“I don’t like it. Why is it so heavy?”
Then it probably wasn’t a good idea to leave her swathed in so much fabric. Even now, he could hear his sister complaining about wearing them for formal events. Renata much preferred hunting clothes for daily wear.
I don’t see you standing in line for restriction, brother. When was the last time you wore a counselor’s or king’s robe,
hmm? And I’d pay good, hard coin to lace you into a tight corset. Just once. Let’s see how you like it.
Shaking his head at the memory of his sister’s repetitive rant, he traded the gown for an outfit more akin to what Renata normally donned. A lightgreen leather, loose corset covered by a short-sleeved brown jacket that was short in front but went toher ankles in back, and a matching pair of leather leggings and black boots.
Aye, that was vintage Renata. Right down to the ornate gold embroidery around the collar and sleeves. All that was missing was his sister’s statement jewelry and preferred small tiara that had shone almost as much as her mischievous smile.
“You wear that well.”
Tanis scowled at the unicorn’s comment. “How do you mean?”
“The garb of a female archer and huntress. It looks good on you.”
Her stomach wrenched at that word. “Huntress?”
“Not of dragons. Most female hunters seek smaller game such as birds or deer... or other men.”
Ah. She could live with that. And honestly, she was grateful her breasts weren’t hanging out of this outfit.
Nor was her rear. She actually liked it. If she couldn’t have her scales, this was a nice alternative. “I suppose I am hunting, aren’t I?”
He inclined his head. “Indeed. One stupid, cowardly dragon slayer.”
She straightened the hooded jacket with a quick jerk. Unexpectedly, a sack appeared at her feet.
Along with a sword.
With a frown, she toed the sack. “What’s this?”
“Supplies. The sack, you drape over your shoulders. The sword?—”
“I know what the sword is for.” She’d seen enough of them used on her brethren,and had been stabbed too many times herself by overzealous morons.
Damn them all.
The last thing she wanted was to ever touch one. But given the fact that she no longer had talons or fire, she’d need some way to protect herself.
While his kind and humans often thought of dragons as mindless animals, dragons were no such thing. They were a peaceful race who preferred to live in herds, in their own mountainous kingdom, far away from everyone else.
That was why she wanted the heart of the man who’d invaded their kingdom and snuck up on her gentle brother. She still had no idea how the dragon slayer had managed it. How he’d been able to traverse into their lands, never mind her brother’s home unseen, kill him, and then leave their island kingdom without anyone else knowing it.
Indara was isolated from the other kingdoms by intention. While gryphons, hippocampi and wyverns were welcome to settle and visit there, her father didn’t tolerate other species or races. Visitors were required to register and only allowed to stay briefly. Their activities in Indara were heavily monitored, and she had no idea how anyone could breach their border without one of their visguard seeing it.
Because of their past grievances with dragon slayers and trophy hunters, a human would have stood out in Indara, and wouldn’t have been allowed freedom in their realm.
Davin’s death made no sense. No human should have been able to get near her brother.
And yet, that rat bastard had absolutely butchered him while Davin’s hatchlings had hidden in horror. They would never be the same.
Even when her sister-in-law had returned to find them while they were hiding, they had refused to come out or speak a word of what they’d seen. It’d taken Marla more than a day before her little ones would leave their hiding spots.
Indeed, they’d screamed in terror the moment Tanis tried to see them and help her.
All because they were terrified their father’s killer would return and kill them, too. Their fear was so bad, that Marla had taken them to her father’s lands in the north of Indara, hoping to soothe them and let them know they were safe.
