The Empress’s palace was a marvel of Sea Dragon engineering built inside a vast series of underwater caves. Air breathers could easily survive inside its ocean-colored stone walls for centuries. They had access to fresh lake and river water, and fresh air from the land above. How the Fins managed to get it all down here, Bram didn’t know. And he didn’t even think to ask, he was so concerned with finding Ghleanna.
Bram heard a roar down a long hallway, watched large-sized Fins heading in that direction. He recognized them as soldiers. His eyes narrowed and he followed, pushing through the dragons until he reached a chamber. Two Sea Dragons in human form battled against each other with spears while their comrades stood around them in a circle and cheered them on.
And, sitting on top of a boulder was Ghleanna. She wore another long shirt and dark blue leggings and her arm was still tied down under her shirt. Not surprisingly, she cheered right along with the other warriors — when she wasn’t stopping to chat with the generals who stood around her in their dragon form.
One male slammed another onto his back by using the staff of his spear and Ghleanna called out, “No, no, no!” She held her free arm out and — to Bram’s astonishment — one of the generals hauled her off the boulder and carefully placed her on the ground.
“You keep fighting like that, lad,” she admonished, “and you’ll be on your back a lot when you’re human.”
She waited until the dragon was on his feet. “You’re not paying attention to the way he’s coming at you,” she instructed. “You’re so busy staring at the tip, you miss the way his body’s moving. Human bodies hide nothing, but that spear tip can change on you in a second and you won’t have a chance to get out of its way.” She shrugged and lightly patted where she’d been stabbed by that sword. “Take my word on it.” The Fins laughed and she went on. “But if you pay closer attention to your opponent, you can watch what he does, and he’ll show you which way he’s going. I know very few human soldiers or dragons who don’t signal their move long before they make it. You just have to watch for it. Understand?”
The soldier nodded and Ghleanna slapped his shoulder, which didn’t seem to offend him. “Good. Good. But don’t worry. You’re doing well. Just need more training is all. I’m betting all of you need more training to fight as human.” She flicked her hand. “So get to work.”
The Fins went back to sparring and Ghleanna saw Bram and walked to his side.
“Hello there.”
“I leave you alone for a few—”
“I was bored. What did you expect me to do? Sit on my ass and count the algae on the walls.”
“That’s a design motif.”
“And again you lost me.”
“You should be in our room, Ghleanna.”
“You mean hiding? Why? I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Not hiding. Resting.”
“I’m fine.”
“You took a sword to the chest!”
The room grew silent and Ghleanna rolled her eyes. “If you’re going to make a big deal out of it.”
“You all right, Captain?” one of the soldiers asked.
“I’m fine. Going to take a rest. You lot keep up the work. I’ll check in later.”
She walked out and Bram realized that the soldiers were now all staring at him. “It’s for her own good,” he insisted. “She needs her rest.”
There was some grunting and they all turned away from him.
Letting out a frustrated growl, he followed Ghleanna.
“Do you enjoy doing that?” Bram demanded once he’d closed their bedroom door.
“Enjoy doing what?”
“Turning those soldiers against me?”
“What are you talking about?”
“A few days ago, they didn’t even know of my existence. Ten minutes with you”—he threw his hands up—“and they all hate me.”
“You’re mad. I was doing nothing but talking to them.” She lowered her voice, “Do you know they have absolutely no say and no representatives in their own government? That sea cow rules it all!”
“I know. That’s why I need you to leave the soldiers alone. Stop talking to them.”
“I don’t see why that upsets you so. You’re arranging a truce anyway, so they won’t be our enemies for long.” She walked up to him, leaned in close, and whispered against his ear, “Besides, it gives me a chance to find out how they fight on land and in the sea. You know. . in case your truce falls apart and I and my kin need to kill them all.”
She leaned back and smiled, sure she’d made her point.
“You’re bloody mad,” he said, shaking his head and gawking at her. “All of you. Every damn Cadwaladr in this world is bloody mad except your mother and your sister Maelona.”
“What are you bringing my sister up for?”
“Because I’m relatively certain she wouldn’t be running around after getting a sword through the chest, trying to teach Fin soldiers new fighting techniques.”
“That’s because she doesn’t know any fighting techniques. But if you think so highly of her, I’m sure I can arrange a proper introduction between you two.”
Bram glared at her for a few seconds before he reminded her, “Besides living with your kin, I also attended school with Maelona for years. When I returned to your parents’ home it was usually as Maelona’s guest.”
“Oh.”
“Tell me, was there ever a time when you noticed me? Or did I not exist for you at all?”
“That’s not fair.”
He dismissed her with a wave of his hand. “Forget it. I’m tired and I need sleep.”
“So you’re just walking away?”
“Looks that way.”
“Bram—”
He growled at her — growled! — and reached over his shoulders to gather up his cotton shirt and pull it over his head. He shook out his silver hair, tossed the shirt onto a chair, and dived face first onto the bed.
“This conversation isn’t over, peacemaker.”
“Yes it is,” he said into the fur covering. “I’m tired of being reminded how little I’ve ever meant to you.”
“You’re acting like a hatchling.”
He lifted his arm from the bed, raised his hand, and gestured at her with two of his fingers.
Ghleanna’s mouth dropped open. “You rude bastard!” “Sleeping!” he yelled into the bed.
So unbelievably pissed, Ghleanna paced around the room for nearly a whole minute until she yelled, “This discussion is not done!”
Snarling — at her! — Bram pushed himself off the bed and stormed over to her. “What, Ghleanna? What is it you just have to say now? At this moment?”
“Kiss me.”
He took a step back. “What? Why?”
She had absolutely no clue! “Because I said so.”
“ No.”
“Are you going to tell me you don’t want to?”
“Maybe I don’t.”
“Liar!”
“I don’t need this.” He headed to the door.
“Scared, are you?”
Bram stopped. “What?”
“I asked if you’re scared. Frightened. Like a little mouse.”
Bram again faced her. “The only thing that scares me is how Rhiannon uses me to torture your brother, because he’s a murdering bastard.”
Ghleanna walked across the room and stood in front of Bram. “Then kiss me if you have the—”
Before she could even finish her challenge, Bram had slipped his hand behind Ghleanna’s neck and yanked her in until their toes touched. But he only stared into her eyes, not making any further move.
“What are you waiting for, peacemaker?” she asked, a little breathless.