s eyes widened. When they faced him, their eyes practically had sparkles. It seemed not all of Elidad was immune to Kieran’s reputation .

The girl who’d spoken walked up to him. Her hands trembled at her sides from excitement. “Captain Kieran. You’re here!”

Kieran glanced back at me and then nodded, a soft smile on his lips. “I’m here to help you defeat the great evil. Unless... maybe I am the great evil.”

I watched in disbelief as Kieran joined in on the game.

He lazily waved his hand, and shadows curled around him.

Not one of the children looked afraid. If anything, they looked delighted he’d join them.

One of the boys was blushing so brightly, I was sure he’d faint.

The kids glanced at each other, their resolve hardening, and then they charged him.

It was such a stark contrast to the image Kieran presented to the public.

The mock ‘battle’ only lasted a handful of minutes.

Am I dreaming? I have to be dreaming. But even when I blinked, the image remained the same.

Kieran, after doing a half-ass job of dodging their blows, ‘fell’ when the girl smacked her wooden sword against his abdomen.

“You mighty soldiers have defeated me,” he said dramatically and closed his eyes. “However... I have an assistant. And she will place a curse on you. That is, unless you defeat her.”

I blinked in surprise when the children’s expectant eyes turned to me.

I hadn't expected them to want to play with me, and I sucked at playing pretend. I was too busy surviving and providing for Clara to indulge in childish games. I didn’t want to join in, but those pleading eyes wouldn’t go away and considering that Kieran joined them …

I raised my hands. “I, uh, curse you?”

My cheeks flooded with heat when Kieran snickered behind his hand. I scowled in his direction. “Kick rocks, a— jerk. And you’re dead. The dead don't get to speak.” He raised his hands and mimed sewing his mouth shut.

The kids giggled. One of them whispered, ‘ kick rocks’ in delight.

I turned back to the kids, and they focused back on the game.

The boy that had blushed earlier let out a battle cry and charged me, swiftly followed by the rest. Shoving down my lingering feelings of awkwardness, I stiffly ‘fought’ against them.

I barely lasted a minute before I let myself get defeated and slumped to the ground. “You kids won. I’m defeated.”

The kids cheered and after a beat, Kieran sat up. “It looks like we’ll have to get going.” When the kids booed, Kieran offered them a smile. “We’ll come back tomorrow. Unfortunately, we have more investigating to do today. We need to keep the land safe and prevent another great evil.”

As we flew on our dragons, I couldn’t help but sneak glances at him.

Just when I thought I’d unraveled all of Kieran’s layers, he threw another curveball at me.

Since Lady Adelaide knew we were coming, she set up a cabin deep in the woods, far enough away for us to safely play bait.

The plan was to stay there overnight for the first couple of nights and if nothing happened, we’d be able to stay in an inn.

Umara purred when we landed by the small, unassuming cabin.

It was hardly big enough to sleep in, let alone stay in there overnight.

I wondered if it was an intentional slight or for practical reasons.

I patted Umara’s side. “Someday, we’re going to travel together.

No more stuffy castles for us.” I smiled when she arched into my touch.

The inside of the cabin already had two bedrolls strewn out, and there was just enough space to put our packs. After doing a quick patrol and finding nothing, we returned to the cabin. The plan was to stay outside until night set in and then play bait safely indoors.

I cleared my throat. “So, the kids. They all had fake pointed ears. What’s up with that?”

“A lot of the gryphons are in Caddel Province. And we’re right by the wall.

With both of those a constant, well, superstitions follow.

There’re other stories about why the wall formed, and not just because Ethava rebelled like we’ve been told.

Some of the stories are backed by the historical records my family keep. ”

My brows raised. “Like what?”

Kieran flicked his hand and shadows shot out from every direction. He tilted his head, his eyes going distant as his shadows checked the perimeter.

I glanced around the woods, my skin prickling. “What’s with the secrecy?”

His eyes darkened. “Because even Luther doesn’t know how extensive the Caddel library is. You know the stories of fae? They’re real.”

“You’re fucking with me.” But one look at his set jaw, and I knew he wasn’t. I shook my head. “That’s—that’s crazy. ”

“It’s all recorded in my ancestors’ journals.

The fae came here about seven hundred years ago and brought dragons with them.

But five hundred years ago, all history and record of that event was covered up and wiped out.

If it wasn’t for my ancestors’ journals, the Caddel line would have thought the same.

There’s even an entry from one of my ancestors saying that the diaries directly contradicted what she remembered. ”

“How does something like that happen?”

“It doesn’t take much to create a myth. Think about how fast the dragonsguard came into prominence or how you knew little about the Andros rebellion and subsequent punishment.

House Caddel released some of this information in rumors and leaks, and it stuck.

That’s why so many are certain we’re descended from fae. ”

I frowned. “Why do you think they’d erase the history?

We know the dragons appeared. Most of the stories say dragons didn’t consider us worthy until King Godric—it’s bullshit obviously, but if we can accept that as a so-called fact, why hide the fae?

” That propaganda was what settled the Aesvara claim to the throne after a series of bloody revolutions.

“I can think of a lot of reasons. When the fae and dragons came, they changed everything. That’s how the continent unified, after all. I bet a lot of humans weren’t too happy with them, and fae were an easier target to direct that hatred towards.”

I shook my head. “It’s just insane that…

that our history can change like that.” In a way, it made se nse.

We turned the dragonsguard into something powerful, an honor that the everyday citizen didn’t believe they could get but hoped to nonetheless.

If what he said was true, then that meant… “So a lot of us are fae then, right?”

“Even though a lot of our records are scrubbed, from what we have recovered, yes. They integrated themselves into society. People believe that riders are chosen because of their fae blood, but they don’t realize fae blood is common.

After seven hundred years, no doubt most of the population shares it.

” His lips quirked. “I believe that our rider’s bond brings out the dormant fae features. ”

“That sounds… crazy.” And frightening how fast fact was able to become myth.

“I almost didn’t believe it myself. Whoever scrubbed the fae’s arrival did a good job. Now even the idea of fae seems too fantastical to be true.”

“Is that why you trusted Madame Bareea when she said one of the travelers had a ‘feeling?’ I’ve seen some people pretend to be Gifted. It’s always been a scam to make a quick buck.” Hell, I knew some of the folks who did.

“It’s hard to believe but given it’s been seven hundred years since the fae lived with us and integrated, a good amount of the population must have fae blood.

If I had to guess, bonding with our dragons activated that blood and strengthened our Gifts that are already inside us.

I was skeptical myself, but I’ve seen things, Selena.

Things I can’t explain. I know cons, and I’ve debunked several of them, but occasionally, there are people who seem like us but without the blatant transformation. ”

If this was months ago, I would’ve laughed in his face. A part of me still wanted to call him gullible, but Kieran wasn’t the type of man to be easily fooled. “That’s insane.”

“I know. We have a word for it in Caddel Province—Legacies. Those who are Gifted, but human.” He shook his head. “It’s never been confirmed, but if it is true, imagine how much stronger we’d be against the gryphons if we were able to activate dormant Gifts.”

“It sounds like a nightmare.” I knew what lied in the hearts of men—greed, a lust for power, and the ability to hurt. “It’s good not everyone has Gifts. We don’t deserve it.”

His eyes glittered. “Maybe so. There are so many unanswered questions. I can’t help but wonder where the fae come from. There’s the Second Continent, but with our limited contact, they have no records or myths of fae at all.”

“Who knows. Maybe they’re from an island we haven’t discovered.

” I studied the wall dividing Lusadia and Ethava.

I knew it stretched all the way from the top to the bottom of the continent.

What was so bad we needed a wall to block it out?

When we flew above earlier, there was nothing on the other side, only an endless series of grassy plains that stretched as far as the eye could see.

“Do you think the story about the wall is the actual story?” It couldn’t be.

Gods. How the fuck are fae real? Even knowing dragons were real, it just seemed so… fantastical .

“The story goes that the people rebelled, that the Ethavan king was so awful, genocide was the only option to stop their beliefs from spreading. The wall was for Lusadia’s safety.

” Kieran’s expression hardened. “It’s a load of shit, and millions suffered for it, no doubt.

And all because of one greedy king. Or rather, two greedy kings.

I don’t doubt there’s some hint of truth to the story.

The best lies have some truth, after all.

Something on the other side of the wall must’ve been so dangerous that even with our dragons to help defend us, we felt a need to create a barrier. ”

Ice filled my veins. When he put it that way… “Do you think anything’s on the other side?”

Kieran tore his gaze from the wall to look at me. “I hope not.”

Goosebumps crawled along my arm. I shook my head.

“Dammit, let’s change the subject, or I’m going to get too freaked out to focus.

” Night was setting in already, and after our talk, I kept glancing between the shadowed trees.

Kieran wanted to wait until it was dark before we entered the cabin, and I already couldn’t wait for it.

“Do you think Raven sent the assassins?”

“I’d assume so, though we don’t know who directly is sending the assassins, just that they’re working with Andova.”

I exhaled. “I’m ready for people to stop trying to kill me.”

“You might dislike your title, but it benefits you. Right now, Andova’s overlooking it, but there’s a chance—even if its slim—that if your ability reaches them, they might be forced to back off.

But… don’t count on it. And, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you’ll always have a target on your back.

I still have one, even with all my titles. ”

“But people are too afraid to actually attack you. One glare from you, and they piss themselves.”

His lips twitched. “Then I’ve done my job. But you and I are different. You don’t want people to fear you. Not truly.”

He was right, but I was tired of this fear that hadn’t left me since Umara claimed me. “We should go into town tomorrow. You’re right. I think—I think we need ‘Selena the Siren’ to spread.”

He nodded. “It won’t always be this… drastic. Once Luther hatches the eggs, Andova will back off.”

“For a little bit. And then we’ll be in another war.” I glanced out at the woods. Humans are monsters too. And some of those monsters had dragons. I shuddered.

“Maybe we can avoid it.”

“Maybe.” I wrapped my arms around myself.

“Can we go inside now? And are you sure we can’t go to an inn sooner?

” I didn’t care that I was whining. Being out here wasn’t like that week we’d spent camping by the cave.

With the wall looming over us, I felt like I was being watched and like the shadows were waiting for a moment of weakness to pounce.

He grinned. “After a week, if no gryphons appear, we can spend the next week in an inn—but it still needs to be in the outskirts of town.”