House of Dragons by Jessica Cluess

Author:Jessica Cluess [Cluess, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2020-05-12T00:00:00+00:00

Vespir wasn’t surprised when the bells chimed to signal the end of the Game. She’d sat cross-kneed on the floor after Antonia had left, waiting for Hyperia to be declared the winner. She just hadn’t expected it to take this long.

She supposed the chaotic attack in the ballroom had set things back. At least she hadn’t been there. This was one mess they couldn’t blame on her, no matter how they tried.

Wiping her eyes, she sidled along the hallways until the guards herded her into the large, rosy parlor where they’d begun the competition. When she entered, something immediately caught her eye.

Hyperia looked as if someone had struck her in the stomach, hunched over, hands on her gut. Lord Volscia, beside his daughter, looked sickly, too.

What had happened?

Emilia and Lucian huddled with their backs to the walls. Only Ajax, arms crossed and legs confidently spread, appeared satisfied. No. No, it couldn’t have been…him.

“Shall we?” Camilla said. Petros had only just entered the room, looking a bit pale. Whatever happened in the ballroom, it’d thrown their grand ceremonies off. Neither priest looked like they wanted to be showy now. “The winner,” Camilla announced, “is Lady Emilia, with three Houses.”

No one looked surprised, or at least, not that surprised. Vespir was too numb to be shocked by anything.

“Bring forward the box,” Camilla said, gesturing to the table. One of the Volscia guards in his gold livery brought it. The priestess opened the latch, lifted the lid…and gasped. “What the—” she whispered. For the first time since Vespir had met her, she appeared dumbfounded. “Who has taken the pendants?”

The box was empty.

Everyone shared baffled looks. Vespir was half-afraid they’d start blaming her. After all, she was a commoner, and those jewels were expensive. Finally, Ajax snorted and shook his head, whipping his plait of yellow hair back and forth.

“You.” Camilla narrowed her black eyes. She appeared this close to losing her temper.

“If I couldn’t get a meeting with any of you fine lords and ladies, I figured I ought to take a souvenir of the experience.” The Tiber boy bared his sharp little teeth in a grin. Vespir’s chin wobbled as she tried to hold back shocked laughter.

“Where are they?” Camilla snapped. Instantly, the room’s collective gaze went to the pouch at Ajax’s side. The priestess ripped it away and poured out a glittering handful of fine jewels. The pendants, however, were nowhere to be found.

“You think I’d keep them in a sack?” Ajax winked. “Use your imagination, Your Grace.”

Vespir struggled to control her breathing. Her shoulders began to shake.

“Where are they?” Camilla snarled. “Return them, or there’ll be consequences.”

“I thought you were saving the killing-me part for later.”

“How did you even get in here?”

“Come on. Let me maintain my aura of mystery.”

“High priestess, I swear the door was locked and the guard posted,” one of the soldiers stammered.

“Doors.” Ajax tsked. “I’m way beyond doors these days.”

That did it. Vespir collapsed to her knees and burst out laughing. The room stared as she pointed with a shaking hand at every one of them in turn.

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