Page 9 of Crown and Dragon

“Good.”

“Then it’s settled.” The queen gave her husband a look Marius couldn’t decipher. “Your full instructions are in a sealed scroll in your room,” she said to Marius and Tahlia. “We have had our staff pack the clothing our contact in the city provided, your belongings, and food, water, and coin for the trip. You leave immediately.”

Tahlia traded a glance with Marius, then they bowed and curtseyed each in turn.

“As you wish, Your Highnesses,” they said in unison.

Marius wondered how it would feel for Tahlia to cross the Veil for the very first time…

Chapter 5

Tahlia

Riding in Ragewing’s two-seat saddle, Tahlia gripped Marius’s waist tightly. Marius had braided back his long, moonlight-hued hair. He glanced at Tahlia over his shoulder.

“I’m assuming you just want to hug me and aren’t feeling fatigued and in danger of falling?” he said over the wind.

“You got it, boss.”

“Lady Tahlia.” His tone was a warning. “We are officially on a mission at this point.”

She grinned against his broad upper back. “Commander,” she said, correcting herself.

He touched her hand briefly, then adjusted his grip on the reins. “We’re almost there.”

Almost to the Veil. What would it be like in the human realm? Would it feel different from the Realm of Lights? Would it look wildly different?

“I suddenly feel unprepared for this mission.”

“Just now, you’re feeling that? You’re a few days behind, Lady Tahlia.” His chuckle shook her slightly. “We know our orders. We will go over the king’s scroll again as soon as we finish at the Witch’s house.”

“Tell me what you know of the human realm.”

“I’ve only been a few times, but it is less lush than our realm. The air can be positively fetid. But it is mostly breathable. The creatures are different from what we have. No forest dragons, except those taken by humans. No mountain dragons either. But they do have a very small breed sentimentally labeled pocket dragons.”

“The humans themselves… I hope they are like Queen Revna and me generally, and nothing like my father.” A shudder traveled over her heart, and a longing for Lija burned through her veins.

“Humans are not worthy of our trust. There are exceptions, but…” A grumbling growl vibrated through him.

Tahlia frowned, chewing her lip. She wasn’t sure she liked how he had stated that. “Good to know.” She decided to change the subject. “What do you know of the Witch?”

“No more than you do, I’d guess. All right, it’s time. Brace yourself. The crossing will feel strange.”

Threads glittered across the sky, sapphire blue and rose connecting Marius and Ragewing. Ebony and azure threads linked her to Marius as well as the forest, the trees, the animals that scurried and leapt below in the Gwerhune. A prickling sensation started on Tahlia’s nose and hands before spreading to her scalp, back, legs, torso, and feet. She hadn’t realized she’d shut her eyes, but when she opened them, the threads were gone.

“They’re not here,” she said, feeling unmoored. She had already grown used to the thread magic that Mother Twilight had bestowed on her.

“What isn’t?” Marius tapped Ragewing’s shoulder and seemed to be speaking to the dragon inside his mind. They began soaring in a more southeasterly direction.

“The threads. My magic doesn’t work here.”

“Ah. I had wondered if that would be the case.”

“And you didn’t bring it up?” she asked, blinking.

“You are deadly, skilled, and brave without your thread magic. It’s a non-issue.”

“I had planned on kicking everyone’s arse easily!”