Page 39 of In the Embrace of Dragons

Instead of dwelling on that, I lie in bed and try to think of a name for my new friend. I put her pillow and blanket on the floor and try to convince her to sleep there, but she seems much more interested in being on the bed. Zephala sets down another blanket on top in case she urinates, though I rather hope she doesn’t.

She did,of course.

But at least I know what to call her now: Daina. It’s easy to shout, only two syllables, and shouldn’t get confused for other words. It’s a good name for a hunting dog, I think.

I put her on a leash and collar that Zephala procured andlead her around the castle with me. At breakfast, the cook is pleased to see that I’ve brought Daina along and happily brings out some meat offal for her. She becomes a favorite among the servants within a few hours, as happy and soft and cute as she is, and we stop frequently while traversing the halls to meet new people.

Even Quillion is charmed by her, stopping to pick her up when she trips over her own feet and falls behind. Still, I wish he and Ragnakor could trade places. It would be nice to walk around the castle with the captain of the guard, I think, talking about how to train my new pet. I enjoy his calming presence, his deep and booming voice.

I wish that he had been the king, rather than Vizarios. I could be married to someone like Ragnakor.

Obviously, I do not have that choice.

A few days later,though, I am surprised to have my morning meal interrupted by Syzari. She slides into an empty seat at the table with a flourish of her robes.

“Queen Nissia,” she says in a conspiratorial tone. “I have a proposal for you.” She cocks her head. “And questions, too, but they are of a more personal nature.”

So many requests at once.

“What questions?” Questions I can answer. I don’t know how I feel about proposals.

“Are you, um...” Syzari thumbs the collar of her clothing, then lowers her voice. “Are you pregnant?”

Oh. That’s all.

“It might be too early to tell.” I shrug. I still haven’t given much thought to it. Raising a baby of my own—adragonbaby of my own—in this lonely castle is a difficult thing to swallow, so it is easier to banish it from my thoughts.

“I see.” Syzari looks me over, her brows softening. “I am sorry that this is the Vizarios you met. I assume you haven’t had much contact with him lately.”

I nod. He told me in no uncertain terms where I stand with him, that he’ll do whatever he pleases regardless of me. It was worthless to try to find a middle ground.

Syzari sighs. “Vizarios has been... foul-tempered lately, and I think that is due in large part to the distance between you.”

As if that’s my choice.

“I highly doubt it,” I say, getting more ruffled than I expected. “It has nothing to do with me. None of it has anything to do with me.”

I am a side effect. An afterthought.

“That isn’t true at all,” Syzari says, her brow creased. “I think it has everything to do with you.”

“What do you expect me to do?” I ask. “Throw myself at someone who despises me?”

“He does not despise you.”

Syzari is high up on the food chain, and someone that Vizarios trusts, but this whole conversation has sparked the tinder of my bitterness.

“Yes, he does!” I get up out of my chair, startling Daina. She yips. “Maybe he did... whatever it was with hisscent glands,” I say, letting my irritation coat the words, “but it wasn’t about me. He’ll never feel anything for me. I’m his broodmare, nothing else.”

It hurts as the words leave my mouth. So much, in fact, that tears bite at the corners of my eyes.

“You wanted something else,” I snap. “Some kind ofproposal?”

Syzari sizes me up. “Maybe another time,” she says, clearly disturbed by my outburst. I must be behaving like a child. “I have ideas for how you could be helpful to the kingdom.”

“Wonderful,” I say flatly. “There is nothing I want more than to behelpful to the kingdom.”

I pick up Daina and leave the room without another word to the advisor.