City in Ruins (14 page)

Startled, I glanced his way, watching the way
the wind touched his face, pulling his red hair across his
cheeks.

He nudged me. “You’ve sacrificed a lot for your
people and for mine. I’ll always be grateful.” He eyed me. “I vow
to protect you,” his gaze dropped to my midsection, “and those who
belong to you until your mortal death.”

My heart soared, and I nudged him back. “You
know too much, Lochlen.” My head shook. “It’s eerie how you always
seem to know so much.”

He winked. “There are spies
everywhere.”

I thought of the sea, of the way I’d stumbled
to the prince’s cabin the night before. There were always creatures
aboard a ship, rodents living alongside humans. As a dragon,
Lochlen had always had the ability to understand nature as well as
me.

My face heated.

Lochlen chuckled. “I never take more
information than I need.” He peered down at me. “How do you fare?”
His second question was softer, genuine concern riding just beneath
the words.

Leaning into him, I whispered, “My heart
hurts.”

Lochlen’s arm rose, the weight of it settling
across my shoulders. “You are a great mortal,” he told me. “Know
this: dragons revere their females. We know their importance, what
they mean for our survival. Our females are fiercer than the
males.”

In his way, Lochlen was telling me I was brave.
But I didn’t feel so brave. Mostly, I just felt scared.

“Get ready to take her in!”
his
voice
shouted.

My face stayed forward, letting the sound of
his command wrap me in its embrace.

Chapter 18

The Isle of Marr was everything Reenah promised
and more. The water below the ship was as smooth and translucent as
glass, the sandy beaches as white as snow. Strange-looking trees
with wide leaves and brown fruit lined the sand. These trees spoke
to me, but they sounded different somehow from the trees back
home.

“Welcome, little one!”
they called.

I almost waved at them, stopping just short of
screaming a greeting in return.

“It’s beautiful,” Maeve gasped.

Colors surrounded us, most of them bright and
blinding. Olive-skinned natives approached us, their friendly wide
eyes surveying us. The weapon on my back felt heavy and ridiculous
faced with the affable islanders.

“Are there no forests?” Oran asked.

I repeated his question aloud.

“They’re further inland,” Daegan said, joining
us. “One of the sailors told me the island was formed by a volcano,
and that it’s still occasionally active. The further you walk
inland, the steeper the island becomes with forests and waterfalls
lining the side of the volcano.”

“One of the sailors told you, huh?” Maeve
grumbled.

Daegan grinned, nudging her. “Oh, ho! Do I hear
a wee bit of jealousy in your tone?” Maeve punched the side of his
arm, and he winked at her. “I’ll make it a point to visit you when
we return to the ship now that I know I’ve been missed so
much.”

Maeve groaned.

“This place feels funny,” Oran complained. “It
smells and tastes funny, too.”

My gaze fell to his. “What do you
mean?”

His black eyes peered up at me. “Too many
smiles.”

My gaze searched the beach. Wooden stands were
set up along the sands, each one promising a different ware;
fruits, sweetmeats, pottery, beaded jewelry, turquoise, seashells,
and more. Children ran along the surf, their laughter filling the
air, mingling with the sound of yelling merchants and snorting
livestock.

“I’ve always loved the Isle of
Marr,” Princess Catriona sighed as she joined us on the gangplank.
Her
herrnos
stared
at the island, their hands resting on their curved
swords.

The
Beatrice’
s sailors filed off of the
ship, some of them with supply lists and others with naught more
than a good time on their minds, prepared to spend an eventful,
relaxing night on the island.

“Watch your pockets,” SeeVan warned, his eyes
on the exiting crew. “Marr is known for its pickpockets, most of
‘em children. Sneaky little bastards they are.”

“Hungry more like it,” a sailor murmured as he
brushed past.

My gaze followed them.

Pausing next to his Quartermaster, his gaze on
the village before us, Prince Cadeyrn added, “Be aware. There are
nasty side businesses on this island. Mercenaries, slave runners,
and pirating. It’s best if the women travel in groups should you go
ashore.”

Catriona snorted. “I’m bloody hell not staying
on the ship.”

“Cat!” Gryphon admonished as he
sauntered toward us, his gaze skirting mine before finding the
princess. “You’ll be safe with your
herrnos
, and most slaver traders and
pirates aren’t looking for pregnant women.”

“No, but there are enemies who’d be
interested in royal ransom. Stay with your
herrnos
, Catriona,” the prince warned,
his eyes sharp.

Disregarding them all, the princess loped down
the gangplank, her guards rushing after her.

Cadeyrn threw Gryphon a look, “Watch her,” he
ordered.

Gryphon’s head bowed, his eyes glinting as he
followed in her wake. I didn’t miss the gleam in my brother’s eyes,
and I was pretty sure Cadeyrn didn’t either.

“Come,” Deagan told Maeve, pulling on her arm.
“I’ve got you covered, and you could use some time on
land.”

After a bit of grumbling, and a glance in my
direction, she followed Daegan into the village.

“Ye’re a might bit touched in the head letting
that comrade of yours follow your wife,” SeeVan balked, his gaze on
Cadeyrn.

Oran, Reenah, Lochlen, SeeVan, Cadeyrn and I
were the only ones left on the ship.

Cadeyrn’s hand fell to his sword, his fingers
brushing the hilt. “I never expected loyalty from Catriona, V. You
know that. She and Gryphon already share a history. If he keeps her
safe, and they’re careful with their dalliance, then I won’t forbid
it. The only thing I promised Henderonia was an heir.”

His words cut deep, and I inhaled, my eyes
wandering the shore.

Stepping next to me, Reenah clutched my arm.
“If you’re willing to be seen with a fellow consort, bring that
dragon and wolf of yours, and we’ll explore.” She
winked.

I fingered the bow on my back, my senses
alert.

“There’s no danger,”
the trees called.

My brows furrowed, my gaze shooting to Lochlen.
“I’m not sure I trust the trees here. There’s something off about
them.”

SeeVan’s eyes widened. “The trees?”

Reenah waved her hand. “It’s a thing they have
going.”

I was becoming as paranoid as Cadeyrn, but last
night had been a chance for me to help my kingdom, the memory as
embedded in my heart as it was full of hope, and I didn’t want to
chance anything. I’d made a choice, and I didn’t regret
it.

Cadeyrn’s shadow fell over us, his gaze on the
top of my head, his hand resting against my shoulder. His touch
sent a jolt of fire through me, sparks of warmth pooling in my
midsection.

“What do you sense?” he asked.

My breath caught, my pulse racing, but I forced
the feelings away.

“I’m not sure it’s the island,” I said finally.
“Something just feels off.” I’d had a similar feeling the night of
the betrothal ball in Sadeemia when the wyvers had attacked the
palace.

SeeVan cleared his throat. “We’ve got a meeting
with that Gadden merchant fella, Cap’n.”

Cadeyrn nodded, releasing me, his gaze swinging
to the dragon. A look passed between them. “I expect the women to
return to the ship by nightfall,” the prince ordered. “As for the
crew, they have free rein until morning.”

With that, they departed. My gaze followed them
as they walked the gangplank. Cadeyrn’s shoulders were back, his
eyes surveying the crowd. He was a proud man, a good ruler with a
good heart and a firm knowledge of politics and battle. He’d lost
much, but he’d also won his position and the respect I saw in his
men’s eyes. It didn’t matter that to the monarchies of the Nine
Kingdoms, Cadeyrn was something of a human stud horse, his blood
lines and power craved by many. To his men, he was a warrior. He’d
bled with them, he’d fought with them, and he’d lost as much in the
wars he’d fought as the men he stood next to on the
field.

My war, Medeisia’s war, was one of
many he’d taken on for his country and for the countries he called
ally. My respect for him stemmed from the fact that he’d chosen to
fight with us, that he’d not laughed at me when I’d stood to lead a
people I had no royal power to control. He’d simply opened his
door, listened, and then given my people hope. While he was in a
position to fight many wars, I fought only one. In the end, with
Kye gone, the fight for the control of Medeisia was turning into a
fight
by
the
people
for
the
people, royal blood or no.

“Come!” Reenah insisted, her eyes bright with
excitement.

She hurried down the gangplank, her slippers
making little sound on the wood. I followed more slowly, my eyes
searching the crowd the same way Cadeyrn’s had, Lochlen at my back
and Oran at my feet.

People milled around us, closing us in, the
floral scent of exotic flowers and the heavy scent of foreign food
mixing with the smell of unwashed bodies and heavily perfumed
women.

Reenah held up a piece of yellow fruit, silver
coins clinking as she paid for the slice. Her eyes
glowed.

“Try it!” she insisted. “It’s Golden Marrsfruit
and native to the island.”

Tearing off a piece, she popped it into her
mouth before handing me the remainder. Heavy syrup coated my
fingers, and I took a hesitant bite. Sweet liquid coated the inside
of my mouth, the tangy, saccharine flavor exploding across my
tongue. After weeks eating hard biscuits, preserved meats, and odd
soups, the honeyed taste was even more vivid.

“Right?” Reenah asked, watching my
face.

Licking my fingers, I smiled.

She laughed. “You should see yourself,” she
said.

Across the beach, music played, a man strumming
a piece of wood strung with strings. Women in colorful skirts
danced around him, clapping their hands in unison on every third
twirl, their singing voices rising and falling. I watched
them.

Reenah studied me. “Have you never heard the
sound of a guitar before?”

I shrugged. “Other than the music in Sadeemia
during the betrothal festivities, no. During Raemon’s rule, there
was no music in Medeisia.”

Reenah frowned. “You have no guilds? Nowhere
for people to study music or art.”

My eyes were sad when I glanced at her. “No,
but one day we will.”

Travelers on the beach had gotten caught up in
the music. Women and children squealed as the native performers
drew them into the frolicking dance. Shaggy dogs ducked among the
crowd, families wedged themselves into the shop-ridden sandy
avenue, and seagulls dove along the shore looking for abandoned
food.

“It’s all … so much,” I said for lack of a
better word.

Reenah grinned. “It’s what the world looks
like, Stone.”

For a moment, I was a child again hiding in the
gardens at Forticry watching my stepmother have tea with the wives
of foreign dignitaries, listening to them talk about silk, parties,
and cakes. They’d discussed dancing, romance, and scandal, and I’d
hung on every word. I’d dreamed of adventure.

Until now.

Suddenly, I was seeing the world, and I
realized that as big, beautiful, and mighty as it was, it was
nothing compared to the heart, to the love I had for the forests
back home, to the dreams I had for the people I grew up among,
their ignorance blinding them from music, words, and art. I
realized I enjoyed the small moments more. Moments standing in a
silver-bathed woodland under a full moon, the trees whispering to
me. Moments next to crackling fires watching rebel children chasing
fireflies until their eyes grew too heavy to keep running. Moments
floating inside a hot spring-fed bathing pool inside a dragon’s
cavern. Moments lounging among Archives, the smell of books and
dust heavy in the nose.

“It’s all so loud,” Oran pointed
out.

The wolf pushed against my leg, his size and
unusual appearance drawing attention from people surrounding
us.

“Is that a wolf?” a little girl asked upon
passing.

Her mother glanced at us, her eyes widening as
she pulled her daughter away. “No, just a dog, I’m sure,” the
mother had answered, throwing several parting glares over her
shoulder as they were swallowed up by the crowd.

Reenah led us through the streets, finding
different stands of food for us to try along the way until our
bellies were full, and we’d begun to relax.