Page 21 of Dragon Revealed (Dragon Kings 1)
Alvin put his hands over his rounded stomach and lowered his eyes, properly put in place.
Jeyra’s heart raced. Why was the council asking such questions? These didn’t seem particularly important. Shouldn’t they want to know his power? How big he was? How many dragons he commanded?
“Let’s get back to the original discussion,” Arn said in his most chastising voice. He focused on Jeyra. “We would like for you to see if Varek might be interested in brokering peace between our species—with marriage.”
Jeyra was horrified on Varek’s behalf. Why did anyone think that marriage could resolve things? It might if two people who loved each other got to spend the rest of their lives together, but those who did it merely because they were forced to… No. It was wrong.
“Be sure and tell him that if he agrees, it will speed up his release.”
All the breath left Jeyra as she blinked at Arn, not sure she’d heard him right. “I-I thought Varek was going to trial to pay for what was done to us.”
“We decided on an alternative plan,” Arn told her. “In part because of how much information Varek has given you. We realized his capture could bring us something more.”
“And those of us who are looking for justice? Who need it?” Jeyra heard her voice rising, but she couldn’t seem to stop it. “I watched my family be slaughtered. Now, you’re talking about taking one of our women and giving her to a Dragon King in the hopes it brings peace?”
Fu raised her brows as she set her hands carefully on the table. “What would you have us do? Continue on as we are? Kill a Dragon King for your justice? Do you honestly think they wouldn’t find out? The dragons would retaliate. Then we will. Then they will. It’s how it’s been done for as far back as I can remember. It’s time for a change.”
“The dragons’ land is four times the size of ours. With the babies constantly arriving, we need more land,” Palmira said.
Land? This came down to land? How could they think more was needed? Jeyra rode across huge swaths of land that weren’t being farmed or used. Held by the likes of Fu, Sateen, and other wealthy individuals, just to say they had it. When, in fact, it could be used. And should be used before even thinking of brokering any kind of peace with the dragons.
Arn caught her attention. “We’ll wait for his response in the morning.”
Jeyra was so furious she shook. She turned and walked out on wooden legs, anger churning like a violent storm within her. She couldn’t wait to get to Varek and tell him what had occurred here. The audacity of even the thought of a treaty with the dragons.
She suddenly drew up short outside the council building as it hit her that her hatred for dragons didn’t seem to extend to Varek anymore. Could it be because she knew that he wasn’t from their realm, and therefore hadn’t been responsible for the deaths? She wasn’t sure she wanted to delve into that particular thought to find out more.
When she finally made her way to the dungeon, it was just past noon. Her footsteps quickened the closer she got to him. She even felt a small bit of excitement at the prospect of seeing Varek. Telling him what all had transpired.
Her subconscious gave a very loud snort.
The smile froze on Jeyra’s face when she saw Varek sitting on the stool wearing a brown tunic. The sleeveless top accentuated his muscular arms. As her gaze drifted downward, she realized there was another change—his chains had been removed.
“I was worried about you, lass.”
She jerked her gaze to his face. “I see you had a visitor.”
“Aye. Same silent man who brought me the stool and water bucket some days ago.”
Jeyra slowly made her way to the prison bars and stuck her arm through to give Varek the bag of food. When he took it from her, their fingers brushed. A shock went through her and made her breath catch. She refused to look at him in case he noticed.
“You appear troubled,” Varek said.
She nodded and sat down to lean to the side and brace herself against the bars. “It’s been an interesting morning.”
“I know you’re a capable woman, but I feel the need to warn you. You’re delving into things that others want quiet. That could mean you might come to harm if you are no’ careful.”
Jeyra stared into his dark eyes, wondering why she felt better now that she was with him. All morning, she had wanted to rush to him. And now that she was here, she could breathe easier. It was probably because she didn’t have to worry about others watching her as they did when she was on the streets.
She slowly released a breath. “I was followed last night.”
Varek had the food halfway to his mouth when he stopped, his brow furrowing. “You were no’ harmed, were you?”
“You make it sound as if you would go after them if I were.”
“Were you harmed?” he repeated, his voice lowering dangerously.
Jeyra stared in silent surprise because she honestly thought Varek would do exactly that. “I wasn’t.”
“Good.” He nodded. “What happened?”
She brushed some dirt off her boot. “I was looking for Rankin again while also carefully digging into the past. I found someone who remembered the attack on my family. I didn’t get much out of him, though. The minute I brought it up, he started drinking heavily.”
“Do you think he knows something?”
“I’m going to track him down later and hopefully find out.”
Varek gave her a stern look. “You were followed after talking to that man, aye?”
“How did you know?” she asked.
“Lass, they’ll be waiting for you to go find him again. You can no’.”
“But he has answers.”
“Find someone else.”
She rolled her eyes. “There isn’t anyone else.”
“You’re telling me a village as large as Orgate has no one who remembers when your family was killed? That could only have been about twenty years ago.”
Jeyra looked away and silently begged him not to go down that road of questioning.
“Lass?” Varek pressed. “What are you no’ telling me?”
