Éibhear studied Izzy a moment and asked, “You’re the one who took Thracius’s spine?”
“I was the one who split it.”
“But I was the one who finished him.”
“Only because I’d destroyed his ability to fly away!”
“Excuse me,” Heru cut in. “As fascinating as it is to hear the violent lifestyle of the Fire Breathers and their human kin, I’m sure Iseabail would prefer to hear the truth of the matter.”
“Aye. I would.”
“It began a few months back. The conversions.”
“Conversions?”
“To the Cult of Chramnesind.”
Izzy and Éibhear looked at each other, back at Heru, and said together, “The Cult of Who?”
“The Cult of Chramnesind is a blood cult. We don’t know where they came from or why they’re here, but it’s not just those from the Desert Lands who have joined their ranks.”
“You say blood cult,” Izzy noted, “so you mean sacrifices.”
“Many young ones. Human and otherwise. The true zealots, the priests of this cult, are blinded, their eyes usually removed completely during some kind of ritual.”
“They willingly allow their eyes to be removed?”
“In honor of their god.”
“Chramnesind,” Éibhear said.
“Yes.”
“Is he a dragon god? I’ve never heard of him.”
“No. He’s among the human pantheon of gods.”
Izzy glanced at Éibhear. “No offense, King Heru, but you’re saying that dragons are joining a human cult?”
“I am.”
Izzy didn’t understand. From what she’d always heard, not only from her kin but from Rhydderch Hael himself, dragon gods could barely get dragons to do their bidding. How, then, could a human god get dragons to join a cult that insisted on self-mutilation and the killing of young ones? Even the most barbaric of dragon tribes didn’t believe in the harming of youngsters.
“Why?” Éibhear asked. “What could possibly be the benefit of joining a cult like this?”
“That I don’t know. My soldiers have captured exactly two of their loyalists this past year. They both ended their own lives before we were able to question them.”
Éibhear leaned back in his chair. “They killed themselves? Dragons took their own lives?”
“What?” Izzy asked.
“Dragons don’t kill themselves,” Éibhear explained.
“Why not?”
“We’re too arrogant,” he said simply. “Why would we destroy perfection?”
“You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” every dragon at the table replied.
“And that’s the power we’re dealing with,” Heru went on.
“If Chramnesind is a human god,” Izzy asked Heru, “what is the point of having dragons worshipping him?”
“Other than maybe having them as part of the cult’s growing army, I really don’t know.”
“But perhaps, Princess Iseabail,” the king’s head magi, Kafele, finally offered, “you could find out for us.”
Izzy blinked. “Find out for you? Do you mean ask my grandmother and Aunt Morfyd?”
“No. I mean ask Rhydderch Hael yourself. You are his chosen champion, are you not?”
Izzy stared at the magi for several seconds before she slowly moved her gaze to the king. “Is that what this is about? Is that why you took me?”
“We had to do something. It’s believed this cult has infiltrated our ranks.”
“Is that why you came for Izzy yourself?” Éibhear asked. “Because there was no one else you could trust?”
“They went there for Iseabail. They knew she was there. I had to move quickly and without concern that there’d be a betrayal.”
“Were they coming to take me . . . or kill me?”
“I don’t know, but it doesn’t really matter, does it?”
“You’re right. It doesn’t.” Izzy pushed her chair back and stood. “Thank you for your help. Of course, my grandmother will hear about all you’ve done for me.”
The king stood as well. “Of course, you’ll stay for a bit.”
“I can’t. I have to get to the city of Sefu.”
“Then let me provide you and Prince Éibhear with an escort.”
“I need no escort, King Heru. But I truly do appreciate all you’ve done.” She stepped away from the table. “And if I discover any further information, I will get it to you.”
“Thank you. And just a word of caution. The suns burn much hotter here in my beautiful land than in your Dark Plains. You may want to travel at night; there are small caves throughout the territory where you can sleep during the day. If that’s not possible, sleep under Prince Éibhear’s wings for protection.”
With a nod, Izzy headed out of the chamber and back to where she’d left her travel bag and Macsen.
Éibhear caught up to her, his stride matching hers. “Are you sure about this?” he asked.
“We have to keep moving. We have to get this settled.”
Éibhear didn’t reply until they arrived back in their chamber. Then, once there, he caught hold of her arm and walked her back until she was against the wall.