Free Hidden Dragons by Bianca D'Arc Page B

day while you stay here.” Her
words were quiet but challenging in a playful way that felt good.
It wasn’t often he got to talk with anyone about the work they did.
“I see the way you and Sir Growloranth watch the village. And I
know enough about the goings on in that village to guess why you
might be interested in some of the residents and their
dealings.”
    Now he was truly intrigued. He stepped closer
to her, sensing she might have insights they could use. “What do
you know?”
    “ Cleef Mantell is a thief, and
probably a traitor too,” she whispered.
     

Chapter Five

    “ Cleef Mantell,” Robert repeated,
trying the name out. “Is that the name of the man who lives in the
mansion under the trees?” he asked urgently.
    She nodded. “It was to his barn that I was
summoned last night. But you know that, don’t you? I thought I saw
Sir Growloranth aloft as I was making my way back home. And I have
a feeling you weren’t far behind.” She tilted her head as she
looked up at him, challenging him to tell her the truth.
    At that moment, he could’ve kissed her. Not
only was she smart, but she was observant too. Could the Mother of
All have picked a more perfect mate for him? He thought
not.
    “ As Bear and Tilly scout the day,
he and I…” Robert pointed toward the dragon lurking not far away in
the woods, “…have the night. We heard the commotion and would never
have let you walk home alone as those barbarians in the village
allowed. In truth, we were watching over you from the moment you
answered your door. We would not let anything happen to you,
Isabelle.”
    A smile broke over her face that enchanted him.
“That is so sweet,” she said softly. “Thank you.” And then she
reached up, using his shoulder for balance, she stood on tiptoe and
kissed him. Not a peck on the cheek this time, but a full-on lip
lock that both surprised and pleased him immensely.
    She might be a novice at kissing, but she
wasn’t shy.
    He wasn’t sure how long they stayed that way.
Truth to tell, Robert was enjoying himself too much to pay
attention to something as mundane as time, but Growloranth finally
broke them apart. He spoke into both their minds.
    “ I hate to interrupt, but my lady
and her knight return. They bring news.”
    Isabelle drew back from his lips slowly, a
slightly self-conscious smile curving her lips that made him grin
in return. Bear walked into the small clearing behind Isabelle’s
house and his expression was grim. Tildeth stopped inside the
perimeter of the trees where she twined her long, sinuous neck with
Growloranth’s in greeting.
    “ The news is not good,” Bear said
without preamble. He was removing his leather gloves as he walked.
His riding armor were made of the lightest possible shade of
leather, then stained slightly with the blue of special berries to
match Tilly’s hide as much as possible. “There is a sizeable force
massing on the other side of the border. It looks like enough men
to occupy this village and hold it, making it the foothold
Skithdron needs to be able to launch further attacks. And worse,
there are many skiths being herded toward the pass. They will be
here within the next day. Two, at most.”
    “ Skiths?” Isabelle sounded
appropriately shocked.
    “ We must get word to the Lair
immediately,” Robert said, already moving toward the barn.
“Isabelle, pack what you want to save, and get ready to fly. We’re
taking you to the Lair for safety. You can return here after the
battle—if there’s anything left—but you cannot stay here right
now.”
    “ Good. Because I’m not stupid
enough to try to hold my own against a herd of skiths!” She ran for
the house. “But we have to take my chickens,” she shouted back over
her shoulder, making Robert pause to smile just a little. He should
have realized she wouldn’t leave her new flock to suffer the
degradations sure to come if a herd of skiths arrived en
masse.
    “ It’ll be dark enough soon