The Grand Crusade Read Free Page A

turned his head back toward them. “Perrineis circling the castle’s courtyard. We are welcome.”
    Resolute, a Vorquelf with sharpened elven features, pointed ears, and eyes of pure silver, curled his lip in a sneer. “Hardly welcome, Dravothrak. We will be tolerated until we deliver our news, then we will be reviled. We bring them word that hope has died, and few will have the heart to continue on past that.”
    Prince Erlestoke of Oriosa adjusted the black mask he wore. “They know they cannot stop you from landing, Dravothrak, so they accept with feigned grace what they cannot prevent.”
    The prince’s words came in grim tones that nearly matched those Alyx had
    gotten accustomed to hearing from Resolute. The Vorquelf had been fighting over a century and a quarter to free his homeland from Chytrine, with no success. Will Norrington had been the key to her defeat and his death at Vael seemed to seal the fate of the Southlands’ free nations. Arriving at the gathering of world leaders to tell them hope was indeed dead was something she had never anticipated.
    She looked again at Crow. “I do wish you would let me be the one to address the council.”
    Erlestoke nodded in agreement. “Or me. They will accept it better from either of us.”
    Crow shook his head and his beard brushed against Alyx’s cheek. “First and foremost, Will was my charge. I should have kept him safe. And while I agree with everyone that he chose his time of passing, and chose nobly and well, the burden of his death bears most heavily on me. Second, and you all know this is true, King Scrainwood would blame me even if Will’s ghost appeared, absolved me of responsibility, and cursed Scrainwood for an idiot. Short of you throttling your father and replacing him, there is nothing that can be done to prevent the blame from falling on me.”
    The prince’s hazel eyes blazed. “Who says throttling him is not an option?”
    Crow’s chin came up. “I do. The third reason I have to deliver the message is simply that we know that whoever delivers it will be reviled and never trusted again. None of the rest of you can afford to be moved out of the way given the discussions that must take place. Alexia and you, Highness, have the military expertise that will stop Chytrine’s troops.”
    Resolute’s sneer melted into a mirthless smile. “You make no case as to why I should not address their august majesties, my friend.”
    “You mean, aside from the fact that you openly hold them and their councils in contempt?” Crow laughed quickly. “This is a council of humans, Resolute, and they will not take well to being lectured to by one old enough to have known their great-grandparents. Moreover, you will need their help if you are to retake Vorquellyn. For you to speak to them would be to jeopardize that goal. This will need to be handled diplomatically.”
    Dravothrak opened his mouth in a serpentine grin. “I will not lecture, but you will permit me to emphasize the gravity of the situation, yes?”
    Alyx nodded. “As we discussed.”
    The dragon bobbed his head twice, then folded his wings and they plummeted from the sky. Their cloaks, scarves, and blankets snapped in the rush of air. Frost nibbled at Alexia’s cheeks and her eyes watered. She held on tightly to the leather riding harness and watched the tear-blurred castle grow ever larger.
    Then, suddenly, Dravothrak spread his wings again and beat hard with them. His head came up, his tail went down, and his mighty legs absorbed the impact of his landing. Snow billowed up around them, as if they were caught in the
    heart of a blizzard, then Dravothrak breathed a fiery plume that reduced the snow to steam.
    Alyx and the others slid from the dragon’s back in the fog, to the accompaniment of screams and harsh curses. Then,Perrinedescended down through the mist. The female Gyrkyme, who had been Alexia’s lifelong companion, landed lightly, furling her raptor’s wings. Tall and slender like an elf, but covered with down and