"I have good people helping me," I said, setting the cup down. "What do you want?"

  She closed the final few feet between us. The air around her smelled of crushed jasmine and something older—like the ozone before a lightning strike. She reached out, her fingers cool and soft as they trailed across my chest and traced the ridges of my abs.

  "Two wives. Two concubines," she whispered, her fingers continuing their downward journey. They reached the length of my shaft, her touch light but electric as she gently wrapped her fingers around me. "It is a start, Roman. But the world is vast, and the threats are growing. I had hoped the new King of Avalon would have gathered a larger court by now. The seeds of a dynasty must be sown widely if the harvest is to survive the winter."

  I felt my body respond to her touch despite the lingering fatigue. My cock began to stir, thickening under her practiced stroke.

  "I don't add just anyone to my family," I said, my voice tight. "It's not just about the numbers for me."

  The woman let out a soft, silvery laugh that felt like a caress against my skin. She didn't stop her slow, rhythmic stroking, her golden eyes locked onto mine. "A king must do what a king must do, Roman. In this world, power is measured in blood and beauty. Surely it is no hardship for a man like you to take more women as your right? Every territory you conquer offers its finest flowers. Why refuse the bouquet?"

  "I do things my way," I countered, reaching out to catch her wrist. "I’m not a ram in a pasture, and I’m not a pawn on your board."

  She didn't pull away. She leaned in, her lips inches from mine. "That defiance is exactly why I chose you. It makes the fire burn hotter."

  She released her grip on me and turned toward the open window, the silvery beams catching the gold chains of her dress. I released her wrist as she stepped towards the moonlight. "The half-orc girl is an interesting addition. She has fire. Real, unrefined fire. Fill her belly with your seed and she will give you mighty warriors to protect the realm."

  I glanced back toward the bedroom door, my thoughts flashing to Petal sleeping just a few feet away. I felt a pang of protectiveness as I pictured her belly swollen with my child.

  When I glanced back toward the window, the room was empty.

  The curtains fluttered in the breeze. The pitcher of water sat exactly where I’d left it. There was no scent of jasmine, no sound of silk on wood. She was gone as if she had never been there at all, leaving me standing alone in the moonlight with a racing heart and a lingering ache in my loins.

  I stayed there for a long time, staring out at the silent towers of Crossroads. Her visit was never just a social call. Every time she appeared, the stakes got higher.

  ***

  “I appreciate your confidence in me, my lord,” Commander Larkson bowed his head towards me.

  “It is Lady Agatha you should thank- she spoke highly of you.” I had just appointed the former captain of the town watch as the new commander of the soldiers in Crossroads.

  The former commander had been killed in Baron Simon’s ill fated attack on my supply wagons.

  “Ha! I need no thanks. Larkson has a good head on his shoulders, even if it is balding!” Agatha cackled as she stood beside me.

  Larkson blushed uncomfortably as he nodded to the Governor. Making Larkson the commander of the garrison would free Captain Dagmar to travel with my soldiers again. It didn't hurt that Larkson knew the city and many of the soldiers.

  “Excuse me, my lord,” Monica briskly entered the room. From her expression, I could tell something was troubling the brunette.

  “What is it?”

  “Baron Clark has returned,” her expression was grim. The baron had only been gone for a few hours.

  “I want to hear his report.” I strode towards the door as Monica hastily led the way.

  The baron and his dragon were waiting in the plaza. The green’s chest was heaving from the effort of their hasty flight back to Crossroads. Clark’s face was pale from the wind and the urgency of his news.

  "Tallwyn is moving, my lord," Clark said as Agatha and Larkson followed Monica and me into the plaza. "I flew to their border tower. As we circled high above it, I saw the Duchess's army moving along the road in the distance."

  "How many?" I asked, my internal tactical clock beginning to tick.

  "As to dragons," Clark reported. "Five. One Black, one Blue, two Browns, and a Green. They were flying above a force of infantry and cavalry. I didn't get close enough to count heads, but it was a goodly number, my lord.”

  Commander Larkson stepped forward. "Their border tower is a strong staging point, my lord. From there they can launch an attack on our border tower. Once it falls, they will have a clear path to Crossroads."

  I turned my attention to the new commander. “How many soldiers do we have at our tower?”

  “The towers are typically staffed by six to eight soldiers, my lord.”

  "I’m not throwing those lives away for a pile of stones we can't hold against five dragons." I turned to Monica. "Get Liam. Have him fly Dalk to the tower and tell our soldiers to pull back to the city. I want everyone behind these walls."

  “Yes, my lord,” Monica sprinted into the keep.

  The brown dragons were the next fastest. The rock mage and his dragon could take a lot of punishment if there was trouble. And maybe the mission would help snap Liam out of his funk.

  “Duchess Miranda is saving you a trip, it seems, King Roman.” Bard Kashko’s voice brought my attention back to the problem at hand. The elf had a gift for being where the action was happening.

  “I hope I can return the favor and save her some bloodshed.”

  Lady Agatha instructed the steward to prepare a simple lunch as I convened a meeting in the keep’s council room. My dragon riders were there along with Commander Larkson, Captain Dagmar, Gromlin and Petal-Flower. A map was spread out on the table.

  Baron Marco, Sarah, and Noree sat quietly at the far end of the table, content with simply watching the others debate. With the addition of Logak's brown, our dragon count had reached ten. That was double the Duchess’s five. The room was divided between those who thought we should wait and those who thought we should attack.

  "We should meet them in the field," Captain Dagmar argued, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "We outnumber their dragons two-to-one. We can crush them before they even see the city gates."

  Monica’s finger tapped the image of Crossroads. “There is no need to meet them in the open field. The Duchess’s forces will take heavy losses if they attack the city.”

  Petal stood up. Her face was angry, and her voice was indignant. “We should go crush the Duchess! How dare she move her army against Roman!”

  Her father tugged on her arm in an effort to get her to sit down. “King Roman,” he whispered.

  “King Roman!” Petal added with an embarrassed flush on her cheek as she sat down heavily in her chair. She was wearing a darkened chain mail shirt like her father’s.

  I was surprised when Petal showed up for our flight to Crossroads wearing mail armor instead of leather. But I soon realized the heavier armor suited her powerful frame. She also had a small metal shield which she could affix over her shoulder if she wasn’t carrying it on her arm.

  Petal’s choice of weapons were a flanged mace and a dagger. The mace was well suited for a tough, direct, and pragmatic warrior. I could see why the orc girl’s personality would favor crushing force over elegant swordsmanship.

  I gave her a smile. My body was half aroused seeing my new warrior concubine so angered at the perceived insult to her man.

  The countess raised her eyebrow at the half-orc’s outburst. Then she turned her attention to me. “It is better to wait. Miranda will be a fool to fight when she sees your dragons.”

  The dwarven mercenary captain shrugged his shoulders. “My Companions won’t be much good against dragons. We are well trained in siege defense.”

  The others turned their attention to me, waiting for my decision.

  “Countess, as I told you and then Baron Rockhand… My goal is to unify Avalon. I do not want to see our soldiers and our dragons killed in pointless infighting. We will need all our strength to fight Savon and any other threats these lands will face.” I glanced at each of them before continuing. “We will wait for the Duchess to come to us. I want her to look up and see ten dragons perched on these battlements and realize that an attack is suicide. Maybe then she'll be in the mood to negotiate."

  Petal crossed her arms. “Let her come and see that she has already lost."

  I could see my wife Yvette hiding a smile as she looked at the hot tempered half-orc.

  I stood up. “Prepare the defenses.”

  By midday, Crossroads had transformed into a bristling iron hedgehog. The clatter of armor and the rhythmic clack-whirr of mechanical tension filled the air.

  I walked the battlements with Monica and Commander Larkson, inspecting the heavy ballistae mounted in the high towers. These were the "dragon-killers"—massive cross-bows made of reinforced oak and tempered steel, their bolts tipped with serrated iron.

  It was difficult to hit a moving dragon, but the sheer number of ballistae Crossoads had should make the Duchess think twice before attacking.

  "Larkson," I said, stopping by a crew who were busy oiling the gears of a massive launcher. "Instruct your crews: these bolts are for the Duchess’s dragons, and her dragons only. I don't want them wasting a single shot on infantry. And tell them to hold their fire until they have a clear, undeniable shot. We don't have the luxury of missing and hitting one of our dragons."

  "They know their duty, my Lord," Commander Larkson replied, his voice steady. "They won't fire until they can see the color of the beast's eyes."

  The next day was a grueling test of nerves. We waited. The walls were manned, the dragons were saddled, and the city was silent. But the attack never came. No dust clouds on the horizon, no roars in the distance.

  “Do you think they will try a night attack?” I was standing on top of the northern gatehouse with Monica and General Logak as the sun began to set over the western hills.

  The brunette scanned the horizon. “My father always said anything is possible in war.”

  “Your father is a wise man,” Logak agreed. “A night attack would partially offset our superior numbers. They also have a blue who could give them additional concealment.”

  I rubbed my chin. “Have the soldiers sleep in shifts tonight. If the watch sees any signs of fog or mist–sound the alarm.”

  The city slept poorly, as we all half-expected to be awakened by the sound of alarm bells ringing.

  39

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  "Something is wrong," Yvette said, her brow furrowed as she looked north from the battlements. "They should have been here by now."

  The night had been uneventful. Despite the fact no attack had come, I had a feeling few people had slept soundly.

  "Maybe they're second-guessing?" Noree suggested, though she sounded unconvinced.

  After a quick breakfast, my wives walked up to the roof of the castle with me. From here we could see the farms north of the city’s walls. Petal had gone to the northern gatehouse to get a better look at the north road.

  "I’m going to look," Yvette announced. "Garryn is fresh and faster than any of the greens.”

  “No, it's too dangerous–” I started, but she held up her hand.

  "I have performed scouting missions since before you arrived beyond the Veil, my King," she said with a confident, reassuring smile. "I will be back before the sun hits the western ridge."

  “I will send Liam with Dalk, he knows where our watchtower is,” I protested.

  Yvette stepped closer and placed her hand on my arm. Her blue eyes had the determined look of a wife that wasn’t going to take no for an answer. “Garryn is significantly faster than Dalk. I will fly high, Roman. I will not take risks, but we can't sit here blind."

  "Yvette—" I began, and then I paused. I didn’t like it, but she was right. We needed information, and we needed it fast. “Very well. But I want you to turn tail and run at the first sight of her dragons.”

  Yvette smiled, and then she kissed my cheek.

  “Do you want Kiyomari and I to accompany you, Yvette?” Noree asked.

  Yvette thought for a moment. “Sea dragons have small wings. Can Kiyomari keep up with Garryn?”

  Noree gave her a wistful smile. “In the water, yes. In the sky, no.”

  Yvette gave her a hug. “I will go alone. Thank you for offering.”

  I spent the next few hours pacing the roof of the keep and the walls of the city. The bard was on the roof of the north gatehouse, absentmindedly plucking the strings of his lute as he looked towards the north.

  “What do you think, Kashko? Why hasn’t the Duchess made her move?”

  The bard scratched at his beard. “It is a question I have been asking myself, King Roman. I have met Duchess Miranda. She is a strong willed woman, comfortable in her authority as ruler of Tallwyn and used to getting her way.”

  I stood with the bard for a while as we silently gazed towards the horizon. The bard excused himself when Petal brought me a plate of cold chicken, bread, and slices of cheese for lunch.

  I told her I wasn’t hungry.

  Petal crossed her arms defiantly. “You must eat, Roman. If there is a battle today, your body will need the nourishment this food will provide.”

  I could see my warrior concubine was as stubborn as my royal wife. I sat the plate on the battlement and absentmindedly ate while I scanned the north for any signs of Yvette and Garryn. Afterwards, Noree, Petal and Monica took turns keeping me company as I waited.

  “I see her!” Monica pointed her spear towards the north.

  The half-elf’s eyes were keener than mine. It was another minute before I made out a green shape flying towards the city. We hurried down the steps and made our way back to the keep.

  When Yvette landed, I was there to help her dismount. My beautiful queen took off her helmet and shook out her long blonde hair. Stablehands rushed forward with food and water for Garryn.

  Yvette didn't look like someone who had just spotted an army. She looked baffled. “They’re gone!”

  The crowd that had gathered began murmuring in surprise.

  "Gone?" I repeated, the word feeling hollow. "Did they retreat back to Tallwyn?"

  “Our border tower looked untouched. Garryn and I circled it twice and saw no activity. We didn’t dare land and explore in case it was a trap.”

  I squeezed her arm. “Smart thinking.”

  Yvette gave me a brilliant smile before continuing. “We flew north to the Tallwyn border tower and circled high above it. Garryn saw soldiers on the roof, but we were too high for me to tell.”

  “There were two warriors on the roof watching us,” Garryn added as she finished chewing some of her food.

  Monica handed Yvette a waterskin. “What about the Duchess’s army?” I asked once she had taken a long drink.

  “We circled the area and saw no signs of them.”

  Garryn turned her head towards us again. “The grassy fields near the tower were trampled as if a large gathering had camped there.”

  Yvette walked over to her dragon and stroked her snout. “Garryn’s eyes are much sharper than mine.”

  Garryn gave Yvette a toothy grin. “I may be small, but I am amazing!”

  Was the Duchess circling around the east or west, I wondered? “Could you tell which direction they had gone?”

  “The tracks ended at the tower. They either flew away or went back the way they came.” Garryn turned her attention back to the lamb carcass.

  "Neither Garryn nor I saw any signs of them," Yvette said, shaking her head. "I flew a wide circuit, checking the hidden vales and the treelines. It’s as if an entire army simply evaporated into the mist."

  I looked north; the silence of the mountains now felt more threatening than the sight of five dragons. An army that size doesn't just vanish—not unless they’ve found a way around us, or we were missing something vital.

  "A feint?" Monica mused, her hand tightening on her spear.

  "Or a trap," I muttered, the golden-eyed woman’s warning about the 'threats growing' echoing in my mind.

  I turned my attention to my dragon riders. “Is it possible that she used her dragons to move her army?”

  General Logak’s brow furrowed. “A few soldiers, perhaps. An entire army? Unlikely, my lord.”

  “Her two browns and one green would only be able to move a couple of soldiers at a time,” Monica held her hand out towards Garryn. I couldn’t imagine her lifting more than Yvette and one other person. Maybe two for a short distance.

  “Do not forget the horses and supply wagons that I saw, my lord,” Baron Clark added.

  The countess waved her hand dismissively. “Her dragons would be exhausted. I can not fathom Miranda making such a desperate gamble.”

  I rubbed my chin. “They went somewhere. Probably back to Tallwyn. But there is a small chance she is trying to outflank us.”

  The sun still had a few hours until it would set. “I want our other two greens and two browns to fan out and search the woods and valleys within a few miles of the city. Double the watch at the other gates.”

  “Yes, my lord,” Monica and Commander Larkson answered in unison.

  “What do you think this means?” Yvette asked as the others moved to fulfil my orders.

  “I don’t know. It doesn’t make sense to march all this way and then turn around and go home the next day.”

  I glanced towards the north. “I can’t plan my next move until I am sure they are not a threat to Crossroads.”

  40

  Chapter Forty