Swallowing hard, Tanis headed for the gate.
Ragna shot skyward then flew over to the open field of the outer bailey.
Grumbling to herself, Tanis really regretted her human body that couldn’t do that in a single bound. She really missed being a dragon right now.
At least that was her thought until she vanished from where she was walking and appeared in the field next to her sister.
Dash... The very thought of him made her smile.
He was wonderfully considerate that way. Even though it cost him powers he couldn’t afford to lose right now, he was more worried about her than himself.
It was why she loved him.
But those warm feelings faded the moment Ragna lowered her snout to glower at her.
Tanis didn’t say a word as she realized there was a large contingency of centaurs and others in the woods surrounding them out here. Had they come with her sister?
This was no escort. It was a good-sized army.
Tanis started back toward the gate to warn them, but Ragna cut off her path. “Why did you leave home? What were you thinking, you idiot?”
Frustrated that she couldn’t get past Ragna, she growled. “That someone needed to avenge our brother and that none of you cared.”
Smoke drifted out of her nostrils. “And how has that worked out for you...human?”
Better than her sister could ever imagine, but she wasn’t about to let Ragna know anything about her relationship with Dash. “What are you really doing here? I know you don’t care about me. None of you do.”
No one in her family had ever bothered to hunt for her while she’d been held in captivity. It wasn’t in them to do such.If you’re not dragon enough to fight off a human or unicorn, you deserve what happens to you...So why would they be here now? With a dragon platoon and a centaur army?
This didn’t make a bit of sense.
Ragna pulled back. “Are you really traveling with the High King?”
Every alert inside her went off. “Why do you ask?”
“I was sent to find him and swear fealty. Father heard about the bounty, and he doesn’t want the king to think that we’re one of the kingdoms putting money up for his death. Was that the unicorn I saw you with?”
That made her feel better. Given some of the things she’d heard her family say about Dash in the past, and the fact that dragons were known to have a lot of treasure, she had wondered, in spite of her assurances to Dash, if they hadn’t been one of the kingdoms offering to pay that bounty.
It made her feel much better to know they weren’t that treacherous, after all.
But if they weren’t in league with Meara, why were there centaurs in the trees?
“How did you know where I was?” Tanis asked.
“A messenger told me.”
“What messenger?”
“An ally of Father’s, if you must know. Contrary to your puerile stupidity, we do have friends and allies in other kingdoms. Some of the gryphons who live here are still citizens of Indara and loyal to our kingdom.”
So, she’d been right. One of the gryphons was spying on them. Wonderful.
Ragna lifted her head to peer toward the palace. “Who was the unicorn I saw inside? Is he the High King?”
She ignored the question. “Since you’re here, I still need your help to reclaim Davin’s skull.”
Ragna made a sound of extreme disgust. “What is it with you and?—”
