Page 71 of Triumph at Pemberley

“Likely impossible, unless you keep them from the dragons as well. Pray remember, though, that I was the one who negotiated for your independence, when no one else thought it possible. I also refused the position of the King’s Mage. Does that sound like someone who is in the pocket of the British government?”

A thin smile crossed his lips. “I will wager, though, that Roderick has not told you what will happen if they break their treaty with us.”

She raised an eyebrow. “We had the best solicitors look it over. It is legal.”

“How many legal treaties have the British torn up? I cannot begin to count the promises they have broken. But this one is unbreakable, down to the last detail, and they do not know it.” His eyes glinted with satisfaction.

What could he possibly know that the finest solicitors in London did not? It would not help, though, to play his games. “Perhaps some day you will tell me.”

Roderick said tiredly, “It has to do with Jack Darcy. Because I woke his bond, he is blood-bound to assist us, should we be attacked. Even if it is by England.”

Jack, turning those incredible powers of his against his own country? A frightening thought. “Does he know that?”

“I told him he would be required to assist Gwynedd if we were at war. I doubt he considered the implications, though.”

No, Jack would not have cared. He had been focused on relieving his own discomfort from the unawakened bond. “It hardly matters. England ought to honor its treaties without being forced into it.”

His father said, “You look uncomfortable, Frederica ferch Gwilym.”

She snapped, “Jack is my cousin. Of course I am uncomfortable with him being used against his own land. I never said I would stop caring about my own family.”

He nodded slowly. “And indeed you should not. Roderick, I begin to understand what you see in her.”

Somehow that was even more annoying. “That I am easily angered?”

“That you do not defer. It is rather refreshing.”

She blinked in surprise. No one had deferred to Roderick at Pemberley or in London. Despite his impressive mage powers, his Welshness had established him as different and lesser. Certainly not on a par with Darcy or the Fitzwilliams. As if somehow the blood of ancient Welsh princes was less important than an English aristocrat’s. It had not seemed to trouble Roderick at the time. Was it so different here?

Roderick laughed. “No, she certainly does not. And she will tell you directly when she thinks you are wrong.”

“Will you indeed? Hopefully it will not arise,” his father said.

She could not resist a challenge. Smiling triumphantly, she said, “If you believe Roderick can no longer fight to defend Gwynedd because he is a dragon companion, you are wrong.”

“What?” Roderick exclaimed.

His father looked surprised, and then thoughtful. “Tell me more, if you will.”

“Jack Darcy and I discovered it the hard way. He killed many French soldiers, and we both used our Talents – mine for weather magic, his new King’s Bond –in ways that led to them dying. He feared his dragon would either break the bond or become enslaved to the Wicked King, but nothing happened.”

“Are you certain?” Roderick interposed, wide-eyed.

“Gentiane and Quickthorn both admitted it. The true reason dragons avoid bonding to soldiers is because they cannot bear to see their companions at risk. They fear being tempted into danger to save them. Gentiane even took down one soldier while in hawk form, though he did not kill him.”

Roderick said slowly, “I always wondered how a companion’s actions could affect the dragon so much. That means, sir, that I can take over here and you can return to the valley.”

Rhodri ap Llewellyn shook his head sadly. “No. I cannot risk you. If you are killed, there will be no one to hold the Bond after me. If you had a son, it would be different.”

“But you could die!”

“We have no choice. The valley can lose me more easily than you. You are their future.” There was steel in his tone. “Besides, it is too risky to have a dragon companion here, much less two of you. Should you be captured, the French would simply torture you until your dragon cannot help but come to your rescue. That would risk the entire Nest.”

It made an unpleasant sort of sense. Had she and Jack been taking a terrible risk by fighting the French directly? She had never even thought to consider it. And how was she to save Gwynedd if she could not help in battle?

“Frederica ferch Gwilym, I thank you for telling me this,” he continued. “I will sleep easier knowing my son can defend himself.”

“There is one more thing, sir,” Roderick said. “Frederica brought an Englishman with her. I told her we would need your permission if he was to stay.” He gestured to Sutton, who stood beyond the wall surrounding the church.