Page 41 of The Fire Dragon's Mate
The two men shared a look before General Lindberg said, “They claimed to have been attacked without provocation.”
I remembered the conversation I’d overheard before Melita found the explosives. They’d tmentioned someone lying to the king about what had happened when I was shot.
“They lied,” Gilda said. “What did Captain Jovi say happened when he returned to Xanthous? I assume he didn’t mention that his crew murdered Captain Forrester’s crew.”
“Sir,” the aide said quietly.
Lindberg held up a hand to silence the man. “They claimed the dragon’s mate attacked.”
“The dragon’s mate,” Gilda said with a hand held toward me, “was in Xanthous retrieving the dragon at the time.”
Both men blinked at me.
“And the sole survivor of the attack,” she continued with a gesture to Tennyson, “said that the captains turned on each other when one wanted to stay and the other wanted to leave.”
Both men blinked at Tennyson.
“Funny how the dragon keeps being blamed for what greedy, selfish men do.” The tone of her voice was frosty as the general and his aide just stood there.
General Lindberg took a deep breath, while the aide looked anxiously between us and his leader. Finally, the general said, “Your Highness, if I could have a recounting of the lad’s experience for the official record, I will convey it and any other matters you wish known to the crown prince of Xanthous.”
“The crown prince?” Gilda asked.
“King Wolfgang has been deposed, and Prince Torquil will be crowned next month.”
Gilda gave nothing away, merely nodding. “You will have our statements in the morning.”
She turned and started walking away, while I stayed as I was. Tennyson remained as well, though I could see him itching to leave. Only when the two men turned and walked down toward the shore did I finally follow after Gilda.
“Gods,” Tennyson whispered, and I saw his hand was shaking as he swiped at his sweaty brow.
“You did well.”
“Did I? I’m not sure I was conscious the whole time.”
I chuckled. “Yes, you did just fine.”
Cighyss left the mountain with a lovely glidingswoop before transforming in midair inside a burst of flames. He landed beside me in his more human form and looped his arms around Tennyson and I to give us both a squeeze. “I do so get a particular thrill when intimidating seasoned military men,” he said with a smirk.
I hugged an arm around his waist as we walked toward the side entrance into the mountain. “I’m guessing you could smell their fear then?”
“Mmm, and yours, dear one,” Cighyss said to Tennyson before kissing his cheek. “You’ve nothing to fear now that you’re under my protection.”
I heard Tennyson gulp, but he also nodded. When we got to the entrance, I went ahead and saw that Tennyson stayed tucked under Cighyss’s arm. The poor boy seemed to need the reassurance, and I was glad he was with us now.
Inside, Gilda was talking animatedly with a whole crowd, Imelda and Phineas right up front. Imelda was the only other sacrifice from Xanthous, so I was sure she was very interested in the fact that the king who had sacrificed her was king no more.
“I’m sorry, Gilda,” Imelda said, “but I hope they fucking burn ol’ Wolfy at the stake.”
Gilda snort-laughed before clearing her throat. “I doubt it, but the fact that my brother rules while Father still lives will surely make the old man rage. My guess is that he’s on the farm estate, well away from being able to influence anything at all.”
Phineas shared a look with me that I took to mean our father should receive the same treatment and would, no doubt, react the same way as well.
“So aside from Tennyson writing up his report,” I said, “what else should we say to Xanthous?”
Tennyson raised his hand and blushed. “I’m sorry, but I can’t read or write.”
“Don’t worry,” Hagen said, “I’ll write it down for you.”
