She pressed her lips together, steadying herself before speaking. “I understand, Master,” she said. “I mistook some of the instructions and thought it would be easier to get here through his territory. If I hadn’t, I would have missed the appointment and never would have arrived here. I didn’t think I’d be noticed.”
Dayatha translated for him again. “You were. I have negotiated for you to remain here for the next two new moons so you can be here for I’mya’s ordination.”
Elora let out a shaky breath. At least she would have time to say good-bye. “I appreciate that, thank you.”
She followed Dayatha back out of the chambers and back through the corridors down to the servant area of the lair, her heart pounding and her mind racing. Just before they turned the corner leading them back to the crafting room, Dayatha stopped and pulled her aside, her warm hands on Elora’s upper arms. “Are you all right, Elora?” she asked quietly, her eyes searching Elora’s.
Suddenly, the weight of what just happened hit Elora and tears stung her eyes. This lair had become her home over the last few months. All the new activities she’d taken up and the community she was a part of would disappear, and most importantly, she would lose the friends she’d made. It had been her plan to remain here for the rest of her life, and now she was leaving to never return.
“What is his lair like?” she asked, her voice hoarse.
“I don’t know,” Dayatha said, softly. “I’ve never been there, but it will be staffed by stewards who oversee everything, just like here.” She squeezed her arms and then released them. “I’m sure it will take some adjusting, but you’ve already experienced living in a lair so it won’t be new to you. The most important thing is that Master has granted you plenty of time to prepare.”
“But… what about him? I heard so many things….”
“There are a lot of rumors about the dragorai, Elora. Not all of them are true. As long as you are positive and enthusiastic, like you have been here, you’ll be fine there.”
Elora lowered her eyes and blinked away her tears. Zendyor was the dragorai-alpha who was most rumored about, and there had to be a reason. But Dathaya was right—many rumors were probably not accurate. Besides, she wasn’t being cast out, or thrown back into the dangerous war zone that was the North Cities—anything would be better than that. She was only going to another dragorai lair, where it was safe from the war. Hadn’t that been the main reason why she applied to be a kon’aya? The new lair was most likely just as comfortable as this one, with a community of its own, regardless of the nature of the dragorai she was being handed over to. Her worry was pointless.
She swallowed the lump in her throat and lifted her gaze to meet Dayatha’s as she smiled. “You’re right.”
“Didn’t she look amazing? That dress was stunning.”
Elora grinned at the dreamy expression on Nureen’s face and nodded. “She looked incredible.”
“And did you see the way Master looked at her?” Tiiu added, unable to stop her own wide smile. “They were perfect together.”
It was impossible not to be infected by the excitement and hope that spread through the entire staff after I’mya’s ordination, or what most people would call her wedding. Even Syb, who was the most suspicious and wary person in the lair, was smiling to herself.
All the servants buzzed with excitement as they made their way back from the event, awe and wonder in their voices as they trudged along the valley in a long procession. Being the last dragorai clan, Master Nyro and his brothers were in danger of becoming extinct unless they were able to mate; since dragorai females had died out long ago, their fate seemed likely until recently when it became clear that I’mya was Nyro’s mate. It was truly an incredible thing to have happened, and to bear witness to her being accepted by the clan was something special. It gave everyone hope for the future of the dragorai.
Elora still didn’t understand how I’mya was able to mate with Master Nyro the way dragorai females did, but it was no wonder Master had become enraptured with her—she was a dark-haired beauty with tawny skin and a strong, but kind, character. It had taken her awhile to open up when she first arrived, but that had been the case for them all. The war had caused long-term effects on them beyond just physical harm.
“Did you see the other brothers?” Nureen asked, interrupting her thoughts.
Elora nodded. She’d been trying not to stare at the brothers during the ordination service, but it had been difficult. Out in the realm, it was a rare to see one dragorai, and if you did, the smart thing was to run and hide and make sure they did not catch sight of you. At the ordination, all five brothers were in attendance, and while she hadn’t been close enough to see their features, the sight of them astride their enormous dragons, hovering above as their voices boomed over the range had been equally terrifying and majestic. There was no doubt that everyone in the valley, servants and stewards from all the lairs, had been awestruck.
Elora had been lost in the beauty of the event, but now that it was over, the trembling nervousness that she’d woken up with had returned. Today was her last day in the lair—and that soured everything.
“Did you see Zendyor?” Nureen asked, lowering her voice. Elora had only told what was about to happen to her to three friends; they’d all met on the first day of their arrival, and she was closest to them.
“I wasn’t sure which one he was.”
“Me neither,” Nureen said. “I hope he isn’t the scariest one.”
Elora pursed her lips as she frowned. Who was the scariest one? They all looked frightening in their own way, especially on the backs of their dragons. “Master Nyro hardly cares about what we do and barely even notices us. I’m sure Master Zendyor won’t either,” she said, reassuring herself more than Nureen.
Nureen shot her a look. “He cares that you crossed his territory.”
Elora slowed, her concerns about the alpha deepening into a new consideration. “You think he will punish me?”
Nureen was quiet for a moment. She tucked her coily hair into her hat and then linked her arm with Elora’s, pulling her forward. “I don’t know. I don’t mean to worry you,” she added quickly, “but it’s strange to me that after all this time he wants you transferred to his lair. It’s been months since you crossed his land.”
Elora chewed her lip as she thought. “But that’s just their nature, isn’t it? They possessively collect and hoard things?”
“I heard that too.” Nureen grinned, reaching up to catch strands of Elora’s hair that was whipping in the breeze. “Maybe he thinks you’re a treasure with all this golden hair.”
Elora snorted at the idea. “Do you think Master Nyro collects kon’aya?” she said, after a moment’s thought. “Or used to, before I’mya?”
Nureen shot her a look. “You noticed that too?”
Staff from the different brothers’ lairs had gathered around the valley where I’mya’s ordination took place. They’d all been grouped together and one of the most obvious differences between Nyro’s staff and his brothers’ was the size of the staff—Nyro’s was drastically larger.