Page 120 of The Dragon Queen

“I expected to meet a ravening foe the moment I crossed the border,” I continued. “Which doesn’t make sense. There are plenty of you who were born in this duchy.” My eyes found Brom’s, Draven’s, even the general’s. “And you have stood up for what is right despite what loyalties you might feel to your home.” I scanned the crowd. “Now is not the time to falter. We need to do what’s right here as well.”

“How, Pippin?” Draven’s frustration was his, the general’s, and many of the men’s, I’m sure. It was a palpable force, pushing back against me. “You say not all Harlstonians seek to attack us, and yet you passed out in my arms as three of them did. You told me, told Darkspire, to stand down. You stopped us from tearing each one of them from the sky for the temerity of seeking to hurt my people. From hurting you.”

Anger and a need for understanding warred in his gaze.

“This is a war, Pippin. Some argue it’s no place for a woman, not because they aren’t just as capable of fighting.” My hands formed fists in response to Draven’s words. “But because we seek to protect them from the realities of it. My uncle has shown that he will do anything to get what he wants. A siege, to stretch this fight out long enough to hatch and raise the dragons he stole, because that’s his only chance of success. He is desperate, and he doesn’t care who he hurts to achieve his goals.”

Something in his eyes seemed to soften for a second.

“That’s why we need to strike back with everything we’ve got.” I never had a chance of winning this argument. At Draven’s statement, everyone started to make noises of appreciation. “Bring himdown, once and for all. With my odious ‘cousin’ now dead, there is no one left of my uncle’s line. One of the more distant members of the family will step in and take his place as duke and be grateful to the crown for that opportunity.”

I wanted someone to step up and speak for me, to confirm that I was right, but when I went searching for allies, I was met only with stares. A flat one from the general. The riders didn’t seem to see me at all, not when victory was so close. Then there were my men. Flynn’s smile had faded, concern replaced pride in Soren’s eyes. Ged looked resigned, and Brom? There was a strange kind of resolve there.

But I couldn’t focus on them. I had one more point in my arsenal and I needed to use it. Glimmer turned to me and nodded.

“What about the hatchlings?” At that question, silence fell over the table. “Isn’t that why we came here in the first place, to retrieve Zafira’s last clutch? What happens to a cluster of fragile eggs when you lay waste to the city?”

But I knew, and so did they. Everyone was scrupulously ignoring the issue so they could claim innocence when the inevitable happened. The death of each hatchling would be marked as just another victim of the Duke’s schemes. He would be dead and unable to contradict those assumptions. More dragons would be born and…

“Ahh…!”

Silence turned to sounds of concerns as I slapped my hands down on the table. Pain rocked me as markers toppled over or spilled from the table. I came here to put an end to their plans and instead just reset the board.

“Pippin!”

That was the real Draven, I decided. The moment he put aside his formal mask and became the man I knew and loved. Real concern throbbed in his voice as he drew closer. “My queen, you should be in bed resting. You’re still not well.” He turned then and shouted, “Healer! Where is that bloody healer?”

“Don’t need them,” I ground out. “Am fine.”

“You are obviously not fine.” His arms went around me, and Iwas scooped up, carried away from the table. Glimmer hustled after us, as did the rest of the wing. “You are going to rest and the wing is going to look after you until I return. You can do that for me, can’t you?”

No, I thought furiously, the moment the pain stopped. No, I could not.

Chapter 58

“You are sure Her Highness isn’t pregnant?” the healer said to Brom, not me.

“No, I’m not pregnant,” I snapped, feeling the same irritation that had plagued my dreams. That was unworthy of me. The healer had been given a job and was just trying to do it. “I’m going for a walk.”

“That might—” the healer began to say.

“I’m not asking permission.” Gods, why was I biting everyone’s head off? Because I hadn’t felt safe enough to do that to the people who deserved it. Rex and his little plan. Draven, for supporting it. I heard his voice and then shook my head. “My apologies?—”

“No need, Highness,” the healer said with a smile. “We are taught that illness can be a confronting thing for many. It’s the moment when we come face to face with our own weakness. Call me if you need something for the pain.”

This, this is what I needed.

I strode out of the tent and into the cool night air, staring at the stars as I walked. They’d shone down on this landscape for millennia, before humans came to this land, before even dragons. Eachglittering point of light would watch us remake the Blackreach peninsula without comment.

But not me.

You are angry, Glimmer stated without judgement.

I am no stranger to injustice, I told her.Living with my step family taught me that might equals right, as does cunning and the ability to charm and manipulate.I paused for a second and she stared up at me.The trouble is, they had me believing…I shook my head, barely even able to articulate this inside my head, let alone aloud.That we would do what was right, not what was easy.

I’m not sure they think dropping explosives on the city will be easy,she replied.Obsidian’s rider noticed a weakness in the wall on the right hand side. It’s been there for some time and he wanted to see if it could still be exploited.She sighed.He feels great guilt now for bringing it up.

Good.As soon as I had that huffy thought, I regretted it.No, not really. Gods, Glimmer, what do we do? That’s your sister and your brothers in there. I have no idea how many of the hatchlings still live, but don’t we need to find out?

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