“And you know that how?” Gary asked, taking a step toward his brother. His tail was twitching in that way it did when skanks were about to get shanked.
“Because six months ago, it was given to me.”
“Twist,” Tiggy said. “Oooh.”
“What?” Gary shrieked. “And you didn’t think to tell me? Terry, I swear to the gods, if you don’t fucking give me my horn right this godsdamn second, I am going to end you here and now.”
Terry took a step back, snorting anxiously, nostrils flaring. The sparks that came out were goldenrod and olive. “I don’t have it anymore. And I couldn’t just give it to you. I was told not to. I kept it safe until he returned for it a month ago to take it back. I told him it wasn’t fair that you didn’t have it, because regardless of what you think of me, I’m not that big of a jerk. I mean, jeez, Gary. You’re my brother. We might not always get along, but I don’t ever want to see you hurt. I can’t even imagine what it’s like to not have your horn.”
“I’m going to hurt you, you fucking pile of dicks!” Gary bellowed. “Tiggy, hold me back!”
Tiggy grabbed his shoulders. Gary immediately started struggling, snapping and snarling at his brother, glitter sloughing off him as thick as I’d ever seen it. I hoped Tiggy wouldn’t actually let him go, because Gary had his murder-eyes going on, and that never ended well.
And while I thought he had a fair point and deserved to kick his brother’s ass, I was stuck on the one little detail that didn’t make sense. “Who?” I asked Terry, and the room immediately fell silent.
“What?” Terry asked, watching Gary warily.
“You said he gave it to you. He told you to keep it safe. He told you that you couldn’t give it back to Gary. He took it back from you. Who is he?”
“Oh, right. Well. I’d never met him before, mind you, but I’d heard of him. I mean, who hadn’t? You live in Verania, you know who he is. His name is just one of those things that all people know. I’ll admit I expected him to be… I don’t know. Taller? Certainly less eyebrows. I offered him a place to spend the night because he looked like he was ready to drop, but he declined. He looked even worse when he came back last month, but he was gone before I could even ask anything about him.” Terry frowned. “Not that I would question him. I’m not an idiot, after all.”
“Godsdammit,” I snapped at him. “Stop being vague and just tell us who it—eyebrows. You said eyebrows.” I clenched my hands into fists at my sides as I took in a shuddering breath. “Terry, was it Randall?”
That got everyone’s attention.
“Yes,” Terry said, looking a little put out. “The Head Wizard Randall came to me with my brother’s horn and asked me to keep it safe. And then he came and took it away again. He’s the one that told me to keep quiet about it. If you’re going to be mad at someone, be mad at him.”
“Thank the gods,” Justin breathed. He placed his hands on the table, palms down, and hung his head.
“Randall has my horn?” Gary demanded, starting to get worked up again. “What the hell is he doing with it? Why would he not just bring it back? He better not be planning on using it in some kind of spell. I don’t care who he is. If he refuses to give it back, I will rip out his stomach and then shove it down his damn throat.”
I couldn’t even take the time to be awed by his unnecessary savagery. Too many thoughts were swirling through my head, most of all that Randall was alive, that he’d been seen. I cared, yes, that he had my friend’s horn, and was irritated that he was being so fucking secretive about it, but he was alive. He hadn’t been imprisoned or, worse, consumed by Myrin. After he’d shown up in that house after Morgan had died, it was only seconds before he’d disappeared with Myrin. That had been the last time I’d seen him. Apparently he’d been busy.
“Sam?” Ryan asked, and everyone turned their attention to me. “Ar
e you okay?”
“Yeah,” I said hoarsely. I coughed, shaking my head. “Yeah. I just—it’s good. You know? I mean, it’s—it’s good. That’s all.”
“What do you think he could be doing?” Justin asked me. “You knew him better than any of us.”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But Randall doesn’t do something without having a reason. Ever.” I looked at Gary. “And even though he’s an asshole, he would never do something to intentionally hurt you. That’s not who he is. If he has your horn, it’s part of a plan that we don’t yet know about. He wouldn’t be using it for a spell. It’s not his. It’s yours. He knows that.”
“Still gonna stomp over his old ass,” Gary muttered. “Hiding my horn and shit. Gary’s gonna bring the pain, you mark my words.” He leaned up against Kevin as the dragon whispered something in his ear. Gary nodded tightly before sighing, his shoulders slumping.
“So, what,” Ryan said. “We just… wait? Until Randall decides to let us in on whatever he’s planning?”
“Looks like,” I said. “I tried summoning him on his crystal the last night before I left, but I got nothing. I can try again later, but I think he’s gone underground.”
“What about the dragons?” Justin asked. “The Great White. Could he find Randall?”
I shook my head. “Not if he doesn’t want to be found. And I really doubt that Randall wants to be found by anyone, much less the Great White. We just have to hope he’ll reveal himself soon. We don’t have much time left, whatever he’s planning.”
Justin looked resigned at that, but I thought he’d expected the answer. “Okay. We’ll table that for now. Gary, I’m sorry, but we have to have faith that Randall knows what he’s doing.” He swallowed thickly as he looked down at the map of Castle Lockes. “Now we need to talk about my father.”
I wondered at the toll the past year had taken on Justin. He’d grown up knowing one day he would be king. He’d trained for it, done everything asked of him—the lessons, the training, the diplomacy. And where he’d once been cold and rigid, he’d now become less so, and I knew that one day he’d make a great king I’d be honored to serve, and not just because he was my best friend 5eva.
But none of us had expected for him to have to act in his father’s stead so soon. The King was still in his early sixties, and even though he’d been in mourning like the rest of us the last time I’d seen him, he’d been healthy and strong. He was meant to rule for years still to come, and Justin was going to spend that time learning all that he could. And while I would be advising Justin when he took the throne, all decisions came from him. The weight of Verania would be upon his shoulders.