Falling for the Ashfather

Chapter 11

The thought of Lamier being left there with his dead wife for three days had my stomach turning, and I wasn’t at all sure I could keep myself from being sick. How was I supposed to walk past him every day, go about my life as if he wasn’t being tortured right in front of my eyes?

I took a deep breath, trying to calm my stomach, but the air seemed to be filled with the metallic scent of blood, which only served to make the nausea worse. I wanted to go home, and finally, the prince nodded, and the crowd was let to leave.

So many of the people there kept glancing back, obviously feeling the same way as me. It was one thing for a person to be executed for their crimes, it was another for them to be tortured. But, what could we do? The prince had been clear. If we tried to step in, we would all be killed. And I couldn’t start a war against the Drakesworn.

“Let’s go back to the shop,” Clara said, grabbing my hand again and tugging at it. “You can’t stay here staring at him like that. I know what you’re thinking, and you can’t do it. Okay?”

I forced my gaze away from Lamier, and focused on her for a second. “I just…”

“Tahlia!” My sister’s singsong voice sounded, and I closed my eyes. I’d hoped she wouldn’t see me in the crowd. That I would be able to get away, and she would never know I was there. But, I didn’t have that kind of luck. And I’m sure our mother had told her where to find me. I regretted the decision to tell my mother my whereabouts all over again.

“Why does the prince’s consort know your name?” Clara hissed at me.

I didn’t have a chance to answer her, because Kami was already there, standing in front of me. She looked the same. Pampered, with her dress even richer than anything she’d ever worn growing up. The benefits of being a consort, I supposed. And she’d obviously had some training. She had held the sword in a way that spoke of her familiarity with it. I shouldn’t be surprised she had changed in five years. I certainly had.

“Kami,” I said, my voice flat as she approached.

Kami shook her head, tossing her blonde hair over her shoulder. “Is that any way to greet your sister who you haven’t seen in five years?”

I could hear the gasp Clara drew in as Kami announced our relationship. All around us, townspeople were looking in our direction, and I could see more than one glare tossed our way. Just when I had been building a decent relationship with this town, and Kami had to come ruin it. Just like she always did.

Taking a step back, I crossed my arms in front of myself. “What do you want, Kami? You have clearly done very well for yourself. There can’t be anything I have that you want to take away, so why are we talking?”

There was a flash of anger on her face, but she gave me a bright smile, anyway. “Oh, Tahlia, always with the joking. I thought you would like to meet the prince, seeing as how you didn’t get to meet him at your disastrous Ashwalk. What’s it like, anyway, not to have a dragon form? Because, I can tell you, flying is glorious.”

I had to grab hold of Clara’s arm before she moved. She had stiffened at my sister’s words, and with her temperament, I didn’t know what she was planning on doing if I let her go up to my sister.

“As you can see, I have made a place for myself here. I’m content.” The biggest lie I think I had ever told. Content wasn’t a word I would ever use to describe me. I was angry. There was a rage in my chest that I couldn’t get rid of, no matter how many families I saved. And it only seemed to grow with every move the Ashfather and his son made.

“Content?” Kami laughed, then looked back, and I followed her gaze to see the prince approaching us. He had a curious look on his face as he studied mine, as if he was trying to place me. “Thalos, this is my sister, Tahlia. She had her Ashwalk the same night as mine. You might remember the one who didn’t produce a dragon.”

It was amusing, how quickly the interest in his eyes died at her words. A bored expression took over and he looked around. “Will you be much longer, my love? I don’t want to stay in this place a second longer than we have to.”

Clara was bristling even more by my side, and I squeezed her arm with my hand, warning her not to say anything. Not to do anything.

“I just wanted to say hello to my dearest sister. It’s been so long. But, yes, we can go if you like.” Kami’s gaze moved back to mine, sweeping over me, once again taking in my working clothes and my barely brushed hair. “I’ll tell mother I saw you and that you’re, well, that I saw you at the very least. I hope it doesn’t take nearly as long to see each other again. You should go visit mother sometime. She’s going to start thinking you hate her if you don’t.”

My jaw was aching from how hard I was clenching it, and I gave a nod as she walked away. I didn’t move until they had disappeared from sight, then I blew out a slow breath, trying to keep my temper from exploding.

“That was your sister?” Clara said. “And she’s survived this long? If I were you, I would have killed her long before this.”

Town square had emptied while Kami had talked with us, so I had a clear view of Lamier. His eyes were still locked on his wife. His arm outstretched as if to pull her towards him. He was chained so there were mere inches between them, but he would never be able to reach her.

The anger in me grew, and I had to turn my back on him or risk everything. “I need to get out of here. If I don’t, I’m going to do something everyone here is going to regret. Do you want to come with me?”

Clara’s eyes widened, and her mouth opened, as if she couldn’t believe I had asked. The truth was, I couldn’t believe I had asked. I knew the only thing that would make me feel better, and to bring Clara with me would reveal one of my secrets. But, for the first time in a very long time, I didn’t want to be alone.

Finally, she snapped her mouth shut and nodded. “Yes, I’ll go.”

I tried to give her a smile, but I didn’t have it in me, then I walked out of town the opposite way my sister had gone. I needed to fly, I needed to feel the wind on my scales. And I needed to do it soon, or I would give Lamier the release Thalos has my sister had so callously denied him.