“It’s the best. I loved him. He was handsome and brave and very tall. Spoke his mind, too.”
Izzy, a naturally affectionate girl, reached out and took hold of Talaith’s free hand. “You should know,” she intoned in mock seriousness, “I have a real problem with speaking my mind.”
“Yes. I’ve noticed you’re a shy, retiring girl.”
“And coquettish.”
Laughing, Talaith reveled in her daughter’s good humor. Considering what Iseabail had been through, she admired that.
Still, she didn’t want the poor girl shocked to death when she went outside.
“Izzy, there is something I should tell you—”
“By the gods!” Izzy scrambled off the bed and dashed to the large windows. She pushed open the enormous and heavy glass—no arrows would be getting through that thick material—and leaned out. “Look!”
Terrified she’d lure them over, Talaith quickly moved to her daughter’s side. “Get inside, Izzy,” she ordered while pulling the windows closed.
Izzy stared at her. “You’re not scared of them, are you?”
The way her daughter asked that made Talaith extremely nervous, she simply didn’t know why. “Aren’t you?”
“Why would I be? He who protects me is…uh…hmmm…” Izzy suddenly found interest in the molding around the window.
Grabbing hold of her daughter’s arms, she turned Izzy to face her. “Iseabail?”
“Yes?”
“The god who protects you…”
“He’s ever so nice,” she rushed to explain. “And, as you see, he picked only the finest men to protect me and—”
“Your god is a dragon?”
“There’s no reason to yell,” Izzy mumbled. “He’s protected me for years. He’s never hurt me or asked anything of me. Except not to say who he was. He said people wouldn’t understand. Guess I mucked that up, eh?”
“Dammit, Izzy.”
“You don’t understand. He’s taken such good care of me. He’s taught me to read and write. Some math and science, although I’m not very good at it. As well as history, which I’m excellent at.”
“And he wants nothing in return for all that care? All that protection?”
“He doesn’t. He’s never asked me for anything.”
“Do your Protectors know?”
She shook her head. “He was only a voice to them. Figured it was less scary.”
“But you…”She shrugged. “Always dragon. Came to me in my dreams. I never minded. I found him comforting.”
“Who, Izzy?”
Frowning in confusion, “Who what?”
“Who’s this dragon god that protects you?”
She smiled. “Well, Rhydderch Hael, of course. Who else would be powerful enough to protect me from the human gods?”
Talaith closed her eyes, her stomach dropping with dread. “Rhydderch Hael? He’s your protector?”
“Aye.”
“The father of all dragons is your protector? That’s what you’re telling me?”
“He’s oh so very nice,” she insisted.
Talaith racked her brain, trying to remember what the teachings of the Nolwenn witches said about Rhydderch Hael. She knew him to be one of the oldest gods on this world and many others. He had a loyal mate. A dragon goddess of equally awesome power who many feared.
Dragons were his domain. He protected them, gave them Magick and skills, and he merely asked they take care of the world they inhabited. For centuries, eons even, it worked. But new gods appeared. Fickle gods hungry for power who brought the humans with them. It changed everything. Especially when the humans insisted on hunting dragons and dragons found humans so very tasty.
Many believed some of the humans’ gods, including Arzhela, decided to destroy Rhydderch Hael, hoping they would assume his power and take control of this world, as well as many others. But, as always, they underestimated the rage of a female. Rhydderch Hael’s mate fought by his side and rallied the other dragon gods to his cause. They pushed Arzhela and her god kin back into their realm, creating a seal that would keep them out forever while the humans’ gods did the same.
Since then, both sides used the humans and dragons as their warriors or pawns in the hopes of obtaining more and more power. So far, the balance remained.
But Talaith knew well that the slightest shift could change everything forever.
“Izzy,” she sighed because she didn’t know what else to say.
Izzy perked up. “But don’t you find dragons fascinating?”
Talaith rolled her eyes. “No.” Arrogant and annoying, yes. Fascinating—never.
Izzy stared out the closed window. “Think one of them will take me flying?”
Walking back to her bed, Talaith dropped on it face first and pretended she didn’t just hear that.
Chapter Nineteen
“Stop fidgeting.”
“Sorry.” Iseabail held still for about thirty seconds…then began again.
“Izzy.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve never been to a party before.”
“Keep this up and you won’t go to this one because you won’t be dressed.”
Izzy the Dangerous stared in the full-length mirror at the reflection of the woman who gave birth to her. She was busy tying up the back of Izzy’s dress. It was Izzy’s first dress since she was seven. And definitely her first grown-up gown.