Read Online The Dragon Prince by Mary Gillgannon - Free Book Online Page A

worship loathsome gods. We must fight for the Christian
cause, for light and truth in this time of darkness!”
    “So you believe,” Bridei said. “But I do
not. I hardly think the Christians possess any sort of special
claim on all the light and truth in the world. Many of them have
done terrible things, things I doubt the Christos would have
condoned, at least from what I know of His teachings.”
    Rhun took a deep breath and fought for
composure. He should know better than to argue with his brother.
Bridei was always able to twist things, to prick at his doubts and
make him uneasy and unsettled with the beliefs he had honored all
his life. “Perhaps I should tell Arthur how you truly feel about
things,” he said coldly. “Perhaps then he would be less eager to
send you to argue his cause among the merchants of Londinium.”
    “Oh, I will be persuasive enough with them,
do not doubt it.” Bridei raised a dark brow and his eyes grew
ironic and amused. “The thing is, I don’t have to believe what I
say in order to be convincing. Even now, can you be certain what
I’ve just said is really what’s in my heart? Perhaps I was just
playing with you, trying to see if I could make you angry.” He
burst out with a brilliant smile. “And, as always, I have
succeeded. Your passion and sincerity are going to be your undoing,
big brother.”
    “I would rather be a fool who wears his
convictions on his sleeve than a heartless wretch like you!”
    “Heartless? How am I heartless? Who have I
hurt?” Bridei shrugged. “I don’t wield a sword. I don’t kill and
maim. I would say I’m actually more kindhearted than you are.”
    Rhun shook his head. It was hopeless. Bridei
was like a slippery eel, too elusive and cunning to ever be
trapped. “I suppose if we’re going to Londinium, we must make
plans,” he said, changing the subject. “We should consider what
supplies to take and what sort of escort we will need.”
    Bridei nodded. “The smaller the escort, the
better. We don’t want to appear on the streets of Londinium with a
band of spear-toting warriors. We’ll need only few men. They can
act as our servants while we play the role of fun-loving noblemen
out to explore the city.”
    “And what of Eastra? How will we explain her
being with us?”
    “Anyone can tell by looking at her she is
Saxon. Except for the merchants—to whom we might possibly reveal
her true circumstances if it appears to aid our cause—we will tell
everyone else she is your leman.”
    “My leman? That’s appalling! An insult to my
honor and hers!”
    “Perhaps, but can you think a better
explanation for her being with us? One that won’t alert the Saxons
in Londinium that we are holding one of their women as a
hostage?”
    Rhun clenched his jaw tight. He hated how
Bridei was always able to make what he dreaded most seem like the
best possible course of action.
    “I will go see about the escort,” Bridei
said. “That way you can return to your ladylove and make her
comfortable.” Although Rhun could not see his brother’s expression
in the darkness, he knew he was grinning.
    * * *
    “Princess Eastra?”
    She gave a little gasp at the sound of his
deep voice behind her. Then she sat up in the cart and turned to
see Rhun’s tall form, the sunkissed strands of his hair glinting in
the light from the torch he carried. A sense of deep relief washed
over her. “Oh,” she said. “You startled me.”
    “I’m sorry. I wasn’t certain this was the
right cart. Arwistyl should have brought you a torch so you
wouldn’t have to sit in here in the dark.”
    Rhun sounded angry as he fastened his torch
to a spear shaft and stuck it in the ground. Eastra thought about
the young soldier who had brought her the food—his soft, unformed
features, the sprinkling of freckles across his nose. She did not
want Rhun to punish the youth. “Arwistyl brought me something to
eat and treated me with every courtesy,” she said quickly.