When the site of the pyre at the edge of the estate was eventually exposed to the morning sun, not a flicker of the night’s mesmerizing flames remained. There was just a pile of pure-white ash and a hint of black smoke in the air, and the manor’s staff moved in to deal with these remnants of the festival. Everyone moved more sluggishly than usual, and there was a peculiar wretchedness hanging in the air after that wild and beautiful night.
As I prepared to mount Veralgon to make for Kerulgarz, Meg came to see me off.
“Should I accompany you? I can make myself useful,” she proposed.
Flying with Meg aboard was quite an appealing idea, as I still remembered the sensation from the last time we’d ridden together. However, I needed the dragon keeper this time, since I’d heard there were no keepers stationed at Kerulgarz Castle. It was not impossible for three to ride a dragon, but I couldn’t force Veralgon when he was already feeling out of it.
“No need. I just have to see to it that they make peace there is all.”
There was no telling what Meg would do if I were to bring her to Kerulgarz. Just yesterday, her rash talk about curses might well have instigated that ruckus. It most likely hadn’t been intentional, but she seemed to be a natural trickster. I had the feeling something unexpected would happen whenever I got involved with her, for better or worse. Thus, I thought it unwise to take her to these important peace talks.
“Is that so…?”
Surprisingly, she backed off just like that. Thank goodness. She turned to her accompanying butler—or, being a woman, was she still considered a maid, despite her male garments? I supposed it didn’t matter.
“Lydia, send a message to my uncle. The retinue may stand down.”
“Stand down, you say? Certainly. I will see to it at once.”
The woman called Lydia turned to another butler-maid and gave her own order. This servant raced off for the stables and vanished from sight.
“What’s this about a retinue?” I asked Meg.
“Nothing. It’s just that if we won’t be needing my warriors, I thought it best that they return to the castle.”
“From where?”
“From the border with Kerulgarz.”
Well, that was close. If I’d carelessly taken her up on her offer, she had intended to march her elite warriors into the neighboring territory along with us.
“It is unfortunate that I can’t be of any use,” she said, her brow creasing sorrowfully. But the way I looked at it, not putting her to use was clearly a blessing.