Page 66 of The Dragon Queen

Then I must go to him.

I stopped perfectly still as a growing horror crept over me. I shivered, pulling the bedclothes closer, but they wouldn’t help. Gods, I’d been a terrible partner. I’d done little to comfort him, help him with his grief, too preoccupied with everything else that was going on. I had no idea how the queens of old managed their men, because I was failing utterly at it.

I must make amends. I stared down at Glimmer.We can call one of the dragons and set off for Skane, catch up with him if we fly fast enough.She listened carefully, but didn’t comment, and that felt like a recrimination of sorts.Glimmer, we must go.

Cloud Raker likes it when I rake my claws across his spines, she replied.

What?

He gets very itchy around the base of them, and if I am up there, I use my claws to ease that itch.I shook my head, unable to understand why this was relevant, but she forged on.But Glacier likes it when I sleep between his claws. That way he can rest his head against mine and know where I am when he rests.

I’m sure there’s a point to this story. Gods…I slapped a hand over my mouth, but there were no words I needed to shove back down my throat, retracted.I’m sorry, continue.

Wraith likes to curl around me, turning his tail into a nest, then spread his wing out to give me shelter. Obsidian just likes to watch me.She paused for a second, staring out the window.He seems reticent sometimes to push for anything more, and that is something I will need to address as I grow older. Darkspire?She cocked her head to one side.He’s just glad for the company, any company. Acid breathing dragons are often ostracised by others of our kind. His breath is one of the few weapons we can possess that can strip the meat from our bones. He had a bond with the wing due to his rider, but now he gets to sleep with them, eat with them, be a part of something.

I think I understood what she was telling me, but rather than shoot my mouth off again, I stayed quiet.

Every single one of them needs more than I can give them, she said.Cloudy’s spines are always itchy. Glacier always gets concerned when he can’t seeme. Darkspire gets terribly lonely each time he’s forced to move away from our flight and attend to his rider’s business.If I let them, they would buffet my mind with all their wants, big or small.Her eyes were like coins of gold, though twice as bright.Every one is important, valid, and yet I am not able to fulfil them all, not even if I ignore my own needs.

So you’re telling me my situation is the same?I asked.

Isn’t it? Your mates will always need more than you have to give. They know it, you know it, and yet everyone still chooses to stay together. Should you seek to make them happy when you can? Of course. It’s what I do. At the very least, it creates cohesion between the members of the flight.

I shook my head, unable to stop myself from smiling at her imperious manner. Ever the queen, was Glimmer. That thought had the smile fading away. She knew she was a queen from the moment she was born, but I was still learning my role. That was what I needed to focus on. What could I do going forward to become more of a queen?

You might deal with the women clustered outside your door.Glimmer let out a huff.Their minds are very busy. Darkspire’s rider instructed them to come to your rooms and help instruct you on the ways of the human court, and so that’s what they are waiting to do.She sounded decidedly grumpy now.They are torn between knocking on your door and requesting your presence or letting you sleep in.She snuggled down into the bedding.I vote for the last thing.

But I apparently had duties I needed to attend to. I cleaned myself up and dressed quickly, marching over to the bedroom door dressed in my uniform.

“Oh…!” A finely dressed lady stood there, caught in the midst of knocking on the door. “Highness, I mean, Majesty.”

She dropped down into a deep bow and I searched my mind, trying to remember what I was supposed to do in turn, as all the other women did the same.

“Good morning to you all,” I said, gesturing for them to rise. “I believe you’ve been sent here to introduce me to the ways of court?”

“Ye-es.” The woman wore a flustered expression as she looked back at the other ladies. “I apologise, Majesty. This would normally be the duties of the Duchess of Skane and?—”

“She’s still to be confirmed in her position.” My welcoming smile faded. “And is otherwise occupied by the funeral of the former duke and his family. I am Pippa.” I held out my hand. “Pippin to my friends.”

“Lady Pippa…” The woman shook her head. “Queen Pippa… Majesty.”

“Perhaps just Pippa?” I suggested.

The woman let out a little sigh.

“Pippa, I am Lady Oxford. A very distant relative of the Duke of Tharfield.” Her cheeks flushed bright pink. “May the gods rest his soul. This is Lady Brimsley and Lady Flora…”

I was introduced to each one in turn, the names all blurring together. I knew I’d need prompting to remember them, but I made a show of nodding in greeting to each woman.

“Well, ladies, perhaps you could show me around the palace? I admit I haven’t had a chance to inspect much of it.”

“You’ve been helping with the war effort.” Lady Oxford had kind eyes, and perhaps that’s what led to her hand landing on my arm. She seemed to think better of it the minute she touched my sleeve, her eyes going wide.

“Unfortunately, yes,” I replied, giving her hand a squeeze before she pulled back. “I mean, I saw a little of it when I was first brought here and rejected by Queen Raina.”

“That was a terrible business.” Lady Flora’s voice was all concern, but I knew a gossip when I saw one. “To reject the rider of a queen dragon? Perhaps it was the gods themselves that put an end to her reign, for the sin of hubris.”

“Perhaps,” I said. “Now, the palace?”

---