Page 29 of Dragon Revealed (Dragon Kings 1)
“I am. And you’re coming with me.”
Jeyra grimaced. “Why would you think that?”
“Because if you stay, you’ll keep searching for the truth, and it’ll get you killed.”
Her lips twisted as she shrugged. “If there’s a chance you can get out, then do it. I’ll only slow you down.”
“I can no’ leave without you.”
She frowned, her nose wrinkling. “Why not?”
He wanted to tell her, but he wasn’t sure how she would take it. “Because I’d never forgive myself if I left you behind, and you died.”
“I’m your enemy.”
“That kiss we shared wasn’t between enemies.”
She looked away, her confusion evident. When she met his gaze once more, she said, “The city is laid out in a grid. There are four main streets that will take you directly to the gate, but those streets are also the ones guarded. I have another way for you to go. It’s longer, but you’ll run into less resistance while getting out.”
“How many guards are at the gate?”
“At any given time, at least six. If the alarm is raised, a unit of twenty can get there fast.” She grinned then. “If you take my route and move quickly, you can reach the gate before they get there.”
Varek returned her smile. “Weapons?”
“The usual. Swords, axes, spears, and such.”
That made him frown. “You’ve brought down dragons with such weapons?”
At this, she hesitated. “We have a bolt thrower.”
Varek knew all about ballistae. The humans had used them when fighting dragons on his world. They were catapults that could lob large stones or massive spears. The machines allowed the mortals to target dragons at a distance. He wouldn’t be worried about it any other place, but as long as he was on this side of the border, his magic didn’t work. And therefore, he was no longer immortal. If they aimed the bolt thrower just right, they could kill him.
Then again, that was only if he shifted. He could fly away quicker and cover more ground in his true form, but it would also give them a rather large target.
“Will my magic return when I cross the border?” he asked.
Jeyra slowly nodded.
“Do you know what’s keeping my magic from working now?”
“I don’t, sorry.”
“It doesna matter. Show me the plan for getting out.”
She gave him an odd look. “You trust me? I could be leading you into a trap.”
“If you are, how different will it be than this? At least then I could stand up and stretch my legs,” he said with a forced smile.
For the next hour, Jeyra drew a map of the city on the hard-packed earth with her fingers. She told him the street names, pointing out ones to avoid. He was impressed by the details she gave him about where the guards would be, and what areas they wouldn’t. Once the city map was complete, he was able to discern that he was as far from the gate as possible.”
“There’s only one way in and out of the city?” he asked.
She grunted and rolled her eyes. “It’s something I have brought up on numerous occasions. There’s no way we could get everyone out with one gate if we had to, but the argument was, that if they wanted to keep an enemy within the walls, that was easy to do with just one gate.”
Varek looked over the drawing again. “The similarities between your village and many I’ve seen on my realm is staggering. The only thing missing is a castle.”
“Castle?” she asked. “What’s that?”
“A large building, usually made of stone, where the lord of the area lives with his family. They have postern doors or hidden doorways in their walls so people can get out if they ever come under attack.”
Jeyra stretched out her legs to the side and arched her back. “There might be a hidden doorway I’m not privy to. If it’s anywhere, it would be in the nobles’ district.”
Varek looked to that section of the map and noted how close some of the houses were to the wall. “The nobles are situated rather far from the gate. I doona imagine they would consent to being some of the last out of the city.”
“No, they would not,” she confirmed with a smile.
“There’s a doorway there. I’m sure of it.”
Jeyra shrugged and shook her head. “We don’t know that.”
“That’s what they’ll think. Everyone will be focused on me going to the main gate. Instead, I’ll head to the nobles’ district and search for the door.”
“If anyone can do it, it’s you. But you need to be careful. Each noble has their own set of guards. They’re more ruthless than those controlled by the council. If they spot you, they’ll go right for you. You’ll need clothes that will allow you to blend in. I can bring them tomorrow with the food, though I’m not sure how we’ll cover your tattoo.”
He smiled at her, wishing he was able to steal another kiss from her. “Thank you. And don’t worry. I’ll figure out something regarding the tat.”
“When you make it out of the city, you need to head west. The start of your journey will be in an open field of rolling hills. It isn’t until you reach the forest that you’ll have cover. Once you’re in the woods, keep heading west until you reach a brook. That’s the border. Cross it, and your magic will return.”
Varek jerked his chin to the nobles’ district drawn in the dirt. “What details can you give me about that area?”
