I don’t know how much longermy secret will be kept, anyway,Riggs said.Ganit knows that my family lives, and there are other Legion Dragons who are not happy with what is going on—if they come to us, they will too. Corruption seems to be the natural order of the day… once we get Tyrez out of there, we’ll have to hide him too.
I swallowed at the desperation underscoring that last line.If everyone goes into hiding, that would leave Daize as Emperor.
We have to save Tyrez. Many in the Empire would follow him.
Sid was watching me closely. The wisdom and concern in his gaze led me to a decision.
I’m going to tell Sid and Adilyn about all this,I said.
And from within me, came a voice. Weak, but welcomed.Sometimes, to make someone trustworthy, you have to first offer trust yourself.
Only a Gryphon could come up with such sage advice in a poetic manner,Riggs commented.
Well, someone has to,grumbled Caliel.
Then Riggs’s attention was called away as Cara and the others started to discuss ideas for getting Tyrez out. I looked up at Sid, who was watching me intently.
“I want to go for a walk,” I announced. “Are you guys up for one?”
As expected, Nar pulled a face. “Not much of a walker,” he stated. His gaze moved to Leah. “Swimming, on the other hand…”
We exited the building, and left them at the beach before continuing up the path.
Sid leaned close to me, and asked. “He’s not visiting family devastated by a flood, is he?”
“What do you mean?” Adilyn asked from where she sat on his shoulder.
I sighed. “I have something I need to tell you guys.” I glanced around, but there were a lot of students. “We need somewhere more private.”
Sid merely nodded. “I know the perfect spot.”
The Anisau led us along the path. Once we entered the forest, he started looking to the left—and eventually took us down a smaller trail.
We emerged at an old homestead with a metal arbor totally overgrown with vines. It was a squeeze for him to get into it, and he sat down on the bench inside.
I sat beside him. Adilyn had remained in Faerie form, flitting through the forest as we’d walked. Now she alighted on his shoulder.
“Okay,” Sid said, somewhat impatiently. “Tell us who Riggs really is.”
“He’s the now-dead Dragon Emperor’s youngest brother.”
Silence reigned in the tiny space, before Adilyn asked, “How?—?”
So I told them, starting with that night in the alley, when Riggs had lost himself in the vicious attack, to going into hiding at the academy.
Their eyes grew ever wider as I spoke, but Sid’s expression indicated only satisfaction.
“He has a role to play in all this,” he stated.
“But he has lost his Dragon,” I pointed out.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “Fate has plans.”
As Team Dragon gathered at the gate for Night Games, I made one last effort to participate in an entirely different kind of mission.
I should be with you,I insisted.
I am safe here. It isn’t me taking the risks. I’m just here to keep anyone else from doing anything dumb. Including, I may add, my son.
