Chapter 1 AS DRAGON BRENNA Dalgaard sat on the mountain outside her kingdom of Taydaryn, silhouettes of long forgotten creatures streaked across the bleak winter sky. Yule came in a few short weeks and war was looming, she was sure of it. That wasn’t something she wanted to think about. Her husband, King Tirdon, and her brother-in-law, King Martrand of Marenth, had been gone for two weeks now, trying to settle the rift with the rogue Fire Dragon Guard. It had been five years since she’d arrived in Taydaryn. Five years of peace. Five years of the residents of Taydaryn living their lives without fear of war, without looking over their shoulders waiting for attack. Brenna didn’t have a good feeling about the latest demands, ones she was sure could not be met. It was absurd for her to even think of abdicating the throne. A lot had happened since she was crowned Queen of Taydaryn: her mother’s death, reconciliation with her sister, marriage to Tirdon, having her own child. The most important, though, was that her beloved kingdom was at peace for the first time in decades because the residents believed in her. They believed in Tirdon. Brenna took flight back to the castle, shifted once she set foot in the garden, and entered through the secret passage. Once her cloak was hung and her boots were off, she headed for the den. Dane grabbed his mother’s hand. “Momma? Why are you so sad?” Kneeling in front of her son, Brenna took the boy in her arms for a tight hug. At that moment, something leapt inside of her… a fire, a knowing, a love so deep that tears formed in her eyes. “My sweet Dane, I miss your daddy.” “Don’t be sad. He and Uncle Martrand are mighty warriors. You said so. I’m sad Daddy isn’t here ‘cause it’s almost Yule. Will they be back before then?” Brenna hugged her child to her again. In her heart of hearts she hoped her husband and brother-in-law would soon be home. She didn’t know how to answer Dane. The annual Christmas/Yule gathering would be soon, and it wouldn’t be right if Tirdon wasn’t present. “Let’s go make some cookies. I know Daddy and Uncle Martrand will be hungry when they come home.” Still holding his mother’s hand, he gave it a little squeeze and smiled up at her. “Don’t worry, Momma. I am here. I can protect you and Auntie Eldra and Jonna.” A smile crossed Brenna’s lips. She bent, kissed the top of his head, and continued walking to the kitchen, swinging arms as they went. You most precious little boy. The gods and goddesses blessed me tenfold with you. Some day you will protect me and all the residents of Taydaryn. You will be a mighty warrior like your father. UPON ENTERING THE main kitchen, Dane ran to Eldra, who was already at the counter rolling out gingerbread dough. He wrapped his arms around her leg. “Auntie! What are you making?” Realizing his cousin, Jonna, was next to her mother, he greeted her as well, but was more interested in what was on the counter that smelled so delicious. “Bren, get a chair for Dane and, he can help Jonna cut out the gingerbread boys and girls.” Picking up a chair from the table, she placed the back of it against the counter. Dane climbed on the seat before she set it to rights. “Dane! Please wait until I get the chair in place. You know I can’t move both of you. I’m not strong like you and your daddy.” The boy nodded and frowned. “Honey, your mom is right. You mustn’t climb on the chair until it is completely placed, or you may fall and hurt yourself. That wouldn’t be a good thing this close to Christmas, right?” Eldra grazed Dane’s head with her lips. The women exchanged glances. They knew each other so well and knew what thoughts were mulling around inside each other’s heads and hearts. “I know, Bren, I know.” Eldra sighed. “I needed to busy myself, too. I’m tired of waiting.” “It’s been two weeks,” Brenna poured herself a cup of coffee and topped off her sister’s. “I don’t understand what’s keeping them. I haven’t heard a word, have you?” “Not a word. Not a thought. Nothing.” Jonna and Dane were growing more impatient by the minute, each poking thumbprints in the rolled- out dough. Their giggles filled the kitchen and their mothers couldn’t help but join them. “Keep an eye on Dane?” Brenna asked her sister. “Of course.” Eldra knew exactly where Brenna was going when she left the kitchen. To the far corner of the rear grounds by the woods where their parents were entombed. She sighed. There were days she longed for the wisdom of her mother, to be as intuitive and caring. But that simply wasn’t her. She was the fiery one, the one who spoke before thinking and acted on her thoughts before contemplating the consequences. “Mother, when are we cutting the dough?” Jonna asked, moving her head back and forth to feel the swaying of her long auburn ponytail. “Soon. I’m almost ready for your help.” Eldra shoved a container of cookie cutters in front of each child. “They don’t all have to be boys and girls. You can make whatever shape you want. When they are finished baking and have cooled, we will frost and decorate them.” That seemed to appease the young ones. Eldra didn’t mind watching Dane. He and Jonna were weeks within the same age and got along well when together. They never argued over toys and neither had a mean streak, which is more than Eldra could say about her memories growing up with Brenna. She was thankful the children were totally opposite! BRENNA GRABBED HER ivory velvet cape from the front closet and made her way through the door to the secret tunnel that led to the back yard. Several inches of snow lay on the ground, and it crunched under her feet with each step. Even though her dragon had flown in minutes before, it was pertinent she go back out. It wasn’t cold outside, but Brenna was chilled to the bone. Pulling her cape closer around her, she hastened to the corner and opened the door to the glass chamber where her mother lay in an ornate beveled glass box trimmed in gold. Once inside, Brenna loosened the ties of her cape and pushed down the hood before sitting on the gold bench. She ran her hand over the top of the glass casket and sighed. Her mother, Queen Isara, was a regal woman who’d ruled Taydaryn with a gentle hand. Her illness had brought Brenna back to the kingdom. She left her very successful business in Chicago and came as soon as she’d heard her mother wasn’t well. It wasn’t long before Isara breathed her last, leaving Brenna in a quandary about staying to take her mother’s place as queen or going home to all that was familiar. The bombshell that she was adopted wasn’t something she had been prepared to hear, nor that the woman she thought was her biological mother had a son, who was now her husband. Brenna lowered her head, covered her face with her hands, and wept. “Oh, Mother! So much has happened in these few short years. I miss you so much.” My darling, I told you, I’m always with you. Brenna felt her mother’s words more in her spirit than audibly. They enveloped her like a warm fleece blanket. She knew her mother was eternal and would always watch over her, always guide her, always love her even though she was on a different plane. What has you so worried, my daughter? “Tirdon. He and Martrand have been gone a couple of weeks. Neither Eldra nor I have heard from them. I’m beginning to worry. Dane notices.” Your men are doing important work. They will be here when the time allows. Be strong, my child. You and Eldra are more than capable of caring for things in their absence. Things are going well with kingdom business, the residents are happy. What’s there to worry about? “The constant threat of another war.” Brenna exhaled. “The new rogue members of the Fire Dragon Guard have assembled. They are calling for Tirdon and me to abdicate or war will ensue.” That’s ludicrous! You will not step down, neither of you! “Mother, I’m tired. Tired of wondering when the next bad thing will happen. I have to protect Dane. Eldra has to protect Jonna. She has Marenth to think about, too, yet she stays here with me because she doesn’t want me and Dane to be alone in Tirdon’s absence.” Your sister is here because she can’t handle being away from Martrand. It isn’t because of you or Dane. She needs you. “I guess we need each other.” Brenna chuckled. “And that sounds so strange. For so long it wasn’t normal to get along with her!” Isara’s laughter warmed Brenna’s heart. It had been ages since she’d heard her mother laugh. She was amazed that she could hear her now, but she gave up on trying to understand the whole dragon life thing when Tirdon brought hers to the forefront. Brenna, things will settle. I promise. “How did you do it, Mother? How did you put up with Daddy being gone all the time? How did you put up with the demands of your residents? The rogue FDG? All I want is a safe place to raise my children. I want to live in harmony with the other people and with my family. I feel that is in jeopardy now, more so than ever before. Maybe I should step down. Maybe we should move back to Chicago.” I will not hear of those things! You belong here. Taydaryn is your home. You are a good queen. A fair ruler. The people love you and Tirdon. You’ve both done so much since you married. You present a unity this place hasn’t had in a very long time. I will not let you leave. Do you understand? Brenna knew her mother was right. She didn’t want to go, but had no choice if war was breathing down her neck. She didn’t want to lose Tirdon like her mother lost the love of her life. It was stupid. Sometimes it felt like she was living her life in a Transformers movie…people shifting into dragon form and flying the skies, attacking others, defending her land and family. She tried to be in her human form more than her dragon, but at the moment, she wanted to fly more than anything. There was a freedom in it, and she could toss her cares to the wind. You can’t. You must wait for your husband to return. It is too dangerous for you to take to the skies. You shouldn’t have gone out earlier. Leave it to her mother to read her thoughts! “I know, but I can’t help how I feel.” Brenna, promise me you will not. Not now. There are too many rogues in the skies who wouldn’t think twice about kidnapping you. You must think of your family. With Tirdon and Martrand gone, it makes Taydaryn and Marenth sitting ducks. Someone needs to always be here in case things go awry. Her mother wasn’t telling her anything she didn’t know. These were all things she’d mulled around since the men left. Her heart was sad, and it was bleeding into her personal life. Maybe you need to call Albert. He is overdue for a visit. Brenna smiled. Yes, he sure was. The last time she saw her assistant, now manager and co-owner of her Chicago business, was at her wedding. Maybe she should invite him for Christmas. “What a brilliant idea! It’s something I will pursue! Thank you, Mother. You always know the right things to say and when I need to hear them.” That’s what mothers are for, dear one. Now, get back to the castle, hug little Dane and prepare for the return of your husband. Eldra needs to do the same. You two have some important things to discuss with your men. “I love you, Mother.” Brenna closed her eyes, kissed her fingertips, and placed them on the glass before tying her hood close around her head. She pulled her cape around her and secured the door as she left, marveling at the wisdom that filled her soul. Chapter 2 TIRDON STOOD WITH such force the chair in which he sat tumbled backwards. He slammed his hand on the cherry wood table. His anger made it difficult to control his dragon. Martrand stood beside him, trying to calm his beast as well. These rogue dragons had no clue what democracy meant, no clue how government ran. And, they didn’t care. They saw a way to dethrone Tirdon and Brenna as rulers in Taydaryn and would do everything in their power to make it happen. “I will not calm down!” Tirdon shouted. “What you’re proposing is ridiculous. Anwan, are you going to allow your rogues to behave this way? It’s quite obvious you have no clue how to care for your own, let alone how to run a country. I will not bow down to you!” Anwan’s cynical smile curved the corners of his thin lips. His elbows rested on the table, his hands drumming fingertips to fingertips. He cocked his head to the left and his silver hair fell across his shoulder. “What we’re proposing isn’t all that out of the ordinary, Tirdon. I want Taydaryn. I’ve always wanted Taydaryn. I’ve never had a chance until now to take what I want. I respected Queen Isara, may she rest in peace. I respect your beautiful young, Brenna… You, I hold no ounce of respect for you.” Tirdon wanted desperately to reach across the table and put an end to Anwan’s life, and had it not been for Martrand speaking up, he probably would have. “Anwan, you are a belly full of hot air! What would you do with Taydaryn? It has nothing. There is no industry, very few businesses, more elderly than youth. Let these people live out their last days in peace.” Martrand paced behind Tirdon. “Ah, but you play me for a fool, young Martrand. I remember when you were one of us. I’m still not happy you defected,” Anwan stated. He stood. His six-foot-six fire warrior frame dwarfed most, except Martrand. The men stood eye to eye. “I know you have a lovely wife and daughter and a new kingdom…Marenth, is it? Why don’t I plan to take it all?” It was Tirdon this time who held his brother-in-law at bay before he did something he’d regret. “These talks are getting us nowhere, Anwan. I will not surrender to your demands, nor will Tirdon. As Vice Chairman of the Universal Dragon Guard, I demand you cease these incredulous requests. If not, I will be forced to assemble our cabinet, who will not look kindly on you and yours for your harassment.” Anwan pursed his lips and shattered the silence with his laughter. “Surely, you jest! You think I’m afraid of your cabinet…or the two of you? Leave before my good disposition changes and I have you chopped into shark bait.” He waved them from his presence. Martrand put a hand on Tirdon’s shoulder, bidding him to leave Anwan’s cabinet chambers. The two walked out without escort and headed to their hotel down the street. “I cannot believe that oaf!” Martrand began. “If he thinks he can get within spitting distance of my land or my family, he’s another think coming! I know he’s being egged on by his newer rogues. I feel it.” “I feel the same, brother. We need to return to Taydaryn and contact Prime Minister Olsen. There has to be something we can do to ward off these goons. The last thing we need is war, for it will compare to the great one from hundreds of years ago. “We need to keep Eldra, Brenna, and the children together. It will be easier to keep an eye on them. Edith needs to know of these latest developments.” “You are right, Tirdon. We can’t be lax in our protection over what is ours. After this meeting, I’m sure there will be retribution. Anwan will not sit with his hands folded for long.” The graveness in Martrand’s voice set the hair on the back of Tirdon’s neck at attention. He didn’t understand any of this today, any more than he did when he was a young boy watching the battle that killed his father, King Amarice. As Martrand and Tirdon walked, they continued discussing plans to set out for Dalgaard Castle at daybreak.
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