The Death of a Tyrant's Concubine

CHAPTER 30 - An Act of War

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【𝐒𝐊𝐘𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐉𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐄】

From the top of the west wing's tower, I had an unbroken view of the war gallery below. The castle loomed in the mist, its pale towers and walls peeking through the clouds.

I sat at the edge of the open balcony, legs dangling over the drop, the wind threading through my dark hair. Starscale and I often perched on this tower when we wanted a break.

But it had been nearly two months since I had flown my dragon.

Fortunately, there hadn't been any sightings since the Pyreen envoy's arrival. It seemed most of the dragons were content in entering their seasonal slumber early this year.

But Starscale was different.

Even in winter, the two of us never went this long without flying.

I clenched my hands against the damp stone, leaning forward. Below, the war gallery bustled with movement. Figures drifted around, their forms muted but unmistakable — black-clad Pyreen envoys.

The gallery doors creaked open, and the group spilled into the courtyard. I jumped up, the dawn-dyed fabric of my gossamer dress catching the breeze. My feet were bare, better for gripping stone, so I confidently darted down the winding stairwell.

Opting for familiar shortcuts, I rushed over narrow ledges and crumbling walls that even the most daring servants avoided.

Below, the Pyreen men strode purposefully toward the western gate that led into the forest beyond Stormgard Castle.

They'd been retreating into its depths far too often these days...

What were they up to out there?

I crept closer, clinging to the shadowed edge of a crumbling tower near the gate. From my current perch, I could hear their voices rising sharply. As always, the tall one with the piercing amber eyes commanded the center of attention. Lord Azreen. He loomed beside the squat little prince, almost twice his size.

I smirked to myself.

He was probably the prince's wetnurse.

Suppressing a giggle, I watched their brief exchange before the two parted ways. Lord Azreen headed back toward the castle while Prince Malrik turned toward the gate alone.

I smiled.

With quiet precision, I scaled lower, each movement easy and practiced. As the prince passed beneath me, unaware of my presence, I leapt.

The air rushed around me as I descended, my dress flaring out dramatically. In the blink of an eye, I landed before the prince without even losing my balance.

The boy instantly stumbled back, his fiery eyes wide with shock.

"What the—!" His voice cracked, his hand flying to the hilt of his obsidian sword.

I grinned as I stood with my hands on my hips.

"What? Did I scare the little prince?"

His eyes, closer to bronze than gold, narrowed sharply.

"You should speak more kindly to me, child! It is your family that proposed this arrangement. What kind of princess jumps from towers like a common rogue?"

I scoffed, folding my arms.

"What? You're supposed to be some great warrior, but you couldn't even see me coming? Ha! I thought someone as short as you would be used to looking up for potential attacks."