That wasn’t the best direction for them to walk. She’d mention it to Leo. Gwenyth retreated, ghosting through the dim-lit areas and hugging the building walls. She had to wait for a man and an adolescent boy to exit their cottage. The pair walked in the direction of the guard station. The man noticed her, but Gwenyth made herself smaller and turned her face away, praying she didn’t raise their suspicions. The instant he rounded the corner, she sprinted back the way she’d skulked earlier.
When she arrived at the hole in the wall, it was much bigger, and only Jakab and Leo were present.
“The guard station is that way. I’m not sure what’s going on, but there’s a lot of activity.”
The two men exchanged a look and hastened their pace. A few minutes later, Jakab squeezed through the gap. Jakab hugged her and disappeared. Leo squirmed through the hole and dragged her into his arms. His kiss was way too brief before he snared her hand in his.
“Where will we go?” she asked.
“We’ll make our way to the outskirts of town on foot and risk flying once we get to open ground.” He pulled a dagger from his boot.
“It’s blunt since I used it to dig at the wall, but it’s better than nothing. Keep it hidden somewhere secure. Maybe in your boot. And my lodestone, remember this. Dragon scales are strong enough to deflect a knife blade. If you have to protect yourself from a dragon, go for the eyes or the delicate scales on the chest. Don’t hesitate. Not for a second, because we’re fast. Even better, hide if you can, but our sense of smell improves if we’re in our dragon form.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Gwenyth said.
“Act first. Don’t give a dragon the opportunity to prepare and lose your chance to win. Let them think you’re weak and inflict the most damage you can.”
“I’m not sure I can injure another being.”
“Promise,” Leo said, his gaze so intent she’d swear she glimpsed his dragon in his eyes. “Gwenyth, swear you will act without hesitation.”
She swallowed her unease and lifted her chin. “Survival is my new middle name.”
He gave a clipped nod. “Let’s go.”
Leodragged her down the street, his long strides meaning she had to trot to keep up.
“Slow down,” she pleaded when her lungs threatened to explode from her half-breaths. “I can’t maintain this pace.”
“Sorry.” He glanced at her, his expression darkening.
“What?”
“Nan doesn’t get to hit you again.”
“I won’t have a problem stickingherwith a dagger,” Gwenyth muttered. “The dragon is a bitch. The second time she visited, she was wearing a fur wrap. It was the same color as Jenny.”
“Are you sure? I thought the same, but you were closer.”
“Oh, I’m positive. Is it possible she and her people have been lurking around Hissing Isle for longer than we think? She indicated an interest in your land.”
“Now that makes sense. She must be part of the group who offered to purchase my land. I wonder if she met with my brothers.” His steps slowed at the end of a rutted road.
Gwenyth halted at his side. A soldier wearing a scarlet tunic was tacking a poster on the wall of a cottage. A group of lessor dragons loitered, eager to read the contents the moment the soldier moved on to pin up the next sign.
Once the soldier pushed through the crowd and strode on, she and Leo eased closer to join the avid group of male and female dragons. No one paid any attention to them.
“What is it?” a woman demanded from the rear. “Read it out for all of us.”
A chubby woman, who Gwenyth had noticed using her elbows to get to the front, cleared her throat, and began reading. “We hereby invite you to attend a special battle at the events arena to celebrate the betrothal of Leonidas, Champion of the Skies, to Nandag, The Strongminded. Prisoners will fight exotic animals and champion fighters in a battle to the death. Blood and gore guaranteed. A small donation will ensure your entrance to the arena. Doors open at dusk this evening.”
Leo’s arm, which had curled around her protectively, tightened to the point of pain. Horror rose up her throat, threatening to choke her. They intended to make Leo a widower and to marry him off to Nan. She tugged on his tunic, diverting his attention from the excited conversations around them.
He started, gave her a quick squeeze, and wove his way through the curious bystanders. The locals seemed more intent discussing the upcoming battle while yet more newcomers struggled to get close enough to read the poster.
Leo led her down a quieter, residential street. He plucked a cloak off a washing line and a black tunic and a hat off another. He kept them moving at a brisk pace. They passed other huddles of dragons reading the posters. Several dragons stared at them but none spoke. Gwenyth was positive they’d recognized Leo, and she wondered how long it would be before the guards discovered she and Martinos had disappeared.
Around the next corner, the area beyond was more rural. A herd of goats sat in the shade of green trees. To their left, a dragon shifter plowed a field with two oxen.
