Page 83 of Dragon Mine (Dragon Kings 2)
“How, exactly?” Vaughn asked. “There are no Kings here. No’ like us. I suppose you could call Brandr a King and Eurwen a Queen, but they’ve kept their distance from the city and mortals in general.”
Varek sighed. “I’ve asked Jeyra that many times. All she can remember is being told from an early age to fear us.”
Vaughn met Varek’s gaze and nodded. They continued on in silence. He was surprised at how quickly Sateen moved for a woman who appeared as if a gentle breeze might knock her over.
“I should warn you,” Varek said. “Sateen is as sharp as a whip.”
“I gathered that.”
Vaughn spotted the entrance to an elite neighborhood in the city and wasn’t surprised when they turned down the road. They passed magnificent houses until the road dead-ended in front of an enormous mansion. Sateen didn’t even hesitate as she approached the gates. Two men suddenly appeared and opened them for her, waiting to close them after he and Varek had walked through.
Vaughn spotted more warriors stationed in various places outside of the house. Many glared at both Jeyra and Varek. Varek winked at one of the men who bared his teeth as they passed.
“Forgive, Ugar,” Sateen said without looking back at them. “His pride is still bruised from the last time you and Jeyra came to my house.”
Once inside the stunning manor, Sateen turned to the left and took them into a sitting room. She sat in a chair that fit her petite frame. Jeyra and Varek sat together on a settee, and Vaughn opted to remain standing.
“Do you fear an attack?” Sateen asked him as servants walked in with a tray of food and what appeared to be tea.
Vaughn waited until the servants had left before he bowed his head to Sateen. “I mean no disrespect. It has been a…trying…morning.”
“There was an incident,” Jeyra explained.
Sateen set her cane before her and put both hands on it. “I think you’d better explain.”
Vaughn spent the next few minutes going into detail of what had transpired that morning and the day before.
The councilwoman’s face paled by the time he finished. Her brow furrowed as she swallowed. “That is horrible, but I fail to see why you came to Orgate. Unless you think someone here had something to do with it.”
“We’re covering all angles,” Varek said.
Jeyra glanced at her mate before she asked Sateen, “Has anyone had any such wounds in the city?”
Sateen shook her head. “Not that I’ve heard about.”
“What about other cities?” Jeyra pressed.
Sateen shrugged and shook her head again. “Word of something like that would’ve spread quickly.”
“Is there someone in Orgate you think could be behind the attacks?” Vaughn asked.
The councilwoman pressed her lips together. “I wish I could say no, but the truth is that since Arn’s death and the release of the dragons he tortured, the city has been divided. Some are glad to know the truth. Others… Well, let’s just say they would’ve preferred to go on believing the lies.”
“In other words, they could go after the dragons?” Varek asked.
Sateen lifted one shoulder. “If the attack had happened with weapons, I could’ve told you exactly who we needed to question. But it sounds as if they did it with magic.”
“With Arn dead, magic can be used in the city now. Nothing’s keeping those with magic from venturing here,” Jeyra said.
Sateen winced. “Most aren’t willing to give up the old ways. I fear they never will. I’d welcome any and all into the city, but the lines were drawn a very long time ago. I doubt you’d see any of us with magic going to any city.”
“Those with magic, where do they go?” Varek asked.
Sateen gave him a sad smile. “I don’t have that information. They hide. We’re taught from an early age to fear magic.”
“And dragons,” Vaughn said.
Sateen’s gaze briefly lowered to the floor. “The two get blurred, and some are unable to see one without the other.”
Vaughn held her gaze. “I still doona understand why.”
The elder woman’s lips curved into a smile. “After Jeyra and Varek left, I tried to remember how and when I had been made to believe such things about magic and dragons. When I couldn’t recall those memories, I went to the younger generation without learning the answers. I went younger and younger, getting the same responses every time.”
“I can’t remember who told me. It’s as if I just knew it,” Jeyra replied.
Sateen nodded slowly. “Exactly. I next went to the teachers and asked them. We don’t have records of our entire history, but we do have a large chunk of it. When the city was first constructed, one of the first decrees was that magic wouldn’t be tolerated.”
“All of you are brought to a planet with dragons who have magic.” Vaughn blew out a breath. “Why dread magic if you don’t know it?”
Varek looked at Vaughn. “Unless they do.”
“Of course. Magic brought the bairns here,” Vaughn said.
Sateen’s brows furrowed. “But why? And who takes us? Do we have families somewhere? Were we thrown away, and someone found us to bring us here? None of it makes sense.”
“I want answers, same as you,” Jeyra said. “And I intend to find them.”
Varek covered her hand with his. “Aye, we will.”
Sateen smiled at them before she looked to Vaughn. “What now?”
“Keep an eye and ear out for anything unusual. If you discover someone with magic, see if you can find out where they live. We’ll be here until all of this is sorted.”
“How do I contact you?” Sateen asked.
Varek said, “Send Ugar with a message to the border.”
