Page 47 of Black Crown

“You have a solution?” Zakai asked, rubbing a hand over his shorn scalp. He looked younger without the long, stringy hair he’d had when I first met him.

“Your Phaetyn veil?” Dyter said, joining us. He was quick on the uptake as always.

Walking beside the king, I replied, “I’m not making promises, but I should be able to cover some of the army if we’re attacked by Druman or Draedyn.”

“What if the army could converge into a smaller space if we’re attacked from above?” Tyrrik asked. I watched him, noticing he took one stride for every two of mine.

Zakai glanced over his shoulder at his son and Gairome who were listening. “What do you think?”

Zarad pursed his lips. “It could be done, of course. In an orderly fashion. My only worry is if our army sees the emperor, they’ll panic and hurt each other.” He paused. “I shall run drills on this when we stop for the night.” He glanced up at Tyrrik and asked, “My Lord Drae, would you be willing to help?”

Tyrrik consented, and Zakai smiled at his son. I felt a pang as I thought of my mother’s smiles.

“I’ll get practicing on that veil then.”I can do this, I decided. Maybe only a quarter of the army to start. But I could do this for Gemond. If I didn’t try, I’d be the one to blame for any life I could’ve saved.

I glanced back at the army behind us and blinked as I encountered the burning gaze of the young man who’d hurled accusations at me yesterday before I grew the potatoes. His anger made me frown and face forward, marching in time with the Gemondians. What had happened to their kingdom was horrible, and yes, I felt some responsibility. That I should shouldermoreof the burden for what happened to them hadn’t occurred to me until the soldier behind me shocked me with his vitriolic opinion.

No matter what I thought about myself, those around me saw me as a Phaetyn-Drae, someone with enough power to change the outcome of this war and this world. They didn’t seemebut rather a person capable of things they could never do.

As much as I had shied away from taking responsibility for the kingdom’s future since learning of my powers, I now saw I shouldn’t be shirking away from taking any burden either. I was a Drae and a Phaetyn; hadn’t Mum talked about power and responsibility?

Protecting the Gemondian army was one of those responsibilities I needed to pick up. I’d do for them what Lani was doing for her people. And when Verald and Azule joined us, I’d work harder again to protect them all. I had great power, and I guess that came with great—and mostly unwanted—responsibility. But now, I was done running. I had to step up.

I’m going to be working on my veil until we stop,I informed Tyrrik.

Ignoring the smiles of the others, he bent down to plant a kiss on my lips.And I will keep to the skies to scout ahead. I’ll alert you to anything significant.

Let me know how far my Phaetyn veil reaches too?He’d be able to see where the army blurred and didn’t. As my mate, Tyrrik could see through my Phaetyn veil. Although I was unsure if last night had obliterated the effectiveness of any barrier against him.

“I guess we’ll find out,” he replied aloud, drawing the confused gazes of those around us.

With an amused look on his weathered face, King Zakai asked Dyter. “Do they do that a lot?”

Dyter released a pent up breath and rolled his eyes. “You have no idea, Your Majesty. And I suspect it’ll only get worse.”

16

Be on your guard,Tyrrik spoke to me from high in the darkening sky. The last streaks of sunlight melting into the rich twilight.There’s a squirrel to the east with an evil look in its eye.

I snorted, waving a hand at Zarad when he looked at me strangely.The squirrel only has one eye?

Before, Tyrrik wasn’t able to talk to me through the veil, but now he could. I’d been right, completing our mating bond changed the effectiveness of the wall against my Drae. Not that I minded.

“It’s like I’m listening to one-twentieth of a conversation,” King Zakai muttered. “How incredibly frustrating.”

I believe he lost it while killing a Drae.

I whistled low and grinned at the Gemondian king.That’s one fearsome squirrel.

Do not fear, mate. I will keep you safe.

Chuckling, I said to the king, “We’re in the clear.”

Then I tuned them out and focused on stretching the moss-green power farther behind us. I could see the edge of my Phaetyn wall ahead; the power tucked around the ten rows of Gemondians in front of the army. I’d spent the last five hours extending the veil to the men behind me.

A trickle of sweat rolled down my neck, despite the evening air, and I knew when I dropped the veil I’d need some serious nectar. On the positive side, holding the power steady was much easier in my Phaetyn form. I supposed my Phaetyn side still preferred light and my Drae side still preferred darkness. Unfortunately, that meant to prevent unnecessary fatigue, I was on the ground while Tyrrik was in the air, scouting.How much am I covering now?

I got an image from his mind’s eye and smiled at the aerial view of my work. Oh yeah, I was getting better. I whooped aloud and said,“One third.”