He scoffs behind me. “I’m reluctant to believe anything you say due to your relation to King Pine.”
“He’s your enemy?”
“Yes.”
“So you have your own king?” I’m so confused and trying to figure out everything about where I am. Knowledge is power, right?
“Yes, my father is King Azure.”
“You’re a prince?” I ask in astonishment.
“Yes, but I’m not next in line for the throne. I’m the youngest of four and have no desire to rule this land. I’m happy defending it.”
“Are you a warrior?”
“Yes, in a manner of speaking. I have a small, elite group, who defend this territory with our lives. We have a larger army that I’m in charge of as well, but only use them when we are at war or to stand guard around the castle. They all report to me.” When he talks about his place and his men, I can tell how proud he is of it; how much it means to him.
We are closing in on the castle when a loud roar reaches my ears. Then I see five dragons take to the air just beyond the tower house. They look like they’re playing with one another. Nipping at each other, chasing, they remind me of the way dogs play. There is always one dominant that puts the others in their place. With the dragons, that appears to be the white one.
“Is that your dragon?” I ask pointing to the sky.
“Yes, that’s Tali.”
“Do they always play like that?”
“When they can. It’s a nice way for them to enjoy themselves. When we need them, they’re always ready to go, and we work them hard. When we don’t, we tend to let them do as they please. They always stay near the castle. Even at night they stay in their own area.”
“Are people attacking you often?”
“Why are you asking so many questions?”
I shrug. “I’m curious by nature, and I’ve never seen a dragon in real life before, nor a castle. This is all new to me.” He doesn’t need to know I’m banking every piece of information in my head to use later.
He slows the horse to a walk and asks, “You’re being honest with me, aren’t you?” He must really think I want to sit here and lie to him. That I’m making everything up. I’m not after anything except to protect myself.
“I have no reason to lie.”
“Yes, you do. You’re the daughter of King Pine. That alone is enough to make you lie.”
I turn to peer at him over my shoulder. In a gentle, placating voice, I say, “Lucas, I have never met my father and didn’t even know who he was until yesterday. I come here, and you tell me he is a murderer. I’m not exactly feeling all warm and fuzzy where he’s concerned. Would I like to know more about him? Yes, but only because he’s my father. Right now, I don’t have any desire to be in his presence, if what you are saying is true. I don’t want to go to a man that’s cruel.”
He tenses behind me. I’m not sure why, since I wasn’t speaking of him. He still doesn’t believe me, though. “I find it hard to believe you know nothing of our kingdoms or the wars we have battled. Who are our enemies and who are our allies? Your father is a vicious, brutal killer, Alison. He killed Leo and countless others during battle.”
“Can you stop the horse for a minute?”
“Why?”
I roll my eyes. Seriously, I’m sitting here with no weapons, and in a fight with him I wouldn’t stand a chance. This is crazy. “I want to show you something. Proof that I’m telling you the truth.” If he doesn’t trust the fact that I knew nothing of my father, I wonder what will happen to me when we get to the castle. Will I be locked up inside? Will I be sent away to the man I don’t know, but am of blood relation to? And what will he do with me? He’s never met me. I could be treated awfully for all I know.
Lucas stops the horse and I reach around to my backpack. “What are you doing?” he inquires with narrow eyes.
“What I need to show you is in my bag.”
“Then I’ll get it.” Eye roll number two. Does he honestly think I’m carrying a gun or something? If I was, I would have used it by now to not get dragged away.
“Fine. Inside my bag is a pewter box. Inside is a letter. Read it.”
I feel him rummaging through my bag and wait for him to find what I said. Then I remember I put a knife in there. I hope he doesn’t find it. I’ll really be considered a threat then. Even if it is only a pocket knife. Next I hear the crumpling noise of paper being unfolded. I sit and wait for him to read it. I watch the sky and the dragons, who are still playing in the air.
His voice is low, but I can hear the surprise in it that he might finally believe me. “You only found this yesterday?”
“Yes. I couldn’t believe it when I first read it, but everything she said is true so far.”
“Where are you from?”
“A small country town in the United States.”
“The United States? Where’s that?” I wonder how many of the people who live here even know another realm exists outside of their own. The same with where I live. Does anyone else know about this place?
“It’s the country I live in. You’ve never met anyone from another realm?”
“Another realm? No, I didn’t know any other place existed. I only thought it was the kingdoms we have here, in our country. Yes, there are other kingdoms far away, across oceans even, but this is all I knew. I can’t believe this. There’s a portal in the cottage. Amazing.”
“I didn’t know either until I walked through that door and into the field of blue flowers that I’ve been dreaming about.”
He tucks everything back into my bag. I hear the zipper slide closed before we start moving again.
Lucas lets out a deep breath. “I don’t know what’s going to happen when we reach the castle.”
I don’t turn around, but place my hand on his leg nestled next to mine. “I’m scared.” That’s the honest truth. There are so many things that could happen, and that’s only in my imagination. This is a world I know nothing of, or their ways when dealing with someone like me. I’m the daughter of the enemy and not just any enemy, a king.
“I’m going to be honest with you, Alison. When we go over that bridge, everyone is going to wonder where you came from and who you are. You don’t dress the same as our women. Most of them wear long skirts or dresses. Only women who hold higher roles within our kingdom dress differently. People with magical abilities like seers or royals.
“When my father finds out who you’re related to, you’re going to be locked up. You will be seen as a spy, sent here to learn about our defenses. I’m going to have to talk with him and explain everything. I’ll need to show him the letter. He isn’t going to believe me otherwise. It’s the only evidence I’ll have at my disposal.”
Ice spreads through my body at the thought of being locked up. I’m not a spy. They aren’t going to believe him. I just know it. I shouldn’t have come. I could still be safe in my apartment.