“Perhaps he thinks he’s saving his people. There are many who don’t feel right with Addiena on the throne.”
“But she is. And she has been for nearly a century.” Braith rested both her arms on the table. “What I can’t figure out, though, is what Lady Katarina has to do with any of this.”
“Perhaps he hopes to use her father’s army to challenge Addiena. It would be a bold move, but her father’s army is strong. They have to be since they are all that lies between us and the Irons.”
“I thought the fear was that he’d side with the Irons.”
“He could, but he’d be foolish to try. The Irons see themselves as superior to everyone. In their minds, they only answer to the gods. So betraying Lord Berg would mean nothing to them. And he knows that.”
“But if Lord Berg challenges Addiena, won’t he have to face the Cadwaladrs in battle? I’ve always heard that’s what keeps many challengers for the throne from our borders.”
“Using our name will stop those who talk a lot about claiming the throne but really have no true heart for it. But those who truly want it, like Overlord Thracius in the West or the Horde leaders in the Northlands . . . the Cadwaladrs are merely something to figure out how to defeat. All we manage to do with the likes of them is keep them back until they have enough forces to move.”
Braith placed the palms of her hands against her eyes, her exhaustion and frustration beginning to grow. “I just wish I knew what he was doing. Who he was working with. My father does nothing on his own.” She dropped her hands and looked Addolgar straight in the face. “He’s not a brave dragon.”
“What about your mum?”
“The bravest I knew.”
Addolgar finally asked the question that had been bothering him for most of the day. “Why are you not close to your mum’s kin?”
“My mother saw me as a Penarddun, but her kin see me as my father’s daughter. And they want even less to do with him.” She shook her head, glanced off. “As always, I’m on my own.”
“Not anymore you’re not. You have the force of the Cadwaladr Clan behind you. That’s more than most will ever be able to say.”
“I still wish we hadn’t involved your family. If one of them gets hurt or . . . if anything happens to your kin, Addolgar . . .”
“Nothing will happen. And you seem to think you’ve somehow forced us into this. Or as if we’re doing it out of pity. The Cadwaladrs don’t feel pity. Not for each other. Not for anyone.”
“Then why are any of you helping me?”
“My father’s doing it because you won him lots of money. Ghleanna’s doing it because she likes knowing another female near her age who can’t quite wear her clothes. Bercelak will say he’s doing it to protect Ghleanna, but really he wants to spend time around Princess Rhiannon, even though we all know he doesn’t have a shot in all the hells with that one.”
“And you?” she asked, before Addolgar could list the reasons all of his kin would be involved in this. “Why are you doing this?”
“That’s easy. Because I like you.” He grinned. “I like you a lot.”
“Why?”
“Because you make me smile.”
“You’re Addolgar the Cheerful. Everything makes you smile.”
“Not everything. And if I want to like you, Braith of the Darkness, I get to like you. Whether you want me to or not.”
“Why wouldn’t I want you to?”
“I don’t know. Maybe because I’m not a royal?”
“Is there anything about me, Addolgar, that says I embrace being a royal? That I live my life as a royal? Anything?”
Addolgar thought on that a moment before replying, “Not really.”
“The Penardduns may be royals, but you don’t find any of them living in Devenallt Mountain or attending any of the parties or rituals. My mum hated that stuff. Didn’t see the purpose of it at all. And I have to agree with her. I only attended royal events to keep my father off my back.”
“So, when this is all over, if Addiena strips you of your title—”
“As long as I get to go back to my cave and be left alone, I won’t give a flying centaur shit.”
Addolgar glanced up and saw Mary wave to him from the stairwell. “Come on.” He took Braith’s hand and led her from the table and to the stairs. They went up the three flights and walked down the hallway to the last room. Mary held the door open for them.
“Think you’ll be needing anything else tonight, Addolgar?”
“No. We’re fine. But we’ll be up early tomorrow. We’ll need food before our trip. And if you have any bread and meat that can go with us, I’d appreciate that.”
“Of course. Me and Mum will take care of it.”
“Thanks, luv.”
Mary nodded at Braith and walked out, closing the door behind her. Addolgar led Braith across the large room to the fireplace. She immediately held out her hands to warm them and Addolgar took her cloak from her.
“I’ll make sure to keep the fire going tonight.”
“All right.”
“Why don’t you get some sleep, Braith?”
“I will.”
He stepped behind her. “I meant now.”
“I don’t know how you expect me to get any sleep with so much on my mind.”
“You need to sleep if we hope to get any real traveling done tomorrow.”
“The territory between here and the Northlands is enormous, Addolgar. My father could be anywhere.”
“I know his route.”
Braith faced him. “What do you mean, you know his route?”
He shrugged. “I heard from Brigida.” He pointed at his forehead. “Up here.” Although he should only be able to do that with his siblings and parents, those rules had never stopped Brigida from popping into anyone’s head whenever she damn well felt like it, no matter her relation to them. Many believed it was because of her powers as a White Dragonwitch that she was able to do so with such ease. Others believed she was a demon who could burrow into anyone’s soul. Addolgar decided to believe the White Dragonwitch angle so he could sleep at night.
“From here, we head west to the borders between the Southland and Outer Plains. She says we’ll find him there.”
“Dense forests in those parts. We’ll have to be careful.”
“You know the area?”
In answer, Braith only shrugged and walked toward the bed. She stopped before reaching it, spun around, and asked, “Are you sure we shouldn’t leave now to find—”
Addolgar placed his hand over Braith’s face. He had big hands and he covered almost all of her face. “You need sleep. I need sleep. We will not be traveling anywhere tonight.”
“You,” she said behind his hand, “don’t have to keep doing this when you don’t like what I have to say.”
“Apparently I do. Otherwise you wouldn’t keep saying those things.”
He dropped his hand, gazed down into her face. “I’m by your side on this, Braith. We’re in this together. Stop worrying about things that are already in motion. Already said and done. Our focus should be on our goal. Getting your father and bringing him back for the Queen to deal with. Don’t let anything else drag you down.”
“I just feel so guilty.”
“For the actions of your father? No wonder you and Ghleanna get along so well. Whatever your father has done or will do, it has nothing to do with you. Just as my father’s illustrious past has nothing to do with Ghleanna or any of his offspring.”
Braith shrugged. “Well . . . I could see how your father’s past could follow—” Braith sighed deeply from behind Addolgar’s hand. “You did it again.”
“You were saying something I didn’t want to hear.”
She slapped his hand off.
“Ow!” he barked while laughing. “What was that for?”
“I’ll get some sleep,” she replied. And with that, she got on the large bed and stretched out. Then, stiff as a board, with her arms by her sides, Braith lay there.
“Good gods, female,” Addolgar muttered. “What did you do with yourself before I came into your life?”
“I lived quietly alone in my cave,” she snapped back. “And I was quite happy there, too.”
Addolgar stood over her, hands on his narrow hips. “How can you be comfortable all stiff like this? With your clothes on?”
“I’m cold,” she reminded him, desperate not to take her clothes off. Her human body was not something poets would ever write about, so she wasn’t about to get nak*d in front of Addolgar, of all dragons.
“That’s what the fur covers are for. You’ll get under them and with the fire going, you’ll be fine.”
“I’m fine as I am right now.”
“At least take your boots off.”
To appease the big ox, Braith sat up, but before she could touch the leather of her boots, Addolgar was there.
“I’ll do it,” he said cheerfully, smiling at her.
He tugged off first one boot, then the other. He then pulled off her socks and lifted her feet, studying them.
“I thought they’d be bigger.”
“How is that not an insult?”
“It’s not an insult. Or a compliment. Just an observation.” He thought a moment. “But your feet are cute, and that is a compliment.”
Laughing, Braith pulled her feet out of his grasp. “My boots are off. Can I go to sleep now?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Why not?”
“You’re not relaxed. Who can sleep when they’re not relaxed?”
“I’ll relax eventually.”
“At least take your leggings off.”
“I will do no such thing.”
“You’re being as silly as humans about this.”
“That’s my choice.”
“Well,” Addolgar said, “my choice is for you to be comfortable.”
And that’s when he grabbed the bottom of her leggings and began to yank them off.
“Addolgar!”
“You’ll thank me when I’m done.”
No, she wouldn’t!
Braith tried to scramble away, but she only managed to assist him in getting her leggings off while, at the same time, flipping herself off the blasted bed.
Growling, she got to her knees and rested her arms on the bed. She glowered up at the beast. “Give me back those leggings!”
“I’m trying to help you.”
“I don’t know what you’re doing, but I’m sure there are laws about it!”
“I don’t know why you’re being so shy.” He paused a moment, then asked, “Do I make you nervous?”
“Yes!” Braith replied honestly.
“Why?”
“I just . . . look, just . . . I mean . . .” She slammed her fist against the bed. “Give me my blasted leggings!”