Page 2 of The Dragon Queen

And apparently that means going to the dressmakers to find clothing rich and sumptuous to make the people believe that I am fit for the role,I replied.

You do not need fancy fabrics.She stared up at me quizzically, and not for the first time was I struck by the beauty of her gilt scales.You have the crystal eggs.

My hand plunged into my pockets, which should’ve been fruitless. This was Draven’s dressing gown and as far as I knew, he did not possess a single egg, yet my hands closed around something cool and hard. I pulled one out and stared at its faintly iridescent sheen in confusion.

The people are not swayed by crystal, I told her.Gold, diamonds, furs are the trappings of royalty. This is why I must see the dressmaker.

“Is that what you really want?” Ged asked the question as if he’d heard everything we’d said to each other, and that had both of us turning to stare. “To be trussed into a corset? To have pretty fabrics pinned to your body?”

“What choice?—?”

“He didn’t say when.” Some of Ged’s customary mischief was back in his smile then. “Draven, he didn’t say when you need to see the seamstress, did he? I imagine she’ll just be sitting around all day, working on fancy clothes for toffs. Probably has more than enough work to keep her busy right now.”

Whereas I could spend my morning doing something far more worthwhile.

Cynane has requested an audience, Glimmer told me.She cannot understand why she has not been greeted, nor been given food and drink, as the rules of hospitality dictate. She and Hadrian grow weary of waiting. They have gleaned from the minds of those hurrying about the palace that Zafira is gone, that this territory is now mine.Glimmer paused, her wings fluttering.That dragon eggs have been stolen for the purpose of war. All of this contravenes the conditions of the treaty.

“Then we must do something about that.” My heart lightened the moment I spoke those words. “Fresh meat and water straight from the spring. Do dragons like beer, wine, or fine spirits?”

“Cloudy certainly doesn’t mind a barrel of beer sometimes,”Ged replied. “And as for meat, there’s no place better stocked than the castle larder. I’ve hoisted a side of beef onto my shoulder a time or two. I’ll be able to carry out a couple of snacks for our visitors.”

“Ged has been assigned my guard for the day,” I told the man at the door in my best imperious tone. “I would ask that you keep an eye on the castle dragons. We are only just discovering the depths of treachery people are willing to sink to.”

“Of course, mil…” The guard’s voice trailed away. “Of course, Highness.”

That’swhat I would’ve been as Draven’s intended, the title that would’ve been bestowed upon me if I had been accepted as queen-in-waiting. I blinked then, trying to process the strange set of events that had me taking on that role now. Introspection was a luxury I could not afford, so I shut the door and pulled on my armour, taking care to look the part of soldier if not queen. Ged was similarly dressed, the two of us official looking enough that none questioned us as we walked downstairs.

And Glimmer flew.

“I can carry the little queen if she…” Ged started to say.

A scream lodged itself in my throat as she shot him a scathing look, then threw herself off the top step. I watched her wings flap out, seeing the blood, the carnage of my dream replaying itself before my eyes, but this time it was my beloved who died. A dragon was meant to fly, and that’s what she did. Well, glide. She wasn’t really gaining altitude, despite her flapping wings, but she did manage to coast all the way down the stairs before landing neatly at the bottom.

Well, are you coming or not?

Her aristocratic voice had me moving forward, taking two steps at a time, Ged hot on my heels.

“She flew,” I hissed at my lover. “Glimmer flew! She could’ve died, but she just flapped her wings and…”

Ged stopped at the bottom of the multi flight of steps and took my hands.

“Dragons do that. It’s what they are born to do, queens being the worst of all. They’re notorious for not listening to anyone.”

Because we know what must be done, Glimmer told him, and I knew Ged heard that by his smile.We must meet with Cynane. Wasting all this time, not granting her audience immediately, is a great insult.

Perhaps she’ll forgive us, I suggested.More than just the laws of courtesy have been flouted.

“I’ll go get the beef,” Ged said as we stepped outside the castle doors, a phalanx of guards standing in an uneasy circle around the two dragons, as far back as they dared. Cynane rose to her feet gracefully at her approach.

Cynane, queen, I said, bowing my head as I drew closer.Forgive me for this lapse, but the castle is in an uproar.

So I have surmised.Her voice was rich and melodious inside my head.Glimmer, queen.My dragon inclined a head gracefully in the adult queen’s direction, as if they were equals rather than adult and juvenile.And Pippin. You are to become queen of all of Nevermere, so what is to be done about this outrage?

Chapter 2

This is why Draven hadn’t wanted me to come, because I had no answer.

I…

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