"I'm not trying to hurt your feelings, eibhear. I just know what the gods can do and now it doesn't seem like we're dealing with one god but two. And getting between two gods-"

"Shut up." He opened his bag and quickly checked it to see what he'd need for his travels.

"Excuse me?"

"I said shut up." They'd need water and some dried beef before they were on their way. Something he was sure the Sand Eaters would provide if he asked.

"What are you telling me to shut up for?"

"Because you're pissing me off."

"And how did I do that? Because I bother to care enough to protect you?"

"No, Izzy. Because you're being a snobby bitch."

"What?"

"Were my words not clear?" He stood, leaned down a bit so he could look her straight in the eyes. "I said you're being a snobby bitch."

"You son of a-"

"Yes, only the great Izzy knows about the gods."

"eibhear!"

"Only the great Izzy knows how to fight against evil and battle zealots!"

"I never said-"

"Only the great Izzy knows how to kill enemy dragons and manage my brothers."

"I did not say-"

"Only the great Izzy-"

"Stop calling me that!"

"-knows how to be the best warrior in the universe! Anyone else is just someone she has to protect like her little sister or the squirrels around Garbhn Isle."

"I only protected the squirrels because Daddy kept setting them aflame while laughing!"

"What you, great Izzy, my brothers, and father fail to realize isn't that I don't need anyone's protection. Or that I don't want anyone's protection. What you all fail to realize is that I've had to learn to protect myself because I was the only one I could rely on."

"What are you talking about? You have two thousand first cousins alone to watch your back."

"It is not two thousand. At least not the first cousins."

"What about a mother who would destroy the world to protect you?"

"My mother would destroy the world for any reason."

"One sister who's been known to poison anyone who hurt your feelings."

"She hasn't done that in years. Not since I turned seventy winters."

"Another sister who made one of your warrior uncles cry when he suggested that you were getting chubby."

"Those were hurtful words. I didn't eat for hours after he said that to me."

"Brothers who have always had your back in combat. And a father who loved you enough to teach you to kill without compunction or care."

"And your point?"

"My point is that you've been protected all your life. I don't hold it against you. You grew up with a family that loved you and cared for you and ensured your safety while I, when barely born, was ruthlessly ripped from my mother's arms and held captive until taken by three rough-and-ready soldiers and forced to travel from town to town, city to city, until I could be reunited with my mother years and years later-all that is not something I'd ever hold against you."

"Yes. I see you not holding it against me. And by the way, you've mastered your mother's guilting skills brilliantly."

"I am not trying to guilt-"

"Guilt!"

"I'm done with this conversation."

"Good." eibhear pulled his travel bag over his shoulders. "Let's go then."

"eibhear, you're not listening to me."

"I often don't, but it's nothing personal." He shrugged. "So . . . you ready to go?"

Izzy looked around the room. What she was looking for, he didn't know. "All right," she said, grabbing her own travel bag. "Let's go!"

eibhear's eyes narrowed. She'd given up way too easily for Izzy, but she was already walking out of the chamber, so he had to follow.

They asked for and received extra food and water for their travels and a more accurate map of the lands. Once back topside, eibhear said, "We'll only have a few hours of travel before the suns come up, but that's better than nothing."

"Okay."

eibhear stripped off his clothes and shifted to his natural form. Once he shook out his wings, he lowered his body down and said, "Get on."

Instead of coming to him, though, Izzy just stood there, staring. And staring. Until eibhear knew exactly what she was trying to tell him without saying a word.

eibhear shook his head, adamant. "No."

"Then we should begin walking now."

"That will take forever."

"I won't leave him. He was there when we needed him."

"I'm not a horse, Izzy."

"I know. I would never have asked Dai to carry Macsen."

Gods, she was horrible. Just downright horrible. But some days she couldn't help herself.

The dragon turned his head away. "I'll not do it. I'll not bring that dog anywhere."

"All right." Izzy picked up her travel bag, slinging it over her shoulder. "Come on, Macsen." She started to walk. "We'll meet you at Sefu in a few weeks or so, eibhear."

"You'll never last out here if you can't find a cave to stay in during the day. The suns will burn the skin from your back."

"My people are from here."

"They also travel by horse."

"I'm sure I have some natural defense. But you can go."

"You know I won't leave you, Izzy."

"Then you won't leave us."

"You can't seriously expect me to bring that bloody dog."

"I'll not leave him, eibhear. I'll not leave my Macsen."

"Your Mac-" He gritted his fangs together. "Fine."

Izzy stopped. "Fine what?"

"I'll bring . . . that."

She faced him. "You promise not to throw him off your back when we're in flight?"

"Off my back?"

"Well, you're not bringing him in your claw."

"Izzy-"

"We're walking." She started off again.

"All right! All right!" She heard him sigh. It did really take all the strength she'd built up over the years to stop herself from rolling on the ground with laughter. "I'll take him."

"And you promise not to throw him off your back?"

"I promise."

"Or just leave him anywhere because that will really-"

"I'll guard the little bastard with my life. Now can we just go? Please?"

"All right." She headed back toward him, gesturing to her dog. "Take a break, Macsen."

The dog took off and began to circle around eibhear. While he did, Izzy grabbed hold of eibhear's hair and pulled herself onto his back. Once she was settled, she noticed that Macsen had slowed down until he was right by eibhear's back leg, his own leg lifted. She didn't think the dragon had noticed until his long neck suddenly stretched down, his snout pushing into Macsen's. "Piss on my leg and that'll be the last thing you ever do with that penis."

Slowly, Macsen lowered his leg, walked a few feet away, and pissed in the sand. When he was done, he came back and, with a mighty sigh, eibhear used his tail to place the dog on his back right in front of Izzy.

With her hands holding onto Macsen's hips, she got him to lie down. "We're ready."

eibhear's wings unfurled, but before he took off he said, "If you tell anyone about this-"

"Not a word. To anyone. Promise."

"And does he promise?"

Izzy blinked. "You want the dog to promise?"

"You say he's a dog. I don't know what he is."

"He's a dog!"

"Promise!"

Because she knew eibhear wouldn't let this go, she tapped Macsen on his right side so that he barked. Once. It was something she'd taught him long ago for amusement. Who knew it would actually come in handy at some point?

"Thank you," eibhear muttered.

"You just thanked a dog."

"So you say!" he accused.

Deciding this wasn't the time to attempt to rationalize with a dragon, Izzy kept silent-for once-petted her dog, and enjoyed flying.

Chapter 31.

Just before the two suns rose, eibhear caught sight of a cave. It was half out and half buried in the sand near a dune. It seemed like the perfect place, especially since he didn't know if they'd find another one before the suns were high in the sky.

He landed right outside the cave, lowering his body so Izzy could slip off and take that stupid dog with her.

"Wait here," he told her. "I'll check out the cave, make sure it's safe."

She didn't reply and he didn't wait for her to. She'd been completely uncommunicative since they'd left Heru's court and eibhear doubted that would change in the span of a few hours.