Brenna flicked her hand toward the other woman. “Not for long. My king told me you were raised here within Bledmire Court. Your father has been the high advisor for many years. But Tempest . . . I feel horrible for you, my dear. I’ve heard of how orphans are raised within the fortresses, how you start working with the dragons from the time you’re very small, how you train them and then ride them into battle. Was it exciting?”
“It was . . .” She wouldn’t want to hear the torturous stuff, how we so often lost friends, how death haunted our every move. “It’s a life unlike any other. The dragons are quite sweet when they’re young.”
Reyla made a soft sound, and I glanced her way. Again, I found her straightening Brenna’s things.
Drask cocked his head, watching her as well.
Go to her, buddy,I wanted to say.See if nuzzling her neck will wake her up. Nothing else seemed to be doing it.
“We work with them closely,” I said. “It helps keep them tame. When they’re big enough, we start training them to take riders, and when they’re fully trained, we take them into battle against the dregs.”
“My father, the Nullen king, told me the dregs are attacking more often,” Brenna said.
“Yes, they are,” Delaine said in a shrill voice. She must hate not being the center of attention. “The Lieges are fierce.”
“I’ve met some of them.” Brenna quivered again. “They come to Bledmire often to speak with Ivenrail.” Her face smoothed. “He’s working hard to negotiate a treaty with the Lieges to keep the dregs from attacking the villages and taking our poor people. In fact, his half-brother, Camus, is leading those negotiations. He’s here for the wedding. If you haven’t met him yet, you will tonight at dinner. Soon, the dreg attacks will stop, and we’ll settle into peace once more.”
Is that what the king told her? It was sad that she appeared to believe it. I didn’t dare open her eyes to the danger she was in. I wasn’t sure it would be the right thing to do, even if I could spit out the words. Not until we had a way to get her out of here.
“That’s wonderful,” I said.
She released a low laugh. “It would put you riders out of business.”
“I’m no longer a rider or a trainer,” I said. “Not since the Claiming.”
“Ah, yes.” Her gaze landed on my neck, and her hand fluttered at her throat. “I’m going to tell Ivenrail I donotwant a collar.”
On cue, my vines squirmed, and I tried to ignore them. I hadn’t told Vexxion they’d started thrashing again. I didn’t want him feeling any worse than he already did. Removing them from my neck and everyone else’s was just one more task on our agenda.
“What will we do with all those dragons you were training when riders no longer need to fight the dregs?” Brenna asked.
“Use them for pleasure rides?” I said. “I had a special dragon.” I needed to say this. Reyla would want to know—or the old Reyla would. “I called him Seevar.”
Delaine’s lips twisted. “A fae name.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re Nullen.”
Yet her sister suggested I might not be full Nullen. I hadn’t had time to explore that yet, though I would when this was over. Assuming I lived long enough to do so.
“That doesn’t mean she can’t use a fae name for a pet,” Brenna chided, though sweetly.
“You’re right.” Delaine’s voice brightened—so false. “Seevar’s a decent name for a dragon.”
“Seevar was killed on my way to Bledmire.” I watched Reyla as I spoke.
I swore her body twitched.
Drask leaned against my neck. How did my pet sounerringly know when I needed his comfort? I stroked his back and pinched my eyes closed, refusing to cry.
Because we had to help Brenna get ready, the discussion about dragons dropped away. Some time later, and with her primped and dressed in light pink, we left her suite and proceeded down the stairs to the first floor, arriving in the sitting area beside the dining room. She’d be announced when it was time for her to enter, before the king but after the rest of the guests, as was appropriate for the future queen. We’d walk in with her as her attendants.
Since she’d be announced soon, we didn’t sit, but mingled near the closed door.
“Seevar,” I swore Reyla whispered from beside me, but when I looked her way, I found her staring at the floor.
Drask cawed, startling us, even Delaine, though the sound only made her scowl deepen.
