“I don’t don’t believe her.”
He cocked his head. “That makes no sense.”
“I know.” She smiled at him. “Don’t listen to me. I’m an idiot. Everyone thinks so. Ragna particularly.”
“I don’t so.” Dash conjured a saddle for her.
And before she could take a step toward him, armor covered her as well.
Tanis paused. “What’s this?”
“Protecting my partner.”
She closed the small gap between them so that she could bury her face against his neck and hug him.
“Careful, Dragon. You do that and you’ll embarrass us both.”
Laughing, she kissed his neck and stepped back.
“Hey! Make way! Step back. Coming through! Move. Move. Move!”
Tanis frowned at the familiar frenetic voice that was nearing them. It wasn’t until something small slammed into her and ricocheted off to land on Dash’s mane where it became tangled with his hair that she saw it was a small Halla.
“Hello there.” Tanis carefully pulled the hobgoblin free so that she could hover in the air by their sides.
Halla shook herself and then grew to normal size. “Where have you two been? Do you know how hard I’ve had to search? You vanished!”
Dash flicked his unicorn tail. “I knew you’d find us. You always do.”
Halla scoffed. “Have you any idea how many want you dead, Sire?”
“Yes. Yes, I do.”
“You found your hobgoblin.” Marthen smiled as he joined them. “Good to see you, Halla. And just in time for battle.”
“No. Wait. What?”
Dash nodded. “We’re heading for Licordia.”
She burst out laughing. Then she stopped. “You’re serious? You do know what’s happened, right?”
“Meara took my throne and put a bounty out on my life.”
“You heard about all that. Good. Then you heard about her other allies, too?”
Marthen’s eyes began to glow as Ryper and Dove joined them. At the same time his eyes glowed, Ryper’s staff did the same.
Dash cursed as he understood what that meant. He turned human and pushed Tanis toward Ryper. “Get her out of here.”
“What? Why?” Tanis asked.
Dash met her confused dark eyes. “Your sister isn’t here to help.”
Marthen nodded. “The dragons are siding with Meara. And those centaurs aren’t rebels. They’re Meara’s troops.”
Chapter 18
Marthen tried to pull Tanis away at the same time trumpets began to sound in warning.
