Dragon's Blood (The Dragon's Gift Trilogy #2)

“Perhaps not, but I am needed all the same.” Tariana’s face darkened. “I’ve received word that Ryolas may be executed for his crimes against the crown. It would seem that Arolas, his older brother, has won their father’s favor and turned the king against him. I cannot allow Ryolas to die when his actions have saved so many of our people.” Her amber eyes glimmered as she got to her feet. “I must find him and free him, if I can.”

“Hang on a minute,” Lucyan said, snagging Tariana by the wrist before she could leave the room. “You do realize that the moment you cross into elven territory they’ll put an arrow through your eye, don’t you? You are no mere soldier, Tariana—you’re our general, and the princess royal, besides. They’ll recognize you on sight.”

“I’ll disguise myself,” she said stubbornly. “I can use hair dye to change my coloring and a cloak to shield my face. It isn’t as if I’m going to charge in there wearing my armor.”

“Even so, someone may see through your disguise,” Drystan pointed out. “I agree we should rescue Ryolas—we owe him a great debt. But there is no reason to rush headlong into danger without doing some reconnaissance first.”

“Let Shadley and I find out where Ryolas is being kept first, and the exact nature of his circumstances,” Lucyan urged. For once, there was no hint of belligerence in his eyes—he was usually quite standoffish with Tariana, but right now he was only concerned for their sister. “We’ll send some spies to Elvenhame. They should be able to get us word on how Dareena and Alistair are faring as well.”

“Oh, all right.” Tariana sighed and resumed her seat. She still looked troubled, lines of exhaustion plaguing her face, and the fierce, confident aura she usually emanated was nowhere to be found.

Surreptitiously, Drystan scooted a little closer, and draped an arm around Tariana’s shoulders. His eldest sister stiffened, not that he blamed her—he couldn’t remember the last time either of them had offered the other comfort. But after a few seconds passed, she sighed and leaned into the embrace.

“You really love him, don’t you?” Lucyan asked. His eyes narrowed as he studied Tariana.

She smiled. “Not at first. I thought he was far too pretty, and told him so the first time he asked me to dance. I believe my words to him were, ‘I would never fuck a man who couldn’t hold his own against me outside the bedroom.’”

Lucyan chuckled. “Of course you told him that. How did he worm his way past your icy fa?ade?”

“He challenged me to a sword fight in the garden.” Tariana smiled fondly, her eyes shining with the memory. “That fight turned into a tumble in the bushes, and—”

“That’s quite enough,” Drystan said, holding up a hand. His insides were squirming, and it took everything he had not to cringe. “I’ve no need to hear about your sexual activities, sister.”

Tariana snorted. “So it’s perfectly all right for the two of you to discuss your sexual experiences together, but not me?”

Drystan and Lucyan exchanged uncomfortable glances. “It’s one thing to talk about pegging someone,” Lucyan finally said, “but quite another to talk about actually being pegged—”

“Fine,” Tariana said, rolling her eyes. “Anyway, we saw each other every time he came to court, and when I was seventeen, he asked Father for my hand.”

Drystan felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped on him. “He was going to marry you?”

Tariana scowled. “I’ll have you know that I’m quite the catch.”

“No one is calling your sexual prowess into question,” Lucyan said with a wave of his hand. “It’s just that you’re infertile, Tariana, and Ryolas was his father’s favored at the time and therefore expected to produce heirs. I’m surprised King Andur allowed it.”

“He didn’t, and neither did our father,” Tariana said with a shrug. “We continued to see each other in secret afterward, knowing nothing would ever come of it. It became much harder once the war started, and now…” Her eyes shone with tears, and she swallowed. “We have to get him back. We have to.”

Drystan hugged her, his heart aching for his sister. Tariana had a spine of steel—he wasn’t used to seeing her so vulnerable. “We will,” he promised, kissing the top of her head. “We’ll get Ryolas back, and Dareena and Alistair too. And once we’re reunited, we’ll rain hell down on anyone who tries to split us apart again.”

Tariana gave a watery chuckle. “This entire situation is a catastrophe, but at least it has brought us closer together. It’s funny how the catalyst that is strengthening our family bonds is also the same thing that might tear our entire kingdom apart.”

Drystan smiled. “It is only in times of adversity that we discover who we really are,” he quoted some old saying he’d read in a book somewhere. “It brings me great comfort to know that as siblings, we have each other’s backs.”

They talked for a few minutes longer, and then Tariana and Lucyan left to consult with Shadley. Drystan was just about to go check on the wounded when someone knocked at his door.

“Lord Renflaw,” he said, a little surprised to see the Council Head standing outside. Flanking him were Lords Brimlow and Delvin, both highly influential councilmen. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

“We’ve come to speak with you about some of your recent edicts,” Lord Renflaw said. “Might we come in?”

“Certainly,” Drystan said, hiding the uneasy feeling forming in the pit of his stomach. He offered the councilmen the chairs his siblings had vacated and poured them each a glass of wine. “How can I help you?” he asked, taking his own seat.

“It has come to our attention that you recently decreed a two-year tax break for all Dragon Force soldiers and their families,” Lord Brimlow said. His thick, copper mustache twitched as he spoke, and his elegant eyebrows drew together in a frown. “As you can imagine, this has caused quite a stir amongst your vassals, who rely on this income in order to maintain their lands.”

“As I understand it, my vassals have had several good years, and their coffers are quite full despite the war,” Drystan said calmly. Which is more than I can say for myself, he added silently. “I believe they can withstand two years, and besides, they will still be receiving taxes from the majority of our citizens.”

“That may be so,” Lord Delvin said in a strident tone, “but you did not clear this decision with the council first. If you had, we would have told you what folly it was.”

“You are very close to inciting outright rebellion,” Renflaw warned, his eyes glittering dangerously. “The common people, from whom our soldiers are drawn, must not be exempted from taxes. If they get used to such leniency, it could prove fatal for the stability of our country.”