Book 2: Chapter 2: Fall From Grace

Book 2: Chapter 2: Fall From Grace

Kenzie waited until the exact second after Leader Valentina ascended to the upper ledge to rejoin the egg. Then she whirled on Arthur.

“Ernest Kane?”

The only response Arthur could give was a sickly smile. He was stunned, too. First by finding the dead dragon, second by the leader’s reactions and the confirmation that the tiny dark egg was a Legendary. And now against all luck and logic, Valentina had recognized him.

He couldn’t keep his gaze from flicking up to the ledge. The leaders were having an animated discussion around the egg. Possibly on how to safely move it.

If Legendary eggs were so dangerous, how did anyone ever manage to link with one?

Arthur’s non-answer wasn’t good enough for Kenzie. She gripped his upper arm tight.

“How deep in the dragon soil pit are we?”

“We’re not.”

“You’re not a noble!” she hissed.

She was wrong there. Well, in a way. That reminder was enough to sober him. He finally ripped his attention from the egg to Kenzie.

“You know I had to get close to some of the nobility,” he said carefully, aware people were milling around. “Baron Kane is a minor noble from the other side of the kingdom. The chances of anyone looking up the records of his children are slim.”

“And if they do?”

Arthur found he didn’t have an answer.

Kenzie let out a breath. “Okay,” she said, “You know the best thing to do when you’re caught in a lie?”

“Uh...” He dearly hoped she wasn’t about to say, ‘Tell the truth’.

But he should have expected better from Kenzie.

“You double down. Come on.” Still gripping his arm, she pulled him away.The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via N0v3l-B1n.

“The bells aren’t ringing,” Arthur said.

Kenzie gave him an odd look. They had left the hive slopes behind them and were currently walking through the city. Marteen had elected to stay behind and mark a vigil over Cori’s body.

Arthur thought it was odd. Dragons died not infrequently during scourge eruptions and while there was some sadness, it was nothing like this. When he’d asked Kenzie about it, she remained tight-lipped.

“The dragons see dying to scourge as different.” She hadn’t elaborated past that.

The further Arthur got from the hive slopes, the better he could think. And he realized it was too quiet.

“Shouldn’t there be celebrating?” he asked. “The whole city throws a festival whenever a new Rare is laid and a second one when it’s linked up.”

Kenzie bit her bottom lip. “I don’t think the hive will waste resources on celebrating until they know they can keep it.”

“Keep it?”

She shrugged. “Wolf Moon Hive is small, and we’ve got two Legendries. Yeah, Valentina is as old as dirt and Whitaker’s not much better, but I’ve heard of bigger hives swooping in to take Legendries before.”

Arthur had to battle down a flash of anger at the thought of strangers — of anyone — taking what ought to be his.

What ought to be the Wolf Hive’s, he meant.

Kenzie continued. “So I bet they’ll be keeping it quiet — well, as quiet as any dragons get. They’ll probably be gossiping come the next scourge-eruption.”

“Then where are we going?” he asked.

The problem came with the younger children, five to nine, who all were alarmed to find themselves somewhere new, and who wanted their parents.

Freyja swooped to handle these too, but their crying still cut Arthur to the core. He knew he had done the right thing — given these children a new home and a real chance at a good life. But the brokenhearted weeping of one girl who kept calling for her mother was hard to take.

He left the moment Freyja gave him the nod to leave. Kenzie, who must have been made of harder stuff, stayed to talk up the hive to the older kids.

Arthur practically fled.

“I did the right thing,” he told himself. But he didn’t feel like it.

As soon as he hit the streets outside the orphanage, he broke into a jog... then a run.

At first, it was only to get away. Then, for a whole other reason.

New skill gained: Running (General)

Due to your previous experience and your card’s bonus traits, you automatically start this skill at level 5.

Something new to level. Who would have guessed that running could be a skill?

He grinned to himself and pushed faster. Not that it was easy in these packed, busy streets. He got a few yells aimed his way, and he suspected he would get a dodging skill soon.

One of the canals lay ahead. He had walked along the stone borders hundreds of times before, and he’d always been tempted to see if he could jump it.

Now, that might earn him a skill.

Arthur lengthened his stride and hit the edge, leaping into the air...

And fell short.

Wolf Moon Hive’s short summer was ending and the water had already taken on an icy chill.

Spluttering, Arthur reached the edge just in time to earn.

New skill gained: Basic Swimming (Sailor/Fisherman Class)

Due to your card’s bonus traits, you automatically start this skill at level 3.

“Level 3?” he grumbled. “That’s not fair. I have had some experience.”

He was about to heave himself up when someone stuck a slim hand in his face.

“Come on, your Grace,” said a sarcastic voice. “I’ll help you up.”

He looked up to see a pretty young woman grinning down at him. Her hair was like fire in the setting sun, and she looked distinctly amused.

She also seemed familiar, but he couldn’t place her face.

Arthur wasn’t too proud to turn down the lift. He grabbed her hand, and she hauled him, dripping, out of the canal.

“Thanks,” he said.

“That was dumb, but entertaining.” She grinned again. “Ernest Kane, right?”

He felt his smile freeze. “That’s right, but how...?”

“Cressida Icehouse,” she said. “I watched your duel against Mattew Rockhound.”

Then it hit him. She had done more than watch. This girl had been the referee and the one to finally beat Penn, Arthur’s cousin.

This girl was one of the young nobles.