Page 8 of The Shadow Path
Duncan frowned. “That’s interesting.”
“Should she be in danger, I have timed my arrival at the college where she works to under fifteen minutes.” He took a deep breath. “Now that I tell you that, fifteen minutes is too long. Nêrys, I should continue guarding you at work.”
“You really shouldn’t,” Carys said. “You scare the students.”
“Then they’re too easily frightened.”
Duncan cocked his head. “That’s interesting about the gates. And that bear who guided us?—”
“Right?” Carys leaned forward. “Magical shifters from here retain form on the other side of the gates, at least as long as they remain in the old growth forest, which… I have a lot of theories.”
Duncan nodded. “I’m sure you do.”
Cadell sat up. “Did the cross human return to Baywood in order to court you properly?” He turned to Duncan. “What gifts did you bring her? Jewels? Cows?”
Duncan’s face turned red. “I didn’t exactly— Not that I wouldn’t like to, but?—”
“That’s not why Duncan came to visit, Cadell.” Carys tried to turn the conversation away from her very confusing love life.
At her words, the dragon seemed to expand in size. “Then what is wrong in Briton?”
“Edgar is dead.” Duncan lifted a hand. “Hunting accident. No foul play is even being considered.”
Cadell grunted. “Humans are so fragile.”
Just as he said it, Laura walked over and handed him a massive platter with a giant roasted salmon. “Fragile?”
Cadell didn’t flinch, but his attention shifted immediately to the pretty woman who gave him food. “Your bodies are not as durable as dragons, bears, or wolves. If your bones weren’t solid, I would classify you with birds.”
Laura crossed her arms over her chest. “Keep irritating me and I’ll show you how solid my fist is.”
The dragon frowned. “I would never insult my host. You misunderstand me.”
Laura sighed. “Whatever, Cadell.” She plopped down on a log next to Duncan and across from the dragon. “So why did you fly all the way here about the king dying? He has an heir, right?”
“He does.” Duncan continued, “And he’s already in control of the country. Harold has trained his whole life to be king, so the transition is going smoothly. But there will be a coronation, and Carys’s uncle would like her there.”
Cadell’s chest puffed out. “As is appropriate for a nêrys ddraig in the royal line.” He nodded and broke off a large piece of salmon. “We’ll make preparations to leave immediately.”
“No worries,” Duncan said. “Dafydd’s man in Cardiff already sent a plane. It’s waiting in San Francisco.”
Cadell swallowed a large bite of fish before he spoke. “We can fly to Briton from here. The Chahta would not permit Cymric soldiers to live near them, but they did allow Mared to deliver a coracle for Carys to train. We can travel that way.”
“And be there next week,” Duncan said. “The coronation is in four days.”
The dragon’s mouth was a grim line. “I hate flying in the metal tubes.”
Carys raised her hand. “Excuse me. Uh, thanks for making all these plans without even asking me what I’d like to do, but no, thanks.”
Cadell’s head swung toward her. “You’re going.”
“I don’t actually have to though?” Carys wanted to go back to Briton—of course she did—but the idea of landing in another sticky political mess when she was still getting used to dragons and magic and having power she couldn’t predict sounded like ahorribleidea. “I have lessons with my Chahta trainer this week. I was planning on spending all summer practicing my archery, and Cadell was going to start on swords and stuff.”
“Swords are cool,” Laura muttered.
“Exactly.” She looked at Cadell. “We’ve talked about this. We have plans.”
The dragon was unmoved. “Plans change when there is a coronation and the king of Cymru requests your presence.”
