Marvels and Misfits (Trixie Towers #1) - Scarlett Dawn Page 0,75
Athon, and I nodded.
Queen Alora continued, “Out of you four, who has studied ancient history for over twenty years consecutively?”
Father, King Athon, and I nodded.
“All right. So out of King Athon, King Traevon, and Princess Trixie, who do we think should pick the artifact?”
None one spoke up.
“Come on,” I muttered. “We can do this.”
I wasn’t sure if I believed that, but it was positive to say it.
Queen Mikko said quietly, “I think it should be King Traevon. His mother was a soothsayer, and he is over a thousand years old.”
I stated with much reluctance, “I think it should be King Athon. The giants were a fierce people, and the Shifter Kingdom is the most brutal. King Athon may be able to figure it out.”
King Traevon scratched at his chin. “I believe that Trixie should do it. It’s already been proven that my mother taught her about giants and where to find this artifact in the Blood Forest. It stands to reason, she may have done more than that, but Trixie doesn’t realize it yet until she views the items.”
King Athon grunted softly. “I agree with Queen Mikko. It should be King Traevon.”
“I believe it should be King Athon,” Queen Alora intoned. “As Princess Trixie said, I believe he will connect better with the artifact.”
Everyone turned to look at King Elon. He rubbed the pads of his fingers over his mouth in deep thought. The gorgon king stated haltingly, “I…have to go with culture. I believe King Athon might understand the history of the artifact better.”
Queen Mikko stated quietly, “King Athon it is.”
King Athon popped his neck and rubbed his hands together, nodding to himself and staring over King Elon’s right shoulder at nothing—perhaps giving himself a mental pep talk. He swung around and prowled through the mist—hunting—in his element as he headed toward Ruiuen. The King of Shifters didn’t bother to look up at the winged wolf. Instead, his focus was on the items at her feet.
The mist covering the clearing blocked our view.
I chewed on my dirty thumbnail.
His back was our group’s only view of what he might think of an item. The back of his shirt was already tight over his tensed muscles, but when he was about to move onto the next item, his head slowly turned, already on the move even when he was still looking.
Nine times he did this. Nine times with no indication whatsoever on his thoughts. The tenth didn’t end up being any different, either.
I started gnawing on my other thumbnail.
King Athon roamed up and down the items. He went from one end to the other and back again, casually walking by them now. The shifter king did this ten times before he stopped near where he had begun. He bent down into a crouch to study the piece.
I stood up on my tiptoes, barely able to see his head over the mist. He cocked his head this way and that way, studying the object very closely. My eyes squinted to see better, but it didn’t help much.
King Athon pressed back up to his full height.
He peered up at Ruiuen and held up an item into the air.
It was a long key…in the colors of our five kingdoms.
Ruiuen asked, “Is that your choice, King Athon?”
“It is,” he answered clearly. “This is the first artifact.”
Ruiuen tail whipped back and forth behind her. “You are correct, King Athon. The Key of Kingdoms is the artifact you are searching for.”
Air exploded out of my chest. “Thank you, Fae.”
Ruiuen looked at our group at the edge of the clearing.
That was all she did.
Except the four rulers standing next to me dropped to the ground in a heap, piled all together, bumping into my legs.
Terror ripped through my chest. I quickly dropped down, and frantically smacked at my father’s face. I screamed, “Father! Father!”
“Do not be alarmed, Princess Trixie. They are merely asleep. I wish to speak with King Athon and you alone for a moment.” Ruiuen’s feathered wings ruffled against her fur back. “Please, come over here.”
At Father’s neck, his blood was beating hard in his veins.
He was still alive.
I stifled a sob as the fear suddenly receded. I coughed into my hand and sucked in a harsh breath, before pulling up to my full, almost five-foot height. I stepped around the sleeping rulers and walked at a sedate pace to where Ruiuen and King Athon stood. I was in no hurry after the fright she had given me.