“Wait!” the Queen called out. “You can’t leave us alone with two battling Cadwaladrs!”
“Don’t worry, Your Majesty,” Addolgar explained while gripping Braith’s forearm and dragging her toward the exit. “Once they knock each other out, you’ll have hours of quiet before they start again.”
“Before they . . . what?”
Addolgar pulled Braith out of the chamber and around a corner. Even from there, he could still hear his siblings fighting in the throne room. He didn’t know why they bothered. Everyone knew that Ghleanna would beat Bercelak within an inch of his life.... She never bothered to fight fair when it came to her siblings.
After a time, Brigida came around the corner.
“Come along, you two,” she said again.
Addolgar quickly noticed that now that Brigida was out of the Queen’s sight, her limp seemed to have lessened so much that it was nearly nonexistent. And her entire body moved much more fluidly . . . as if she were considerably younger.
They walked in silence until they neared the mountain’s exit. That was when Braith finally spoke up.
“I can’t do this,” she said.
“You can and you will,” Brigida told her. “You’ll find that old bastard and you’ll drag his lizard ass back here.”
“He’s my father.”
Brigida stopped and spun around, her dragon body powerful and strong as if she were centuries younger. Even Addolgar’s parents didn’t move that easy.
“I don’t give a shit, Braith of the Darkness. He’s a traitor to this Queen’s reign and a danger. You don’t need to kill him, but you do need to bring him here.” She leaned in close and he saw Braith’s claws curl into fists. “Think of it as a matter of honor. Your father may be doomed, but the honor of your family line won’t be if you return him. And isn’t that what matters for the memory of your dear . . . mum?” she finished on a whisper.
Addolgar, claws quick after being raised among his kin, caught Braith before she could attempt to rip Brigida’s head off and end up a sad little frog or pet chicken.
“Good,” Brigida said with a big smile. “Glad we’ve agreed.”
She moved around Braith and stepped out of the mountain and onto the ledge. “You’ll track your father down. He and your brothers and that female who tried to kill Addolgar are heading toward the Northlands. He’s taking a longer, safer route than flying over the sea, so you do have a bit of time, but not much. You’ll want to grab him before he reaches the Northlands.”
“What about Ghleanna?” Braith asked, her voice filled with concern for a She-dragon who only yesterday had physically fought her.
“What about her?”
“I don’t feel right leaving her with the Queen as a hostage. Even with Bercelak here—”
“Bercelak?” Brigida laughed a little before unfurling her wings and heading up to the top of Devenallt Mountain.
Addolgar motioned to Braith and together they followed her.
This high up, it was cold on the mountaintop. There was ice and snow. And there were Cadwaladrs. They dotted the mountain like crows on a tree. And more kept landing. One after another after another.
Brigida faced Addolgar and Braith. “You see,” she said. “Ghleanna is not alone. A Cadwaladr is never alone.” The old She-dragon moved in closer, pressed the top part of her walking stick against the middle of Braith’s chest. “And you don’t have to be alone either. But we all make our own choices, Braith of the Darkness. And I’ve made mine. Now track down your father and bring him here.” Brigida stepped back, her forearms lifting away from her body. “Or you alone will be responsible for the civil war between the Cadwaladrs and the Queen’s Guard when we tear this place apart to get dear, sweet, defenseless Ghleanna from the bowels of Devenallt Mountain.”
“Dear sweet, defenseless Ghleanna?” one of the Cadwaladrs called out. “Since when did centaurs fly?”
Then all the Cadwaladrs laughed, including Addolgar. Because it was funny.
But the way Braith was gawking at him . . . he sensed she didn’t see the humor.
Chapter 10
They flew for about an hour before Braith indicated she wanted to land. She pointed at the ground and Addolgar quickly found a good, safe spot for them. They dived and landed hard in a clearing surrounded by trees.
Addolgar took off his travel bag, dropping it to the ground, and shook out his wings. He grinned at Braith. “We’ll make good time, as fast as you fly.”
She nodded and pushed her blue hair off her face.
“You all right?” he asked.
“Aye. I’m fine. Any water?”
“There’s a lake right over there.”
Braith stared off in the direction Addolgar had pointed out, but she seemed . . . confused. It had been an overwhelming day for her. True, she seemed invincible to Addolgar, but a bit of polite behavior couldn’t hurt. She was a royal after all, probably used to getting everything she needed handed to her and all that.
“You wait here,” he told her. “I’ll be right back.”
She nodded and looked off like she’d already forgotten about him.
Addolgar headed into the trees but quickly realized he’d forgotten his travel bags and the water flask he had inside. He turned back around and headed to where he’d left everything, but as he approached, he slowed down, his gaze on Braith. She was still staring off, but he realized she was breathing heavily. So heavily that, suddenly, she dropped to her knees, her front claws digging into the dirt.