Dragon On Top

“Hello there.”

“I leave you alone for a few—”

“I was bored. What did you expect me to do? Sit on my ass and count the algae on the walls.”

“That’s a design motif.”

“And again you lost me.”

“You should be in our room, Ghleanna.”

“You mean hiding? Why? I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Not hiding. Resting.”

“I’m fine.”

“You took a sword to the chest!”

The room grew silent and Ghleanna rolled her eyes. “If you’re going to make a big deal out of it.”

“You all right, Captain?” one of the soldiers asked.

“I’m fine. Going to take a rest. You lot keep up the work. I’ll check in later.”

She walked out and Bram realized that the soldiers were now all staring at him. “It’s for her own good,” he insisted. “She needs her rest.”

There was some grunting and they all turned away from him.

Letting out a frustrated growl, he followed Ghleanna.

“Do you enjoy doing that?” Bram demanded once he’d closed their bedroom door.

“Enjoy doing what?”

“Turning those soldiers against me?”

“What are you talking about?”

“A few days ago, they didn’t even know of my existence. Ten minutes with you”—he threw his hands up —“and they all hate me.”

“You’re mad. I was doing nothing but talking to them.” She lowered her voice, “Do you know they have absolutely no say and no representatives in their own government? That sea cow rules it all!”

“I know. That’s why I need you to leave the soldiers alone. Stop talking to them.”

“I don’t see why that upsets you so. You’re arranging a truce anyway, so they won’t be our enemies for long.” She walked up to him, leaned in close, and whispered against his ear, “Besides, it gives me a chance to find out how they fight on land and in the sea. You know. . in case your truce falls apart and I and my kin need to kill them all.”

She leaned back and smiled, sure she’d made her point.

“You’re bloody mad,” he said, shaking his head and gawking at her. “All of you. Every damn Cadwaladr in this world is bloody mad except your mother and your sister Maelona.”

“What are you bringing my sister up for?”

“Because I’m relatively certain she wouldn’t be running around after getting a sword through the chest, trying to teach Fin soldiers new fighting techniques.”

“That’s because she doesn’t know any fighting techniques. But if you think so highly of her, I’m sure I can arrange a proper introduction between you two.”

Bram glared at her for a few seconds before he reminded her, “Besides living with your kin, I also attended school with Maelona for years. When I returned to your parents’ home it was usually as Maelona’s guest.”

“Oh.”

“Tell me, was there ever a time when you noticed me? Or did I not exist for you at all?”

“That’s not fair.”

He dismissed her with a wave of his hand. “Forget it. I’m tired and I need sleep.”

“So you’re just walking away?”

“Looks that way.”

“Bram—”

He growled at her — growled! — and reached over his shoulders to gather up his cotton shirt and pull it over his head. He shook out his silver hair, tossed the shirt onto a chair, and dived face first onto the bed.

“This conversation isn’t over, peacemaker.”

“Yes it is,” he said into the fur covering. “I’m tired of being reminded how little I’ve ever meant to you.”

“You’re acting like a hatchling.”

He lifted his arm from the bed, raised his hand, and gestured at her with two of his fingers.

Ghleanna’s mouth dropped open. “You rude bastard!” “Sleeping!” he yelled into the bed.

So unbelievably pissed, Ghleanna paced around the room for nearly a whole minute until she yelled, “This discussion is not done!”

Snarling — at her! — Bram pushed himself off the bed and stormed over to her. “What, Ghleanna? What is it you just have to say now? At this moment?”

“Kiss me.”

He took a step back. “What? Why?”

She had absolutely no clue! “Because I said so.”

“ No.”

“Are you going to tell me you don’t want to?”

“Maybe I don’t.”

“Liar!”

“I don’t need this.” He headed to the door.

“Scared, are you?”

Bram stopped. “What?”

“I asked if you’re scared. Frightened. Like a little mouse.”

Bram again faced her. “The only thing that scares me is how Rhiannon uses me to torture your brother, because he’s a murdering bastard.”

Ghleanna walked across the room and stood in front of Bram. “Then kiss me if you have the—”

Before she could even finish her challenge, Bram had slipped his hand behind Ghleanna’s neck and yanked her in until their toes touched. But he only stared into her eyes, not making any further move.

“What are you waiting for, peacemaker?” she asked, a little breathless.

“I’m waiting until I am ready.”

“So I’ll be waiting until the end of time for you to do something so simple?”

“There is nothing simple about you, Captain Ghleanna. And let no one convince you otherwise.”

Bram couldn’t believe Ghleanna. Such a maddening cow! And the worst part was that he’d wanted to kiss her for half a century at least! Now he had her but he was so mad at her he couldn’t see straight. And, if he were to be honest with himself, he was incredibly jealous. She was so comfortable with other soldiers, how could he ever hope to get close to her when they had so very little in common? When he’d dropped down on the bed, he’d figured it was over. His obsession for her. His quiet waiting. Waiting for her to notice him. And if all this wasn’t over, he’d make it over. He had to. How else was he going to live the next few centuries without her if he didn’t?

But he should have known. Ghleanna would never allow herself to be ignored. To be pushed aside. Not the Captain of the Dragon Queen’s Tenth Battalion.

And yet who was Bram? The peacemaker. The merciful one. The one who didn’t eat humans passing him on the road just because he’d missed his morning meal.

So, was he really going to let his peace-loving and, at times, non-violent nature stop him? Him? Bram the Merciful?

He, who had traveled all over the Southlands, Outerplains, and Desert Lands, on foot. As human.

He, who’d escaped the Sea Dragon Emperor’s dungeons with all his parts intact and wits about him?

He, who’d managed to not only survive Queen Adienna’s reign but the takeover of her daughter?