Dawn of Cobalt Shadows (Burning Empire Book 2)

by Emma Hamm

  “Dash the thought from your mind, sister. It’s not the right way.”

  But it was, and in that moment, Sigrid began to plan how she would gain control over the Beastkin once and for all.

  4

  Nadir

  He sat on his blood-red horse in front of the castle, waiting for the first sign of movement on the sand. A courier had ridden ahead of the Earthen King. He wanted them to know when he was arriving, to ensure that no one was startled, the courier said.

  Nadir had a feeling it was more to make sure that they were ready to receive him. There was a certain level of decorum kings expected. Nadir didn’t really care what people thought when he rode into the cities. But he did like to make a scene when he arrived, so he understood the king’s decisions in a sense.

  His horse shied to the side, hide rippling with agitation. The warhorse was more suited to battle than it was to waiting, but Abdul had insisted they at least meet the king with their own forces.

  A cloud appeared on the horizon, but not one that was filled with rain. Nadir pointed toward it with his scimitar. “And finally, there they are.”

  Abdul snorted. “It’ll take them a while still to get here.”

  “So we’re to sit on our horses, with half the army, and stand still while they arrive?”

  “Patience, my boy.”

  He didn’t have any. Nadir had lost patience the moment Beastkin had attacked his kingdom and he’d watched the woman he loved breathe fire over his home.

  Nadir let out a soft snort, then swung his leg over his horse. Sliding down the hide of the beast, he soothed its twitches with quiet sounds. He pressed a hand against its neck and stroked the strong muscle that shifted beneath his palm. His horse didn’t want to wait for the Earthen folk any more than he did.

  “Nadir,” Abdul said, his voice pitched low but clearly scolding. “What do you think you’re doing? You’re meant to stand with the army.”

  “Why?”

  “To show that you are here for us. That you are going to fight with them if they need you to.”

  Nadir shook his head, patted the horse’s hide once more, then looked up at his advisor who sat straight and proud astride his own horse. “But we don’t need an army for this anymore. We need nothing more than me.”

  The change rippled over him as easily as it was to change clothing. Nadir didn’t know when it had grown this easy for him to change. There was no pain. No guilt. Nothing more than the overwhelming sense of freedom that rolled in his gut until he didn’t know which way was up and which way was down.

  Shaking his head, he shifted his neck to look back at the army of men who had all taken steps backwards. Those on horses tried to quiet their mounts which reared up in shock. But his own warhorse stood silent with legs locked.

  A good, fearless horse. He hadn’t expected that.

  He nodded at his advisor, then stretched his wings wide. He took a few beats and lifted into the air. Opening his jaw, he let out a roar that echoed over the desert. Fire bubbled in his chest, and he didn’t hesitate to let it free. Let the Earthen folk see for themselves the dragon their people had fought. Let them understand the fear which had caused their brethren to ultimately flee.

  He looped around the Wildewyn army. Taking his time to peruse the amount of people the Earthen King had brought. There weren’t as many soldiers as he expected. Actually, it was a relatively small number of people who had crossed the border.

  Did the king think he wasn’t in any danger from the Bymerians? He most certainly was. Nadir’s army could destroy this small army with little more than a thought.

  Fire built in his chest at the slightest hint of anger in his body. He could destroy this army with nothing more than a breath.

  A few of the soldiers looked up and pointed at him. The sound of their distressed shouts reached his ears and made him want to roar once more. They needed to understand that no one would attack this land again when dealing with Nadir personally. And that a full-grown male dragon was something to fear.

  Still, they had come here in peace. A soft voice whispered in his mind that Sigrid would expect something better from him. That she would expect him to be a gracious host who would try to understand what these foreigners wanted.

  Even now, these were the words that made the fire die in his chest. These were the thoughts that stilled the animal which wanted to crawl out of his chest and rend flesh from bone. The dragon wanted to feast on the approaching armies simply because they were within his territories. The man understood that politics had to be observed.

  A sultan was there for his people. A dragon was only there for war.

  Circling one last time, making a point that he was a dangerous man who should not be toyed with, Nadir landed in front of the army. He opened his jaws and hissed at them, the sound blasting sand into their faces.

  By the time the sand settled, he was a man once more, kneeling in the sand with his fist pressed against it.

  A wind tugged at the baggy, silk pants. The yellow fabric covered his entire body, and perhaps hid him from view until he stood up, his dark hair brushing in front of his face.

  The feral grin which spread across his face likely did nothing to soothe the soldier’s nerves. A group of ten men raced forward, spears in their hands as they set themselves in front of a large, brown horse.

  Nadir recognized the king. He was a man who easily stood out from the crowd with his broad shoulders, perfectly groomed beard, and eyes that could have sliced through ice. Blue as the sky, they found his gaze even through the line of shouting soldiers.

  “Enough!” Hallmar bellowed, raising a hand curled in a fist. “Stand down.”

  “Highness, we will fight the dragon for you,” one of the soldiers yelled in return.

  At that, Hallmar swung off his horse and strode toward the man. He grabbed onto the edge of the soldier’s metal armor, right near his throat, and hauled the man toward him. “What did I say, soldier?”

  “Stand down, Highness.”

  Nadir could almost hear the man’s gulp from where he stood.

  “Correct,” Hallmar said. He gave the man one more shake before tossing him aside. “Next time, follow orders immediately.”

  The disobedience forgotten, the king strode toward Nadir with his hand outstretched. “It’s good to see you again, Sultan. I see you have some surprises to tell me.”

  Nadir furrowed his brows, but stepped forward to greet the king in the same manner. He allowed the other man to grasp his forearm and shake it before tilting his head to the side and asking, “That’s it?”

  “What’s it?”

  “You have nothing more to say than I have surprises to tell you? As if we’re old friends?”

  “Are we not?” Hallmar tugged him a step closer and dropped his voice. “I gave you my most precious possession in this world. I think we’re friends at this point, Nadir. Although, if you didn’t treat her as well as I think you did… well. Perhaps then we’re not.”

  “We did start a war.”

  Hallmar lifted a pale brow. “That you did. But wars are started between lovers every day. The first battle is always a little bloody, but that doesn’t mean the war is over. Now does it?”

  The words had so many hidden meanings in them that Nadir’s head started to spin. What did the king mean? A battle, a war, every lover doing the same?

  This wasn’t the same as any other relationship on the planet. His and Nadir’s life were so dangerously intertwined in the worst way possible. They couldn’t be together without more fighting starting, no matter what kingdom they were in. But they were both intrigued by the other, and tied together by a similar life which could not be untied even with a knife.

  Nadir cleared his throat and stepped back. “I think we have a lot to talk about, Earthen King.”

  “I see that. You did arrive all by yourself to greet me. I must profess, I assumed I would be greeted with an army before I met with you.”

  “Well,” Nadir glanced po
intedly at the sky, “there is the small matter of the dragon.”

  “I suppose you don’t need an army anymore, now do you?”

  “An army can still take down a dragon. It’s easy enough to shoot something like that out of the sky.”

  A deep growl rolled out of Hallmar’s mouth. They both stood still for a second, staring at each other in surprise before Hallmar cleared his throat. “Yes, I have heard that you’ve created a way to shoot dragons out of the sky. Haven’t you?”

  Gods. Nadir didn’t know how to reply to that. He had been part of creating a weapon that could kill both him and Sigrid. That wasn’t a secret, obviously, but he’d thought that he and Sigrid had laid that to rest.

  “I did,” he finally replied. “To protect both of our kingdoms, I would happily share the blueprints with you.”

  “I don't need that, boy.” Hallmar’s words were harsh, but his expression had softened into a fatherly look of sadness and guilt. “If someone is going to kill a dragon, then it should only be one of their own kind. I learned that the hard way.”

  “The hard way?”

  “There’s much for us to talk about, and I have no interest in allowing prying ears to eavesdrop.” Hallmar glanced at his soldiers who had somehow moved closer to them. “Shall we?”

  “The Red Palace is ready to receive you, Earthen King.”

  “I suppose we should offer you a horse then? Since you didn’t arrive with your own.”

  At that, Nadir’s cheeks burned. “Thank you. That would be much appreciated, although I can fly above you.”

  “No need to tire yourself. For now, we are all among friends.”

  Nadir didn’t want to point out that both their armies disagreed with that statement. They’d both arrived armed to the teeth, ready to protect their leaders to the death. The Bymerians might have an army, but he had a feeling the few men Hallmar had brought were just as deadly as Nadir’s best soldiers.

  They traveled in silence across the sands. Nadir listened to shifting saddles, the quiet hush of sand sliding over metal armor, and the occasional shake of a horse’s head that made the reins slap against their necks.

  His horse was a relatively quiet beast. It didn’t shy away from him, a rarity that he appreciated, but also seemed content to simply follow Hallmar’s horse anywhere it might want to go.

  It dawned on him as they approached the army that Hallmar had placed him on a pack horse. Nadir sighed and allowed the sleight to fall to the wayside.

  Perhaps, a year ago when he had still been young and brash, he would have insisted the king make amends for it. But now, he wasn’t interested in an argument at the man’s attempt to make him seem less important. He’d come from the sky in the form of a great red dragon, breathed fire over Hallmar’s armies and made them quake in fear.

  He didn’t need to remind them who was the more dangerous ruler.

  “Sultan!” Abdul called out, a hand on the hilt of his scimitar. “All is well?”

  Nadir gave his advisor a confused look, playing an act that he knew Hallmar would appreciate. “I don't see why it wouldn’t be? Hallmar, king, is certainly no fool. He will not attack a dragon if he has no reason to. We head to the Red Palace where I expect food and drink to be ready for his men. They’ve traveled a long way to speak to me.” He emphasized the last word, knowing his advisor would hear the intent.

  He didn’t want any of his personal advisors to be there while he spoke with Hallmar. There was so much he wanted to ask, and their opinions would only cloud his judgment. This was a decision he would make on his own. No one else would sway his words.

  The king glanced over at him with a small smile. “I see much has changed since the last time I saw you, Sultan of Bymere.”

  “Ah, but some things don’t change. I’m still as arrogant a fool as you’ve been expecting.” Nadir’s weight shifted as the horse began the steep ascent toward the Red Palace where it glowed in the dying light.

  The sunset always made his palace turn blood red. He looked up at the new buildings and felt a surge of pride at what they had been able to do. His people were far hardier than he’d ever given them credit for. Perhaps they really could rebuild something great even after something so disastrous as a dragon attack.

  Nadir guided his horse to the side route that would lead to the castle gates. He didn’t want to parade the King of Wildewyn in front of the Bymerian people. They already hated each other. The last thing he needed was some foolish peasant tossing refuse at the king.

  He stopped his horse before the Red Palace, handed the reins to the boy waiting for him, and didn’t stop to direct the king. He could follow Nadir if he wished, or be left to the crowd that was gathering to stare at them. His people hadn’t seen someone from Wildewyn in a very long time, other than Sigrid who seemed an entirely different creature than the Earthen folk.

  The clipped steps of the king and his soldiers followed him quickly through the halls. He strode past the billowing lengths of red curtains touched by a gentle wind. Past the pools of glistening water and the arched doorways leading to endless libraries filled with knowledge that Nadir couldn't even begin to comprehend.

  Only once he reached his personal quarters did he stop and look over his shoulder. The king stood with his soldiers behind him, utterly out of place in this castle.

  Where his people were worn by the wind, Hallmar and his men were strong and solid like trees growing deep in the ground. The Bymerians were used to the hardships of the sands. They blended into crowds easily, hid from prying eyes, sometimes even disappeared from view like the djinn.

  These people wanted to be seen. And perhaps that was what had always bothered him about the Earthen folk. They were unashamed to be seen and heard. They stomped through life with little resistance.

  Nadir wished he was like that. He wanted for so many years for someone to see him, the real him, and now thousands of people knew what he was. He’d take it all back if he could.

  He looked over the soldiers with their hands forcefully gripping the hilts of their swords, ready for any attack, and then snorted. “You’re not bringing your soldiers into my private chambers, Your Majesty.”

  “You can hardly expect me to go anywhere without protection.”

  Nadir arched a brow. “Yet, you want me to allow your men entrance with blades that can easily kill me? I think not. This conversation should be made king to king, and that is my final offer. You wished to speak, Hallmar. I’m offering you a conversation.”

  “I have no wish for prying ears to hear what I have to say.”

  “And there will be none.” Nadir pointedly looked at the door to his room, a solid oak structure they’d pulled up from Wildewyn a long time ago. It was the only room thus far which had a door for a reason.

  Hallmar’s shoulders sagged and finally he nodded. “If that is what it takes.”

  A soldier stepped up. “Sire—”

  “I’ll have none of your arguments. If the sultan wishes to speak with me privately before we have an official attendance with his advisors, then this is what we shall do.”

  The king of Wildewyn walked toward him with a set to his shoulders that suggested he thought Nadir was going to attempt to kill him. Strange, really, because Nadir hadn’t done anything thus far which would make the man think that.

  Arriving in the form of a dragon certainly wouldn’t have been seen as that much of a threat. He hadn’t tried to kill anyone, and he certainly hadn’t eaten any of the soldiers no matter how enticing it seemed.

  Once inside his personal room, Nadir cast a glance around to make sure everything was in order. The crimson blankets covering his pillow strewn bed were as haphazard as always. The hand-carved desk was piled with vellum and parchment he hadn’t looked at yet. The pools in the corners of the rooms shifted as the fish inside them struggled to catch the bugs he threw in every morning.

  Silence rang true and loud as the door shut behind them. The shifting of metal armor behind it suggested Hallmar’s m
en hadn’t gone very far.

  Nadir pointed at the noise. “Will they press their ear to the surface?”

  “Are your doors not thick enough to discourage snooping?”

  The king had a point. Nadir sighed, then stalked to his table and pulled out a drink. “One for you?” he asked.

  Hallmar shook his head.

  Did the king think Nadir was planning to poison him? There were far easier ways to kill someone, and much less messy than watching them foam at the mouth. Shrugging, he poured himself a glass of the carefully curated wine and drank deeply.

  Wiping his mouth on the back of his hand, he finally let out a frustrated sound. The question which burned in his mind finally burst free from his lips. “How is she?”

  Hallmar met his gaze with a bemused smile. “Who?”

  “Don’t play with me, Earthen King. You know of whom I speak.”

  “I have no idea why you’d be asking about the creature who tried to kill much of your people, unless you want to know whether we put her down.”

  The glass in Nadir’s hand shattered. When had he grown so angry? The king was only saying the same thing that his own advisors had said. There was no reason for Nadir to still be attached to the girl. She’d done enough to prove that she didn’t care for his kingdom.

  Or him.

  But he still dreamt of her at night. The way the firelight had played across her face the first time he’d seen her. The arch of her neck when she tilted her head just so, to see the smile in his eyes that he always had hoped she saw.

  He blew out a breath, trying to dispel the ghost of her memory. “Just tell me.”

  “She’s doing well,” Hallmar finally relented. “The kingdom she has created flourishes, as far as I know. Although, she seemed tired the last time I saw her.”

  “Aren’t we all?” Nadir replied with a scoff. “I don’t remember the last time I got a full night’s sleep.”