Page 193 of The Dragon Queen Complete Series Collection

Chapter 192

“You are sure Her Highness isn’t pregnant?” the healer said to Brom, not me.

“No, I’m not pregnant,” I snapped, feeling the same irritation that had plagued my dreams. That was unworthy of me. The healer had been given a job and was just trying to do it. “I’m going for a walk.”

“That might—” the healer began to say.

“I’m not asking permission.” Gods, why was I biting everyone’s head off? Because I hadn’t felt safe enough to do that to the people who deserved it. Rex and his little plan. Draven, for supporting it. I heard his voice and then shook my head. “My apologies?—”

“No need, Highness,” the healer said with a smile. “We are taught that illness can be a confronting thing for many. It’s the moment when we come face to face with our own weakness. Call me if you need something for the pain.”

This, this is what I needed.

I strode out of the tent and into the cool night air, staring at the stars as I walked. They’d shone down on this landscape for millennia, before humans came to this land, before even dragons. Each glittering point of light would watch us remake the Blackreach peninsula without comment.

But not me.

You are angry , Glimmer stated without judgement.

I am no stranger to injustice , I told her. Living with my step family taught me that might equals right, as does cunning and the ability to charm and manipulate. I paused for a second and she stared up at me. The trouble is, they had me believing… I shook my head, barely even able to articulate this inside my head, let alone aloud. That we would do what was right, not what was easy.

I’m not sure they think dropping explosives on the city will be easy, she replied. Obsidian’s rider noticed a weakness in the wall on the right hand side. It’s been there for some time and he wanted to see if it could still be exploited. She sighed. He feels great guilt now for bringing it up.

Good. As soon as I had that huffy thought, I regretted it. No, not really. Gods, Glimmer, what do we do? That’s your sister and your brothers in there. I have no idea how many of the hatchlings still live, but don’t we need to find out?

This way.

I was used to my dragon’s mysterious responses, but this was the oddest. She led me deeper into the darkness, forcing me to stumble after her until I found them.

“This way!” That imperious hiss, the hoarse whisper, I knew exactly what she was, even if not who. A woman emerged from somewhere, the darkness making it impossible to see, then waved some others forward. Children, that’s what I saw, each one scurrying out of the hole like a skulk of fox kits. “Come along now. Quick sticks!”

A chorus of grumbles from the children didn’t stop them from obeying the woman, another coming up the rear.

“Follow Aunty Rosie,” the other woman said in the sing-song voice of a nursery attendant. “This way. Well done, my lovelies.”

“But where are we going?” one boy whined. “And why now? It’s dark.”

“I want my mummy!” a much smaller child said before shoving her thumb into her mouth to self soothe.

“We all do, lovies.” Both women brought the children together. “They love you very much, your parents. That’s why they’ve paid Aunty Rosie good coin to get you out of the city. We’ll get you all to Tharfield and settle you in a safe house there. When the trouble has blown over, your parents will join you there. Won’t that be nice?”

“Our parents are in Tharfield?” a young lad asked.

The women shared a look.

“Yes, lovies, so let’s get going. We walk by night, sleep by day, just like the bats below the duke’s keep.”

The second woman performed an elaborate dance as she pretended to be a bat. That had the children chuckling and me drawing closer. A twig breaking under my feet, that’s what made them all go very still. The women moved like lighting, putting themselves between the children and me. Knives were pulled from their skirts and held outright, their stances impeccable. These were women who knew what they were doing.

“Stay still, my lovies, and close your eyes,” Rosie said. “Count to ten and all will be well. Who can get started?”

“Me! One… two…”

“And who might you be?” The second woman had been all warmth moments ago, but now her face hardened as she looked me over. “One of those bloody Royal Riders, are ya? We don’t have dragon eggs, gold, nothing.”

“We don’t have any money?” one of the children whined. “But how will we?—?”

“Yes, you do.” I plucked the bag of coins from my belt and tossed it to Rosie. “That’s why I’ve come.” I had a hunch, one borne from looking at Marcus’ map. “Marcus Lighthands sends his regards.”

“Does he indeed?” Rosie puffed up like a cat. “Well, you tell that brother of mine he needs to get moving, and soon. The king and that woman of his, they’re going to lay waste to the whole city.” She turned at the sound of yet more voices. “Some of us are getting out. We know what’s to come. A siege, and we’ll be eating rat pie for years to come or worse, starving to death, or being blown to smithereens by the king’s magic.”

“They say he wields lightning bolts like the storm god,” the other woman said, warily peering at me. “Is that true?”

I didn’t get a chance to answer. A shriek and then another group came spilling out of what appeared to be a cave entrance.

“Gods above!” another woman gasped. “That place gives me the bloody willies!”

“The ghost of Drathnor get ya, did he?” Rosie and her companion cackled, but then some of the children began to cry. “Oh, I’m sorry, lovies. There’s no such thing. Just a bloody big set of bones and a feeling of wrongness that keeps the guards away.”

I remembered then the mark on the map. It said something about smugglers, but I assumed it was a misprint, because most smugglers came and went via sea, not land, but that wasn’t my focus right now.

“Marcus has a message for you,” I told them. “Get as far from the city as possible.” I had the women and children’s attention in ways I couldn’t with the riders. “You don’t want to be anywhere near the peninsula by tomorrow.”

“Like that, is it?” Rosie stood tall, then hefted the coin bag in her hand. “My brother has to have had a major change of heart. I usually just get messages to sell these goods or run this parcel to that place and for considerably less coin. You have my thanks, milady.”

“Milady?” the third woman said, staring at me wide eyed.

“She’s someone posh, that’s for certain,” the second woman said. “The hair looks like a boy’s, but that accent…” She frowned. “Rumour is the king likes men more than women and his queen was forced to shave her head to catch his attention.”

Oh yes, I definitely had their attention now.

“Who I am doesn’t matter,” I told them. “What does matter is getting those children to safety.” I peered past the women. “You need to mind Rosie and the other ladies. They’ll keep you safe, but you need to be quiet as mice. You can do that, can’t you?”

I found myself mimicking a mouse’s behaviour, taking mincing little steps, which had them giggling, but not for long.

“Many thanks, milady,” the woman said, sketching a curtsey before turning to the children. “All right, lovies. Take the hand of the person next to you. Well done. Now, we must be off.”

I watched their shapes disappear into the darkness, searching the shadows for signs of them long after they were gone, but then Glimmer reappeared.

Where did you get to?

My presence would’ve been a distraction. Those hatchlings would’ve spent hours wanting to ‘pat’ me.

And you would’ve hated every minute of that , I replied with a smile. But why are we here, Glimmer? I’ve always done as you asked, trusted your wisdom as a seer. Can’t you tell me what this is all about?

The great dragons were the first to come to Nevermere , she replied, staring at the dark mouth of the cave. They were the only ones big enough to make the flight over the channel. Aisenbran was one of them, Drathnor, another. We must revisit the past to ensure the future.

Well, that’s as clear as mud , I replied, before following her down.

Rock studded earth marked a well-worn path into the cave. I stumbled over a few of them, relying on the bright gleam of Glimmer’s scales to show me where to go. If I feared entering a dark cave at night without a lantern, I needn’t have. As we climbed down into the depths of the cave, a miraculous sight greeted us. Phosphorescent mushrooms grew along the walls, glowing with a strange purplish light.

It should’ve been beautiful, drawn gasps of awe, but instead, a wave of foreboding washed over me, much like the pain of before. It pierced me, cutting through rational thought, my heart beginning to race in response. Every muscle locked down because my body was tensed and ready to run. Get away, that’s what this cave told me, get the hell away.

This is the resting place of Drathnor, Glimmer told me, nodding to a massive skull that glowed with the same purple light. And our means to get into Blackreach unseen.