Page 33 of The Shadow Path
Cadell, she called to her dragon in her mind,might be the time to make an entrance.
Don’t move.
“I’ve called to my dragon.” Carys sat back on her horse and waited. “He’s not very far away.” In fact, seconds after she’d called to him, she could feel Cadell approaching.
Lachlan urged his mount forward. “I know your father,” he said. “The wolves of Eskari are clan brothers with the wolves of Yorvik, who border Alban lands. We have no quarrel with you.”
Godrik kept his eyes on Carys, settling back on his right leg with his hands braced on his hips as two wolves came to flank his right and left side. “The Alban chief’s son is a guest of Harold and may pass without warrant through any of the kingswoods.” He nodded at Carys. “She is a foreigner and has no such passage.”
A thundering roar sounded from the air, and seconds later, Carys felt Cadell circling overhead. The dragon let out anotherferocious roar, and Godrik looked up. His eyes went wide, and he looked at Carys again.
“So you’re the one.” He frowned slightly, and then a mask fell over his face and the soldier was all that remained.
Cadell circled the woods, lowering in ever-smaller circles until the dragon landed in a crowded clearing a short distance from the pathway, letting out a gust of hissing steam that blew like heated fog through the trees.
“I didn’t know he could do that,” Carys muttered.
Tell them nothing.Seconds after he landed, a storm-faced Cadell was stomping through the woods, aiming straight for Godrik, who braced himself as a dozen wolves moved into position behind him.
“You doubt my lady’s word?” Cadell snarled at Godrik. “Do the Anglian king’sdogsquestion my lady’s right to walk in a territory where she was invited?” He stood between Carys—who was still sitting on Leuca—and the wolf pack, an angry tower of consternation in green leather armor. “Shehonorsyou with her very presence.”
“Cadell of Eryri.” Godrik inclined his head, holding out his hand as the wolves around him began to pace and snarl. “We have no quarrel with you.”
Cadell pointed at Carys. “If you have quarrel with my nêrys, you have quarrel with me.”
Lachlan swung off his horse and stepped between the two massive men. “Hold, friends. Let us talk in calmer voices.” He looked around at the wolves gathering close. “We are allies, after all.”
Carys leaned forward. “Cadell, should I?—”
“Stay where you are.” The dragon looked at Carys’s horse, and Carys would swear that they were speaking with their minds because Leuca took a careful sidestep toward the path.
“Carys.” Lachlan’s voice was a soothing brush of charm that cut through the tension in the clearing. “You’re fine. We’re all friends here.”
“Do you distrust our ability to reason?” Godrik couldn’t hide his sneer as he took another step toward the dragon. “Or do you distrust your own, dragon?”
It was only then that Carys realized just how tall Godrik was. Until Lachlan stepped between them, she hadn’t noticed, but the wolf was nearly as tall as her dragon but of stockier build.
“I’d like to just point out that the reason you were unhappy with me walking through the forest was because you thought I was Brightkin and a foreigner, and since Cadell has arrived and confirmed that I’m nêrys ddraig, the entire reason for all…thishas now been answered, so…” She waved her arms. “Can we all be happy now?”
Cadell glared at Godrik.
Godrik glared at Cadell.
Lachlan, as imposing as he normally was, looked like the little brother trying to break up a fight.
“What’s this?” A bright voice came from a short distance away. “Godrik, is that you?”
Carys turned and saw a round-faced, cheerful woman with curly blond hair walking up the path. She wore something that looked like a uniform and carried a bow and arrow strapped to her back. “And Lachlan.” She grinned.
Godrik took a step back and bowed to the woman. “Lady Wynnflad. I didn’t realize you were in the wood this morning.”
“Winnie.” Lachlan let out a breath. “Good to see you. I was riding with Carys through the park this morning and we had… a bit of an interruption.”
“Good to see you too. The castle is absolutely buzzing with preparations for the welcome banquet tonight, so I’m trying to escape.” The soldier walked with a light step and a keen eye.She glanced at Cadell, then at Carys on her horse, immediately taking the measure of the situation. “You must be Dafydd’s niece.”
“I am.” Carys decided to offer the woman her name. She didn’t look even a little bit fae. “I’m Carys.” She didn’t need her last name. “And I am Dafydd’s niece. I’m also from the Brightlands.” She gestured toward Cadell. “And this is Cadell, my dragon.”
Godrik took another step back, and the wolves that had been in formation around him sat on their haunches.
