Page 149 of Ashborne Phoenix

“Then prove it, and help me do the same,” Hanson replied.

“How?”

Hanson drew himself up. “Leave Fyrehold. If the rumors are true, the king is dead. And the queen won’t be far behind. If she’s smart, she fled the moment her husband died. She’ll know, as I do, that the factions of power that remain will all work to remove her, so they might have a clear shot at the throne. If the Cruors are defeated, of all that remain, I hold the greatest power and resource. And I want these fuckers and their dragons out of this kingdom once and for all.”

“You think you have what it takes to achieve that? Even mindless dragons have immense strength and power.”

“If you’re speaking true, and you can help me remove the threat of those insidious Cruors, I can handle what’s left—and help you return home safely.”

Unease prickled the hair on the back of my neck. Dark power or no, ambition was a ruthless leader. Why was he so eager to get me out of here, and to help us leave? “You speak of their ambition and plots, yet you’re clearing your own path with this plan as well. You intend to take the throne?” I asked him quietly.

“Dear God, no!” he replied, nose wrinkled as if he’d smelled something offensive. “I want to install the next king—a man of true strength and integrity. Someone who will be more concerned with helping Fyrehold thrive, than ritual fires, or hunting predator birds. Our land is rich, and our people intelligent. We should be rivaling Vosgaarde for power, and allying in trade. Not stealing her dragons and sucking the Coin District dry to feed the nobles’ vanity. If there is to be a true shift in Fyrehold, the time is now!” His passion was evident. A strand of his slicked back hair fell over his forehead and bobbed as he gestured. “But I struggle to fight your magik,” he admitted. “If significant Cruor power remains in this kingdom, any political gains will be short-lived. I am not hungry for a fight, Lord Ashford. I am hungry to keep power out of the hands of men who would use it to destroy everything I love.”

It was an impassioned speech… and could be a lie. Though, I didn’t think it was. Bren had always felt the man was enigmatic, but ultimately good. I wasn’t as sure, but he lacked the truly dark edge of cunning I was so accustomed to within my family and the Cruors’ fold.

I reached for Grace as the lord and I regarded each other.

‘Do you believe him?’

‘I do. Even Bren thought he was good. He’s ambitious, but not like Breckon was. And if he already knew about the Cruors and wants them gone…’

‘What if he’s lying about that? What if they sent him to deflect my attention while they try to take Mother’s power back?’

Grace didn’t answer immediately. ‘Wouldn’t they kill you, rather than convince you to leave, if that was the goal? Koa thinks he tells the truth. I do too.’

I grimaced and looked away, running a hand through my hair as if I were thinking, to buy myself time while Hanson stared, waiting for my response.

When I turned back, I locked eyes with the man. “If I were to leave, how would you deal with the Cruors left behind?”

“They’ll be dead in days,” he said bluntly. “We’ll slaughter them like sheep to ensure they never return.” He didn’t hesitate, or flinch.

I shuddered, and felt Grace jolt. That wasn’t the answer she expected. Perhaps that edge of darkness was there after all?

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” I said quietly.

He nodded once.

“We can help each other.”

“I believe so.”

I rubbed my jaw and reached for Kham. ‘What do you think I should do?’ I showed him a new plan that was unfolding which incorporated this information.

He rumbled. ‘You are not responsible for the decisions of others,’ he sent quietly. ‘But peace is found in a clear conscience. Ask yourself for your motives. If you truly wish to protect… sometimes battle is inevitable.’

I sighed. It was a conversation he and I had had many times as I wrestled with discerning the difference between being a soldier of the crown, and Cruor with the power of life and death.

I fixed Hanson with a pointed gaze. “If I were to leave, and assist you in your endeavors, I would require two things: The first is that you take no action until after we’ve left the city. The second is that you never call on me again. If you take responsibility here, you do so without any further expectations of me. I will fulfill my duties to my kingdom. My loyalty is to my leaders. I will not protect you. I will tell the truth about what I’ve seen and heard from you. And I have no doubt my queen will wish to meet with your future king. But I will not stand in your stead if you prove to be an enemy after all. I am not your friend.”

Hanson smiled. “One more point in which we’re aligned. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

I looked at Grace, who was pale, but I felt her resolve in the bond.

I clasped her hand, then turned back to Hanson. “Have your man meet us at the dragon stables in an hour. The Cruors—every last one of them from this city, anyway, apart from any that are too weak, or have fled—are gathered right now, waiting for me to address them. Once we’re in flight, I’ll drop the directions on where you can find them. That is, assuming you already have men in place to deal with the culling?”

Hanson blinked. Then bowed. “My Lord… thank you. Yes. An hour? It will be as you say. And I wish you well in your travels.”

For a moment my heart rose at the idea of going home—then plummeted one more time.