after Mia, Ryleigh caught her lower lip between her teeth, glanced at Max, then perched on the edge of her seat and folded her hands on the table in front of her. She twined her fingers together so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Elijah wiped tears from his cheeks and returned his attention to Jackson. “Sir. It is time. Argonas will need protection from the coming war.” His expression hardened, no trace of the fragile man who’d held Mia, who’d spent his entire existence in search of peace, remained. “As will Cymmera. You will need to arrange for that before you begin your journey.”
“Journey? To Argonas?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. You will cross the barren lands until you reach the great mountains. Once there, you will leave the dragons at the base and climb to the very top.”
“Is that where I’ll find Chayce?”
“That, sir”—Elijah’s gaze bored through him, his crystal blue eyes hard as ice—“is where you’ll find your destiny.”
Jackson had lived with Elijah’s cryptic messages his entire life. The prophet couldn’t give any more information than necessary to achieve missions he dictated. But this was extreme, even for Elijah.
Elijah approached him and placed a scroll on the table in front of him.
The scroll Mia had brought in? Jackson couldn’t be sure. His attention had wandered for just a moment or two when Ryleigh had stood to leave, long enough to make it possible for Elijah to switch the scrolls.
Elijah tapped the scroll with a fingernail. “Then, and only then, when you have reached the highest peak, open this. It will tell you everything you need to know to save that which you hold dearest.” A tear sparkled in his lower lashes. He turned away and gestured to Caleb to take his place at the podium.
Caleb Sloane, head of the War Council, approached the podium. “Your Majesties.” He bowed his head to Jackson and Ryleigh. “If I may?”
Now in even more of a hurry to be on his way, Jackson nodded for Caleb to continue.
“I assume you will take the Death Dealers to the great mountains.” Caleb rubbed one thick hand down his goatee.
Elijah sat tall, hands in his lap, looking straight ahead. His gaze shot to Jackson.
Startled by the intensity of his stare, Jackson jumped.
Elijah nodded and returned to staring off in front of himself.
As Caleb grabbed both sides of the podium and leaned his considerable bulk forward, it creaked.
Jackson half expected it to collapse and send Caleb sprawling.
He cleared his throat. “I would like to leave the Queen’s Army here with half the Cymmeran Guard. I will take the other half of the Guardsmen to Argonas to provide protection to its citizens.”
Jackson turned to the head of his Security Council. “Darius?”
Darius slid his chair back and stood. “I agree, sir. I will remain here and see to the protection of Cymmera.”
“Very well then.” Jackson shot to his feet, practically vibrating with the need to take action. “Ready the dragons, and make the necessary preparations. We will leave immediately.”
Ryleigh started toward the door beside him. “I can see to Mia.”
“I’ll go with you. It will take some time to get everything ready.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. Mia is my little sister as well. Besides, I can’t explain it, but something’s not sitting quite right in my gut, and I have a feeling it has something to do with what’s been going on with Mia and Elijah lately.”
“Your Majesty?” Elijah called. “Might I have a word with you before you go, please?”
“Sure, Elijah.”
Ryleigh laid a hand on Max’s back. “While you talk to Elijah, I’ll go find Mia. We’ll meet you in the throne room when you’re done.”
“Okay.” Jackson started to turn away but thought better of it at the last minute. “You haven’t said much. You are okay with this, right?” He should probably have thought to ask sooner. He sometimes forgot Ryleigh wasn’t accustomed to the harsher realities of his realm. The thought of finally having even the smallest lead on Chayce’s whereabouts had consumed him.
“As okay as I can be, I guess.” She shrugged. “It’s not like there’s any other choice.”
Relieved, he nodded and turned to Elijah. “I’m sorry, Elijah. What did you need?” He tried to focus on what the seer was saying, but his mind kept wandering. He still had to make time to talk to Mia, don his battle gear, make sure the dragons were summoned. Dakota could handle that.
“Sir.” Elijah’s long, blond hair hung in lifeless strands down his back, dark circles ringed his eyes, and his cheeks had become sunken, his already pale skin sallow. It seemed he’d lost weight lately, his dark robes hanging from his gaunt figure. The gruffness of his usually soft tone accentuated his transformation. “I want to make sure you understand the importance of not opening the scroll until you reach the summit of the greatest mountain.”
“Got it.” Jackson patted the leather satchel at his waist where he’d tucked the scroll. “Is that all?”
Elijah studied him for a long moment, then embraced him.
Caught off guard, Jackson hesitated before he hugged him back. “Is something wrong, Elijah?”
“No, sir. Everything is exactly as it is meant to be.” He stepped back and cupped Jackson’s hand in his delicate fingers. “You have done your parents proud, Jackson.”
Elijah almost never referred to him as anything other than Your Highness or sir since Jackson had taken his father’s place as king.
“You have done me proud.” He lowered himself to one knee, pressed Jackson’s hand to his forehead, and bowed. When he stood, tears trailed down his cheeks. “Go in peace, my son.” His stare lingered a moment longer, and then he turned and walked away.
Great. Either half the kingdom was going mad or they were keeping secrets. One way or the other, Jackson was going to get to the bottom of it. If not before he dealt with Chayce, immediately upon his return. Right now, he had to see Mia and get out of there.
In the throne room, Ryleigh sat on her throne. Alone.
“Where’s Mia?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. I couldn’t find her anywhere, and no one’s seen her.”
“What about Max?” The huge animal had barely left her side since Jackson had returned from the dungeon in Argonas.
“I sent him to keep looking for Mia.”
“All right.” He didn’t have time to search the kingdom. He’d have to deal with this when he got back as well. With any luck at all, everything would resolve
