The Dragon Scales, #2
Emberclaw
by L. R. Lam
Contents
38. Arcady: The Aftermath
Overview
Arcady chooses a wary alliance with the assassin Sorin to break Sorin’s mind-block, prioritizing answers over vengeance. Everen destroys the wraith-stag and departs for Vatra, while Arcady manages suspicions and logistics to regroup in the city. Back at the Citadel, Arcady evades notice and heads to meet Everen at the Loc & Key.
Summary
Arcady debates with Everen over whether to trust Sorin after Sorin confesses to being a Dragon Order assassin with a mind-block. Everen urges killing Sorin, but Arcady insists on information first, forcing a fragile alliance: Sorin will help unblock her mind in exchange for her life.
Everen refuses to read Sorin’s mind and confirms only dragons’ emotional speech, not mind-probing. At Arcady’s request, Everen burns the slain wraith-stag; Sorin reveals salt can halt the blight’s spread though it sterilizes soil. Mutual suspicion lingers as they return to the hut, where their companions still sleep, unaware.
Outside the hut, Arcady and Everen weigh safety versus proximity. Arcady sends Everen back to Vatra to avoid alarming the horses and promises to meet him tomorrow at the Loc & Key. Everen departs in a glow of wings, leaving Arcady and Sorin to an uneasy truce.
At first light, the group returns to the lodge to eat and clean up, then travels by carriage to Vatra. Willem repeatedly prods at the tension between Arcady and Sorin, mistaking it for a romantic spat, while Edin observes with amusement. Upon arrival at the Citadel, Arcady slips away, doubles back to shake any tail, and heads for the Loc & Key to meet Everen.
Who Appears
- Arcady DalcaPOV student; chooses to ally with Sorin for answers, coordinates Everen’s departure, and secretly goes to meet him.
- SorinOrder assassin posing as student; admits mind-block, agrees to help unblock it; salts blight and keeps uneasy truce.
- EverenDragon prince; advises killing Sorin, burns the wraith-stag, then returns to Vatra to rendezvous later.
- WillemCompanion; sleeps through the night events, later probes the tension on the carriage ride.
- EdinCompanion; sleeps through the incident, amused observer of Willem’s teasing on return trip.
- JaculusSorin’s wyvern; returns to her shoulder as Sorin salts the blight tracks.