Page 408 of Kingdoms of Night

“That’s just stealing creatively,” Werian said. “What do you want, good sir?” he called out over the water as the dragon circled above. Werian’s fae voice somehow carried powerfully across the noise of the waves and sails.

Dame Brune blew a whistle three times and the dragon flew lower, its tail brushing the edge of the mainsail. Several of the crew on theNucklavee’s Daughterwhispered curses and prayers in turn.

“We were wondering if you’d …visitedany new islands out this way,” Seigneur said through a conical speaking tube.

Ursane stood on his other side, her tall frame and the way she stood an echo of Isa’s nightmares. Surely, she couldn’t see this far in this harsh light…

Rhianne cut a look at Werian.

“No, good sir,” Werian lied. “I didn’t think there was a landing spot anywhere until one sailed to Skyedon Ash or west to Reyvik.”

“Ah. Of course. My mistake,” Seigneur said. “Travel safely.” He turned to shout orders to the crew.

“How did he get a new ship so fast, Isa?” Nico blinked at her and she pushed him behind Rhianne just in case.

“When you have money,” she said, “you can do a great deal that seems impossible. Hence the dragon.”

Nico nodded. He was a little green. “Do you think they saw us?”

“No. The ships were too far apart,” Isa answered, “and we had our disguises on. We’re safe.”

The dragon shrieked above them, sending chills down Isa’s back. Her dreams of dragons hadn’t been vivid enough. This dragon was glorious—the bright color, the coiling strength in its body… It was frightening, but also so very beautiful. She felt such a pull toward the creature, an empathy. She wished with her whole heart that the dragon wasn’t with the horrible Brunes and was instead flying free in the mountains of Balaur, where she had been born.

A sharp sound pierced the air and the dragon turned sharply and flew toward the Brunes’ new ship.

“She’s using a whistle to control the dragon,” Rhianne said.

“What did they do to that dragon to make it obey?” Feeling sick to her stomach, Isa watched the creature wheel toward them, then land on an upper deck that seemed designed for that purpose exactly.

“I don’t want to know,” Werian muttered. “But this changes things.”

“What do you mean?” Isa handed the short crewman his patch and kerchief, thanking him.

John picked up Nico and pulled his cap lower on the boy’s face to make him giggle.

“Those beasts are headed for the dryad island,” Werian said. He began giving quick orders to John, who then repeated and detailed them to the crew.

“But surely the wards that kept everyone from seeing it are back up?”

Isa remembered that the storm had broken the magic.

“I would think so,” Rhianne said. “So what is going through your head, darling?” she asked Werian, who had returned to her side.

“Well, we can trail the Brunes and inform them that if they harm the dryad elves in any way, the full force of the Agate Court will strike them.” His gaze flicked to Isa.

“Why would you do that?” Isa asked.

“Because you care for the lad,” Werian said, his eyes going soft. Then he faced the direction of the island. “And people like the Brunes should be shown they can’t sail about the world terrorizing and taking what they want.”

“What’s our plan?” Rhianne asked.

“I’ll take down the dragon as gently as possible. I can heal the creature afterward if I manage to shoot him down over land. You, my love, use your witch fire on that woman with the whistle.”

“Aim for her heart,” Isa said, recalling Nico’s bruises. She wasn’t even a little bit sorry.

Nico nodded, his eyes narrowed.

Werian put a hand on Nico’s shoulder like Nico was a fellow warrior and not a small boy. Nico stood straighter, pride shining in his bright blue eyes.

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