“Topann, you will be the only one among us to survive.” Coletta took her flower’s hands in hers, in a reverse of their usual interactions. “You will plant the seeds of Rok’s return. Kill those here, and be the only one to tell the tale. Speak of Loom’s savagery and Xin’s disregard for our ways. Kill them all in the estate and force Rok to rebuild from the ground up in vengeance, in hate.”
There was a brief moment when Coletta thought Topann would refuse, thought she might have to kill the woman and do this most important work herself. But Topann was a warrior, and loyal to her above all else. “I will, my queen. I will unleash every savagery I expect of Loom and Xin on our estate. I will go to the southern cities and tell them of your sacrifices, of the betrayals our house has endured.”
“Good.” Coletta turned, scooping up a separate dagger from the table. “Ulia, sweet Ulia,” she cooed, summoning the girl’s attention. Ulia steeled her watering eyes and pressed her mouth into a line. There was anger there, and anger made for sloppy actions. “You will take this, and give the Tam’Oji our regards.”
Ulia took the dagger, inspecting what little she could see of the blade at the top of the sheath, by the hilt. “Gold?”
“Because he so loves it. Because his loyalty only extended as far as the gold we provided him.”
Ulia’s brow furrowed briefly. Yes, child, Coletta told her silently, I have been planning for this for some time. Granted, in Coletta’s plan, Finnyr would have been the Xin’Oji, and once Xin was stabilized under him then they would turn their efforts onto House Tam, replacing that Oji with someone far more loyal. But plans adapted and changed. The dagger would gain new purpose.
“I will do this.” Ulia took one deep breath that shuddered into stability, and then nodded. She accepted the dagger like it was a boon from a god.
“I bid you both farewell. Topann, any yet living flowers may grow to you.” Coletta dismissed them for one final time.
Topann left promptly with a handful of supplies, as though she could not spare one final look for her soon-to-be-dead queen’s face. But Ulia lingered. She searched Coletta’s posture for answers the Dragon Queen would not allow herself to reveal.
“What will you do?” she whispered.
It was the one time Coletta allowed herself to be questioned, allowed her designs to be known. “If it is chaos the world seeks, then I will see it done.” She took up one final dagger and a handful of vials for herself.
Ulia’s eyes spoke volumes, but only two words fell from her lips. “Thank you.”
Coletta nodded and watched the girl leave. She had done all she could, but it had not been enough. Coletta slung a large pouch over her shoulder and took the last of her supplies.
Perhaps it was not all she could’ve done. Coletta began to wonder as she started from her garden for the last time. Perhaps she should have been the bold and strong Ryu the house had wanted. If she had been, they would have seen her as the Oji now. She could’ve continued to lead the charge with Perfect Dragons. But without Yveun at her side, no one would heed her long enough to see the salvation she could offer them.
As she had been in life, in death, she’d be relegated to the shadows.
Coletta walked through the Rok Estate and down to the Gray Room for the final time. She set free the Perfect Dragons. They would live to be fearsome creatures. Rumors of their feats would bubble to the surface of Nova’s consciousness until they could no longer be ignored.
Then, amid the growing chaos of the Rok Estate, Coletta’Oji took to the skies one final time, charting her course for Ruana.
Cvareh
He could have eaten three more of Yveun’s hearts, and it still wouldn’t have been enough. Cvareh chewed and tore his way through every last bite. He didn’t care much for the taste of Rok blood—even though victory was its own spice—but the magic it brought back to him was essential to merely breathing. His lungs felt in no better state than they had following the Alchemist’s removal of them for Arianna. If anything, they could be worse.
His joints ached, and his body was ravaged. But he was Dono. So Cvareh consumed every last bite of Yveun’s heart, both for sustenance and for ceremony.
All eyes were on him, and not one Dragon or Fenthri moved. Cvareh wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He needed to stand, needed to step into his role as Dono.
But the moment he tried, his legs buckled and he struggled to right himself. A strong arm appeared around his waist, connected to a sturdy and familiar form. Arianna had tugged his arm over her shoulder, supporting him before Dragon and Fenthri alike.
Yes. The word coursed through his mind at the woman’s presence. He wanted her to be seen at his side. He wanted the world to know that she was his and now that he was Dono, there would be no questioning the fact. Cvareh saw the wary eyes from those assembled, but not one Dragon stepped out of place.
“We need to get to Lysip,” he wheezed. Cain appeared before him, offering to help support him as well. Cvareh waved away the offer, trying to stand on his own. “We must get a boco—a glider, it will be faster—to Lysip.”
“The battle is won, Dono.” Hearing the title from Cain’s mouth made it all the more real.
“Not yet.” Cvareh pulled his arm from Arianna. The moment he tried to step away, however, the world tilted and he lost balance yet again. Cain moved for him, but Arianna was faster.
“Coletta,” Arianna finished the thought he couldn’t quite seem to get out before.
“Yes.”
“What about the Rok’Oji?” Cain hadn’t quite kept up. Cain was close, but the Fenthri woman at Cvareh’s side was the other half of his mind.
“Do you think she’ll accept Cvareh as Dono gracefully?” Arianna spoke loud enough that everyone could hear.
“She doesn’t have a choice,” Cain insisted.
“Like she didn’t have a choice at the Crimson Court?” Arianna fired right back.
Cain floundered.
“Cain Xin’Ryu To,” Cvareh announced, elevating Cain to the societal rank of To with a breath. “I request for you to defend my honor on Lysip. See that Coletta assumes her responsibility as the Rok’Oji, under me as Dono, or that she perishes.”
Whispers and a few gasps arose from those observing. But there was nothing else he could do. Even if he was the Dragon King, a title alone would not replenish his magic enough to give him the confidence to fly to Lysip. He knew he was sending his friend into the asp’s nest. But what else could he do?
“And,” Cvareh continued, “you will take Ari Xin’Kin To with you. She will assist however you deem necessary.” Whispers and gasps grew louder as Arianna was quickly elevated in both society and House as well.
He locked eyes with the woman at his side. Arianna almost wore a frown. Was she not happy? He’d won, and he could see her forever have a place on Nova.
“We should go.” She looked to Cain with renewed purpose. “I’ll pilot the glider.”
“Lead on,” Cain agreed with a nod. To the others assembled, he said, “See your Dono is well cared for and recovers to full strength. We will need him in the months ahead.”
Cain’s order spurred the scene to life. Arianna disappeared from his side, replaced with a woman that he’d never seen before. Cvareh remained focused on his childhood friend, but mostly his eyes were on his lover.