Keita rested her back against the bedframe behind her and raised her knees, placing her arms on them. The chalice dangled from her right hand and her shrewd eyes were locked on the far wall.

Meihui knew she was one of the few who ever saw the other side of Keita. The side that wasn’t a flighty, vacuous royal. A side many should fear.

“Do you feel he’s stalling?” Keita asked.

“Not that I’m aware. But he must have something she wants. I do know there are rumors that he has made alliances with other lords. Some say he’s raised an army. A big one.”

“Some say?”

“If he’s done it, he’s done it quietly.”

Keita nodded but didn’t say anything. Meihui knew why. She was plotting.

And woe to anyone who got in Keita the Viper’s way when she was plotting.

* * *

Talwyn was poring over maps with her brother, father, and uncles when one of the Abominations, a young man with fangs he’d been born with, stepped in and announced, “Dragons heading this way.”

“That’s your grandfather,” Fearghus said. He stood straight and looked at his daughter. “You go.”

Talwyn shrugged. “All right.” She didn’t mind. She adored her grandfather. “But why me?”

Her father and uncles just stared at her, so she didn’t push further. She simply walked out to the nearby grassland and waited; Talan showed up a few minutes later.

The ground shook as their grandfather, Bercelak, and a cadre of Cadwaladr kin landed hard.

Shifting to human, his gorgeous armor and weapons shifting with him, Bercelak strode forward, reached down, and lifted Talwyn up into his arms, giving her a quick but strong hug.

When he placed her on the ground, Talan threw his arms open and moved toward their grandfather, but Bercelak stopped him by slamming his hand against Talan’s forehead.

“But, Grandfather—”

“No.”

Laughing, Talan stepped back. “As always, it’s good to see you too, Grandfather.”

“Where is everyone?” Bercelak asked Talwyn.

“In Izzy’s tent.”

“Show me.”

She led him, Ghleanna, Rhys, and Addolgar to the tent while the rest of the Cadwaladrs went to set up their camp or check on their own troops. Bercelak’s sons immediately stepped back from the table and the elder Cadwaladrs took their places.

With a shake of his head, Bercelak swiped his hand across the map, knocking all the miniatures off the table and onto the floor. “Wrong.” He glanced at his sons. “As usual.”

“Glad to see you too, Dad,” Briec muttered.

“We start our assault tomorrow,” Bercelak announced.

“Why?” Fearghus asked.

“Because I said so.” He looked at Ghleanna. “Start off with aerial first. Our dragons attack with stones from the sky and the humans can use catapults against the walls. Let’s get them moving.”

“Get them moving?” Briec asked. “What do you mean get them moving? Get who moving?”