Page 15 of The Dragon Queen
I gripped the insides of her soft thighs with my callused fingers then entered her slickness, watching her wince and moan when she felt me enter her tightness like it was the first time. I sheathed myself fully, digging my fingers deep into her flesh, a king embraced by his queen.
We met in Queen Eldinar’s chambers, accommodations that were much larger than mine. Ethan didn’t have nobility stop by for a visit, so I wasn’t sure why it was vacant, but it came in handy in this moment.
There was a large dining table, and Queen Eldinar was at the head of it.
General Ezra stood behind her, his hostility hotter than the sun.
Ethan sat several chairs down, as if he wanted to be as far away from General Ezra as possible.
Calista and I took our seats.
A platter of fruit was in the center that no one touched. There was also a pitcher of water that no one reached for. Our glasses remained empty. Some of the windows were cracked to let the sea breeze in, the gentle sound of the water rising on the shore in the distance.
“I hope you found your accommodations suitable,” Ethan said. “I know the heat takes some time to get used to.”
Queen Eldinar was in a sleeveless dress, her long hair in loose curls and down her shoulders. There were no beads of sweat on her forehead, no indication that this paradise was a discomfort. “Very suitable. Thank you for making us comfortable.” She turned to look at me. “Now that we’ve had the evening to rest, we need to determine our next course of action. How long does it take to reach the Southern Isles?”
“Three days—if the wind is in our favor,” Ethan answered.
“That’s a short journey compared to the one we just completed,” she said.
“With ten thousand men and fifty dragons, you’re a formidable foe,” Ethan said. “But that means nothing without a plan.” He turned to look at me, relaxing back in his chair, one elbow propped on the table.
“I agree,” Calista said. “We only have one chance. It can’t be squandered.”
“We need to know what we’re up against,” Queen Eldinar said, looking at Ethan. “You’re a pirate. You must hear things in your adventures.”
“We sell some of our goods at their port,” Ethan said.
“What goods?” Queen Eldinar asked.
Ethan gave a shrug. “Whatever we find on our travels…”
“So, the items you steal from hardworking people,” Queen Eldinar said with the sting of judgment in her eyes.
Ethan gave a slight smirk. “Sometimes it’s extra food we don’t need, but it’s also iron and jewels. They pay a fair price, and they rarely reject what we offer. We go to their port once every month, and that time has almost arrived.”
“What are you suggesting?” Queen Eldinar asked.
He looked at me. “From what I hear, the Southern Isles is heavily guarded. There’s no coming and going from the kingdom unless you bear the mark of a merchant, which has to be granted directly by the king. So, the only way into the kingdom is through the port or through the air.”
“So, commoners aren’t free to come and go?” I asked incredulously.
He gave a shrug. “Seems that way.”
“Why would that be the case?” The Southern Isles was a paradise for those who lived there. People traveled from faraway lands to grow crops in the fertile soil, to join a society that protected its civilians and helped them thrive. My family had lived in luxury, but we made sure everyone else had what they needed. Tariffs imposed on our subjects were based on conditions. If the winter was harsh and the crops failed, there were no tariffs paid that year. We cut back on supplies and rationed what we had like they did, just not to the same degree.
He gave another shrug. “Maybe they don’t want people to come…or they don’t want people to leave.”
The disappointment was like a boulder in my stomach. It was a sting that continued to burn long after the bite.
“I only deal with the hands in the port,” Ethan said. “But that’s enough for me to know that times are tough, that people feel oppressed. The soldiers are stiff with misery, and it’s contagious. It’s like everyone had their souls sucked out of their asses. My father used to be a fisherman and took me to port with him when I was a child. Sailors used to sing in the harbor as they hauled their catch onto the dock. The soldiers were kind and helpful, there to aid the process rather than observe it. And if it’s different there, then it’s probably different everywhere.”
I felt Calista stare at the side of my face to gauge my reaction.
I kept my eyes focused on Ethan.
“When we dock, you can make your way into the city and investigate,” Ethan said. “Anyone who was loyal to your family was probably killed once your uncle took the throne. So there should be none alive who will recognize you.”