Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 110079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 550(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
“No, not all dragons are like Haru. He’s very much one of a kind. I think you would find Clan leader Omari Nori to be someone you could talk to and get along with.” Shey pivoted on his right foot, shifting from his mother to extend a hand toward Tyche, who stepped away as if he intended to make a break for the door. “Mother, this is Tyche, a very good friend.” His mother’s other brow lifted to join the first questioning one, but Shey pressed on. “We met while we were imprisoned in Damardor. He helped me to escape and return home.”
Tyche bowed low, appearing very proper. “It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty. His Highness makes too much of my tiny assistance. I’m sure he could have escaped without me.”
“Any help provided to my son is appreciated, Mr. Tyche.”
The God of Luck shook his head. “No, it’s simply Tyche, Your Majesty. I’m a nobody who can’t even put on airs of being a mister.”
Shey sighed and rolled his eyes. He had to put a stop to this formality and nonsense. “He’s the God of Luck.”
His mother froze, her face turning white, while Tyche slouched his entire body and whined. “Ahhh…you promised!”
Shey closed the distance between them and slung his arm across Tyche’s slumped shoulders. “I promised not to lead with it. I didn’t. Besides, I had to put a stop to your nonsense.”
Tyche grinned up at him, his green eyes glittering with mirth and mischief. “I was aiming for humble.”
“You overshot.”
“You’re really a god?” The queen’s trembling words brought their attention back to her.
“Yes, but only a little, minor one. I’m not a major god like Kaes.” He held up one hand, his thumb and forefinger spaced less than an inch apart as if to show his size within the heavenly pantheon.
Despite Tyche’s attempts to soothe away the queen’s worries, she didn’t look reassured. She glared at Shey and then lifted her hand to pinch the bridge of her nose. “Shey Lorcan Caspian Alistair Thrudesh-Vo…”
Tyche’s head popped up as Shey’s mother started on his middle names. Shey slapped his free hand across the god’s mouth to stop whatever teasing was about to come out, but he could still feel Tyche’s smile.
“I will want a full accounting of everything that you have been up to,” the queen continued, putting just enough emphasis on her words so he understood he would be explaining his adventures in Damardor and his complicated relationship with a god. “However, we don’t have time for all of that now. Is there anything pressing that I should know right now?”
Shey dropped his hand from Tyche’s mouth and straightened. The time for joking was over. “Adrian and Haru are in the city. The dragons have commanded that Haru should help us with the current dilemma with the Federation of Order. King Caelan Talos has placed Adrian Westergren at my disposal as well.”
Queen Noemi sighed. “I fear we’re going to be in Erya’s debt for many years to come.”
“I doubt King Caelan sees Caspagir as owing them anything.”
His mother frowned. “Possibly, but it is always good to hesitate prior to asking for assistance. You never know when that kindness could be used against you later.” Shey opened his mouth to counsel her away from such dark thoughts, but she waved her hand to brush aside the moment. “You’ve left the Order’s naval forces in disarray. I’ll leave it to you to work with the admirals to organize a more permanent break of the blockade. I want to see them all retreating to at least Zastrad’s waters. Right now, your sister is overseeing the defense of the city to the west. Ground forces made landfall near the outer cities of Garen Valley and Shadowfen. They have since moved closer to the city walls. She kept the Order’s forces focused on our military and away from civilian targets so far.”
“When the hell did Fiona get enough training to oversee such a task?” Shey snapped.
His mother had been walking to her desk as she spoke and stopped sharply at his question. She gave him a look that left Shey clearing his throat. He knew he shouldn’t have used that tone with her, especially with another person present in the room.
“Princess Fiona has enjoyed much the same training that you’ve had, so I would say she was more than capable of handling this task.”
“But I thought…” Shey swallowed as his mother’s expression hardened.
“What? That I would raise a daughter who only knew deportment and arranging dinner parties?” As she spoke, she motioned with both hands at the office they stood in. He got it. His mother had been the highest power in the land for more than two decades. His father had ruled Caspagir for just a few short years before his death. Queen Noemi had stepped in and more than doubled his time as ruling monarch. She might play the role of the gentle soul, but she had a will of iron.