Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

S he was not as confident the next morning. "What was I thinking?"

They were walking to the unicorn forest the next day, and Carys was full of doubts.

She wasn't a detective. She barely liked true-crime podcasts. Sure, she was good at puzzles—and apparently she could talk to dragons—but did that really mean anything when it came to solving a murder that had happened two years ago?

"What?" Cadell looked down at her. "Do you want to go back to the Brightlands? If you do, I will fly you to the fae gate now."

So a giant dragon could follow her home to Humboldt County. That would go over so well with the forest service.

Carys shook her head. "I'm not going home until I meet my uncle and figure out who killed my sister."

"You're conflicted."

She looked up at him and took a deep breath. "Of course I am. This is scary as hell. But life is full of conflicts. I'll figure this one out."

They walked through the forest, and she brushed her hands along the trees, taking comfort in the soft brown bark covered in moss .

The morning was pearl grey again, and the day was as light as it got in the Shadowlands. It was like a grey overcast sky that never cleared. Carys found herself missing the ocean fog she'd grown up with. At least that usually burned off by the afternoon and the sun peeked out.

"Why are we doing this?" Carys tugged at her collar. She was dressed in finer clothes than the day before, and they were not nearly as comfortable. The wrapped trousers were fine, but the boots that covered them were shining black leather that Elanor's maid had delivered to her room, and while they were better than Duncan's oversized boots, they were not comfortable.

Her tunic was heavier than the light wool she was quickly learning to appreciate, and her cloak felt like she was dragging a weighted blanket through the woods on her shoulders.

"Is this fur?" She glanced at her shoulders. "I think this is fur."

"It's warm." Cadell remained in human form as they walked through the forest to meet Darius and Yasmin. "Your clothes are fine, Nêrys. Stop fidgeting like a child."

"It's fur. Animals died for these pelts. That is not okay."

"Animals die from all sorts of things." He frowned. "Fur is warm . Warmth is important for humans. You can die from cold."

She had to admit the fur-lined cloak was toasty warm. "Wool is warm too."

"You're the niece of the king of Cymru going to formally meet the unicorn chief of the Blessing of Moray; you're not going to wear spun wool to meet a chief."

Cadell himself was wearing a leather cloak over his armor. Since he emanated heat, it was more for looks than necessity, and it looked completely badass.

Carys, on the other hand, had her hair braided with ribbons, uncomfortable boots, and a cloak made of little furry creatures she didn't want to think about.

"I already met them," she said. "And they seemed pretty casual if you ask me. "

"You met them when they saved your life; now we are going to meet them formally as I am a magical creature returning to their territory, and I am also in their debt because they saved your life." He held up a basket wrapped in velvet. "We are bringing gifts, and we are wearing nice clothes."

"Fine." At least she'd get to see Azar again. The memory of the bright little girl—unicorn—was enough to bring a smile to her face. "You're right. I know you're right."

"Of course I'm right."

The forest was darker than it had been two days before. The shadows were dense, and the light was grey and flat above the trees. Though the birds sang in the canopy and she could hear little creatures hopping in the branches, without a bright child perched on her shoulders, it felt more menacing.

She glanced at the basket. "What gift are we bringing?"

"A collection of herbs from Elanor's garden, some incense traded from the East, and I added a dragon scale as a personal token of my thanks."

"Okay, two thoughts. One, a dragon scale?" Carys's mind raced. "I feel like that has so many magical uses, right? Potions? Spells? Do the unicorns do spells? Their magic seems very elemental, and that seems like it would be connected to fae mythology but?—"

"Fae are not myths." Cadell looked slightly annoyed. "Two?"

"Two what?" Carys frowned.

"You said you had two thoughts. Save your questions for another time."

"You pulled off a scale? From where? Did it hurt?" She looked at his backside, then caught Cadell staring at her. "I'm sorry, that might be none of my business."

The corner of his mouth twitched up. It almost looked like a smile. Almost.

"We shed scales from our tails. And to answer one of your questions, yes. Dragon scales and dragon teeth are useful in healing potions. Yasmin will appreciate it. We do not often give them as gifts. "

They came to a fork in the path, and Carys found herself drawn to the right path. "Is it this way? I think I remember?—"

"No." Cadell grabbed her arm before she could set foot on the path. "Not that way."

She looked at him with alarm, then back at the path. "There's something bad there, right? I felt it the other day."

"Look." He nodded toward the dense trees where the path led. " Really look."

She peered into the trees and noticed that the light seemed more muted there. Birdsong stopped and the brush was silent.

Bright red hawthorn berries were her first warning. They peeked through the shadows like the lure that they were. As she kept her eyes trained on the path, the darkness grew, and the trees seemed to swallow any glimmer of illumination. Blue lights flickered in the space between the dark trunks, and the faint sound of childish laughter reached her ears.

"Wisps." She blinked. "Is this a gate?"

"No, but it is an old fae fort," Cadell said. "You need to watch where you're going. The fae will try to draw you in. You're a curiosity to them now."

"What if I turn my clothes inside out?"

He frowned. "What would that do?"

"Can I carry bread?"

"To eat?" Cadell shrugged. "Of course. Are you hungry?"

Okay, so most of the myths and old wives' tales she'd read were probably nonsense, but a few things did seem to hold true. "But they don't like iron, right?"

Cadell nodded. "Very true, which is why they do not allow humans to mine it."

Don't allow didn't mean it didn't exist. "But you're more powerful than any fae, right? You have physical strength, and you have magic."

"I have both those things, but a powerful fae with strong magic can ward against me and hide you from my sight. "

"What?" She turned to him. "I've never read anything like that. How could the fae keep you away from me?"

Cadell led her down the path to the left, and soon Carys saw the silver-washed loch through the trees. The light grew a little brighter, and the birds started singing again.

"This isn't a book or a story in your world, Nêrys. This is real now. We are creatures of magic," Cadell said. "As they are. Magic works against magic. Though no human being or creature could keep me away from you, my lady, a powerful fae could hide you from my senses and I would not be able to find you. Be careful where you walk."

"Carys!" A bright shout from the trees ahead made her turn. A familiar grubby face ran toward her. "Mother said you were visiting us today."

She caught the little girl up in her arms, and Azar quickly climbed around to Carys's back. "How did she know? We just decided to come out here this morning."

Were unicorns precognitive? She'd never read anything like that in texts.

"Yasmin knows things." Cadell's face was soft when he looked at Azar. "You've grown, little one. Do you remember me?"

She shook her head. "No, but I know you're dragon." She bared her teeth. "Rawr."

"You are fierce." Cadell smiled. "I am dragon, and I am in your father's debt. He saved my lady."

"Is Carys your lady?" Azar hugged her around the neck. "So you are magic. I knew it." She looked up at Cadell. "Do you know my mother?"

"And your father, little star. I held you when you were first foaled."

Her little chin jutted out. "I'm not a baby now."

Cadell nodded deeply. "I can see that."

Azar scrambled down and ran ahead. "Mama!"

Carys looked up at Cadell. "You're good with kids."

"I should be," he muttered. "I have six of my own."

"Holy shit, Cadell."

He frowned. "Shit is the least holy thing I can think of. "

"Mrs. Cadell must be busy." She cocked her head. "As were you."

He smirked. "Dragon hordes are not like human families. Our breeding is not romantic. Our seers decide which dragons should mate and when. Our children are all raised communally."

Carys whispered, "Dragon babies."

Cadell raised an eyebrow. "Are hidden until they are quite large."

"Even from me?" She gave him wide eyes and a hopeful smile.

"Even from you."

"Please let me see the dragon babies. Please, please, please."

"Absolutely not."

"Carys Morgan!" Yasmin's sweet voice sang through the trees. "And Cadell, my old friend." Next to Yasmin was the great golden stallion with a fearsome horn jutting through his forelock. He lifted his head and tossed it back with a loud whinny.

"Still posturing for guests, are we?" Cadell leaned back on his right leg. "Darius of the Blessing of Moray, I come bearing gifts from my lady and a personal token from the Horde of Eryri." Cadell offered a deep bow.

Darius transformed into his human form. The gold sigil on his forehead seemed to glow as he approached them. "Cadell of Eryri, you are welcome, and your lady needs no introduction as she saved the life of my child. She enjoys the favor of the blessing and will always be welcome."

Cadell glanced down at Carys. "I am glad to hear it, because she's been complaining about her boots for an hour."

Darius threw his head back and laughed before he turned to Carys. "Then Carys Morgan, take off your boots and make yourself at home."

Carys saw Aisling as soon as she entered the clearing. The delicate woman was sitting on a log bench on the other side of the flower-filled meadow, speaking with a man holding a flowering branch .

Cadell caught her stare. "The young mage is consulting with one of the unicorn potion masters. Unicorns are skilled in healing arts."

Carys watched Aisling wave a hand over a bundle of herbs, then turn to the unicorn and smile. The two were easy with each other, giving all the appearance of serious colleagues.

"Does Aisling have magic?" She looked at Cadell. "Duncan said that Lachlan was ‘fae-touched.' That some Shadowkin have a little natural magic, like I can talk to dragons."

"You can talk to me ," Cadell said. "Out loud. And you can hear when I speak to you. But you can't hear or speak to every dragon."

"Okay. What about Aisling?"

Cadell nodded at Aisling. "I don't know if she is fae-touched, but she has trained herself to use magic. Most Shadowkin are able to wield magic if they try, but most of them do not. It is a practice that takes strict discipline and years of study."

"So Aisling is training as a mage?"

"And an alchemist."

Carys looked away from the healers, not wanting to stare. "Why would she do that? She's royal, right?"

"Lady Aisling is the youngest daughter of the third daughter of the éiren queen. Her parents are likely hoping she will marry someone… notable. For political reasons. More likely she will end up marrying a minor lord or a wealthy merchant for trading reasons."

"And she doesn't want that." Carys glanced at Aisling again.

Aisling was rapt, listening to another unicorn who had joined the healers, a woman who lifted a vial of some glowing blue liquid and was explaining something to Aisling and the man. She nodded seriously, and the three remained deep in conversation.

"Yeah," Carys muttered. "I don't see her being happy married off."

"I believe she prefers a scholar's life." Cadell started walking through the long grass. "It is a wise course. If she can prove her skills, she may avoid an unwanted marriage."

"And she was Seren's best friend?"

Cadell didn't answer right away. "They were more like siblings. They grew up together, so they were close. I would call them sisters more than friends."

Carys thought about Laura and her sisters. "So they fought."

"Oh yes." Cadell kept his voice low. "Not as much after Seren returned to Scotland when they were older, but Seren told me they fought quite fiercely as children."

Sisters could be brutal against each other but also fiercely loyal. "Do you think Aisling could have harmed Seren?"

"I think anyone could have harmed Seren." Cadell glanced over his shoulder. "Except the cross human. He's quite trustworthy."

"Duncan? He lied to get me here, so I don't know if I agree about that."

Cadell frowned. "Did he?"

Carys opened her mouth, then closed it. "Okay, he didn't directly lie, but he definitely didn't tell me the whole truth."

"I haven't told you all my truths either, but that doesn't mean I'm a liar."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "What are you hiding, Cadell?"

"Many things. Aisling has spotted you."

Carys turned and saw the wave that Aisling was giving her. "We'll talk about this later. Hello!"

"Carys." Aisling walked across the meadow, her long skirts dragging in the tall grass. "Isn't it wonderful here? I don't know why it's always warmer in the unicorns' part of the forest, but it is. It's like they carry sunshine. I mean, I imagine. I've never seen sunshine, but Lachlan says it's very warm." She spotted Cadell and gave him a polite bow with her head. "Lord Dragon."

Cadell returned the gesture. "Lady Aisling. I believe the unicorns have elemental magic that they don't talk about freely, and that is why their dwelling places are more temperate. That is just a theory, however, and has no basis in true knowledge."

Aisling smiled brightly. "I suspect you're right! I missed you, Cadell. "

"My lady." He nodded deeply. "Seren would be glad to see you thriving at court."

Aisling's gaze darkened, and Carys took note.

Sorrow for a lost friend? Guilt over her death? Cadell had told her she could trust no one, but Carys had a hard time imagining one sister wanting the other dead. Slightly maimed, perhaps, but never dead.

Aisling forced a smile to her face. "I get lost in my grief sometimes. Seeing you with Carys is haunting, I cannot lie." She turned to Carys. "You're identical, you see? Especially in formal clothes like that. The memories of Seren are sharp." She frowned and looked down. "Even though years have gone by, the loss still feels fresh."

Carys's doubt flew away. "Of course. I can't imagine how I'm going to feel when I see my uncle, and my father has been gone for six years. My wound isn't fresh, but I'm sure it will be overwhelming."

"I hope…" Aisling frowned. "I do hope you'll give all of us grace. Lachlan especially. It's hard seeing a loved one come back from the dead." She quickly added, "But not. Because obviously you're not Seren, but you can only imagine how it feels to see you."

"Lachlan…" Carys didn't know how much she wanted to say. "It's complicated."

"I'm sure it is. I know that he cares deeply for you." She glanced at Cadell. "He lost Seren. I know he doesn't want to lose you too. That's why he's been so adamant that you return to the Brightlands. I suspect he fears for you. That's all."

So Lachlan had confided in Aisling. Interesting.

"I know." Carys looked at Cadell. "But Cadell is here now, and I feel very safe with him. Lachlan is going to need to calm down."

Aisling started walking toward the trees, and Carys fell into step beside her. "Lachlan is usually very calm. He was even-tempered even as a child." She smiled. "And well-traveled. He tells the best stories in court. Most of us aren't like Lachlan. We don't go back and forth to the Brightlands."

"Why not?"

Aisling looked surprised. "I don't know who would take me. Duncan? He's the only Brightkin I know, and he would never take me. He only takes Lachlan."

"Not anyone else? Ever?"

"No." Aisling's face was cautious. "It's a strange place for us. Stories of giant machines made of metal and bright screens with false images. No magic. No familiar magical creatures. To most Shadowkin, the Brightlands are fascinating but frightening."

Her friend Laura had asked Carys once if she'd ever go into space if she could. Carys hadn't even thought about it. Being an astronaut sounded a little like the way Aisling described the Brightlands. Theoretically possible, but so out of the realm of reality that it was hardly worth thinking about.

Carys asked her, "Have you ever wondered who your Brightkin is?"

"Yes!" Aisling's face brightened. "That I do wonder about. I wonder what kind of life she has. What it must feel like to be burned by the sun." She touched the edge of her chin. "Does my twin have children? What is my opposite nature? I think every Shadowkin wonders what kind of life we would have on the other side of the gates. But the reality of it is far more intimidating than the idea."

If Aisling's Brightkin was her opposite, she'd be bold, jovial, and possibly crass; Carys kind of wanted to meet her. "Where were you born? Maybe I can find her."

Aisling laughed. "Hardly a good use of your time."

They reached the far edge of the trees, and Carys spotted the silvery loch in the distance.

"I heard you met the kelpie the other day." Aisling shuddered. "Frightful creatures. We learn very young which bodies of water they haunt, but the signs might be foreign to you."

"I've studied mythology in my world, but I don't know how much of that lines up with the reality of your world. And I've spent the past few years teaching at the university about common threads in world mythologies, so?—"

"You're a university professor?" Aisling's eyes brightened. "That's wonderful."

"Yes." Carys sensed a kindred spirit in a fellow academic. "I teach a class on introduction to world mythologies, so it's about myths and legends from all over the world and common threads between different cultures."

"That's fascinating, but I can see how that might not help much in Alba." Aisling gestured to the water. "Take kelpies. Most of them hunt in more remote areas, but this one has settled here, maybe to be close to the blessing for some reason."

"And do kelpies behave differently in Alba than in Ireland—in éire?"

Aisling nodded. "They do. And different still are the northern nokkers and nixes. I've never been to Nordland, but my cousins in Anglia are familiar with them."

"There is water horse mythology in Asia too," Carys added. "It's a common legend that shows up in many parts of the world."

Aisling smiled. "Not a legend here."

"No, I guess not." Carys stared at the loch, her memory flashing back to the terrible equine monster that had nearly taken her life. She didn't want to think about even more monsters living in this strange world, but if she was going to stay here, she'd have to start believing every myth she'd ever studied might be reality in the Shadowlands.

She watched a small group of unicorn children dancing and playing in the meadow. "Why would this kelpie want to be close to the unicorns? To trap them?"

"I doubt it. Kelpies feed on human energy. I suspect it's something relating to Cadell's theory about elemental magic. Everyone is drawn to unicorns." She turned to face the lively clearing with unicorns in human and animal form. "They're all ridiculously beautiful of course. They're warm. They're innately good."

Cadell added, "And they're true. In the Shadowlands, that is a valued trait."

"An excellent point," Aisling said. "Like dragons, unicorns do not lie or conceal who they are, though they do conceal themselves. They're quite shy individually. "

Carys spotted Azar. "Not that one."

"Isn't she darling?" Aisling's eyes glowed. "She's such a sprite. Her parents were double blessed by the gods."

Carys looked at Cadell. "I've heard that a couple of times now. ‘By the gods.' Who are the gods here? I'm sure they're different than the ones in the Brightlands."

"The gods here are old," Cadell said. "And varied. They wear many forms, and humans serve the one that calls to them. Some appear as storms, some as spirits or energies. Many take animal forms when they want to wander the Shadowlands."

"Like Aengus óg," Aisling said. "When he flies among the birds. Or Epona taking the form of a mare to walk with the horses."

"The éiren people have many gods," Cadell said. "The Cymric do as well. They usually have different names, but they're often the same gods."

"Are the fae considered gods?"

"No," Aisling said. "But they're perhaps… closer than humans are."

Carys looked back at Cadell, but he inclined his head toward Aisling.

"Lady Aisling would be more expert in fae customs and culture than either me or Lachlan," he said. "The fae favor her people."

Aisling's cheeks turned rosy. "The éiren court and the fae court are closely connected. Queen Orla took a fae noble as her consort long before I was born, and that has led to very close relations."

"As her consort?" Carys looked at Aisling. "Like she married a fae?"

"It's not unheard of," Cadell said. "Fae often become enamored with mortal beauty and will take human lovers. The queen of éire is a powerful woman and known for her beauty."

"It's said that if a fae and human union is blessed by the gods, it might even produce a natural child." Aisling's hand clutched her skirt. "Can you imagine?"

"A child who belongs in neither world," Cadell said. "I would not envy that offspring."

"But imagine the power," Aisling said. "I might envy that." She quickly looked at Carys. "For using magic, I mean. Cadell is right. A child such as that would be neither human nor fae and might be shunned by both. Though it would be treasured by its parents, I am sure."

"That's right," Carys murmured. "Humans here can't have children."

Sorrow flickered across Aisling's face.

Cadell quickly said, "Nothing in the Shadowlands is born but by magic. While it is true that human and fae unions sometimes produce natural children if the gods approve, magic is still involved."

"And how do you know if the gods approve of you?" Carys looked at Cadell.

He shrugged. "How does anyone in any world know that? We should get back to our visit with Darius and Yasmin. I believe they have prepared a feast to welcome us, not that there will be anything for me to eat there."

Carys frowned. "What?"

"Unicorns do not eat flesh," Aisling said. "They will not willingly take the life of any living creature."

"And dragons only eat flesh," Cadell said. "Luckily I went hunting this morning."

They were halfway back to the castle when Cadell shifted into dragon form and took to the sky overhead, letting out a great roar and flying in circles.

They approach.

"Who is they?" Did Cadell mean her uncle?

"The dragons are coming." Aisling watched him in the air. "Cadell's people are solitary by nature, but they always react this way when their kin approach." She took Carys's hand and picked up her speed. "Come on. You're not going to want to miss their landing. "

Go, my lady. Cadell spoke from the air. I will fly overhead and keep you in sight.

"Okay." The fancy boots were squeezing her feet, but Carys pushed past the discomfort and started to half jog up the path to the village.

They ran up the hill toward Tower Ridge—the backbone of rock that overlooked the castle where the old tower stood—then down through the town where the rumor of approaching royalty had already spread. Villagers rushed from houses and shops up to the castle as the sky grew cloudy and the wind picked up.

Aisling guided Carys up to the first parapet along the castle walls where archers lined the defensive structure, though they seemed to be at ease.

The crowd gasped, and several people in the crowd turned and pointed to the sky.

The beasts appeared on the horizon, emerging from a bank of dark clouds, three winged forms, two of them carrying pendant-like coracles in their clutches.

"Do you see, Carys?" Aisling grabbed Carys's hand and pointed to the massive field that sloped down from the south side of the castle walls. "They'll land here. If they're coming in peace, they'll land in the town common."

What about if they're coming in war? She didn't voice the question because it was clear from the elation she felt from Cadell that the dragons were coming in peace.

"Let's stay here." Aisling was looking around, Carys's hand still clutched in her own. "It's not too crowded up here, and you'll have the best view."

The great beasts circled overhead, a ruby-skinned dragon with nothing in its claws, a fiery-orange dragon carrying a small coracle, and a massive black dragon with a gold-layered coracle that had to belong to a king.

The dragons spiraled overhead, growing closer and closer as they descended, and the black dragon let out a roar that shook the leaves on the trees and made the crowd shout and mill around .

"Gods save us if they were coming in war," one of the archers murmured.

Carys felt no terror but a vibrant thrill in her chest as she watched the red dragon descend, sweeping the field just a few feet over the grass with its red throat glowing, arrowing past the castle, and coming to rest on the crest of Tower Ridge.

The orange dragon came next, flying low and gently dropping the coracle, which tilted forward as it touched the grass. A large door dropped open with a mighty thunk! and a squad of guards wearing dark green leather poured onto the field, all of them marching in formation and forming a semicircle while the orange dragon flew past the castle and landed next to the ruby.

Behind the soldiers, three figures in light green cloaks emerged from the coracle.

"My aunt!" Aisling clapped her hands. "She traveled with the queen's guard in the green." Aisling pointed at the soldiers who followed them. "I wondered if Regan would come." Aisling started to wave from the parapet. "She's been with my Aunt Eamer, your stepmother—Seren's stepmother, I mean. She's my teacher, and it's been months since she visited. We'll be able to continue lessons if she stays for a while."

One of the cloaked figures drew back her hood to reveal a waterfall of flowing black hair much the same color as Aisling's.

"There's Regan." Aisling waved her arm higher.

Regan looked up, and her eyes landed on Aisling. She was younger than Carys had expected. Her face was unlined, her eyes a brilliant blue, and a stark strip of pure silver hair flowed from her temple down to her shoulder. She gave Aisling a short nod and then drew her hood up again.

"We'll meet her at the castle later," Aisling said.

The other two cloaked figures looked around but didn't stop, walking past the soldiers and heading to the gates while the soldiers clad in green waited in formation. None of them spared a look for Aisling .

Aisling's smile fell a little. "I'm sure she's tired from flying."

A growing trepidation grew in Carys's chest. Her father's twin was flying closer, circling the castle in the claws of a dragon, and she would see him soon. He would see her.

Of all the unreal things she'd seen since stepping through a fae gate, seeing her father's face seemed the most unreal of all.

Carys asked Aisling, "Have you ever flown?"

She shook her head. "Seren tried to take me, but I was too afraid."

The black dragon descended, the beast letting out one more ferocious roar before the gold coracle landed on the field, rocking forward to release the door. Immediately another squad of guards wearing bright red emerged while the black dragon beat its wings and flew back to the clouds, circling the castle with Cadell.

Behind the second group of guards, a dark-haired man of medium height emerged, marching toward the guards and speaking quietly to a courtier who followed on his right.

The crowd cheered in welcome, and a group of children ran past the castle, flying brightly colored kites as a group of courtiers from the castle stepped forward to greet the king's party.

A woman, clad in a deep blue cloak, stepped forward, bowing deeply, and the dark-haired man looked up.

Carys's breath caught in her throat. He wore a beard, and he had a barrel chest and thick arms muscled in a familiar way. He was older than her father, aged by life and years. He nodded at the courtiers, then scanned the crowd, waving to the people gathered to greet him. His eyes traveled up the castle walls, a frown marring his strong forehead.

The moment their eyes met, he froze.

Carys felt tears start to well up at the look of recognition.

Dad .

She blinked them away.

No, not her father, though he was the mirror image. A little older, a little harder. His expression was more severe, but his features were the same.

She saw him mouth a name. Seren .

She put a hand to her chest and shook her head, and the man closed his eyes.

He nodded. Not Seren. Not his daughter.

"Hail, King Dafydd!" someone shouted from the crowd in English. "Welcome to the king!"

The man turned from Carys and held his hand out to a tall woman who fell into step beside him, graceful in a green velvet dress and fur cloak. Her hair was covered, but Carys could see that it was nearly as long as her dress, dark as a raven's wing, and braided behind her in an intricate woven pattern.

"That's Eamer, the queen consort of Cymru."

"Your aunt?"

Aisling nodded. "And Seren's stepmother. She would be something like an aunt to you since she's married to your father's Shadowkin."

Eamer's eyes also found Carys in the crowd, but the woman was carefully expressionless before she looked away. The king took her hand and walked toward the castle as the crowds cheered and the dragons circled overhead.

"Now imagine that entrance on the battlefield" —Aisling spread out her arms— "with the dragons spewing fire and clearing the field before a flood of Cymric soldiers poured from their coracles and attacked."

"Good Lord." No wonder no one challenged them.

A few of the guards shot Aisling dirty looks but quickly looked away.

Aisling ignored the guards. "And don't forget the archers in coracles overhead, shooting from the air."

"Remind me not to make King Dafydd mad."

Aisling laughed. "I don't think there's a chance of that." She took Carys's hand and tugged it. "Come. You've seen the grand entrance. Now you should go and meet your uncle and aunt."