“Did you hear them?” the female with the staff asked.
“No, I didn’t. But it’s time to move. If we give ourselves a head start, we will have a better chance.”
“But what if the king’s soldiers use the entrance that leads to the tunnels under the castle?” the male with the hop asked.
“How many entrances are there to the compound? How many tunnels lead to us right now?”
“Seven,” a fae I hadn’t talked to yet answered.
“Okay, so it’s a one in seven chance they will pick our tunnel, but we will have a good head start if they don’t. I won’t make this call alone. We will put it to a vote. All those in favor of leaving now, knowing they could come down that tunnel, raise your hand.”
Six hands shot into the air.
“That’s good enough for me, let’s get going. We need the gurney in the front to set the pace and guide us. I’ll take one side, someone else grab the other.”
Chapter 23
KING TOLERO
Every fae in the cave fell to the floor and covered their ears as the sound of Asha’s roar echoed and shattered the stiff, sickly air. This was Asha. This was the cetani leader I remembered. I stood. She moved about the nest, carefully nudging and prodding her horde. She was healed but the rest still suffered. “Asha, the fallen hatchling and the mother need to be removed from this cave. Will you allow it?” I peered into the beast’s golden eyes.
“It worked,” Umari said in disbelief as she moved to my side. She reached out and took my hand, then knelt before me and placed it upon her forehead. The greatest show of reverence she had ever given me. “I am sorry, my king. For blaming you for her death, for hating you, for every wrong in my life, I am sorry.”
“Stand, Umari. Let this world feel the peace that is now between us. Morwena has killed my mate and your daughter, and we now have a battle before us. She has made the first move, but we will make the last. Prepare your sentries, your warriors, and your beasts. Tomorrow, we will hold the Trials, as tradition demands, but after that, we will show her what the fire of the southern kingdom feels like.”
Her eyes burned into mine, and for that one moment, we were connected in a way Efi would have only dreamed.
“I need to get back to the castle tonight, as soon as possible. If she is ready do you think Asha would let me ride her?”
“A cetani chooses only one rider for its entire life. I’m sorry, but I do not think, even as connected as you are, she will allow it.”
“I need to try.”
Inok cleared his throat, stepping through the room as he neared me. “Are you sure?” He would never outright disagree with me in front of the draconians, but the truth of his feelings were written across his face.
“I have no other choice. I need to get back. There is another poison spreading within my court. It’s far more dangerous than this one.”
“Another?” Inok asked.
“Have you seen the way they look at me? Their minds have been altered. Slow, subtle mind tricks. Morwena is behind all of this. She’s the reason Umari’s guard has missing memories. She is the only one with access to the poison killing the cetani. She needed them to be dead. The cetani are lethal, powerful beings, and she fears them.”
I looked around the room, keeping my nose covered as I continued.
“She probably had no idea the guard would find the eggs when he set out to poison them. When he returned with that information, she came up with a way to frame Umari. She wanted to cause the same problems among the draconian fae that she has among those at the castle and within the city. It didn’t work here, but it is working there. I must get back.”
“What will you do? With the Trials beginning tomorrow, what can be done?” Umari asked.
“The Trials will be held as they always are. I will not sound the alarm just yet. I’ll watch the crowds and think of a plan. For now, just make sure you and as many cetani and draconian fae as you can spare make it tomorrow. We will send our own message.”
She smiled and nodded as I faced Inok.
“Borrow a fresh horse from Umari and begin the journey home. If you beat me there, say nothing but keep your eyes open. If Asha lets me ride her, I will see you in the morning, my friend.”
“Go to the stables and tell the master you need to take Banok. He will understand,” Umari instructed.
He ran for the cave entrance and disappeared without a word.
“How should I do this?” I asked Umari, looking back to Asha, who now stalked the cave, nudging the ill cetani.
