Her long black hair was pulled into a large bun at the back of her head and covered in decorative pieces of gold shaped into flowers. Dark brown eyes looked Aidan over and bare feet stuck out from under that gold dress, reminding him of Keita.

Unlike Keita, however, the Empress appeared worried, the fingers not wearing pointed nail guards rubbing her forehead, her elbow resting on the arm of the chair.

“Who is this?” the Empress asked, gesturing to Aidan with her free hand.

“Southland dragons and some barbarian women,” said the She-dragon who’d escorted them into the room. “I thought you’d want to see them right away.”

“Why would I want to see them right away?”

“They’re Southlanders.”

“What? You think all Southlanders know each other?” She looked Aidan and the others over. “As if my Keita would be involved with any of this riffraff.”

One of the Eastland males sighed and added for Aidan’s benefit, “No offense.”

Slapping her hand against the arm of the chair, the Empress sat up straight and snarled, “I don’t care if I offend them! I don’t care if I offend the entire universe!” She pointed at the male who’d spoken. “My baby is still gone and I’m tired of going back and forth with those idiots!”

“We’ll get him back.”

“And,” another female reminded her, “he’s not your only baby.”

Leaning forward, the Empress snarled, “He’s the only one that matters.”

“Ma!” several of the Eastland dragons yelled at the Empress.

“Do you want me to lie to all of you?”

“It’d be a nice change of pace,” one of them complained.

The Empress waved her hand at her own offspring and focused again on Aidan.

“So, Southlander, who are you?”

“Uh . . . I’m Aidan the Divine of the House of Foulkes de Chuid Fennah. Third son of Jarlath and Gormlaith—”

Holding up her hand, the Empress cut him off. She took a moment to look him over completely before asking, “You’re a Southlander royal?”

Aidan glanced down at himself. “Cut me some slack. It’s been a rough few days.”

* * *

“You are foolish She-dragon if you think you can make me and your Empress friends.”

“I didn’t say friends, Batu. You and I are friends.”

“No, we are not.”

“I’m talking about an alliance between you and the Empress. And that’s more important for your needs.”

“The Empress hates my people. She has no respect for the tribes that made this country what it is. Why would she want alliance now?”

“Because she needs one now.”

Brannie took the chain mail shirt and boots that Bolormaa handed to her. “Keita, just get to it. I’m running out of patience.”

Batu pointed at Brannie. “Her I like.”

Keita’s eyes narrowed on the tribal leader, but Brannie snapped her fingers to catch her cousin’s attention before she got into one of her moods.