Kastali Dun

Talon stared across his desk at Reyr, glaring. They sat in his study, their goblets of wine mostly untouched on the mahogany desktop. The days were getting shorter and darkness had long since fallen, but he kept the glass doors leading out to the balcony open, letting the crisp air flutter the curtains. It was more humid than normal, signaling the approach of yet another storm. Winter would bring days of rain, which also meant days of being sequestered indoors.

"Look, if you'd just think about this rationally, my king, and stop being so temperamental—"

"I am not temperamental," he snarled. Reyr lifted an eyebrow—case in point. Talon sighed, running a hand through the tangled tufts of his hair, massaging his temples, the bridge of his nose.

"Talon, if the dock master's—"

"If."

"Would you let me finish?!" Reyr snapped. "Gods." Talon huffed, but remained quiet this time. "If his records are correct," Reyr continued, "then the last time this happened was during Gallant and Lena's reign. Oshea attacked in full force. An entire fleet of ships and nets and dragon lances converged on the Bay of Bandu hoping to use Kastali Dun as a point of conquest for Dragonwall."

"They were unsuccessful, obviously," Talon drawled. "And those records are what, forty thousand years old? They've probably become unreadable by now, easily misinterpreted. This is Oshea, Reyr. They're so far across the sea that sometimes I struggle to believe the country even exists. I mean, really."

Reyr shook his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. "You forget that we preserve parchment with magic. The records can be trusted." His voice was flat. "You cannot deny this, Talon. You cannot deny the implication. The possibility of what is coming. I know with Claire gone..."

"Don't." Talon's eyes narrowed. "Just...don't."

Reyr's expression softened. "You forget that I know exactly what it is like to have a mate. To be separated."

Talon's heart tightened then. Painfully. At the reminder of what Reyr had lost. And with that reminder came a deep, intense fear. Because he could also suffer the same loss...some day. Nothing between him and Claire was promised. Reyr's past was evidence of that.

He blew out a breath, staring at Reyr. "Is it supposed to hurt this much? That...feeling? It's like something is gripping my ribs and trying to rip them out."

"It hurts." Reyr nodded. "Badly, if memory serves."

"Why?" It angered him, the pain. It kept him on edge. Did Claire feel it too? The unease? The tug? He hadn't felt this way when he'd been in the forest. Not like he did now, and at that time, they'd still been mates. He voiced these concernes to Reyr, opening up. Revealing his vulnerability.

"It's the magic of the forest," Reyr said, offering a theory. "The many barriers erected to keep the Sprites safe. Think about it. She is cut off from you entirely. It's the same reason we couldn't communicate with anyone outside whilst we were there. Remember? It is its own bubble."

Talon grumbled. It made sense. "Claire said she couldn't eat while I was away," he recalled. He seemed to be struggling with food too. "She said she lost her appetite in my absence. That something felt wrong the whole time I was gone."

Reyr rubbed at the stubble along his jaw. "It would seem that she bore the brunt of your departure the last time, and now you bear it this time."

"And knowing now what she is to me, how much I love her, hasn't made that burden any easier."

"Neither has the knowledge of Oshea, my king."

He snorted. My king. Reyr often did that—called him my king to be soothing. Talon had picked up on it over the years. He wasn't sure if it helped or simply reminded him of exactly what he was. Of the burdens he carried.

He leaned back in his chair, finally picking up his goblet, swirling the contents within. "Do you think Oshea has struck a deal with Kane?" His voice was low, afraid to put into words this deep fear. That Kane had done far better than any of them could have imagined, working with so many other countries to weaken them, to bring them to their knees.

Reyr's eyes closed briefly. "It wouldn't be so outlandish, would it? Kane strikes Dragonwall with Gobelin hoards in the east, turns our focus there. Then with his personal force at Fort Squall. Then follows it up by sending a tertiary force to our capital from Oshea? If he can't have the Dragon Stones, why should that stop him from conquering us?"

"Our race is already dwindling. What need has he for the Stones if he manages to kill us?"

"Exactly." Reyr picked up his goblet too, and drank deeply. When he set it down, he started long at Talon. "I miss her too," he said at last, quietly. "She makes things better around here. Happier. She'll make a good queen."

That admission did something to Talon, pulled something in his chest. Perhaps it was best if Reyr left him to brood. He considered dismissing him—

"Your Grace? I think you'll want to see this." Bedelth.

His brow furrowed. "What is it?" he asked, broadcasting the question broadly enough to encompass Reyr's mind. Reyr sat forward to listen, alert.

"You'd better just...come and see." Bedelth sent them the location. Something of surprise laced his words, sending a thrill of excitement through Talon. "I've also summoned Verath and Jovari."

Talon and Reyr wasted no time in traveling through the keep to the aviary—a place he rarely visited. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time he'd been here. It looked much the same as he remembered, though. When they arrived, the others were already there. So was the bird master. And a man who looked like a farmer, trembling, wide eyes darting about.

Everyone stood gathered around a stone table in the center of the room.

The aviary housed the keep's birds of prey. Hawks, falcons, owls. He'd never bothered much with the sport, but the nobles loved it. Elaborate cages designed for a comfortable life lined the walls of the circular tower. Most of the birds slept for the night, but there was a plethora of empty spaces vacated for the aviary's owls.

"Want to tell me what's going on?" he said, looking at Bedelth. Impatience laced his words.

"Yes, Your Grace. You may not believe it. I was summoned half an hour ago by the guards. We found this fellow arguing at the gate, trying to gain entry into the keep."

"In the middle of the night?" Talon's eyes narrowed.

"For-forgive me," the man mumbled, looking at the ground. His shaky voice was hardly audible.

A caw answered.

Talon looked at the stone table in the center of the room. A raven, feathers blacker than black. It hopped from foot to foot, rustling its feathers. Uneasy. One of its wings was askew, like it had been caught in a windstorm. He noted the metal cuff around its left ankle, and then a small scroll tube lying beside it. The bird master was attempting to get food and water into the bird. The raven wasn't sure what to make of the master's attentions.

"It would seem," Bedelth continued, "that this bird landed in Roden's garden yesterday." Roden...the farmer. He glanced back at the trembling man. "Roden lives half-a-day's ride from Kastali Dun. Is that correct?" Bedelth asked.

"Yes. Yes, mi-milord." Roden was sweating now, even in the chill of the aviary.

The flutter of wings sounded. It distracted them momentary. An owl returned through one of the many arched windows, a fat rat caught in its beak. The tail dangled limply. The owl paid them no mind, flapping over to its cage. Master Keet rushed over and opened the door for it, allowing the owl to settle down with its prize.

Talon glanced back at the raven, considering. "Is is what I think it is?" he asked.

"I would say so, my king." Bedelth handed him the tube. "Only Dwargs use ravens. Hearty birds. Good for flying through the mountains."

"And you mean to tell me it flew all the way across Dragonwall to reach us?" Talon had never, in all his life, received word from the Dwargs. His father had, apparently, once. But he'd not been alive at the time. Never actually saw the raven that sent the letter. Dwargs didn't much communicate with the Drengr, unless the Drengr went north to request the forging of new Sveraks. It certainly wasn't a dealing done through messenger birds.

"It would seem, judging by the state of the bird, that it has flown a long way," Reyr said, giving his thoughts as he reached out and stroked the bird's back. It was busy pecking at the food, still holding its wing out at an odd angle. "Looks like it's been through a lot. It's a wonder it made it here."

"Indeed, my Lord Reyr, most impressive." Master Keet looked at them. "I reckon I can fix its wing up right while its here. Shouldn't be too hard. If not, I'll get the Magoi involved."

"Yes. See that you do," Talon said, glancing at the message tube. His fingers fiddled with it, but he dare not open it here. He glanced up at the farmer before looking back at Bedelth. "Can we trust him?"

"Hard to say," Bedelth answered. "Perhaps we should question him further. This could be a message planted to distract us from something else." Like an attack from Oshea. The words went unsaid.

"Mercy. Please." The farmer groaned, flinching away. "I swear all I said was truth. Ask me wife. We can go there now, if it please ya, Majesty."

Talon didn't have the patience for this, especially not in the middle of the night. "That won't be necessary. Jovari, see that he's given a comfortable chamber for the night."

"I'd rather not trouble no one..." Roden spoke to the ground, still afraid to so much as look upon his king.

"See that he is watched," Talon added. "Until we read the contents of this message I'm not quite sure what to make of any of this."

The tube did not appear tampered with. But he wasn't sure about Roden. Kane's nasks could be anywhere, anyone. He'd been fooled before, and he would dare not let it happen again.

***

Congregated around his fireplace with his Shields, Talon unfurled the note at last. Roden had been seen to, given a comfortable room on the fourth floor of the north wing, with guards posted outside his door. If indeed the man had acted of goodwill, he would be rewarded. But if this was some ploy....

"Well? What does it say?" Reyr sounded most impatient.

He read the contents, blinking with disbelief. Then he read it again, but said nothing. His head was spinning, mind turning over and over. "I think it's best you read it yourself." He passed it to Reyr, who passed it to the others in turn. They remained quiet until it was read by everyone, even Dallin, who Verath had brought along. It seemed he'd taken Dallin's training quite seriously. Dallin shadowed him in all things now, sworn to secrecy by pain of death, since he'd not yet taken any oath. Talon still wasn't sure if he should admit someone so young into the prestigious position of King's Shield. Yet, there had been no other offers. And there should always be six—

"Can we trust it?" Reyr asked at last, returning the note to Talon.

"This could be the difference between defeating Kane or losing Dragonwall," Jovari said.

"Perhaps it's the sign we've been waiting for, to move against Fort Squall," Bedelth added.

Verath and Dallin stayed quiet. He wondered what Claire would make of it. What she'd say, knowing that Dwargs were pledging themselves to this fight. He almost snorted at the thought. Claire had never even seen a Dwarg.

"The Dwargs are much like the Spites," he said at last. "They do not often involve themselves in our politics. Even if they are more a part of this kingdom than our tree-loving occupants."

"Can we trust what Lord Dubrael says, though?" Bedelth asked. "And what he says about Lord Averaen? Was the fort leader truly there?"

"That's a good question," Talon mused. "How fortunate that we have his own flesh and blood in our midst."

All eyes fell on Dallin. "Uhm..." Dallin cleared his throat. "That...I mean to say..." His eyes darted between them, clearly unused to being put on the spot.

"You said Lord Averaen was away, did you not?" Verath spoke for the first time. Dallin seemed to relax at the address, more accustomed to Verath than the others.

"That's correct. He left on a secret mission decided upon between himself and Lord Davi of Fort Squall." Talon's eyes darted to Reyr at the mention of his twin. Reyr's face was stone. "There were maps found deep in the library of Fort Edge," Dallin continued, "old maps of the mountains. Of the strongholds once held by the Ice Clan. It was his intention to scout Shadowkeep. To determine where Kane might be hiding."

"Interesting..." Talon leaned back, eying the words on Lord Dubrael's scrap of parchment again. "I wonder if Averaen was successful. And what, in turn, took him to the hall of this Lord Dubrael. How did he end up in Dwargish hands?" He fell silent for several beats. "I don't think Lord Dubrael would lie. I don't think he would claim that Averaen turned him to our cause if Averaen had not been there. Yet...I am still wary."

"There is one piece that fits," said Reyr. All eyes turned to him. "Mikkin. I admit I was most surprised to hear mention of him. And shocked that his travels took him to the same place as Lord Averaen. You remember, do you not, my king? Mikkin was the fellow I spoke with after entering Dragonwall through the Gate. He's the survivor from Bellnesse. I never would have imagined..." His voice trailed off.

"Strange," Jovari mused, "how things work out. I remember you speaking of him after you rejoined us at the Marble Dragon. Strange how the fates twine us together."

"So we place our trust in this Mikkin fellow sent along to the other clans?" Talon asked. "Hope that their small band might convince others to stand beside our cause?"

"If he succeeds, it would be a tally in our favor," said Reyr. "We will need a great deal of help regaining Fort Squall."

Verath snorted. "I'd call it a miracle. But we'll need more than just the Dwargs. We still haven't decided how we'll handle the city's occupants. How we will protect them from dragon fire when we face Kane's wild dragons in battle. Dwargish armor is immune. At least we can outfit our armies with it. But the city...?"

Nods of agreement rippled around the sitting area.

"Let that be a challenge we face tomorrow," Talon decided. "We will want to inform Lord Byron and Lady Tamara of this, come the morning. It will certainly change how we plan our attack going forward. For now, it is late. I've kept you long enough."

"What of the farmer?" Bedelth asked, bringing the discussion full circle.

"Harmless, I think," Talon decided. "It was good of him to bring the bird. Courageous even. Most would have disregarded it or taken the message and discarded it."

"Thank the gods he didn't," Jovari mumbled.

"As important as this is, its a miracle it made it here," said Bedelth.

"Indeed." Talon pondered. "He will be rewarded, I think. I would like to speak with him in the morning. Jovari, arrange a breakfast for the two us, here I think. Then we will see him home."

"Of course, Your Grace." Jovari stood, as did the others. He dismissed them, but Reyr lingered.

"What is it?" he asked, failing to disguise how tired he sounded.

"If we go north, as badly as I want to, we must face the possibility that Oshea could attack while we're gone, while Kastali Dun is undefended. And what if Claire returns here while we're gone. Alone and undefended?"

Talon sighed. He'd already thought of that. And it didn't sit well.

***

The following day was tedious. Painful, even. Breakfast with the farmer, who still couldn't bear to look upon him, let alone form a single sentence in his presence. Meetings with Fort Squall's wing leaders and wing seconds about the the Dwargs. Gathering of his lower council to hear how pirate rades and ongoing Gobelin attacks were still affecting trade.

The only thing that made the day better was the letter that arrived later that afternoon from Claire. The moment it found his hands, he felt her presence lingering over the parchment. He barked commands to the servants in his tower that he was not to be disturbed for any circumstances whatsoever. By pain of death, if necessary. They'd balked at that. But it got the point across. "Even if the castle comes down around us," he'd added, descending to his study where he barricaded himself within.

He sat at his desk and stared at the letter, unopened, for several long minutes. His heart raced, nervousness more than anything. Gods above! Over a letter. He snorted. But at last, he could wait no longer, breaking the seal.

Dear Talon,

Today is a Song Day, so I have some time to write. I hope you haven't been concerned by my silence. I assure you, my days have been filled with tedium. I've been assigned a teacher and we work together each morning. I'll keep the details from this letter. Anyway, he's rather...interesting. Lord Marquin. Did you meet him while you were here?

I get along with him better than Koldis does. Speaking of. Koldis has been acting strange. Moody, even. I'm not quite sure why. I'm certain there's something he isn't telling me. Is there something I should know?

So much has happened. I met a few new unicorns the first day. And then we found something in the forest the day after. I can't say more here. But it was unsettling. Since then, things have been calmer, but I'm worried. Something isn't right. Koldis threatened to bring me straight back to Kastali Dun.

He won't. It's too important that I stay. I will be careful.

How are plans coming along? How are Desaree, Jocelyn, and Saffra? Will they write to me too, if you agree to send their letters to the runners? Has Lady Tamara reached Kastali Dun? I wish I was there to show her around. Are your Shields behaving? What of Dallin? I feel as if there is so much I'm missing.

I miss you all terribly. But you, especially. How many kisses will I owe you when I return? One for each day of my absence? And what interest rate will you charge? I'll pay it, whatever it is.

Please do not worry about me. I am well. That is all for now. Give my love to everyone. Tell Reyr that he'd better be taking good care of you in my absence. Or else....

All my love,

Claire

Talon sighed, folding the sheet of parchment. His eyes were unfocused, his mind turning over each of her words. Some of what she'd said made him smile. But some of it left a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. He thought of Koldis and guilt burned in his chest. He'd hardly considered it when pairing Koldis up for this mission. The decision had been purely based on fit. Koldis and Claire had a unique bond and got along well together. She was comfortable with him, much to his surprise.

Gods! What must Koldis be going through, surrounded by wildlife in the forest? He hadn't thought about how deeply it might affect him. As benign as his ability might be, stuck in closed spaces would pose a trial for his Shield. Perhaps that was a misstep on his part.

"No wonder he voiced concern when I first told him," he muttered. "Reyr." He sent the thought with a summons. Reyr answered immediately, promising that he would be along shortly. He had time to unfold and reread the letter again before Reyr's steps sounded on the staircase.

"Yes, my king?"

"Sit," he snapped.

Reyr complied, looking at him from across the desk. His eyes fell to the parchment in Talon's hands and widened. "Is that..."

A smile came to Talon's lips. "It is. Here." He handed the letter to Reyr, well aware that his Shield would want to read Claire's words, especially her well wishes and the words specific to him.

He watched Reyr's expression while he read, his smile deepening. He felt lighter than he had in days. With just a few words, Claire had managed to lift his mood.

Reyr snorted, clearly having reached the last bit. "Or else what, exactly?" he muttered. But a grin took up residence on his features.

"Or else suffer her wrath."

Reyr chuckled before turning serious. "What is this thing she mentions? Something isn't right?"

"That's what I would like to know," he mused.

"You saw nothing amiss while you were there?"

Talon barked a laugh. "Being in those damn trees sets me on edge. How should I know? Nothing ever feels right in a place like that." Reyr nodded. "But yes, I want to know what she saw. What frightened Koldis enough that he threatened to return her? Koldis isn't easily spooked. None of us are."

"She doesn't know of Koldis's abilities," Reyr added. "I suppose with the time they're spending together, the truth will come out."

He sighed. "I never thought to mention it. Truthfully, I didn't even consider it when I assigned him to this task."

"You aren't the only one, my king. The thought slipped my mind too. He could have said something."

"He certainly voiced his concern, in the way of disagreeing with their food. I'm sure there was more to it than that, but..."

"But what?"

Talon hesitated. "He wanted to go with her. He wouldn't have jeopardized that by reminding us. He cares for her."

"We all do," Reyr said. "She's our queen. Your mate. Our instinct to protect her is nearly as strong as is it is to protect you."

Talon nodded. He was glad of it. It meant keeping her alive and safe. But unease needled its way beneath his skin. What was happening in the forest? What made her worried in a place that should have been peaceful? Perhaps only time would tell. For now, it was entirely out of his control. He would simply have to trust her.

⭐️🌟⭐️🌟⭐️

Hey Bookdragons! 

It was so fun writing a chapter from Talon's POV. I know we've all missed our favorite king! There might be a few discrepancies in this chapter and the previous book, since there were a couple things I changed in the published version of VtR that might make more sense if you've read that version...which is now officially OUT in the world!

I've been super busy this week juggling work and filling book orders. I had such an amazing launch of Verath the Red. I can't believe how many store orders I received! I'm almost done filling hardcover orders. Paperbacks are arriving by tomorrow morning, so i'll be fulfilling those orders this weekend and will show up at the post office Monday morning with a HUGE stack of book mail. 

Next week's chapter is returning us to Claire. The title is called, "Calling Water," and we get to see her take her first solo venture into the forest. Yay!! But that's enough spoilers. 

Have a great weekend!

-Mel