Page 15 of The Storm of the Empire (Flyers Of The First Kingdom #3)

FOURTEEN

LUKA

“ Y our boots! Don’t bring those bad habits from the First Kingdom back to my home,”a male voice yelled from deeper into the house as we shuffled inside.

Thankfully, on the way to her family home, Hazel had the mind to find a shop that happened to still be open where we got me some other clothes. Although I didn’t know what we were going to say to her brother if we ran into him again, at least I wouldn’t need to make up a story to her parents about being a priest.

“Sorry, Dad,” Hazel called out in reply, elbowing me where we stood. “He’s not even a dragon,” she muttered, bending down to untie her boots.

I dropped to one knee without hesitation to untie them for her. She pressed her lips into a line but didn’t stop me, so I took my time unlacing them and pulling the first one off. I wasn’t sure why I felt compelled to do it. It just felt right. I looked up at her as I worked on the laces of the second, and a smile broke out on my face as I stared into her eyes. She smiled back, then looked away shyly. It was a vulnerable moment, something she had not let me see in her before, and I liked it.

As I was working the last one off, the door opened, startling us. There I was on my knees at Hazel’s feet, holding her boot and staring up at someone who I could only assume was another one of her brothers. He looked just like the one I met earlier, albeit younger.

“Cal wasn’t lying!” He slowly let his eyes drag down our position. “About anything he said.”

“This is not what it looks like, Rouhi,” Hazel snapped.

“Okay… Should I just leave you to whatever this is then?” Rouhi circles his hand at us.

“He was just helping me take off my boots.”

I finished removing her boot and quickly removed mine before standing up. “Nice to meet you.”

Rouhi kept staring. “I thought Cal said you were a priest…”

“We can wear other clothes when we’re not in the service of the Goddess,” I said, not sure where the words came from.

“Are you all having a party in the foyer without me?” Hazel’s father called.

“We’re taking off our boots like you wanted!” Hazel yelled back.

“Nice to meet you, too,” Rouhi said as we shuffled deeper into the berm house.

The dwelling remained cool, despite the warmth left over from the storm. It felt cozy and well lived in. The inside was lit with dim candlelight, casting deep shadows. Warm spice scents reached my nose. Every inch of it had touches of use. They used this home, not just lived here. I felt welcome without words.

“Hazel!” Her father pulled her into a hug. “I was wondering if you were going to make it back tonight.” His deep baritone carried warmth and humor. “And who is this you have with you?”

“Luka,” I said, offering a tip of my head as would be the customary greeting for priests, keeping at least partly in character in case the brothers brought it up.

“It’s a joy to welcome you to our home. Please, come and eat, I’ve been keeping it warm.” Her father returned to the stove, checking on what he was cooking.

I liked him already.

“I would love to.” It had been many hours since the last meal with the priests and my stomach was growling.

“You saved some for us?” Hazel asked, peeking around him. “I love your beet stews!”

“When the storm went long, I knew your brothers would be late too, so I kept it bubbling for you all.”

When Hazel returned to stand near me, I leaned over. “Beet stew?”

“Yes?”

“You like beets?” I tried to keep my voice as low as possible because I didn’t want to offend her father.

“I don’t want to hear it. The way Dad makes them is life changing, and you will give it a chance.”

“Sparky, why don’t you get our guest a refreshment and show him to the table? Your mother should be returning any moment,” her father said without turning away from the numerous pots and pans he was tending on a giant hearth.

“The cellar is this way. Let’s go grab a few bottles of ale and cider for the table.” Hazel picked up a lantern before opening a door and revealing a stairway down.

“Sparky?” I teased as we started down the stairs.

“Don’t start,” she warned.

“It’s cute.”

She growled. “It’s because I’m the one storm dragon of their kids. He’s so proud, for all the good I am to them.”

My face fell. “What does that mean?”

“No ryder, remember? Not much use being a storm dragon if I can’t fulfill that side of it.”

“Don’t be so down on yourself—” I hesitated, but I had to, it was too easy. “Sparky!”

“Okay, that’s it.” She swiveled on the stairs, facing me with a menacing look despite being two steps down. Cute as a button. “Once more, and I’ll show you my spark.”

“I’m an unarmed fae. Don’t harm me." I held up my hands. “I prefer Goddess anyway.”

She gave me a flat stare. “Don’t start.”

Before I could say anything else she turned, satisfied, and continued on her way.

The temperature dropped a few degrees as we descended further into the ground, and we passed other rooms on the way down that seemed to be filled with plants. These must have been the indoor crops she was telling me about.

“Here,” Hazel handed me a few bottles to carry and then picked some up for herself.

“So what’s the plan?” I whispered, taking the opportunity while we were alone.

“What do you mean? We are having dinner.” She looked at me blankly as if she’d forgotten all the shit going on outside as soon as she was in the warm embrace of her home and family.

It was beautiful, really, and I envied it with everything in me. I almost didn’t want to burst her bubble. “I mean, are you going to try and get that book from your Mom’s office? Or talk to her about it?”

She looked contrite. “I don’t know.”

I felt for her. If I had this set up, I wouldn’t risk it either.

“Let’s just play it by ear,” I suggested.

She nodded, and we started back up to the house where we could hear chatter growing.

When we emerged from the cellar, the kitchen was buzzing. Hazel’s brothers were all here, so the priest thing could become an issue. I just had to hope for the best and stay vague. I was good at that.

Her mother had arrived while we were below, and I was struck by how alike they were. Both petit and yet powerful in a way that needed no explanation. They were warriors, it was clear.

“Mom, this is my friend, Luka,” Hazel said as she set down her bottles.

“Pleased to meet you,” I said, dipping my head in respect.

“Luka, welcome,” she said warmly. “I see you’ve become acquainted with my husband’s home brew store. Let me pour you a glass.”

It appeared that dinner was a revolving concept in their home. I’d assumed since Hazel had missed the meal while waiting out the storm with me, we would be treated to leftovers, but everyone sat for their share of the apparently legendary beet stew. It smelled just fine, but I had not had wonderful experiences with beets in the past.

On the compound, we were hungry more often than not, and when tough roots could be foraged, we relied on them heavily in the winter. To me, it was a last resort, and I had already started preparing to put on my best act of enjoying the dish when it was placed before me.

The smell was otherworldly, though, and I breathed it in as a basket full of warm bread was passed around. I took a chunk gratefully and passed it on, then followed the family’s lead as they raised hands to the Goddess in brief thanks for the meal.

Then the moment was upon me, and I had to try and swallow down the beets. I dipped the chunk. of bread in the bowl and took a bite, and flavor hit my senses in ways I never knew it could. It was spicy and warm but also fresh. I was impressed! I’d sworn to myself since finding myself in the First Kingdom that I would never eat beets again, but these were—well, Hazel was right. They were life changing.

I glanced at her beside me, and she flashed a knowing smile that said, ‘right?’ I just nodded my agreement and picked up the spoon.

The conversation flowed among the family, and I listened to their dynamic with interest. It was all so unfamiliar to me. My childhood meals were taken in silence, but I could tell this house was always loud.

Talk turned to the storm, and Rhoui asked Cal if they had lost any stones. My ears pricked up at that. “Stolen?” I asked, suddenly aware it was my first attempt to join the conversation, and all eyes were on me.

“Nah, we’re too good for that,” Cal winked. “He just means did any stones wander off.”

I frowned, more confused.

“When the storms are huge, like today, some of the lighter stones can be moved by the high winds or the occasional tornado. Sometimes, we have to go on a little hunt to get them all back to where they should be. It’s just part of the job.”

“That sounds challenging. What if you can’t find them?” Hazel had driven home just how important they were to the kingdom.

“We don’t have a problem finding the opals if they are moved. We can feel them. They are infused with our magic, and we are trained to sense them when we learn to tend the fields.”

“So you’re connected to the storm opals?”

“We are connected to everything here. The earth and trees. The hills and the water. It’s all made from storms as we are.”

“Why aren’t other kingdoms like that?” I wondered out loud. I wasn’t trying to be unkind. I wanted to understand.

“Maybe they are. But maybe the storm fae are different, or we pay more attention to where our magic comes from. We all have magic in our veins. It keeps us alive, just not all of us can use it outside of our bodies.”

“I wonder if the other kingdoms know…” I’d never thought of myself as magical, but maybe he was right. Life was magic. Maybe I could be, too?

“I don’t think many fae are as connected to their innate magic as we are here. It’s their loss if they don’t learn what they are capable of,” Cal said matter of factly.

It was an interesting dinner conversation with a fascinating family. We passed the meal with many such subjects. I had thought of myself as quite well versed. Despite having grown up in isolation, I had met so many different fae from far and wide since breaking free, I thought I’d seen a lot of what the realm had to offer.

But by breaking bread with a family of a different culture in their home, I was learning that I’d hardly even scratched the surface. This was how you got to know about life in new places, and it was opening my eyes. These fae belonged, not just in their kingdom and in the community they were a part of within it. They belonged to each other, and it was inspiring, but a gut punch at the same time. I was left wondering if I would ever truly belong no matter how hard I tried.

One thing I was feeling quite strongly about was dragging them into this—I didn’t know what to call it. ‘Investigation’ sounded too organized for what this had become. It was just my mess, and I should have dealt with it without drawing good fae in, just in case it all went wrong. I didn’t even want to get this book from her mom’s office anymore. There had to be other ways for us to find out if these eggs were painted with something mixed with the opal, to disguise them for some reason.

I put my hand on her leg under the table. “Your family is great”

“They are,” she smiled, putting her hand on top of mine.

In a split second the air between us shifted, or maybe my mind did. It wasn’t like when the taste of blood transported me back to a memory, but it was a similar feeling. Like a nudge from a higher power. A feeling about where to go from here and what to do.

We didn’t need the book because it didn’t matter. We needed to go to the source. We needed to see Alora’s egg for ourselves. Or maybe we were placed here right now by the Goddess to stop her egg from being stolen when they check it? The timing seemed too coincidental, and I believed in divine timing, so this felt important.

But I had to wait to tell Hazel. I couldn’t do it in front of a table full of her family. My mind reeled while trying to keep up with the conversation.

“Luka, will you be staying the night?” Hazel’s mom asked, and I looked up, realizing both parents were eyeing us and might be able to see our hands were connected beneath the table. I carefully slipped mine away from Hazel’s.

“Yes,” Hazel answered for me in a casual tone.

“I will make up the guest room then,” her dad said, standing from the table and gathering some bowls as he went.

Cal stifled a laugh across the table, and Hazel shot him a look that had him straightening, chastised.

It was fair enough. I wasn’t even expecting them to allow me to stay, so I would never expect to be granted free reign to cosy up with their only daughter under their roof after our first meeting. Besides, I still didn’t know where we stood on the whole thing. We’d been together, but that didn’t mean we would continue to be so.

“I’m extremely grateful for your hospitality,” I said.

I was shown to their guest room, which happened to be across from the hall from Hazel’s room. Out of habit, I checked for escape routes in case I needed to get out of here in a hurry.

My brain felt conflicted, like I could go a hundred directions or stay in one place, and none of them would lead me to where I needed to be. I wanted to tear at my insides to escape this purposelessness.

But most of all, I didn’t really want to sleep because I didn’t want to dream. I considered getting a head start on my hunch and leaving alone to try and learn about this dragon who had the kingdom’s only egg currently. The window opened fully and cut out the side of the hill the house was built into. When I leant out, I could see the route, so that was easy enough. I knew the path back through the house if I needed to go that way. But an anchor in my chest held me back.

Hazel would check on me before bed, so I couldn’t leave. And I needed Hazel with me. I knew that deep inside. I didn’t know why—maybe it was apprehension about dealing with another storm, or maybe it was knowing she could get me into places I couldn’t get myself—but I suspected it was more than that. Not working alone on this felt right.

“Why are you half out the window?” Hazel’s voice startled me.

“Warn a guy before sneaking up on him, will you?” I withdrew from the open window and sat on the sill.

“Who’s the spy? Shouldn’t you be listening for me?”

“You’re a dragon, so you have better ears than I do. You can sneak around and shit.”

“Where did you get that idea?” She sat on the window ledge next to me.

I didn’t actually know where it came from. “I thought you were lighter on your feet?”

“I think you made that up.” She peered in the same direction I was looking. “What were you looking at?”

“Just outside.” Telling her I always needed to know an escape route from every room I walked into sounded like I was flighty at best, paranoid at worst.

“Are we going to go find the book?” she asked.

“No, I don’t think we need it. I think we need to go to the source.” I said, hoping I could convince her to do this the way my gut was telling me.

“What are you talking about?”

“We need to make sure Alora’s egg is okay ourselves before we do anything else. Don’t you think?”

“Now?” she asked.

“No, tonight won’t work. I think we have to come up with a better way to get in there. You said you were friends with her, right?”

“We are, as the only two active dragons from Storm.”

“Then I think it will be a lot less alarming to go see her tomorrow instead of showing up in the middle of the night.”

“You’re right. The priests aren’t due there until tomorrow anyway.”

I wrapped my arm around her shoulder. “Get some sleep then. Tomorrow, we’ll figure out what to do about the priest visit.”