Page 38 of Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames #2)

Chapter Twenty-seven

Elowen

Cayden’s hardly said a word to me since we left the estate, more than likely keeping his temper reined in by a thin leash.

Insults made by cowardly men who would tremble in fear if forced to say it to my face don’t bother me.

It’s easy for them to follow one another’s opinions like mindless sheep, to view themselves as untouchable gods.

What’s difficult is knowing how to sink your claws into the minds of the masses to control their perception.

The tragedy of language is how few people have the ability to string together words that actually mean something.

The lords can spew whatever vitriol they want.

All it does is provide me with more ammunition to use against them.

Ladislava is packed with people spilling out of taverns and congregating along the roads.

Verendus was too, but the citizens who live in the inner city don’t idolize Cayden as the soldiers in Ladislava do.

Cheering echoes off the buildings as Cayden slows the horse on which we both ride, and pints are raised in honor of the king and queen.

Ale splashes onto the cobblestones and turns the fresh snow to slush as tankards slam into each other.

They revere Cayden because unlike most kings in Ravaryn, he fights alongside them, and unlike all Ravaryn kings, he was one of them.

I tug my pendant along the chain, knowing Cayden will recognize this as one of my anxious ticks. His temper has been stewing like an oncoming storm, and I intend on wielding it.

“What did they say about you?” The words are forced through his teeth.

He’s probably thinking the vile things the lords said have begun to sink in, but they hate me because I have more power than them.

Their insecurity is transparent, and they’re not worthy of influencing my emotions or self-perception.

“It was nothing, Cayden,” I sigh. “It means nothing to me.”

He releases his hold on my waist to tilt my chin toward him. “It means something to me.” Oh, I’m counting on it. I’d feel bad for manipulating him if it weren’t for our benefit. He’s smart enough to know what I’m doing, but his anger overpowers logical reasoning.

He turns toward Ryder when he realizes I won’t talk. “Tell me what they said.”

He’s forced to raise his voice, causing several curious soldiers to glance our way. I make sure to lean closer to him when they do. Playing the part of the wounded woman even if it couldn’t be further from the truth.

“Too much,” Ryder sneers, his face distorting in genuine disgust. “I will not repeat the things they said they’d do to her body. Elowen can tell you if she chooses, but I’m sure you can guess.”

The shudder that rattles my bones isn’t faked.

Violence against women is so normalized among men that they can sit around a table and jest about it as if we’re worth less than waste on the streets.

I’ll never understand how they can look into the faces of their mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, or ordinary strangers who deserve to live their lives unscathed by misogynistic malice and proclaim happiness in the face of female suffering.

I also can’t understand why some men are so threatened by strong women.

When they can’t fathom female power, they display the vilest of intentions to deface her, to diminish her, while women are too often taught that our strength comes from what we survive at their hands.

And I hate that. I despise that our power is linked to how they defile us.

Strength comes from so many places, but for women, it comes from within us.

We are not defined by what is done to us, and we are made of more than the abuse we suffer.

“They made several treasonous statements aside from those. One lord even revealed that they’re searching for any bastard sons of Eagor to support his claim to the throne.”

A soldier unabashedly staring up at us as we pass hears Ryder’s statement.

“They won’t touch you,” Cayden vows menacingly. “I’ll cut every finger off their damn hands if they so much as reach for you.”

The soldier’s lips turn down, and I watch as he heatedly speaks to others in his vicinity, pointing in our direction as we round the corner.

All it takes is one drop to create a ripple throughout a pond.

There’s little people love more than gossip, and news of the lords’ treason will spread throughout Ladislava like wildfire.

“Not that I disagree with your tactic, Elowen, but aren’t we trying to avoid a rebellion?” Ryder asks once we’re far enough from the commotion.

“We’re avoiding a rebellion against the crown,” I respond. “But if the army chooses to revolt against the lords for their treasonous statements, then Cayden and I can dust our hands of it until we step in to diffuse the situation.”

“They will be painted as the villains, and the crown can show power,” Finnian adds.

“Exactly.” And I highly doubt their heirs and wives will stand by traitors as they’re sentenced to die. “I sparked the fire, but I’ll also put it out when the time is right.”

Two guards push open the tall wrought iron gates of Veles Manor and we continue down the road. I feel more at peace just having crossed the property line. “I know why you waited to tell me,” Cayden says. “You needed the soldiers to see my anger, and you played it well, but I meant what I said.”

“I know,” I softly answer. I won’t be at the mercy of another man again, and they will beg for clemency before I’m done with them. “We’ll end them together.”

“That we will.”

All four of us bound up the front steps and through the main entrance, removing our cloaks and boots for the servants to hang in the closet. Someone rushing down the hall catches my attention, and I crane my neck just in time to see Saskia round the corner and latch her dark eyes on mine.

“I found something!” she exclaims while carrying a several-hundred-page book in her arms. “I think it can be achieved!”

“You do?” I meet her halfway, ignoring the mumbled confusion behind me.

“We can test the theory tonight if you’re up to it.”

“What are we doing now?” Finnian groans.

Saskia threads her hand through mine and leads me to the sitting room while the other three follow hot on our heels.

Cayden takes the spot closest to me on the couch, Finnian and Ryder sink into the chairs across from us, but Saskia paces in front of the fire, her dark purple gown dragging behind her.

“Elowen and I spoke to Asena earlier today to discuss Elowen’s potential ability to possess magic. ”

“Oh, yes, let’s trust the woman who chants in a circle around a fire,” Ryder mutters.

Saskia glares at him but continues speaking, “I scoured through whatever stories I could find regarding magic in Thirwen, given the bonds they share with animal familiars. There are prominent families mentioned in there whose magic dates back for centuries, but when someone born into that family lacks abilities by the age of twelve, they perform ceremonies to awaken dormant magic.”

Cayden sits forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “What magic of hers are we trying to awaken?”

“The ability to enter my dragons’ minds,” I say. “To see through their eyes.”

“For what purpose?” Finnian asks.

“The cages on the border,” Ryder responds, and Finnian’s face pales. “There was a report by one of our spies in Imirath, and we all believe whatever is in those cages will be targeting Elowen and the dragons.”

“To give the ritual a higher chance of success, Elowen will have to deprive her senses,” Saskia says.

“She needs to entirely focus on her bond with the dragons and give in to it, but she’s unpracticed in magic.

In many cases, an anchor is used, which is a person deeply tethered to the potential mage who will keep their hands on them throughout the ceremony. ”

“Young mages in Thirwen are sometimes transported to the ice fjords to awaken their magic. Some believe it has something to do with magic in the water and others think it has to do with the freezing temperatures,” Cayden adds.

“I’ve heard of this tactic before, but I don’t know anything about anchors. ”

“They provide a pathway back once she’s not in her own mind. If Elowen can’t find her way back to her body, then she could become…stuck. Asena will be returning with Ophir shortly to aid in the ceremony, since they’ll know more regarding the topic.”

“ Stuck? ” Ryder questions. “We have a war to fight and my queen might be stuck inside a dragon?”

“She can’t risk herself like this!” Finnian exclaims.

“Elowen will make up her own mind,” Cayden cuts off their hysterics in a stern voice and turns to face me as the other three bicker among themselves rather than projecting their doubts onto me. “When did you start speculating about your abilities?”

“Saskia and I were discussing the matter when you returned to camp to deliver the news of Imirath’s succession. I was going to tell you,” I insist. “Everything happened so fast.”

“It’s fine. What do you want to do?”

I dryly swallow. The idea of being unable to return to my body is unnerving, but I have a duty to my dragons, and I can’t let them down again. “I have to try. I know it’s a risk, but I won’t be able to live with myself if my inaction tonight harms my dragons.”

He nods like he expected me to say this and darts his eyes to the side to glare at the others. Their bickering still fills the room. “Don’t listen to their doubts. Everything you need to survive this lives within you.”

I reach forward to squeeze his hand and open my mouth to thank him for his reassurance, but something entirely different overtakes my thoughts when I look down. “Is that my name?”

“Yes,” he states evenly.

I gape at him, unsure whether to kiss him or question his thought process. “How are you so calm about this!”

He lifts a brow. “Because I’m the one who put them there.”

“ Them? ” I lift his hand so I’m able to get a better look at it, and sure enough, the same tattoo is mirrored on both sides. “You permanently inked my name on your finger, Cayden! Twice !”

“I had to do it twice. I can’t see your name on the outside of my finger.

This one is for me.” He holds the inside of his ring finger in front of my face to showcase Elowen written in my delicate handwriting.

“There may be times I have to take my wedding band off so I don’t damage it, but I did this so you know my vows will always be upheld. ”

I drop my face into my hands. “You’re insane.”

“Stop acting like you don’t love it.” He tugs at my wrists until he can see me again, and a devious smirk slides across his lips when I can’t hide my smile any longer.

This must’ve been his appointment in Ladislava a few hours ago.

But his ease disappears when he turns back to the group, raising his voice above theirs.

“Elowen will perform the ceremony, and if the three of you don’t stop bickering like children, I will forcibly remove you from my house and bar you from entering for the foreseeable future.

” Silence cloaks the room immediately, and Cayden leans his head on the back of the couch, slipping his eyes shut as a sigh escapes his lips. “Fucking finally.”