Dragon Blood (Completed)

An Unsettling Sight

Chapter 16

"Come on," Zane said to Lavender, leading her up the steps. "I want to know what Paige plans for the prisoner."

"Zane, you can't be serious?" She stopped at the top of the steps to look up, studying him. "You are acting very strange lately."

"Darling, if she can get us answers to help stop Balaan, then I intend to stick close to her and help however I can."

"And put yourself in danger in the process? She is reckless, and obviously has no regard for her title or her positon."

"I'm with Zane," Ryder said. Apparently, he hadn't gone far when he left the presence of the queen.

When they reached the kitchen, Dean and Paige were sitting at the same table Zane used when he'd staked out the kitchen for the Bluescales. He could hear Dean telling Paige the story of what had happened from his perspective as he approached.

"...Zane grabbed me so fast and we flipped upside down." He rolled his hands in the air to emphasize the summersault. "Then whoosh! We were in the water. There were bubbles everywhere." Dean's eyes danced with excitement as he held Paige's full attention with his story.

"Yeah, I saw. I never knew when Dad said the Blacksin's were the fastest, that he meant they were that fast."

Dean saw Zane walk up. "Zane, how did you know something bad was going to happen?"

"I saw Paige's face when she saw the attacker," he explained as he sat down. Lavender and Ryder joined them, though they were both quiet. Lavender was stewing over Zane's decision to help Paige, and Ryder was quiet because he didn't want the queen to target him again.

The same cook Zane had asked to take food to Paige last night brought over drinks and sweets for the queen and Dean.

"Thank you, Gabriel."

"Thank you," Dean echoed, reaching for one of the colorful cakes on the platter. An odd thought struck Zane as he watched Paige interact with the staff. BlackskinCastle, and he'd lived there his whole life. This was the first time he was aware of that Paige had been to the kitchen; already she was addressing the staff by name.

"Is there anything else, My Queen?" Gabriel asked without bowing, though his hands were clasped tightly behind his back.

"Who is that boy over there?" Paige pointed to a boy with soft brown curls and a round face splattered with freckles. Zane hadn't noticed him until Paige pointed him out. He was standing on a stool, diligently drying dishes with a cloth before carefully stacking them.

Gabriel looked suddenly guilty, but answered the queen's question. "He is my grandson, August. My daughter had to travel to visit her cousin, who has taken ill."

"Is she going to be okay?" There was genuine concern in Paige's voice, and Gabriel's eyes softened at his new queen.

"I'm sure she will recover nicely," he assured Paige.

"If you need anything, let me know. I could send Maze if there's something seriously wrong."

"No, My Queen, Maze is needed here to look after you." Gabriel started to back away.

"Gabriel," Paige called out, stopping him before he could turn to leave. "I'm sorry, I know I'm keeping you from your work, but I was wondering if you would allow me to invite your grandson over to join us."

"Join you?" Gabriel asked, as if he misunderstood her request. A flicker of dread creased his eyes, and Zane could understand why. How often did a royal request the presence of commoner's child? If they did, the results were rarely favorable to the commoners. A royal could demand a commoner to relinquish the rights to their children to become lifelong servants for a royal's child. There were many that considered it a great honor to have their children chosen to work in the castle for a royal, but it seemed that Gabriel was a part of the group that felt the royals overstepped in their positions, and shouldn't have the right to request something so precious from the commoners.