At the mention of that name, we all paused.
I slowly inclined my head. “Yes, I remember.”
Six months before, we had fought a wyrm—a forerunner of the dragons. The wyrms of the earth were not shifters, but ancient beasts who were cunning and rapacious, grasping for power and wealth. The Great Fae Lords had enlisted them into the war against the Fae who wanted to keep the worlds together. When they won, they then imprisoned the wyrms, locking them away in other realms in case they might one day again need their services. Yvarr had woken and managed to free himself. And he bore the news that the Great Fae Lords themselves were waking from their own self-imposed hibernation.
“He said the Fae Lords who drove the Great Divide were waking.”
“Yes, and so they are. And when they rise from their slumber, they’re going to want their power back and they won’t be happy to see how things have evolved, either in Otherworld or over here Earthside. They’ll see you wielding the Keraastar Diamond and the Keraastar Knights…and they may decide to wage war against you to get the diamond back.” At this, Aeval let out a long breath. “We will, of course, back you up if it comes to that. But you see, don’t you? You must find the diamond and take control of it and the sooner the better. You’re destined to wield it.”
“And if they are waking, and they go after the diamond, they’ll destroy Talamh Lonrach Oll because of you and Titania.” The wheels were turning now and I was beginning to get the picture. “And if they free the wyrms still locked away…”
“They could devastate the world in their greed. They are no better than Shadow Wing, when you think about it. Neither will the wyrms be happy, if they’re freed. While we dragons had already split off from their race and were creating our own society back then, the wyrms caused problems for us,” Vishana said. “I remember several horrendous battles. Many of our kind were lost as we fought for our own existence. If the wyrms wake up, they’ll come after us.”
I suddenly felt weak in the knees and slowly lowered myself to a chair. If I found the Keraastar Diamond, as was prophesized, I’d be putting myself and all around me in danger. If I let it go, and the Great Fae Lords rose to wield it, then they’d put everyone in danger. Either way, it was looking like a very different but very dangerous battle might be looming in my future.
“Damned if I do and damned if I don’t.” I stood, turning to Vishana. “Will the Dragonkin back Talamh Lonrach Oll, if it comes push to shove against the Fae Lords and the wyrms?”
She considered my question for a moment. “If it were my decision alone, I’d say yes without hesitation. But it isn’t a promise I can make. I must go to Council and persuade them. I don’t anticipate much opposition, however. The battles with the wyrms may be in the past, but many of us lived through it and we fought against them, and our memories are long.” Turning to Smoky, she added, “My son, I will go now and speak to the Council. You must come with me.”
“But Camille—” Smoky started to say, then stopped as she held up her hand.
“Have you not yet told her?”
“Told me what?” I crossed to Vishana’s side. “What should he have told me?”
“My son—your husband—is to take his place on the Council of Elders for the first time tomorrow. He should come with me now to prepare.” She gave Smoky a questioning glance, then let out her breath and a puff of smoke at the same time. “Iampaatar, you mean to tell me you kept this knowledge from your wife?”
He shuffled, staring at the floor. I would have laughed if the circumstances had been less dire.
“I was going to—”
“Are you ashamed of your position and rank?” Now Vishana’s attention was solely on her son, and she didn’t look happy.
“No, Mother.”
“Then perhaps you will tell me why? Or perhaps, you feel so lackadaisical about the Council that you cast off the privilege of being part of our future so lightly?” She was starting to rev up. I recognized all the signs in any mother who was irate with her child.
“No, not at all. I just… We were busy with other things.” Smoky scowled. Being berated in front of everyone else—especially me—wasn’t going to sit well. But if I butted in to take his side it would make things worse. Instead, I backed away and turned to Aeval, who was attempting to keep a straight face. Both she and Titania had that gleam in their eye that told me they were enjoying the spectacle.
“You’ll take Venus home with you?” I said softly.