Page 20 of The Dragon Queen

“Remind me why we’re flying a highly volatile liquid back to the capital?” Ged asked.

“It’s what my cousin asked for,” Stefan replied. “I think he wants to make a little display of power, remind people what he’s capable of.” He set the vial down very carefully on the ground, then stepped back. Glacier sucked down water, then shot a blast of ice at the vial,freezing it in a solid lump before it could even shift sideways. “Perfect.”

He nodded to some of his men, and they moved forward, producing an insulated box to store the ice encased vial in.

“So, shall we get under way?” Stefan rubbed his hands together as his brothers looked on sourly. “Who do I ride with?”

“Ged,” Soren and Flynn said instantly, causing the big man to push himself away from Cloudy’s side.

“I guess I’m the idiot ushering you to the city. Your steed awaits, milord.”

He gestured with a flourish to Cloudy’s saddle, the other man clambering up the dragon’s side with little grace.

“And you, wife?” Brom kept his voice pitched low. “With whom do you ride?”

Soren kept his face expressionless, but I saw the twinge of need in his gaze. Brom was intent, but it was Flynn I settled on. He didn’t dare look at me, as if it would reveal too much.

“On Glacier, it appears.”

Glimmer had already climbed up onto the blue dragon’s back, something that gave me pause for a second. It wasn’t hard to see quite a different blue dragon superimposed over Glacier, one who would’ve eyed Glimmer with quite a different kind of hunger.

“The little queen always had impeccable taste,” Flynn said, offering me his hand as I climbed up into the saddle. “Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” I had to resist the urge to lean back into his chest when he settled behind me. His hands went to the horn at the edge of the saddle, his hands placed at a perfectly polite distance away from mine. “We’ve got a long ride ahead of us. Whatever will we talk about on the way?”

“Your father.” He went perfectly still as Glacier lumbered to his feet. “Your brothers. Draven will avenge them, I promise, even if I have to force the issue myself.”

I heard his snort, felt his body unwind just a little.

“From your mouth to the gods’ ears,” he said.

I wanted to lance his pain like a boil, let it spill out into the clouds like Aisenbran’s blood, scouring the land below, not Flynn’sheart, but people heal on their own time. He would not, could not be drawn. Not until the bastards who killed his family were brought to justice, Flynn assured me. Then he could grieve. I kept that in mind as we spiralled down, the familiar sight of the capital coming into view.

“You’ve returned in one piece,”Draven said when I jumped down from Glacier. This was barely murmured into my ear, meant for me to hear alone. “I wasn’t entirely sure you’d survive my cousin’s tender mercies.”

“Well met, cousin,” a brash voice said. “Catch!”

Everyone sucked in a breath as Stefan tossed a leather bag across the courtyard. Draven made an ugly sound, leaping across the tiles, then throwing himself forward to snatch it from the air. He fell heavily, eyes going wide as Stefan burst out laughing.

“The dragonfire is in the very protected box,” he said, plucking the bag from Draven’s limp fingers. “This is my dice bag. Fancy a game?”

“Only if beating your arse is one of the stakes.” Draven jumped to his feet, giving the other man a shove, something Stefan returned, the two of them scuffling around until they fell apart, grinning.

“The high born are no different to cadets.” Soren shook his head slowly.

“No different to common-born lads,” Ged added. “Me and my cousins are just the same.”

“Let's get the reunion over and done with.” Flynn growled this under his breath. “Because once the frivolities are over, I want to know what Draven is doing about bringing the murderers to justice.”

Chapter 11

Conducting a state dinner, it appeared.

“No time for rest,” Draven said in a crisp voice as Ged collapsed down onto the bed.

“I beg to differ.” Ged opened his eyes a crack and then gestured me forward. “A warm bed, a warm girl?—”

“A semi-warm bath is about all you’ll get and then in your dress uniforms.” Soren was all business as he walked into the room. “Just spoke to the general, and we’re to attend dinner tonight.”

“What dinner?” Flynn said that a little too abruptly, dropping his saddlebags onto the bed. When Draven didn’t answer fast enough, he turned to Soren. “You didn’t tell us about any dinner.”

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