Dragon War: The Draconic Prophecies - Book Three by James Wyatt Page A

of it? I assume the excoriate didn’t manage to kill every last soldier there.”
    “I had to get the excoriate away from there before he did any more harm.”
    “You said he’s in a stupor, and the forge is destroyed. What more harm did you fear?”
    “I don’t know how long he’ll stay like this, and I want him locked up someplace where he can’t escape.”
    “Why Fairhaven? It’s too dangerous. He could be seen and recognized, and without his mark …”
    “Speed. Arcanist Wheldren used the circle portal at the forge to bring the queen back to the palace, so I could get here quickly.”
    “How did you activate the portal?”
    “With the assistance of a Cannith artificer.”
    “So House Cannith knows you’re there.”
    “Yes.” He had, after all, marched defiantly through House Cannith’s Fairhaven headquarters.
    “With the excoriate?”
    “Yes.” Aunn thought of the way that Harkin ir’Cannith’s eyes had lingered on Gaven.
    “That’s less than ideal.” She scowled. “Still, I can see why you did what you did. Who’s in command at the forge?”
    “No one. It was in chaos when I left. I know I should have—”
    “Yes, you should have. But you didn’t, so that’s the situation we have to address now. We need those soldiers, however many are left, and we need them marching back to Fairhaven as soon as possible. Send Tolden—is she still alive?”
    “I believe so.” Aunn hadn’t seen Janna Tolden at the forge.
    “Send her and Wheldren to clean up the mess down there. You get Gaven locked away—he must not escape again. We need him in place when the time is right for the reunion. And then move ahead with the next stage of the plan. Is there anything else you need to tell me?”
    What plan? “I think that’s everything,” he said.
    “Good. You know better than to lie to me, Kelas. Nothing can hide from these eyes.”
    He felt a surge of panic—was there something in her voice when she said his name? He was sure she’d seen through his disguise. But why not call him on it? He leashed his fear and nodded. “Of course. I won’t fail you.”
    “I know. I’ll contact you tomorrow night. I have to get out of here before too long. I don’t want barbarians at my doorstep just yet.”
    Where was she? He had a vague memory that she’d retired to the west after the war, perhaps to Wyr, north of Varna on the Wynarn River. “How long until they reach the river, do you think?”
    “Two or three weeks, I expect. But they’ll be driving the Reachers out of their villages soon, and we’ll see a flood of refugees across Aundair’s borders. With Varna destroyed and all.” Something about her smile sickened him—that was part of her plan. She’d arranged for the destruction of Varna so that the Reachers couldn’t take shelter in its walls when the barbarians approached. Why?
    “Until tomorrow, then, Kelas.”
    He still didn’t know how to address her. “Tomorrow, then.”
    The light in the globe faded, and the distorted reflection of the room replaced Nara’s image in the glass. Aunn dropped his head to the desk, taking comfort in the cool stability of the oak against the pounding in his temples.
    “What was that all about?” Gaven said.
    Aunn looked up. He’d all but forgotten Gaven was there. “I have only the vaguest idea,” he said. “But one thing is clear—this plot doesn’t begin and end with Kelas. I need to learn more.”
    “You could just disappear. We could all get far away from Fairhaven, out of Aundair entirely—”
    “No.” His eyes met Gaven’s, and he smiled. “We have to prove Bordan wrong.”
    “What?”
    “I was trying to tell you before that it’s not your fault—that you’re not responsible for the crime they sent you to Dreadhold for.”
    “But I am,” Gaven said.
    “You are. Just as I’m responsible for all the things Kelas made me do. We’ve both done some evil, Gaven. But together we’re going to make it right.”
    Gaven returned his