"Sebastian is right, this would be a good time for a break. We should give Lyx a report on our progress and let her know about this," I say, waving a free hand at the house we just helped create. "This will change how we approach the rest of the development."
I look around, frowning. "Come to think of it, I'm surprised she hasn't been here today, yet."
"She has a lot going on," Derek says, pragmatically. "But I know she will be happy to hear what you've accomplished today."
"We," I clarify. "What we've accomplished. I couldn't have done this—any of this—alone."
As we head to the carriage, it begins to rain, and a flash buzzes in my brain, giving me a low grade headache.
We were already headed to see Lyx, but now I know, we must hurry. I just don't know why.
The Dragon
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
~Mary Elizabeth Frye, Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep
My heart hammers in my chest in excitement as we head to the carriage. Lily rides up front to drive and the five of us pile into the back.
It's a bumpy trip to the Light Dragon's home base, and not one particularly suited for a horse and buggy, but it's the easiest way for all of us to travel. I make a mental note that we should pave some roads along this path soon. For everyone's sake.
While I didn't know Lyx well before, working with her these past few weeks has brought us closer. Even her relationship with the Night brothers has mended as we all worked side by side to build her and her people a new home. I've witnessed her devotion to Ava'Kara's baby, watching as she has cared for the dragon child as her own. I've seen her dedication to her people, tireless and unconditional. She gets her hands dirty, working with us day in and day out. At night, after a long day, we will sit with her around a camp fire, stew cooking over the flames in a cast iron pot, as we shared stories, made music, formed friendships.
This work has been immensely fulfilling, and it's largely thanks to the Light Dragon and her vision for what could be. I can't wait to tell her what's now possible, thanks to the trees willingness to transform themselves. It's truly a game changer.
The carriage wheel hits a stone and wobbles to one side, but Elijah uses his wind magic to help it stay righted as we hastily continue our journey.
We stop abruptly and I lurch forward into Derek's lap, who catches me with a cheeky grin. "If you wanted to get closer, all you had to do was ask." He winks and helps me exit the carriage with some manner of dignity left.
His flirtatious smile lingers as we look around for Lyx.
We have come to a hidden cove carved into the side of a massive mountain. The shore is covered in a carpet of mossy green, dotted with brilliant yellow flowers that lead to a glassy clear stretch of water being fed by a tall waterfall crashing off the jagged rocks of the mountain.
But a scream catches in my throat when I look at the water more closely.
Floating face up is Lyx'Ara, her eyes open, a wound in her chest oozing a viscous purple.
"Lyx!" I scream and run to the edge of the water, using my magic to pull her to shore.
"Is that… her blood?" I whisper, unable to pull my eyes away. She practically glows in the water, her Light magic clinging to her and giving me some hope that despite all evidence to the contrary, she might still be okay.
"Yes," Elijah says. "Dragons bleed purple."
With tears stinging my eyes, I step into the lake and reach for her, pulling her to shore. Her blood stains my clothes and my hands, but I don't care. Once on land, I check her vital signs to no avail.
"Liam, help her!" I scream.
Liam is already by my side, examining her as thoroughly and carefully as he can, his face hard, his eyes serious.
Finally he looks up. "She's… dead."
"She… she can't be," I say, too astonished to form a clear thought. "That makes no sense. Try again!"
Liam shakes his head. "I'm sorry. But… it looks like someone murdered her."
"How?" I demand. "How can you even kill a dragon? I thought they were immortal? The most powerful beings in the world."
Elijah kneels beside us, examining her himself. "They are. And the only thing that can kill a dragon… is another dragon," he says.
"There's no murder weapon on her body," Derek says. "But it appears she was killed by a puncture to her chest from something cylindrical in shape with a very sharp tip."
"And her soul hasn't departed," Elijah says. "It should have."
"What do you mean?" I ask. I'm trying hard not to hyperventilate. My hands are still stained with her blood. I've still got her head in my lap.
"When a dragon dies, it's thought their souls depart and their bodies turn to magic and dissipate, putting themselves back into the universe to live again," Elijah says. "But her soul is still attached to her body, and she clearly hasn't turned to magic."
"Have you ever seen a dragon die?" I ask softly.
The brothers all shake their heads. "No one has," Sebastian says. "Except you."
He looks at me and I realize he's right. I was there when Ava'Kara died. And she did disappear into magic, though I assumed that was a byproduct of the spell, not the standard MO for magical spontaneous dragon cremation.
"We need to get Ifi and Elal here," I say to no one in particular.
Lily nods. "I can go. I don't need a carriage."
I'm about to ask how, but she's gone before I get the words out.
I return my focus to the Light Dragon and run my hands over her eyes, closing them. Even in death she is just as beautiful, with her silver hair and inner glow. It's then that I notice she's clutching something in her hand. I pry it open and find her signet ring within. I take it to study, wondering if this was some kind of clue about her killer. Why was she holding it instead of wearing it?
Knowing how the justice system works here—which is not well—I pocket it, hoping to uncover any secrets it might hold, and then look around. "Where's the baby?"
Liam glances at me, frowning. "That's an excellent question."
"We need to find her before whoever killed Lyx does. Maybe they were after the child?" The thought makes me sick, but I know I can't afford to overlook this possibility. Ava'Kara tasked me with looking after her heir until she came of age, and I will be damned if I don't do everything in my power to honor her last wishes.
Ava'Zara, the daughter and air to the Water Dragon, has grown more than expected in the weeks we've been working with Lyx. The child mostly stays in dragon form, but every so often she'll change to her more human form, I suspect to marvel at it. But she seems to prefer being a dragon, and who wouldn't, if I'm being honest.
"Maybe they already have the child," Sebastian says darkly.
"I refuse to believe that," I say, as I gently move Lyx off my lap and onto the mossy ground so I can look for the child.
"Zara?" I call out to her softly, hoping she's nearby. The brothers join the searching, looking for clues, making notes about the crime scene.