The Fire Dragon Read Online Free Page A

staircase. Young Riddmar got up and ran after him. More slowly Nevyn followed, and Oggyn joined him at the foot of the stairs.
    “The gall,” Oggyn snapped. “My prince—”
    Maryn pushed past him and started up, taking the stairs two at a time, too fast for Riddmar to keep up. Nevyn let Oggyn and the boy go ahead of him and paused, glancing around the crowd. He finally saw Owaen and Maddyn, standing at the rider's hearth. Getting their attention was even harder, but at last Maddyn did look his way.
    “You and Owaen!” Nevyn called out. “Come with me!”
    They found the prince in the council chamber, standing at the head of a long table with Oggyn to one side.
    Afternoon sun spread over the polished wood and gilded the parchment maps lying upon it. In one smooth motion Maryn drew his table dagger and stabbed it into a map, right through the mark that signified Cantrae.
    “That arrogant little pissproud bastard,” Maryn said, his voice still level. “I'll have his head on a pike for this.”
    No one spoke. With a shrug the prince pulled his dagger free and sheathed it, then turned to them with his usual sunny smile.
    “No doubt Lord Braemys planned to vex me,” Maryn said. “An angry man takes foolish risks.”
    “Just so, my liege.” Oggyn bowed to him. “Most well said.”
    “What gripes my soul the hardest,” Maryn went on, “was that reference to poor little Olaen. Ye gods, if I ever find the man who murdered that child, I'll hang him!”
    Nevyn turned his attention to Oggyn, who was struggling to keep his face bland and composed despite its being beaded with sweat. Fortunately for Oggyn, Prince Maryn turned away and started for the door.
    “I need some time alone, good councillors,” Maryn said, “to compose myself. We shall hold council later this afternoon.”
    The door slammed behind him. When Riddmar started after, Nevyn caught the lad by the shoulder and kept him back. Oggyn caught his breath with a sob that drew him a curious look from the young prince.
    “Ah, er well,” Oggyn said, “I never know what to say when His Highness flies into one of his tempers. I'll confess it frightens me.”
    “Me too,” Riddmar said.
    “He does it so rarely, is why,” Nevyn said. “Well, silver daggers, I'm sorry I took you away from your meal. Prince Riddmar? I suggest you go with your brother's captains.”
    “I will, my lord,” Riddmar said. “Owaen's teaching me swordcraft, anyway. We could have a lesson.”
    “Good idea,” Owaen said. “Maddo, come on.”
    The silver daggers left, taking the boy with them. Once the door had shut behind them, Oggyn crumpled into achair and covered his white face with both hands. “If we had let little Olaen live,” he said into his palms, “the wars would never have ended.”
    “I know that as well as you do,” Nevyn said.
    With a groan Oggyn lowered his hands and stared at the floor. Nevyn itched to point out that Oggyn should have talked the prince round to a legal execution rather than poisoning the lad, but he held his tongue. He had chosen to keep silence at the time. Breaking it now would be unbearably self-righteous.
    “We'd best get back to the great hall,” Nevyn said. “We both have our duties to attend to.”
    In her sunny chamber, Lilli was sitting at her table and studying the dweomer book when the prince strode in. He slammed the door, then stood leaning against it with his hands behind his back. He'd set his mouth tight, and his eyes had turned as cold as storm clouds. Lilli shut the book and rose to curtsy to him.
    “What troubles your heart, my prince?”
    “Your cursed cousin, Braemys.” Maryn paused, looking her over with cold eyes. “Your betrothed.”
    “He's no longer my betrothed.”
    “He was once. What I wonder is if he ever claimed his rights.”
    “Never! I never bedded him.”
    “Unlike—” Maryn broke the saying off.
    His eyes had turned cold as steel in winter. Involuntarily Lilli took a step back. He neither