“I’d feel safer if my brother was with them. He’l be back in a couple of days, so I wouldn’t . . .” Ragnar’s words faded out when he saw Fearghus’s gaze straying to the ceiling.

Briec watched his brother. “What is it?”

Fearghus raised his front claw, lifted one black talon. “Don’t you hear it?”

That’s when Ragnar heard the distinct whistling sound, his body instinctively tightening, waiting for the impact as something large and extremely heavy hurtled into the cave wal s.

“Siege weapons,” Fearghus said, before he turned and charged out of the cavern, al of them fol owing.

They pushed past scrambling soldiers and warriors, al of them speeding toward the north side, where a circle of mountains kept the Fire Breathers and Lightnings separated from the Irons.

They made it to the wide cavern opening. The forces that usual y protected this important area were diving for cover as giant boulders hurtled over the mountaintops and rammed into their stronghold.

“Pul back!” Briec ordered, grabbing Fearghus by the neck of his armor and yanking him away moments before a boulder crashed where Fearghus had just been. “Pul back!”

Ragnar helped two of his kin to their claws and pushed them toward the entrance. “Inside! Everyone in! Now!” The air around Ragnar changed and he used his wings to quickly drag his body back, away from the entrance. “Briec! ” he cal ed out, seeing the boulder hurtling toward the back of Keita’s brother. But the dragon was busy helping others. He didn’t see. And that boulder slammed into the back of the Silver with a mighty force, ramming his big body into the far wal .

Chapter 22

Dagmar fol owed the captain of the guards to the barracks. As they walked in, the guards and soldiers moved out of her way, none of them speaking to her or each other.

“We found them last night. Just . . . lying there.”

Dagmar studied the soldiers. The morning light streaming in through the windows making it easy to see that their throats had been slit but no other damage had been done. There were no signs that they’d fought back. Perhaps they didn’t have the chance.

“Did you see any signs of Tribesmen inside the castle wal s?” Dagmar asked the captain. “Perhaps when they left the bodies. Because this is clearly the work of their assassins.”

“That’s just it, my lady. We don’t think the bodies were left, as you say.”

“One second there was nothing there,” one of the soldiers volunteered. “The next second . . . there they were.”

“They just appeared?”

“Aye, my lady.”

Dagmar raised her hands, palms out, to silence them although none had said anything. “The fact that we have no idea how these bodies got here is irrelevant. Al we do know is that assassins were inside castle wal s. This cannot happen again.”

“We’l take care of it.”

“Deal with the bodies first. Quietly and quickly. We can give them a proper burial later.”

“Aye, my lady.”

Dagmar headed to the exit, her dogs by her side. She motioned to the captain to fol ow. “You won’t discuss any of this,” she told him. “They must al swear to it.”

“Aye, my lady. But why?”

“Not sure yet. Just . . . let’s keep it quiet, eh?”

“Understood. And the assassins?”

“Do a room-to-room search for them. If you find anything, inform me immediately.”

“If we find assassins?”

“Kil them. Then bring their bodies to me. Discreetly.”

“Aye, my lady.”

Dagmar walked back to the castle and inside. The Tribesmen had been quiet today. Something that did not make her feel better.

“Commander Ásta,” Dagmar cal ed out when she saw the Kyvich witch with her troop leaders.

“Lady Dagmar.”

“Is everything al right? Any problems last night?”

“No, my lady.”

“You sure?”

“Did you hear there was a problem?”

“No,” Dagmar lied. “Not at al . Guess I’m just a little nervous about al this.” The Kyvich smiled at her. “Something tel s me, Lady Dagmar, that you don’t get nervous over anything.”

“Of course I do. My whole life is fil ed with worry.” She pointed toward the gates. “Is there a reason you haven’t fol owed the Tribesmen out into the woods and finished them there?”

“That’s not our job.”

“Pardon?”

“We’re here to protect the children and only the children. We wil not leave them to take on a battle that your people should be fighting.”

“So if the Tribesmen get past the gates, wipe us out . . .”

“Not our problem. The children are our concern. Now if you’l excuse me.”

Annoyed, Dagmar headed downstairs to where they kept the children.

“What’s wrong?” Talaith asked as soon as Dagmar sat down at the smal table with her.

“Nothing,” Dagmar lied again. “Everything al right here?”

“Fine.”

“No problems last night?”

“No. None at al . Why?” Talaith leaned across the table a bit. “Are you sure everything’s al right, Dagmar?”

“Yes, yes. Everything is fine.”

Talaith sat back. “How’s it going outside?”

“It’s being handled, but it’s clear that Annwyl has made enemies of pretty much every Tribesman from here to the Desert Land borders.”