“He’l be busy.”
“Busy with what?”
“Things.”
“Forget it.” Rhona began to turn away again, but Keita caught her forearm.
“Look, I can’t real y go into this. At least not here.” Keita leaned in and whispered loudly so she could be heard over the rushing water, “The cave wal s have ears.”
“Those are cal ed bats.”
“Och! Why must you argue everything?”
“Because you’re trying to pul me into your insanity. I won’t go, cousin.”
“I need you, Rhona. This is important.”
Rhona grunted.
“If you don’t believe me, ask Ragnar. He’l tel you.”
Beginning to believe her cousin was sincere—Keita would never send Rhona to Ragnar the Cunning unless she real y was tel ing the truth—
Rhona asked, “Why do you need to go back?”
“Ragnar would feel safer with me in Dark Plains.”
“So would I. This is no place for you, Keita.”
“Then you best take me back to Garbhán Isle.” The human queen’s seat of power in Dark Plains.
“I can’t,” Rhona admitted, thinking of al she had to do. “But I’l see if the triplets—”
“No!” Keita barked, startling Rhona. “They’l be missed.”
“What do you mean they’l be—”
“Everyone wil notice if they’re gone, and ask questions. I can’t have any questions asked. So your brothers can’t go either. Or any of your siblings. This needs to be done quietly.”
Rhona put her claws on her h*ps and glared down at her much smal er cousin. “Did you only pick me because no one would notice if I was gone?”
“It’s not that they wouldn’t notice you’re gone.... They’d just be glad you are.”
“Wel , thank you very much!”
Keita’s tail slammed down into the water. “You’re taking this the wrong way!”
“How else am I supposed to take it?”
“That’s it!” Keita slashed her claws through the air. “I am Daughter of Queen Rhiannon, low-born cousin, and as a lowly soldier you’l do as I say!” Without speaking, Rhona moved forward—and kept moving forward until her cousin had been backed into the far wal .
“Al right! Al right!” Keita brought up her claws to ward Rhona off. “No need to get testy!”
“Then watch that you don’t irritate me, cousin.”
“Please, Rhona. Once we’re free of this place, I can explain everything. But not here, not now. And I’m asking you to do this because I trust you.
Ren trusts you. And you know the pair of us trust few.”
Damn her. Keita always knew how to get her way. Yet Rhona did have to admit that her cousin—for once—appeared sincere. And a bit worried.
Keita was never worried about anything.
“Ragnar wil know, yeah? That I’m with you? That I’m fol owing orders? If it comes up. Don’t need my kin thinking I’m a deserter.”
“Of course they won’t!” Keita again put her claw on Rhona’s forearm. “Trust me. When this is al said and done, you’l be seen as a hero.” Rhona chuckled. “Don’t need al that. Just don’t get me tossed into your mum’s dungeons and we’l be fine.” Keita’s grin was bright and pretty. “That I can manage!”
Vigholf looked up from his fifth cow leg when Keita returned to the chamber. Meinhard had headed out, but Vigholf, wanting to know more about what was going on, had stayed.
Keita smiled at Vigholf as she passed and sashayed her way over to Ragnar.
He’d admit it. Vigholf didn’t understand his brother. Keita had been with Ragnar for five years now, even coming with him when they moved from their Northland home to this val ey. And although she’d been forced to stay in this cave with cranky soldiers and pesky kin, she never once complained or seemed unhappy. And yet Ragnar stil hadn’t Claimed her. He stil hadn’t put his mark upon her that would let every dragon know that Keita’s heart belonged to him and him alone. What the dragon was waiting for, Vigholf had no idea. The war gods knew that Vigholf wouldn’t have waited if he had a She-dragon ready to be his mate. Good females were too hard to come by. And Keita was one of the best. Pretty, smart, charming, elegant, and very loyal. Those dragons who dare question Ragnar’s rule as Dragonlord of the Hordes usual y ended up with uncomfortable rashes under their scales, unexplainable hair loss, or coughing up blood. After several cases of that sort of thing happening, the rest of them learned to keep quiet or, at the very least, not complain about Ragnar in front of Keita.
“Al set,” she said, smiling.
“Good.” Ragnar brushed his claw against her cheek. “I’l miss you.”
“Of course you wil . I’m amazing.”
“You’re leaving now?” Vigholf asked.
“Sssh,” Keita whispered. “Not so loud. We’re doing this quietly.”
“Why?”
“I’l explain it later,” Ragnar said. “Give us a few minutes.”
Vigholf nodded and headed toward the exit. But he stopped, worried. “And your escort is not Éibhear, right?”
“You know, he’s improved greatly in five years,” Keita reminded him, always so protective of her oversized baby brother. Emphasis on the baby.
“Your escort isn’t Éibhear, right?”
Keita let out a breath. “No. It’s not. He’l be staying here with you lot. And I expect you to take good care of him.”
“He’s not alone, Keita.” Ragnar glanced at Vigholf. “He has his brothers to watch out for him.”
“And we al know they won’t!”
Vigholf and Ragnar laughed. It was true. That poor Blue’s brothers were harder on him than any of the Northland dragons ever were, but it was evident Éibhear was starting to get a little tired of it. That is, when he wasn’t too busy fighting with his cousin Celyn.
When Keita began to tap one talon of her back claw against the hard floor, Vigholf stopped laughing even if Ragnar didn’t.
“So who is going with you?” Vigholf pushed, not liking any of this.
“One of my cousins. But, as I said, let’s keep this quiet.”
“Why?”
“Ragnar can explain it later.”
“Why can’t he explain it now?”
“Don’t be annoying, Vigholf.”
“Then answer my question.”
Keita’s eyes narrowed and she took a step forward. To do what, Vigholf didn’t know, but Ragnar held her back by placing a claw on her shoulder.
“Keita and Ren are being escorted by the finest soldier Her Majesty’s Army has . . . Sergeant Rhona.” Vigholf rol ed his eyes. “Her?”
“What’s wrong with Rhona?” Keita snapped.
“If you’d asked me that a couple of days ago, I would have said absolutely nothing.”
“And today?”
“She’s overworked and she whines.”
“Rhona? Whine? I didn’t think she even knew the meaning of that word. And why would she whine?”
“Because I broke her precious spear.”
Keita gasped, eyes wide. “You broke Rhona’s spear?”
“It was an—”
“Her father gave her that spear. He made it for her.”
“The blacksmith, yes?” Ragnar asked.
“Uncle Sulien. He used to live in a volcano.”
Frowning, Vigholf asked, “Why?”
“He was born there. His whole family was. They’re Volcano dragons. Al that heat and dwarves nearby . . . they’ve become excel ent blacksmiths and glassworkers over the last mil ennium or so. He can make al sorts of incredible weapons. My father hates Uncle Sulien, though,” she added offhandedly. “Have no idea why. But it’s a deep, resentful hate. More hate than he has for most dragons.” She grinned. “I like him, though. He always brought me warm treats like little lambs or newborn calves, stil bleating away.” Ragnar shook his head. “Lovely.”
“I think you should take someone else,” Vigholf told Keita. “A couple of my cousins should work.”
“Why? What’s wrong with my cousin?” Keita briefly pursed her lips. “Or is the fact she’s lacking a c*ck your main problem with her?”
“That sounds amazingly wrong,” Ragnar noted.
Vigholf sighed. “She cries over a broken spear—”
“That a father she adores gave her!”
“—and can any Cadwaladr female say she doesn’t have a cock?”
“Very funny.”
“Besides, you need stronger protection than the Babysitter.”
Keita gasped again. “Are you the one who started cal ing her that? She hates that nickname.” She shrugged. “Although she was my babysitter for a time. When my nanny was off.”
“Are you even listening to me?” Vigholf demanded.
“Not particularly, no. I know Rhona. She’l keep me and Ren safe. Of that I have no doubt.”
“Wel , I do.”
“Then you can go with them.”
Vigholf looked at his brother. “What?”
“If you’re that worried, you go with Keita and Ren.”
“I have a war to fight here.”
“And while we get everything in place and finish the tunnel, you have time to go to the Southlands and get back before you’re even missed.”
“I’m a commander. I can’t just wander off.”
“You’re not wandering off. I’m ordering you off.” Which made Vigholf chuckle until his brother’s glare stopped him.
“Besides,” Ragnar continued. “You can check on Mother.” Their mother, along with al the Northland She-dragons, had been sent to the Southlands for her own safety when they’d moved to Euphrasia. A decision that had confused al the Southland She-dragons. “Can’t they fight?” Bradana had asked. “Most of ’em may be missing a wing, but not their claws or legs.” And although Vigholf could speak to his mother with his mind anytime he wanted, he stil greatly missed her presence. “And wouldn’t you feel better keeping an eye on the sergeant? Just to make sure she doesn’t make any huge mistakes in her overworked, tired state.” His brother did have a point. And it wasn’t like they were in the Northlands. Euphrasia Val ey was much closer to al the borders. They could be in the Southlands and then Dark Plains rather quickly, drop off the royals, and be back in just a few days to finish off the Irons. Yes. That worked. And, while they were traveling, if he could find the Babysitter a new weapon, something a little more . . . appropriate for her age, al the better.
“Al right then. When are we leaving?”
“Within the hour,” Keita said. “But remember, not a word to anyone.”
“And you’l tel me what’s going on once we’re on our way?”
“I wil . Promise.”