Firedrake - By Bianca D'Arc Page 0,26

heart to crush the hope in Jenet’s rare, fire opal eyes. He scratched her scales and petted her neck. “It’s good to be back, sweetheart.” Drake realized he meant it and the idea was startling. Never would he have thought his return would feel like this, though in the early years of his self-imposed exile he’d thought through this scene many times.

They walked together to the dining area, though Jenet remained outside the chamber itself, only craning her neck through the wide threshold, as did her parents. Declan was already seated at one end of the table, Ren took his place at the other, just as it had always been in their home. Drake’s stomach clenched as Declan rose, meeting his gaze.

“Be welcome, Drake.” Declan gestured to Drake’s seat, and Drake moved forward a bit awkwardly, first to assist his mother, as politeness demanded, then himself. The food was already on the large table, and Drake saw that his mother had indeed made all his favorite dishes.

“This looks really wonderful, Mother. Thank you.”

Declan cleared his throat, then said a quick, respectful prayer to the Mother of All to thank Her for Her bounty. Drake was shocked when his gruff blood-father added a line of thanks for returning their son to the family.

They began the meal in awkward silence until finally Drake couldn’t take it anymore. There were things he wanted to say—things he needed to say to these people before they could begin to truly be a family again—if that’s what they all really wanted. For himself, Drake wasn’t so sure. He had his own life now and it was a good one. He was well-known and respected in the five lands he claimed as home. He’d done good service for his true homeland and would continue to do so, regardless of how things stood with his family.

Drake set down his fork, his thoughts churning.

“Don’t you like the green beans?” His mother watched his plate as carefully as she had when he was six and tried to con Jenet into eating his vegetables.

“The beans are fine, Mother.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “But there are a few things that need saying.”

Everyone at the table set aside their utensils, Declan last of all. The knight raised his blue eyes and met Drake’s gaze across the breadth of the table.

“You’re right, son. Say your piece.”

Drake’s back went up, just as it so often had when he was younger. He didn’t need Declan’s permission to speak, but with the wisdom of years, Drake reined in his hot temper. He recognized the bold, dominant streak in Declan that he’d come to know in himself over the years. They both shared the need to be the alpha male, which was probably why they’d clashed so much as Drake grew into a man.

“Thank you, Father.” Drake nodded, glad to see Declan start a little with surprise at his measured tones. “First, I want you to know that I’m only back for a short time. I have responsibilities in other lands and most especially to the Jinn Brotherhood. They took me in and I’ve worked behind the scenes with them for a lot of years.”

“I don’t know much about the Jinn,” Ren said quietly, his eyes narrowed in thought, “but I have heard they are more than they seem. Nico already told us you’re more than just a traveling minstrel. He told us you were Spymaster of the Jinn.”

Drake was surprised. He could count on one hand the people who knew his true position among the Jinn Brotherhood. Nico, as King-Consort of the Jinn, was his only superior. In a way, Drake was now Spymaster to the King of the Jinn, if the Brotherhood used such titles. It was a high honor and a weighty responsibility. To be the master of all the Jinn spies was daunting, to say the least, for every traveling minstrel among the nomadic Jinn was a spy of one sort or another.

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised Nico told you, but you must realize how important it is that you keep my true position to yourselves.”

Declan scoffed, but with a good-natured smile Drake had rarely seen from his stern blood-father. “That goes without saying, son. None of us would ever compromise your safety or your mission.”

Drake let that thought settle in his mind for a moment. This wasn’t going as he’d expected, but perhaps it was better than he ever would have believed. His family seemed to not only accept the