“He’s a prince, Edmund. Imagine the life we could have if we befriended a high and mighty royal of Glendon. No more preying on lowly travelers. We could leave Errinton for good.”
Edmund snorts. “Yes, he’s likely to become chummy with you when he finds out what an iktar is.”
“That was your story, not mine.”
What does he mean? Whatisan iktar?
My arm is going to sleep, and I’m forced to shift. Next to me, Galinor groans and rolls over.
“Shhh,” Penrith says. “Someone stirred. Get back, I’ll whistle when I need you.”
Since they’ve heard me anyway, I pull back my bedroll and go to the tent flap, giving Galinor a good shake before I step out. Only Penrith sits by the fire.
He turns as if startled to see me awake. “Anwen,” he says. “What are you doing up?”
If they are continuing with the ruse, perhaps Penrith has convinced Edmund to rethink his plan.
“I’m not a sound sleeper.”
He motions to the fire. “Sit with me.”
I take a seat across from him. He watches me, questioning my hesitation. Despite the scar, one could say he is a decent looking man, but even before I knew his dark intentions, he made me nervous.
“Why do you look at me like that?” he asks.
“Why a sleeping draught instead of a poison?” I whisper so Edmund can’t hear me.
His eyebrows shoot up, and then his lips purse to a thin line. He takes a slow breath before he finally answers, “You think I like to murder people, Anwen? I don’t.”
“It was your plan anyway, wasn’t it? Wouldn’t poison have been more expedient?”
His eyes are hard. “It was not my plan. It was Edmund’s. All I came to the tavern for was a tankard of mead.”
“But you accepted it.”
He nods. “I did.”
“Why?”
“My sister’s husband was killed in the wars. Her children are starving.” He narrows his eyes. “We are all starving. The only money that enters this forsaken kingdom is in the pockets of travelers.”
I shake my head and look at the fire. “There must be something—’
“What?” he demands, his voice raising now. “Look around. Do you see what we have? We have miserable, useless dragons.”
“That can’t be all—”
He leans forward and cuts me off, “And when we venture lower, like vermin escaping a sinking ship, we are chased back to drown. You think we don’t know how the lower kingdoms feel about us? What you all say?”
“But it’s true!” I burst out, unable to hold my tongue. I’m not sure why Edmund hasn’t shown himself yet, but I no longer care. “Look what you were planning to do to us!”
“Were?” he asks.
He’s on his feet now. I step back only to walk into the rock wall behind me.
“Edmund, you can come out now,” Penrith calls as he stalks toward me.
My heart races in my chest, and my throat constricts with fear. What good was it to provoke him? Now I’ve only made him angry.
