Page 30 of Dragon Fight

“I’m not sure I’ll be able to attend the party,” I told Kay when we had returned to the estate and she joined us outside where the dragons were nestled together.

Each one of them was curled around Glimmer. Well, all except for Darkspire. The other four shot the dragon dark looks as they wriggled closer, creating the perfect nest for my dragon to rest within.

“Oh, but you must!” she exclaimed, a note of horror in her voice. “You’re the guest of honour.”

“Glimmer is sick,” I explained. “Darkspire took her out into the water and she got dragged under.”

The dragons all let out a rumble at that, but it wasn’t entirely accusatory. They’d been in the water too. We all had, and there appeared to have been some kind of collective assumption that we were all looking after my dragon when none of us were doing so diligently. My riders and I had all been caught up in our own pleasures. I flushed as I shot Flynn a sidelong look.

“I should sit out here with her,” I said to Kay, who was looking deflated.

Go.Glimmer’s voice inside my head wasn’t necessarily harsh, but it didn’t quite have the same degree of warmth that I was used to.I will be fine. My mates will ensure I’m looked after. Though if someone could bring me some of those crunchy strips from the oinky things?

Bacon? I can bring you bacon, I replied hurriedly.I’ll cook it myself, nice and crunchy, the way you like it.

Just raw will do. Cloud Raker will burn it for me,she replied, then set her head back down on her feet and closed her eyes.

Oh. Alright then.I turned to Kay and forced a smile. “Apparently, I won’t be needed after all. Could I trouble you for some raw bacon rashers? Glimmer loves them.”

“Of course!” Kay’s face shone with pleasure. “Come with me to the kitchens and I’ll show you where the bacon is hung. It’ll be bedlam in the main kitchen, with the preparations for tonight, but you’ll be able to help yourself. Just let us know if supplies you or your little queen need are getting low.”

Bedlam was right.When we entered the crowded, hot, steamy kitchen, a stout older woman was barking orders left and right, with kitchen lads and maids leaping to obey. All that activity gradually ground to a halt as the staff noticed that the lady of the house had walked in, with her son’s new bride. The noise of chaotic activity died down, till all that could be heard was the skillets sizzling and the great fire crackling. The cook turned around to determine the reason her staff were stalling in their duties, and her eyes widened when she saw us.

“Milady,” she said, dropping a deep curtsey, her deference mirrored by all the other staff.

“Oh, don’t worry about that, Cook.” Kay waved a hand. “I’ve been trying to tell her not to stand on ceremony with me since I came here as a girl,” she told me.

“As you say, Milady. The roast beef is coming along nicely,” the cook said. “The vegetables are all prepped and ready for when your guests arrive and all the breads have been baked. We have a lovely trifle for dessert and—”

“Cook.” Kay took the other woman’s hands in hers and gave them a squeeze. “You have everything under control, as you always have, as your mother did before you. I trust in your abilities completely.” The woman’s already florid face reddened further. “We’re not here to check your progress, but to raid the larder for some bacon. We have a small dragon with a taste for smallgoods.”

“Bacon.” The cook clicked her fingers and pointed at the nearest boy. “There’s some already sliced—”

“On the bottom shelf to the right,” the lad said, nodding before haring off to retrieve it.

“Cheeky sod,” Cook said with a shake of her head, then smiled at her mistress. “Takes after his father.”

“Cook, how is the…?” An unfamiliar noblewoman, who appeared to be a few years older than me, marched into the kitchen looking down at a list in her hand but she halted when she saw Kay. She wore a fine dress of deep emerald, over which was tied a snowy white apron. “Oh, milady, you’ve checked on Cook’s progress already?”

“No, just procuring vittles for yon dragons,” Kay replied with a warm smile. “Now, Lady Pippa, allow me to introduce you to Brom’s cousin’s wife, Ada. Ada, this is Lady Pippa Wentworth, Brom’s new bride.”

I could tell that Ada was trying very hard to be polite but, as she extended a hand, a perfect social smile affixed, her eyes widened slightly as she took me in. I’m sure I looked a right mess; not someone who could call herself a lady at all. I was still roughly dressed in my armour, having thrown it back on willy-nilly before we rushed Glimmer up to the house. Sand and salt clung to the leather and my still-damp shirt peeked out from beneath my jacket. Then there was my damned hair. I rubbed my hand on my thigh, hoping that would remove all the grit, and then took Ada’s, giving it a polite shake.

“Lovely to meet you, Ada,” I said.

“So it’s true. You’re a Royal Rider?” She looked me up and down much more openly. “I apologise, I just didn’t think it was possible for a woman to serve.”

“I’m not sure how much military service I’ll see.” I smiled ruefully. “My ‘service’ will probably entail bringing Brom pots of tea and cucumber sandwiches when he’s stuck in his office.”

“Egg and lettuce,” Kay suggested. “Those are his favourites.”

“I’m sorry for my rudeness,” Ada said, her hand going to her breast. “It’s just all a little unexpected. We never thought Brom would marry and…to another rider—”

“We had better get on with the preparations and leave Cook to it, otherwise we’ll be all eating at midnight,” Kay said, steering us towards the door as the lad returned with several rashers of bacon.

“Well, I guess we’ll talk more tonight then,” Ada said as we emerged into the hallway. “I had better keep moving. There’s still so much to do.”

“I should pitch in and help, then,” I said, as I hefted the bacon wrapped in paper. “I’ll give this to Glimmer and then I’ll come back and give you a hand.”