Page 38 of The Ruby Dragon Prince
I roared and shot fire at him again, losing my temper in earnest. My intention was to burn Groswick to a crisp, but my flames spread out to the sides, like an invisible shield protected the bastard.
I was confused until Tovey called out, “Don’t hurt him!”
I twisted to send him a confused look.
“I don’t want you to have blood on your hands,” Tovey said. “And besides, a quick death is too good for him. There are betterways to punish Lord Groswick and to make an example of him in the process.”
I didn’t mind having the bastard’s blood on my hands, but the idea of worse punishments than death for the wrongs that Groswick had committed intrigued me.
“Yes, yes!” Groswick cried out, shuffling forward on his knees, his hands clasped, as if in prayer, in front of him. “Listen to the omega. Mercy. Show me mercy.”
“You insult my mate by calling him names and now you appeal to him for mercy?” I boomed.
“Yes, mercy, mercy!” Groswick wept.
“We need to take him to my father,” Tovey said, righteousness radiating from him. I wasn’t certain what good it was to take one villain to another for punishment, until Tovey went on with, “He must confess his plot to steal from the farmers and turn them against each other publicly. Everyone in the kingdom needs to know of the duplicity that Lord Groswick and my father have planned.”
I grinned, understanding what Tovey intended. Groswick’s public confession and implication of King Freslik could save the farmers and weaken the king’s iron grip on his people.
“As you command, my omega,” I said, lowering my head in a show of obedience.
It was partly for show. I wanted Groswick to see that Tovey had power, that I would do whatever he commanded me. It was partly because Tovey actually did command me and I would move heaven and earth in all the worlds to make him happy.
“I will confess all,” Groswick said, sobbing and groveling. “Just let me live.”
“Maybe,” I said, then pushed off the ground.
Groswick gasped and choked as he watched me rise up in front of him, then screamed as I swung around and grasped him in my claws. I launched into the air as he flailed and screamed,like he believed I might drop him at any moment. I wouldn’t, of course. Unless Tovey ordered me to.
We flew to the edge of the city before landing. It would do no good for everyone to see a dragon swooping through the streets. I could conceal myself and those I carried if we were at a distance, but it required too much magic to remain hidden from the eyes of everyone in the city at close quarters.
I landed and quickly transformed back into my human form, conjuring clothing, too, once I’d dropped Groswick. Tovey was still on my back, but he untangled himself and stood on his own by my side, laughing as if we’d been out for a playful ride.
Groswick tried to run, but I lunged and grabbed him, saying, “Oh no, you don’t. You’re going to march ahead of us, declaring your duplicity for everyone to hear.”
“I…I….” Groswick shivered in fear, his eyes wide and glassy.
“Tell me about my father’s plan to tax the farmers,” Tovey said, stepping forward and glaring at the man.
It was just the prompt Groswick needed.
“The plan was to increase the tax on non-alpha farmers and female alpha farmers to eighty percent of their yield after the king made a declaration that only male alpha farmers have the right to own more than an acre of land. Anyone who disobeyed the command would be penalized more, and rewards were to be given for any alpha who reported on their neighbors.”
Tovey made a sound of disgust. I could feel his anger as if it were my own.
“Say that,” Tovey said, pointing forward toward the street leading into the city. “I want you to walk into the city, repeating your and my father’s horrible plan as loudly as you can to all who we encounter.”
“But…but people will be angry,” Groswick said.
“Of course they will be angry,” Tovey shouted. “Your plan is evil and elitist. You would impoverish anyone who does notconform to your narrow definition of entitlement and you would turn neighbor against neighbor.”
“It is the way of things,” Groswick wept, trembling like a leaf. “Alphas are better than anyone else. Men are better than women.”
I huffed and shook my head. The man believed what he was saying, regardless of how vile it was. It would take more than one act of bravery on Tovey’s part to change the minds of people whose minds were in such darkness as Lord Groswick’s was.
“March!” I shouted, pointing Groswick into the city. “And speak as you march.”
Groswick appealed to Tovey, but Tovey, too, pointed forward, ordering Groswick forward.
