Chapter Twenty

The Eye was true to her word and played spy for me, monitoring the nobility of Vacrond until my army safely arrived in Renris. The people of the city flooded the streets to see the Dragons parade through, up to the castle with the escort of Horns I'd sent to greet them. I wanted to go myself, but the suggestion put my steward into a near-apoplectic fit. A king does not go to the city gates to welcome anyone, not even family. I would have done it anyway, but Aras said it might be nice to let them have the adoration of the city without me distracting the citizens. And wouldn't it be uplifting for them if, at the end of such a display of support, they found their king standing on the keep steps to greet them?

So I watched from the castle wall as my family, friends, and soon-to-be warriors received the welcome they deserved. The citizens didn't know that the army had come to defend the city. They probably assumed I was having a party. And I would let them have their delusion for as long as possible. Sometimes delusions were all that made life livable.

I chuckled when the parade finally came into view and I saw the amazed and delighted faces of the Dragons marching to war. These were people who did the cheering; they had never been cheered for in all their lives. I would have started applauding as well if it hadn't been so unseemly for a king.

Oh, fuck it.

I roared and clapped, gaining the attention of everyone in the street below. No, I wasn't standing on the keep steps in regal glory, but I hoped this was even better. When they spotted me, the citizens cheered louder while the Dragons saluted. Amid that cacophony, I went down to the courtyard, Aras by my side, and welcomed the new Dragon Army of Gavemor.

My parents were still driving their carriage, the carriage itself full of their farmer friends. They reined in the horses and rushed down to embrace me.

“Welcome to Gavemor,” I said as I hugged my mother, then my father. “How was your journey?”

“It all went smoothly,” my father said and glanced over his shoulder at the wagons, horses, and Dragons filling the courtyard.

It was too much for the courtyard to contain, so Mossemas was already directing castle staff to take horses to the stable and wagons around to the back. I really needed to pay that man more coin.

“Where's Ellas?” I asked.

“Right here.” Ellas slapped my shoulder.

I turned into his hug. “Thank you, my friend. It's a relief to have you here.”

“We will bring them down or go down together,” he vowed gravely. “You've shown me how important this is, Lyran. This is our fight now. All of ours.”

“I see that now. I think I've been a bit selfish, hoarding this rebellion.” I clasped his shoulder gratefully, then looked from him to my parents. “Wait for me here, and I'll show you to your rooms,” I said to them. “Aras, will you attend them for me?”

“Of course.” Aras bowed to me, then my parents. “Welcome to Renris, Your Grace and Your Grace.”

“Just call us, the Graces.” My father slapped Aras's shoulder.

“Yes, Your Graces.”

Father snorted and rolled his eyes at me before saying, “I'm teasing, Aras. Call me Hidero.”

“And you can me Mo—” my mom started, but my father loudly coughed to cover her mistake. Mom glared at him before saying, “Jaclene. You can call me Jaclene.”

“Thank you. That's a great honor,” Aras said.

“Not at all, my boy,” my father said.

Meanwhile, my mother transferred her disapproval to me. So, I did what every son does when faced with criticism from his mother—I bolted.

No, I wasn't fleeing my mother's reprisal. I had to greet my army. That's what I told myself as I went to the keep steps. Outside, the people of Renris were still cheering as they came up behind the Dragons to peer into the courtyard—a courtyard overflowing with my dread. There were Dragons everywhere—pressed in against each other, up the stairs to the wall walk, and even spread to the side near the gardens. I lost my words for a moment to see them there. Somehow, it was different from when I addressed them at my parents' manor or even on the road to Renris. Here, where I could see them all at once, the magnitude of their numbers and what it meant fully hit me. We really did have a chance. I had Dragons on my side. Thousands of them. Holy fuck.

Breaking out of my reverie, I lifted a hand and smiled, feeling so deeply grateful and humble. I also felt like a horrible brute for ignoring their importance for so long. How dare I fight elitism among my kind and ignore it in myself? I never considered that if I could change my life, so could they. And my elitism hadn't ended there. It included non-Dragons. No, I wasn't as racist as some Dragons, but I hadn't given much thought to the other races of Serai, and there is arrogance in that indifference. Now, I see the value of every person.

I knew then that change started inside us. We can't triumph over something we harbor within ourselves. It wasn't until I had become a different man that my world started to reflect that change. And I knew it was because of Aras. He had opened my eyes and heart. It was he who led us here.

“Welcome to Renris, Gavemor Dread!” I shouted and held my arms open wide. “In honor of your arrival and in thanks for the journey you've made, we've prepared a feast for you. My staff will see you settled in your guest rooms where you can rest and refresh yourselves before the celebration. I look forward to speaking with each of you tonight and getting to know you better. Until then, please enjoy my hospitality.”

The Dragons cheered as castle staff hurried out among them to help with luggage and begin the process of getting a massive amount of guests settled. The activity was dizzying but Mossemas was in charge and that meant it would all go smoothly.

As my Dragons were seen to, I spoke to the crowd still gathered at the gates. “And to you, people of Renris, I give my heartfelt thanks for that spectacular greeting. This is the first time most of these Dragons have visited our city, and you have made them feel more welcome than I could have. Special treats will be distributed here, at the castle gates, tonight at eight o'clock with my gratitude.”

Mossemas, off to my left, directing servants, spun to stare at me with wide eyes. It was awful of me to add to his work, but I couldn't help grinning at him. He sighed and bowed, all while the people of Renris cheered. Yes, he'd be getting a pay increase.

I left Mossemas to his work and motioned my parents, Ellas, and Aras into the keep. “Let's get out of the way.”

As we strode through the castle, my mother made appreciative sounds. My father and Ellas just lifted their brows, but for them, it was akin to gasps of awe.

“I'll give you a tour later,” I said. “I've had the staff prepare rooms in the royal apartments for the three of you.”

“Oooh I get to stay with the King?” Ellas teased. “Wait until all your beautiful courtesans hear how important I am. I'm going to be knee-deep in pussy—” he drew the word out when he saw my mother's lifted brow, making it into, “—willows.”

“You'll be knee-deep in pussy willows?” Aras asked.

My mother just shook her head.

“It was all I could think of,” Ellas whispered to my mate. In a normal volume, he added, “I should tell you about all the pussy willow adventures I had with Lyran back when we were young.”

“Lyran?” Aras looked at me. “Is that what your friends call you?”

“Yes,” I said.

“You don't let him call you Lyran?” Ellas grimaced at me.

“I call him Ly,” Aras said.

Ellas hooted. “Now, that's even better. Suits him. There was this one time when we went camping—”

“Do try to show me a measure of respect in front of my lover,” I drawled, cutting Ellas off. “He's going to think I'm a barbarian.”

My best friend burst out laughing, then smacked Aras on the shoulder. “You know exactly who he is, don't you, Hulfrin?”

I looked over and met Aras's stare.

He grinned, or smirked, rather, and said, “I do. And I count myself lucky for it.”

“Aw, fuck,” Ellas groaned. “Romance. Goddess save me.”

“One day you will have to deal with it whether you like it or not.” I teased him, then realized how close I'd come to revealing who Aras was. I sped up, leaving Aras and Ellas behind.

Ellas went on as if he hadn't noticed. “If the Goddess is kind—which we all know is only about twenty-five percent of the time—she'll wait another few centuries before sending me my mate.”

“You don't want a mate?” Aras asked, a strange note in his voice.

Oh, fuck. No, don't start talking about mates.

“Oh, I do,” Ellas said. “Or I will, rather. I'm sure. When she arrives. But for now, I'm having too much fun looking for her.”

I glanced back just in time to see Ellas wink at Aras.

Aras, of course, was baffled.

“He doesn't know about all of that,” I said.

Ellas lifted his brows, then a look of comprehension came over him. “Oh. Right. Well, you see, the easiest way for a Dragon to find their mate is through sex. Our beasts are roused when we get aroused and it's through them that the mating bond comes. So, most of us go around screwing everyone we find attractive in the hopes that they're our mate.”

“And, uh.” Aras cleared his throat. “Do you know immediately?”

I shot Ellas a warning look.

His left eye twitched—a secret wink. The rascal.

“It's different with every Dragon,” Ellas said blithely. “Some of them know right away, sometimes it can take months. But the latter is rare. Usually, it happens within a few weeks.”

“What happens exactly?”

I cleared my throat. “Here we are.”

My knights, who'd been marching ahead of us, opened the doors to the royal apartments. I stepped through, then waited inside.

As Ellas came abreast with me, I gave him a quelling look.

“He's asking,” Ellas whispered. “What am I supposed to say?”

“Nothing!” I hissed. Then I smiled brightly as Aras came through with my parents. “Mother. Father. I have you in this room over here.” I led my parents to a guest suite. “You don't have a balcony, but the window has a great view.”

“This is lovely, Lyran,” my mother said. “Absolutely lovely.” She went up to the four-poster bed and ran her hands over the silk comforter.

Everything was done in pale blue and cream to make my mother happy without making my father uncomfortable. As she wandered into the bathroom, my father grinned at me.

“Nice. Very nice,” Father said.

“I'll leave you to rest,” I said.

“I mainly want a bath. But I'm also hungry.”

“I'll send for some refreshments.”

“Thank you, Son.”

“It's good to have you both here, Father.” I left the suite, closing the door behind me.

And found Ellas talking to my mate.

“—you should be patient,” Ellas was saying.

“Uh, let's get you settled now, Ellas,” I said.

Ellas hurried away from Aras with an, “Sorry, excuse me.”

Aras frowned after him, then trailed after us.

I got Ellas into his room just as the luggage arrived. There was a little shuffle as the staff distributed the bags, and then the doors were closed, my guests tucked in their rooms to unpack, and I was alone with my mate.

My suspicious mate.

“Ly, you've never told me exactly what happens when a Dragon finds their mate,” Aras went straight for the kill.

I shrugged and said, “It's different for each of us.”

“I understand that, but there must be some sort of standard or you wouldn't know, right?”

“Oh, we know. There's no mistaking it. We feel it.”

“Oh.” His shoulders fell and with them went my heart.

I chucked Aras under the tuft of fur on his chin and teased, “Are you disappointed? You know there's still time. You could be my mate.”

“You know, you can be a real ignorant bastard sometimes, Ly,” Aras growled and stormed away.

I blinked, staring after him in surprise.

That went well, the Eye drawled.

I flinched. I'd grown so accustomed to the silence in my head that her voice was a shock. Welcome back , I said. Anything to report?

Then you don't want to discuss how your mate just walked out on you?

He'll be back. I've upset him, but he'll get over it.

No. Really?

I don't appreciate your sarcasm.

The Eye laughed.

I grimaced and stalked into my bedroom. I kept going until I was out on the balcony. I had a view of the gardens and beyond the castle wall, the city. The crowds had dispersed, but there were still many people in the streets going about their day. They would be in danger soon, and it was all because of me.

That is the way of things, the Eye said. They've reaped the benefits of living in a crown city and now they must pay the price. You can always give them the option of leaving. Just warn the city when the nobles are on their way.

I think I will, I said. Now, back to my question. Have you learned anything from spying on the nobles?

Only that they are lost without people to wait on them. The Eye chortled. I wish I could show you what I witnessed. It was especially amusing to watch them try to cook their meals. Oh, wait. Washing clothes was even harder for them. She giggled.

What about the war? Anything that could help us?

With all the support facilities, such as farms and armories, abandoned, you have set their plans back, Lyrandir. Well done. They're scrambling, trying to figure out how to take care of the basics of living while preparing to march on Renris.

So, they will attack us here?

Oh, yes. That has never been in doubt. But you'll be pleased to know that the other enclaves are wavering.

What does that mean?

They've lost a good many of their working class as well, but not as much as Vacrond. And now, they're watching the nobles of Vacrond struggle. They're scared, Lyrandir. You've scared the other enclaves. None of them have ever considered the fact that the lower classes could just quit and move away. These are people whose wealth extends back centuries. If any of them remember doing for themselves, it would be a distant memory.

I was so shocked that I asked aloud, “Are you truly saying that I could win this war simply because these people are too snobbish and stupid to perform the simplest of tasks?”

She went grim. No. The war will still turn in their favor if you fail to claim me. But your position has gotten stronger.

I sighed in frustration. How could we gain so much advantage and still lose to them? There was only one answer—the strength of their warriors surpassed mine. And so, there was only one course of action. I would have to train these people even harder than I'd planned.