Last Dragon Standing (Dragon Kin #4)(138)

“Then what?”

“Then I’ll take care of it.”

“I’m sure you will. But then you’ll be trapped in the Provinces with his very pissed-off kin.”

“I’ve been in worse situations.”

“No, you haven’t, Keita.” Holding her sleeping grandchild, Queen Rhiannon walked around to face her daughter. “I know what the Sovereigns can do, and I’ve already lost a father to them—I’ll not lose a daughter.”

“Mum—”

“No.” And her voice was calm, severely controlled. The teasing, the humor, the nicknames all gone in this moment. “You may protect the throne, daughter, but I rule. You will not go into the Provinces.” Frustrated, but most likely realizing there was no way around her mother for the moment, Keita relaxed back in her chair.

“Any chance you found out,” Ragnar asked Ren, “what or who Styrbjörn escorted to the Southland borders from his territories?”

“I did, actually,” Ren said. “And it was something rather surprising, although not nearly as surprising as what I discovered right after that.”

“Which was?” Ragnar asked.

Ren glanced around the room. “Esyld. I think I found Esyld.” And, with sorrowful eyes, he looked at Keita. “And she’s not in the Provinces.” Keita frowned. “Then where the hells is she?”

Chapter Thirty-Five

The gate to Castle Moor slowly opened, and Athol watched Keita the Viper limp toward him.

He didn’t trust her, but he was curious to see why she was back. She came alone this time, no strange dragon monks following her.

“My Lady Keita.”

She raised her head, pulling back her hood, and Athol gasped before he could stop himself.

“My gods, Keita.”

She fell into his arms then, clinging to him. “My own family did this to me, Athol. Even now they look for me. Can I stay here? Just for a little while?”

“Of course.” He helped her in, motioned to his guards to close the gates. “You’ll be safe here, my lady. I promise.” Elder Gillivray caught up with Elder Lailoken. They were both in human form and were heading toward a paid carriage that would take them the rest of the way to the Outerplains. From there, they’d get another transport to Quintilian Provinces.

Together they’d left Dark Plains nearly two days ago, fleeing when word had spread about the attack on Princess Keita. She’d also disappeared, the princess’s Northland lover and his kin sent packing, and the queen in a rage few had seen before. So, for their own safety, worried that the Cadwaladrs would turn their attacks on them, the pair had headed off.

Overlord Thracius had guaranteed their safety, and they would take him up on it.

They hurried around a corner but froze, the light flooding from the open back door of a pub glinting off a battle ax resting on broad shoulders.

“My lords.”

“Who in all the hells are you?”

“Name’s Vigholf. The bloke behind ya is me cousin, Meinhard.” And the one behind them was bigger than the one in front. “Lord Bercelak asked us to do a favor.”

“And we love doing favors.”

“I’m surprised Ren’s not with you.”

Keita took the cup of tea Athol’s assistant handed her, but she didn’t drink from it, simply held it in a shaking hand.

“I don’t know where he is. Things have become so awful.”

“And Gwenvael?” The siblings had never been to his castle at the same time, but Athol knew they were related. He also knew what they were.

He knew what everything was that entered his domain.

“Angry with me. They’re all angry with me. They think I betrayed my mother.”

Athol sat back. “Did you?”

“Of course not. I’d never take such a risk. You know well how she feels about me as it is.”

“True.” She stared into her cup, and Athol asked, “Why did you come here before?”

“I was looking for my aunt. I’d heard my mother was searching for her and…”

“You wanted to make sure she was safe.”

Keita suddenly placed her cup of tea on the side table, allowing her to begin wringing her hands. “You need to understand…I would never hurt Esyld. I simply needed to ensure that she’d say nothing to my mother that could create problems for me.” She licked her lips. “I just would have sent her someplace safe, where my mother couldn’t find her.” Keita winced, touched the wounds on her beautiful face gingerly. “Now I need to find someplace safe.”

“There’s no one who can help you?”

“The two Elders who were my allies in my mother’s court have gone missing.”

“You mean Gillivray and Lailoken?”

Keita’s head snapped up, her eyes wide in panic. “Gods!” she nearly screamed, jumping up, her chair falling backward and crashing to the floor.

“You’re working with my mother!”

“No, no.” Athol quickly stood and caught her hands. “I promise you I’m not. Ease yourself.”

“Then how did you know about—”

“It’s all right. I promise.”

Athol closed his eyes, a voice calling to him. Bring her to me, Athol.