Page 9 of Fated Flames: Volume Two
I keep staring at her. “It’s the second time he’s threatened my people.” He casually mentioned letting them starve the first.
Tilly blinks innocently at me. “I think he just wants you to be safe. Someone did try to kill you.”
A deep breath is needed before I can try communicating the root of the issue. “It’s one thing for someone to ask you to stay somewhere,” I say. “It’s another for them to threaten your entire country and demand it.”
Last night he was so warm; he was even endearing at times. Now he’s back to the beast I met on the docks.
“That’s just the way they are,” Tilly says with another shrug.
My mouth opens on a counterargument, and then I pause.
They? She likely means male dragons, but the wording seems odd. She can’t mean sheisn’ta dragon, can she? That wouldn’t make sense if she and the king are siblings.
I’m contemplating the most polite way to ask when there’s a soft but urgent knock at the servant’s door. At the barest answer, Cora bursts in.
“Oh, Your Highness.” She rushes over and drops into a deep curtsy. “I’m so glad to see you awake. I know I shouldn’t have come without being called, but I knew Lady Tilanthia was here, too—” Another curtsy is bobbed her way. “—and, well, I thought you might not have heard.”
Tilly and I exchange a look.
“Heard what?” I ask.
Cora leans in, glancing both ways like the walls themselves might be listening. “The king has had a challenger.”
Tilly sits straight up, her eyes sparkling. “Ooo, who is it?”
“They say his name is Talbik. He’s from the northern province.”
“How old is he?”
Cora bends even nearer, and in a scandalous tone says, “Not even twenty.”
Tilly throws her arms up and flops back onto the pillows. “And we’re going to miss it all.”
“Wait, wait,” I say, holding a hand up at them both. “Are we talking about a challenger for the throne?”
They nod eagerly.
“Then why in all the stars’ name do you both sound so excited?”
They have the good grace to look a little abashed. Tilly draws a pillow into her lap and begins plucking at the seams.
“The fights are just exciting,” she says with a pout.
“Aren’t you worried about your brother?”
At this, she looses an unladylike snort, and even Cora can’t contain a small sound of amusement.
“Of course not,” Tilly says. “Soren never has challengers for a reason.”
I puzzle over her. “Then why did you sound so upset when you told me?” Before the king walked in, she was presenting the news like it was some terrible misfortune.
She focuses even more intently on her pillow. “Because I knew you wouldn’t like the details.”
I glance at Cora. She’s avoiding my gaze as well.
“What details?” I say.
Tilly continues her fidgeting, and Cora shuffles her feet. I’ll not take advantage of my station and demand Coraanswer me, but I am tempted to give Tilly a shake. Why are they being so cagey?
