Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 117336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
I'm stunned.
"The drakoni hate the Salorians," Emma continues. "They're enslaved by them. They're forced to be their grunts, their fighters, and the Salorians sit in their pretty cities and guide them from afar. Azar must be pretty low ranked if he was actually with his troops when he went out to fight, but it doesn't matter. What matters is that you know what he's doing."
I say nothing. Emma’s working herself up again, her frustration evident.
Emma taps on her temple. "Do you know how the Salorians trap the drakoni? They send out mental lures and then take over their minds. They use them like puppets. When their eyes are gray, it's because a Salorian is nesting in their heads. They're not there. They could be fighting against the Salorian with everything they have, and they can't win because the Salorians are masters of mind control. Zohr will never come close to your city because I don't want him or my son anywhere near Azar." Her hand moves protectively over the baby. "That's why we're meeting out here. This is as close as I dare to get."
I'm silent. I don't know what to say. Everything Emma says is truth laced with lies. Or are they lies? I don't know. Azar told me that he's helping the drakoni that sit on the walls, but what if he's not telling the truth about that? He wouldn't lie to me, would he? Not over something like that? "How do you know they're enslaved?"
"He did it to Vaan," Rachel says, chiming in. "You can ask him and Gwen if you don't believe us. He took over Vaan and tried to force him to come to the fort. He and Gwen are staying just because they're acting as go-betweens for those that won't come near Fort Dallas…and because they agree we need to work together to take care of whatever's threatening from that Rift. The moment it's gone, though? You won't see any of us near the fort ever again. We're only working with Azar because the alternative is worse. No one's working with him because they think he's doing good."
Then why aren’t Gwen and Vaan out here trying to explain this to me? But I know the answer to that. Gwen’s so pregnant she can’t ride right now. I guess Rachel and this Emma took it upon themselves to have a talk with me. I lick dry lips, not sure what to believe. "He—he said he's helping them. That they asked him to help—"
They exchange a look, and that look worries me. I don't know what to think anymore.
"They're enslaved," Emma says. "You can't think it's all right to enslave dragons to protect people. Destroying one person against their will doesn't make it all right, even if you're protecting twenty, or a hundred. You're still destroying someone. Surely you can see that, Melina."
“Don’t talk down to me,” I say, losing my temper. “You know the answer to that already. I would never, ever agree to let Azar enslave anyone, but you're wrong about him. I promise you, you're wrong."
Rachel grimaces, her expression apologetic. Emma averts her gaze, hugging her baby close. Her non-answer bothers me. Do they seriously think I'm okay with this? If what they’re telling me is the truth?
“Maybe we’re wrong,” Rachel says lamely. Emma shoots her an angry look, but Rachel shakes her head. “Look. This isn’t going how I thought it would. Maybe we should just call it a day.” She sounds defeated. “I’m sorry to drag you out here, Melina.”
For some reason, it’s that defeat in her tone that worries me. What do they know that I don't? Would Azar really, truly lie about something like this to me? They have to be wrong…but something tells me that Emma with all her anger believes what she's saying. That she's been told that Azar enslaves the minds of others. And if that's the case…
No. I'm not going to turn on Azar the moment someone throws a few accusations around. Squaring my shoulders, I gaze at Rachel and Emma calmly. "I appreciate your concerns. If what you say is true…"
I trail off. Because if what they say is true…what? Do I tell Azar not to guard the city with the drakoni any longer? The idea of them being slaves fills me with loathing, but would the rest of Fort Dallas feel the same or would they only care that they're safe? Would they turn on me if I suggested freeing the dragons? That dealing with their madness is better than enslaving them?
To me, it's clear.
And if this is the truth…Azar is never touching me again.
I'm silent on the ride back to Fort Dallas. Emma's baby gets fussy, and she and her dragon leave after filling my head with rumors and accusations. Rachel admits that the mention of the medication was a ploy to get me out of the fort, but they do have a stash that Emma brought as part of the cover story. It's mostly ibuprofen and some expired antibiotics, but I'll take whatever I can get. With the medication in my bag, I hug Rachel's waist and try not to think about Azar and his potential betrayal.