Chapter 8 - The King Comes Alone
Rowan entered the ravine without armor.
That surprised everyone.
Tessa’s archers aimed at his chest from both cliffs.
He raised empty hands.
“I came to speak to my wife.”
Mara stood at the far end of the bridge with Elara in her arms.
“You brought fifty soldiers.”
“I left them outside.”
“You brought them.”
His eyes tightened. “Yes.”
Lucan stepped beside Mara.
Rowan noticed.
Something wounded passed over his face.
“Captain.”
“My king.”
“Are you still my captain?”
Lucan looked at Mara.
“I don’t know.”
Rowan nodded as if he deserved that.
Mara walked halfway across the bridge.
“No closer.”
He stopped.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Rowan looked at Elara.
“How is she?”
Mara almost hated him for asking gently.
“She eats knives.”
He blinked.
Mara’s mouth twitched despite herself.
Rowan laughed once, quietly.
Then his eyes filled with grief.
“I was wrong.”
Mara said nothing.
“I should have protected her the moment she was born.”
“Yes.”
“I was afraid.”
“So was I.”
“I know.”
He reached inside his coat slowly.
Every archer drew tighter.
Rowan removed a folded document.
“My mother has taken the city.”
Mara stared.
“What?”
“She told the council I was corrupted by dragon magic. Half the guard swore to her.”
Lucan cursed.
Rowan held out the paper.
“She signed an execution order for you, Mara.”
Mara took it.
Her own name stared back at her.
Below it: Elara Ashbourne, unnatural issue, to be destroyed by sacred fire.
Mara’s hands shook.
“Where is Isolde now?”
“In the palace.”
“With the dragon under it?”
“That’s the strange part.” Rowan lowered his voice. “The creature stopped attacking after you escaped.”
Brin came forward.
“Because it can’t sense the child clearly here.”
Rowan looked at him. “Then we keep her here.”
“No,” Brin said.
Mara frowned. “Why?”
Brin’s face had gone pale.
He pointed at the sky.
The moon was rising early behind the clouds.
Elara began to cry.
Gold light pulsed beneath her scales.
Brin whispered, “It’s starting.”
Mara clutched her tighter.
“What’s starting?”
The baby’s back arched.
Her wings spread wider than they had ever opened.
Bones cracked softly beneath her skin.
Mara screamed for help.
Brin grabbed her shoulders.
“Listen to me. She isn’t dying.”
Elara let out a piercing cry.
Her body began to change.
May you like
Brin looked at Mara in terror.
“She’s choosing.”
