Page 42 of The Mountain King
Chapter Fourteen
Kailigh snuckout of the castle long before the sun rose. She dressed in trousers and a shirt, lacing up her leather vest and checking the pockets to ensure all her little… tools were where they were supposed to be. She threw her sturdy poncho cape on to hide the flintlock, and left the rooms.
She made her way to the town gate and was stopped, predictably. She had expected that—she hadn’t expected the squinty-eyed questioning.
“Do you have the Lord’s permission to leave the safety of the town, mistress?” the guard asked.
She stared at him. “And since when do I requirepermission? I am no subject of his.”
The man’s elegant Dwyrkin face tightened. “I must detain you until I can—”
“If you put a hand on me, boy, I’ll chop it off at the wrist.”
They stared at each other. “Not much you can do about this without risking a limb, is there?” she asked. “I’m positive the Lord would be unhappy with that outcome, since he would be short a guard. I’m certain that as soon as you step aside and I leave, you can scurry off to your master and tell tales.”
He stepped aside, to Kailigh’s surprise, and bowed. She’d expected to have to put up more of a fight, but maybe he’d just been trying her. She shrugged and broke into a swift jog, wanting to reach her house before the sun rose, to scout the perimeter. They’d been gone long enough of less savory individuals—and those with limited intellect—to begin snooping around. She’d have to ask around and see if any of the Dwyrkin specialized in magical barriers, and how much they’d charge.
She circled the perimeter of the house twice, squatting in the bushes for several long minutes to listen for the sounds of anyone moving around inside. When she was reasonably confident the house was clear, she approached, blade in her hand, and slipped in the back door. After a quick check of each room, she was satisfied.
The place hadn’t been ransacked, which was the second surprise of the morning, and nothing appeared to be missing. Hmm. She wondered if Maddugh had sent out word to the town. She wouldn’t put that high-handed kind of thing past him.
Kailigh spent a happy hour talking to her vegetables, doing a bit of weeding and checking the leaves of her greens for pests. A few were ready for picking—she had to decide if she should sell to one of the inns in town, or stay home long enough to can the produce. It seemed as if the wind blew in the direction of taking up permanent residence with Maddugh. Her own lack of pushback surprised even her, but hadn’t she just complained to herself days ago, about how tired she was? Not physically tired—but mentally. The constant burden of doing it alone, even though the girls were mostly adults now. There were other problems to deal with concerning adult daughters. Like kidnappers, and unexpected grandbabies.
She stared at the ground, the reality of the situation slamming down on her. Her daughters would have to marry. And soon. None of their lives would ever be the same. And, oddly enough, she was okay with that. There would, for once, be plenty of other people around to help her. Maddugh, his sons. Eventually her sons-in-law. Kailigh exhaled, and smiled at a carrot
“Mother!”
Kailigh jerked, surging to her feet as Serephone and Persia burst from the forest.
“Where is Cinvarra?” she asked. “You left your sister alone in the castle?”
She’d strangle them. Not that she didn’t trust the dragons, she did. But Cin was still a young, beautiful, courtable female with her mother and elder sisters conveniently gone… it would be the perfect time for a bit of foolishness. And Kai knew damn well it was likely to be Cin who initiated said foolishness.
“The funny blonde prince is with her,” Persia said. “Just listen. My friend at Sally’s telegraphed. Two of Ruthus’ men got off the train.”
Her instincts perked. Sometimes men were sent ahead of an airbus to scout before the main crew arrived. All they needed was one flapping mouth to give them a clue when Ruthus would be back. Then Kai could be waiting. “Let’s go then. Wait—get the guns under the floorboards. And all the ammo.”
* * *
They were halfwayto town when a dragon swooped down from the sky. She was becoming suspicious he had a tracking device planted somewhere.
The women skidded to a halt, Kailigh squinting up into the dimming sunlight with a sigh. The dragon was black, scales glimmering with a rainbow of color in the early sunlight—and he didn’t look friendly. A long neck swung towards her as wings temporarily blocked the sun, the jaw on the end of that neck snapping.
“The round in my shotgun will go through even your tough hide, I’ll bet,” Kailigh said. “You’d best not snap at me again.” Especially if they would wed. Best to train him now.
The dragon constricted, the shift a disturbing backwards morph of muscles and scale and skin. Kailigh stared, her expression stony as an angry, naked male strode towards her.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Maddugh snapped. “There are still traffickers in town. Probably waiting for you to show your foolish head to finish what they started.”
“Telegram,” Persia said. “We’re going after the varmint who shot Cin.”
Maddugh rolled his eyes, crossing magnificent arms across his wide chest. “You aren’t going anywhere—”
“Now wait just one damn minute!” Kai exclaimed.
“—without me.”
Evenworse. “If you think I will have the dragon Lord underfoot, you’ve got another thing coming. I have enough to do keeping my girls out of trouble without keeping an eye on you as well.”
