“Imer.” She faced him again. “I wanted to find the seven shards and put the crown back together so I could destroy the fae. That hasn’t happened, instead, I lost the crown and Sandrine died. I don’t know what the gathering is about, nor what the alliances will decide, but I can’t stay here. I have to leave as soon as possible and find the fae. Do you think the people of the grove will help? Can they find the old kingdom of the fae?”
A glint of mischief hung in Imer’s eyes. “I knew I liked you.” He grinned. “You’re trouble.”
“Well?” Maeve prompted as she smiled back, warming to him again.
Tracing the swirling symbols on her shoulder, he turned his face to blow a whiff of smoke over the wall. “Listen, the meeting of alliances is tonight. After it’s over, come join me in my chambers and we will discuss this further. It’s a good plan, but likely what the wizard will instruct us to do, anyway. For now, I want to show you Imperia and hear how you escaped and secured a ride on a phoenix.”
Maeve shook her head, already feeling better about her situation. “It wasn’t my choice. It was the guardians, Imer. They are real. I thought at first they were celestials, but they said they weren’t. They guard the Gates of Hell and it glows. The demons might break through and invade this world.”
Imer took her hand and blew out his pipe. “Hush, Maeve, we don’t have to talk about it now. You’re going to save the world, I feel it. Tonight, you’ll understand the desire to see something magnificent. To bring back the ancient powers, to have the celestials come down and right the wrongs of this world.”
Maeve squeezed his hand. “Show me Imperia.”
9
City of Mages
Imer took Maeve through Imperia. The walk around the small but crowded city was enough to calm her nerves and remind her that she was a part of something much larger than herself. They spent the midday meal at the tavern where they were joined by Ingram. In exchange for coin, they enjoyed a drink, a warm meal, and a word with the jolly tavern owner.
“I suppose you’ll want to see the dragon,” Ingram said.
“I do,” Maeve agreed. The last time she’d seen it, it had spoken to her, and she wanted to speak with it again.
Leaving the city behind, they strode out to the fields which were naught but barren slopes of mud, awaiting the coming spring. The promise of frost hung in the air, and Maeve’s eyes were drawn to the fog on the mountains.
“Where does Imperia lie on the map of the world?” she asked the brothers.
“We are south,” Imer told her, “and east of the grove in a series of mountain ranges. But this mountain is spelled by magic. No one can find it, unless they have already been here. And then they still have to look very hard. Most come here because they are the unwanted, those with potent magic the world rejects.”
“But we are outcasts no more,” Ingram agreed.
“And the wizard?” Maeve glanced from one brother to the other. There was something about the wizard she couldn’t quite put her finger on. “He’s, not what I expected. How old is he?”
Imer shrugged. “Old, I assume. Not much is known about him.”
“Aye, but he keeps us safe.”
“And sends us on quests, as he chooses.”
Maeve took a deep breath as she watched the mist move, and a hint of orange appeared behind a dark wave. Turning, she folded her arms and faced the brothers.
Imer stopped and pulled out his pipe, pressing more tobacco into it. Ingram took a swig from a pouch, then tucked it away.
“Be honest with me.” Maeve squeezed her hands into fists. “Did the wizard send you? To find me?”
Ingram snorted, opened his mouth, then glanced at Imer.
Maeve watched Imer’s face tighten and knew she had offended him. Once, he’d told her, everything wasn’t about her. But she’d since learned that the Prophecy of Erinyes was about her. Somehow, being the last Carnite meant that she had a part to play in saving the world. And now that she was free, it was up to her to decide who to trust. She saw the situation differently now. Originally, she didn’t have a choice, but now she wanted to know if those closest to her were playing with her too.
“We’ve all known,” Imer began, “when we first arrived here, the wizard made it clear what our goal should be. The dark fae were taking people, stealing them away every night of the full moon. And it was known that their actions would make the Prophecy of Erinyes come true. We didn’t know it would be you, and we only guessed that Sandrine would have a part to play. We were sent to help our grandmother, to make her burden lighter. And we succeeded. For a little while.”
Tears filled Maeve’s eyes, and she tore her gaze away, staring off, unsure why she was upset with him. At the temple in Isdrine, he’d been clear about what he believed, and yet it seemed different, knowing he’d been sent on a quest to help make the prophecy come true.
“But helping Sandrine was only a side quest,” Imer went on. “As I’ve told you, we were sent to find the sword of a celestial, because of the rise of the Hunter. We returned here without it, explained to the wizard why, and he agreed with our reasoning. Regardless of what happens next, we have to remember that we have enemies. The Hunter is still out there, the dark fae are free, and the orcs march.
“I know,” Maeve mumbled. “I keep searching for a reason to disagree, to fight. But I know my fight isn’t here, it’s out there.”
Ingram cleared his throat. “Are you done rehashing old arguments? For here he comes.”
Maeve followed Ingram’s gaze and her eyes went wide. Her arms fell to her side as she watched the dragon. He’d landed and walked on four legs with two massive wings, golden and orange, tucked behind his back. He’d grown and now stood over ten feet tall while his long tail wormed away and created a path in the grass. Maeve’s heartbeat quickened as she took in how much he’d grown. The last time she’d seen him he was the size of a small wolf.
Hand out, she stepped forward, trembling as she reached out to touch his snout. Part of her felt as though she were meeting an old friend again while the other part of her felt like she’d had a child and abandoned it.
“Give her some time,” she heard Imer say, and sensed the brothers of fire walk away, leaving her alone with the dragon.
“Hi,” she whispered.
Golden eyes blinked at her as the beast bowed its head. “You have returned.” His voice was low and deep and rumbled like the faint warning of thunder.
“I have,” Maeve said solemnly. “I came back to prepare an army and go fight.”
“Then I will come with you, this is the battle, the war I have been waiting for.”
Maeve frowned, recalling the Dragon Queen.
“There is a problem?” The dragon nudged her arm with his nostrils.
“There is.” She faced the dragon again. “I want you to come with us, but you should know that you are not the last dragon.”
“I am.”
“Yes, the last one born, but you aren’t the last one anymore. The Dragon Queen of old has risen. . .”
“My mother’s sister. So she survived.” The dragon wagged his head.