“But? But? We are thwarted at every turn on Loom.” Yveun snarled out some nasty series of words and set to pacing once more. “Even on Ruana, we are struggling to hold Napole on resolve alone. Our men are dying of skirmishes in the night, or of boredom.”
Napole. The “battle”—if it could be called that, as they were met with no resistance from House Xin—was over in a night, which Yveun had interpreted to mean that they could run through the island unhindered. Xin was, unfortunately, too smart for that. They had retreated into their forests and mountains, copying the strategy Loom had been embracing for months.
Hiding was shameful for a Dragon, but it kept them alive.
“That blue scum—” Cvareh, Coletta filled in mentally “—will not respond to my demands for a duel.”
“Nor will he.”
Yveun’s claws shot from his fingertips. Coletta allowed the ripple of his magic to send shivers up her spine, dotting it with goosebumps. It was a sickeningly sweet smell, rage ripening her mate.
“He calls himself Oji! If he ever wishes to be recognized properly on Nova, he must respond to my challenge.”
“Not if he seeks to topple Nova.” Coletta moved with all the grace she possessed, easing herself down on the ottoman in the center of the room.
“He has no hope of toppling Nova. We shall win every duel!”
“There are no duels to be had.” Nor would there be. Were she in Cvareh’s position, she’d wait until she held all the cards before making a public stand against Yveun.
“This is unheard of. He’s acting like . . . like . . . ”
“Like a Fenthri.” The statement drew Yveun’s attention. Finally seeing his eyes clear from anger, enough to listen at least, Coletta continued. “The Fenthri care not for proper society, as we know. They will do anything to survive, and Xin is no better. ‘The ends’—their ends—will justify the means used to achieve them, even if that means ignoring Dragon law. Why wouldn’t they? If they don’t, they die. If they do, they have a slim chance of victory.”
“You must be truly mad to understand their twisted logic.” Yveun shook his head slowly, as if disgust weighted down his movements.
“My madness is why you love me.” Coletta stretched her mouth wide, showing her teeth and reminding him of all the poisons she had endured for the sake of their greatness.
“One of the many reasons.” Yveun hulked over her like a great mountain casting a long shadow on the ground below it. But Coletta didn’t mind being in his shadow—she thrived in it. She conducted her business in his wake, used his greatness to distract from her own, his massive frame her shield. “Our gray wards seek to overthrow us from beneath. The scourge of Dragon society fights against us and is gaining ground. Our key ally has left this day on fragile relations. And yet, you smile.”
“I do.”
“Why?” At last he asked the right questions. But Coletta didn’t know yet if he was ready for the answers.
“Because we, too, can build an army. Xin isn’t the only house that can think like the Fen.”
“Do you mean . . . ?” Eagerness hovered more potently than his words.
“Xin has looked to the Fenthri to be perfect. Rok, we make our own perfection.”
“You have met success.” It was not a question.
“Come, my Oji, and allow me to show you my Gray Room.” Coletta started for the door, not even bothering to see if he was following. For she knew there was no way Yveun had escaped her mental tether. It was good that she had him enthralled for now. When he learned the bitter truth of her triumph, Coletta knew his rage would be uncontrollable.
Arianna
Arianna nearly lost her breath pulling the glider upright. She landed it on a platform, albeit roughly, rather than going for the hangar on the edge of Garre. She was in and out so often by glider these days, it had become her own personal landing pad.
“After you.”
Xavier, the Master Rivet who’d returned home with her, descended with wonder in his eyes. Arianna couldn’t imagine what the homecoming was like for him.
“I never expected to see it again.”
“I believe it.” Arianna stepped heavily off the glider. Feeding on Dragon hearts was a way to sustain, but not thrive. She needed some time before she went up to Nova again.
There was a click inside the tower her platform was attached to and the entire structure groaned to life. Xavier held his hands out, working to balance himself, unaccustomed to the mechanics of the guild hall. Arianna could hear the grinding of massive gears as an entire segment of the tower turned, connecting with another platform that had been on the opposite side.
Waiting there was a familiar, weathered face.
“I’m beginning to think you have a death wish.” It wasn’t much of a greeting from the Vicar Rivet. Willard walked over, stopping when his eyes settled on Xavier.
“I brought a master home, liberated from our enemies,” Arianna explained. Xavier was overcome with emotion and, given the glistening in his eyes, it would be some time until he could form cohesive sentences.
“I thought you were acquiring more flowers.” Willard gave her a long, hard stare.
“Oh, I got those.” Arianna patted the satchel at her side. “I just made a detour, working off some intel that Rok had built their own refineries and workshops.”
“What? How did you find this out?”
“Our Dragon friends.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. Cvareh had mentioned the refinery project when he had shown her Xin’s own structure. But what prompted her to actually investigate was when the Dragon Queen had asked Adam for two more ledgers from Holx, thinking the demand would be passed on to Louie. Arianna recognized the target ingredients as refinery resources.
“Dragon friends?” Xavier was brought back to life with the mention of Dragons. “It’s true? Xin?”
“It is.” Willard ushered the master toward him. “Come, come, we’ll get you inside. I’ll summon the Vicar Alchemist to look at you both.”
“I’m fine, Willard.” Arianna stretched. She knew the cure for her ailments—a good night’s rest, rarer than gold now on Loom. “I’m going to head toward the workshops.”
“The Vicar Alchemist is here?” Xavier asked, ignoring her. Arianna was hardly offended; she wanted to be forgotten by people as quickly as she appeared before them.
Willard gave Arianna a nod before ushering Xavier away.
“We’ve come to attend you, oh queen!” Helen burst through a door opposite the one Willard had just departed through. She gave a bow with a mocking flourish.
Arianna was weeks away from trying to fight the foolishness of her unwanted Raven chicks. Instead, she shrugged out of her coat. “Will, follow Willard and tell him that I still need to speak with him when he’s done with Xavier.” Arianna threw the garment at Helen. “And you, fix my sleeve.”
“I am not a tailor!” Helen fumed to the point of nearly stomping her foot like the child she was.
“And I am not a babysitter. You want to remain in my good graces?”