“It’s not true.”
“Then why so many cautions from Bram the Merciful? He looked ready to come with us, or to replace you entirely with ten-year-old boy who cannot stand his golden-haired father.”
“My father—my parents—respect the work I do.”
“The work you do? You mean looking pretty? Because you are very pretty when human.”
“I don’t just look pretty. I have a sacred, honored duty to protect our queen.”
“She is nearly size of mountain she lives in when she is dragon. I doubt Queen Rhiannon needs anyone’s protection. Least of all from pretty but chatty dragon.”
“It’s an honor to serve the Dragon Queen. One I was awarded after cutting my fangs in battle as dragon and human.”
“I notice you did not get any scars on your pretty face. Even Annwyl the Bloody has scars on face.”
“Because at one time she used to be so busy destroying everything around her, it never occurred to her to protect her face. But I, personally, prefer having my face in one piece and my brain still in my skull.”
“I do not know why you get so angry. There is no shame for male to have pretty face. It is better for you. Warrior female will notice you and make you one of her husbands one day.”
“What?”
“No warrior wants to come home to hut full of ugly husbands. Yes, a few ugly ones who can hunt, protect children and weaker, older tribesmen, and make sure everything runs smoothly. But the rest should be pretty. So a warrior is glad to be home after day of hacking and killing.”
“You can stop talking now.”
“You said you want to chat.”
“Not anymore!”
She shrugged. “Fine. No need to bellow.”
Elina had a wonderful ten minutes of silence before the dragon couldn’t stand it anymore.
“So how many husbands can a woman have?”
“One,” she sighed out, deciding not to try to silence him again. “Unless she brings in much gold and cattle from raids. Then she can have as many husbands as she likes.”
“I see.”
“Anne Atli has fifty-four husbands.”
The dragon slowly turned his head toward her, eyes wide. “That sounds like a lot.”
“She does not seem to mind.”
“But you don’t have a husband yet?”
Elina shook her head, her gaze focused on the stream. “No. I have nothing to entice a man. No raids. No bounty on my head. No one fears me.” She looked him in the eyes. “As far as the tribes are concerned, I am nothing.”
“But you’re cute.”
“I am . . . cute?”“Aye. Cute. In the Southlands, cute can get you a baron and a full staff.”
Elina didn’t bother to hide her disgust. “That is appalling.”
“It works for some.”
“Even Annwyl?”
“Annwyl?” The dragon shook his head. “Gods, no. She gained her power by taking her brother’s head. He deserved it, though. He was a right bastard. Eventually Rhiannon would have had him killed. She loathed his father, so she wasn’t going to go through another reign like that.”
“Rhiannon cares much for the humans then?”
“She doesn’t like anyone tormenting her cattle. It makes the meat tough.” When Elina only stared at him, the dragon said, “Just kidding.”
“No. You do not kid.”
“No,” he admitted. “I don’t. But Rhiannon has come a long way,” he went on quickly. “Now she wants to protect all her kin, including the human ones. And especially her grand-offspring.”
“Which is why I will help her.”
“It won’t be easy for you, though, will it?”
Elina thought a moment. She didn’t trust or even like this dragon, but she should be honest with him. In case things didn’t work out.
“No. Getting past Glebovicha is one thing. Even if I do that, I will still need to convince the Anne Atli that an alliance with the decadent Southlanders is worth her time. That will be very hard. She, too, has no respect for the Southland people.”
“What if we have proof?”
“Proof? What kind of proof?”
“Look,” he said, turning his human body so he was facing her directly, his knees brushing against her leg as he moved. “We could help each other here.”
“Help each other? What do you need help with?”
“I am not Fal. I will never be Fal.”
Elina frowned. “Who is this Fal?”
“He’s my brother. A lazy, worthless, idiotic dragon . . . I love him dearly.”
“Yes. That I can see. So very clearly.”
Ignoring her sarcasm, the dragon went on, “But I need to prove to my parents that I am not some pathetic dragon that needs to be hidden away. I have bigger goals than that.”
“What goals?”
He stared at her for such a long moment that she thought it was some big secret he was afraid to tell. Until he admitted, “I’m working on that.”
Elina cringed and asked, “What do you propose, Dolt?”
“When you came here, you avoided populated areas, didn’t you? Cities, towns, anywhere with people?”
Elina nodded. “Considering what I was tasked to do, it seemed logical not to make my presence known.”
“Well, I think on our journey back, we should travel through as many towns as we can.”