He studied Tsunami as she peered down at us, golden eyes flaring wide before narrowing in curiosity. She shuffled closer, folding into a seated sprawl, tail curling neatly around her body. The tip came to rest against Kallias’ boot.
“Did you bond her?” Erwin asked, his face scrunched in disapproval.
“His Majesty,” I corrected, “has not bonded her. She’s merely enamored.” Rider status did not excuse poor manners.
They wouldn’t have spoken that way to my father.
Kallias shifted his weight, easing his foot from beneath her tail. “You’ll find open plains to the north. Take what your dragons require there and leave the village folk undisturbed.”
Tsunami chirped above us, punctuating his words, and slid her tail back until it brushed his boot again.
His gaze flicked to mine, and I squeezed his forearm in reassurance. She would follow her own. At least I hoped so. The continent stretched vast and tempting. Her fascination with him might prove a blessing if it kept her from raiding towns.
“Our dragons will rest, then we’ll fly east to meet you,” Erwin agreed. He nodded to Ronan, then cast another wary look at Kallias.
“When you arrive, send Nakos and stay aloft.” Ronan’s lips thinned as his eyes found the smallest green. “Breon’s the quickest. He’ll relay positions and orders until I reach you.”
“Done.” Erwin clapped Sean’s shoulder. “Mount up. Take only what’s necessary.”
With a series of bows, the riders returned to their dragons, clambering over paws and shoulders to climb into their leather saddles. Breon might’ve been the smallest, but he still dwarfed two wagons. Black horns curled around his skull like a ram’s, a rare trait. A whisper of an older bloodline.
They rose as one, Erwin and sleek Artorious leading the ascent.
Gyrak chuffed, snapping his jaws at Tsunami. She paid him no mind, gaze fixed on the others as they vanished into the sky.
“She’ll be coming with us?” Kallias asked, watching the gold-streaked belly overhead.
I bit back a laugh at the resignation threading his voice. She caused chaos, but never harm. “I daresay she goes wherever you go.”
He drew a breath, mantle lifting with a restrained sigh, then released a low grunt. “So be it.”
The second night in Lon pressed heavier than the first.
Fallione never paused. He moved constantly, directing, preparing, always steps ahead. A small group of servant boys trailed him, sprinting off at his command to deliver or retrieve. My dress was finished and delivered to my room before the evening meal, the advisor already waiting there.
“Your handmaid, Miss Edith, will arrive once you are safely in Reem,” he rattled off before I could ask. “Payment has beenmade for the nine sheep and two cows the dragons consumed,” he added without pause.
“There were no complaints?” Kallias asked, washing his face.
Fallione glanced up from his papers. “One cow was a milker. I compensated the family fully—enough to replace the animal and cover the lost milk.”
“But they weren’t pleased.” Kallias sighed, setting the rag aside and drying his skin with a fresh towel. He hadn’t taken a proper bath since we arrived, choosing to scour himself with soap and rough cloth.
“Nothing a king should trouble himself with,” Fallione hedged. “Until the creatures reach the Craggs and proper rations, some unrest among communities is unavoidable.”
“They will not be taking someone’s prized sow from her barn,” I shot back as Freya tightened my corset.
“Tsunami might,” she muttered under her breath.
I shifted, accidentally stepping on her toes. Drawing a surprised grunt. “Once we reach Reem, they’ll adjust to the city and take what we offer with grace.”
“I’ve seen them eat.” Kallias scoffed, combing his hair. “It is anything but graceful.”
“Back to the matter at hand,” Fallione said. “Sarai’lon is to attend tonight’s dinner.”
Kallias froze, catching my reflection in the mirror. He frowned, setting the comb down, eyes narrowing at his advisor. “And Mai’lon?”
“She will take her meal with her nursemaid.” Fallione shifted the stack of papers. His gaze met his king’s, careful and measured. “It would not be wise for her to join, though Sarai begged for your leave. It seemed… suitable for you to oblige.”
