“You’re lying,” Laelia declared.
“No, I’m not,” Erika replied calmly. “But you can ask your brother. Ask him who rescued him from slavery and has been aiding him all this time. Ask him who tried to save you from Ashes after your visit to the North.”
Laelia turned to me, searching for answers in my eyes. “I don’t understand. Is this true? James?”
I nodded slowly.
“He found me. Helped me. He saved me and helped bring the North back to its glory,” I explained.
“B-But… why?” Laelia stammered.
“Why? The dragons killed our father! His brother! Who else but our uncle could have helped?” I answered. “He deceived Sirrush and Blaze into believing we were on their side, that we would aid them in becoming the true kings. But that was never our plan.”
“So you were always going to kill them…”
I
