To all of our surprise, Beyan actually obeyed. The two men left the campsite and disappeared into the night.
While they were gone, Farrah, Ryhss, and I caught up with each other while we ate a late supper. Finally I was able to learn what had happened after we all got separated.
When Joichan had flown off with me, the group hadn’t lingered in the area. My behavior — or, betrayal — had made it clear that a rescue attempt would not have been welcome. Instead, they immediately headed north. Beyan’s new mission was to come to Calia, to demand an audience with Queen Melandria to find out what had been the real purpose of our trip.
“He encouraged us to return to Orchwell.” Farrah looked at Rhyss, who seemed uncharacteristically somber. “But it didn’t seem like a good idea to leave him alone. In all of the years I’ve known him... I’ve never seen him so... I don’t know. So single-minded. Heaven help anyone who got in his way.”
“With the upcoming wedding, I can’t imagine he’d be able to see the queen. Even during regular times it would be hard enough. What did he plan to do with the information, if he could get it?” I said. What could Beyan possibly be thinking? Farrah’s and Rhyss’s blank faces told me they didn’t know, either.
Farrah shrugged. “Some sort of catharsis for him? We don’t really know, and he wouldn’t tell us.”
“Was he able to see her?” If my mother had met Beyan, I was sure she would have mentioned it to me.
Farrah and Rhyss exchanged glances. “He was at the castle earlier today. I... we... it’s probably best if you talk to him about it.”
I nodded, wondering why my friends were being so cagey. I supposed they were still trying to suss me out, to see if I was truly trustworthy. It hurt, but I couldn’t blame them.
We cleaned up and then prepared the campsite for the night. With all the constant activity around us, Farrah and Rhyss said a watch wasn’t necessary, but I offered to stay up to wait for Joichan and Beyan.
By the time the two men returned, my eyelids were growing heavy and I had to jerk myself awake several times. But as tired as I was, I could tell something had changed between them. What had they talked about? They were much more at ease in each other’s company. Not quite friends, but no longer enemies either.
My father curled up near the fire, eschewing the bedroll Beyan offered him. “One of the advantages of being able to change into an animal is that you adapt easier to your environment.” Well, now I knew how much Joichan had shared about his history. What had he shared of mine? “I may not be able to shift my body, but I can shift my mindset, and it will simply feel like I’m sleeping in my dragon form.”
“I wish it was that easy for me,” Beyan said. “Even after years of traveling, I still have trouble sleeping when I’m on the road.”
“I do too,” I agreed, but my jaw-cracking yawn belied my words.
Joichan laughed and settled in to sleep, as did Beyan and I. Soon my father’s light snoring joined Farrah’s and Rhyss’s gentle breathing. I yawned again, trying to get comfortable on the hard ground.
“Allayne? I mean, Your Highness?” Beyan whispered.
“Just Jennica is fine.” I yawned again “Yes?”
“I... I’m glad you’re back.” His fingers reached out, barely brushing mine.
“I’m glad you and the others aren’t mad at me anymore. I haven’t had many friends in my life. Political acquaintances, yes, but not true friends. It killed me to think that you and Farrah and Rhyss would think poorly of me.”
“It wasn’t Farrah and Rhyss so much as it was me. I was the one who was the angriest. I had a good talk with your... father. He explained a lot of things to me: what he is, what really happened when he was in Calia. What happened when he met my father. I... I understand things better now.”
“Do you still want revenge for your father?” My exhaustion was beginning to outweigh my discomfort, but I fought it, wanting to hear Beyan’s answer.
“Yes. But not against Joichan. The one who should pay is King Hendon. I was looking at the wrong person — dragon? — all along.”
“We have something in common, now.” I laughed softly. Then, in a more serious tone: “Help me, Beyan. Help me stop the king. My mother says he’s grown incredibly powerful. We’ll need all the allies we can get.”
“Of course... Jennica. Whatever help you need, I’ll be there. And I know the others feel the same.”
“Good.” I yawned.
We fell silent for a long moment. Beyan’s fingers curled more tightly around mine. The last thing I heard before I gave into sleep was him murmuring my name. “Jennica...”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
I WOKE UP A LITTLE chilly and disoriented. The cold was from my arms being outside my bedroll. And the confusion was from a very vivid dream about Beyan. I blushed at the memory. Had he been holding my hand when we fell asleep? I turned to face him — and then was really confused. He wasn’t there.
I sat up and survey our campsite. Farrah and Rhyss were just waking up as well. My father and Beyan were missing.
“Where is everyone?” I asked.
“Your father just left a few minutes ago. He went to get water for us,” Rhyss said. As I recalled, there was a river about two miles away.
“Where’s Beyan? Did he go with Joichan?”
“I don’t think so, I think he was already gone,” Farrah said. “We don’t know where he went.”
“Hopefully he comes back soon,” I said.
With uncanny timing, Beyan appeared at the campsite. He was breathing heavily and there was a sheen of sweat on his forehead. He quickly surveyed our group. “Where’s Joichan?”
“He’s headed to the river,” Farrah said. “Where have
