The Dragon Prince by Mary Gillgannon Read Free Book Online

want Eastra to be the hostage. But if the thing
was decided, perhaps it was better if he were the one to protect
her. Unless the truce was broken and Mordred killed. A wave of
dread washed through him. What would he do if his commander ordered
him to kill her?
    He must not think about that, Rhun told
himself. Cerdic must be at least partially sincere in his desire
for peace, else he would not have agreed to the truce. Barbarian or
not, he surely wasn’t so coldhearted as to allow his niece to be
killed unless his enemy did something truly treacherous.
    Rhun was jerked from his thoughts when he
heard Bridei say, “I will go with my brother. I can translate for
them, since it’s doubtful the woman speaks the British tongue.”
    Rhun glared at his brother, wondering at his
intentions in making this offer. To make trouble, no doubt. That
seemed to be Bridei’s purpose in life.
    Arthur nodded. “Once this truce is arranged,
I won’t need you as interpreter. And some other bard can be found
to entertain the troops.”
    Bridei grinned broadly.
    Arthur sent a man to call the Saxons back
into the meeting room. When the final details of the hostage
exchange were arranged, the Britons left the settlement and went
back to their camp. Although Rhun itched to speak to his brother
and give him a piece of his mind, he had to remain with Arthur a
while longer. They discussed what supplies and additional troops
might be needed to transport a woman such a distance. Rhun
convinced Arthur that a small party of experienced warriors would
be sufficient to guard them. After all, he argued, they would be
traveling through their own territories and not subject to attack.
His real reason for declining a larger escort was because he didn’t
want any of Arthur’s other officers around in case his previous
acquaintance with Eastra came to light.
    Finally, Arthur dismissed him and Rhun went
to find Bridei. He discovered him seated around a cookfire with
several of the other men. “Ah, my brother,” Bridei said as Rhun
approached. “Join us in celebrating the truce.” He held out a
wineskin.
    “I would speak to you alone.”
    Bridei shrugged and stood up. He took a few
more gulps from the wineskin then passed it to the man beside him.
Rhun strode off into the darkness with Bridei trailing after
him.
    “Aren’t you going to thank me?” Bridei
chortled as soon as they were out of earshot of the others. “I’ve
arranged for you to spend some time with your ladylove. And Gwynedd
is clear on the other side of Britain. That should give you plenty
of time to—”
    “Hush, damn you!” Rhun whirled around, his
voice taut. “You know I’m not pleased with any of this. I don’t
want her to be the hostage. It’s too dangerous. At least if she
stayed in Cerdic’s camp, her life wouldn’t be at risk!”
    “But you said yourself she was unhappy
here.”
    “Unhappy, aye, because she is held in poor
regard by her own people. Now she is to be a hostage, and far away
from anything familiar to her. It’s not much better than being
Cerdic’s servant, or being a slave, for that matter!”
    “Ah, but with you as her captor, she might
be content,” Bridei sniggered.
    “By the Cross, I’m sick of your disgusting
innuendoes! You act as if I intend to bed her as soon as we are out
of sight of Arthur!”
    “Well, don’t you? If you’re honest with
yourself, that is.”
    “Of course not! I have more honor than that!
I would never take advantage of any woman that way, let alone one
under my protection.”
    “But what if she wants you to? I’m not
blind, brother. I saw how she looks at you. She would lie with you
in a heartbeat. You have only to find a safe—”
    “Stop!” Rhun grabbed his brother by the
front of his tunic and gave him a violent shake. “I won’t have you
impugning her virtue, you lewd, disgusting bastard!”
    “Hah! You see, I’m right! You wouldn’t get
so angry if you didn’t care for her!”
    Rhun twisted the fabric of