Danna

“It’s so, big,” she said wih a gasp as Seshi swooped down and landed on a promintory overlooking Dovetail.

“You are so small,” the dragon teased. He was in a better mood now, she realize, perhaps because her own anxieties lifted.

“Hilarious,” she said, sliding off of his back. She glanced up and saw Appan circling. She thought of the things Anders had told her and wondered if they were near where his brother had died. Nika, Prior and Lady Carolina rode up, and Prior dismounted.

For this last week of riding they’d been together, for whatever it meant in the loose sense that they were. He was beside her, they shared a tent. They made love. She told him things, about home, about her father. He listened and told her things back, about his cousin, and his work. It felt strange, but good, and solid, in ways she didn’t think were possible.

“Oh boy,” Nika said, as a party of horses came up. “Caro, it isn’t the whole guard is it?” Lady Carolina rolled her eyes.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Lady Carolina said. The group arrived. They were lead by a lean and tall blonde woman in a green riding dress, a black woman, with a playful smile in an elaborate blue gown, a black man in a long dark robe and a white man with golden brown hair who resembled Prior, if a slighter, and lighter version.

That must be Evan.

The blonde woman dismounted and walked over to Prior with a wide smile.

“Commander,” she said.

“General,” he nodded back and spread his arms. She laughed and hugged him. “It’s good to see you Thena.”

“You too,” she said, she regarded Danna and then Seshi. She bowed her head to the dragon. “My Lord, welcome to Dovetail, my queen is eager to make your acquaintance.”

“As I am eager to make hers, Little Daughter of The Warrior,” Seshi said, his voice full of dignity. The General smiled. “Your Patron was good to my people when we last walked together.”

“He is good to those he considers worthy,” she shrugged. Seshi nodded, the general turned to Lady Carolina. “Lady Dugarry.”

“Countess,” Lady Carolina grinned. It was clearly a private joke between the sisters in law. “May I present Mistress Finn, Lord Seshi’s rider. Danna, this is General Athena Dugarry, Countess of Pantona.”

“An honor,” The General smiled and extended her hand.

“It’s my pleasure,” Danna said. Prior was joking with the two other men, and the small black woman was holding Nika in a fierce hug. “The Duchess of Brightcoast, then?”

“Good guess,” the general smirked. “Her Majesty is waiting, My Lord, she asks you wait to enter the city, she doesn’t want a panic.”

“Of course,” Seshi nodded.

“We brought horses, for you, Mistress Finn, and Prince Anders, if he’s interested in getting his ass on the ground,” she shouted up to the still circling Appan and Anders. Danna laughed.

“Appan has more energy than Seshi,” Danna said, “they might be a while.” The General nodded and Danna walked over to Prior.

“Danna,” Prior said gently, “this is my cousin, Lord Evan Allred, and his husband, Mastero Raymond Quents.”

“My Lord,” Danna dipped a curtsey, “Mastero.”

“Glad to meet you,” Lord Evan said with a knowing smile. Danna blushed and then looked at Prior. What had he told his cousin? “We should get back, Athena’s right, she is waiting for you.”

“Let her wait,” the Duchess said with dismissive cluck of her tongue. She met Danna’s eyes and smiled kindly and it felt as if the whole world lit up. “It’s good for her.”

“We don’t all have her permanent good opinion like you do, Rina,” Prior teased helping Dann onto her horse.

“Oh yes, she’s so often angry with you,” Marina said with an eyeroll, “it’s the burden you carry.” Prior laughed. “I apologize for not greeting you Mistress Finn, I haven’t seen Nika in ages and she’s too thin.”

“You’re welcome to fatten me up while I’m here,” Nika said riding closer to her. “I expected Lefty.”

“He thought he’d be in the way,” Duchess Marina shrugged. Nika nodded and they rode off, chatting and giggling. Danna raised her eyebrows at Prior who shrugged.

“His Grace and Our Lady understand how difficult sharing can be,” he said. “They keep out of each other’s way.”

“You mean The Duchess,” Danna blinked, “with both of them?”

“Not lately, but in the past,” Prior said. Danna nodded. “You’ll have plenty of new gossip, my nosey little rider, I promise.” He kissed her softly and she laughed. They reached the palace and dismounted.

“Everything is going to be all right,” Lady Carolina said simply, and took Danna’s hand and squeezed it. She swallowed and followed Prior into a large room, and at the end of it on an elaborately carved wooden throne, sat a bronze skinned young woman, her hair in long braids.

Queen Annalise met Danna’s eyes and her heart started racing.