A huff escaped Gwenyth, and Jakab sent her a sympathetic glance before he turned back to Leo. “What will you do?”
“First, I need to catch up on the castle gossip. Something is going on in the background. My parents have secrets, and they don’t wish me to know the reasons for this hasty betrothal. Have you heard anything?”
“Nothing that might force a betrothal,” Jakab said. “I’ll keep my ears open, but if there are whispers, they’re not making it to me. Have you visited the kitchens yet? Cook hears all the gossip.”
“I’ll do that,” Leo agreed. “Cook will want to meet Gwenyth.”
Jakab grinned.“Now, I know you’re serious about your marriage to your human.”
“Yes,” Leo acknowledged and reached for Gwenyth. “My dragon and I agree.”
“Oh yes, we are sincere,”his dragon cooed.“Tonight, we’ll feast on each other. I cannot wait to taste her again.”
“If Gwenyth wishes the same,”Leo cautioned along their private channel.“I refuse to force her to do anything against her will.”
“She likes us in return. She stroked me so gooood.”
Leo bit back his groan of agreement to concentrate on his friend.
“What is your next move?” Jakab asked.
“We require information.” He scanned their surroundings and saw the other dragons were ignoring them, each of the five trainees busy with the exercises Jakab enjoyed setting to increase fitness levels.
“Have you heard any rumors regarding a break in the Dragon Isle’s protective barrier?”
Jakab gaped enough for Leo to view sharp, white teeth. He shook his head and burst out laughing. “You jest.”
“No,” Leo said, his tone grim as he lowered his voice. “The last time I visited the castle, I left in a temper. Instead of returning home as I’d intended, I gave in to impulse and went for a flight across the sea. The barrier wasn’t present, and I spied the mainland. That’s how I met Gwenyth. I snatched her from the sea, and we barely made it back to our world. The barrier didn’t snap into place immediately. It was like flying through thick soup. Once I forced my way through, the barrier was present, and the mainland invisible again.”
“Where was this?” Jakab asked. “I fly parallel to the barrier most days and have never noticed what you describe.” His gaze sharpened. “When was this? What time?”
“Three days ago, in the afternoon.”
“Most of my training flights are in the morning. No one else has mentioned this. I’ve not heard rumors of a failing barrier. What do you think it means?”
“Could mean many things. Gwenyth and I will travel to Perfume Isle. I’ll speak to our friends there and ask them if they’ve seen or heard anything.”
“Your parents have paid the tithe to the druids?” Jakab asked, his hard frown making the bottom of his scar shift a fraction. “Could they have money problems? I see no signs of cost-cutting.”
Leo shrugged. “I try not to spend much time at the castle. My family and the other inhabitants and hangers-on are a nest of vipers. I prefer fresh air, open skies and land, and choosing my way in the world.”
“Likewise, brother,” Jakab said. “I enjoy training dragons for battle, yet more and more, I dream of living a simpler life without all the bloody politics and jealousy that finds its way into my world. Do you intend to enter the next titanic battle?”
“I was going to,” Leo said. “But now that Gwenyth is part of my life, I’m undecided.” He smiled at Gwenyth, who’d been standing at his side, listening to their conversation. “I thought to discuss the pros and cons with Gwenyth before I made my final decision.”
“Retire as a champion,” Jakab said.
“Exactly.”
“Back to the other, I’ll make discreet inquiries. I might vary the times of my training flights too.”
“Take care,” Leo said. “Getting trapped on the other side might end up disastrous.”
“I will heed your warning,” Jakab said. “When do you leave?”
“As soon as I’ve spoken to Saffron about a better way to transport Gwenyth. She is not fond of flying clutched in my talons.”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Gwenyth said. “All I require is goggles to keep the wind and the insects from my eyes. I can tie back my hair and wrap a scarf around my face to keep the bugs at bay.”
