Light My Fire (Dragon Kin #7)(63)

“Your baron,” Celyn was saying to the people of the city, who were still in hiding, “killed one of our own. Not because he was a danger to all of you, because he wasn’t. The dragon who was killed was old. He liked nothing more than to sit in his cave, drink his favorite wine, and read. But your baron lied to you. He lied when he said that this old dragon was evil. That this old dragon had to be handled. And using that lie, he sent his guards and people from this city out to kill this old dragon and raid what had become his tomb.”

Celyn looked over the empty city, but he knew, as did Elina, that all the people were listening. Cowering and listening. “Now, because of his greed, Baron Roscommon has brought down the wrath of the dragons. Even worse, his betrayal would normally bring the wrath of Annwyl the Bloody. She asks for little from her fellow royals . . . except loyalty. Something Baron Roscommon did not give her. For that, he will be taken to Garbhán Isle to face his fate. Queen Annwyl will have her final say on Baron Roscommon. The dragon nation will not deny her that. As for the rest of you . . . you will suffer enough. Those who were sent to the dragon’s cave have experienced the old dragon’s fate.” And yes, the people were listening, because Elina could hear the cries of those who called those men family or friend. “That was their punishment, and their loss is yours. Tomorrow morning you may come and retrieve your dead. There will be no further retaliation, but understand our revenge could have been much worse. And, should something like this happen again, it will be.”

Finished with his speech, Celyn nodded at Addolgar and his uncle wrapped his claw around a now-screaming Baron Roscommon. He was ordering his people to kill the dragons. To save him. But no one came forward. No one dared.

Addolgar flew off, with Celyn following behind. The rest of his cousins soon followed, making sure everything was safe before they took to the skies.

Elina was about to climb down from the tree when a black-scaled tail wrapped around her waist and yanked her up.

Suddenly . . . she was flying.

Celyn landed near Costentyn’s cave. His uncle already had the threatening and begging and bloody sobbing baron bound and now, thankfully, gagged. As Celyn had promised, Addolgar and the others would be taking the baron back to Garbhán Isle to face Annwyl. No one envied the man that fate.

“Good work, lad,” Addolgar said when Celyn landed. “That was a nice speech you gave.”

“You sure we shouldn’t kill them all?” Addolgar’s son asked. There was no malice in his voice. No viciousness. Also, not much logic. Unlike his daughters, Addolgar’s sons didn’t have much logic.

“I’m sure,” Celyn insisted. “I’m sure the baron only picked the best men of the city to help in this crime. Trust me, the people will be feeling the loss of those men for quite some time.”

“He’s right,” Addolgar agreed. “We’ve made our point. No need to get nasty this early in the game. It’s always better to escalate only when necessary.” Addolgar faced Celyn. “And you, nephew. Are you coming with us?”

“No. I still have my task.” He raised his tail to show that he had Elina wrapped in it. She hadn’t complained once. “I have to get this one back to the Outerplains.”

“Good, lad. Never forget the job your queen has given you. If you happen to slaughter a few enemies along the way . . . that’s just like extra biscuits at tea time, really.”

“Also, give these journals to my father. They were Costentyn’s. Perhaps they will tell him something useful. Tell him that if he finds anything interesting to let me know.” Celyn handed over the journals he’d found in Costentyn’s cave.

His uncle dropped the journals into his travel bag.

Good-byes were said and Celyn’s kin took to the skies. Once they were gone, he brought his tail around.

“Think our horses are still there?” he asked the woman wrapped in his tail.

“I do not know about your oversized travel-cow, but the Steppes horse will be where I left him.”

“Good.” Celyn started to place her on the ground.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Allowing you to walk.”

“Why? What is wrong with flying?”

“You want to fly back to our horses?” he asked, stunned. The only human he’d ever met who’d seemed to love flying right off had been Izzy. To be honest, that’s how he got close to her. Letting her ride his back whenever he could. But with Elina, he’d merely been attempting to torture her for a bit of fun. It had never occurred to him she’d enjoy it. “They’re not that far away.”

“I am very tired, dragon. It has been long morning. Now you make me walk? Like sheep? Does my well-being mean nothing to you?”

“Why don’t you just say that you like to fly and you want to try it again?”

“I could,” she admitted grudgingly. “But I am more comfortable with yelling at you.”

Celyn shook out his wings, ready to take to the skies again, but first noted, “I swear, She of the Excessively Long Name, it’s like you were born and raised among my kin.”

Chapter Twenty

They rode hard for the rest of the day, stopping only briefly so Celyn’s horse could get water and they could relieve themselves. Other than that, they kept conversation to a minimum and ate while they rode. Something Celyn was sure he now loathed doing.