Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 127026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 635(@200wpm)___ 508(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 635(@200wpm)___ 508(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
49
THE ELECTION
Kerrigan leaned back against Tieran’s comforting body. He’d returned from the Holy Mountain late the night before, and she had never been happier to see him. Though Netta had come back earlier, all the council candidates’ dragons had had to stay longer. Any second now, they were going to fly down to the arena together to find out the results of the vote.
Not that Kerrigan cared about the vote.
She’d forced herself to get out of bed this morning, go down to the council chamber, and cast her vote. She didn’t stay to smile and cajole others to join her cause. She didn’t have it in her. Not after what happened with Valia.
Everyone already knew who they were going to vote for. Standing around and smiling wouldn’t do much good for her cause. Either they wanted her to be on the council or they didn’t. She couldn’t care anymore.
She’d gone immediately from there to the dungeons to discuss with Corinna what was happening with the prisoners. That honestly made her feel worse. Not a single Red Mask had uttered a word. It was as if the Father’s display with Valia had sealed their lips. One had even gone so far as to commit suicide in their cell to keep from saying anything.
“We’ll figure it out,” Corinna had tried to reassure her.
But a pit was forming in Kerrigan’s stomach, and nothing could penetrate it.
Not even Fordham.
He pulled her close and whispered sweet nothings into her ear, promising to be at her side during the ceremony. They could fight anything together.
She believed him, but she didn’t know how to fight this. It felt like an insidious invisible force that was pressing down on them. How could she fight something she couldn’t see? How could she fight someone who didn’t exist? How could she survive any of this?
You’re being dramatic, Tieran said lightly.
They both knew she wasn’t.
“Valia is dead.”
And you’ll bury her after the election is over, he reminded her. You need to stay sharp, or everything you and Valia worked on will have been for nothing.
Kerrigan bristled at that. “I’m sharp.”
You’re dragging.
“I watched her die in front of me.”
I understand. It was terrible. No one will argue that with you. But something is happening today, and you have no specifics. No one will talk. They’re more afraid of the Father than the Society. The Guard is on alert. Helly is prepared with Corinna. You need to be ready too.
Kerrigan stretched out her muscles. He was right. Of course he was right. This wasn’t over just because she despaired. Just because Valia was dead. Kerrigan wouldn’t let her death be for nothing. Whatever the Red Masks were throwing at her today, she would be prepared.
“Okay,” she said calmly. “I’m ready.”
The rest of the candidates arrived after Kerrigan in the aerie. Alura was last, having been forced to climb the interminable stairs up to the top. She could have met her dragon, Gemina, at the bottom of the mountain and flown up to the aerie, but based on the proud tilt of Alura’s chin, she had refused. She’d likely thought it an insult. Kerrigan nodded as she leaned heavily against her dragon. Alura nodded back.
Bastian smiled warmly at her from a distance with his dragon, Raigan. She nodded at him and then found Durban, Hydie, and Selwyn with their dragons too. None of them met her eye, too focused on what was ahead. And she didn’t blame them. They had no idea that the Red Masks had something planned for today.
Helly, however, did know. A crease formed between her eyes with worry over the situation, but somehow, she still looked proud next to her dragon, Tavry. Kerrigan loved that dragon almost as much as Tieran. They had ridden together into battle once, long before Kerrigan had joined the Society and gotten her own dragon. Any other day, she would have gone over there to say hello, but today wasn’t any other day. Today, they were being announced to the entire Society, and council members were being chosen.
They could hear the cheering in the arena from the dragon aerie. Jitters set in as they were placed in order with Kerrigan once again entering last. As each nominee was called forward, they climbed onto their dragon and rode into the arena. Kerrigan thought it was particularly cruel to make Alura have to ride on her dragon. She had once been the most fearsome dragon rider, and now, her mobility issues had her so limited. She could see it in the set of Alura’s shoulders that she was remembering all of the incredible tricks she used to be capable of.
Alura looked up at Gemina with frustration in her eyes. She had to climb onto her dragon. But with her disability, could she even get up there? Why was no one offering to help her?