“Pathetic,” she sighed.
“Are you always this hard on yourself?” the dragon asked. Yes. The helpful, one-eyed man with hair the color of steel turned out to be another dragon. The Southlands seemed to be riddled with them. Like decadence.
Not that Elina minded. The dragons were friendly enough. And this dragon was being more than helpful. Plus, she knew his instruction wasn’t offered out of pity. He just understood what she was going through and was trying to help.
“Yes,” Elina replied to his question. “I am always hard on myself.”
“Don’t be. You’ll be able to adjust. It’ll just take some time.”
He stood behind Elina and gently turned her shoulders. “Your dominant eye may be gone, but you can train the eye that you have left to fill that spot. But you’ll need to do things a little differently. For instance, you’ll need to adjust your sights when you’re aiming and—”
“Yoo-hoo!”
“Oh, for shit’s sake,” the dragon grumbled. “She found us.”
“There you two are! I’ve been looking just everywhere for you!”
The beautiful redhead rushed up to them, her grin wide and eager.
“Princess Keita,” the dragon began, “this is Elina Shestakova of the Black Bear Riders of the Midnight Mountains of Despair in the Far Reaches of the Steppes of the Outerplains.” He faced Elina and, smiling, said, “And Elina Shestakova of the Black Bear Riders of the Midnight Mountains of Despair in the Far Reaches of the Steppes of the Outerplains, this is Keita the Viper: Princess of the Royal House of Gwalchmai fab Gwyar, Second-Born Daughter and Fifth-Born Offspring to the White Dragon Queen of the Southlands, Protector of The Throne, and Bound Mate to Ragnar, Dragonlord Chief of the Olgeirsson Horde.”
Keita narrowed blue eyes at the dragon. “Was that really necessary, Curled Horns?”
His grin did not falter. “It felt necessary and good. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to working with Elina Shestakova of the—”
“Do not bore me with that ridiculously long name yet again!” the royal roared. Then, just as quickly, her rage turned into the sweetest smile Elina had ever seen, which did nothing but make Elina reach for another arrow and step back from her.
“In light of your recent tragedy—”
“If it is such tragedy, why do you smile at me like viper you were named for?”
“That’s an excellent question,” Gaius said. “Why, Keita?”
“Quiet,” she snapped at Gaius Domitus, before turning her focus back on Elina. “I smile because I have a wonderful gift for you.”
She crouched down in the beautiful gown she wore and spread out a silk cloth. On top of the cloth, she laid down several other pieces of cloth in varying colors and designs.
“Here.”
“What is that?” Elina asked.
“An array of eye patches! In festive colors and styles! Perfect for an on-the-go Daughter of the Steppes such as yourself.”
Elina looked over at Gaius Domitus and he immediately replied, “Yes. She’s quite serious.”
“Pick one,” the royal urged. “Go on.”
Putting the arrow she held back in her quiver, Elina reached down and grabbed hold of a simple black eye patch.
“Not that one,” the royal snapped, slapping Elina’s hand.
Elina dropped the eye patch and reached for another arrow, but Gaius caught hold of her wrist. “No.”
“But—”
“No. Believe it or not, she’s favored amongst her dragon kin. Killing her will win you no friends.”
The dragon gave the smallest tilt of his head, gesturing to the royal. With a disgusted eye roll and sigh—because she knew exactly what he was suggesting she do—Elina said, “Why do you not pick one for me, Princess.”
“Oh!” she trilled like an annoying bird Elina wanted to beat to death with a tiny battering ram. “What a lovely idea! Now, let’s see. You know, there are just so many choices with your skin color and hair. You are such a lucky girl!”
“Except for whole losing-eye thing, yes?”
Gaius snorted and quickly glanced away, but if the royal noticed, she didn’t mention it. Instead, she finally picked a bright blue patch. “Here! This will go perfectly with the eye you still have in your head!”
The royal stood and quickly removed the bandages that had been around Elina’s head. She tsk’d a bit. “Will these scars fade with time? You should talk to Morfyd. I’m sure she can help with that.”
“My patience wanes, royal!”
“All right, all right! No need to get snappy!”
She carefully placed the eye patch on Elina, stopping several times to adjust it, before she stood back, her hands clasped together. “That’s perfect! Absolutely adorable!”
“Yes. Because that is what Daughters of Steppes strive for—adorableness.”
Gaius lowered his head and began to scrub his face with his hands, but Elina sensed it was only to hide his laughter.
“Ho, sister!” Elina heard Kachka call out. “Look at what I have gotten us for dinner!”
Elina moved around Gaius and watched her sister dragging the buffalo she’d taken down with one shot, the arrow still buried in its neck, blood still pouring.
Her sister’s smile was wide and huge until she saw Elina; then she stopped, frowned. “What is that on your face?”