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“If this is how you treat your guests, it’s no wonder nobody likes Dragons! I—”
“Enough!” Aurdyn’s ferocious growl fills the chamber, stopping my heart. His eyes burn with rage as he slowly stands from his chair and stalks toward King Davin, like a predator stalking its prey.
And King Davin, despite all his previous bluster, gapes up at Aurdyn like a hare about to get eaten by a wolf.
“You tunneled through my mountain, invading my territory,” Aurdyn seethes. “And you expect me to welcome you as an honored guest? I should burn you to ash where you stand.”
All the color drains from Davin’s face. “I—I can always sing the stones back into place and refill the tunnels. But I needed to speak with you. I—”
“Then, you should have sent a raven.” Dark smoke puffs from his nostrils as he levels an icy glare at him.
“You ignored my last one,” Davin counters. “And I couldn’t risk my message not reaching your ears.”
Aurdyn snarls, baring his fangs. “And just what exactly was so important that you would risk your life by incurring my wrath?”
“The Mages are behind the Wraith attacks on my people,” he says quickly. “They are controlling them somehow… using them to wage war.”
“I know,” Aurdyn replies darkly.
“You—you know?” Davin asks incredulously.
“Yes, the Mages ride with Wraiths, and an army from Kolstrad. They are marching toward Florin as we speak.”
“Florin?” the King blinks several times. “If what you say is true, then we’ve got bigger troubles than I thought.”
“Why?” Aurdyn asks.
“Ruhaen has declared war on my kingdom. They are allied with the Mages, who are controlling the Wraiths,” he explains. “They are marching to Arganth as we speak.”
“What of my uncle?” I ask, since we’ve had little word from Aurdyn’s scouts. “Is he—”
“The King of Ruhaen is under a dark spell, Princess.” Sadness tightens my chest as King Davin gives me a pitying look. “I do not believe he realizes they are using him to wage war.”
“You will address her as Queen,” Aurdyn corrects him, and Davin’s eyes widen.
“You—you’ve taken a human as your—”
“Freyja is my mate and my queen, and you will address her as such,” he grinds out.
Davin practically stumbles forward, bowing hastily before me. “Forgive me, Queen Freyja.” He swallows thickly. “I—I meant no offense.”
I give Aurdyn a pointed look, letting him know he is being much too hard on the Dwarf, and his lips curl up in a slight smirk.
I turn my attention back to King Davin. “None taken, King Davin,” I reassure him. “You could not have known the change in my status as you have only just arrived today.”
His eyes shine with hope, probably relieved that the chances of Aurdyn actually setting him on fire are much less now. “Thank you, Queen Freyja.”
“I came to ask for your aid, King Aurdyn,” Davin adds. “Their army will arrive in Arganth in less than a week.”
I turn to Aurdyn. “The Mages are trying to divide us. That’s why they are attacking both Florin and Arganth now with their armies.”
Aurdyn exchanges a worried glance with me. He knows I am right. We cannot help both kingdoms; we can only choose one. And Aurdyn has not yet even had a chance to speak with the Council.
King Davin looks up at Aurdyn. “You know how proud we Dwarves are.” He slowly lowers himself to one knee. “But I will bend the knee if that’s what it takes to gain your help, Dragon King. I am not ashamed to bow before you and beg for the sake of my people.”
“Rise,” Aurdyn says, and the King slowly gets to his feet. “Our people are not friends, but neither are we enemies. Besides, why would I care to rule over a kingdom of unruly Dwarves?”
One of the guards snorts out a laugh, before quickly clearing his throat and standing attention at his post.
