“Sounds like a plan. Which way?” Despite the oncoming danger, the idea of making love with Leo filled her with joy and anticipation.
With Leo in the lead, they entered the trees, following a narrow animal-made track. When they reached a spot where the path crossed the stream, Leo stopped.
“Time to cover your face, arms, and legs with mud.”
She pulled a face. “Do it.”
A few minutes later, they continued along the path that forged deeper into the trees. It became darker with the tree canopies creating a roof over their heads. The click of insects and the tweet of hidden birds brought a comforting note of familiarity, a sense she’d walked through here or a similar place.
“Have you been here before?” she murmured once the path grew wide enough for them to walk abreast. Although her head still thumped, the water had revived her flagging body.
“I used to play here with my friends.”
“Your brothers?”
“My brothers have never been my friends,” he said. “The boys I met while working in the castle kitchen with Cook and the ones I trained with while learning how to battle. We drank water from the same stream.”
“Do you have a hiding place in mind?”
“There are two possible ones. The second is a cave. It’s farther away, but we’ll push onward for as long as you can manage. This forest is large, and it will provide us with cover plus get us nearer to the sea and the closest point of Perfume Isle.”
The trumpet blast sounded again, and this time, the signal was closer.
“They’re coming this way,” Leo murmured. “Tread silently. No more talking. If you wish to communicate, tug on my tunic.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
The trumpeting came nearer, and she glanced up in apprehension, positive they’d be visible to the dragons who were flying overhead. With her gaze upward, she stood on a stick. The crack came loud to her ears, her heart jolting in apprehension, but her mistake came at the start of another trumpet blast. She swallowed, almost lightheaded with relief.
“The trees are too thick for them to spot us, but I’d still like to put more distance between us and the castle. If they don’t find us during the first sweep, they might hire the dog master from the human village.”
“Dogs?” Gwenyth asked in a faint voice. She imagined rabid canine creatures with sharp teeth and frothy mouths. She pictured blood. Hers. A shudder passed through her. “They’d send dogs after us?”
“It depends on how determined my parents and Nan are to capture us. My parents dislike dealing with humans. The dog master loathes doing business with dragons, but he might at the right price.”
“You know him.”
“I and several of the other humans disapprove of the way he treats his animals. He can be cruel.”
“This island isn’t human friendly. Why do they live here?”
“Humans have always lived here,” Leo said. “It’s their home as much as it belongs to the dragons.”
“Do we have to stay here?”
Leo sighed. “I love my home, but it might be best to stay far from my parents and brothers.”
“Did you speak with your brothers?” she asked, curious because of the things Leo had let drop about his siblings.
“I spotted one of my brothers with Telus. Nemyr. I decided it was best not to interrupt the pair.”
“Do you know why your brothers dislike you so much or why your parents mistreat you?”
“No,” Leo said. “It wasn’t always like this when my grandparents were alive. We seemed happier and more a family then. I used to spend a lot of time with my grandparents and my Uncle Joharan. He and my grandfather enjoyed nature and farming. He taught me everything I know about the land. I was with them during the attack. We went on a picnic, and rogue dragons attacked our party. I fell early, struck on the head by a blow. Uncle Joharan, my grandparents, and their two servants died during the fight. I guess the attackers thought I was dead. My memories of the day are fuzzy.”
“And your parents took over after your grandparents’ deaths.”
“Yes. Given my parents’ attitude toward me, I’ve wondered if they organized the attack. I’ve never voiced my suspicions because it didn’t seem wise. Uncle Joharan was meant to rule rather than my parents.”
