I shook my head. “She says they don’t open their minds to her. They won’t let her speak.”
Hanson cursed. “It’s no matter,” he said, though he was clearly frustrated. “Take your pick, Bren. I’ll have the dragon brought to the castle, and you can begin training.”
I laughed a short, sharp hack before I caught myself. “That’s not how it works with dragons.”
“That’s precisely how it works withthesedragons,” he said. “They belong to me, and they will do as I tell them.”
“You said you can’t even speak with them.”
“No, but we’ll get through that. They stay here because they know they’re mine, and when I remove one—I have a helper—the others will stay and await their orders.”
“Orders? Youorderyour dragons?”
“Don’t you?”
“No. Akhane and I work together at her choice. The dragons bond Furyknights,Choosethem. It’s a relationship. It benefits both of us.”
“This will benefit you, I’m certain. Could you imagine being the first female Furyknight? A dragon of your own, Brennan. Can you imagine that? The world will fall at your feet.”
Not quite.I had to swallow the words back. “That would beamazing,”I said carefully. “But after working with Akhane, I don’t want toordera dragon. I’d like to know how these dragons came to be here and why they listen to you?”
“I bought them,” he said with a shrug. “They’re ordered to stay here, so they do. But I know they need training, and I don’t have enough skilled flyers. So I’m looking for more.”
“Enough? You have some?”
“One, right now,” he admitted. “And he’s very busy, as you can see. He has several herds, so he can’t be here all the time. I’m finding our progress very slow. I want to add more flyers, more dragons. I’m offering you the chance to be the first.”
My stomach clenched. “That is… very generous. I just—”
“What would I need to prove to you how serious I am about this?”
I looked down at the dragons, my head spinning. “Actually, I think I have whatyouneed,” I said bluntly.
Hanson tilted his head. “Tell me more.”
“There’s only one condition.”
“Anything.”
I bit my lip and took the plunge,setting the hook,as the queen said. “You can’t let Donavyn get wind of this. It has to be our secret. Just you and me.”
Hanson’s serious expression slowly brightened and his eyes crinkled.“ThatI can do.”
~ DONAVYN ~
I wasfuriouswhen a handful of nobles, along with the king, appeared at my door and insisted I come hunting. The King of Fyrehold had hunting falcons, and he wanted to show them off while the women prepared for the ball. None of us could say no. But of course, that meant leaving Bren alone in the castle. At least I knew she was with Faye and the seamstresses. So, I didn’t worry a great deal.
Not until we returned, hours later, by a road near enough to the stable to reach for Kgosi, and he informed me that Bren and Akhane had taken Hansonflying.Twice. The second time, with Benji as well.
‘What the hell were they doing?!’
‘Exactly as Bren is tasked—finding out what this fellow knows about dragons being held in the hills.’
I hesitated.‘Held?’
‘That’s what Bren said when they returned. That’s why she took Benji. They wouldn’t talk to Akhane because they’re all male and she’s already mated. Benji will try to speak to them.’
I made hurried excuses to the noblemen about Kgosi needing me, leaped from the carriage and started sprinting to the stable.‘You let them go a second time? You just let them go?!’
