Page 112 of The Dragon Queen

I looked up to see Brom looking remarkably refreshed. He was ordering around riders with a swift point of his hand.

“I could do with some extra spring.” Flynn materialised on myother side. He went to lean in closer, so I was forced to hold him off with one hand. “Prepare me for battle and all that.”

“Both of you have a lot of preparations to make,” Soren barked. “Flynn, get Glacier. We’re moving a considerable amount of the dragonfire cache today and it all needs re-icing. Ged?—”

“I know, I know.” Ged threw his hands up. “Bags ready for inspection in five minutes, but if it was Soren the other night and Brom last night, then surely it’s my?—”

“Turn to dig latrines when we arrive on the outskirts of Blackreach?” Soren clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Good lad, thank you for volunteering.”

“I… You…” Ged spluttered and then let out a growl. “Fine, I’ll come and find you after toilet digging duty.”

“I can’t wait?” I said, wrinkling my forehead as he walked off.

“Now, Pippin,” Soren said in a far gentler tone. “Are you all right? There’s no shame in remaining here. We’re riding into battle. Perhaps you could stay with the ladies…”

I looked up at Glimmer who was perched on Darkspire’s neck, remembering her oft repeated advice.

“No, Soren, I’m as ready as anyone to bring this whole mess to an end. The Duke of Harlston’s head on a spike, that’s what I want, so inspect my bag and make sure I’m ready to ride out.”

His lips twitched, the urge to smile rising and then smoothed away.

“Right you are, Rider.”

Chapter 54

“Where are all the ships?”

We flew half the day to arrive outside of Blackreach by mid afternoon. The sun was starting to slip in the sky as Draven stared down his spyglass, trying to gauge how many vessels were moored around the duke’s estate. The steep cliff the city was built on and the high walls around it made it hard to see accurately. With enemy dragons flying high around the duke’s residence, we couldn’t afford to get too close. The entire flight of the Royal Riders was stationed on the plain beyond the walls, past the now empty fields. Every carrot, every stalk of wheat looked like it’d been pulled from the ground to be stored behind the walls in preparation for the siege that must come.

“I can’t see clearly from here,” Draven said with a hiss, putting the spyglass down on the table Rex had set up in his tent. “I need to go up?—”

“We’ll send a reconnaissance team,” the general replied smoothly. “You’re not a gentleman soldier anymore, Majesty. You’re the king.” He waited for Draven to see his point, then took his silence for agreement. “Cooper, you and your wing will do a sweep of the ocean around Blackreach and?—”

“Don’t go too close.” A muscle in Draven’s jaw flexed as he stared out at the black spire of the duke’s residence. It had been built in the same way other cities did churches, to ensure it was the tallest, most impressive building in the entire area. “My uncle will be looking for an opportunity to strike back, no matter how unwise that may be.”

“Not too close,” the general echoed. “Not until the dragonfire arrives.”

I swallowed hard, the same thing I did every time Flynn was dragged off to transport large quantities of the powerful explosive. Was this the time it all went to hell and he and Glacier were blown from the skies?

Not today, Glimmer said, staring across the empty expanse at the city walls.

That wasn’t as reassuring as she thought it might be, but I didn’t get to quiz her on that.

“Harrison, your wing can fly out to the east,” the general ordered. “See if any of those ships are headed across the channel. Farley, your wing can do a sweep of the fields around the city, see if there’s a water source we can use.” Each wing commander nodded in response to their orders, turning on their heels to do as they were told. “Emberly.”

I stiffened at the sound of Brom’s last name. He stepped forward, his eyes meeting mine for just a second before they slipped to the love bite on my neck. It was only partially concealed by the collar of my tunic, something that had him almost smiling before he turned to give Rex his full attention.

“Sweep the city walls.”

“Rex…” Draven growled as he leapt to his feet.

“Your wing has the most agile dragons, the fastest.” Ged and Soren stood taller at that. “They’re the best men for a risky job.”

The general looked over his shoulder, waiting for us to contradict him. Instead, my hand went to Draven’s, clasping it tightly. He drew me after him as he approached the three of them.

“Be careful.” He shook Soren’s hand and then Ged’s. “If my uncle sent ballista all across Harlston, then he’ll have twice as manyon the parapets of Blackreach.” He then moved to Brom. “He’s treacherous, devilishly so, and?—”

“We played on those parapets as children,” Brom told him gently, taking his hand and shaking it, but when he went to pull away, Draven held him fast. I eyed the other two, their looks of concern mirrors of my own. “I remember all the hidey holes.”

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