Destroyers and the Dragons

Page 28

I quickly grab a sweet roll instead and work to ignore the looks several of the councilors and women guests shoot my way. Evergreen cuts the candied apple in half and hands me a piece.

     "You didn't have to do that," I say accepting the piece.

     "I could tell you really wanted it but didn't want to fight over it," he concedes.

     "I didn't want to have to share it with you, it would only make them more upset," I whisper biting into the sweet roll.

     "You heard them as well in the garden," he says.

     "Their bickering woke me up," I retort quietly.

     "Do not let their words bother you," he soothes.

     "I don't for they are correct. I am a plains demon and not fit for any throne. You'll get over me as soon as I am no longer in your sight all the time. I think I will leave with Nelax group after your coronation."

     "Are you sure you'll be well enough to ride?" Evergreen asks as I take another deliberate bite of the sweet roll.

     "I'll be fine, especially the way your sister treats me."

     "Well then good luck on your future journey," he snaps and then storms out of the hall. I look down at my plate to avoid the greedy stares. I finally manage to get Nelax father to wheel me up to my room where I shut the door and climb into the bed. Sleep refuses to greet me and I spend the night staring at the stones. The sun peeks through the window and still I lay in the bed. Rose throws open the door as the sunlight begins to creep up the wall.

     "What are you still doing in the bed?" she demands to check me for fever.

     "I haven't slept well and just didn't feel like getting up," I mumble trying to get away from her.

     "You should get dressed and come down to the garden, maybe that will help you," she says pulling the covers off and then shaking her head. "I see you are still dressed. Come on," she says rolling the chair near the bed.

     "I will walk, I need to get the blood moving," I say pulling myself out of the bed half-heartedly and shuffling down the stairs behind her. We finally make it to the tree and I slump down onto the ground. "I will return with Nelax people after the coronation. I've been gone too long."

     "Have you told Evergreen?" she asks quietly.

     "Last night after the sweets," I say.

     "Well that explains his storming out of the room," she mutters.

     "I am not meant to dwell in a place of stone, I need the open skies, he will be fine once I've left. He'll find a woman that can be his queen and everything will be well," I mutter miserably.

     "Is that what you think, that once you leave he'll forget about you?" Rose demands fiercely.

     "I am just a plains demon, what could he possibly see in me?" I demand feeling my eyes burning. "I am not meant to be a queen."

     "If you truly want to know what he sees in you then you should ask him, not run away," Rose yells at me.

    "I am not running away I am returning to my people," I mutter kicking at the ground.