Chapter 43

KNOX FLEW AWAY FROMEirwyn and the edge of the forest, his stomach feeling strangely empty. The ashes of the homes still smoked, but there were no more flames. Some of the younger people ran through the streets toward the edge of the city. A crowd followed, all of them going toward the forest and as far away from the smoking, vine covered castle as they could get.

He turned his head to see Eirwyn waving to the people. They turned toward her, and he looked back at the castle. An inky blackness began to seep down from the top of the castle and the walls shook like an earthquake. His chest ached as fear gnawed on him.

He couldn"t go to the castle and kill the king. He looked back at Eirwyn. What if the people went crazy with fear? What if they took out their anger and fear on Eirwyn?

They were pointing at him. He could see their faces, shocked in horror. Several screamed, and a few fainted in the streets.

This was his worst nightmare, and exactly why he wore the hood. But he couldn"t hide anymore. Not this giant body and not as just him.

He dipped a wing and did a slow circle over the city, then flew back to Eirwyn and the edge of the forest.

Eirwyn was walking along the edge to the Lone Road. He landed in front of her, cutting her off from the crowd that now congregated at the entrance of the forest.

Knox landed with a thud. Would they attack him? Dragons had been hunted down hundreds of years ago. Every face held a mixture of fear, awe, and something he couldn"t identify.

Knox stomped his foot, his massive claw digging into the earth as the crowd came closer.

Get behind me.

Eirwyn reached up a hand, resting her palm on his neck. "No, I can help. These are my people."

She came under his neck to stand in front of him, and he looked down at the crowd, a small flap of his wings as he settled nervously. He waited for an attack, but his head told him it was unlikely with children in the crowd.

Several children tried to race forward, curious and full of awe. Their questions tripped over each other, and their parents tugged them back with frowns of worry.

Eirwyn held up her hands. "Please, please, we"re going to be alright."

"But princess, what"s going on?"

"Who is that? Is that a real dragon?"

"What"s happening in the palace?"

Eirwyn raised her hands but the crowd just kept pressing forward, asking questions. Knox flapped his wings and the air shimmered green. He grew cold, blinked, and then he stood behind Eirwyn.

He was acutely aware of his missing shirt, but he stepped up beside Eirwyn and raised his voice.

"Enough," he demanded, his voice carrying through the field as the crowd continued to gather from the city, growing into at least a hundred if not more.

"We don"t know what"s going on at the castle, but if you"d like to seek shelter in the forest–"

The crowd grew antsy, their replies echoing over each other as they cut him off.

"We can"t go into the Feral Forest!"

"But the magical protections."

"We"re all going to die."

Knox snorted and green smoke curled around his nose and sank to the ground. His tail raised to wave behind him. He commanded attention.

The crowd grew silent as he stood tall and reached for her hand. He drew comfort and strength from her presence.

Eirwyn lifted her chin. "We"re not going to die, not today. I"ve been in the forest for several days, and Knox can and will protect us."

The crowd paused, turning to stare at him. He felt the heat of their gaze and heard the whispers. They didn"t know who he was or how he could help. They didn"t trust him, and he might not have time to earn their trust.

He linked his fingers with Eirwyn"s and said, "Any who seek safety in the forest will be taken to the village in the forest known as Vidrland, the home of the Robins."

The murmurs rose, eyes widening and several people looking around as if waiting to be arrested. But even the guards in the crowd stood still, unsure of what to do or where to go.

Knox continued, "Several of those who were formerly arrested by the king have already been moved to safety, protected by the Robins and the forest"s magic. Those who were in the dungeons this morning have already been evacuated from the castle."

Two men pushed through the crowd, and Knox recognized them as Robins he"d sent to spy in the city. They nodded to him, hit their ,chest with a fist, and bowed.

"Master warden, what can we do to help?"

Knox" spine straightened as the whispers intensified. He took a deep breath and said, "Tell them what I speak is true. Tell them who I am."

The taller of the two faced the crowd, his gaze stern. "It"s true. The master warden taught us how to travel safely through the forest. He"s our dragon king and deals more fairly than the Buspartan king. We vote on all major decisions."

"Not another king."

"I knew I saw a dragon."

"Do you really get to vote as a commoner?"

"Yes, now if you want safety, let"s go," Knox said, stepping with Eirwyn onto the Lone Road. The two Robins began to follow along with a handful of others. But most of the crowd stayed on the edge of the forest, talking with each other as they weighed their choices.

Another scream ripped through the castle, and the crowd turned to stare. The white marble turned black as they watched and many gasped. Mothers pulled their children closer.

"It"s a curse."

"The black death! Look!"

"Heavens preserve us."

The murmurs of the townsfolk echoed around them. Knox swallowed hard and rubbed his head. It was time to face who he was. It was probably the only way they"d go with him and escape whatever was going on at the castle.

He wiggled his finger and let go of Eirwyn"s hand. He stepped onto the stairs of roots to gaze across the tops of the people. People began to tug on sleeves and point up at him. When every eye turned away from the castle and back to him, he cleared his throat.

"I am the leader of the Robins. I am the king of the Feral Forest. I am a full-blooded dragon, and I will protect what is mine. That includes any who seek safety and follow the rules as set forth by the Robins."

A few villagers in the back of the crowd began to point to the city. The buildings that still stood closest to the castle were turning black and disintegrating into ash. A blanket of black was slowly creeping toward them.

He looked down at Eirwyn and said, "Reach for the plants with your magic."

Eirwyn arched a brow skeptically but reached out a hand. She frowned, concentrating. Then she shook her head.

"I can feel the magic, but it"s chaotic. I can"t grasp it."

Someone in the crowd handed her a wand. She shook it, then pointed at the trees on the side of the road and flared her magic. Her head spun and lights burst at the corners of her vision. Then more trees shot up, creating a solid wall. The crowd gasped.

Knox grinned, pride spearing through him as he held out his hand to her. She joined him at the top of the stairs.

"Eirwyn is your darling princess and my mate. If you won"t follow me to safety, follow her." Knox looked down at Eirwyn and bent his lips to hers.

His mouth was tender, his embrace sure. When the quick kiss broke, they both stood back on the ground, the stairs gone and the foliage creeping back into the forest.

Several of the people began to walk cautiously along the Lone Road.

"Take them into the forest. I"ll bring up the rear. There should be a dwarf named John with dozens of escaped prisoners somewhere ahead."

Eirwyn frowned at the castle. "We need to find out what"s going on there. If Bella is hurt–"

He nodded and sighed. "I know. I"ll do another pass over the city and go to the castle to see if I can save her."

She gripped his forearm. "Whatever you do, don"t land. The blackness–it has to be a curse. If Gastone died and had some sort of spell set to destroy everything or Bella got caught up in it or..."

She trailed off, biting her lip and staring at the castle.

He smiled and kissed her forehead, his chest tightening to see the emerald ring on her finger. He had loved her at first sight, but it was deeper now that he could feel her emotions, now that he knew her.

"Don"t worry," he said. "There"s so much we have to talk about and explore."

Her eyes sparkled, and she winked as she grinned. "That"s right. Don"t go doing anything stupid."