him as their chief before he ever gave over leadership to a clan laird.
Fidaich frowned. “But you gave them the option, even when the Triumvirate said you shouldn’t.”
Eirik gave Anya-Gra a look of censure. Fidaich should not know of the Triumvirate’s discussion and he could only have heard about this particular one from a single source.
“The Triumvirate is not always right.” The two members besides his grandmother had wanted Eirik to use his dragon to subdue the Faol and take over leadership of all the Chrechte as in days of old. He was no MacAlpin and told them so. “As for the Éan who wish to remain in the forest: if they trusted my lead, they would not have chosen to stay.”
Shaking her head, Anya-Gra sighed. “’Tis not that simple, grandson. And well you know it. Some do not want the more civilized life among humans.”
“They risk being hunted to death if they stay.” And well she knew that.
Though the smaller group had a better chance of living undetected by the Faol still intent on eradicating Eirik’s kind.
His grandmother’s eyes took on the glazed look that said she saw things others could not. “For some, the freedom to live as they have always lived is worth that peril.”
“I thought you supported the move to the clans.” Her dislike of his willingness to forfeit ruling status in his adopted clan notwithstanding.
“I do.” Her expression shifted to an old sadness. “But I understand our people who cannot make the change. There are still Faol who live in the caves of the forest, you know.”
He had heard that rumor, but never gave it credence. “We do not see them.”
“They do not hunt us like some of the misguided wolves among the clans. Besides, they have claimed for their territories mountainous lands a fair distance from our own forests.”
He did not ask how she knew of these wild Faol packs then. His grandmother knew much it should be impossible for her to know. For instance, she had always maintained it was only a small segment of the Faol that hunted the Éan in these modern clansmen times. The rest of the Éan had believed it was all wolves. She had been proven right.
Fidaich harrumphed. “Maybe I should stay with the Éan here.”
Eirik’s dragon rumbled and it came out of his chest in a growl that would rival any wolf. “You do not trust me, either?”
He did not bother reminding his young cousin that both Fidaich’s parents were set on the move to the Sinclair holding. Nor did Eirik mention that Fidaich’s best friend and conspirator in the trouble the boys managed to find so easily was also coming. None of that mattered.
They were cousins, but Eirik was prince. Either his Éan brethren had faith in his decisions…or they did not.
Including his family.
Fidaich flinched. “Of course I trust you.”
“Then, you will come with me to the Sinclairs.”
“At least you would not have us live among the clan that tried to kill me.”
Ah, the dramatic bent of a boy on the cusp of manhood. “’Twas not the entire clan.” Just two wolves with sadistic hearts and no Chrechte honor.
Chrechte did not kill children. Enemy or not.
That day in the forest was the first time Eirik’s dragon had killed. The two boys had gone missing and he’d joined the search party, finding them with his keener dragon senses fastest.
And just in time as well. His dragon hearing had picked up the warrior’s threat to Fidaich and Canaul, and the sincerity behind it. Without doubt, the older wolf had meant to kill the children. Eirik had reacted with revulsion and fury. Without thought or hesitation, his dragon had incinerated two other Chrechte until naught was left but ash.
Their screams haunted him as no ghost could ever hope to. He had protected the boys and the secret of the Éan’s prince and dragon, but the cost was not one Eirik would ever forget.
He had not killed in battle; he had annihilated his foe with a power they could not hope to match or defend against.
Her legs dangling over the stone edge, Ciara waited atop the lower bailey tower. One of two in the lower half of the wall surrounding the Sinclair fortress, it was the perfect vantage point for her first glimpse of the newcomers that would join her adopted clan. She was not supposed to be here, but it was a favored spot for her to find both privacy and peace.