“So you have to warn the rest of the Order,” I repeated. “Warn them that Talon is getting ready to attack, and they need to prepare themselves for a full-scale invasion. This assault is supposed to be soon, in a day or two at most. The chapterhouses can’t stand alone—they’re going to need support from the rest of St. George if they want to survive.”
Martin’s face was pale now, and he nodded. “I’ll try, Sebastian,” he said. “I’ll make it my top priority to warn the rest of the Order.” His brow furrowed, and he shook his head. “But because of the infighting, and because the chapterhouses are operating individually now, it’s become difficult to send such a widespread message. Even if I can, I’m not certain they will listen. If the warning comes from me, it will be subject to immediate suspicion.”
“You?” asked Ember. “Why?”
“Because of my association with Sebastian and my role in the fate of the Patriarch,” Martin replied. “I spoke for Sebastian at the assembly. I urged the officers to listen to what he had to say. I chose to believe a traitor and dragon convert over my own Patriarch. And I was one of the seconds at the duel. I watched St. Anthony execute the leader of St. George and did nothing to stop it.” His eyes darkened, a flicker of emotion crossing his face, too fast to distinguish. “Because of this, there are those within the Order who believe I am just as guilty as Sebastian. As such, they will question my motives. They will want to know where I received my information, and if it becomes known that I met with Sebastian and one of his dragon comrades, they will certainly call for a trial, if not my execution.”
“But you’re warning them about an attack from Talon,” Ember said, aghast. “Why should it matter where the information came from? The Order should be pulling together to defend themselves, not fighting about who met with whom.”
I sighed. “Because St. George doesn’t trust anything that comes from Talon,” I said, and Martin nodded. “Because all dragons are the same to them, and anything that comes from Talon is tainted, corrupted or a trap. They’ll never believe that a dragon, or anyone who sympathizes with them, wants to help the Order of St. George.”
“Some might believe,” Martin said slowly. “If they’re warned about an impending attack from Talon, some in the Order might take the necessary steps to defend their chapterhouse. But as a whole, it will take a miracle to pull St. George together now. I only hope we can survive the coming assault.” That stark black gaze met mine, his expression grim. “Is that all you wished to tell me, Sebastian?”
“Yes,” I answered numbly. There were other things I wanted to know, about St. George, and Martin, and my former brothers. But this was not the time for questions, for Martin to explain. “That was all, sir.”
Martin nodded and rose. “Then if you’ll excuse me,” he said, tossing a bill to the table and stepping away. “I must return to the Order. There is a message that needs to be sent tonight. Sebastian...” He gave me a brief, unreadable look. “I don’t know why you betrayed us,” he said, “or why you choose to stay with the lizards, but it appears you are still an important player in this struggle, no matter which side you are on. You affect the events around you, whether you mean to or not.” His gaze sharpened. “I wonder if you know what it is you are truly fighting for.”
I held his gaze. “I know what I’m fighting for, sir,” I said quietly. “I know which side I’m on, and it’s not for Talon or St. George. It’s for change. We’ve been at war for so long we can’t see the truth that’s right in front of us.” I felt Ember’s eyes on me, as well, and deliberately reached over, placing a hand atop hers. “They don’t have to be our enemies. If the Order would give them a chance, and not see them as demons, maybe this fighting can finally come to an end.”
Martin didn’t say anything. He stood there, brow furrowed, as if fighting a silent battle within. Finally, he exhaled, and his shoulders slumped, his next words barely audible.
“Come back with me, Sebastian.”
I started, gazing at him in shock. “What?”
“I want you with us,” Martin continued. “Back at the base. You’re a damn fine soldier, even if you’re not fighting on our side. And you know these—” he paused; I suspected he was going to say things but changed his mind at the last minute “—dragons better than anyone else. I want you to explain what is happening to the rest of the troops, give them the full story, so they really know what’s coming.”
“They won’t believe me, sir. They’re likely to shoot me on sight if I came back.”
“No, they won’t,” Martin replied. “I’ll be there. They don’t have to believe—they just have to follow orders. But I want you to explain it, Sebastian. You know the dragons. Your presence will give us a better chance in combating them. And the men know you. As a traitor, yes, but there isn’t a trooper there who hasn’t heard of the Perfect Soldier. If you are with us, I feel we stand more of a chance against Talon.”
I sat motionless, a heavy weight seeming to settle over me. After Benedict died when I was just eleven, Martin had taken me under his wing. He hadn’t been the mentor Benedict had, but he had made sure I was excelling, doing my best at the Academy. I hadn’t seen him much while I was at school, but whenever our paths had crossed, he’d made certain to talk to me for a few minutes, inquiring about my classes and training, making sure I had everything I needed. He had been another solid, commanding presence in my life at St. George, another reason I pushed myself so hard to become the best. His disappointment in me, in what I had become, was a constant ache that gnawed at me from the inside. But knowing what was coming, that this might be the last time I would see him, was even worse.
I knew I should help my former brothers. I wanted to stand with them again—not to eliminate dragons, but to defend my old home from the army that would tear it apart. Martin, Tristan, all the soldiers I had grown up with...it made me sick, knowing they might die. Martin was right; I was still loyal, if not to St. George’s ideals, then to the people who had been my family once. They didn’t know what was coming. I didn’t want to abandon them to Talon and its soulless dragon army.
But I had another family now. Another group who had my loyalty and my friendship, and one girl in particular who had more than that. Much as I wanted to accept Martin’s offer, to return to St. George as a voice for dragonkind, there was no way I would leave Ember behind.
“I’m sorry, sir,” I murmured, and Martin’s jaw tightened. “But I can’t go back with you. The Order isn’t the only one Talon intends to wipe out. My place is here.”
Martin’s voice was cold. “With the dragons.”
“Yes.”
“I see.” Martin drew back, his posture stiff as he prepared to leave. “If that’s your decision, then goodbye, Sebastian.”