Page 95 of The Last Slayer
As for Ramiel…
It was crazy the way he could still make my breath hitch. I reminded myself that he could only be trusted up to a point. He’d lied to me about Valerie’s poison, hadn’t he? But the protest seemed hollow even to my own ears—deep inside I knew I might have done the same if I’d been him.
***
Toshi greeted us at the landing. Ramiel maintained his usual lordly silence, and I merely nodded. The little fairy dragon clasped his foreclaws and did his best to suppress a squeak.
“Milady, welcome back to Besade! I’ve readied armor for you, but the blacksmith tells me you need a fitting.”
“What? Armor?” Every time I came to this place it was something.
“I presume…I mean, your ladyship plans to go to Eastvale, does she not? If so, you will need suitable armor.”
I glanced at Ramiel. “Am I supposed to conquer Eastvale?”
“It would be wise to be prepared for a skirmish,” Ramiel said. “I doubt Nathanael will allow you reach your dragonhold unopposed.”
Nathanael. Just the name sent a chill down my spine. “Why would he care whether I go to Eastvale or not?”
“Until you’re recognized as the Lady of Eastvale by your own dragonhold, you will have neither a seat of power nor an army of dragons to command.”
So I guess this meant I needed a champion with a chance of defeating Nathanael and his buddies. Or at least getting around them. And here I thought all I had to do was show up at Eastvale. So much for easier to claim a vacant hold than an occupied one.
On cue, Ramiel said, “Naturally, I shall lend you support.”
Naturally. I scrunched up my face and rubbed a hand over my eyes. It was hard for me to accept Ramiel’s help. One thing to work with him for Valerie’s sake, something else to do it for myself. But did I have a choice? “Okay. And…thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
Except that a slight frown creased his forehead, and it didn’t look like it was his pleasure. I had no idea why. Although I didn’t know the exact nature of his vow or how far it extended, I was sure it didn’t go beyond helping me claim my seat of power. Only a fool would swear to eternal indentured servitude, and Ramiel was anything but. Most supernaturals would be singing and dancing at the idea of being free of an obligation.
Still, the doubts wouldn’t go away. What was in it for him? It had to be more than keeping his vow, more than exacting revenge. There was something overzealous about the way he had reacted at Nahemah’s, and when he’d killed Nathanael’s wyrm.
At the same time, a large part of me was grateful for his support. Without him I would’ve been dead twice over by now. And I had to admit I was intrigued by the man—the demigod—himself. He was the only one who could turn my insides into molten fire. He challenged my old beliefs and standards. He’d never been selfish with power or Sex.
Toshi cleared his throat delicately. “If…uh…that is, if there’s nothing more to discuss, may I show you to your room, milady?”
His question startled me out of my reverie. Apparently it had been several moments. I looked at Ramiel, who still had the frown on his face. I turned to Toshi. “Sure.”
Toshi put me in my old room, endless mirrors and more fresh-cut flowers. Their scent damped the hammers in my head until I felt calm. Not a speck of dust was anywhere in the chamber. Toshi prepared a bath and sent in a couple of fairy dragons to assist me, but I dismissed them. I wanted to be alone.
I stripped and submerged myself in the bath. The water adjusted its temperature to suit me. Magic does have its advantages. Still, this place wasn’t home.
Maybe the longer I stayed here, the more comfortable I’d get, until this world felt more like home than my old condo. Or was that even possible?
I sighed and leaned back in the tub, my head supported on the rim. The mirror on the ceiling reflected my new face—Leh’s face with my own blue eyes.
I wondered if I could sing like Leh, and the pretty face frowned. Probably not. My voice hadn’t changed, and if I’d had that ability she wouldn’t have given me the vials of her voice. Maybe they could be used to visit her again after I got
my own dragonhold. I thought I’d like that. Maybe I’d learn how to control my desire for Ramiel and learn to accept the new me.
I stepped out of the tub, dried, and put on a silk robe. Then I lay on my stomach on the bed and spent some time gazing at nothing.
My heart beat slowly, heavily. Another confrontation with Nathanael. This time it was going to be a real all-out battle, no hiding behind illusion like in the Mystic Forest. Ramiel wouldn’t be having armor made for me otherwise, and this time Leh wouldn’t be there to shield me. I’d have a new champion in Ramiel, and as much as I trusted he’d protect me, as silly as it might sound, given his enormous power…I was scared he might get hurt. It didn’t sit well. My job was—had been—to protect. The idea that I’d be watching Ramiel plunge himself into the thick of battle for me—against three other equally powerful dragonlords—well, it was kind of thrilling on one level, but just seemed wrong on another.
I didn’t want to be responsible for getting him hurt. Or worse, getting his remaining wing ripped out. There were three of them, only two of us. But I knew I could never do it alone.
Furthermore, I’d studied the history of dragons, but not their warfare. Was it elaborate and ritualized, like a medieval joust? Or just a free-for-all killing spree? Maybe things had changed, and the old texts wouldn’t have provided me with anything useful anyway. Look at how human warfare had evolved over the years. I hoped it wasn’t going to be some power push like the one between Nathanael and Leh. I wasn’t strong enough yet for a battle like that.
