“Those were hurtful words. I didn’t eat for hours after he said that to me.”
“Brothers who have always had your back in combat. And a father who loved you enough to teach you to kill without compunction or care.”
“And your point?”
“My point is that you’ve been protected all your life. I don’t hold it against you. You grew up with a family that loved you and cared for you and ensured your safety while I, when barely born, was ruthlessly ripped from my mother’s arms and held captive until taken by three rough-and-ready soldiers and forced to travel from town to town, city to city, until I could be reunited with my mother years and years later—all that is not something I’d ever hold against you.”
“Yes. I see you not holding it against me. And by the way, you’ve mastered your mother’s guilting skills brilliantly.”
“I am not trying to guilt—”
“Guilt!”
“I’m done with this conversation.”
“Good.” Éibhear pulled his travel bag over his shoulders. “Let’s go then.”
“Éibhear, you’re not listening to me.”
“I often don’t, but it’s nothing personal.” He shrugged. “So . . . you ready to go?”
Izzy looked around the room. What she was looking for, he didn’t know. “All right,” she said, grabbing her own travel bag. “Let’s go!”
Éibhear’s eyes narrowed. She’d given up way too easily for Izzy, but she was already walking out of the chamber, so he had to follow.
They asked for and received extra food and water for their travels and a more accurate map of the lands. Once back topside, Éibhear said, “We’ll only have a few hours of travel before the suns come up, but that’s better than nothing.”
“Okay.”
Éibhear stripped off his clothes and shifted to his natural form. Once he shook out his wings, he lowered his body down and said, “Get on.”
Instead of coming to him, though, Izzy just stood there, staring. And staring. Until Éibhear knew exactly what she was trying to tell him without saying a word.
Éibhear shook his head, adamant. “No.”
“Then we should begin walking now.”
“That will take forever.”
“I won’t leave him. He was there when we needed him.”
“I’m not a horse, Izzy.”
“I know. I would never have asked Dai to carry Macsen.”
Gods, she was horrible. Just downright horrible. But some days she couldn’t help herself.
The dragon turned his head away. “I’ll not do it. I’ll not bring that dog anywhere.”
“All right.” Izzy picked up her travel bag, slinging it over her shoulder. “Come on, Macsen.” She started to walk. “We’ll meet you at Sefu in a few weeks or so, Éibhear.”
“You’ll never last out here if you can’t find a cave to stay in during the day. The suns will burn the skin from your back.”
“My people are from here.”
“They also travel by horse.”
“I’m sure I have some natural defense. But you can go.”
“You know I won’t leave you, Izzy.”
“Then you won’t leave us.”
“You can’t seriously expect me to bring that bloody dog.”
“I’ll not leave him, Éibhear. I’ll not leave my Macsen.”
“Your Mac—” He gritted his fangs together. “Fine.”
Izzy stopped. “Fine what?”
“I’ll bring . . . that.”
She faced him. “You promise not to throw him off your back when we’re in flight?”
“Off my back?”
“Well, you’re not bringing him in your claw.”
“Izzy—”
“We’re walking.” She started off again.
“All right! All right!” She heard him sigh. It did really take all the strength she’d built up over the years to stop herself from rolling on the ground with laughter. “I’ll take him.”
“And you promise not to throw him off your back?”
“I promise.”
“Or just leave him anywhere because that will really—”
“I’ll guard the little bastard with my life. Now can we just go? Please?”
“All right.” She headed back toward him, gesturing to her dog. “Take a break, Macsen.”
The dog took off and began to circle around Éibhear. While he did, Izzy grabbed hold of Éibhear’s hair and pulled herself onto his back. Once she was settled, she noticed that Macsen had slowed down until he was right by Éibhear’s back leg, his own leg lifted. She didn’t think the dragon had noticed until his long neck suddenly stretched down, his snout pushing into Macsen’s. “Piss on my leg and that’ll be the last thing you ever do with that penis.”
Slowly, Macsen lowered his leg, walked a few feet away, and pissed in the sand. When he was done, he came back and, with a mighty sigh, Éibhear used his tail to place the dog on his back right in front of Izzy.
With her hands holding onto Macsen’s hips, she got him to lie down. “We’re ready.”
Éibhear’s wings unfurled, but before he took off he said, “If you tell anyone about this—”