“Lucyan and I will pay whatever ransom they demand,” Drystanpromised.
“How is Lucyan?” Dareena asked Alistair a bit anxiously. “He looked like he was about to faint when the servants helped him out of thatchair.”
“Sleeping,” Alistair confirmed. “He passed out almost as soon as his head hit the pillow. Do you want to see him before wego?”
Dareena bit her lip, considering. “No,” she finally said. “He’ll wake up the moment I enter the room, and he needs his rest.” Squaring her shoulders, she took Alistair’s hand. “Let us go before I lose my courage and bury myself under thecovers.”
Alistair smiled gently. “I highly doubt that will happen,” he said, brushing a kiss against her temple. “You may be small, Dareena, but you have more courage than many of the soldiers I’ve trainedwith.”
Dareena hoped he was right. She had a feeling she was going to need all the courage she could get to make it through the trialsahead.
4
After they finished their goodbyes,Dareena and Alistair went down to the entrance hall, servants in tow to carry their trunks. The duchess waited for them with a sly smile on her face, flanked by a bevy of elven guards. Two of them took the trunks, while another four closed ranks around Alistair andDareena.
“This is hardly necessary,” Alistair said stiffly, eyeing the wall of shiny armor surrounding them. “We are not planning anescape.”
“I never thought otherwise,” the duchess said smoothly. “The guards aren’t here to restrain you. They’re here to protectyou.”
Protect us?Alistairfrowned.
A familiar buzz grew louder—the sound of a large crowd. Alistair tried to peer over Lady Valenhall’s graceful shoulder, but the front doors were closed, and from where he stood, he could see nothing through thewindows.
“The townsfolk have heard about your unfortunate situation,” the duchess explained. “They have come to see for themselves if the royal crown has fallen so low they are forced to give up their Dragon’sGift.”
Alistair clenched hisjaw.
“You are a horrid woman,” Dareena snapped, her green eyes sparkling with anger. Alistair admired her willingness to stand up to the duchess even as part of him wanted to step between them and shield his mate. “Is it not enough that you are getting everything you want? You must humiliate us aswell?”
“It isn’t about whatIwant,” the duchess said, “but what my king wants. And after what Dragomir has done, he wishes to make an example ofyou.”
She waved an elegant, long-fingered hand, and the doors opened. Alistair wound his fingers through Dareena’s and held her hand tightly as the guards nudged them into the open. Sure enough, half the town had turned up to see them—every square inch of the courtyard was packed with people, and they all seemed to turn as one to gawk at Alistair and Dareena. Thankfully, there were plenty of guards as well, and they forced the crowd back far enough to make a path to the waiting carriage and horse-drawn cart. The masses clamored as they descended the steps, shouting questions and hurlinginsults.
“How can you abandon usnow?”
“Have the elves really won thewar?”
“Who sits on Dragonfell’s thronenow?”
“Take your brothers with you!” one woman shouted, sounding particularly vehement. She tried to force her way toward Alistair, but a guard held her back. “We’ve had enough of dragons and their meddling in thiscountry!”
Alistair said nothing, keeping his gaze fixed ahead. He could see from the corner of his eye that Dareena looked stricken, but to her credit she held her tongue, instead focusing on putting one foot in front of theother.
“Almost there,” Alistair said to her under his breath, and she gave him the barest ofnods.
The driver opened the door of the green and gold carriage and helped the duchess inside. Alistair gently pushed Dareena forward so she could enter behind her, but the footman shut the door, blocking herway.
“I’m sorry, but this carriage is for the Lady Valenhall,” he said in the snootiest toneimaginable.
“Excuse me?” Alistair asked, highly affronted. “Where do you expect us to sit, then? Atop thecarriage?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” the driver said. “Why do you think we brought thecart?”
Alistair scowled. He’d assumed the cart was for the luggage. He glanced at Dareena, who was looking back at the crowd. The shouts were turning into jeers. Blast it. He couldn’t waste time out here arguing with the driver—that would only make them look evenworse.
“Very well,” he said. “The cart itis.”
He took Dareena’s arm and guided her to the old cart, which looked like it belonged on a farm. There were two wooden benches: a high one for the driver, who was already seated and waiting, and a lower one facing the back of the cart for passengers. He helped Dareena into the cart, then hoisted himselfup.
