Page 134 of To Touch A Silent Fury

“This isn’t about politics,” I spat.

He took a step towards me, and Chaethor stiffened. It was her natural urge to defend me, but she knew she had to let me fight this alone. She could growl at Kallamont, but to growl at my father, her king, was another thing. “What is it about, then?”

“Her dragon,” I said. And it was partly true.

“Still politics, then.”

I fastened the strap under her front legs then turned back to him, folding my arms with my own face just as flushed as his. “You know Banrillen. He should not control a dragon.”

Braxthorn sighed. “Yes, as you told me when you stole Chaethor from him all those spans ago. I know your opinion on the matter.”

“You agree he would be a terrible dragon rider, you have told me as much.”

“Convenient then, that his wife would be the rider and not him.” I opened my mouth, but he tutted at his own glibness. “I am trying to persuade him to a better match, but somehow he might be more stubborn than you.”

I waved my hand. “Give him Princess Margot.”

Even this, I hesitated to offer. If I had my way, Banrillen would never marry. But at least with Margot, she would be busy in the Tastelands often as the next in line and a princess in her own right. And Tanidwen would be safe.

My father cocked his head. “And you will marry Lady Elissa?”

A curl of breath smoked out in the pause that followed. The towers of the Vidarium rose well above the main building, and I could see the first riders moving into the courtyard, ready for their weapons training.

What if she couldn’t run? What if she truly had to marry my brother? Eventually, they would discover her secret, when the dragon’s eyes were finally seen. If she survived that reveal without her head being mounted on a spike, what would her life be?

You protected me from him, once,Chaethor said without noise.You must try to protect her.

I am the one who hurt her before,I said back.She would never accept me.

You only hurt her to keep her alive. Your brother has no such scruples. As soon as her death would not kill the child, too, why would her end be any different to your mother’s?

She was right. She was always right. Banrillen would use her. For children, for her dragon. Then he would discard her, or cage her forever.

I touched my hand to Chae for support and steeled my gaze back on my father. His eyes had not left mine, and I saw from the way he held himself, he was ready for a fight.

Logic was the only answer with him. “You have seen how I am with Chaethor.”

“You have trained her well,” he acknowledged.

You?Chaethor said.Trainedme?

Let me play his game, Chae.

She breathed out through her nose, not quite enough that Braxthorn would hear it as the huff it truly was.

I nodded at my father. “I could train a wife just as well. Raise that dragon properly, to be an asset to our kingdom.”

My father’s brow dropped, and his expression turned to ice. “I hope I misunderstand you.”

I did not move. “Let me marry her.”

“Edrin’s watch, does this girl have magic tits?” he exclaimed. I fought the urge to defend her as he studied me, and then he laughed out loud. “The answer is no.”

“You will let Banrillen marry her,” I stated, in a dead voice.

My father laughed again, just a bark this time. He stepped forwards once more, his fingers steepled. I was taller than him, and yet the way he clucked his tongue made me feel like a child again.

“He is your second,” my father drawled, speaking each word as if I was a single span old. “A general only and, the Five willing, will not outlive you. He should never be king. Because of that, he has morechoice, yes.” The father stopped under Chaethor’s head, mere feet from me. His sapphire-blue eyes scanned me with total disbelief. “I see I have been too lax with you, in allowing you any choice at all.”