any further.”
“Your Majesty, my wife Molly… did she travel back to Freehold with you? What about my children, Anna and Cal? Are they here? I need to see them please.”
Ronan’s shoulders sagged, and a wave of exhaustion swept over him. “They didn’t come with us.”
Panic rimmed Montgomery’s eyes, and he clutched the bed sheets. “But they’re alive and well right? She said she wouldn’t harm them.”
“Except for you, nobody escaped Tara’s wrath,” Ronan said. “I’m truly sorry for your loss.”
“No! Please Elan no! Why didn’t you save them?” Montgomery lurched upward, his panicked gaze darted around the room as if trapped. “I have to find them! She promised me she wouldn’t hurt them!”
Sir Alcott stood and rounded the bed, towering over Montgomery. He laid a beefy palm on Montgomery’s shoulder. White flows of magic traveled from his open hand sinking into the distraught harbor master’s skin.
Montgomery’s eyes drifted closed, and he sank back into bed. His rigid body slackened, and his breathing evened as he drifted off to sleep.
Rika stared at Montgomery through tear-rimmed eyes. “You poor man.”
“We need to let him rest,” Sir Alcott said.
Ronan released a held breath and ran his fingers through his dark hair. “We have to find Tara before she hurts anybody else. She’s not likely to return to Porthleven, but it’s a good place to start our search.”
“I agree,” Sir Alcott said. “Devery’s posted scouts at every road leading into and out of Porthleven. So far, they’ve reported nothing.”
“She’s back on her ship,” Rika said.
Ronan nodded. “If she plans to stay in Meranthia, she could only go north or south from Porthleven,” Ronan said. “Sir Alcott, we’ll use the guardians and knights to search the coast for Tara’s ship. Can you send word to Devery to take a guardian north along the coast? Have them start in Porthleven and follow the shoreline. He can call on troops stationed in Ripool if he needs help.”
“Yes Your Majesty,” Sir Alcott said.
“We need to send word to the Ayralen Assembly. Tara may have infiltrated Ayralen or plans to. Have Jeremy and the second guardian travel to the Heartwood. Maybe my father can spare a few members of Lora’s Guard to aid our cause.”
Sir Alcott nodded. “I’ll tell him.”
“You mean for us to travel south?” Rika said. “That will take us over the Adris Mountains.”
“As far-fetched as Montgomery’s story might sound, he seemed convinced. I don’t want to send Devery or Jeremy into danger.” Ronan nodded. “Yes, you and I will follow the shoreline and scout south along the coastline. But, I’ve no intention of entering the Adris Mountains.”
Concern laced Sir Alcott’s expression. “Ronan, the last expedition we sent into the Adris Mountains never returned. That’s uncharted territory.”
“When we spot Tara, we’ll turn around. Besides, I’m sure Montgomery’s embellished his story. Do you really believe in dragons?” Ronan said. “We would’ve seen them centuries ago.”
Sir Alcott sighed and returned to his chair. “I’ve gained new information that might support Montgomery’s case.”
“Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like what you’re about to say?” Ronan said.
“In the last few months, we’ve made progress translating the Book of Order, and it’s revealed some… insights.”
“What have you discovered?” Ronan said.
“Elan and Lora conspired to shatter the Orbs of Power,” Sir Alcott said.
“Yes, we know. You told us that last summer,” Rika said.
“Yes, Lady Rika. We now believe we know why. When Elan and Lora shattered the orbs, remnants of the orb’s power infused magic into the broken shards. But Elan and Lora shattered the orbs as a last desperate act to protect Meranthia and Ayralen.”
“How does creating the shards help protect either country? It would only serve to limit the magic,” Ronan said.
“That’s a
“Your Majesty, my wife Molly… did she travel back to Freehold with you? What about my children, Anna and Cal? Are they here? I need to see them please.”
Ronan’s shoulders sagged, and a wave of exhaustion swept over him. “They didn’t come with us.”
Panic rimmed Montgomery’s eyes, and he clutched the bed sheets. “But they’re alive and well right? She said she wouldn’t harm them.”
“Except for you, nobody escaped Tara’s wrath,” Ronan said. “I’m truly sorry for your loss.”
“No! Please Elan no! Why didn’t you save them?” Montgomery lurched upward, his panicked gaze darted around the room as if trapped. “I have to find them! She promised me she wouldn’t hurt them!”
Sir Alcott stood and rounded the bed, towering over Montgomery. He laid a beefy palm on Montgomery’s shoulder. White flows of magic traveled from his open hand sinking into the distraught harbor master’s skin.
Montgomery’s eyes drifted closed, and he sank back into bed. His rigid body slackened, and his breathing evened as he drifted off to sleep.
Rika stared at Montgomery through tear-rimmed eyes. “You poor man.”
“We need to let him rest,” Sir Alcott said.
Ronan released a held breath and ran his fingers through his dark hair. “We have to find Tara before she hurts anybody else. She’s not likely to return to Porthleven, but it’s a good place to start our search.”
“I agree,” Sir Alcott said. “Devery’s posted scouts at every road leading into and out of Porthleven. So far, they’ve reported nothing.”
“She’s back on her ship,” Rika said.
Ronan nodded. “If she plans to stay in Meranthia, she could only go north or south from Porthleven,” Ronan said. “Sir Alcott, we’ll use the guardians and knights to search the coast for Tara’s ship. Can you send word to Devery to take a guardian north along the coast? Have them start in Porthleven and follow the shoreline. He can call on troops stationed in Ripool if he needs help.”
“Yes Your Majesty,” Sir Alcott said.
“We need to send word to the Ayralen Assembly. Tara may have infiltrated Ayralen or plans to. Have Jeremy and the second guardian travel to the Heartwood. Maybe my father can spare a few members of Lora’s Guard to aid our cause.”
Sir Alcott nodded. “I’ll tell him.”
“You mean for us to travel south?” Rika said. “That will take us over the Adris Mountains.”
“As far-fetched as Montgomery’s story might sound, he seemed convinced. I don’t want to send Devery or Jeremy into danger.” Ronan nodded. “Yes, you and I will follow the shoreline and scout south along the coastline. But, I’ve no intention of entering the Adris Mountains.”
Concern laced Sir Alcott’s expression. “Ronan, the last expedition we sent into the Adris Mountains never returned. That’s uncharted territory.”
“When we spot Tara, we’ll turn around. Besides, I’m sure Montgomery’s embellished his story. Do you really believe in dragons?” Ronan said. “We would’ve seen them centuries ago.”
Sir Alcott sighed and returned to his chair. “I’ve gained new information that might support Montgomery’s case.”
“Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like what you’re about to say?” Ronan said.
“In the last few months, we’ve made progress translating the Book of Order, and it’s revealed some… insights.”
“What have you discovered?” Ronan said.
“Elan and Lora conspired to shatter the Orbs of Power,” Sir Alcott said.
“Yes, we know. You told us that last summer,” Rika said.
“Yes, Lady Rika. We now believe we know why. When Elan and Lora shattered the orbs, remnants of the orb’s power infused magic into the broken shards. But Elan and Lora shattered the orbs as a last desperate act to protect Meranthia and Ayralen.”
“How does creating the shards help protect either country? It would only serve to limit the magic,” Ronan said.
“That’s a
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