Page 91 of The Dragon Queen

Stopping for even a second was a mistake. My body screamed at the effort it took to pick the bucket up, my head throbbing traitorously.It demanded rest, and I was just as determined to ignore it. We both lost in that moment because when I forced my feet to move, the sucking mud had me misjudging my steps. With a little yelp, I lurched forward, the bucket going flying, all the water splashing wide, right as I went crashing down.

I couldn’t hold back the tears when I face planted in the mud. The way my whole body vibrated with the shock of slapping down on the earth, the resulting wave of pain, it was all it took to break me. I jerked my head up, flashbacks of similar scenes, of sliding and falling over in the pig shit stained mud, hit me hard and that’s all it took to start me crying. One tear, another, they burned their way out of my eye sockets, even as I stifled my cries as I tried to claw myself upwards.

But there was a crucial difference to the time I slipped in the pig hut mud.

Ged was there, scooping me up and into his arms, even as I protested about the mess I was making of his uniform. I wanted to get back on my feet, to keep helping, and I said as much as he carried me over to the general’s tent. All the powerful men inside looked up when Ged entered.

“Majesty, Pippin has been helping the healers in the field hospital and has had a mishap.” My cheeks flushed bright red, only an awareness of how it would look keeping me from burying my face in Ged’s chest. “Permission to take her to get cleaned up.”

“There’s a lake not far from here,” Flynn offered. “Glacier spotted it on our way in, wanting to guarantee a water source so he and the other water dragons can keep the dragonfire on ice.”

“Then it appears our discussion is at an end for the night, gentlemen.” Draven got to his feet and drew closer. “Search flights will take place in the morning to try to see if we can find the hostages.”

“Majesty, you’ll need a guard detail if you’re going to leave the vicinity,” the general said between gritted teeth. “We are in enemy territory. If I could suggest?—”

“My wing will accompany me,” Draven replied. “They’ve kept me safe thus far. I’m sure they can keep the queen and me fromharm. Sleep, gentlemen, because we will all be flying far and wide in the morning.”

“So, what happened to going to sleep?” Brom asked under his breath as soon as we got away from the tent.

“How could I rest…?” My voice trailed away as I looked over at the field hospital, still able to hear the sounds of people’s pain. “When people are hurting.”

“We have to rest,” Draven replied, “to ensure more aren’t hurt in the future.” He turned to Flynn. “Show us this lake. It’s going to be a very cold, very bitter bath, but one we all need.”

“Pippin, you’ve got to promise not to look when I get in the water,” Ged told me earnestly.

“Worried that your manhood will shrivel up and drop off?” Flynn said with a grin.

“You have to promise.” Ged set me on Cloudy’s saddle and then got on behind me. “Remember me how I really am.”

“You can look at me instead,” Flynn said. “I’m a grower and a shower.”

“Enough talk of each other’s penises.” Soren looked around with a scowl. “Here someone might hear you, and at the lake, I will, and I don’t want to. Anyway.” He pulled himself into Wraith’s saddle. “I’ve got both of you beat.”

They had seduced me with kind words and sensuous caresses before, but never with ribald jokes. I shook my head as I smiled despite myself. What had happened today still weighed on my heart, but for now, it could coexist with a feeling that despite it all, we still had each other.

“Show me this lake,” I said finally, noting that I had all of their attention. “The waters could be as cold as a witch’s tit, but being clean would be better than I am right now.”

“You heard my queen,” Draven said. “Show us the way.”

Chapter 44

"I don’t really need to bathe,” I said as Ged slid off Cloudy’s back. The red dragon’s head turned around and he sniffed the air. Could a dragon look disgruntled? Apparently, he could as he jerked back. “The mud is drying. I can just brush it off.”

“Take the opportunity while you can, Pippin.” Soren appeared at my side and held out his arms to help me down. “We’ll be living off the land until this damned conflict is resolved. Who knows when we’ll get another chance to bathe.” He produced a bar of soap wrapped in printed paper, the smell of lavender drawing me closer. “I even brought some of that soap you liked with us.”

“From the palace?” I brought the bar to my nose, breathing in the sweet scent. “Gods, Soren, you did this for me?”

“Of course, lass.” Moving towards me took some effort. It was as if the roles we’d been given were standing in the way of us, but he pushed past them. “While these idiots were clowning around and not getting their bags packed, I made sure to include a few special things.”

A loofah of all things emerged from his jacket.

“And you can come and scrub my back with it, Pippin,” Flynn said, now naked and plucking it from Soren’s grip as he ran past.

“You little…”

I grinned at the sound of the sergeant’s growl, but their energy was infectious. I started to pull my soiled uniform off when a strong pair of hands knocked mine away.

“Let me.” Ged stood before me, completely naked, goosebumps standing up all down his arms. “I won’t get an opportunity to do this once we’re back at camp, so let me now.”

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