A Tale Of Two Dragons (Dragon Kin 0.2)(19)

“Not the chains, you twit!” Bercelak yelled. “What is wrong with you?”

“Nothing.” Addolgar thought a moment and added, “I don’t think.”

Maelona put another cool cloth against Bercelak’s head and that seemed to calm him.

“Take her to Uncle Arranz’s cave is what I’m trying to tell you.”

“Oh. Oh! That’s an excellent idea, brother.”

“No, Addolgar.” Braith looked at Bercelak. “I appreciate what you’re all trying to do, but I can’t let any of you get more involved than you already are.”

Addolgar was reaching for the back of Braith’s head when Ghleanna snapped, “Addolgar! Don’t you dare do that again!”

Braith looked over just in time to see Addolgar snatch his hand away. “Really? You were going to do that again?”

“You’re not being logical.”

“So you ram my head into the table?”

“If necessary!”

“You can’t help what your father has done, lass,” Brigida noted, almost kindly.

“Who said I want to?”

“It’s plain on your human face,” Brigida said. “But you can’t let your loyalty to blood stop you. Your mother wouldn’t.”

“What do you know of my mother?” Braith snapped.

Addolgar leaned in and said very low, “Careful here. She turned one of our cousins into a lizard once when he questioned her at a family gathering.”

“I knew your mother,” Brigida stated. “Knew your grandmother, too. Strong females, like you. With a streak of honor leagues wide. And you’re just like them. You let your father get away with this and you’ll never forgive yourself.”

“Who said I was letting my father get away with anything?”

“You will be if you go to the Queen yourself. She’ll take your head and won’t even bother to look for your father because she’ll have gotten her revenge.”

“How? He feels nothing for me.”

“Do you think Addiena will care?”

“Why are we bothering with all this?” Bercelak demanded, his forehead still swelling. “If she’s not going to listen to reason, then let’s take her back to the Queen as she wants and let her deal with it!”

Brigida’s head snapped around, her steely gaze locking on Bercelak. Black smoke snaked from her nostrils, and Bercelak immediately threw up his hands.

“Fine. Fine,” he said quickly. “Do whatever you want.”

Braith briefly closed her eyes. “Please don’t bicker about this.”

“We will if you don’t let us help you,” Addolgar promised. “At least let us take you to Arranz. He’s no big fan of the Queen either, so he’ll be more than happy to help.”

“You’ll be safe there,” Ghleanna added. “His cave is like a maze and our cousins enjoy tormenting anyone who tries to enter. You’ll have no fear of anyone tracking you down there.”

“This doesn’t seem right,” Braith hedged.

“It’s all we can do right now, child,” Brigida explained. “At least until we come up with something else or we track your father down.”

“Which I will do,” Addolgar promised. “He tried to kill me. It’s the least I can do for him.”

Finally, Braith relented. “All right. I’ll do as you ask.”

“Good,” Brigida said with a nod. “Now, you’ll need one of Arranz’s kin to accompany you. Take that one with you.” She motioned to Addolgar. “And the one with the thick neck over there.”

Ghleanna’s hand went to her throat. “Me neck isn’t thick.”

“Thick like a tree trunk,” Brigida muttered.

“It’s graceful. This neck is long and graceful.” Powerful legs landed on the table and Ghleanna crossed her arms over her chest. “Graceful,” she growled, appearing to fight an instinct to yell.

Addolgar shrugged at Braith. “Me sister’s graceful.”

“Yes,” Braith replied, her eyes briefly crossing. “I can see that.”

Chapter 8

With the chains broken, there was no point in forcing Braith to sit around at dinner with the cuffs still on, so Addolgar removed them.

She rubbed her wrists and nodded a thanks while food was brought out from the kitchens.

Addolgar retrieved wine from the side table and poured Braith a chalice full. He sat down while she sipped it and watched his kin eat, argue, and laugh at dinner.

“You all right?” he asked.

“I’m fine.”

“Everything will work out, Braith. I promise.”

She gave him a smile that was clearly forced and said, “I know it will. I’m just tired.”

“You must be hungry, too.”

Braith studied the platters of meats, roasted potatoes, and still-warm crusty bread. “No. I’m not.”

“Addolgar,” his mother said to him, her small hand resting on his shoulder. “Why don’t you take Braith upstairs to get some sleep? It’s been a long day for both of you.”

When he looked into his mother’s face, she frowned a bit and motioned to the back hallway with a tilt of her head.