what I mean,” Nykin replied after he’d set the cup back down. “Good that everyone’s safe.” He settled back into the pillows with a sigh and closed his eyes. “Any news on Seran?”
“I don’t know. I’m meeting with the others in a moment to see if there’s been any movement along the border. I’d be surprised if there wasn’t after tonight.”
Nykin squeezed Ryneq’s hand. “You should go, then. That’s—” He yawned, his grip loosening. “—more important.”
Ryneq almost disagreed. His instinct was to say nothing was more important than Nykin, but he had a whole kingdom depending on him and his men to keep them safe. Still, he didn’t want to move from this spot on their bed. In fact, he was desperate to curl up beside Nykin and sleep, but he had no time for that no matter how much he might want it. “I’ll have Kalis check on you in a while, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He leaned down to brush his lips across Nykin’s in a gentle kiss and grinned as Nykin hummed and automatically parted his lips for more. Ryneq kissed him deeper for just a moment before pulling back. “Later. Get some rest now.”
Nykin didn’t open his eyes again, and his breathing started to even out as Ryneq stood up from the bed. Nykin still looked a little gray, and Ryneq hated to leave him like this, but he trusted that Djilak knew best—Nykin should be up and about in no time.
R AISED VOICES came from the room when Ryneq pushed open the doors.
“How can you not know?” Eldin sounded exasperated, and when Ryneq entered, he saw Eldin standing in front of the table glaring at Glaevahl. Faelon and Avelor had also joined them, along with Peros. None of the elves appeared angry or upset, so whatever the issue, it hadn’t escalated yet.
“What’s going on?” Ryneq strode to the head of the table and took a seat.
Before Eldin could answer, Glaevahl held up his hand. “If you’ll allow me, Eldin.” Eldin let out a deep sigh but finally nodded and sat down. “Eldin was just enquiring, quite rightly I might add, how high the magical barrier goes. And whether the Eyrie itself is protected.”
Ryneq thought of the spell damage on Vashek and Fimor and understood Eldin’s mood completely. “And is it?” Ryneq looked from one elf to the other, but their expressions didn’t change.
“Yes, the Eyrie is connected by the palace walls, so the magical barrier will extend all the way up, but possibly not to the dragons’ lair farther up the mountain. I’m afraid we can’t be certain how high the barrier actually is. In Alel the magical border stretches up high above the buildings, but the spell we used here is temporary, and we don’t have access to the magic of the forest.” Glaevahl cast an apologetic look at Eldin. “I’m sorry, but we can’t be certain if the mountain is protected or not.”
Ryneq sighed and reined in any frustration he felt. He was beyond grateful the elves had managed to erect a barrier at all, and his people were now safely behind it, but he needed his riders and their dragons to be safe too. “Eldin, calm yourself. I’m sure Glaevahl is doing the best he can under the circumstances, and we are already in their debt. What about the dragons themselves?” Ryneq rubbed his temples, willing away the headache starting to form. “They pooled their magic to defeat the witch’s spell on our journey to Alel. Can they do something similar here?”
It was a long shot, but Ryneq wouldn’t rule out anything at this point, no matter how farfetched the idea. He knew little about dragon magic. There had been thick tomes about it in the palace library, but he’d never thought there’d be a need to know. Ryneq sorely wished he’d paid more attention when told to read them in his youth.
Eldin glanced over at him. “I’m not sure, Sire, but I’ll ask Vashek if such a thing is possible.” Eldin closed his eyes as he concentrated on contacting his dragon.
Silence settled
“I don’t know. I’m meeting with the others in a moment to see if there’s been any movement along the border. I’d be surprised if there wasn’t after tonight.”
Nykin squeezed Ryneq’s hand. “You should go, then. That’s—” He yawned, his grip loosening. “—more important.”
Ryneq almost disagreed. His instinct was to say nothing was more important than Nykin, but he had a whole kingdom depending on him and his men to keep them safe. Still, he didn’t want to move from this spot on their bed. In fact, he was desperate to curl up beside Nykin and sleep, but he had no time for that no matter how much he might want it. “I’ll have Kalis check on you in a while, and I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He leaned down to brush his lips across Nykin’s in a gentle kiss and grinned as Nykin hummed and automatically parted his lips for more. Ryneq kissed him deeper for just a moment before pulling back. “Later. Get some rest now.”
Nykin didn’t open his eyes again, and his breathing started to even out as Ryneq stood up from the bed. Nykin still looked a little gray, and Ryneq hated to leave him like this, but he trusted that Djilak knew best—Nykin should be up and about in no time.
R AISED VOICES came from the room when Ryneq pushed open the doors.
“How can you not know?” Eldin sounded exasperated, and when Ryneq entered, he saw Eldin standing in front of the table glaring at Glaevahl. Faelon and Avelor had also joined them, along with Peros. None of the elves appeared angry or upset, so whatever the issue, it hadn’t escalated yet.
“What’s going on?” Ryneq strode to the head of the table and took a seat.
Before Eldin could answer, Glaevahl held up his hand. “If you’ll allow me, Eldin.” Eldin let out a deep sigh but finally nodded and sat down. “Eldin was just enquiring, quite rightly I might add, how high the magical barrier goes. And whether the Eyrie itself is protected.”
Ryneq thought of the spell damage on Vashek and Fimor and understood Eldin’s mood completely. “And is it?” Ryneq looked from one elf to the other, but their expressions didn’t change.
“Yes, the Eyrie is connected by the palace walls, so the magical barrier will extend all the way up, but possibly not to the dragons’ lair farther up the mountain. I’m afraid we can’t be certain how high the barrier actually is. In Alel the magical border stretches up high above the buildings, but the spell we used here is temporary, and we don’t have access to the magic of the forest.” Glaevahl cast an apologetic look at Eldin. “I’m sorry, but we can’t be certain if the mountain is protected or not.”
Ryneq sighed and reined in any frustration he felt. He was beyond grateful the elves had managed to erect a barrier at all, and his people were now safely behind it, but he needed his riders and their dragons to be safe too. “Eldin, calm yourself. I’m sure Glaevahl is doing the best he can under the circumstances, and we are already in their debt. What about the dragons themselves?” Ryneq rubbed his temples, willing away the headache starting to form. “They pooled their magic to defeat the witch’s spell on our journey to Alel. Can they do something similar here?”
It was a long shot, but Ryneq wouldn’t rule out anything at this point, no matter how farfetched the idea. He knew little about dragon magic. There had been thick tomes about it in the palace library, but he’d never thought there’d be a need to know. Ryneq sorely wished he’d paid more attention when told to read them in his youth.
Eldin glanced over at him. “I’m not sure, Sire, but I’ll ask Vashek if such a thing is possible.” Eldin closed his eyes as he concentrated on contacting his dragon.
Silence settled
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