Fair enough.
Glancing back at Sevrin, I see he’s been talking to one of his men in a low voice, watching me all the while. I can’t hear what they’re saying, but I can guess that it’s about me. I try not to regard this suspiciously. If we’re going to make peace between our people, I need to try not to see the king as an enemy any longer, even though I can still be careful.
I come back and sit down beside Sevrin. He offers me another drink, and I shake my head. Near us, his men have come back with skinned rabbits, and they start a fire, probably preparing a feast. It wouldn’t seem like such to my people, but I know there are few animals that are edible and tasty on his continent.
“Is Ebron okay?”
My answer tangles in my mind for a minute. “This is hard for him. He doesn’t like to be around your bone wyrm, or you. I’m not sure what he feels about this peace agreement in general, but I think he’s willing to make some sacrifices for more male dragons.”
“Poor beast.” I’m surprised by his empathy for Ebron. “He’s a fine dragon. The largest and most beautiful dragon I’ve everseen. He’s meant to bring forth many hatchlings into the world, and he’s built for battle if he has to. I can’t imagine it’s an easy thing for him to disregard all his instincts when it comes to his enemies and allow them to simply exist around him.”
He may be an enemy, but at least he sees what a fine dragon I am. So, he has eyes at least.
I grin.
“What?” Sevrin asks me.
I bite my lip. “I think Ebron was flattered by your description of him.”
Sevrin tilts his head, studying Ebron. “He should know that the Hollowborn have no ill-will toward dragon-kind. We know the bone wyrm are their natural enemies and will attack dragons when given free reign from their Hollowborn, but we use the bone wyrm to fight the Dravari, not to fight the dragons. Dragons we respect above all else, as gods of the sky.”
Ebron tosses his head.I am a god of the sky.TheGod of the Sky.
I try to hide my smile this time, but Sevrin surprises me by lifting my chin with one finger. “What amuses you now, wife?”
It’s strange hearing myself referred to as a wife, strange to look into his golden eyes and know he’s my husband. “He likes being called a god of the sky.”
He drops his hand. “Dragon-human relationships are fascinating. I’ve never seen one this close before.”
“Most relationships aren’t like ours.”
“How so?”
I hesitate, wondering if I’m giving away secrets I shouldn’t. “The men have a relationship that’s more like two people who work together. They don’t chat with their dragons. They don’t care about their feelings in any regard. They learn to work together, and fight together, and that’s it. But Ebron and I– he’smy family. I love him and care for him. I care what he thinks and what he feels.”
“I know little of dragons, but I like your relationship with Ebron better. It seems a shame to treat an intelligent, powerful creature with as much dignity as your sword.”
“Agreed,” I say, surprised we’ve already found some common ground.
He drinks from his water skin, studying it. “And what does your dragon think of taking me to your king?”
I think my best course of action is honesty. “He doesn’t want any other rider on his back and feels that carrying you is unnatural, but he’s willing to do this for the betterment of dragon kind.”
His hand drops, and his eyes widen. “He’ll really do it?”
“Y-yes.”
He turns and stares at Ebron. “I’ve only ever dreamed of flying on a dragon. I never thought it could actually come true.”
It eases my heart a little to hear him speak about riding a dragon the way I thought about it. The dragon riders have always pretty much known they were headed for dragon riding, but it was a thing of wonder to me. I’m glad it’s a thing of wonder for him too.
The meat is finished cooking. We’re all given some. Sevrin surprises me by feeding me some of the rabbit, and I find both his gesture and the taste of the rabbit with their foreign spices, to be unexpected.Would the princes ever do something as simple as feed me?I doubt it. That would be below them.
Overhead, the sky grows darker, and the men soon begin to clean up, erasing all traces of themselves from this cliff top. Beside me, Sevrin stands and offers me his hand. I take it, butterflies fluttering in my stomach as I move to my feet, and he stands so close to me.
“Do you want to consummate our marriage now or when you’ve had more time to get to know me?”
My mouth drops open in surprise. I’d been so worried about being killed or having my offer rejected that I hadn’t really given much thought to what it’d actually be like to marry a Hollowborn. Of course we were going to end up having sex.
