The Empress, now standing behind another contingent of guards who’d moved in to protect her the way Ghleanna and her kin had moved in to protect Bram, observed, “I see your pet needs a leash, peacemaker.”
“Forgive her, Empress. She’s still unwell. Not in her right mind.”
Helena stepped around her guards and whispered, “You can stop smiling, Bram. I’m sure Kleitos got the message.” She smirked and motioned to one of her guards. “Fetch Euthalia.”
The guard ran off and Helena studied Ghleanna, who’d passed out once more. “So many scars.” She shuddered in distaste. “An abused pet it seems.” She gritted her fangs. “Kleitos. Honestly. Stop all that blubbering.”
A few minutes later a sorceress arrived. “You called for me, Empress?”
“Do you have what we discussed earlier, Euthalia?”
“Aye, my mistress.” She held a large gold ring in her hand.
“Excellent. Put it on her.”
“Empress—” Bram began but Helena cut him off with a slash of her front claw and he was forced to watch while the sorceress stepped beside Ghleanna and fastened the ring around her throat.
And while they all silently observed, the ring grew smaller and smaller — as Ghleanna shifted to human. When it was over, Ghleanna was in her human form with a gold collar around her throat. A collar that would keep her in her human form for as long as Helena wanted.
“Is this really necessary?”
“Either this, Bram the Merciful, or I allow my guards to cut her Land Dweller throat and I take my chances with your queen — and you. Your choice.”
Bram had no option but to nod. “The collar, Empress.”
“That’s what I thought.”
Helena headed toward the exit. “Take him and his pet to one of the rooms we keep for human visitors,” she ordered her servants. “They can be human together.”
Then she was gone.
“I wish she’d allowed me to cut the Low Born’s throat,” Kleitos told him, copious amounts of blood leaking from his nostrils, his entire snout slightly off. He slithered closer to Bram and hissed, “I would have enjoyed watching the life drain from your barbarian whore.”
That’s when Bram headbutted the bastard again. You know. . on principle.
“Owwww! Why do you keep doing that?”
Chapter 8
Ghleanna awoke with a snarl and demanded, “Why am I human?” “Calm yourself or you’re likely to open your wound again.” Bram stood next to her. He was also in human form, dressed in a plain cotton shirt, black breeches, and black boots. They were in a rather large bedroom with a closed door. She’d guess it was locked.
“Answer me.” And her voice sounded weak to her own ears. “Why am I human?” “Why do you think?” He sat down on the bed. “Because you’re a much bigger threat when you’re dragon.” “When last I woke, some Fin was standing over me with a blade.” “Aye. You handled him, though.” “Good.” Ghleanna tried to sit up, but she was too weak to do it on her own and Bram wouldn’t let her. With his hands against her shoulders, he gently eased her back to the bed. “Relax, Ghleanna. You’re not going anywhere until that wound heals.” She panted from even that small exertion but she hated feeling like this. Like she couldn’t defend them both if need be.
“You look exhausted,” she told him. “Have you not slept at all?” “Not much. But that’s all right.” “Where are we, Bram?”
“Palace of the Sea Dragon Empress Helena.” “I thought an Emperor ruled the Fins.” “He did — until his untimely death. Now it’s Helena’s empire to rule. And, unfortunately, Helena has heard about you, I’m afraid, or at least your kin. Hence your current human form.” Bram reached over and brushed her neck with the tips of his fingers. That’s when Ghleanna realized something was on her. She touched her throat, felt the metal around it.
“A collar? They put a collar on me?” “It’s a sorcerer’s tool that’s keeping you human. It’ll be removed when we leave. Is it uncomfortable?” “Not really. But it annoys me to know it’s there.” Ghleanna closed her eyes in disgust. “But no less than I deserve. I’ve fucked this all up royally.” “What are you talking about?”
“This.” She glanced around the room. “This is all my doing. Because I was weak and stupid.” “How the hells can you blame yourself for any of this?” “Who else should I blame?”
“Gods, I don’t know. . the traitors who set upon us perhaps?” “I should have listened to Rhiannon. I should have insisted on more warriors.” “None of us took this seriously except Bercelak and Rhiannon. And even they never thought there would be such an attack.” Ghleanna let out a breath. “But I should have known.” “Why you?”
“Because I’m smarter than all of you when it comes to general evilness and trickery. There are Elders who have many Dragonwarriors and soldiers in their debt for one reason or another. If they wanted to stop you from making this trip, they’re the lot who could do it. I should have remembered that and planned accordingly. But I was too busy feeling sorry for myself and trying to recover from that bloody hangover.” “There were forces greater than you or I who were busy trying to stop us, Ghleanna. I realize that now. Those who will never accept Rhiannon as rightful queen. To stop me, to have me killed, would reflect very poorly on her and her young reign. Now here.” He slipped a hand under her shoulders, lifted her a bit, and placed a cup against her lips. “It’s water. Drink it.” “Sea water?”
“Is this a time to joke?”
Who said she was joking?
She sipped from the cup Bram held, relieved it was clean drinking water.
When she pushed the cup away, she asked the question that she dreaded the answer to — yet she had to know, “My brothers?” “It sounds as if they’re alive and well.” “Sounds?”
“Warriors matching your brothers’ descriptions were spotted on the beach chopping the limbs and wings off the surviving traitors. Needless to say the Fins who spotted them did not stick around to verify it was your kin.” “I need to know, Bram.”
“I know you do. But you’re still weak and the Empress’s sorceress guild has protections up. You’ll never be able to contact them on your own.” “Unless you want my brothers coming down here and ripping this place apart—” “I didn’t say we wouldn’t try.” And gods, he sounded so exhausted. “But you’ll need my help.” “Right now, peacemaker? I need you more than I’ve ever needed anyone. And I’m sorry if I sound like I’m threatening. I’m not. It’s just my brothers. .” “I know well.” His smile was sweet. “And I understand more than you can ever realize.” He slipped long, strong fingers into her hand. “So we’ll do this together, yes?” Ghleanna nodded and she felt power flow from Bram and into her, giving her the temporary strength she needed to force her way through the barriers the Fins had protecting this place so she could contact her blood-related kin with her mind.
Sister. Thank the gods. Addolgar’s relief at realizing Ghleanna still lived was palatable, zipping through her like a bright wave. That’s when her first tear fell.
Addolgar. . the others?
Ease yourself, sister. They’re fine. But tell me you’re all right.
I’m fine, brother. Healing but fine. Are all the traitors dead?
No. And she could feel her brother’s anger even at this great distance. Feoras and quite a few others escaped while we killed their comrades. Seems loyalty is in short supply these days.
Good. Then I can kill Feoras myself.