‘Sire?’
‘If there’s no attack tonight, we’ll push harder tomorrow. I want to be close enough to Wiosna’s mountain to scout the area. Send sentinels and trackers out just before dawn. We can’t afford another surprise.’
He nodded, awaiting further instructions. When I remained silent, he shifted his stance ‘When do you plan to attack, sire?’
‘We’ll see once we get there.’ I looked at him with a smile. ‘I’ve never attacked a mine, so I need more information. We’ll let the men rest while we develop our strategy.’
‘My lord…’ The squire broke into our conversation, his cheeks turning crimson under my scrutiny. I nodded, encouraging him to speak, and he pointed to the sky. ‘I think… the clouds are building up; maybe it means the mist is returning?’
I turned, eyes following his finger. The moon was still bright in the sky, but the stars were slowly disappearing, swallowed by enormous shadows. The squire’s cheek reddened even more at my lack of concern until I took mercy on his embarrassment and patted his shoulder.
‘Impressive observation skills, lad, but no, that’s a different kind of magic.’ I turned to Ivar. ‘Tell the men to stand down. I don’t want our reinforcements accidentally shot.’
The squire’s eyes grew bigger before he looked back at the sky. ‘Dragons.’ His whisper was so wistful that I felt the old, familiar wonder wash over me.
I shielded my eyes just in time as the enormous beasts began landing. Dull thumps and muffled roars shook the ground while the wind and snow buffeted my men’s bodies to the rhythm of the dragons’ wings. My laughter broke free. Even being pelted by ice and dirt couldn’t take this feeling away, and I couldn’t help myself, ruffling the squire’s hair as he stood there, mouth agape.
A familiar shape descended from the sky, cutting cleanly through the gaps to land before me. Only one beast had such precision. Vahin, my brother’s dragon, shook his massive head, sending a scorching stream of fire into the sky. Orm leapt off his back, hitting the ground running as he came to greet me. I wasn’t far behind.
We crashed into each other. I couldn’t put my feelings into words in that moment. I hadn’t seen him in months, and the happiness was almost painful when I finally embraced my littlebrother. I stepped back and looked around at the slush and mud, unable to hold back my laughter.
‘You bloody bastard. You could have told me you were coming,’ I said, clasping his shoulder before we hugged again.
‘Should I tell our mother what you just called her?’ Orm’s laughter was infectious. ‘I couldn’t warn you. Vahin dragged me from Annika’s side and refused to say why…’ Orm trailed off, his expression turning thunderous. ‘What the fuck, Rey? I heard you got hurt, but that is fu– deeply unsettling.’
I forced a smile. The story behind my scar was too complex to explain calf-deep in the mud. Instead, I clasped his shoulder and set off for my tent.
‘King Reynard!’ The deep rumble shook my body, and I turned mid-step to face Vahin’s towering form. The dragon’s head lowered, his cobalt blue eyes focused on me. ‘Cinared…’ he rumbled with a wistfulness that confused me. ‘You’ve finally chosen.’
Something washed over me, a consciousness as old as time, recognition. The sense of completion as my soul expanded and forced me to my knees, my vision suddenly blurring. Whatever was happening, the moment it became familiar, it vanished, leaving me dizzy.
‘What did you do?’ I asked, stumbling up and falling against the dragon. My brother caught me, pulling me away. Vahin took to the skies with an ear-splitting roar and a few beats of his powerful wings.
‘Orm?’ I asked, but my brother shrugged.
‘I don’t know. Vahin’s being… It can’t be…’
‘What can’t be?’ The sensation of recognition was gone, but my vision was still blurred.
‘Later.’ Orm kept dragging me along, heading for the tent with my personal crest fluttering beside it. ‘Come on. We have things to discuss, and I want to see what’s hiding under that eyepatch.’
I called for my squire, ordering food and, feeling evil, a jug of soldiers’ rotgut. Orm sat next to the burning brazier, studying my face. It was strange to be so openly scrutinised, but I endured, appreciating that he didn’t wince at the mangled scars.
‘She made a right old mess of you, didn’t she? I never thought my invincible philanderer of a brother would be bested by a woman.’ Orm raised his tankard the moment it left the squire’s hand. ‘So, you finally met your match.’
My fists tightened. Orm’s assessing gaze didn’t falter at the fury burning through my veins. ‘Do not test me, brother. I know you too well to allow it.’ Calm strength supported me as I stared Orm down. ‘Sana was fighting for her life and misunderstood my intentions. She… I don’t blame her, and you will show her the respect she deserves.’ I finished leaning forward, my fists flexing, daring him to challenge me. Instead, a slow smile tugged at his lips, before Orm fell back, laughing his arse off.
That cheeky little…I thought with a sigh. Orm was the last man to believe any woman evil, and I’d taken his teasing to heart, reacting like a hot-headed youth.
‘It seems your mysterious Sana bested you in more ways than one. You lost your composure like a pimpled rookie… Spill it, Rey. When’s the wedding, and how soon can I meet this marvel of a woman who stabbed her way into your heart?’ Orm relaxed in his chair, observing me with a smug, knowing smile. I had to remind myself that my brother was often too blunt for comfort.
‘We haven’t exchanged any vows,’ I said begrudgingly, nursing my tankard. ‘First, it’s complicated; second, I’m not sure she wants that.’ When my brother looked at me sharply, I shrugged. ‘Sana thinks the Dagome nobles won’t accept her, and I don’t want to pressure her. Some women are worth waiting for.’
‘It’s only as complicated as you make it. You’re the king, Rey. One thing I learned after taking the throne in Ozar is that as longas the country prospers under your rule, no one cares who you sleep with… or how many.’ His smile made me sigh.
‘Since when did you become the oracle of wisdom and matchmaking?’ I said with a huff, still remembering the man who’d come to me, shattered by the knowledge he’d have to share the woman he loved with his best friend. ‘I can force those obstinate bastards to kneel before her, but that’s not the point. It’s what she wants that matters, and Sana isn’t ready. She knows how they see her – a commoner who tried to kill the king – and even if she didn’t say it aloud, this stubborn woman wants to prove she’s worthy.’
‘Worthy? Go on, I’m going to love this one,’ he said, mischief flashing in his eyes.
