Snapdragon's War by Wren J. Foley

Author:Wren J. Foley [Foley, Wren J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-07-24T23:00:00+00:00

Twelve

Fal and I hurried down the castle’s hallways with the two guards, one in front and one behind. They guided us into a large dining hall with bare stone floors and long, dark wood tables lined with matching chairs. The guards led us to the far end of the room, where narrow staircases spiraled downward, one at each end of the wall. We rushed down the one on the right and emerged into the kitchens, crowded with pale wooden counters and cabinets. The staff were nowhere in sight, but a group of people waited for us inside: the king and queen, several royal guards and soldiers, and Anle, his wrists still bound, but to his front this time. The king and queen had changed into short blue jackets, and the queen had abandoned her skirt in favor of black fitted pants. Every guard and soldier, as well as the king and queen, carried packs with them. By the spirits, what was happening?

“We’re all here,” King Temeye said. “To the stables.”

“To the hills,” Anle argued. “Several of my friends decided to wait there.”

The king glared at him. “You expect us to fly on your dragons?”

“They’ll expect you to take horses out of the city, not go into the hills and fly. The dragons will get us there faster than any horse.”

“Tesyidel is there, too,” Queen Naleyo said. “I agree with Anle.”

“Agreeing with the man who tried to kill us,” the king hissed. “I don’t believe this.”

“I agree with the plan that makes the most sense,” the queen snapped.

The guards glanced at each other nervously. Whatever was going on, we needed to move quickly.

“The dragons will help us,” I said. “And flying isn’t that bad.”

Queen Naleyo gestured to me as if I’d proven her point. “We don’t have time to debate this, Temeye.”

The king growled. “Fine. Let’s get moving.”

With the guards surrounding us, we hurried out of the kitchens into the main entry hall, then through a hallway leading behind the grand central staircase. A few turns later, a large gold-trimmed door appeared at the end of a long corridor. It led outside into the hills as the sun was setting. Tall stone walls dotted with occasional guard towers ran up the hill on either side of a paved, swerving stepped path. We ran uphill, eventually reaching a tall signal tower built out of rough stone with a huge stack of logs at the top and a shingled roof shielding it. A guard glanced down at us curiously, but said nothing. We all paused, out of breath except for Fal.

“Where are your dragons?” King Temeye asked, glaring at Anle.

Anle watched the skies. “Almost here.”

A few moments passed, and dragons began appearing from behind hill crests and trees. They landed beside us and before us, and the tower guard ducked down behind the walls. Tesyidel landed near the queen, who stepped closer and rubbed her snout. Her trust and admiration of the dragon so soon after meeting shocked me. Guilt struck me as I thought of my previous treatment of Ven.

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