The Dragon Who Loved Me (Dragon Kin #5)(40)

“War is the Northlander’s normal life, Sergeant. Once we’re done sorting out the Irons for you Fire Breathers, we’l be focusing on the Spikes out of the Ice Lands. They’ve no doubt moved into our territory, thinking we’re gone forever. So it’s not like there won’t be kil ing aplenty for me when I return home.”

“But—”

“That’s it!” he cut in. “I’l hear no more. I’m going with you. Just accept it.”

“Fine. Then let’s make a few things clear before we go any farther.” She placed the butt of her spear in the ground, gripping it tight. “I know this wil be hard for that thick Northland head of yours to get around, but I’m a soldier of the Dragon Queen’s army and I’ve survived more than two centuries without you stepping in to protect me during every battle that comes my way. That I won’t tolerate. Watch my back, yeah. But that’s it.

Understand?”

“You watch my back, Fire Breather, and I’l watch yours. And I’m not about to get in the middle of any of your fights if I don’t have to.” He motioned to her spear. “You’ve stabbed me enough with that thing.”

“Yeah, but that first time was an accident. Can’t promise that if I do it again.”

“Fair enough.” He looked around, shrugged. “So what do we do now?”

“Keep moving. The quicker we get to Morfyd, the better. We’d do better on horseback, but with you and your problems with horses . . .”

“What’s that mean?”

“You just knocked one out.”

“I was keeping him quiet.”

Shaking her head, Rhona crouched down again and fil ed her canteen with fresh water. Once done, she stood and started running again. “Come on, Lightning,” she cal ed back to him. “Move that ass. We haven’t got al night!” She heard him sigh and mutter, “I hate running,” and then he was by her side, keeping pace with her as they headed deep into the border territory between the Southlands and the Western Plains.

“Where is she?”

Eirianwen, goddess of war, stepped over the bodies of the fal en and went to her mate, Rhydderch Hael, fathergod of al dragons. As she walked toward him, Eir, as she’d done since time began, admired the beauty of his form. A black dragon with scales that glistened in the dying light of the two suns; twelve bright, white horns atop his head; black mane of hair with the shades of every color in the spectrum streaked throughout, long and sweeping along the blood-soaked ground. She couldn’t see his tail, it reached too far back at the moment, but it always reminded her of her favorite broadsword. Big, wide, with a blade of a tip that could destroy anything it touched.

Yet Eir’s love of the dragon didn’t mean she’d take his centaur shit. “And hel o to you, my love.”

“Don’t play me about, Eir,” he lashed back. “Where is she?”

“Who? Who are you going on about?”

“Annwyl the Bloody.”

“Oh. Your pet.” Eir put her sword back in its scabbard. “I have no idea where she is.”

“Eir—”

“I don’t! She’s not my concern. She’s your concern.”

“Don’t start that again. She was dead and you brought her back!”

“I did that for Dagmar Reinholdt.”

“Your pet.” His gaze moved around the battlefield. “You’ve been busy, I see.”

“The beauty of this world is that there are so many wars for me to choose from.”

“So what’s going on in Euphrasia Val ey . . . ?”

“That is not my war, lover. Although I have been entertained. Such strategists both sides have.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “You know who this comes down to, Rhy. He’s always wanted your power. To emulate your reign.”

“How far do you think he’d go?”

“Do you mean do I think he’d abscond with your little pet?”

“Feel free to stop cal ing her that.”

“No. I don’t think he has the guts to do that.”

“But?”

“What makes you think Annwyl would only attract you or someone out to get you? As far as the rest of the gods are concerned, you’ve tossed her aside. That means she’s available to any god who can entice her to join forces. She’s a powerful al y among the humans.” Eir pressed her hand against her consort’s neck. “Do you want me to look into it?” She grinned. “Wars are my area.”

“What about the carnage here?”

“Eh.” She shrugged. “When you’ve seen one battlefield with corpses, you’ve seen them al .” Rhy looked off, then shook his head. “No. You’re right. She’s no longer my concern.”

“As you wish.” She kissed his snout, walked away.

“Where’s Nannulf?” he asked her as she stepped over the corpses in search of souls to take.

“No idea. Nannulf the wolf-god may be my traveling companion, lover, but we aren’t joined at the hip. But I’m sure he’s around somewhere. . . .”

Chapter 14

It was midafternoon when Morfyd finished putting the last few things into the bag that held her most important Magickal items.