Dragon Fire (Rise of the Dragon Riders Book 3) by Ava Richardson

Author:Ava Richardson [Richardson, Ava]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-21T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

Cora stood stiffly next to Alaric, trying her best not to open her mouth. The rebel leaders stood a few feet away, questioning Octavia and Raksha, and it was clear from their postures and the hard, disapproving looks on their faces that they did not immediately find favor with the princess. If anything, they were quite suspicious of her.

Cora wanted to butt in, to tell them that they were wasting their time with their doubts and suspicions that could be better spent gathering all the real intel that Octavia had and was eager to share, but she knew that they wouldn’t be willing to listen. Not yet. You were suspicious too, she had to remind herself. At first, anyway. After all, it wasn’t every day that a princess and the king’s chosen heir up and joins the rebel cause. The rebel leaders would need to decide on their own that they could trust Octavia, not just because Cora and Alaric vouched for her. So, she stood there, doing her very best not to say anything that might be viewed as interfering or overstepping.

For her part, though, Octavia did not seem to be bothered by the rebel leaders’ chilly reception—at least as far as Cora could tell. She stood next to Raksha with her shoulders squared, her facial features neutral as she answered all the questions being asked of her.

She’s handling this interrogation rather well, Cora commented to Alaric. They certainly don’t seem to be making it easy for her.

No, they are not, Alaric agreed. My mother is getting rather frustrated on behalf of her rider.

“I know my arrival in this way is a bit surprising,” Octavia was saying, her voice getting a bit louder now. “But I am willing to do what it takes to prove myself a valuable ally. I assure you, my allegiance is not with the king. And I can prove it.”

She walked over to where her knapsack sat on the ground and began to rifle through it, pulling out several documents that she had brought with her from the palace. “Onyx is planning to invade Athelia soon,” she said, handing over the papers. “I imagine you know this much already—he hasn’t been subtle in his preparations as he stockpiles weapons and recruits soldiers from all over the nation. What I can tell you is how important this invasion is to him. Despite what the propaganda might have told you about his background, the truth is that his life in Athelia was very difficult, and he continues to hold a grudge. It has long been his dream to return at the head of a powerful army and bring the country to its knees. He’s more than willing to devote whatever Tenegardian resources are called for in order to make that dream a reality.”

Oden snorted. “The king has already made clear that he considers Tenegard to be his own private treasure chest, with all of the country’s resources at his disposal. Too many of us have been

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