“Have no idea. Everyone’s been rather scarce since our return. I think they’re al shagging.” Annwyl laughed, her humor back, eyes bright. “I think you’re probably right.” She glanced around and whispered, “And you?”
“And me what?”
Annwyl made her eyebrows dance a bit.
“Gods, Annwyl!”
“Oh, come on. You’ve got both here.”
“Yeah, right. Éibhear’s sitting outside, staring pensively off into the distance—who knows what’s going on with him—and Celyn’s been avoiding me like I might f**k him right here on this table during morning meal. Tel me, my wise queen . . . why do we bother with any of them?”
“We both like cock.”
Mortified, Izzy stil laughed. Out of everyone, Annwyl remained the one being who wasn’t Brannie who could make Izzy feel like everything—
eventual y—would be al right.
“So what do I need to know?” Annwyl asked her.
“Violence is back and safe. I put him up in his stables, got him a couple of sexy mares to keep him company. I think he’s a wee pissed at you that you went off without him, though.”
“He always gets that way when I leave him for too long. He’l get over it. I’l go see him after I eat.”
“Are you going to take him out? Because I haven’t had a chance to clean your saddle yet and it’s absolutely caked in blood—”
“Ralphie wil take care of it.”
“Ralphie?” Izzy lowered her spoon into her bowl of porridge, her heart plunging. “Your old squire?”
“He’s stil fat, but Violence likes him.”
“But—”
“Now don’t get upset. But honestly I don’t real y need a fit, fighting squire right now. I’m taking some time off. Going to be a proper queen for a bit and order others to kil for me. Just like your grandmum.”
Izzy sat back in her chair. “So it’s back to formation then? Just like that?” Gods! Where was the loyalty for duty served?
“Now don’t pout. And don’t whine. Besides,” the queen added, dropping her feet on the floor as a servant placed a steaming bowl of porridge on the table in front of her, “I don’t know any squire that has a rank of corporal. It would be unseemly. Nor do corporals go stomping around in formation, either.”
“Corporal?” Izzy sat up straight, eyes wide. “I’m . . . I’m a corporal?”
“You are now. Promotion effective immediately.”
“Brannie—”
“Her, too, but your grandfather is tel ing her. It’s al that Dragonwarrior stuff. And keep in mind, they’l probably be sending her off to Anubail Mountain for that training of theirs in the next few years. You’l need to make some other al ies for when she’s gone. Brastias wil let you know what your orders are in the next day or two.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I’m pretty sure, though, you’re going to be named team leader of one of the four-man units going east in another month or two. But let Brastias tel you that and make sure to look surprised.” Her voice returned to normal.
“And don’t worry about your mum. She’l blame me anyway, and now that I’ve had some sleep, I think I’m up for a good, old-fashioned, verbal argument that doesn’t end with me taking anyone’s head.” She glanced off. “It’l be a nice change.” Izzy scrambled out of her chair and dived at Annwyl, almost knocking them both over, hugging her tight.
“Thank you, Annwyl!”
“You’ve earned this, Izzy.” She pushed Izzy back until she crouched in front of her. “I don’t know what I would have done without you, especial y these last couple of years. You protected me, protected your comrades, and fought like one of the gods of war. You stuck with me when everyone else thought I’d completely gone round the bend and made sure I got back here alive and wel to my children . . . to Fearghus. So thank you, Iseabail, Daughter of Talaith and Briec. Thank you for everything.”
“Annwyl—”
Brannie screaming Izzy’s name out in the courtyard cut off her next words and her queen grinned at her. “Go on. I’m sure your grandfather’s spoken to Brannie, and I know you two have some girlish squealing to do that wil only manage to set my nerves on edge.” Izzy nodded, then reached over and hugged Annwyl again, whispering, “I’m loyal to you until my last breath, my queen.”
“Gods, let’s hope that’s not for a very long time or I’l never hear the end of it from your mother!” Izzy laughed and Annwyl pushed her away. “Go. See Brannie before she pees her leggings in excitement.” With a nod, Izzy ran out the Great Hal doors, stopping at the top of the stairs. Brannie stood at the bottom, the pair staring at each other. They’d been through much together and Izzy knew that over the next few years they’d be separated, sent off on different assignments, different missions.
But they’d been a team that no one could touch and nothing would ever take away al they’d gone through.
At the same time, they both squealed and Izzy leaped down the stairs, slamming into Brannie, knowing the She-dragon was one of the few females who could handle that. Spinning in a circle while managing to jump up and down, they squealed more than seemed right that early in the morning. They squealed and squealed until Izzy heard her mother ask, “What’s going on?” At that point—they stopped squealing.