you know that then why are you gazing despondently into the distance?”
“I’m not despondent, I’m thinking. It’s just something you said.”
“Before or after the dragon brought up that volcano?”
“Before. You said he was not a fire breather.”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“So there are others like that one? The dragon we faced today. But that breathe fire?”
“Well . . . not exactly like him. He’s kind of small.”
“What?”
“Based on what we’ve learned from our cousins, the Dark Plains centaurs, there are all kinds of dragons, in all kinds of very large sizes. From what I understand there are no truly small dragons. Just small for a dragon.”
“Tell me you’re joking.”
“The Dark Plains dragons are a well-organized, lethal, family-based group of giant beings with sharp tails and horns on their heads. The one we dealt with was a volcano dragon but there are others.”
“Others?”
“Some breathe fire. Some lightning. Some sand. I’ve also heard about acid—”
“Acid?”
“I believe those are rare, though.”
“Oh,” she said, closing her eyes. “How nice. And what else?”
“They have armies.”
“Not just one army but armies. As in plural?”
“Well, you need to understand that there are dragons all over that side of the world. And they don’t all get along. The sand dragons are ruled by a king in the Desert Lands. The fire breathers and volcano dragons are ruled by the Dragon Queen.”
“There’s a Dragon Queen?”
“Of course there’s a Dragon Queen. But there are also Northland dragons—”
“Northland dragons?”
“The Lightnings. They’re actually very interesting.”
Her gaze flickered over to him. “Are they?”
“Yes. At one time they lived in hordes.”
“Hordes? There are hordes of these things?”
“Uh-huh. Small, clannish groups made mostly of sons, nephews, and brothers of their leaders. Although I’ve heard that they now have one leader for all the Northland dragons but I have no idea who that is or what that title is. I just know it’s a male.”
“Fascinating.”
“What’s the matter?” he asked, pouring them each some ale in their travel cups. “I thought you’d find all this very interesting.”
“Interesting, yes. But how am I supposed to fight them?”
Shocked by Keeley’s response, Caid accidentally poured some ale onto the blanket. He quickly put the stopper in.
“Why in the world would you even think about fighting the dragons?”
Keeley stood and began pacing. “What if we have no choice?”
“Gods, you’re not planning a strike on them, are you? Tell me you’re not planning a strike.”
She spun around to face him, her eyes wide. “Why in the hells would you ask me that?”
Confused, he pointed out, “Because you specifically asked how you could fight them. You’d only have to fight them if you struck first.”
“Not necessarily.”
Still confused, he asked, “What are you talking about?”
“Beatrix already has an alliance with the elves.”
“Yes, Laila told me.”
“But not only that; she’s made deals with the Dowager Queen and Prince Marius. For all we know, she’s done the same with the Dark Plains dragons, allowing them to run roughshod over the Hill Lands.” Keeley scowled. “What is so funny?”
“That you’d think the dragons would need to run roughshod over anything. They could have come to our territories anytime they wanted over the centuries, but they haven’t bothered. Because they’re too busy fighting each other and the humans right in front of them. And none of that has changed in eons. I doubt it will change now. Even for your very ambitious little sister.”
“But she seems to have a way. With everyone.”
“Not with the dragons.”
“But how do you know—”
“Keeley . . . they eat humans.”
Keeley froze. “What?” she finally asked.
“They eat people. You saw what that dragon did to some of those elves.”
“He was fighting for his life.”
“No. If he was doing that, he would have just used his tail. Or one of his spells. He was a mage. He ate them because he was hungry. Humans, to the dragons, are nothing but two-legged cattle. They’re a staple of their diet. So unless your sister is willing to hand her power over to a force much more deadly than she is—and, based on what I’ve heard from others, even more insane than your uncle Archie—I doubt she’ll attempt to get the dragons on her side, much less manage to do so. You know, without becoming a scrumptious appetizer in the process.”
“So I have no reason to panic?”
“Not about that, no.”
* * *
“What does that mean?” Keeley demanded, not appreciating when Caid began laughing at her. Again.
“Can I make a suggestion?” he asked.
“Fine. Make a suggestion.”
“Relax. For the night. Please.”
Caid was right, of course. There was nothing she could do this