The Raven and the Dragon

Chapter Seventeen

They would attack the next day. That was the plan, anyway. Bo spent most of the afternoon trying not to think too hard about any of it, lest his anxiety drive him to think of every worst case scenario. It was hard when he had to follow Alicia around and overhear most of the plans.

Focus only on the things you have control over. Don't worry about anything else. That was, as always, easier said than done.

Eventually, the sun began to set, the day turned to night, and planning more or less ceased. They found places for their guests to sleep. Alicia stayed close to the Queen, understandably. Bo didn't need much nudging to leave them alone once all important matters had been attended to and there was nothing left to do. Alicia needed to be with her stepmother now. In fact, she was lucky to have a stepmother to be with.

Bo wondered what his mother would think of all this. They hadn't been especially close when he was growing up—though the older he got, the more he realized that wasn't entirely her fault. It sure would be something to find her again and tell her that he was a court mage now, a court mage who'd met a dragon no less.

I should write to her when all of this is over. It seemed like the right thing to do.

Bo walked out to the small courtyard, hoping to get some air while he still could. There was still a massive indentation where King Gideon had carved out the materials for his draconic form. Eve was already there, sitting on the edge of it and looking up into the stars. "How are you doing?" Bo asked.

"I'm all right." Eve glanced Bo's way as he sat down next to her before looking back up at the stars. She hadn't put back on her eye patch. "No one's bothering me, if that's what you're asking."

It was, actually; he'd just been trying to figure out how to ask tactfully. "That's good," Bo said. "I'm not surprised. Most people here are fairly accepting and, well..." He gestured to the hole in the ground. "With the dragons and all..."

"For once I'm not the most unusual thing in the area?" Eve laughed quietly. "That's true. And..different, for me. I think I like it, though."

"That's understandable." Bo smiled. The smile dropped as he looked up to the stars. He used them to mentally figure out the four directions, and, from there, which way the Raven Court was. The way the others were.

"Do you think they're doing okay?" Bo asked.

Eve nodded. She didn't seem overly confident, though that may have been him projecting. "Of course. Lord Laine knows what he's doing, right? So do they."

"Of course. Absolutely." Focus on the things you have control over. "I'm sure they're doing just fine."

He hoped everything was fine. Everything had to be fine.

+++++

"I'm going to ask you again," Lord Reardon said. "What do you really want?"

Oh, gods. Oh, shit.

Nimah hoped her sheer, raw panic wasn't showing. She didn't usually panic but she figured if she was going to, now was a good time to start. Lord Laine didn't look like he was panicking. He looked more irritated than anything else. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said again, "and I don't like being unjustly accused."

"Well, I don't like being lied to." Lord Reardon looked at everyone in their group, his gaze lingering on each of them in turn. His eyes were as sharp and harsh as broken glass. "You have no reason to be here unless you're trying to help my sister and that family she married into."

Don't look guilty, don't look guilty, don't look at Solomon, don't...

"You can tell me now. Or..." Nimah felt someone creep up on her, and two sets of hands grab her arms. "...we can start with the girl and continue from there until you talk."