Page 27 of The Most Unsuitable Prince (Another Arranged Marriage #8)
“As I said, they get relocated,” Winter explained.
“This particular branch of the World Council set policies in place decades ago, decreeing that the different hidden creatures in the world were to remain in their established territories in the majority of cases – territories they inhabited well before humans came along.
“Wherever possible, those areas are respected, and stragglers or those who leave the area for whatever reason are returned there. In the odd cases where there might be valid reasons for a move in territories, they are relocated to an area that is most suitable for the way those creatures live. I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed, but there are vast areas of the known world, in every country, that remain uninhabited. ”
“That was intentional planning?” Rupert had just assumed people preferred to live near each other in townships and villages.
“In some cases, yes. A lot of the places that don’t provide comfortable living for humans are perfect for the creatures that prefer to stay hidden. They have as much right to live in their spaces as any other being.”
“Like Dragon Mountain, you mean?” Rupert had never been there, and truthfully never wanted to go, but he’d heard of it. Dragons and humans living together.
“The dragons were an exception, but that was the dragons’ choice.
” Winter’s eyes twinkled with the flames from the fire.
“Those magnificent creatures already knew, through the lore that has been passed down through their generations, that they could bond with certain humans. They believed they could do a lot of good in that way, and they have.”
“Those dragon rider bonds have always fascinated and terrified me. I never wanted to bond with a dragon, and I think that’s why I prefer not to go anywhere near them in case I get snatched up by one.”
Winter laughed.
“I do hear what you’re saying, though, that all creatures can be more than fur and meat?”
Winter nodded. “This is what makes what we do so fascinating.
There are so many different creatures that lurk around us that most people are unaware of.
Those creatures have their own family structures.
They have their own hierarchies. They have their own way of living.
For example, the gryphons I need to go hunting for tomorrow will be a mated pair.
“And before you ask me how I know that, being a mated pair is the only time gryphons can produce young. In one respect, that will make things easier for me – I hope – as if I can capture one, the other one will come along willingly because they will refuse to be apart. However, that same bond makes them highly protective of each other.”
Rupert was suddenly worried on his husband’s behalf. “Have you dealt with mated gryphons before?”
“Only the one pair, although I get sent to deal with single gryphons quite frequently. But, thinking about that, you might be able to help me with something. You travel over much of the country during your hunts and social activities?”
“I’ve been over nearly every corner of Simigile over the years.”
Winter nodded. “Your father already said there were no known dragons in this country, is that right? No one around has one as a pet, for example, although that would be highly illegal, but it does happen.”
“There are none kept here. We use dragon messengers associated with the World Council, of course, but none of them live here that I know of. Although…” Rupert remembered something he’d heard about a year before.
“Percy was having a rant one night. It was around this time last year. He was going on about seeing a winged creature crashing into the ground somewhere in the distance from where he was at the time. He wanted to get a group together to go and hunt for it.”
“Seriously?” Winter leaned forward again, putting his glass on the table. “Did you go and find it?”
“No, this is what I mean about how that lot I hung around with didn’t really care about anything.
Percy was mocked mercilessly. He was extremely inebriated at the time, so in one respect that was understandable.
By the next morning, he claimed he must’ve been dreaming and to forget about it.
But I remember wondering at the time if it was possible that one of the tribes in the northwest corner of the country had captured and raised a dragon of their own. Although, goodness knows why.”
“That could be possible, I suppose, although I am loath to blame a group of people simply because they live a different way from the rest of the population,” Winter said. “But isn’t the castle quite a distance from that area?”
“It’s probably a two-day ride, three or four by carriage.”
“Hmm, see that doesn’t really fit.” Winter tapped his chin with his finger, clearly thinking hard.
“If that dragon exists, and it’s the only dragon in the country, then those gryphons are a long way from their intended target.
The one I found was only an hour’s ride from the castle grounds.
But Percy’s story is concerning. Rupert dear, dragons are sentient, and if one is being held against its will, we need to go and save it. ”
“We don’t know that one exists, or if it’s anywhere near where Percy claimed to see it last.” But even as he said that, Rupert was mentally organizing how a trip like that would be possible.
“At the risk of sounding like I’m putting a dampener on your plans,” he said, “because I’m definitely not, but you and I together can’t just take off to the hill countries looking for a random dragon.
We would need to take guards. We would be expected to take staff.
It’s not acceptable for crown princes and their consorts to travel without at least some form of protection, especially if we’re headed in that direction. ”
“Hmm, good point.” Winter grinned. “I need to start thinking like the consort I am instead of just a regular prince with my loyal team. But I accept that’s sensible advice.
The gryphons shouldn’t be far from the castle.
We’ll capture them first and arrange for their transport to the World Council.
Then they can be reunited with their young.
The World Council is very insistent about that sort of thing. ”
“And then?”
“And then we could do something like a ‘consort meet the people’ trip, complete with guards and staff, and perhaps arrange to be in the northwest sector of Simigile as we do that. Is there a society family house close to that area that would be willing to host us? Within a day’s ride would be preferable. ”
“That could work. I’m not expected up there until after the fall festival, but there’s nothing saying I can’t take my husband to meet the Silvan family, who have an estate up there.
I assume the department you work for would be quite happy for us to go and see if there are actually dragons in the hill country.
Would that dragon have to be sent back to the World Council as well? ”
“That would be the easiest way, especially if the dragon has been injured. At least with a dragon, I can explain to it what I’m doing and provided they accept the use of the magic we use in these cases, that creature can be safe and sound at the council within a matter of a day.
The council hasn’t mentioned there’re any reports of dragons missing at all – if one were in this area my contact would’ve already mentioned it, but I’ll definitely get the clerk to check and see if one went missing last year.
The dragon council is extremely careful about monitoring their numbers. ”
“So we have a plan.” Rupert had a quick sip from his glass. It struck him how he really didn’t need to drink a lot at all when he was with his husband. “I must admit, while I understand the seriousness of all that you do, I find this planning quite exciting. Is that wrong of me?”
“Not at all,” Winter said. “It’s probably the best attitude to have.
And don’t worry, I’ll make sure you don’t come to any harm.
Perhaps I could use you as bait.” He laughed, and Rupert realized that the shock must have shown on his face.
“Please, Rupert, I am only teasing you, dear. Don’t ever take anything I say like that seriously.
You’ll learn that among the Martingale family, we do tend to joke about things like that. ”
“As bait, I’m a lot bigger than you, which would make me easier for the creatures to see,” Rupert grumbled, but he was teasing too. Winter’s humor was infectious.
“There is one other thing,” Winter warned, but he was still smiling, so it couldn’t be all bad.
“I know you’ve agreed to help, and you’ve shown a real interest in the hunting side of things.
But that is only part of the work I do. I could ask you to attend social events with me as well, if you had a mind to attend a function where I will look like a peacock and behave like a frivolous person.
Is that something you think you can do? Or would you only be interested in the hunting side of things? ”
“When I saw you at Monce,” Rupert admitted, “the first thing I thought was that man knows how to have a good time. You were smiling and laughing in a group of people, while I was sitting at one of the tables with Tristan, getting grumpier by the minute. There was a tiny part of me that truly wanted to be someone you would laugh with the way you were with them.”
“That’s so sweet, thank you, Rupert.”
“The more I learn about the man underneath those gaudy robes, the more I’m in awe of you, I genuinely am.”
“Rupert, you are being a sweetheart. Honestly, I’m touched. There’s a good chance I’ll be inviting you to stay for a nightcap tonight if you keep saying sweet things like that. If you were inclined to enjoy something like that with me, of course.”
A nightcap? Does he mean…? Rupert took an extra look at his husband.
The heat in Winter’s eyes wasn’t a reflection from the fire, and Rupert had a sudden urge to check that his robe was covering his crotch area.
Fortunately, or not, he didn’t have the time to reply.
There was a discreet tap on the door and two footmen entered, carrying large trays with their food, which they started to arrange on the waiting table.
Rupert stood, reaching over and offering Winter his hand. “A nightcap shared with you sounds like a lovely idea,” he said softly as Winter rose from his seat. “I’d like nothing more.”
“Me, too, Rupert, dear. Me, too.”