Page 47 of In the Embrace of Dragons

“I am not.” It comes out harsher than intended. She gives me a look like I have proven her point.

“What if you took the queen on a horseback ride?”

We both turn to Ragnakor when he speaks up.

“You could show her the city, then perhaps take a walkthrough the woods. There is plenty of day left and you are free today, aren’t you, Your Majesty?”

Ragnakor gives me a significant look, and I know that I have no choice but to catch this fish he’s holding out to me.

“Yes, I am free.” With a deep breath, I hold my hand out across the table to Nissia. She stares at it blankly, then gives me the narrow-eyed expression again that tells me it will be some time before she trusts me.

Damn. It will be difficult to unwind this vine I’ve tied around myself.

Eventually, though, she gives in and places her hand on mine. I close my clawed fingers around her dainty brown ones.

“Go on a ride with me,” I say, “unless you have other plans.”

Wide-eyed, Nissia shakes her head. “I don’t.” Then she glances down at the meal in front of me. “You should finish that, first. Then we can go.”

I hold in my sigh of impatience and do as she asks.

Ragnakor will accompany us,of course, along with Queen Nissia’s own personal guard. They trail behind us on their horses as I lead the way beyond the castle grounds and into the city. If we take the high road, eventually we’ll reach the walls, and then our journey will continue into the forest.

The clap of our horses’ hooves on the cobblestone is nearly deafening, but I make a point of speaking to her over the noise.

“Have you seen much of the city yet?” I ask.

“No. I haven’t left the castle.”

Her mouth sets in a thin line, and I feel as if we are ondangerous ground already. It’s not as if I have been keeping her hostage there. She could have left at any time to explore.

“I see,” I say instead of all that. It certainly would not help. “Today is a good day for it. It’s Zendia, so most dragons don’t work, and sometimes there are festivals in the city.”

Nissia noticeably brightens. “Festivals?”

“Usually on full moons, but also on other holidays.”

“What sorts of holidays do you have here?”

I set off into a laundry list of the holidays we celebrate in Selvumrrest, and the queen pipes up when it’s a holiday we share with her kingdom. Solstices and equinoxes are the same, but our winter holidays are different. The humans have harvest festivals, while we celebrate when the weather changes.

“Dragon hatchlings are at their most vulnerable when it’s cold, so they are encouraged to stay inside in the winter,” I tell her. “Most of our games are indoor ones, with some hunting outdoors for the adults.”

Nissia perks up. “What do you hunt in the winter?”

I don’t know if I like how eager she just became for this information. “Elk and moose—it is the best time for prize antlers.”

Her smile grows wider as I speak.

“Amoose,” she says in wonder. “Could I teach Daina to hunt moose?”

“Your dog would do well to stay away from one.” I don’t think I like the idea of her or her pet so close to a deadly beast. “You shoot it from a distance with a spear.”

“A spear! I could learn to throw a spear.” She turns in her seat to face Ragnakor. “Captain, would you teach me to throw a spear?”

I’m disappointed to have lost her attention.

“I could,” he hedges. “But I am not as good at it asTralazar. Perhaps the arms master could teach both of you together?”