G.A. Aiken Quotes

Perhaps," he reminded her, "you forget that you are a Cadwaladr. First. Last. And always. The protection of our Clan is and always will be the most important thing. We protect our queen. We protect our people. But we always, and I mean always, protect our kin.

It's been a long time. How have you been doing?"
I'm fine. How are you? You're looking very handsome today, Addolgar the Handsome, lord of my loins.
At least that was what she'd like to say to him, but instead she came out with, "Yeah, hi.

I didn't think it was possible - but this situation has managed to get worse." "But you're so calm," she observed.
"That's usually when you can tell everything has gone to shit.

Yes, but I don't understand all these rules you have in place. Who you can help, who you can't, when, how…it's endless. They're all so complicated."
"But they have their reasons. I and the other gods of war built these rules for gods and the creatures we gods create for one simple reason."
"So that when the rules are broken, there's war?"
The goddess stilled for a moment and then giggled. Giggled like a child. "Yes." She bent over at the waist, her arms around her middle, the laughter becoming louder. "That is why! And it works every bloody time!

I'm in charge," she reminded him.

"And our father always says if you have to remind your team of that . . .

Dagmar faced the Iron, quickly bowed her head. "King Gaius, I'm sorry about the confusion. I'm Dagmar Reinholdt, Vassal of
Garbhán Isle and Battle Lord - "
"And my piece of ass!" Gwenvael announced from the other end of the table while he dropped into one of the chairs. "So keep
your grubby Sovereign claws off her.

You are, however, surprisingly light of touch."
"Pardon?"
"The way you're holding my hand. I always thought you'd be more of a mauler. Like a diseased wolf chewing the knuckles off me fist."
"That's very nice."
"Not really."
"I was being sarcastic."
"Oh. I see. Where are we?

His heart belonged to this dragoness, whether she wanted it or not.
And she damn well better want it.

Found naked with a few of his grandfather's kitchen maids? His
father's claw right to the back of the head. Suggest that when his mother
was in human form she may want to stay away from things that brought
out the largeness of her ass? His father's claw right to the back of the head.
Set up a small eightieth birthday party for his youngest brother Éibhear that
involved a few of the local brothel girls? His mother's claw right to the
back of the head.

Good," Brigida said with a nod. "Now, you'll need one of Arranz's kin to accompany you. Take that one with you." She motioned to Addolgar. "And the one with the thick neck over there."
Ghleanna's hand went to her throat. "Me neck isn't thick."
"Thick like a tree trunk," Brigida muttered.
"It's graceful. This neck is long and graceful." Powerful legs landed on the table and Ghleanna crossed her arms over her chest. "Graceful," she growled, appearing to fight an instinct to yell.
Addolgar shrugged at Braith. "Me sister's graceful."
"Yes," Braith replied, her eyes briefly crossing. "I can see that.

Fearghus watched his sister grab several pieces of fruit. Her human body seemed shakier than usual. "Are you all right?"
"That mad bitch threw a blade at my head."
He studied his sister. "What did you say to her?"
Morfyd swung around to glare at him, fruit flying everywhere."What did I ... why do you ... how dare you ... "Morfyd stopped and pulled herself together. "I did nothing, brother. She was having a nightmare about Lorcan or something. I happened to walk in at the wrong time.

This wasn't what she expected. Never, in her wildest dreams. This... this was the Blood Queen of Garbhán Isle? Scourge of the Madron lands? Destroyer of Villages? Demon Killer of Women and Children? She who had blood pacts with the darkest of gods? This was Annwyl the Bloody?
Talaith watched, fascinated, as Annwyl held onto Morfyd the Witch's wrists. Morfyd - the Black Witch of Despair, Killer of the Innocent, Annihilator of Souls, and all around Mad Witch of Garbhán Isle or so she was called on the Madron lands - had actually tried to sneak up on Annwyl to put ointment on the nasty wound the queen had across her face. But as soon as the warrior saw her, she squealed and grabbed hold of her. Now Annwyl lay on her back, Morfyd over her, trying her best to get Annwyl to stop being a ten year old.
"If you just let me - "
"No! Get that centaur shit away from me, you demon bitch!"
"Annwyl, I'm not letting you go home to my brother looking like that. You look horrific."
"He'll have to love me in spite of it. Now get off!"
...
"Ow!"
"Crybaby."
No, this isn't what Talaith expected. Annwyl the Blood Queen was supposed to be a vicious, uncaring warrior bent on revenge and power. She let her elite guard rape and and pillage wherever they went, and she used babies as target practice while their mothers watched in horror. That's what she was supposed to be and that's what Talaith expected to find. Instead, she found Annwyl. Just Annwyl

Celyn merely snarled and stalked away.
"You best go to him, sister, and soothe his hurt feelings."
"Why should I?"
"You know how men are. If you treat them nice and buy them gifts, they will suck your pussy like champion.

…"The few humans I've met who know what we are usually want to have sex with us."

"Even the men?" she asked, appearing confused.
"They want to have sex with the female centaurs?"

Caid was about to get insulted for the females of his race when Keeley added. "I mean...don't they feel insecure? There's no way they could possibly live up to what I've seen trotting around your camps."

Caid turned away, attempting to stop the laughter by rubbing his nose with his fist.

Kachka ignored him, because he was male and this was an important discussion about battle plans. A discussion only women could truly understand.

Izzy. Sweet, beautiful, but eternally strange Izzy.

A bored Gwenvael is an entire town
destroyed accidently.

Kill first, ask questions of the corpse later

Tearing a piece of bread off the loaf, Briec wandered over to the partially open Great Hall doors and looked out into the courtyard. It was extremely early and things were just beginning to stir as the two suns rose. But Briec saw them easy enough. Gods, how could he miss them standing there, saying nothing - and staring at the castle.
Briec slammed the doors shut.
"Briec?" Fearghus asked as he walked up behind him. "What's going on?"
"Where the hell is that idiot?"
"Gwenvael?"
"No."
"Dad?"
"No. The big blue idiot."
"I don't know. Why?"
"The Mì-runach are outside."
"So. They're probably looking for the big blue idiot."
"Not the three he brought with him. All of the Mì-runach. They're standing in our courtyard . . . waiting."
Fearghus nodded. "All right. We'll kill all the females first and then kill ourselves.

She let him finish, then pinched his nose between her thumb and forefinger. She twisted until she got a cry of pain from him.
"Don't touch. I don't like to be touched."
"I see that."
"Say you're sorry or I'll take it off."
"Sorry. Sorry!"
She released him. He rubbed his nose and pouted. She couldn't help but smile. So very cute. And so very charming. Of course she still wouldn't trust him with her dead horse.

Morfyd pulled out the only other chair and sat across from Annwyl. "I have heard much about your brother. It amazes me you still live."
Annwyl began to eat the hearty stew, desperately trying not to think too hard about what kind of meat it contained.
"It amazes me as well. Daily."
"But you saved many people. Released many from his dungeons."
Annwyl shrugged silently as she wondered whether that was gristle she currently chewed on.
"No one else would challenge him. No man would step forward to face him," Morfyd pushed.
"Well, he's my brother. He used to set fire to my hair and throw knives at my head. Facing him in combat was inevitable."
"But you lived under his roof until two years ago. We've all heard the stories about life on Garbhán Isle."
"My brother had other concerns after my father died. He wanted to make sure everyone feared him. He didn't have time to worry about his bastard sister."
"Why didn't he marry you off? He could have forged an alliance with one of the bigger kingdoms." Annwyl briefly thought of Lord Hamish of Madron Province and how close she came to being his bride. The thought chilled her.
"He tried. But the nobles kept changing their minds."
"And did you help them with that?"
She held up her thumb and forefinger, a little bit apart.
"Just a little.

She was polite, charming, and damn pretty. Braith wanted to hate her, but she just couldn't. The bitch.

He shrugged. "You're not going to like it, I'm afraid."
"Well ... to be honest, I don't like anything.

The world is filled with all kinds. Can't go around ignoring the suffering of others simply because someone looks different from what I've seen before.

You seem so happy with the dragon king's cock." "It is effective." "And that's all a Daughter of the Steppes wants," she said, sagely. "An effective cock.

And Annwyl. Remember what I told you." "Protect my right side?" "No." "Feint with my left?" "No." "Nice ass?" "No!" His growl of annoyance only elicited a sweet chuckle from his woman. "Watch my rage, heart of my heart?" "Condescending cow.

Erin eventually put in a call to one of the Crows who worked as an executive at a bank. She told her to set up a business account for Kera's "nonprofit thing. I don't know. Something with dogs and Marines. No. Not porn." Erin glanced at her. "Right? Not porn."
Kera stared at the woman for several long seconds before replying, "No. Not porn.

Her youngest daughter shrugged. "Ain't got no money, do we?" "I don't understand. Why aren't you pillaging like the rest of your kin?" "It was the Northlands, Da. Ain't nothin' to pillage but the crows in the trees." "And snow," their eldest added. "Lots and lots of snow." Bram motioned to his study. "You know where I keep the gold coin." As if on fire, their offspring made a desperate run for their father's study, climbing over the table and fighting each other through the door. It wasn't pretty.

You two are perfect together. And one day ... one day your children will change everything.

Well, when you give me an offer like that, Addolgar the Cheerful, I don't see how any female with a passionate love of hammers can turn you down ...

No, no, pretty boy," she said close to his ear. "You should never get between two strong women fighting. That is not your place. Your place is just to be pretty and satisfy one of my daughters." "Woman," Talan warned, "get your hands off me." The giant laughed. "Look, comrades! He is so very saucy! I love saucy boys!

So I help you defeat your brother," he cut in churlishly.
"And then what are your plans?"
Annwyl frowned. "My plans?"
"Yes. Your plans. You take your brother's head, your troops are waiting. What is the next thing that you do?"
Annwyl just stared at him. He realized in that instant that the girl had no plans. None. No grand schemes of controlling the world. No plots to destroy any other empires.
Not even the plan to have a celebratory dinner.
"Annwyl, you'll be queen. You'll have to do something."
"But I don't want to be queen." Her body shook with panic, and he could hear it in her voice.
"You take his head, you'll have little choice."
"What the hell am I supposed to do as queen?"
"Well . . . you could try ruling."
"That sounds awfully complicated."
"I don't understand you."
"What do you mean?"
"You command the largest rebellion known to this land.
From what I understand, your troops are blindingly loyal to you. And other kingdoms send you reinforcements and gold."
"Your point?"
"You're already queen, Annwyl. You just need to take the crown."
She shook her head. "My father didn't believe in crowns. There's a throne, though."
"Then take your throne. Take it and become queen.

Whose seal is this? I don't recognize it."
Annwyl let out a sigh. "The Reinholdt."
"The Reinholdt?" He frowned in thought; then his body jolted. "Good
gods! That madman from the north?"
"The very one."
"Honestly ... " He glanced again at the letter. "I didn't know anyone in
the Reinholdt Clan could write.

You'd put our parents at risk for some piece of tail?" Ghleanna demanded.
"She saved my life."
"You can fight your own battles!"
"Not when I'm knocked out on my ass!"
"You mean knocked out on your fat ass!"
"My ass, like the rest of me, is perfection!

He needed to go before he did something inappropriate. Fun. But inappropriate.

Hope death finds you well today.

Do you not listen to our daily meetings about the state of your lands?"
"Of course I don't. They're dead boring."
"Not everything can involve bloodshed, Annwyl."
"Can't you come get me when there is bloodshed? Otherwise just leave me alone to read.

True, men were mostly useless, but they served their purpose: trash removal, child rearing, and breeding.

What did she say?" Eibhear asked.
"She basically said ... she does not like me. We would not be friends. And if we had sex, it would be only because she was bored. Long nights and all.

Males will always make excuses for the pretty.

Fearghus entered what he now considered her chamber, but immediately ducked the book flung at his head. Clearly she'd been waiting for him. And she was not happy.
"He's the one supposed to be helping me," she roared at him.
"Did you just throw a book at me? In my own den?"
"Yes. And I'd throw it again!"
Fearghus scratched his head in confusion. He'd never met a human brave enough - or stupid enough, depending on your point of view - to challenge him. "But," he croaked out, amazed, "I'm a dragon."
"And I have tits. It means nothing to me!

Mum?" Addolgar said to his mother.
"Because I love him," she reminded them all as she'd been doing for centuries. "That's what I'm doing with your father. I love him. So, honestly - just let it go already.

He looked like you ripped his heart out of his chest, threw it to
the ground, and stomped all over it while singing a jaunty tune."
Annwyl shrugged at Morfyd's bemused expression. "I might have
seen that look before on his brother."
"Perhaps when you stabbed our father?"
Annwyl laughed. "No. Then he just looked proud.

Braith turned and saw three of her cousins sunning themselves on boulders. Like lizards. Lizards in human form.
"What are you doing?" Braith asked.
"Enjoying the suns," replied one.
"It gives our scales a lovely bright hue," said another.
Braith blinked. "Except you're all in your human form. So how does that help your scales?"
They stared at her for several seconds before one stated, "You're a bit of a know-it-all, aren't you?"
"How is that ... " Braith shook her head. She wouldn't go from arguing with one idiot to arguing with three.

She lived her life as a dragon and never understood those who didn't. Why anyone would want to be human was beyond her understanding ... And damn it all, she was brilliant!

Lorcan heard the moan of the soldier pinned to the floor beneath his boot. With a sneer, he pushed his foot down harder on his neck. The worthless little bastard had failed him. He'd come back without the bitch.
He glanced over his shoulder at his lieutenants. They watched him, trying their best to hide their fear. But he could smell it. He looked back at the lowering suns. "I want my sister." He growled the words low. "I want my sister!" He slammed his foot down, snapping the man's neck and crushing his jaw. "Now get out of my sight!"
He heard them run from the room.
They better run.
He would have his sister. He would see the bitch dead if he had to destroy half the world to get to her.

Annwyl didn't know or care. She hated the gods, pretty much all of them. But more than gods, she hated humans who did horrible things while proclaiming themselves holy and righteous because of their gods.
Yet of all the holy sycophants she'd had to deal with the last few years, Annwyl loathed most of all Priestess Abertha, the sister of Duke Salebiri and the biggest hypocrite Annwyl had ever had the displeasure of meeting
... Annwyl liked to call her, Priestess Fucking Abertha

I've
enjoyed our conversation, knight. It's been nice talking to someone
who can - "
"Create full and complete sentences?"
That grin returned and, for a moment, his heart actually stopped
beating. "No, it was nice to finally meet someone whose arrogance is
only rivaled by the arrogance of the gods.

She hadn't seen gold since she'd last
been to her father's home, when she would sneak off to meet him.
Smiling at the brief memory of, as her mother called him, the one
who gave me the seed which allowed for your presence.

Rhiannon readied her speech. The speech she'd given more than once over the years to Éibhear and, when they were much younger, to her older sons. The one that included things like:
"I'm sure your father didn't mean that."
"Of course your father loves you."
"No. He didn't try to sell your egg to the highest human bidder."
"And of course, he never tried to kill you while you slept!

Dagmar tried to stand, and Gwenvael caught her hand, pulling her back down. "You can't leave me. I'm tortured and brooding. You need to show me how much you adore me so I can learn to love myself again."
"You've never stopped loving yourself."
"Because I'm amazing.

Just ... if you notice I'm talking too much or someone seems particularly interested in what I'm asking about, let me know. That's all. Just ... have my back."'
"Have ... back?"
"Have my back. Simply make sure that I don't put me foot in it."
"Foot?"
He rolled his eyes. "Gods, you're literal. I mean make sure I don't talk us into a bad situation."
"Oh. Step on dick."
His eyes widened. "Pardon?"
"When men do stupid thing ... we say they step on dick."
"That would imply an impressively sized dick.

It must be nice to fly."
"Is that sarcasm?"
"No. If I could fly, I would live in tree. Stare down at everyone ... quietly hating them all.

She looked down at the letter she had clutched in her hand. It could wait until tomorrow.
Silently she turned and went to get something soothing to drink. Or, at the very least, some hard ale. She needed something to help her sleep because the last image she'd witnessed before turning away from the chamber would have her awake and obsessing for hours. The image of Annwyl the Bloody, known terror of the Dark Plains, lovingly running her hand down Fearghus's snout ... and Fearghus the Destroyer letting her.

Is it hard to be with all those men? All day? Every day?"
Annwyl drank some of Morfyd's wine. She knew no threat of infection remained, but the wine still tasted unbelievably delicious.
"Not at all."
"Really?"
"Absolutely. Just let one of the men touch you inappropriately and you take his arm off right at the shoulder joint. Then, as he's bleeding to death, you slam his face into a few things, and you'll find the other men leave you alone."
Morfyd stared at Annwyl with wide eyes. "What?"
Morfyd cleared her throat. "Nothing.

Like Mum and that bastard." "You mean Da?"
"Call him what you like.

She snores," Morfyd warned.
"I do no such thing!" Annwyl yelled back.
"Like a bull in rutting season."
"When we get back to Garbhán Isle…don't speak to me."
"Trust me, Annwyl, that will be a pleasure.

"I" title="G.A. Aiken Quotes: She snores," Morfyd warned.
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There was even a story passed among the queen's court that when freshly hatched, Rhiannon bit her mother on the neck when she tried to cuddle her new daughter. But Rhiannon didn't believe that for one second. True, she believed she bit her mother, but she didn't believe her mother had tried to cuddle her.

Stop it! Both of you!" the dragon called out. "I have enough beauty to share with everyone!" Ignoring the beautiful but useless dragon,

Then he stalked off into the woods, leaving Talaith alone.
Good. Now I can panic in peace.

The fact that he still breathes offends me.

Annwyl?" Ragnar repeated, suddenly remembering that Keita had said the same name before they'd
burst out of the woods. "This is Annwyl?" Ragnar looked the woman over, from her absurdly large feet
to the top of her unkempt head. "This?"
This human who had more muscles than seemed necessary for any royal and watched him and his kin
with what he could only term as the mad eyes of a diseased animal.

She started it," Briec stated before holding his "perfect" daughter out to Talaith and announcing, "She
looks to need nourishment. Unleash your breasts for her.

I don't like this," his brother told him as they walked down the stairs.
"You don't like anything. I've heard you complain about the air."
"It irritates me when it whistles.

I already explained this. I don't like you. True, I don't like most people, but I especially dislike you. I could start my own religion based on how much I dislike you.

Queen Rhiannon of the House of Gwalchmai fab Gwyar.
First Born Daughter of Queen Addiena. First Born White ... "
"So," she cut him off before the litany of his mother's titles
forced her to stab herself in the neck

I just don't understand our brother. A human." Briec gave a great sigh, causing Gwenvael to roll his eyes in annoyance.
"You don't know anything, Briec. She's different."
"Don't you really mean crazed, baby brother?"
Gwenvael saw Morfyd's white scales swooping toward them. He stood up. Both he and Briec were already in human form and dressed.
"You're just mad she slapped you around." Gwenvael looked at his brother. "Like a bitch."
Briec stood up. Slightly taller than Gwenvael, but still shorter than Fearghus, he tended to be just as much fun to torture as their older sibling. "I let her hit me."
"You had to. Otherwise she would have killed you where you stood.

Wait, wait," Gaius cut in, his grin mischievous. "Before we go any further. I must make introductions. Keita, this is Kachka Shestakova of the - "
"Do not," the She-dragon roared, startling the birds from the trees, and the men training nearby, "again bore me with those ridiculously long names!

Me? Kachka, you love me!" "I love your beauty. I have no use for you personally. You represent all that we hate." "Why do you talk to him so?" Elina asked. "He cannot help that he is beautiful but worthless." "I am not worthless! I am Gwenvael the - " "We do not care, lizard!" Kachka barked.

And you're too hard on him because he reminds you of your father."
"From the time he was twenty winters I kept finding him with my father's kitchen staff."
"He's lusty."
"He's a whore.

Fighting her smile, his sister reached over and ran her hand through his hair. "That, my sweet brother, is called heartbreak."
He glanced down at his chest. "Will that be a physical deformity?

Don't make me cover your face with a pillow until you see my side of things."
"Isn't that called murder?

She heard Brannie call out to her, but she ignored her as well and kept going. Kept going with visions of a bloody and limb-missing Éibhear dancing through her head. Gods! What if they cut off his wings? Or removed his scales? Oh, by the gods, what if they shaved his head? What if they shaved his head? Nooooo!

Tell ya this . . . your dad was smart enough to get your mum. And she didn't make it easy."
"Cadwaladr females never make it easy.

You want me to be honest with you?" Vigholf snapped. "You want me to tell you why I have my hungry face as you call it? Because of you. Because I'm hungry for you. If there's anything I want to eat - it's you."
Rhona stepped back, hands on hips, and accused, "You cannibalistic bastard!"

You wanted hatchlings."
"I know. I just didn't want those hatchlings. Personally, I blame your father."
Bercelak's eyes grew wide. "Excuse me?"
On a burst of laughter, she exclaimed, "Well that came out horribly wrong!

"I know. I" title="G.A. Aiken Quotes: You wanted hatchlings."
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Good gods, female," Addolgar muttered. "What did you do with yourself before I came into your life?"
"I lived quietly alone in my cave," she snapped back. "And I was quite happy there, too.

Hysterical laughter. Why did he keep hearing hysterical laughter? Fearghus opened one eye to stare at his two siblings. The were practically falling over each other they were laughing so hard. They woke him up from a sound sleep for this? "What?"
His current mood wouldn't allow for this. And definitely wouldn't allow for him. Gwenvael choked out an answer. "She braided your hair, brother."
"Like a horse's mane," his sister added.

Go on," he offered magnanimously. "Feel free to piss on yourselves and
cower helplessly."
Gods, sometimes his generosity overwhelmed him.

Good. You're awake."
Annwyl gulped and prayed the gods were just playing a cruel joke on her. She raised herself on her elbows when that deep, dark voice spoke again, "Careful. You don't want to tear open those stitches."
With utter and almost heart-stopping dread, Annwyl looked over her shoulder and then couldn't turn away. There he was. An enormous black dragon, his wings pressed tight against his body. The light emanating from the pit fire causing his shiny black scales to glisten. His huge horned head rested in the center of one of his claws. He looked so casual. If she didn't know better, she'd swear he smirked at her, his black eyes searing her from across the gulf between them. A magnificent creature. But a creature
nonetheless. A monster.
"Dragons can speak, then?" Brilliant, Annwyl. But she really didn't know what else to say.
"Aye." Scales brushed against stone and she bit the inside of her mouth to stop herself from cringing. "My name is Fearghus."
Annwyl frowned. "Fearghus?" She thought for a moment. Then dread settled over her bones, dragging her down to the pits of despair. "Fearghus . . . the Destroyer?"
"That's what they call me."
"But you haven't been seen in years. I thought you were a myth." Right now, she silently prayed he was a myth.
"Do I look like a myth?"
Annwyl stared at the enormous beast, marveling at the length and breadth of him. Black scales covered the entire length of his body, two black horns

Annwyl gulped" title="G.A. Aiken Quotes: Good. You're awake."
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Rhianonn turned and pointed at her ass. And I could be wrong, but I think this thing is even bigger than is normal for a human my size. How is that acceptable?

The witch's words were cut off and Izzy stumbled back into the earth.
Izzy looked up at the dragoness standing over her. her grandmother smiled. "What did I miss? I sensed I was missing something!"
Rhiannon looked down at her claws, "Did I step in something? I feel like I stepped in something.

Morfyd's care.
As she walked out of the cave she passed Annwyl walking in. The girl had her swords in one hand. The other hand held her ripped shirt and bindings over her ample breasts. Her brows angled down into a dark frown and she wouldn't even look at Morfyd as she passed.
"How did that talk go then?" Morfyd called over her shoulder.
"Shut. Up."
Morfyd laughed as she advanced into the glen toward the clearing where she could take off. She rounded a corner and came upon her brother, his chainmail shirt and sword in his big hand, heading toward the hidden entrance of his cave. She watched him as he passed and she noticed the long scratches across his back.
"How did that talk go then?" Morfyd called over her shoulder.
"Shut. Up."
Morfyd shook her head. If love always made you this pathetic, she wanted nothing to do with it.

We can't sit around discussing pure evil without tea and biscuits, Iz. It's just not done.

she'd forgiven him a hundred times over.

I'm off duty, cousin, which by Cadwaladr law means I can beat you ugly.

It wasn't the first time he'd run for his life. And it most likely would
not be the last. In the past few decades, though, he'd mostly run from
angry fathers who'd found him where they felt he should not be. Or he'd
run from town guards - sent by angry fathers who'd found him where they
felt he should not be.

Are you in great physical pain, or is that your thinking expression?

Aren't you going to hit him?" Éibhear asked.
"I don't feel like it."
"Good gods." Gwenvael stood. "This is worse than we thought,
Éibhear. Up, brother." Gwenvael grabbed Briec's arm and pulled
him to his feet. "There is only one answer for this."
"Which is?"
"Drinking and eating. The whoring we will keep until we get you
good and drunk.

You have strong thighs and are very, um, handsome.

She glanced behind her and saw Addolgar. He gave her a small wink and the tiniest smile, and, Braith would be forced to admit, she'd never felt so ... safe before. Not safe in the sense that her head would not go rolling across the chamber floor, but just that someone, other than herself or her still-missed mother, actually cared for her. That someone was watching out for her.
And that someone was Addolgar.

As he was
forced to tell his father more than once, "I said I'd fight for my mother's
throne. I never said I'd die for it." Then he'd add, simply to annoy the old
bastard into one of his frothy temper tantrums, "Don't you think I'm too
pretty to die?

The feeling to bury one's head in a ditch can be an overwhelming one, but Annwyl fought it all the same.

Life is too short to go around hating things I know nothing about. My ignorance doesn't mean others should suffer.

I know you're angry," he told her.
"You threw me into a tree."
"I had to.

Feeling her strength return right along with her annoyance, Dagmar stepped back and raised her foot, slamming it down on the tip.
"Ow! Evil barbarian viper!" He rose on his hind legs, his front claws grasping his tail. "You are aware this is attached to me?"
"Yes. That's how I knew it was taking liberties!

Friends?"
"Aye. We're friends now."
"Are we?"
"Of course we are!" he replied cheerfully - just like his name. "Why wouldn't we be friends?"
"Because you threw me into a tree?"
"To help you. You keep forgetting that part.

"Aye. We're friends now."
"Are we?"
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"Aye. We're friends now."
"Are we?"
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Izzy immediately pulled out the sword Zachariah had given her and turned, barely blocking the weapon aimed right for her. Izzy shoved the weapon - another sword - away and spun to give herself momentum, slashing at the attacker. But her opponent blocked the move, their weapons locking. Izzy, fed up, stepped close to see who the hell would attack her here, so near her home.

Shocked, Izzy roared, "Éibhear! What the bloody hells are you doing?"

"I've come to Claim you as my own, Iseabail, Daughter of Talaith and Briec."

"Oh." Izzy lowered her weapon at his dramatic announcement. "Why didn't you say so?" She stepped back. "I'll go home and get naked." She turned to head to her house.

"That's it?" Éibhear asked, sounding disappointed.

A spy novel?" Dagmar asked. "You two are talking about a spy novel?"
Annwyl threw her hands up in the air. "Not just a spy novel!"
"It's much more than that," Ragnar argued, and when Dagmar gawked at him in disgust, he added, "I can't read deep, meaningful, thought-provoking philosophy all the time."
"Exactly. Sometimes you have to read about a completely amoral hero whoring and killing his way across an unnamed land in the name of the queen that he'll always love - "
" - but never have." Then both Ragnar and Annwyl sighed a little.

Tribe life is not easy for anyone. But at least I was born female. I hate to think what my life would be like if I had not been."
That made the dragon chuckle. "You don't hear that very often from Southlander women."
"I do not know why," Elina answered honestly. "I would never want to be man. That cock hanging between your legs all day. You have no control of emotions. If we leave you to yourselves, you destroy without though; rage without reason; and attempt to fuck anything that wants you to leave them be.