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“I hope you’re right,”I reply, disappointed at how little he seems to care about the Dwarves, even after they helped us and refused to give us up to the Mage and his hunters.
“Besides,”he adds.“We do not even know if they speak truth.”
“Why would they lie?”
“Why do Dwarves do anything?”he grumbles.“They are not to be trusted. I will send a scout to confirm their reports as soon as we reach Windhelm.”
Trian turns back to us. “Thank you for bringing me here.” She lifts her gaze to Aurdyn. “My people gave you shelter and care when you needed it. If our king calls for aid, will you answer?”
I look at Aurdyn expectantly, waiting for his response. He huffs, and a line of black smoke curls from his mouth. “King Davin is a proud Dwarf. I believe he would rather walk through the seven hells than ask for aid from a Dragon.”
“Perhaps you are right.” She nods. “Still… I wish to know. Would you answer?”
Aurdyn stands tall, spreading his massive wings out behind him, as he stares down imperiously. “It depends upon how he asks.”
A smile tugs at my mouth. It seems he may care more for the Dwarves than he’s let on. Although I suspect if King Davin were to ask for aid, it would probably have to involve a lot of groveling.
When we leave, I watch as Vangarn disappears in the distance, sending a silent prayer to the gods to protect the city of Arganth and to watch over my uncle and our kingdom.
CHAPTER28
AURDYN
Freyja has a tender heart. Even now, I am able to catch wisps of her thoughts, in this form, and I can sense her growing worry at the thought of the Dwarves in danger. She worries for her uncle and his kingdom as well, even though they would have burned her if I had not saved her.
A low growl vibrates my chest. As far as I am concerned, I would see her uncle’s kingdom fall. They do not deserve her worry and her pity. Not after what they tried to do.
“Are you all right?”she speaks to my mind.
“Yes.”
“Then why are you growling?”
That she has to ask this, tells me she cannot sense as much of my thoughts as I can hers. It occurs to me that I could lie, but I do not wish to conceal things from her.“You are too forgiving.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I can sense much of your thoughts while I’m in this form,”I explain.“You worry for those who tried to end your life, and they do not deserve your pity.”
“Have you forgotten that they were under Luria’s spell? And why are you in my head anyway? I did not give you permission to read my thoughts,”she says, anger punctuating her response.
“You are my T’kara,”I remind her.“We share a bond. I cannot control how it manifests between us.”
My answer seems to settle her because her thoughts turn to worry, not just about our connection, but also about how my people will receive her.
“They will respect you,”I reassure her.
“How do you know?”she asks, unable to hide the concern that fills her.
“Because I am their king, and I will make them,”I state firmly.“Anyone who does not, will be unwelcome in my court.”
“I… do not want to cause any trouble between you and your people,”she says.
Her concern is valid. I have considered many times the problems that may arise from my bringing her to my kingdom. But I have no choice. She is mine—my T’kara. And even though she is human, my people will surely understand this. I will not tolerate dissent. “It will not be an issue.” I try to assuage her concerns.“The fated bond is revered among my people. It will not matter that you are human.”
“It mattered to you when we first met,”she reminds me, and I curse myself for ever having voiced my thoughts aloud to her then.“You did not want to be bound to me, remember?”
Her words shame me. I should never have said that to her, much less even thought it. The Fated bond is one of the highest blessings one can receive from the gods, and instead of treating her as such, I was lamenting that she was human, instead of Dragon.
