The Blood's Flame (The Dragons of Flareia Book 1)

Chapter 24 - Davri

The Three Thrones

26th Year of the Ocean

3rd Moon

Davri pulled his hands back into the sleeves of his jacket as far as they could go, trying to hide the whiteness of his knuckles as he clenched his fists. His gaze travelled over the front of the throne room and he counted – five of the guards behind the three thrones had been personally chosen by him, Zero and Blissé after confirming their allegiance to Varille and the united Venti crown. Four others were stationed as well – guards he didn't recognise. He wanted to turn and note the other guards lining the round room but he knew how suspicious it would seem, so he kept his gaze forward.

The Queens of Gratus and Bellus sat upon their thrones, ceremonial crowns atop their heads. Where the Gratus Queen looked stern and regal as always in a white lace gown adorned with a silver sash, the Bellus Queen looked practically illegal – how was it possible, Bellus gift or no, for a human being to look so beautiful? Davri had heard people compare beautiful girls to goddesses before, but he had never understood the sentiment until he saw the Bellus Queen in her glittering gown, which was obviously designed to draw the eyes of everyone in the room, despite it being Varille's day. Davri was only partly surprised to see it.

He probably would have expected it, had the day not been surrounded with the chaos of protecting Varille, and the more recent drama concerning Corrian's love life; though Davri's role in the latter generally consisted of him periodically slipping the Gaian Dragonheir enough snow whiskey to give him the semblance of a living person rather than that of a dead tree. Davri had never been told the details, but he could read most people with the same ease with which he could read books. The Gaian Dragonheir was distancing himself from his guard, and had a newfound interest in his betrothed, whom he had cared for very little. And with Corrian's ensuing dismay, Davri didn't need to be told.

He understood the way he was drawn to the Bellus Queen went almost directly against his duty to Varille. And while he struggled to separate the two, he understood it well enough to see the parallels between his dilemma and Corrian's current circumstances. What he didn't know was how to mention it.

So when he spotted Corrian's gaze drifting towards where the guard stood at the end of their row of seats, Davri procured his flask from a pocket of his trousers and passed it to the other Dragonheir who nodded – in thanks or understanding, Davri wasn't sure – and took a drink. Davri was returning the flask to its home when the trumpets sounded, and the double doors at the back of the room were thrown open.

The crowd turned around to feast their eyes on Crown Princess – very soon to be Queen – Varille, and Davri turned with them, but his eyes were counting the guards once more. A chill ran down his spine as he realised the number of guards he knew was equal to the number of guards he didn't. If there was indeed an attempt on Varille's life, who had the stronger force? They had chosen guards on loyalty alone. Davri had no idea if Zero had even considered skill.

Varille must have sensed his discomfort, because her eyes were worried when their gazes met. Davri had stopped counting the amount of times Varille had insisted she wasn't afraid of dying – she would be disappointed at not being able to see more of the world but not afraid, she always told him – but he saw the fear now. He also saw that a strand of her pale hair had fallen out of place. With a wink, he stirred a soft breeze and whisked it back behind her ear. He wasn't sure that was where it belonged, but he could tell the notion comforted her as a smile tugged on her lips. She raised her chin and, lifting the skirt of her ceremonial gown – which, personally, Davri thought was utterly ridiculous; who needed that much material for a single dress? – and she stepped across the threshold.