“Yes!” the baker shouted. “It is the disgraced Prince, and he did steal bread from my bakery!” Sath cursed under his breath as he got to his feet. “He is eating it right now!”
“You will be reimbursed, Sir,” one of the soldiers said to the now frantic baker. Sath readied himself for a fight and tried his best to control the fear that was spreading through him, threatening to defuse his resolve. This was no different than sparring with the Sahi during his lessons. “Now then, Sathlir, show yourself!” Sath took a deep breath and strode out of the alleyway, his hood back from his face. There were gasps in the gathered crowd.
“Can I help you?” he asked, beaming a smug grin at the quad.
“You are accused of stealing from a citizen of Qatu’anari,” one of them said harshly. “You are already exiled from the palace – let us help you remember your place. Take him.” The other three were on Sath before he could blink. They were much older and stronger than he and had better training. Sath hissed and spit and tried to free himself from their grasp, but it was no use. Clearly, the Sahi in his lessons had been pulling punches to allow him to win. The fourth one drew something substantial and metallic from his pack, then headed straight for Sath, who braced himself, sure that he was about to be run through or have his hands removed for stealing.
Sath’s eyes widened as the soldier held an iron collar aloft and spoke in a booming voice, catching the attention of everyone in the street. “Let it be known that Sathlir is no longer welcome in Qatu’anari, and let this collar be a symbol of his new status. It will be a reminder to anyone that offers him comfort, solace, or sanctuary.” Sath struggled against the guards, but they held him fast. The guard holding the collar came toward Sath with it, repeating words in ancient Qatunari as he did. The collar popped open, and the guard managed to snap it closed around a struggling Sath’s neck. It was solid iron, and once the guard finished his chant, it sealed itself shut. There was no way to take it off, no lock to place a key that would spring it open again. Only magic would release it. It was incredibly dense, and Sath could feel the muscles in his neck and shoulders beginning to sting under the weight of the collar. The three guards holding him threw him to the ground, and then turned on a heel in unison and left the alley, the fourth following along behind them.
Sath started toward the baker who ran inside his shop and bolted the door. Growling, Sath turned back and gathered his cloak and haversack and headed for the city gates. Everyone that he passed stared at him now, rather than averting their eyes as they’d done before. Young Qatu pointed and laughed. As he passed the entrance to the Royal Apartments, the two magical stone tigers that stood guard there hopped to their feet at the sight of him, hissing and spitting. Sath kept moving, and the collar dug into the flesh of his shoulders with every step. Finally, he reached the gates of Qatu’anari, and the Sahi Kalah there turned their backs at his approach, a symbolic gesture that meant he was no longer welcome. As he stepped out into the night and looked up, he saw the moon on the horizon, just beginning its climb into the sky. “That’s where I’ll go—to the edge of the horizon, the mainland. They don’t want me here, fine. Someone there can help me get this na’hin collar off my neck.” He looked back over his shoulder at Qatu’anari and spit. “Good riddance,” he muttered, wiping a tear from his teal eyes as he turned back toward the path leading away from his home.
Sath opened his eyes as the memory faded back into the recesses of his mind where it belonged. Gin’s blue eyes—predictably locked on his face—were rimmed with tears. “Sath, I—I had no idea.”
“Of course you didn’t,” Sath said, smiling sadly at her. “I didn’t speak to Papa again until the day he died, after Lairky...after I caused your sister Lairceach’s death.” He looked away, shame burning his cheeks under his fur.
“Sath, look at me,” she said. He finally met her stare but was hesitant. “You were charmed and you didn’t know what you were...I can’t forgive you for that yet, but I will. I just need time,” she said, biting her lip. “But now I understand about the collar. You don’t have to wear that collar; we will come up with something. Let me see if I can -”
Sath took her outstretched hands in one of his. “No, I can’t be seen without it. There is too much risk to you if I am. If this makes the Mother Dragon feel like I am under control, so be it. If the other dragonkind find out I am not your pet, there is no telling what they will do to me, and I can’t…” He paused a moment before continuing. “I have to make sure that you’re safe, and I can’t do that from a dungeon or worse, Gin.”
“No, you don’t. We look after each other, as equals, Sath, because I am not your child or your possession…I am your…Gin.” Sath grabbed her up into his arms, holding her tightly to him. “Now, let’s take that collar off.”
“I said no.” Gin frowned but he could feel that she understood—she just didn’t like it at all. “We will find another way.”
Fourteen
Me, Myself, and Us
“All right, A’chrya, I’m ready. Let’s talk.” Ellie levitated a few feet above the floor in one of her workrooms. It had only been a few days since she had triumphantly banished the Rajah and the Nature Walker to the Void, but she had spent
