brave man," Thundegar said as they walked between the rock wall and the feral queen. Enormous eyes tracked them, and scales shifted as the feral queen moved to watch them pass.
Kenward wanted to run and hide and never come back out. He could feel the breath of his demise descending. It was not imagination alone tormenting him. The feral queen fostered his fear and backed it with deadly intent.
Entering the tunnel leading to the kitchens at a brisk walk, Kenward finally breathed again.
"The queen has a unique way of expressing herself, don't you think?" Thundegar asked while wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"I'm not sure I can go back out there," Kenward admitted. "Brave I might be, but suicidal I'm not. My place among the stars will have to wait."
"I think she likes you," Thundegar said.
Kenward wasn't certain if he was talking about Allette or the feral queen; he was afraid to ask. This was not a conversation he was prepared to have. The low murmur of many voices in another part of the keep caught their attention. A crowd blocked the corridor up ahead, and more people arrived from a side passage.
"What's going on?" Kenward asked, acutely aware of being an outsider.
"Lady Catrin's going to explore the hold," a young man said.
That wasn't news to Kenward and did little to explain why people jammed the halls. "Why the crowd?" Kenward asked, hoping not to offend by asking the wrong question.
"People loyal to Catrin began to talk, and we decided we want to help. Turns out, there are a lot of us."
"We have important news for Lady Catrin," Kenward said. Half expecting to be snubbed, he was surprised and a little embarrassed when the young man began shouting the Herald's friends needed to come through. The deeper they moved, the more necessary the shouts became. Bodies crowded the constricting halls, the din consuming all but the loudest cries. Trapped amid a mass of humanity, Kenward had never felt so confined and thought he might suffocate.
"Easy there, friend," Thundegar said. "Make some room! Give this man some space!"
Packed against those around them, people did what they could to give Kenward room. In a way, it almost made the feeling worse. Guards wearing uniforms with Trinda's insignia guided the two men to where Catrin stood atop a stack of crates, tears in her eyes. The sight left Kenward breathless. He truly loved her in spite of all the pain their relationship had caused him. She'd always done her best to save those around her and even those who opposed her. He knew she'd never felt like a true ruler within Dragonhold, but this gathering was a clear majority and showed the people chose her as their leader.
When Kenward and Thundegar made their way to where Catrin stood, bereft of words, she shook her head,and tears fell to the stone floor . Her father moved to her side and put his arm around her. "Thank you all," Catrin finally said in a voice thick with emotion. A great roar traveled through the halls, rivaling that of the dragons.
When the roar died down enough for Kenward to be heard, he shouted, "Catrin! The Dragon's Wing will surely be destroyed if you don't come quickly!" He had her full attention.
"I need to get to the Great Hall," Catrin said in a tone that set people instantly moving. Kenward had never seen anything to match the way the people responded to Catrin's words. Wendel Volker marched ahead of Catrin, barking at anyone who got in their way. The tunnels that had nearly cost him his sanity coming in cleared so fast, they strode through at a quick walk.
"We're going to need coal," Kenward said, "and buckets to satisfy Allette. They want the wood from the Serpent ."
"For what?" Catrin asked, sounding offended on his behalf.
"Allette and Onin are going to attack one of the spires," Kenward said.
Looking shocked, Catrin grabbed his arm and dragged him forward at a half run. He would've said something about buckets and coal had she given him the chance. Within the Great Hall, the feral
Kenward wanted to run and hide and never come back out. He could feel the breath of his demise descending. It was not imagination alone tormenting him. The feral queen fostered his fear and backed it with deadly intent.
Entering the tunnel leading to the kitchens at a brisk walk, Kenward finally breathed again.
"The queen has a unique way of expressing herself, don't you think?" Thundegar asked while wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"I'm not sure I can go back out there," Kenward admitted. "Brave I might be, but suicidal I'm not. My place among the stars will have to wait."
"I think she likes you," Thundegar said.
Kenward wasn't certain if he was talking about Allette or the feral queen; he was afraid to ask. This was not a conversation he was prepared to have. The low murmur of many voices in another part of the keep caught their attention. A crowd blocked the corridor up ahead, and more people arrived from a side passage.
"What's going on?" Kenward asked, acutely aware of being an outsider.
"Lady Catrin's going to explore the hold," a young man said.
That wasn't news to Kenward and did little to explain why people jammed the halls. "Why the crowd?" Kenward asked, hoping not to offend by asking the wrong question.
"People loyal to Catrin began to talk, and we decided we want to help. Turns out, there are a lot of us."
"We have important news for Lady Catrin," Kenward said. Half expecting to be snubbed, he was surprised and a little embarrassed when the young man began shouting the Herald's friends needed to come through. The deeper they moved, the more necessary the shouts became. Bodies crowded the constricting halls, the din consuming all but the loudest cries. Trapped amid a mass of humanity, Kenward had never felt so confined and thought he might suffocate.
"Easy there, friend," Thundegar said. "Make some room! Give this man some space!"
Packed against those around them, people did what they could to give Kenward room. In a way, it almost made the feeling worse. Guards wearing uniforms with Trinda's insignia guided the two men to where Catrin stood atop a stack of crates, tears in her eyes. The sight left Kenward breathless. He truly loved her in spite of all the pain their relationship had caused him. She'd always done her best to save those around her and even those who opposed her. He knew she'd never felt like a true ruler within Dragonhold, but this gathering was a clear majority and showed the people chose her as their leader.
When Kenward and Thundegar made their way to where Catrin stood, bereft of words, she shook her head,and tears fell to the stone floor . Her father moved to her side and put his arm around her. "Thank you all," Catrin finally said in a voice thick with emotion. A great roar traveled through the halls, rivaling that of the dragons.
When the roar died down enough for Kenward to be heard, he shouted, "Catrin! The Dragon's Wing will surely be destroyed if you don't come quickly!" He had her full attention.
"I need to get to the Great Hall," Catrin said in a tone that set people instantly moving. Kenward had never seen anything to match the way the people responded to Catrin's words. Wendel Volker marched ahead of Catrin, barking at anyone who got in their way. The tunnels that had nearly cost him his sanity coming in cleared so fast, they strode through at a quick walk.
"We're going to need coal," Kenward said, "and buckets to satisfy Allette. They want the wood from the Serpent ."
"For what?" Catrin asked, sounding offended on his behalf.
"Allette and Onin are going to attack one of the spires," Kenward said.
Looking shocked, Catrin grabbed his arm and dragged him forward at a half run. He would've said something about buckets and coal had she given him the chance. Within the Great Hall, the feral
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