River of Sathir
Simeon leered at Ezaara, his gaze crawling over her body like a cockroach. It made her want to brush herself off. Or, even better, punch him in the eye so he couldn’t stare anymore. Seppi yanked Simeon’s head around so he couldn’t see her and dragged him off. Other blue guards manhandled Simeon’s parents out the door.
“Shards, he’s a creep,” Roberto melded. “Always has been. I’m glad he’s leaving.”
“Did he really force himself upon that girl?”
Roberto’s face was grim. “They never proved it, but ask Gret. Trixia was her best friend.”
Lars dismissed the onlookers, who—some bandying insults about Simeon’s family—trailed out the door.
Drumbeats boomed beneath Ezaara’s feet. Banishment drums. She remembered Roberto’s hateful expression and her horror at him murdering Jaevin.
“Oops, you shared that memory,” he said.
“Sorry.” Ezaara shuddered. “Banishment drums are always going to remind me of you being sent away.”
“To save you, I’d do it again, in a heartbeat.”
“Let’s stay together instead.”
“Sure, right after we’re done here.” A rush of heat accompanied Roberto’s words, making her blush.
Tonio’s keen gaze sharpened, flitting between her and Roberto.
When the crowd had dispersed and only the council were in the room, Lars spoke. “This has been a difficult time. I’m glad Master Roberto and our Honored Queen’s Rider have returned. We welcome Ezaara to our council. With two dead and two banished, we’re now four masters short. Ezaara, would you mind overseeing the infirmary until we replace Fleur?”
“Yes, Lars, it would be my pleasure.”
“Please urgently identify any poisons and antidotes. Fleur may have destroyed valuable remedies, so you’ll need to build up supplies. I’ll assign people to help.” He glanced around. “Derek, as master of instruction, you’ll take over Swordmaster Jaevin’s duties until we have a replacement.”
“Of course,” Derek answered.
“Master Shari had several assistants, so I’ll let them oversee her activities for now. Unfortunately, we have no one suitable to take the role of master of prophecy, so that post will have to remain empty.” Lars’ throat bobbed. “I am deeply saddened to lose two esteemed masters, as I’m sure we all are. Please comfort our riders and take care of our people.”
Tonio nodded. “Zens has infiltrated our council once. He’ll try to do it again. Report anything suspicious to me immediately.”
“Any further questions?” Lars asked.
Everyone was too numb to say much, so Lars dismissed them.
Ezaara was bone-weary. “Roberto, I’m so glad this is over. I could sleep for a week.”
“Later. Meet me in the orchard.” Fire accompanied his words, leaping into her veins. Roberto’s onyx eyes burned away her fatigue.
“See you there.” Ezaara swept out the door upon the waves of drumbeats, Roberto at her side.
§
It’d been a long day, but there was more work to do. Lars put his gavel away and stood. He needed to see Shari’s assistants. As the last of the masters drifted out of the room, Tonio sidled up to him.
“Come with me, there’s something you need to see. Urgently.”
Within a heartbeat, Lars was striding after Tonio to the landing outside. How could the sun shine so brightly over the basin when his heart was filled with sorrow? Two masters dead. Two more banished. And a royal dragon that might not recover from swayweed. “What is it, Tonio?”
“Look.” He gestured toward Roberto on Erob, and Ezaara on Zaarusha, high above Dragon’s Teeth. “Tell me what you see.”
“Two highly skilled riders, but we knew that.” Lars turned away.
“Look again.”
Ezaara sat low on Zaarusha, Roberto mimicking her position on Erob. Simultaneously, both dragons swooped to the east, then spiraled down toward the orchard, replicating each other’s movements with exact timing, as if attached by a giant piece of string.
“Have you seen dragons fly in such tight formation before?” The intensity of Tonio’s voice made his spine prickle.
That’s what he meant. Nodding, Lars replied. “Only two couples.”
“Couples. Who?”
“Yanir and Anakisha, of course.”
“And?” Tonio pressed.
Lars sighed. “Hans and Marlies. But that doesn’t mean these two are mind-melding. Erob and Zaarusha are mother and son. Their bond is strong.”
Tonio just arched an eyebrow.
“All right, so the riders might be melding, but that doesn’t mean they’re romantically involved.”
“Blushing at each other in a council meeting isn’t adequate evidence either, but the law is the law.”
“Tonio, she’s practically qualified,” Lars warned. “We can’t afford to lose another master, especially not the master of mental faculties and imprinting. Not when we need to perform mental tests on every newcomer to Dragons’ Hold.”
“Understood.”
“This is one of those times when your suspicions must not result in action.”
Tonio’s gaze was stony. “Do I have to remind you of the only other couple that could mind-meld?”
Giddi and Mazyka—two of the most powerful mages the realm had ever seen.
“Mazyka was seventeen—like Ezaara,” Tonio continued.
Impulsive and talented, Mazyka had quickly grown power-hungry and had encouraged her master to use his power in forbidden ways, nearly destroying Dragons’ Realm.
Lars sighed. “Very well. Keep an eye on them, but do it yourself, not via one of your spies. Discuss your findings only with me.”
“Will do.”
“And Tonio,” Lars cautioned, “Roberto is innocent of his father’s crimes. This had better not be about you getting even with Amato.”
Tonio’s face tightened.
Lars shook his head and strode away.
§
Flying with Ezaara and Zaarusha was glorious. Every wing dip, each swoop and turn of their downward spiral were in harmony. Ezaara’s laugh unfurled a coil inside Roberto that he’d held tight for years. Colors shot through him in a thousand tiny bursts.
He laughed too.
“So, you’ve finally found someone you can meld with, who loves you for yourself,” Erob said. “Someone you can trust.”
“I had no idea I could feel so happy. It’s amazing.”
“Caution, Roberto, you’re both subject to the laws
