Esterpine

Claire pawed at her cheeks, sniffling. Talon had offered to accompany her to Pelwynn's, but she'd insisted on doing this alone. She needed this time to process the loss. Despite Talon's physical absence, he was always with her, even now, as she suffered; he was a warm presence against her mind, offering comfort from afar.

Pelwynn's grave was beautiful, covered with a vining plant that twined around the statue of a phoenix and bloomed with white flowers. The inscription beneath his name read, 'Beloved friend and teacher.' That's exactly what he'd been for her, until Kane had taken him from this world.

He'd never call her elam again. He'd never bark at her in his typical crotchety manner. He'd never—

"Are you all right?" The sound of Irelia's voice brought her to her feet.

She sniffed, trying to compose herself. "I'm...no. I'm not." Irelia came to stand beside her, staring at the statue. "I never got to say a proper goodbye, you know. I always thought I'd see him again. That we'd spend more time together after Kane. Long afternoons in his garden, just...sitting, until he was ready. It was always his plan to seek out the king tree eventually, but Kane stole that from him."

"You cared for him a great deal?"

"Yes." Her throat was thick with tears. "He was my teacher. He taught me—so much."

"Then I am sorry for your loss." Irelia reached for her, a tentative offering.

She took Irelia's hand and squeezed. "How did you find me?"

"The forest, I think. It guided me to you." Irelia regarded Pelwynn's grave. "Taylynn informed me that Pelwynn knew my mother."

"Yes," she confirmed in a whisper. "He felt guilty. It's why he lingered for so long. Most sprites tire of life and seek out the king tree. Not him. He waited—for me. Can you believe it? Now I wish...I wish I would have stayed longer. Spent a little more time with him. If I had known—" A sob clawed up her throat.

"There now," Irelia murmured. "Death is unpredictable and inescapable. You cannot linger over the what ifs. It will destroy you. Besides, something tells me he wouldn't want you filled with regret over him."

"I know," she whispered, swiping at her tears. "Can you believe he left everything to me? His cottage—all this." She waved a hand to encompass their surroundings. "An entire lifetime of himself, just for me. I never realized he cared for me that...that much."

"That was kind of him. He must have known how you would miss him. That this would help you feel closer to him."

"Yeah." She blew out a breath. "Want to see it? I can give you a tour."

"I would love that." Irelia squeezed her hand before dropping it.

She hadn't spent much time with her great-great-great—lots of greats—grandmother. The opportunity to be alone had been scarce. Yet, it felt good to have her here. Irelia understood loss better than most. She'd watched her family grow and multiply over the long years of her life. Had seen her offspring and relatives age and die, all while continuing to exist.

She pointed at the dummy near the edge of the garden, still standing after all this time. "This is where I first started working with a bow—to teach me to control my mind, for my magic. And this was where Pelwynn liked sitting, at this bench. He loved his garden. If he wasn't basking in it, he was pulling weeds and nurturing his plants."

They walked towards the cottage's entrance.

It was strange, seeing everything now that her memories had returned. She blinked at a familiar plot of earth, where she'd found Pelwynn gardening before she'd left. She could still see him there, toiling away with his hands instead of his magic. She hesitated, before reaching for the door handle.

It swung inward on silent hinges. She stood on the threshold, frozen. Everything was exactly how she remembered it, not an item out of place. Her chest squeezed and another sob rose in her throat.

There was a gentle pat on her shoulder. "We don't have to go in if you're not ready," Irelia murmured.

"No. I...I need to do this." She stepped inside, inhaling. It smelled the same. Felt the same.

Irelia quietly shut the door behind them.

She walked across the room, towards one of Pelwynn's cluttered shelves, and brushed her fingers over his nicknacks. He loved collecting things. Nostalgia washed over her. The day she'd met him was still fresh in her mind. It made her heart ache.

There was a bowl on the table, emptied, with a spoon resting inside it, like he'd just finished breakfast and stepped out for a moment. Like he would return. Like he might walk through the door at any moment and ask her how her training was progressing.

Gods, she missed him so so much.

She sank into his favorite arm chair and sighed. Irelia took the one next to her. They were quiet for a while.

"I'm glad I got to see this place, where you perfected your magic," Irelia murmured. "It is an incredible accomplishment, how far you have come. You were truly meant for all of this."

"I'm glad too. Gods, I wish you could have met him, though. The two of you—" A laugh burst from her lips. "You would have been such great friends." A tear slipped down her cheek at the thought of Irelia never knowing Pelwynn.

"Yes, we would have," Irelia agreed, looking around the cottage. "Though, his lack of organization would have driven me up the wall."

They both laughed.

"Have you decided what you're going to do with yourself?" she asked. "You could return to Kastali Dun with us, if you want."

It would be a chance for them to get to know each other better. It wasn't every day that long lost grandmothers appeared, especially ones with the unique past Irelia carried. Moreover, the capital was the place of her birth. What would it be like seeing it again?

Irelia exhaled. "When I left, I never intended to return."

"Why did you leave?" She'd always wondered what had driven Irelia to pass through the gate beneath the keep. It was a question she'd forgotten about after her memories were bound. It resurfaced now.

Irelia's eyes locked with hers, and she saw the indecision in her expression. "The voices—in my head. When my magic matured. It started when I reached womanhood."

"Voices?" She frowned. Then her eyes widened. "You mean, the drengr? You can hear them too? Why didn't—why didn't you say anything? That's why you left?"

"I was afraid," Irelia said. "Young and afraid. I had no idea what they were. They would come and go. I thought I was going mad. It wasn't until your mate showed up with Jovari that I figured it out, when I heard them having silent conversations about you—about all of us. Since then, I've realized it for what it is. But yes...when I was a child, it was frightening."

She thought back to the first time she'd heard the king's shields, right after Cyrus had died. The only reason she'd known what she was hearing was because they'd been talking about her. It allowed her to quickly connect the dots. What would she have thought otherwise? Would she have known they belonged to the drengr? Might she have thought she was going crazy, too?

"I can hear them too, did you know?"

Irelia's lips parted. "No. I did not."

"And your mother, Isabella. She also had the ability to communicate with the drengr. Though, I don't think she could hear them when they didn't want to be heard. It's how she was able to talk to Vigilance—Eymar—your father. Gods, that's so weird. Your father was the first king! I don't think it really hit me until just now, saying it out loud." Generations of drengr kings had come and gone, and hers had been the first.

"Maybe it was something to do with the combination of blood," she wondered aloud. "Drengr and sprite blood. It made it so you could hear all of them unwillingly. Isabella could converse with them when she wanted to. But for you, it was involuntary. Just like it is for me."

Irelia hummed. She appeared thoughtful.

"You can control it, you know. Shut them out. Reyr taught me how. I could teach you, so that when we reach the capital—"

"I will not be returning to the capital." Irelia gave an abrupt shake of her head.

"Oh." She tried to ignore the hollow feeling forming in her chest.

"But I will take you up on your offer, to teach me to control the ability. It will come in handy when...when I meet the hatchlings."

"The hatchlings?" Her eyes widened, then her mouth formed into an oh as understanding hit her.

"Taylynn said I would be perfect to help raise the hatchlings—after I refused her offer to claim my blood inheritance. I didn't understand at first, but after some thinking, I believe she knows of my ability."

"You'll be able to hear the juvenile dragons as they speak, to know what they're talking about, if they're in trouble, or if they need anything. Taylynn's right! You'd be perfect."

Irelia chuckled. "You really think so?"

"Basically a dragon grandmother? Yes!"

The hollowness in her chest filled. Not only would it give Irelia a purpose, it would keep her from seeking out the king tree just yet. She wanted more time with her.

"I saved them, you know. The pregnant mothers."

"Oh? That sounds like a story worth telling."

"I suppose it is." She explained what had happened, when she'd snuck away from Talon's tent in the wee hours of the morning and faced the wild dragons alone. Talon had been so angry with her. He hadn't seen things the way she did. Hadn't cared if all the dragons went extinct.

"I'm glad you kept that from happening," Irelia admitted. "When I was a child, dragons still existed in the world. They weren't all bad, you know."

A lump formed in her throat. "I know."

***

Sprites gathered from all over the city to celebrate her final night in Esterpine. The beautiful clearing where they took their meals glowed with light and rang with music as musicians strummed instruments. Sprites ate and drank in merriment, while some danced and others lounged.

Talon and Koldis engaged in a hushed conversation near the edge of the gathering. A quick peek into his mind told her they were discussing their upcoming journey. A hint of amusement hummed along their shared connection, as Talon acknowledged her prying. Their eyes met and held from across the clearing. The sight of her in her red gown, the majority of her markings on full display, filled him with possessive hunger.

"The sooner I can get you out of that abomination of a gown, the better," he'd growled against the shell of her ear mere hours ago. She knew exactly what would happen when he accomplished that.

The corner of his mouth twitched. "Thinking impure thoughts, mate?"

"No!" She wiped her mind clean.

"Liar." His voice was like sensual claws scraping down her spine, sending shivers over her skin—

"Ayas Drollaya." Aolis Marquin saved her from answering. She broke eye contact with Talon and whirled towards him. Their mental connection remained, and she soaked in the low chuckle that he sent her way.

"Lord Marquin. It is a pleasure, as always."

"Ana guiaha utah mikah." The pleasure is mine. "I wished to inquire about my daughter," he continued in the sprten tongue. "Is she to your liking?"

"Quite. Elyon is a wonderful addition to my queen's guard." Aolis beamed. "She's a fierce warrior and I already miss her presence by my side."

"Indeed. Then, I'm sure you will do everything in your power to ensure that she is safe when you return to reclaim the capital." Beneath his brazen demand, there was a hint of worry. It was the only reason she forgave his impertinence.

She exhaled. "I will, but I will also remind you that Elyon, like the rest of my guard, knew what she was signing up for when she took the position. I have the utmost confidence that she will do a fine job taking care of herself." She spotted Leah across the clearing and added, "Now, if you will excuse me, my lord."

"Of course. Thank you, Your Majesty."

She extricated herself and made a beeline for Leah before anyone else could stop her. She'd already been at her queenly duties for the better part of two hours, and her patience was thinning.

"Gods, I think I might go mad if I hear another wish for my kingdom's safe return," she quietly groused, puling her friend aside. A metal laugh raked sinuous claws against her mind as Talon told her exactly what he thought of that. He'd been king for more than two hundred years. These sorts of public gatherings were old news for him.

"We could always sneak away," Leah said. Her eyes darted across the clearing, then quickly away, but not before she spotted Jovari lurking with his arms crossed and irritation covering his face.

"Okay, what's going on with you two?" She pulled Leah into a slow walk, keeping to the edge of the gathering, so as not to be overheard.

"I don't know what you're talking about?"

"You've been purposefully avoiding a certain king's shield? Not to mention he hardly looks anywhere but you."

"Fine. He asked me to dance. I refused."

"Oh, that's all, is it?" She felt Talon perk up, splitting his attention to listen. "Stay out of this," she warned, giving him a mental shove. He begrudgingly complied.

"Well, fine, if you must know, I might have kissed him the other day."

"What?!" she whisper-shrieked. "You did not!"

"I might have."

She sucked in a breath and poked Leah's arm. "Well? Was it any good?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Oh, come on! Everyone knows he has a reputation. Surely that means he's a good kisser."

"Yes, about that reputation." Leah scoffed.

"I take it you regret kissing him?"

"You have no idea." They passed by a group of sprites laughing and drinking their spriten wine before picking up the conversation again.

"I want all the details."

Leah exhaled. "There's not much to it, really. I was...well, Jovari was being really sweet. Saying all these nice things—"

"Because he's a schmoozer."

Leah opened her mouth, then frowned. "I don't think it was that. We were having a deep conversation. He just...he said something heartfelt, not something to get into my pants."

"Okay."

"Anyway, I don't know what came over me. I just suddenly needed to kiss him, so I did. It's like I couldn't help myself. But then he had to go and ruin it by making it very clear that he didn't want to be kissing me. I tried to play it off, but, the damage is done."

"Don't get me wrong, I adore Jovari—as a shield. But you should know, he is known as one of the kingdom's biggest flirts. I've heard plenty about his reputation around court."

"And you think he sees me a potential conquest?"

"Not necessarily." Claire blew out a breath. "Do you like him?"

"No!" She answered too quickly.

"Leah, you know you're my best friend, which means I know when you're lying."

"Fine. Maybe it's...I don't know. Infatuation, or something. I'm sure it will pass. I don't want to make things awkward, you know?"

"I think it's too late for that." Claire glanced over and caught Jovari watching them. She lifted her brows in warning and he quickly looked away. "Want me to talk to him?"

"Ohmigodno!"

She laughed. "All right. I'll leave you two to sort things out on your own. But, Leah, I'm here if you want to talk. I know Talon told him to stay away from you and all but—"

"Wait, what?!" Leah hissed, attracting the attention of several nearby sprites. More quietly she said, "He did what?"

"Claire..." Talon's voice was a warning in her mind.

"I told you to butt out of this," she admonished, giving him another mental shove, even though she couldn't exactly block him without putting more effort into it, which she didn't want to do. Not ever again.

"I saw it in his mind. He gave Jovari a talking to, early on. He was worried Jovari would break your heart, so he told him to stay away from you."

Leah's face heated. She threw a glare in Talon's direction. The king was staring at them with a disgruntled expression, which he quickly smoothed into nothing a moment later.

"That wasn't his business," Leah admonished.

"Actually, what my shield does is very much my business," Talon growled into her mind. She offered a mental snarl in response. Nosy mate.

"It is his business." She absolutely hated being forced to take Talon's side over her best friend's, but Talon was right. "Jovari belongs to the king. He made an oath that binds him for life. The king has every right to exercise his will on the matter. For what it's worth, he was trying to protect you, not hurt you."

Leah blew out a breath. "You're right. I...like I said before, it doesn't matter." She absentmindedly brushed her fingertips over her lips.

Claire could see what she wasn't saying—Talon could see it too, plain as day. Leah cared about Jovari far more than she ought to. Telling the shield to stay away from her romantically hadn't prevented what was happening here. Knowing that only stoked the king's ire.

Claire was aware of him stalking over towards Jovari.

"Talon," she warned. "Please don't. Leah kissed Jovari. He did not break his word to you."

"He kissed her back," he growled.

"You don't know that. You weren't there. Drop it, please."

Talon's pace slowed. When he reached his shield, he clapped him on the shoulder and took up a stance beside him. She sent him a silent thanks before turning her full attention back to Leah.

"Well, you know the best way to move on from a guy?" She reached for a sprite carrying a tray of goblets filled with spriten wine. "Find a new one." She grabbed two goblets, passing one to Leah. "There are plenty of handsome males here tonight. Let's find one for you to dance with."

Leah's expression brightened. She took her goblet, clinked it against Claire's and they drank. It only took minutes before she found a handsome young male eager to take her pink haired friend up on a dance. She couldn't help her smirk as she watched them twirl about, which only grew wider as Talon appeared beside her and encouraged her to sneak away with him for the night. With one final glance in Jovari's direction and his monumental scowl, she slipped away and allowed her mate to make good on his promises about her gown.

💕❤️💕Don't forget to vote for this chapter!❤️💕❤️



Hi Bookdragons!

I really enjoyed the little bonding sesh between Claire and Irelia. As I was thinking about this chapter and what I'd write, I realized I hadn't given them a chance to have any alone time. The emotions were definitely running high when I got my words down.

Next week's chapter is from Leah's POV.

--Mel