As we hopped out of the carriage—with Roz helping Iris down—I couldn’t help but wonder. After all, this was an easy target and if Sharah had taken up residence in the ruins again, then it wouldn’t be that hard to find her.
But Iris had the answer, or at least one that made sense until we talked to Trenyth. “Dragons. There’s a lot of open space here and it will be the easiest place for the dragons to gather before heading out. Once they get here, they probably won’t stay long—while the word will likely pass ahead, if they can travel through the Ionyc Seas, then they won’t have to worry about Telazhar being prepared for their arrival.”
That made total sense. “I think you’re probably right. So where are—” I stopped as Delilah and the others joined us. As we stood there, a contingent of white-robed figures rose from behind the giant stones that had been tossed around like gumballs falling out of a machine. Trenyth, and with him Sharah, as well as a number of guards behind them.
“Sharah!” I started to run forward but then stopped. She was the Queen of Kelvashan now, and she deserved our respect, especially in front of her comrades. Nudging Delilah in the side, I did a half curtsey, half bow. Delilah followed suit. Iris had swept into a low curtsey, and the men bowed, paying their respects. We rose, waiting for her to speak.
“I’m so grateful to see you all again!” Sharah hurried forward, Trenyth by her side. She didn’t hug us—that wouldn’t be appropriate—but in the light of the torches, her eyes were glimmering. “How are Chase and my Astrid?” The hunger in her voice spoke volumes.
“They’re fine, Your Highness. They are both well and both are being watched over.” Delilah looked delighted at being able to give some good news for a change. “We’re so happy to see you again. And . . . at least these are better circumstances . . . more or less.”
Trenyth was about to speak when one of the guards shaded his eyes and looked past the moon. “There they are! They’re coming. The dragons!”
Like kids in a candy shop, we all crowded forward, staring up into the sky. The dark shadows of massive wings came flying toward us—and then the glimmer of their scales began to show. I hadn’t realized that dragons in their natural form had a faint luminosity, but they did, like bioluminescent plankton or deep sea jellies. And then, the next moment, they lit up the sky. The entire horizon was glowing with the great winged beasts, magnificent in their flight. The dragons had, indeed, arrived.
“A grandeur of dragons,” I whispered. “Have you ever seen anything more beautiful and terrifying? I’m so glad they’re on our side.”
“You and me both.” Trenyth was standing near me, and he glanced over at me with a brilliant smile on his face. “I can’t believe I’m actually seeing this. I never in the world thought they would actually keep their promise.”
“My sister would have their heads if they didn’t.” But I was thinking the same thing, to be honest. Some dragons played fair, but I wasn’t really sure if I had believed they would come to help us out. Yet here they were, at least a thousand strong.
The front beast circled overhead—a great dragon with shades of white and silver mingling throughout his body, and massive wings that stretched out to steer his way. He slowly settled down onto what had once been the plaza of the Court. I suddenly realized it was Smoky—with Camille riding on his back. She slipped off as he lowered his head to the ground, using the silky mane to balance herself. Once her footing was secure, she stepped to the side and within seconds, Smoky stood there in his human form. He wrapped his arm around her waist and lifted her up for a kiss.
Other dragons began to land, setting up a significant wind as they circled in for landing. One by one, they began to shift and move aside for others to land until there was a host of extremely tall, brilliantly beautiful men and women standing in front of us. Next to Smoky, I recognized Vishana—Smoky’s mother. There were others, all kinds—reds, golds, blues, whites, silvers, even shadow dragons.
Camille and Smoky escorted his mother forward to Sharah first. “Your Majesty, Queen of the Elfin lands, may we present Lady Vishana, Countess of Silver, and Most Valued Friend to the Throne of the Dragon Reaches.”
In dragon-speak, that meant Smoky’s mother wasn’t a princess but she might as well be. Smoky had been referred to more than once as a prince of the realm. Vishana was tall—seven feet if she was an inch. Her skin was as pale as Smoky’s, her eyes gunmetal gray. Her hair was pure spun silver, flowing to her knees. The strands twisted and wound themselves to curl around her as she adjusted her ice blue gown. Diaphanous, it looked as though it could tear at the simplest breeze, but I had a feeling it was stronger than spider silk.