Page 14 of The Dragon King
She turned around, walked back to Uncle Ezra, and stared him down. “How long did this secret conversation go on?”
“Minutes.” Uncle Ezra turned his accusatory look on Talon.
“And then they switched to the common tongue when you approached?” she asked.
“Yes.”
Queen Eldinar turned back to Talon. “Why do two strangers have so much to talk about?”
Talon said nothing.
She walked back toward him. “What was said?”
“Nothing that concerns you.”
Even I didn’t like that answer, and I felt uneasy.
“You’re my ally, and they’re my enemy,” Queen Eldinar said. “You should want to tell me.”
“Show me the location of the dragons, and I will.”
“How dare you hold this against me?—”
“Like how you’re holding this against me?” His eyes narrowed. “I’ll tell you one thing, Your Majesty. He told me not to trust you—and now I wonder if I should heed that warning.”
I stood there and felt the tremor in my heart, felt so much unease I wanted to explode. I was so relieved when he’d come back unscathed, but this showdown was just as strenuous.
She stepped back. “When you’re ready to share the details of that conversation, let me know. In the meantime, you can make yourself comfortable in one of our cells.” She gestured to General Ezra. “Take him away.”
No.
General Ezra moved for him.
Talon was faster than all of them, drawing his blade and throwing an elbow into the face of one guard before punching another in the face. It all happened in the blink of an eye, and then he managed to grab my uncle and spin him around, holding the blade to his neck. “I saved your forest from guaranteed annihilation. Behemoths would have claimed this forest for their own, and the dark elves would have infiltrated the Realm of Caelumby now—and you would all be dead. I understand my reputation precedes me, but I have never given you a reason to distrust me. Khazmuda is fused with me by choice. Inferno was always given a choice. And then you send me to battle with my arms tied behind my back, and I make your enemies run like minnows in a pond—and this is how you treat me?” He continued to hold the blade to my uncle’s neck.
Queen Eldinar remained remarkably calm despite the blade to her husband’s throat. “If you want me to trust you, then tell me what was said.”
“He told me not to trust you. I already told you that.”
“Talon…” My voice broke on its way out because I was scared, scared of what could happen to the two men I cared most about.
Talon didn’t look at me, but his hardness faded.
“Talon, please let him go.”
He clenched his jaw like he was furious then released my uncle. Threw his blade on the ground and stepped back.
My body finally relaxed.
“Tell me what was said, King Talon,” Queen Eldinar demanded. “Why do you resist?—”
“Because our conversation doesn’t concern you,” he snapped. “I didn’t betray you. Here I stand, still your ally, when I probably shouldn’t be. You played games with me, and you still continue to do so.”
Queen Eldinar stood with a stiff spine and didn’t check on her husband’s neck, which didn’t suffer a bleed. Her eyes were reserved for Talon. “You’re right. I don’t trust you.” She gestured to the men. “Take him away.”
“No.” I moved to the queen. “Your Majesty?—”
“This doesn’t concern you.” She didn’t even look at me.