‘What’s happening?’ Quenelda stood to one side as her brother stormed past, blind even to her in his fury.
Root cried out as Darcy deliberately pushed him aside, spinning him into the wall. Up ahead, Quenelda ran into her father’s study. ‘What’s happened? Papa?’
The Earl turned from the table as Root entered, rubbing his shoulder. ‘Galtekerion has died from wounds in the Battle of the Howling Glen. The tribes are breaking apart, fighting amongst themselves. We are going to strike now, while they are leaderless, half stupid with starvation and ready to hibernate.’
‘But … but you aren’t ready,’ Quenelda protested. ‘You haven’t had time to rest and rearm, to test your winter armour. It’s too cold for some of the dragons …’
‘I know,’ he said gently. ‘We will lose many men and dragons before we even reach the Isles. Hundreds who are injured will never return home, will freeze to death. I—’
‘But why?’
‘Because it will secure a victory unlike any we have known. It will secure peace for generations to come!’
‘When do you leave?’
He came to stand beside her, took her chin and tilted it. ‘Tonight for Dragon Isle. Tomorrow we fly north to rendezvous with the IV and the XVIII at the Howling Glen. The Ice Fortress is already operational. The engineers and the northern clans have moved huge supplies across the ice. We will airlift apothecaries and surgeons with us, so Tangnost will depend upon your help. Hugo’s troops will man and supply the coastal castles, and provide support for our forward base if the weather allows. For the first time ever, Goose’ – the Earl’s eyes gleamed fiercely in the firelight – ‘we take the fight to the hobgoblins!’
At the mention of the Grand Master, sudden foreboding gripped Quenelda. Why, oh why was she not a boy, so she could fight at her father’s side? The Earl saw it in her face, the tense shoulders and knotted fists at her side. He gathered his daughter closely to him. ‘I know you want to be flying with me. I was going to do this before I left in early spring, to announce before the Queen and Court …’
Her heart thumped. ‘What?’
The Earl pulled a heavy ring from his finger: two golden dragons entwined. As Root stepped back in amazement, the dragons slithered and separated, forming two rings. The Earl gave one to his daughter and returned the second to his finger.
‘Papa!’
‘Put it on, Goose. Go on. You have earned it.’
Quenelda tentatively tried the big ring on her thumb. ‘It’s too big – Oh!’
The Earl smiled as the dragon curled comfortably about his daughter’s thumb. She held it out at arm’s length, feeling its warm weight. ‘I’m heir to Dragonsdome?’
Root was stunned, eyes shifting between the Earl and his daughter.
Her father nodded. ‘Yes, you are. Darcy forfeited that right at the Cauldron. All the kingdoms saw for themselves what manner of man he is. He will never be a leader; no one will respect him or follow him in battle.’
‘You’ve told him? That’s why he is so angry?’
‘Yes. He has been ordered to report to Dragon Isle. He would squander Dragonsdome’s inheritance and wealth, not use it to protect the kingdoms. He must never inherit, thus I give the ring to you now so that all may know my wishes should I not return.’
‘Papa!’
‘Never fear! The hobgoblins do not know we are coming, and we will deliver a blow from which the banners will never recover. The war will be ended, and I will be home far more often to watch my daughter grow up. Ah, Goose, don’t cry. Watch for us when the moons wax.’ He turned to Root. ‘I charge you to care for her until I return, young man.’
‘I will, my Lord,’ Root said, acknowledging the Earl with a slight bow of his head.
The boy was growing up fast, the Earl mused.
‘And Tangnost?’ Quenelda asked. ‘Does he go with you also?’
‘No. Dragonsdome remains in his care. I need him here to keep an eye on everything … These are dangerous times.’