In Sharoani, silverhorn only ever roamed wild, but in Kal Valreus, they were common farm animals. White and grey, with slender bodies and a four foot long horn shining like real silver sprouting from between their eyes, their beauty rivaled the lush landscape. Past the farms, the polished city gates shone in the morning light, guarded by twin dragon statues curving their wings over the entrance below. And beyond, the inner city buildings rose; the grand greenhouses’ domed ceilings visible above the edge of the wall, its glass panels glittering in the great Lake Virastos’ reflections against which Kal Valreus lay. The ornate copper spires of the public library. Beyond the lake rose the Sky Plateau, and beyond that, Mount Lihia, named after Ambassador Lihia Ro-Vishu, the lover of Kal Valreus’ founder.
But even taller than the mountain were the two dragon towers within the city walls.
To the north stood the Sunrise Tower, brand new and with an impressive height of sixteen-hundred feet, home to the Valreus Sky Guard. Even from this distance, the massive landing platforms circling the top were clearly visible.
To the south stood the Solar Tower, in the center of the ruined district. Once as tall as its twin, with its missing top half and crumbling west wall, it was still an impressive sight.
A man’s shout made Kalai jump. He spun, quickly stepping aside for the carriage coming over the hill.
“Sorry!” he called out, not getting a reply.
Closer to the gates, the road was crowded with people traveling to and from the city and the farms. Kalai kept to the side of the road to avoid getting in the way of people pushing wagons or leading animals. At the gates, the crowd slowed, bottlenecked by the entrance, despite it being easily twenty feet across. Even in the fall, when the citrus grass was harvested and people came from all over Sharoani seeking temporary employment, Kel Visal was never even half this busy.
It was incredible.
Pressure against the backs of Kalai’s legs made him look down. He stepped aside as a young girl with bouncing golden pigtails pushed past him, then looked over her shoulder and gawked at his face.
Kalai smiled at her, giving a slight wave. Kal Valreus likely didn’t see visitors from Sharoani often. With his black hair and golden brown skin, Kalai stood out against the paler, lighter-haired Kykarosi population.
“Come on, Lucelie. It’s rude to stare.” A woman stepped past Kalai and took the young girl’s hand.
Kalai made his slow way forward, smiling at a woman with overflowing flower baskets in each hand. Moving underneath the giant silver dragon wings, Kalai pulled his bag against his chest to protect its contents from getting squeezed. On the other side of the gates, the pressure instantly lessened. A square opened before him, paved with evenly carved flat stones laid out in countless spiral patterns flowing into each other. Above him rose an arc, donning letters he’d spent so many years familiarizing himself with.
Valreus, the City of Hope, welcomes you.
After three weeks on the road, he was finally here.
CHAPTER 2
Tauran hadn’t been back in Valreus since his recovery.
He shouldn’t have come.
He’d expected the city to have changed in the four years since he’d last seen it, but it hadn’t. Aside from a few new farm houses, everything was as it had been when he’d left. The grand white walls, the silver dragons, the storied homes with their cast-iron balconies and sloping roofs. Cascading vines covered in flowers hung from pots under windows, filling the air with their sweet scent. The first time Tauran had seen Valreus, the city had felt magical. Alive and full of energy and possibility. He felt none of that now, and it wasn’t the city that had changed.
He’d felt at home here, once. And despite how hard he tried not to, the feeling of belonging settled in his bones as he walked under the welcoming arc and toward the main street.
This city knew him.
Tauran took a moment to stretch his legs after the long wagon ride, then crossed the pavement, keeping pace with a slow-moving cart. On the back, a young boy hung over the side, his too big cap covering one of his eyes. He pulled it off when he spotted Tauran.
Tauran met the boy’s eyes. He had an answer already on his tongue. No, I’m not who you think I am. I’ve never even seen a real dragon up close, I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Thankfully, he’d had to rattle off those answers