The Stone Eater (The Magic Eaters Trilogy Book 3)

by Carol Beth Anderson

  Her protest ended when a gunshot sounded. Just as they reached the big, flying man, a second shot rang through the dark air.

  “Get on the dragon’s back!” Nora shouted, pushing herself farther forward.

  To her utter surprise, Hatlin flew above Osmius and grasped onto the great dragon’s gray scales. “Go!” he shouted.

  Another shot. An uncomfortably close voice, clearly another feather lyster, screamed, “Stop! I’ll shoot again!”

  They took a terrifyingly sharp turn, and Osmius breathed a wide stream of fire toward the voice. Someone cried out, though it sounded more like fear than pain. Osmius flew backward, continuing to breathe fire for several seconds. It worked; the gunshots ceased. He turned and flew with his head facing toward Deroga again.

  Nora’s heart felt like it would leave her chest. When she was certain they’d escaped the other feather lyster, a giddy, relieved grin stretched over her mouth. She turned to shout over her shoulder, “Who was shooting at us?”

  Hatlin responded with loud, panicked breaths. Poor guy. He’d just been shot at, and now he was riding a creature he was deathly afraid of.

  “You can fly on your own,” Nora called back to him. “I know you prefer it.”

  “Too . . . tired,” he gasped. Then he puked.

  Nora screwed up her mouth and tried to hold back her own gorge.

  “Can you . . . fly me to Deroga?” Hatlin’s voice was weak.

  “Just tell me what’s going on!” Nora insisted. When her fellow passenger gagged again, she let out a harsh sigh. “Never mind. We’ll talk once we get there.”

  Osmius continued cutting a sleek path through the night sky.

  As soon as Osmius landed in the dark Derogan street and folded his wings, Hatlin clambered off his back, jostling Nora as he did so.

  She smirked. “I take it you enjoyed the flight?”

  He didn’t seem to hear her. He was kneeling in the street, taking long breaths, when her feet hit the dirt.

  Nora told Osmius good night, and he lifted into the air. She turned to Hatlin. “As soon as you’ve recovered, we’ll go to the others.” As they’d flown, Hatlin had gathered his wits enough to suggest she bring her friends to hear whatever it was he needed to share.

  Before long, he stood, his broad shoulders slumped with exhaustion. “Let’s go.”

  Nora led him through the Star Clan’s streets to the bunkhouses where she, her friends, and the former militia members stayed. She woke Ovrun, Krey, Zeisha, and Sarza, and they all gathered in the dusty street. Ovrun and Sarza both had lanterns.

  “Listen,” Hatlin said. “I got a lot to tell you. But I’m beat after all that flying. Do you have any food? Maybe some water? I drank all mine.”

  Krey nodded. “We’ll take you to our dining room. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from here.”

  When they reached their destination, Zeisha found some fruit and water for Hatlin. They all sat at a table.

  “First, can you tell us why a feather lyster was pursuing you?” Nora asked.

  Hatlin took a long drink of water. “I snuck into New Therro a few days ago, just to find out how everything’s going. They told me the army brought in a feather eater to watch the city. While I was there, they got a second one. One of them saw me when I was trying to fly out tonight. They both ended up following me. I thought I lost them, but one caught up when I stopped for a rest. Now that they know about me, they’ll be looking for me.”

  “What does that mean for your part in the rebellion?” Krey asked.

  “I don’t know.” Hatlin ate a few bites of fruit, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Things are bad in New Therro. Not that I have to tell you that. The princess here saw it for herself recently. My people aren’t giving up. But some of them are now seeing that we’ll never get our independence while Ulmin’s king.”

  “Does that mean you’ll help me take him down?” Nora asked.

  “We’ll get to that. First, I gotta tell you about Cellerin City.”

  Dread bloomed in Nora’s chest. “What about it?”

  “Most of the army marched back there about a week ago.”

  Her forehead wrinkled in confusion. “You just said they’re still occupying New Therro.”

  “They are. Five hundred of them. But the rest of them used to be camped outside New Therro, doing training exercises. They’re the ones who moved.”

  “Why?” Nora asked, but Hatlin was taking another drink. His eyes were red with weariness. “What’s going on in the capital?” she pressed.

  He swallowed the water. “They’re occupying it. Just like they’re doing to New Therro.”

  “WHAT?” The bellow belonged to Ovrun, who punctuated it with a fist to the table. “My mother and sister live there! Is the army killing and starving people, like they are in New Therro?”

  Nora’s eyes widened. Ovrun rarely got angry. She placed a hand on his back. His muscles were hard as stone.

  “They’re not killing or starving people,” Hatlin said.

  “What are they doing?” Krey asked in a low, controlled voice.

  “They’re entering houses without permission,” Sarza said flatly. When everyone looked her way, she said, “I had a short vision about a week ago. I figured it was in New Therro, but . . . well, now I think it was Cellerin City. That’s what they’re doing, right?”

  Hatlin sighed. “Yeah. Some of the officers are with their families, but others have demanded to live with people around the city. If a soldier asks you for a bedroom, you give it to them. Unless you want them to arrest you.”

  “They’re not protection officers, they’re soldiers!” Nora spat. “They should be defending our citizens, not arresting them!”

  Hatlin’s voice got lower, but a certain intense brightness entered his eyes. “They’ve been doing a lot worse to the New Therroans, and we’re citizens too.”

  Nora let out her breath and looked down at her hands. “You’re right.” But she’d half forgotten that, hadn’t she? New Therro had always retained its own culture, and as furious as she was about her father’s treatment of the people there, they felt less like her people than those in the capital did.

  Her mind raced back to last year, when the two-hundredth anniversary of The Day was coming up. Nora had chatted with her father about several potential routes for their royal tour. New Therro hadn’t been on any of them. No wonder they want to be independent. We’ve always treated them like outsiders.

  She turned her attention back to Hatlin, who was finishing up his fruit. “What else can you tell us?”

  “There’s a curfew in the capital now, ten ‘til dawn. And the soldiers are doing a lot of . . . watching. Every chapel in the city had officers standing at the back during services on Sunday. They sit in pubs and by water pumps, listening to conversations. If they hear anything negative about the king, they give that person a warning.”

  A harsh laugh exited Krey’s mouth. “How much you wanna bet those warnings turn into arrests by next week?”

  “I’d never bet against you on that. Not after what I’ve seen.”

  Nora couldn’t stop shaking her head. “We have to stop this. We have to stop him.”

  “That’s the other reason I came.” Hatlin shoved his empty plate out of the way and propped his elbows on the table, eyes locked on Nora. “You can’t fight your daddy if you’re in trogtown. It’s time for you to go back to Cellerin City.”

  Nora’s pulse picked up its pace. “I agree. But where are we supposed to stay? The minute I leave this place and my father finds out where I am, he’ll take me home.”

  Hatlin spread his hands wide. “I don’t know. But I do have a contact in the city who might be able to help you get to your father.”

  “Who?”

  Hatlin crossed his arms and leaned back, a proud smile on his face. “Bet you didn’t know one of his former ministers has New Therroan heritage.”

  Krey leapt from his seat and shouted, “We are not working with M
inister Sharai!”

  Hatlin’s mouth dropped open. “Guess you did know.”

  “Yeah, she was the Minister of Lysting!” Krey looked at Hatlin like that should explain it all. When Hatlin’s face remained blank, Krey said, “She’s the one who organized the magic-eater militia! It’s her fault Zeisha was kidnapped!”

  Hatlin blinked. “Oh.”

  “Krey, have a seat,” Nora said.

  His only response was a glare.

  “Please?” she snapped. “Like an adult?”

  He plopped back into his chair, fiery eyes fixed on her. “Don’t tell me you want to work with that woman.”

  “All I want is to hear what Hatlin has to say, considering he risked his life to say it.”

  Krey’s jaw visibly clenched, but he stayed quiet.

  “Well.” Hatlin took a long drink of water. “I thought this was good news, but maybe not. Here goes. Sharai’s heard rumors about how bad things are in New Therro. She started asking around, wondering if anyone was trying to stop it. She and me, we’ve got mutual friends. So I met with her, the day after the army came to town. I . . . may have mentioned I know some people who are planning to take down the king.”

  Krey’s anger boiled over again. “You told her about us?”

  “Nothing specific!” Hatlin insisted. “I didn’t tell her your names. But she’s all in, I’m telling you. Whatever she did in the past, she knows now that the king is ruining his country. She wants to meet you all.”

  “That’s not gonna happen,” Krey spat.

  “Krey!” Nora’s insistent tone drew his eyes back to her. “I don’t trust Sharai any farther than I could throw her. But it’s not like we have a lot of resources. Let’s hear him out!”

  “Thank you, Princess,” Hatlin said. “Listen, I don’t like the lady. New Therroans who work for the monarchy aren’t exactly popular. But I believe her when she says she wants to take Ulmin down.”

  “I think we should hear what she has to say.” Nora kept her voice low and her eyes on Krey.

  Lips pressed into a tight line, he drew in a sharp breath through his nose, then released it. When he spoke, anger simmered in his voice. “How do you expect me to work with her? And what about Zeisha, you think she wants to meet this lady? For that matter, how could you ever trust her, Nora?”

  “I specifically said I don’t trust her. But we should talk to her.” She leaned forward. “Krey, she did horrible things. I don’t deny that. But she knows my father in a way I don’t. She worked with him at least fifteen years. She understands palace politics. We can’t say no to a resource like that.”

  Krey stared at her for several long seconds, before finally turning to Zeisha. His voice turned gentle. “Your opinion should be the most important one at this table. Do you want to meet this woman?”

  All eyes found Zeisha. She returned their gazes with a confident, serene one of her own. By the stone, she’d changed from the broken girl they’d rescued.

  “I agree that going to Cellerin City is necessary,” Zeisha said. “I even agree that this former minister is worth listening to.” She drew in a deep breath, fixing her gaze on Krey. “But you don’t need my permission to talk to her. I’m staying in Deroga.”

  Stillness fell over the room.

  Krey broke it. “If you come with us, we won’t expect you to fight, not with your vines, and not with . . .” He trailed off, his gaze briefly flickering to Hatlin, who didn’t know Zeisha was the Anya. “Not with any of your skills,” he said.

  “Deroga is my home,” Zeisha said. “For now, at least. I know that for sure. I also know if I’m needed, I’ll be ready to serve.”

  Krey’s head drooped, his shaggy, black hair falling in his eyes. Nora’s heart ached for him. He’d found it awkward to see his ex every day, but he clearly wasn’t ready to be separated from her.

  “What about you, Sarza?” Nora asked. “And Ovrun? Do you want to go to the capital?”

  She’d known Ovrun would agree, but it was still a relief when he said, “Absolutely.”

  “Me too,” Sarza said, “Unless I have a vision showing me otherwise.”

  “Well, then—"

  The door opened, and Eira entered. “A member of the night watch sees lantern light,” the white-haired trog said as she approached. “When she looks through the window and sees a man who does not have permission to enter trog territory, she wakes me.” She closed her mouth, brows raised expectantly.

  Nora introduced Hatlin, then concluded with, “I’m afraid all of us but Zeisha will be leaving Deroga soon. My father is mistreating his people, and we have to go to the capital to stop him.”

  Eira nodded, like she’d expected that. “Will you take the militia with you?”

  Nora blinked. “We haven’t gotten that far yet.” She looked at Hatlin. “I’d like you to stay here with us and help us figure out a plan, if you’re willing to.”

  He nodded slowly. “It’s probably the safest place for me right now.” He shifted his gaze to Eira. “If you allow it.”

  “He’s trustworthy,” Nora said. “I promise.”

  Eira examined him for a long moment, then asked, “Are you willing to work?”

  “Of course.”

  “You may stay until the others leave.” She addressed the whole group. “When will that be?”

  Nora sighed. “I don’t know. We have to figure out where we’re going first. And how I’m supposed to dethrone a king.” She let out a short laugh. “Minor details.”

  Eira tapped two fingers on her chin, a thoughtful expression on her face. “I wonder if we may help,” she said. “The king’s fallen soldiers give us the gift of guns and ammunition. We trogs must keep most of them for defense, but I will send some with you.”

  “That would be amazing,” Nora said.

  “I have one other resource in mind. First, I must ask: do any of you like to read?”

  For the second time that night, Krey fairly jumped from his chair. “I do!”

  “These are very old books.”

  Krey grinned. “Even better.”

  5

  I met Prince Ulmin Abrios tonight.

  Maybe before I tell you about him, I should go into detail about every dish the chef served us, or the beautiful palace, or the well-trained pack of caynins that roam the property.

  I’m laughing now, because even with all the clommets separating us, I can hear you screaming at me to get on with it! So I’ll skip ahead to the only details either of us care about. The prince is tall, with broad shoulders. He’s nice looking, though nothing in his face made my heart beat faster than it was already beating.

  Dinner went smoothly. I ate with the prince, his father, and the queen. They asked me questions about my life back home.

  Then the prince took me to the garden, where we talked about whatever we wanted. We sat there for hours, covering topics from lysting to history to preday technology.

  The longer we talked, the more attractive the prince became. Because, Dani . . . he’s brilliant. I’m not sure if my heart’s enraptured yet, but my mind is. No question.

  We’ll see each other again tomorrow. I’ve only got half a day to wait, but it feels like too long.

  -Letter from Ambrel Kaulder to Dani Kaulder

  Dated Centa 16, 180 PD

  Krey had never seen a more beautiful room.

  Not the structure itself. That was unimpressive, with a low ceiling, white walls, and floors made of an ugly, gray preday material.

  It was the room’s contents that had Krey’s heart thumping wildly. From his position at the bottom of the basement stairs, he took it in: a whole room of bookshelves, stocked full of preday books.

  Four shelves faced him, with more disappearing into the basement’s dark depths. He took slow, reverent steps down the center aisle. Later, he’d count the shelves, but now, he wanted to lose himself in the scents of the room. He drew in long, heady breaths of leather and other binding materials. Of millions of paper pages. He almost be
lieved if he breathed in deeply enough, he’d hear the hushed voices of ancient people who’d huddled over these tomes.

  Every book in here had been printed before The Day. That meant the vast majority were at least 250 years old. Very few paper books were printed in the final generations before the apocalypse, when nearly everything was digital.

  Krey’s aunts, Min and Evie, had spent decades curating the largest library of preday books in Cellerin. As Krey finally reached the room’s far wall, he let out a low laugh. What would they think if they knew there was a collection several times that size in the basement of a nondescript trog building?

  For that matter, what would book traders think if they knew? A stash of books like this could make a savvy trader incredibly wealthy. They’d probably end up selling a lot of the books to other rich people who wanted to show them off, not read them. Thank the stone the trogs had protected these treasures from such a fate.

  Nora’s hushed voice reached his ears. “This might be the most magical place I’ve ever seen.”

  Krey felt a grin take over his mouth as he turned slowly to face her—slowly because Eira had warned them that if they somehow dropped one of their lanterns and burned down the Star Clan’s library, they should burn themselves up too, rather than face her fury.

  At first, he’d wanted to come alone. He could think of few indulgences as tempting as solitary hours in a library. But the night before, when Eira had invited them to peruse the trogs’ old books on warfare and politics, Nora had been nearly as excited as Krey. Now, seeing her wide, awe-filled eyes and gaping mouth, he was glad she’d come.

  She pulled her eyes away from the books, meeting his gaze. “You’re giving me a weird look.”

  “Oh . . . I’m just surprised, I guess. I didn’t know you were this into books.”

  “I’ve always loved books. I just never liked my tutors. I’d check out big stacks of books from the palace library, and my tutors would tell me they weren’t the right books. Then they’d force me to read their books, which were always boring. It was like they wanted me to hate reading.”