The Dragon Who Loved Me (Dragon Kin #5)(38)

And that same look and attitude had been in al their offspring—except Rhona.

Rhona’s skil with weapons was so that, like every good blacksmith, she’d know what was the right weight, what worked wel during a fight, what could kil and what could maim.

But her mother had seen her skil as a cal ing to be a Dragonwarrior, and to this day it bothered her beyond reckoning that her eldest daughter had not gotten farther than a “mere soldier.” Cadwaladrs, in Bradana’s mind, were supposed to be Dragonwarriors, leading the way into battle.

Making orders, not taking them. So round and round mother and daughter went. Rhona never going further than a good soldier because her true cal ing was to be a Master Blacksmith. And her mother stil trying to prove that her eldest just needed a little push in the right direction.

A push right into death, it seemed.

Rhona held up a chain-mail shirt. “What about this?”

“No.” He snatched the shirt from her and slapped it back into the trunk. “You’ve got your mother’s”—Sulien awkwardly motioned around his daughter’s chest—“assets.”

“Assets?”

“Here. Wear this.” He handed her a chain-mail shirt that he’d spent years perfecting.

“Daddy, I can’t take—”

“You wil and you’l wear it under your traveler’s clothes. Here are the leggings that go with them.”

“But this is—”

“My best work and I can’t imagine who else you’d think I’d be saving it for if not for me own daughter.” Rhona smiled at him. “Thank you, Daddy.”

“Don’t get weepy on me. Don’t think I can handle it.” He turned from her, unable to look at that beautiful face. “By the time we’re done, you’l be the most wel -armed traveler ever known.”

Once he’d equipped his daughter as best he could, Sulien walked her outside his tent and there they said their good-byes. He hugged her tight, kissing the top of her head and making her promise she’d at least try to be careful. Assuring lies given, he watched his daughter walk off into the busy crowd of warriors and guards and witches preparing for another assault from the Tribesmen. At the right moment, Rhona’s kin would create a diversion that would give Rhona the time she needed to slip out undetected.

Releasing a heavy sigh, Sulien walked back into his tent, coming to an abrupt halt when he saw the Lightning standing there, arms crossed over a chest nearly as big as his own.

“What do you want?”

“Do you real y think for a second I’d let her go into the Provinces without me?” The Lightning lifted his giant—even when it was fit for a human—

hammer and dropped it to the ground. “I need one of those fancy hammers of yours, blacksmith. I have to blend, don’t I?” Grinning, Sulien helped the Northlander find just what he needed.

Chapter 13

Rhona crouched beside the discreet door. It was built into the gate hidden behind trees on both sides. And that’s where she waited to hear the signal that would tel her it was time to move.

Dressed as a traveler, she stil had weapons hidden in every available place she and her father could think of. She was as ready as she could ever hope to be. Would she rather be doing something else? Anything else? Aye. But that desire didn’t change anything.

Weapons clashed and she knew her kin had attacked the Tribesmen who’d been regrouping on the other side of the forests. There were so many of them, they’d ringed the castle gates, but Rhona just needed the ones near this door to be drawn away.

She eased the door partial y open and watched, ready to make her move at any—

Rhona’s entire body tensed and she slowly looked over her shoulder at what was crouching right behind her.

“What are you—”

A cal went out and Vigholf shoved her forward. “Go,” he whispered.

Unable to confront the dumb ox at this moment, Rhona scrambled out the door, keeping low and moving quick. She used the trees for cover, pausing every few feet to stop and make sure she was stil unseen. The Lightning was right behind her, keeping up with her as he always managed to do.

She stopped by an old tree with a massive trunk. Peeking around it, she saw two Tribesmen on horseback. Just sitting there while al hel s broke loose nearby.

Rhona held up her hand to Vigholf and he stopped. She pointed at the men, then drew her thumb across her throat. Vigholf nodded and they moved out.

The man Rhona ran up to never heard or saw her coming, and his horse gave no warning. She yanked the man off, slapped her hand over his mouth, and jammed a blade into his throat in such a way that he couldn’t speak or cal out. She pul ed the blade out, rammed it back in, and this time yanked it from one side to the other.

The man Vigholf moved up next to was warned of the Lightning’s presence by his horse rearing up in panic. To silence him, Vigholf punched the horse. It went down and Vigholf used his ax, cutting off the Tribesman’s head before he could speak a word.

How Rhona would travel on horseback with Vigholf terrifying or punching the poor animals at every turn, she real y hadn’t figured out yet. But she could worry about that later.

She and Vigholf dragged the bodies of the men to a spot behind that big tree and slapped the rump of the horse that wasn’t unconscious so that he’d take off. The other horse, Vigholf picked up and carried over his shoulder until they reached the river. He dropped the horse by it and together, they fol owed the river until they could cross it and make a run for the Western Mountains.