Danna

She heard a knock on the door and got out of the tub and wrapped a towel around herself.

“Hello,” Lady Brea walked through the door. Danna stared at her.

“Can I help you with something, my lady?” She asked. Lady Brea smiled at her.

“Prior likes you,” Brea said simply. Danna nodded. “I can see why, you are obviously lovely, and it’s honestly about time, he has pined about Annalise long enough.”

“P-pined?” Danna said.

“Mooned? Moped?” Brea sighed and went to a wardrobe. “Whatever word you prefer. It’s nice to see him moving on.”

“From Annalise?” Danna said. Brea nodded. “Queen Annalise.”

“Yes,” Brea said. Danna blinked. “Of course he didn’t tell you. Men are useless. They were betrothed.” She bit her bottom lip.

“Oh,” she sat down. Brea frowned.

“You shouldn’t be upset,” The Lady of the border handed her a robe. “She’s not all that special, Annalise. And she trains husbands well.” Danna blinked at her. “Try that on, I can’t have you in my dining hall in that sack cloth.” She turned and wooshed out.

Prior had been the queen’s lover, he’d been planning to marry her. There was absolutely no way that he was serious about her then. She was nothing. She slipped the gold robe on and looked in the mirror.

She was beautiful, there had always been that.

Prior

Prior was happy to be sitting in the great hall of the border keep among the other rangers. It had been too long, Anders had been right about that.

“So now that we know about the dragons what’s our mission?” Riley, a black woman ranger with her hair in long braids down her back grinned at him.

“I don’t know yet,” he admitted, “I guess we go home.” She nodded. “So it’s Brightcoast for you.” She grinned.

“Might even try Pharras,” she shrugged. “The Duchess will likely have work for everyone.” He nodded. Marina had a way of making everyone around her busy. “Dovetail for you?”

“It would seem so.” He shrugged. He froze, the room had stopped as Danna walked in the main door. She was wearing a Wyan style robe, but rather than the deep black favored by Nika and Brea, it was a deep golden color that compliment her freckled skin and red hair which was tucked up in a high bun with tendrils curled falling out of it. She looked stunning. “Excuse me,” he stood up and walked over to her, seeing Anders move to do similarly. Like hell. One of the keep guards had started speaking with her. “Mistress Finn,” he said.

“Commander,” she smiled.

“May I escort you in?” He asked. A smile crept across her face.

“Of course,” she said and took his arm. He saw her glance at the table of rangers. “Shouldn’t you be with them?”

“I should,” he said and they settled at a smaller table. “But I’d rather be with you.” She blushed.

“I feel a little silly,” she admitted, smoothing the robe, “but Lady Brea sent it up and I thought it would be rude not to wear it.”

“It suits you,” he said. Though he’d thought she stopped rooms in that old brown dress of hers too. “Danna, I,” he swallowed. “If you’d be happier here, I understand that, you can stay.” She frowned. “Annalise will come here to meet with Seshi, if need be, I mean.”

“Why would I want to stay here?” She asked. He shrugged.

“Anders is here,” he said, “we’re closer to your home,” she swallowed and nodded.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know Anders better,” she said, “it’s nice to have someone else who can ride a dragon around,” she said, “but I don’t really have a home, Prior.” He looked at her. “I want to make a new one.” He nodded. “But if you don’t want me to come with you,” she swallowed, “I mean, I understand you probably have a life in Dovetail.”

“I do,” he said quickly, “I mean, obviously, but not one that couldn’t include you.” He carefully traced a finger against her chin.

“I don’t want to be kept again,” she said. He smiled. “I don’t want to start a new life with everyone thinking I belong to you.”

“This can be whatever you want it to be, Danna,” he said, “or nothing at all, if that’s what you’d rather.” She exhaled.

“I don’t know what I want yet,” she said. He nodded. “I do want you, I just don’t know if I’m ready for what that means.” He smiled.

“All right,” he said. “We can figure it out as we go.” She smiled gently. “I don’t want you to feel like you’re beholden to me.”

“You did save me,” she said.

“You saved me back,” he pointed out. “We’re even.” She laughed and he took her hand.