“Release him!”
Air rushed into Evander’s lungs as the soldiers climbed off him.
“I need these soldiers! I cannot have you killing them on a whim!” the newcomer shouted.
The man with the commanding voice seized Evander’s shoulder, dragging him to his knees.
“Get up,” the man said. “The king is here.”
Evander bit down on an exclamation of surprise. Standing over him was a general with silver-streaked hair, and behind the general, looking regal and aloof, stood Cadmus, the king of Sennalaith.
His father-in-law.
Evander seethed. This man had killed his father. This man mistreated Valenna and destroyed her childhood. This man ruined his childhood as well.
Holding his breath, Evander waited for Cadmus to recognize him, but the king strode toward Hera without bothering to cast Evander a second glance. Perhaps he hadn’t known him. He couldn’t remember ever meeting Cadmus face-to-face in battle, except in the dark. Perhaps the king didn’t recall what he looked like. And he’d changed over five years.
After giving Hera another appraising look, Cadmus’s eyes settled on Evander with mild interest.
“You’re the man who stole my hydra,” he said.
“No, Your Majesty.” Evander donned a perplexed expression. “Didn’t you purchase the hydra from Silvanlight Dracorium?”
Cadmus paused. “Yes, and I was told by Bournemuth here that she was stolen by a trainer …”
Evander laughed, too loud, too forcefully, but it had the effect he’d intended. Cadmus tilted his head and waited for an explanation.
Samara and the others looked at Evander like he’d lost his mind. They’d never heard him laugh.
“The hydra escaped because Bournemuth mishandled her. I followed her into the Whyspenware, then I stopped at the sanctuary to rest before continuing to you.”
Haldir, standing nearby looking petulant, shouted, “That’s a lie! The hydra is his pet, and he stole it and ran into the forest!”
“More accurately, she stole me and ran into the forest,” Evander remarked.
“But …”
Cadmus frowned. “Silence, Colonel.”
Haldir bit his tongue, his face and neck flushing.
“I can return to Silvanlight and leave the hydra with you, if you like,” Evander bluffed. “As your men can attest, Bournemuth handles her expertly.”
With a light chuckle, the king clasped his hands behind his back and circled Hera. Her heads swiveled, watching him. “I heard she made a tidy supper of my men. Can you train her to go to battle for me?”
“Hydra aren’t combat dragons,” Evander said. “You can’t take her to battle.”
“But I could ride her onto a hill near the battle so she can be seen?”
“If I am with her.”
Cadmus nodded. “You stay so long as the hydra needs you. And what of this sad bundle of pathetic soldiers?” he said, not particularly to Evander, as he inspected the Cobblepinion conscripts.
“Our fifth dreadnought crew was shot down over the Falchion river attempting to bomb Cleighmore,” the silver-haired general remarked. “We need to replace them. I believe these young conscripts have some training in manning a dreadnought?”
Haldir straightened. “I assisted in their training myself.”
“Excellent,” the general said. “With his majesty’s permission, I think Bournemuth should oversee them.”
