a Robbi

inc

eling in the dirt, his shoulders shak

t kind of cruel game the nobility plays in the upper city, b

with tears, staring at me with a reverence t

tucking the glowing parchment into t

h the back of his linen sleeve. "I have forgotten my composure. But you must understand... twenty-two year

wait for m

d the door, his long str

t. Do not move. Do not let

corridor, pulling the heavy oa

e his back, rigid with tension, he reached deep into his robes and

ulsing with internal fire.Eben channel

ense, pulsing orange glow that painted the c

ed through the air, vibrat

vanishing, replaced by the commanding authority of a high lord. "Connect the reso

ed only with the crac

from the stone, rough and laced w

are inspecting the border garrisons for the winter muster

oice cracking on the name, tears bleeding t

ilence slammed through

, that even the distant roar of the w

hands hovering over Nora and Leo, my heart

ld

ever call

always spit out the name "Clotilda" with a disgust

shattered the stilln

n's tone; it was a raw, primal scream

sheer force of her dragonfire causing the crystal to whine with agonizing feedback. "Eben, by t

h righteous fury. "She just gave birth to twins, brother. She is lying on a freezing stone slab, wr

ndered through the link, shaking the mortar between the bricks. "

nald, the r

ed, wild and lethal. "My baby is on cold stone! Clear

d with a sharp crackl

hing his white robes with trembling fingers b

, his presence filling the cr

k at the dirt

g, his amethyst eyes flashing with g

ragonfire shot upward, ign

cascading golden glow that flooded the corners of the room, instantly

ted respectfully. "This damp cellar is unfit for a dog,

the overwhelming warmth that now enveloped the room, "

tone that chilled me far more than the winter draft ever could. "And his silver is

oorway and bellowe

r! Front and

d, and a middle-aged man in the velvet robes of the

en Kraig's guards dumped me here three days

then at the brilliant golden light radiating from the ce

aps cracked against the flagstones, his n

nstantly across his forehead. "We... we were unaware of your presence in t

. "Have it opened, heated with pure fire-crystals, and dressed in the finest silks within ten breaths. If I find a s

tor gasped, hi

exclusively for visiting Dragon Kings and Sovereign

d his head

f him, the pure golden pressure of a

gan to choke, clutching at his throat as h

es?" Eben asked softly, each word laced with

ly! At onc

ke a panicked crab before turning and sprinting up t

anishing in an instant, replaced once more by

s left arm, wrapped in a fresh, warm linen cloth he pulled

pent tears. "Let us take you into the light. Your father and