Page 2 of Burn Her They Said
“The Elders will not disclose whether they knew about Varic.” Kresmea’s deep, gritty voice reverberates inside my skull, unnerving me with its cold echo. “The Elders also claim their approval of Hendry was no mistake, regardless of Varic’s force magic being immeasurable by comparison.” The Dragon’s tone indicates his irritation at having to relay politics while resting inside his den, where it lies on the other side of the mountain.
“Do you have any reason to believe they would withhold this information with the intention of undermining me?” I ask internally.
“You know the Elders do not give magical beings insight into our collective wisdom before an event has occurred. We only ever confirm our awareness of something which has come to pass after the fact. However, since you require clarification, the Elder’s claim to have no designs on causing you strife, only that they have acted as required by the accords created by our ancestor, and yours.” Kresmea’s tone is neutral, and his lack of anger at the way his leaders are treating me is infuriating.
I turn my attention back to Lorn, who has turned white as a sheet in the interim.
“You said he obliterated the entire school building?”
“Yes, which did cause some injury?—”
I raise my hand to silence him, with a small smile of victory lifting my cheeks upward.
“We will accuse Minacia for the destruction of the school.”
Lorn’s eyebrows rise as I spin around and stalk toward the arched windows, rising from the gray marble floor to the ceiling.
“Ensure that every witness to the incident corroborates our story. Ask General Sal for details to feed the other lands that would implicate how Minacia has changed their tactics as of late.”
Lorn moves within my periphery, nodding to confirm he heard me.
I release a breath and stare out at the tall statue carved in my likeness, rising from the ground just outside the citadel wall where I can watch over our citizens and the palace.
“Also, send word to General Sal that I am appointing this sorcerer to the Imperial Army, where he can use this immense power of his in service to the Empire along the Minacian border, effective immediately.”
“Your Majesty, he has yet to complete his final year of training, and if you will recall, Minacia has recently intensified the tactics used when launching attacks on our base?—”
“Precisely.” The Eternal Flame roils within its golden bowl atop the Tower of the Dragon, an aggravating reminder of our fealty to our benefactors, which only serves to increase the level of ire I feel toward the ungrateful, sanctimonious beasts.
The same beasts who respected every Emperor before me, and yet chose to deceive me into believing they approved the strongest force sorcerer, when it is highly improbable the Elders were entirely unaware this Varic would one day outpower the rest. The sniveling lizards who would dare to disrespect the heir to the empire their ancestor gifted my family line for the precious egg my great-grandfather so bravely recovered for them. All so they could spite his progeny several generations later. But why?
Flames roil before my eyes as I fume over their actions so blatantly undermining my abilities, as well as those belonging to my scouts. Making a mockery of me and my regime by degrading the very foundation of trust and respect I have so painstakingly built to support the populace. The eternal reminder of the beasts who cannot leave well enough alone when it comes to us other magical beings. Who seem to have it out for me, even when I have been nothing but diligent in proving my fealty to the Dragons.
Embers pop and spew over the edge of the golden bowl housing the infernal flames before me, and a widened grin overtakes my countenance as I address Lorn with my final decree.
“Don’t you agree that the least secure encampment on the border of Minacia would be the perfect place for such a powerful sorcerer to help ensure the safety of our Empire?”
Lorn bows, regardless of what he believes.
A satisfied grin works its way across my face, as this should prove to the Dragons exactly who holds the power to make these sorts of decisions. For their only right is to approve or deny anyone I appoint to the accord-sanctioned roles within my own court. And while they may not care what happens to this sorcerer they so deceptively hid from me, I will not allow them to ruin my image with this revelation becoming public, nor anything which might thwart my chance to someday conquer the Continent.
Chapter One
Assignment
Six Years Before
The stench of death and decay haunts my senses long after we've departed the train.
No amount of breathing out can rid me of its cloying scent. I curl my hands into fists to keep them from rising with the incessant urge to pinch my nose closed, though it would only capture the smell worse than it already has been imprinted. My skin itches with the piercing sting of the midmorning sun imparting its beaming rays in an unwelcome greeting over my sickly pale skin, which so rarely experiences this type of treatment—it feels as if tiny needles are sticking me through the thin black fabric of my dress.
Wind whips the dark brown tendrils of hair from either side of my face, catching the strays in my berry red lip tint. My lungs depress to release a breath and I refuse to allow my fingers to extract the errant strands, aware they will only become entrapped, yet again.
I blink back at the brightness and stare out at the vast field of viridescent grass stretching past a seemingly unending forest, waiting for the jostling of the canvas flaps to relent from the reception tent, indicating that the rest of my Guards have finally deigned to join me on the gravel walking path.
Fray, my flying Guard, hovers just above the ground, taking the risk of showing off his talents now that we are free from the constraints inherent within the walls of the Palace. “Wow.” His moss green eyes widen upon meeting my own. “The blue in your eyes is so bright in this light, Tasch.”
The canvas settles as the last of my Guards join us to wait for our Imperial Army escort, when Hendry, my Lead Guard, takes his place to my left.
