an understood part of war. “Very well. Choose ten of your riders to accompany the soldiers. Leave the rest to guard the palace.”
“Yes, Sire.”
Ryneq met Nykin’s gaze as he rose from his seat to follow after Eldin, and his heart stuttered at the way Nykin’s blue eyes shone with fierce pride. Nykin nodded, a thank-you for Ryneq not interfering, and a small smile tugged at the corner of Nykin’s mouth.
“I’ll see you later, Nykin, before you leave.” Ryneq may have asked his riders to do this, but he would not let Nykin go on patrol without some time alone with him first.
“Yes, Sire.”
The guards withdrew with the riders, leaving Ryneq alone with the elves. “We need that barrier up as soon as possible. With Lerran having left with Nysad, are there enough of you to get it done?” The thought hadn’t occurred to him before now, and Ryneq hoped he hadn’t jeopardized anything by agreeing to Lerran’s request to go.
“Yes, Your Highness. Although Lerran’s magic is powerful, we have sufficient magic between us to complete the task.” Glaevahl stood and beckoned for the others to do the same. “With your permission we will get started on it now.”
“Of course. Let me know when it’s done.”
With a nod of understanding, Glaevahl and the others left the room, and Ryneq slumped back in his chair with his head in his hands. It would be a miracle if they all got out of this alive.
Chapter 5
N YKIN HADN ’ T meant to speak out of turn in the hall, but the words had slipped out before he could stop them. Eldin was clearly both annoyed and frustrated with him. As a dragon rider, he answered to Eldin and should wait for his orders, not bypass him altogether as he’d just done.
Eldin stayed quiet all the way to the Eyrie, and his silence made Nykin nervous. Selene shot him a few worried glances, but he just shrugged in response. He had no idea how much trouble he was in. As soon as they reached the top of the steps, Eldin pulled him aside as the others went into the entranceway.
“A word, Nykin.”
Nykin swallowed down his apprehension and turned to face him. “Yes?”
“I know it must be difficult for you sometimes, being the king’s consort as well as a dragon rider.” He sighed, looking skyward for a moment as though trying to find the right words. “But by the Gods , Nykin, you need to learn to hold your tongue.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” Nykin hung his head and scuffed the ground with his boot. He hated disappointing Eldin, and he felt about twelve years old with the way Eldin was looking at him now. “It won’t happen again.”
“Make sure it doesn’t. I need to trust you’ll follow my orders without hesitation.” He clapped Nykin on the shoulder, taking some of the sting out of his words, before heading inside.
Nykin followed after him, trying to console himself with the fact that Eldin wasn’t half as mad as he’d been expecting.
“Well?” Selene mouthed as Nykin walked over to stand next to her. She was waiting with all the other dragon riders now. They must have been called together as soon as they’d left the great hall.
“It was okay. Tell you later,” he mouthed back quickly. Eldin was about to speak, and Nykin didn’t want to get in any more trouble. Jaken stood next to her, smiling over at Nykin and giving him a small wave. Nykin hadn’t had a chance to catch up with him since he’d returned from Alel, and he smiled back, pleased to see his friend.
“The outlying villages are being evacuated tonight as soon as the sun goes down, and the people brought inside the palace walls.” Eldin’s words were followed by absolute silence as everyone waited to see what role they’d play in it. “Small patrols of guards have already ridden out to the villages, and we will provide aerial cover on their return journey in case King Seran discovers what we’re doing and decides to attack.”
A multitude of hushed voices echoed around the cave.
“What
“Yes, Sire.”
Ryneq met Nykin’s gaze as he rose from his seat to follow after Eldin, and his heart stuttered at the way Nykin’s blue eyes shone with fierce pride. Nykin nodded, a thank-you for Ryneq not interfering, and a small smile tugged at the corner of Nykin’s mouth.
“I’ll see you later, Nykin, before you leave.” Ryneq may have asked his riders to do this, but he would not let Nykin go on patrol without some time alone with him first.
“Yes, Sire.”
The guards withdrew with the riders, leaving Ryneq alone with the elves. “We need that barrier up as soon as possible. With Lerran having left with Nysad, are there enough of you to get it done?” The thought hadn’t occurred to him before now, and Ryneq hoped he hadn’t jeopardized anything by agreeing to Lerran’s request to go.
“Yes, Your Highness. Although Lerran’s magic is powerful, we have sufficient magic between us to complete the task.” Glaevahl stood and beckoned for the others to do the same. “With your permission we will get started on it now.”
“Of course. Let me know when it’s done.”
With a nod of understanding, Glaevahl and the others left the room, and Ryneq slumped back in his chair with his head in his hands. It would be a miracle if they all got out of this alive.
Chapter 5
N YKIN HADN ’ T meant to speak out of turn in the hall, but the words had slipped out before he could stop them. Eldin was clearly both annoyed and frustrated with him. As a dragon rider, he answered to Eldin and should wait for his orders, not bypass him altogether as he’d just done.
Eldin stayed quiet all the way to the Eyrie, and his silence made Nykin nervous. Selene shot him a few worried glances, but he just shrugged in response. He had no idea how much trouble he was in. As soon as they reached the top of the steps, Eldin pulled him aside as the others went into the entranceway.
“A word, Nykin.”
Nykin swallowed down his apprehension and turned to face him. “Yes?”
“I know it must be difficult for you sometimes, being the king’s consort as well as a dragon rider.” He sighed, looking skyward for a moment as though trying to find the right words. “But by the Gods , Nykin, you need to learn to hold your tongue.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” Nykin hung his head and scuffed the ground with his boot. He hated disappointing Eldin, and he felt about twelve years old with the way Eldin was looking at him now. “It won’t happen again.”
“Make sure it doesn’t. I need to trust you’ll follow my orders without hesitation.” He clapped Nykin on the shoulder, taking some of the sting out of his words, before heading inside.
Nykin followed after him, trying to console himself with the fact that Eldin wasn’t half as mad as he’d been expecting.
“Well?” Selene mouthed as Nykin walked over to stand next to her. She was waiting with all the other dragon riders now. They must have been called together as soon as they’d left the great hall.
“It was okay. Tell you later,” he mouthed back quickly. Eldin was about to speak, and Nykin didn’t want to get in any more trouble. Jaken stood next to her, smiling over at Nykin and giving him a small wave. Nykin hadn’t had a chance to catch up with him since he’d returned from Alel, and he smiled back, pleased to see his friend.
“The outlying villages are being evacuated tonight as soon as the sun goes down, and the people brought inside the palace walls.” Eldin’s words were followed by absolute silence as everyone waited to see what role they’d play in it. “Small patrols of guards have already ridden out to the villages, and we will provide aerial cover on their return journey in case King Seran discovers what we’re doing and decides to attack.”
A multitude of hushed voices echoed around the cave.
“What
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