The Dragon Who Loved Me

“I’l do better than that. I told me mum I love you. My mother. Bradana the Mutilator who has the horns of several Lightnings decorating her armor.” He grinned and they headed toward the troops to help those leaving with them in the next few hours get ready. “And what did she say to you?” Because he already knew what Bradana had to say to him.

“I don’t real y know.”

“So you ran away.”

“Not at al . I walked away . . . with purpose.”

“Oh, wel . . . that makes al the difference.”

Chapter 36

“They’re getting ready to strike,” Rhiannon cal ed out to the weak little humans. “Everyone inside. Quickly now.” She had no idea she’d enjoy being helpful. But she did! She felt like a mother hen.

People were rushing into the castle for safety, but Talaith and Ebba ran out.

“What are you two doing out here? The Tribesmen are right outside. They’re about to strike.”

“The children,” Ebba said. “The children are missing.”

Rhiannon immediately sent a cal out to Bercelak, who was with his kin, preparing an ambush from behind the advancing Tribesmen. “Where the hel are the Kyvich?” she demanded.

“Searching the castle, but Talaith and I don’t think the children are inside.”

“Wait.” Rhiannon closed her eyes. “Let me search for them.”

“Ladies,” Dagmar cal ed from the top of the castle wal s. “I think al of you better come up here.” Talaith and Ebba ran up the stairs, pushing past soldiers and guards. Rhiannon quickly fol owed, but everyone moved out of her way. Together the four females stood at the rails and looked out over the Tribesmen army that stood no more than several hundred feet from their door. Rhiannon didn’t count to see how many were left, but it was at least a legion’s worth, she’d guess.

“Look below,” Dagmar said.

The three of them leaned over the railing and down into the land right outside the castle wal s. That’s where her three grandchildren stood.

Talaith tried to jump over the railing to fetch the children, but Ebba and Dagmar caught her in time and held her.

“How the hel s did they even get out there?” Talaith demanded. “They were standing right next to us!”

“I’l go,” Ebba said. “I’l get the children.”

Rhiannon grabbed Ebba’s arm. “No.”

“What are you doing?” Talaith nearly screamed. “Have you lost your mind?”

“If we move,” she told them, “they’l kil them al .”

The lieutenant and his commander stared at the three children. None of them saw when they arrived. One second there was nothing and the next .

. .

But that was no matter to them. They al knew who the three children were. They were the ones everyone had been talking about. The one his tribe’s priestess had described as a little one with brown skin and two others who were a male and female with unholy eyes. His tribe’s priestess said to look for “The Three,” as she had cal ed them.

“Do we kil them, commander?” the lieutenant asked, because he knew that once the children were dead, they could al go home.

“Yes.”

Nodding, the lieutenant motioned for the troops to ready their bows.

“No!” some woman on the castle wal s screamed at them while the gates opened. He could hear the demon horses of those damn witches. They were coming out here, they would try to stop them. That’s why his commander wasn’t going to try to grab the children and perform a ritual kil ing later. Too much bother. So instead they’d kil them with enough arrows to destroy an entire army.

The commander, always enjoying giving these kinds of orders himself, raised his hand to give the signal that would tel the soldiers to unleash their arrows.

And that’s when the smal est girl, the brown one, said into the anticipating quiet, “Daddy’s home.” The commander looked at him, but before he could say a word, give an order, the large silver dragon dropped behind the girl, the ground beneath them al shaking. The dragon picked the child up in his claw and lifted her so that she rested by his neck, his talons holding her gently.

“See?” the little girl said. “Daddy’s home.”

“Commander?” the lieutenant prompted in the brief moment that fol owed. They’d been dealing with vengeful dragons for days. What was one more?

But there was more than one, dropping from the sky. Hundreds of them. Dragons of al colors and sizes. They’d already been in one battle it seemed, many of them stil with healing wounds, broken limbs. Yet he could tel from their expressions they were more than ready for another fight.

“Commander?” the lieutenant pushed again.

“On my command, send in—” Something landed behind the commander on his horse, sword blades flashed and col ided at the center of the commander’s neck, his head popping off, fal ing to the ground, and sadly rol ing a few feet away.

The woman pushed the dying commander’s body off the horse and settled in to the empty spot.

“Hel o, lads,” the woman said. “Name’s Annwyl.”

Then she smiled, and the lieutenant knew he’d not live to see the end of this day.

Talaith ran down the stairs and into the courtyard. She watched with relief and something she was almost afraid to term actual joy as Briec the Mighty stomped his way through the gates, their youngest daughter happily riding on her father’s neck.