Page 43 of The Dragon King’s Claw (The Dragons of Serai #17)

“Those motherfucking murderers!” the King snarled.

I was too busy sticking my head out of the window to acknowledge that he was correct. Angling my head toward our driver, I called out, “We need to get back to Katai's apartment.”

“Katai, sir?” the driver asked.

“Katai?” Gilhu, who was sitting beside the driver, turned to look at me. “Is Vasren in danger?”

“Yes!”

“Give me those!” Gilhu growled as he snatched the reins from the man.

The reins snapped, and the carriage raced down the street, out of the Jewelry District and toward a bad part of town where a human mastermind with enough kurline to blow up the city, was lying within the arms of one of the King's knights.

“But how would he bury himself?” the King asked.

Oh, how lovely. I didn't have to explain it all for once.

“He obviously had help,” I said.

“And the bomb? The one attached to him that almost killed him and Vasren?”

“A separate, handheld trigger would have given him complete control over when the bomb went off. He would have waited until Vasren tossed it away before he activated it. Katai was never in any danger.”

“What if you hadn't found him and dug him up?”

“He doubtless had backup plans.” I shook my head. “I suspected he was a criminal, but not Hallaxgral himself. Dear Gods, how did I miss it? I let him convince me of his innocence.”

“He convinced us all. Especially Vas.”

“And now, Sir Vasren is in danger. Because of—”

“Him,” the King cut me off and took my hand. “Because of Katai, not you.”

“I'm hoping Katai has enough affection for Vasren to not hurt him.”

“I don't think he will. Vasren has never hurt anyone who didn't deserve it, and Hallaxgral has only taken vengeance on the guilty.”

“Except for the child.”

“Whose mother buried and burned other children alive.”

“Buried them alive. Just as the boy was nearly buried by sand. Do you think Lady Juva saw the connection?” I knew I would have, but most people didn't think like me. I needed Tor'rien to advise me.

“It doesn't matter,” he said. “Because you will find the proof of her crimes and arrest her, Claw Shinkai. She will pay for what she did.”

“You're right. Her and Rulli.”

“Rulli?”

“Lansho's brother. The Chelli. He must have known about it too. They were all partners.”

“And he didn't bother to mention that the Ricarri they worked with was actually Lady Juva and their partner.”

“After speaking with Rulli, I am leaning toward the same conclusion that Alensi has. He was coerced by Lady Juva's status and aggression.”

The King narrowed his eyes. “I could execute her for this. But she's the wife of my valued general. I don't want to turn him against me.”

“That's a tough decision, Your Majesty.”

The King sighed deeply and looked out the window. Buildings blurred as we sped through the streets, but he wasn't looking at them. Tor'rien was focused inward, weighing justice against prudence.

I knew which would win. Because I knew Tor'rien. A startling thought. Especially since it gave me pleasure.

He looked at me, and I saw it in his face. The King had made the difficult but morally right choice. “I will need definitive proof, Claw Shinkai. I can't execute the wife of a general based on rumors.”

“If there's truth to be had, I will find it for you, Your Majesty.”

With a sharp whiny of horses, the carriage came to an abrupt stop.

Gilhu jumped down and ran for the building, leaving Sir Heicren to open the door for us.

Not that he needed to. The King was out of the carriage before Heicren could reach us.

I darted out after him and all of us ran into the building, then up several flights of stairs.

Fear kept me going when I might otherwise have taken a break. I wasn't about to stop now. So close. The end of the game. Oh, and Vasren too. But I had a feeling that Vas would be fine. Heartbroken, but fine.

“Vasren!” Gilhu's shout came from above.

I looked up just as he went into Katai's apartment.

A few seconds later, I reached the landing. The King was already inside.

“Vasren! Vas!”

Sir Heicren and I ran in last.

With a room that small, it took two seconds to see that Katai wasn't there.

Even the bathroom door was open as if to say, “Look, no Katai.” The King and his knights were at the bed, trying to wake Vasren, who lay there like the dead.

Not dead, though. I saw that immediately.

His skin had a healthy flush and his chest moved.

Drugs probably, although I didn't know of any that could do that to a Dragon.

Hallaxgral obviously did.

I let the Dragons take care of their own and searched the apartment.

Not a lot of places to look. Or to hide anything.

And there was less there than before. Because Katai had fled.

The game was indeed over. Hallaxgral had won.

But I hadn't exactly lost. And after learning about the Hallax Mine, I wasn't inclined to pursue my opponent.

He didn't feel like an opponent anymore. More like an informant.

Looking back at the bed, I realized what Katai had to give up for his vengeance. Those people who died must have meant something to him. More than just sharing his race. This was personal. Only such a drive could make a man give up what Katai had.

Doubtless, Katai had enough wealth to start over.

He certainly hadn't spent any on his living quarters.

But a man like Vasren—who cared so deeply about him, maybe even loved him—was irreplaceable.

People might see it as cold—what Katai did to Vasren.

They might even think Katai used the Dragon knight.

But the game had proven one thing to me above all others.

Katai was not a cold killer. He was a man who cared deeply—who cared enough to kill.

“Kind eyes,” I whispered. “He was talking about himself. Giving me another clue.”

“Gil?” Vasren groaned and sat up. “What are you doing here? What the fuck happened? My head.” He rubbed the back of his head and brought his hand forward to look at the blood.

Well, that explained it. Not drugs, after all.

Katai had gone traditional and bonked Vasren on the back of his head.

With Dragon healing being what it was, Katai couldn't be far.

We must have missed him by mere minutes.

Also, I was impressed that a man of Katai's stature could administer a blow to take down a Dragon, even if just briefly.

“Oh, thank the Gods,” King Tor'rien murmured.

“Where's Katai? Who hit me?”

“Uh, probably Katai,” Gilhu said. “I'm so sorry, Vas. He's the one. The guy we've been chasing. Hallaxgral.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

That's when I saw them—two folded pieces of paper held down by a large bottle. I inspected the bottle first. Kurline. Of course. It was the remaining kurline that he'd stolen. I put it down and opened the letters. One was addressed to me and the other to Vasren.

“This is for you, Sir Vasren.” I went to the bed and handed him the letter.

“What is this?” Vasren wiped his hand off on his pants, moved to sit with his legs hanging over the side of the bed, and took the letter. He looked from me to the single page.

I couldn't watch as he read. It was too tragic. Besides, I had my own letter to read. So, I eased back as Vasren began to make wounded sounds, and I read.

Claw Tekhan Shinkai,

I hope you've realized by now that I chose you because I hold you in the highest esteem.

After years of planning and study, I knew you were the only man who could reveal the truth and give the victims of the Hallax Mine and of Claw Greishen justice.

I wish I could be there to see you follow the threads to their ends, but I know you, the law-abiding claw that you are, would have to arrest me for what I've done.

I swear to you that I have hurt no one who didn't deserve it.

The Ricarri boy, son of that evil bitch, was never in danger.

I didn't put enough sand in the device to bury him.

I only wanted her to feel the fear that the murdered humans felt, and know that someone was coming for her.

Unfortunately, I cannot finish my work. That's why I chose you, Tekhan.

I know I can rely on you to see justice done.

You won't let these monsters get away with what they did.

Find them, Tekhan. Please find the lost ones and set their souls to rest.

Thank you, my friend. It was fun playing with you. And felicitations on your match with the King.

With deep respect,

Katai Gral

By the time I finished reading and returned to full awareness of my surroundings, Vasren was bent over, sobbing. A quick look told me that he was heartbroken, as predicted but would survive. If he'd been mated to Katai, Katai's leaving would have been akin to murder.

The thought made me twitch. I already felt responsible for so much in Rochan. To be responsible for the life of the King would be . . . I looked to my left, where Tor'rien stood, leaning down to read over my shoulder. How would I feel to be mated to him?

My chest burst with the thought. Surprisingly, not in a bad way.

I felt light. Not weighed down. Being mated to Tor'rien might not be so terrible after all.

That's what my emotions said. My mind protested, but in this, the heart came out ahead.

Was that amusing? I mean the heart being a head, not that my feelings were ruling me in this.

That wasn't at all amusing. I lowered my hand to grasp Tor'rien's.