Page 23 of Crown of Betrayal and Blood (Dragons of Tirene #3)

Chapter Twenty-Three

As I wander back through the echoing halls, doubt niggles at my thoughts. Not wanting to bother the dragons with my misery, I pull up my dampening shield again. No time like the present to start practicing.

It’s been a strange day, now that I think about it. Leesa’s been off-kilter, too, distant and distracted since our return from the Lost City. Her usual spark, normally as bright and crackling as my fire magic, has dimmed to embers.

She was already struggling a little before someone killed Mother, whose death has only seemed to worsen whatever ails her. We’re both dealing with so much. The entire kingdom is.

Mother, what would you do?

She’d talk to the healers about the problem. In fact, that was what Lynnea Axton was on her way to do right before her murder. Another problem we still haven’t solved.

A sure sign that things were moving too fast and too slow at the same time. Mother was murdered in these very halls only a few days ago, and no one has been brought to justice yet. I haven’t even found the time to dig into it myself.

After asking for directions a few times, I find the healers’ quarters, only to discover them empty. A nearby guard assures me that if the healers aren’t in their rooms, they’re almost certainly with a patient or out in the herb gardens just outside the kitchens.

Not wanting to interrupt a healer with an active patient, I head outside. I weave through the manicured rows of the herb gardens, my thoughts a tangled snarl. The air is rife with fragrant plants. Mint and oregano and a host of other herbs I can’t distinguish. The scent, though pleasant, does little to soothe the discontent clawing at my insides.

A woman clad in a dark blue healer’s robe kneels at the side of a raised bed. Her golden wings catch the sunlight filtering through the leaves above. She’s bent over a cluster of lavender, fingers coated with soil and herbs.

“Excuse me. I’m looking for a healer?”

The woman spins around, hand tightening on the basket in front of her. “I’m Luci Yarrow, one of the healers. Is it an emergency?” Eyes the color of the sky on a cloudless day roam over my body, taking inventory. A dark blue cloth holds her hair back, and a white wrap-around apron protects her robes from the dirt of the gardens.

“No emergency. At least…I don’t think so.”

Her shoulders relax as I approach her. I’m sure the poor woman has gotten used to being called upon at all hours of the night and day, especially recently.

Her hands go back to plucking leaves with practiced ease. “Lady Lark, what brings you to seek my services today?”

“Trouble, I’m afraid. It’s my sister Leesa and Crown Prince Knox. They’ve both felt a little off since the last couple drachen attacks.”

Luci straightens and adjusts her apron, the pouches at her belt jangling softly. “Tell me everything.”

I recount the drachen attacks, explaining how each time, my sister and then Sterling seemed enthralled with the creatures. Then I tell her about their symptoms: the headaches, the mumbling, how Leesa’s vibrant personality is shrouded in fog lately. I note the way Leesa talked to herself and stared off into the dark during our trip to the Lost City. How Sterling acted the same way in the middle of the night. Luci’s brow furrows deeper with each word.

“Stress can do that.” With a swift motion, her hand cuts through the air, fingers splayed in a warding gesture I’ve seen priests use against malevolent spirits.

Dread seeps into the hollow spaces between my ribs. “You don’t think this is a physical problem, do you?”

“It could be several different things. But with all those symptoms at once? Perhaps not.” The healer’s eyes grow distant, as if she’s peering into another world. “But what you describe…it reminds me of ancient tales. Of mortals turned into vessels for the divine.”

What in the three hells is that supposed to mean?

A shiver races down my spine as a memory of Nyc surfaces, her presence an endless ocean of consciousness compared to my trickling stream. I was a speck floating in her darkness, not the other way around.

“To carry such power…how would a human not go mad?” My voice trails off, lost in the enormity of the thought.

“A great question.” Luci brushes off her hands, then smooths them over her apron. “We humans are fragile shells. A god’s essence could easily overwhelm and push aside what makes us…us. Which is why such things almost never last more than a few hours. As far as I know, at least.”

It’s already been several days since the onset of Leesa’s symptoms. And nearly a full day for Sterling. “How do you know so much about this?”

“Because I must.” Her stained hands gesture to the heavens, then to the earth. “Healers and priests…we tread the same paths, tend to the same wounds of body and spirit. Many of my friends wear the cloth of priesthood.”

“Is there any way to treat them?” I fight to keep the fear from shaking my voice.

Luci reaches out, giving my arm a reassuring pat. “I will examine them both. Stress can affect people in various ways. If it is a combination of physical problems, I will treat them myself. If it is something else, I will consult the high priest of Zeru. If anyone would know about divine embodiment, it would be the high priest of the god who created all the others.”

“Thank you.”

My gratitude is genuine even as worry gnaws at me. If gods are stirring, using us as their playthings, what hope do we have? And I still have to do a favor for Nyc. What if that’s somehow related to what’s going on with Sterling and Leesa?

“Be vigilant, Lady Lark.” She gives me a pointed look. “And remember, sometimes the greatest strength lies in seeking help in the gods themselves. Even in times like these.”

“Of course. And thank you for taking the time to speak with me.”

Resolve hardens within me as I venture toward the king’s wing.

I weave my way through the gilded corridors, the healer’s words reverberating in my mind like a haunting refrain. In my haste, I almost trip over the hem of my dress as I round the corner and nearly barrel into a maid.

“Milady Lark.” She clutches her thin chest, her eyes wide with urgency. “The crown prince requests your presence at dinner in less than an hour’s time.”

“Thank you.” I start to head to my chambers, then twist around to ask how formal this dinner will be and who will be there.

Unfortunately, the maid is already gone. An hour? That’s not nearly enough time to get dressed for a court dinner. But it is enough to prepare for an informal one. Hopefully the royal council members have left and he’s planning for a casual meal.

I burst into my room and start stripping off my clothes on my way to the bathing chamber. A book on my table stops me. A timeworn tattered piece of parchment sticks out.

Another map?

Beside the book is a slip of paper with Rhiann’s handwriting.

Is this what you seek? I found it in the old wing.

Carefully, I pull out the paper and flip it over. A few moments pass before comprehension dawns. This isn’t a map of Tirene. In fact, the island kingdom doesn’t appear at all. Instead, the southern edge of Aclaris takes up the top of the page. That means the Hidden Valley must be in Kamor, the large kingdom south of Aclaris.

I quickly scan over the map, committing the contents to memory. By the time I’m finished, the sun has started to settle in the sky.

Dammit. I’m going to be late.

After a quick wash of my face and trading my wrinkled dress for a clean, jade-green gown with three-quarter sleeves and a fitted waist so snug I’m tempted to swear off cake for the rest of my life, I’m out of time.

I twist my hair up into what I hope is an elegant updo and slap my cheeks. That will need to be good enough.

I navigate to the large sitting chamber near Sterling’s room that doubles as a dining area when there aren’t many guests to entertain.

The guard swings the door open, revealing the inner circle gathered around a table set with steaming dishes. There’s no sign of the council or noble visitors. Relief washes over me.

Bastian offers me a kind smile, Agnar dips his chin in greeting, and Blair continues chewing on the grape he just popped into his mouth. But Leesa…there’s a stillness in her tonight that wasn’t there before.

She looks at peace. Maybe she’s finally feeling better.

Sterling stands at the other door, using a basin and hand towel to clean his hands. Seeing me, he crosses the room and gathers me in his arms.

“Hey there.” His lips close over mine, and for a few seconds—or maybe a few minutes—the world melts away.

He tastes like whiskey, and I have a feeling he poured himself a glass after a hectic day with the royal council.

Someone clears their throat, and with reluctance, I pull away from Sterling to glimpse Blair raising an eyebrow.

His lips tilt up in a boyish grin. “I’d tell you two to get a room, but then the rest of us would have to leave. And that would suck because I’m starving.”

“I second that.” Agnar finishes securing his coppery hair in a leather cord at the base of his neck. “We’re all happy you two don’t have to hide your relationship anymore, but can the make-out session wait until after we eat? We missed lunch because of the dampening training.”

“Can’t let you two wither away from starvation, can we?” Sterling squeezes my hand and heads to the table. Once he’s seated, everyone follows suit.

I take my place next to him and scoot my chair closer to the table. “Where’s the queen?”

Agnar settles on my other side, and Blair sits across from him. Beside Blair, Leesa and Bastian take their seats.

“Mother is resting. The training took its toll on her, I’m afraid.” Sterling reaches for the potatoes, offering some to me before plopping a generous portion on his own plate. “Sorry about earlier. I was in the middle of…” He trails off.

“Middle of what?” I pat his thigh, glad he’s back to his normal self.

His brows knit together. “I don’t know, honestly. I started spacing out even before you walked in. If that’s what Jasper had to deal with all the time, it suddenly makes sense why he often held meetings in his chambers. That way, you only have one person droning at you at a time.”

“Maybe.” Agnar spears several slices of ham and puts them on his plate. “But doing it your way gets them all out of your hair sooner.”

I pick at my food, sending surreptitious glances at Leesa, then Sterling. They’re calm, collected. I chew on my thoughts along with a bite of steamed carrots, the delicious seasoning doing little to quell the disquiet brewing inside me.

Nothing strikes me as amiss. I think I’ve just gotten into the bad habit of worrying. I need to take a deep breath and quit second-guessing our good fortune.

“Ugh.” Sterling grimaces. His eyes turn dreamy as he shifts his focus to me. “Lark, remind me why we didn’t run away together before now? We could be living life in a little cottage, blissfully ignoring all of life’s problems.”

“Because I’ve only just been reunited with my little sister. If it’s all the same to you, Your Highness, I’d appreciate not losing her a second time.” Leesa slices her meat and directs a sly grin at Bastian. “And I know Bastian feels the same way about Lark too. It’s been years since he’s seen his sist—oh, crap.”

All around him, everyone goes still. My pulse drums in my ears and my fork clatters to the table. “Sister? Are you saying Bastian is the brother that Nyc referred to?”

“Maybe?” Leesa winces and bites her lip as she glances at Bastian. “Sorry, baby.”

One glance at Bastian’s face is enough to reveal the truth. His cheeks lose their color, and his expression is nothing short of beseeching. “I planned to tell you, I promise. I was just waiting for the right moment. You’ve undergone so many shocks in such a short time that I didn’t want to overwhelm you any more than you already were.”

I can tell he’s afraid this surprise upset me. Maybe I should be upset, but all I experience at this moment is a rush of pure happiness.

A brother. I have a brother. After believing all my biological family was dead, the revelation feels like a gift from the gods themselves. “No wonder you always looked so familiar to me. You kept reminding me of someone…I just never realized that someone was me. So, our parents…?”

He expels a relieved puff of air. “We’re half siblings. We share the same father.”

I bound out of my chair and rush over to his spot to wrap my arms around him. “Well, half-sibling, it’s good to officially meet you again.”

He pats my back. “It really is.” His voice brims with emotion, causing him to clear his throat. “We’ll have to carve out some time to get better acquainted soon.”

“I’d like that.” As I return to my seat, I scan the stunned faces. “I take it no one else knew about this besides Leesa?”

A chorus of denials follow but, oddly enough, everyone seems to take the news in stride.

I guess we all have more pressing issues to fret over than discovering a long-lost sibling.

Blair swallows a bite of ham and adjusts his knife to cut another piece. “So, getting back to what Leesa said…do you object to Sterling whisking your little sister away, too, Bastian, or are you smart like the rest of us and ready for a break from her annoying ways?”

I lob a roll at his head. “Hey!”

Bastian’s jaw tightens. “No, I’m afraid I’d be rather dismayed were Lark to disappear with the prince so soon after returning to Tirene.”

Blair smirks at Sterling. “I think that’s polite speak for saying if you abdicate the throne and scarper off with his baby sister, then even the crown to protect you from his wrath.”

Sterling laughs, holding his hands up in surrender. “I never said you couldn’t come with us, Bastian. We can get two cottages. Right next to each other. That way, you and Leesa could visit your sister any time you want.”

Bastian places a hand over his chest in mock relief. “I was worried there for a moment.”

He winks at a blushing Leesa, who ducks her head as she takes a bite of potatoes.

I can’t help but smile as I watch the two of them. Bastian has really started to come out of his shell around us, dropping more and more of his formality and reserve to reveal a lighter side underneath. He still acts a little uncomfortable on occasion, especially around me, but maybe that was from guilt over hiding the truth about our relationship. If he’s worried I disapprove of him being with my sister, he has nothing to fear. He does nothing to hide his feelings for Leesa, and I’m glad she has him to lean on.

I look forward to a day when I can lean on him too. When we can both lean on each other.

Perhaps my earlier apprehension was all for nothing. Sterling seems back to his normal self, and while, with the exception of her big reveal, Leesa’s overall mood is subdued, she did just suffer a huge scare with the drachen. Mother’s death hit her hard too. We’re both still struggling to come to grips with that loss, especially since we’ve yet to uncover motives and suspects.

Still, my newfound bubble of joy refuses to burst. I have a brother. I can’t help but take that as a positive sign for the future.

I swallow a bite of my roll. “If that’s how you’d react to my leaving, maybe I should delay my trip to Kamor.”

“Kamor?” Agnar sets his glass on the table. “Why in the blazes would you want to go there?”

“I don’t want to, per se. But I think I’ll need to. And because we’re already short on guards, I don’t think Bastian going with me and weakening our forces here would be a very good idea. It will be an even longer trip than the one to the Lost City.”

Leesa’s fingers wrap around her knife. I’m just glad she’s eating and hasn’t complained of a headache this evening.

“Like I said…” I smile at my sister, who has been protective of me for a lot longer than either of us has known Bastian, “I don’t want to go. But according to the map Rhiann located for me, that’s where the Hidden Valley is. So I’m hoping that’s where we’ll find the phoenix tears we need to get rid of the corruption of the?—”

Before I can finish my sentence, my sister shoves her chair back from the table.

After that, everything happens so fast.

Knife raised, Leesa leaps to her feet and surges forward.

No one has time to react when she lunges at Blair and plunges the blade into his throat.