Shattered Birthright - Heirs of the Dragon Throne 1

Chapter 2

Sorelle

The fever remedies worked better than Relle had dared hope. By morning, even little Pio was sitting up, demanding stories about dragons. She watched him from her perch in the bell tower's highest window, his small hands gesturing wildly as he recreated some imagined aerial battle. Strange, how quickly children bounced back from the edge of death. Like they didn't quite believe in their own mortality yet.

"Someone's coming." Finn's voice drifted up from his watch post. "Fancy one, by the looks of it. Dark hair, temple district clothes, but trying not to draw attention. Moving like he's never been to this part of the city before."

Relle's hand found her knife. "How's he walking?"

"Like he's trying not to get his boots dirty. Keeps checking over his shoulder, too."

Kai. Had to be. She should have known he wouldn't let their encounter rest. "Bring him up," she said finally. "But check him for weapons first."

He emerged into the tower room minutes later, looking distinctly rumpled. His fine clothes were streaked with dust from the climb, and there was a cobweb in his dark hair. But his eyes were sharp as ever as they swept the room, taking in the makeshift beds, the carefully organized medical supplies, the children watching him with curious wariness.

"Didn't expect a house call." Relle didn't move from her window perch.

"I needed to make sure the dosages were correct." He brushed off his sleeves with careful dignity. "Some of these remedies can be tricky. Though it seems..." His gaze lingered on the children's brightened faces. "You managed well enough."

"We can read instructions," Maven muttered from her corner.

"So I see." He knelt beside Pio, who was watching him with huge eyes. "How's the fever, little one?"

"All gone!" Pio declared proudly. "Relle brought magic medicine."

"Did she now?" Kai's smile was gentle, but when he glanced back at Relle, something flashed across his face. That same look from the temple, like he was seeing someone else superimposed over her features. He caught himself quickly. "Well, we can't have our best storyteller sick in bed, can we? I heard you telling a dragon tale when I came up."

"You know about dragons?" Pio's eyes went wider.

"I know a few stories. Though I suspect yours are more exciting than the dusty ones they teach us at the temple."

Relle watched their exchange carefully. There was something off about a noble apprentice making house calls to Lowtown, no matter how benevolent his intentions seemed. "Generous of you to check on your medicine's handiwork."

"Consider it professional interest." He stood, brushing off his knees. "Though I admit, I was curious about the famous Ghost of Lowtown. The stories don't do you justice."

"Stories never tell the whole truth." She studied him. "Why are you really here?"

Before he could answer, a bell tolled in the distance—not the temple bells, but something deeper, more resonant. One long note, then two short. Relle frowned. She knew most of the city's signals—warnings of fire, calls to prayer, the changing of the guard—but this one was different.

"What is that?" she asked, but Kai's face had already drained of color.

"No." He shook his head in disbelief. "It can't be." He rushed to the window, nearly stumbling in his haste. "They haven't been seen this close to the capital in—"

"Been seen?" Finn moved closer, tension visible in every line of his body. "What's been seen?"

A shadow passed over the tower window, vast enough to dim the morning light. Pio scrambled to the ledge, pointing at the sky with a trembling finger. "Dragons!" The word burst from him in a squeak of excitement. "Real dragons!"