Three more of Braith’s aunts walked into the chamber.
“What’s going on?” Crystin asked.
“I think he’s trying to leave,” Owena answered.
“Where are you trying to go, Mountain?”
“Stop calling me Mountain. We have to find Emyr. If you hadn’t realized, your niece’s life depends on returning him to the Queen.”
“Oh, for the sake of the gods,” Crystin sighed out. “This is already being handled.”
Addolgar, now hopping around on one leg trying to reach his travel bags and the human clothes within, asked, “Handled?”
“We have our best trackers hunting down that ponce as we speak. If they can’t bring the idiot back themselves, we’ll do it, kick him around a bit, and then pass him off to your precious Queen to finish him.”
Resting his hands on a wooden chair, Addolgar looked over at the four She-dragons. Like Braith, they were all tall with strong shoulders and necks, powerful legs, and bright eyes, but, he sensed, there was an inherent lack of understanding among them that he hadn’t had to worry about with Braith. She understood things quite clearly. But the She-dragons of the House of Penarddun as a whole . . .
Addolgar just didn’t know. He knew little of royals, but the ones he’d had any dealings with were nothing like these females. The Penardduns had no servants, wore mostly trousers when they were human, and liked to brawl. With each other. True, he really liked that about them, but it still had him very worried.
“The trackers you sent,” he said, “they weren’t your daughters, were they?”
“Of course they were. Our daughters are the best trackers you’ll ever find.”
Addolgar briefly dropped his head. When he was in a better mood, he’d probably handle this with more skill. But he was in pain and cranky.
“You let your
Owena frowned. “I thought they didn’t do that anymore.”
“Of course they do!” Addolgar bellowed. “They just took Davon the Elegant from her kin’s cave. And you lot sent your defenseless daughters to face them!
“Ohhhh,” Crystin said. “So we need big, strong males like you to protect us from big, strong males? Is that it?”
Addolgar wagged a finger at Crystin. “I have sisters, Lady Crystin. And you’ll not trick me with that one.”
Owena walked toward him. “Don’t worry about our daughters, Mountain—”
“Please don’t call me that.”
“—they’ll be just fine. They know how not to be seen. Especially by big, strong males of any species. So you can get back into bed.”
“I’ve made up my mind,” he insisted.
That’s when all four females moved toward him until they surrounded him. Owena pointed at the bed.
“Get over there.”
“No. You can’t make me.”
“Oh, dear boy,” Crystin told him sadly. “Yes. We can.”
Devouring several pieces of bacon she’d snatched from a plate on the table, Braith walked toward the chamber where Addolgar was resting. As she walked, she passed all her aunts and cousins heading in the opposite direction.
“Where are you all off to?” she asked.
“Going into town for a bit. Get a few supplies. Need anything?”
Braith shook her head. “I’m fine. Thanks. Did you check with Addolgar, though?”
Her Aunt Crystin stopped, blinked at her. “Uh-huh. He’s fine.”
“All right,” Braith said around the delicious, chewy bacon in her mouth. She continued on. She wasn’t in the mood for another fight with Addolgar, so she only planned to pass the chamber and glance in to make sure he was sleeping or, at the very least, hadn’t rolled off the bed in a fit of Cadwaladr rage.
And, as planned, she glanced in and kept walking....
Then Braith stopped, blinked, looked around, and, finally, took several steps back until she arrived at the chamber opening.
“Not a word,” he growled. “Not a bloody word.”
Taking another bite of bacon, Braith sauntered into the chamber until she reached the bed. She gazed down at Addolgar.
“Comfortable?” she asked.
“Leave off.”
“Just want to make sure you’re comfortable, Sergeant.” She leaned over and carefully studied the chains that had his arms secured to the bed. “Oh, poor lad.” She leaned back, shook her head sadly. “These aren’t dwarven steel, I’m afraid. You could probably break through dwarven steel like
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” he demanded.
“Of course not. I’m sure this was done in your best interest.” She smirked. “Did you try to leave? Did you find out they sent my cousins into Northland territory?”
“Even you have to know that was foolish.”
“They didn’t ask me. But at least my cousins are not wounded. Can’t fight anyone with that leg of yours.”
“It’s healing.”
“I’m sure it is. But it’ll be even better tomorrow.”
Addolgar snarled, looking off.
“Don’t be mad at me,” Braith told him. “I didn’t chain you up.”
“But you would have.”
“If it would allow you to heal properly so you can adequately back me up in a fight—damn right I would.”
He glowered at her. “Did you know?”
She took another bite of bacon before asking, “Know what?”
“That your kin has started calling me The Mountain?”
The snort and the bacon she’d been chewing were out of her mouth before she could even think to stop them, so when both hit Addolgar full in the face, she could tell he was not happy about it.
“Get out,” he ordered.
“Addolgar—”
“Just go.”
“You’re being unreasonable.” She dropped the rest of the bacon on the plate of untouched meat Owena had placed on the side table earlier and wiped her hands off on her trousers.
“I know you’re in pain,” she said.
“I’m fine.”
“And that you’re anxious and miserable. I understand all that.”
“You understand nothing, heartless female.”
“But we’re all just trying to take care of you.”
“By tying me to the bed? Is that what Daughters of the House of Penarddun call taking care of the wounded?”
“They only did that to protect you.”
“And you’re full of massive shi—”
“Addolgar the Cheerful!” she barked, mostly so she wouldn’t laugh. “Watch how you speak to me, Low Born!”
