Page 81 of Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames #2)
Chapter Sixty
Elowen
The bells of the castle towers ring out to wish their prince farewell, and a sea that was riddled with blood yesterday is now filled with flowers.
The people of Galakin stand along cliffs, shores, and boats to cheer as our ship cuts through the floating garden with more petals raining down.
I have no doubt Zale is on the main deck, giving his best smile and waving at the people he’ll one day rule.
I needed silence, craved it, after being surrounded by the screams of battle and the wounded in the aftermath.
I healed as Nyrinn taught me, not yet trusting my magical abilities enough to attempt tending to wounds with anything other than remedies known to me.
Saskia stands beside me on the small, private deck located at the stern of the ship, a frown turning her lips down. “I don’t understand why people cheer for war. They throw flowers as if in celebration when many will die.”
I drum my fingers along the railing, dragging my gaze over the Galakin fleet following us.
Their orange sails billow in the breeze, enlarging the red sea serpent coiling around the yellow sun.
The king and queen also gifted Zarius five ships to transport Thirwen survivors who bent the knee to him and took a blood oath.
Zarius kept his family’s sigil, but inverted the colors, making it a red kraken wrapping its tentacles around a matching ship on a black sail.
“I think life becomes a series of trying to make the unbearable moments bearable, and most often that comes in the form of hope, even if it’s a lie.
They may throw flowers in what looks like celebration, but flowers are also placed on graves or threaded through a corpse’s hands before their pyre is lit.
It’s a goodbye, even if they don’t want to speak it plainly. ”
Her eyes rest heavily on my profile, and though she doesn’t reach out to touch me, she takes a step closer as the red-tinged and scorched coastline of Zario fades away and we begin the journey back to Erebos. Not home. Vareveth soldiers will meet us in Port Celestria to push forward into Imirath.
The door creaks open behind us, and we both turn toward the sudden breach of peace. Zarius freezes in the doorway as his gaze settles on us. “My apologies, I thought the space was vacant.”
He moves to turn away, but I stop him. “You don’t have to run, Zarius. We’re locked on this boat for a week, we’re bound to cross paths.”
One of his hands tightens on the wood when his crimson eyes settle on Saskia briefly, but he releases it, and strides toward us, taking the vacant spot on my other side.
He doesn’t say anything, opting to stand in silence as he watches the small waves created by the vessel.
I hate thinking about what could be lurking within the shadowy depths.
I’ve seen my fair share of monsters on land.
I’d hate to find out what swims where no person has ventured.
“Why is the kraken on Thirwen’s sigil?” I ask, wanting to say anything to break the now uncomfortable quiet.
Zarius’s eyes move to the dragons flying just behind the ship where I can keep sight of them all. “Several centuries ago, it was said the first queen of my house was bonded to the kraken. It was her familiar.”
Saskia narrows her eyes. “I heard that was a children’s tale.”
Zarius doesn’t look at her when he speaks. “There’s often truth in tales, even those meant for children.”
She scoffs. “I prefer factual texts, not fairy tales.”
“How dull your library must be, my lady.”
Saskia looks to the sky in what seems to be a plea for mercy before addressing me. “I’ll be on the upper deck.”
She breezes through the door, her black gown trailing behind her, leaving Zarius and me in silence again. If he’s bothered by her swift dismissal, he doesn’t show it, but the silence between us is still irksome.
I lick my lips. “Do you have a familiar?”
He flinches, though it’s barely noticeable. “I had a familiar. Many years ago.”
I glance at him from the corner of my eye again before mirroring his position, facing forward to watch the dragons cut through the sherbert-colored clouds.
The only comfort I was able to find in exile was knowing the dragons were alive.
I forced myself to survive because I knew they needed me.
His loss is one I can empathize with, and I pity him in this moment. “I’m sorry, Zarius.”
I can’t imagine my bond being severed. The hollowness I’d be forced to live with…I don’t even know if I’d be able to survive it. It would be like walking through life with five permanent knives in my chest, always bleeding, never healing.
“Thank you,” he says, sounding sincere before clearing his throat. “She’s still with me. Those that are bonded to us never truly leave us.”
“Will you ever be able to form an attachment to a different animal?”
“No, and I wouldn’t want to,” he adamantly states.
“I understand.” I swallow thickly. “When I was separated from my dragons, I never spoke of them because it was too painful. I know we aren’t exactly friends, but if you want to talk about her with someone who understands animal bonds, you can talk to me.”
To be misunderstood is an awfully lonely feeling. You can say exactly what’s in your head but feel as if you’re talking to a brick wall when saying it to the wrong person. Zarius has no ties to home aside from Ser Rhys, and I can empathize with that as well, not having anyone in Imirath.
He turns away from my dragons, and though his face doesn’t change from impassive I note the respect trickling into his eyes as he dips his head. “Have you thought about what you’ll say when you see your father again?”
I grit my teeth while contemplating the uncomfortable question.
After all these years, I’m putting an end to the war he started between us.
“They don’t deserve words when all they have given us is blood.
Let your vengeance and sword speak for you.
It’s the only language they know, so don’t ponder what you’ll say, ponder what you’ll do when the time comes to take the crown he ripped from your grasp. ”
His white waves brush across his face as he regards me but doesn’t move to tuck them away. “So you are as bloodthirsty as they say.”
“I’m a woman. My taste for blood stems from the need to replenish what was drained from my body when men decided I was not a person, I was property.
” I tilt my chin up, taking a step closer to the prince.
“The only way to survive this world is by becoming more powerful than those who stand against you. Indecisiveness is the death of success. All it takes is one moment of hesitancy for failure to find you. Use this journey to make your peace with what you must do, and how your life will change, and see it done.”
I turn toward the door, leaving Zarius to contemplate my words, but the boards creak beneath my feet when he calls out my name, halting my movements. “Thank you.”
I look over my shoulder, raising my brows. “For encouraging you to kill your father? That was entirely selfish. I don’t want to be the only ruler Ravaryn curses as a kinslayer when we ascend our thrones.”
“For your candor. Flowery language seems to be the default when speaking of difficult topics.”
“Ah, well if it’s honesty you value then I vow to put you in your place whenever needed, princeling.”
He grants me a half smile—the first he’s given me since we met. “Noted, dragon queen.”