“What?” I replied with a smirk. “I was just keeping her warm. Very, very effectively.”
“Didn’t you say we were leaving at first light?” Lance glanced meaningfully at the sky. “Then let’s go.”
“So what really happened last night?” Lorien asked as I approached ‘Fang. The fire had been doused and all our equipment stowed.
“Exactly as I said.” I looked around the campsite. “Now, where’s Dain? He had another nightmare and…” The man himself appeared from behind Lorien’s dragon with a scowl. “I need to know what we’re flying into.”
“Nothing,” my brother said, then shook his head at my intent stare. “Nothing that will put anyone here in danger.”
“Dain—” I started to say.
“Let’s go.”
With that, he marched over to Argent, climbing up into the saddle. As everyone else was doing the same, I found Slate, scratching at his jaw when he pressed his head into my chest.
Argent tell you anything important?I asked as I climbed onto his back.
Just that he was glad to be going home, even if its just for a night,my dragon replied.
Me too, brother. His feet moved over the ground, getting faster and faster before launching himself into the air. Auren streaked off in front of us, but my dragon and my brothers’ beat their wings faster, catching up quickly, then taking up position either side of the queen, above and below. I leaned over and stared at the view beyond, able to see the pine tree forests that grew thick on the border of Harlston.Me too.
Chapter 41
Fern
“My boys!”
We were in the air for some hours, but by midday, we had landed at a lovely estate somewhere in Harlston. Not a grand manse like some of the properties around my family’s estate, but the sprawling home had a rustic charm. Constructed of pine logs with smoke curling lazily out of the chimney, it looked out on a large lake. The front door was flung open the moment we arrived, and a woman came bustling down the path and towards us.
This is the silver dragons’ home, Auren said, standing beside me as I stepped free of the saddle.
So it seems, I replied.
“You said you were going to be gone for a few days at most.” The woman shook her finger in Kael’s face. “A few days.”
“We sent word, Mum,” Kael said, slipping from Slate’s back and then pulling her into a warm embrace.
“Yes, a bird with a message saying ‘Have to stay at the keep for a while.” She imitated his tones perfectly. “‘Be back when wecan.’” With a glare, she looked up at her son. “What was I supposed to make of that?”
Kael went to explain, but she cut him off.
“Lorien, darling, I sent a package of newly knitted socks and some more underwear. Did you get it?”
The man’s cheeks went a curious shade of pink.
“Yes, Elsie and thanks?—”
“And Dain.” She took the man’s hands, and I wondered how she dared. All I could see was that snarl I’d received when I tried to wake him from his nightmare. This Elsie, she was utterly fearless as she gazed up into those hard eyes. “A tinker came by and was selling some pencils that seemed of good quality. I put a few of them in the parcel for Lorien. Did you get them?”
This was the moment when he snapped something rude at her, I was sure of it, but instead he tapped his chest.
“Got them right here, Elsie. Fine things, they are.”
This woman, Auren observed.She is the queen here, and we are in her territory. We must be careful.
It was as if Elsie sensed Auren’s thoughts, because it was then she noticed Lance and me. Her eyes widened as she took us in and that could be because we were a right mess. If I’d known we were going to meet Kael’s family, I’d have found a comb and dragged it through my hair at the very least. Her smile grew brighter as she stepped closer.
“And who is this? Perhaps the reason why you lot decided to stay at the keep?” She nudged her son with her elbow. “Gods, introduce us, you great lunk.”
