“Right now we’re waiting.” She sighed, and her professional mask slipped. “We’re waiting for word. Now that we’ve contained the fae, all we can do is wait.”
“Is there any sign of the children?” Carys asked. “Has anyone been able to?—”
“If the dragons can’t find their own young” —Lachlan’s face was drawn, and it looked like he hadn’t shaved in two days— “it’s highly likely that they’re in heavily warded locations.Barrows. Forts. Judging from the way the attacks occurred, they were likely dispersed.” He glanced at Carys, then looked at Dafydd. “The human children could be glamoured and sleeping under fae mounds we know nothing about and not emerge for a century.”
Carys felt powerless.
That is how they want you to feel.Cadell spoke to her mind.
A moment later, he and two other dragons strode into the hall. “Your Majesty.” He nodded at Dafydd. “Demelza has sensed her young.”
Dafydd rose to his feet. “Where?”
Winnie was still on her feet. “Are there any human children with the dragons? Any wolves?”
“Where?” Dafydd repeated.
Cadell’s gaze was steady. “A fae fort that appeared near Maen Llia.”
“Go. Mared and I will return to Caernarfon. Let Anwyn and Demelza command the wing.”
Cadell’s eyes were burning. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“You and Carys will join her.” Dafydd locked his eyes on Carys. “Gather your things now.”
Lachlan and Duncan both rose to their feet.
“She’s not ready,” Lachlan said.
Duncan said, “I’m going with her.”
“Sit down, both of you,” Dafydd roared. “My niece is nêr ddraig, and she has more magic than both of you. Sit your bloody arses in your chairs.” He glared at Carys. “Leave this world now or join your dragon.”
Carys felt a shivering and terrifying sense of purpose. She’d been training for this. She hadn’t imagined she’d ever be called to actually shoot arrows from a dangling wooden boat in the sky, but she could. In theory.
But more, Cadell had lived his entire life to protect his people, and there was no way she was taking him from this battle. Carys stood. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Thank you, Nêrys.
She met Duncan’s eyes for a brief moment before she walked to Cadell’s side.
Laura was sitting next to Lachlan. She gave Carys a short nod. “Be careful.”
“I will.”
One last glance at Lachlan, then at Duncan.
Carys looked up at Cadell and nodded. “Let’s go.”
The wind was freezing,but all communication was mental. Carys was seated in a small coracle with high sides and strategically placed arrowslits as Cadell’s massive wings surged west toward the southern Cymric Mountains.
She was dressed in leather armor and carrying the bow she’d trained with back in California, but she had a short Cymric bow in reserve.
Two dragons had flown with them from London, and another joined them ten minutes into their journey.
Then another.
And another.