Vateria leaned in to get a better look. "Why do I know your face?"

Izzy smirked. "Because I was there when my queen killed your lover-and you couldn't stop her."

The She-dragon's back snapped straight, eyes fierce. "I remember you. Annwyl's little pet whore who fought the ogres to distract me."

"It worked, didn't it?"

"Excellent point."

Vateria turned away, her tail lashing out. It hit Izzy full on the side of the face and she immediately felt blood drip down her jaw to her chest, but she didn't fall. She wouldn't.

The She-dragon looked at Izzy over her shoulder, her eyes widening a bit. "My, my. You are strong."

Izzy grinned. "You have no idea."

eibhear stalked behind the humans, allowing them to lead the way toward the sewers. Izzy's kin had moved like lightning as soon as they'd heard she was gone, calling in the Imperial Guards and readying them for combat. Now they would take the information that they'd gotten from the scouts Maskini had sent out earlier and track down Izzy.

He refused to think beyond that. Of what might be happening to Izzy. He had to believe she'd be okay because he needed her to be okay.

The M-runach were with him, keeping their distance but still, in the most important sense, by his side. They would always be by his side, as he would always be M-runach. And knowing that kept him focused because he knew he wouldn't have to fight alone to get Izzy back.

"You know, you might be going in the wrong direction." eibhear slowed down and stopped, slowly facing the owner of the voice. A male. A dragon male in human form. But not a Sand Eater. Nor a Southlander. In fact, eibhear didn't know what breed this dragon was. He couldn't scent anything specific about him, but rather all. Although that didn't make sense, did it?

"Really?" eibhear asked.

"Hhhm. Just a thought really."

"Do I know you?"

"Not that I'm aware."

"eibhear?" Aidan walked back toward him. "You all right?"

"Yeah. I'm fine." He looked at the other dragon. "So you think I'm going in the wrong direction."

"Just a thought."

"So you said."

"eibhear-"

eibhear shook his head to silence Aidan. "So what's the right direction?"

"eibhear."

"What?" he snapped.

Aidan shrugged a bit, Caswyn and Uther now standing behind him also looking concerned. "Who are you talking to?"

"I'm talking to-" eibhear blinked, looked at his comrades. They stared at him like he'd lost his reason. Because they couldn't see the other dragon, could they?

He faced the god, stared hard at him. "Where is she?" he asked flatly.

"They've always underestimated you, haven't they? Big, sweet eibhear with the heart of gold. They thought you'd be like that forever."

"Where is she?"

"But Izzy . . . my little Izzy always had faith in you. Even when you were breaking her heart. Even when you were accusing her of all manner of beastly things. Tell me something, little blue dragon, when you find her body, will you feel guilty?"

eibhear swallowed past what felt like definite panic. "Are you trying to tell me you won't keep protecting her? That you don't have plans for her?"

"Is that what you think? That I protect her? Do you have so little faith in my Izzy?"

"She's not your anything. She's never been yours. Izzy doesn't belong to anyone."

"Perhaps. Then again . . . if that's true, why should I bother helping her?"

Chuckling, Rhydderch Hael turned to walk away.

eibhear's mind scrambled and he quickly called out, "What about your precious Vateria?"

"What about her?" the god asked, walking away, his long hair dragging in the sand-covered cobblestones.

"You still need me to find her, don't you? The word the Nolwenn used was 'rescue,' I believe."

The god stopped. "What about your poor Izzy?" he asked, not bothering to even look at eibhear.

"Izzy can take care of herself."

"What the hell are you doing?" Aidan snapped.

eibhear raised his hand, silencing his friend.

"You still need me to do that, eh?" eibhear pushed the god.

"Try where you started," the god cryptically told him.

"What is going on?" Aidan asked.

Brannie ran toward them, her arms spread out from her body. "Oy! You lot? What are you doing?"

eibhear looked at his cousin. "Go with the Guard into the tunnels."

"And what are you going to do?"

"Just do as I say, Brannie. Protect them. There'll be Sand Eaters all over that tunnel. Now go."

Brannie let out a frustrated growl, spun around, and ran back toward the others.

"And what are we doing?" Aidan asked.

eibhear looked in the direction the god had walked. "What we're supposed to do."

"Which is?"

"Rescue that bitch, Vateria."

"But Izzy-"

"Isn't our problem. I made a commitment to the Nolwenns."

Caswyn stared at him. "Are you kidding?"

"No."

Uther stepped closer to him. "You want to rescue Vateria over finding Iseabail?"

"I'm M-runach. I made a commit-"

"For the love of the gods, shut up about that!" Uther bellowed.

"Wait, wait." Aidan stepped between them, faced eibhear, studied him. "You sure about this, mate?"

"I'm positive."

Aidan blew out a breath. "Then let's go."

"Yeah, but-"

"Stop asking questions," Aidan barked at the others, "and let's just move. Now." He looked at eibhear, nodded. "We're with you, eibhear. M-runach to death."

"Uh-oh," Vateria said. "You poor thing. You're bleeding. It must hurt so."

Izzy laughed. She couldn't help it. And Vateria laughed with her, but Izzy knew there was no real humor in it.

"What's so funny?" Vateria asked her.

"I was just thinking how strange it is."

"How strange what is?"

Izzy leaned in a bit. "I'm supposed to be rescuing you."

"Rescuing me? From what?"

"The crazed zealots." Izzy glanced over at the eyeless ones. "Isn't that right?"

"Darling girl," Vateria said, slowly moving around Izzy. "Why would you need to rescue me from this? I'll admit," she went on. "It's not what I'm used to. I do prefer the comforts of my homeland. But this . . . this will lead me back there. This will be my army. And after I claim what's rightly mine in the Sovereign Provinces . . . I'll be coming for your bitch queen. And she will know pain."

"The woman's been dead. Then brought back. And then went about raising children referred to as the Unholy Ones by many priests-and surviving said unholy children. So you really can't believe that you are going to scare her. Do you?"

"And you're not going to scare me."

"But I already have. Because you know I'm right."

"No. You're not."

"Then prove me wrong," Izzy suggested. "Leave."

"What?"

"Leave. Walk out. It's not like I'm going anywhere."

"You don't really think this will work, do you? Trying to convince me that-"

"You're a prisoner? A prisoner in a very comfortable cell? Or a calf they've been fattening up for the kill."

Determined now, Vateria headed toward the chamber exit. But a dragon stepped in front of her, blocking her way.

Vateria tried again, moving around the dragon. But another dragon cut her off.

"Move out of my way," she ordered.

Izzy smirked. "But you've been so comfortable here."

"Shut up!"

Vateria stormed back into the center of the chamber.

"You can't keep me here," she argued. "I'm Chramnesind's chosen one."

"Really?" Izzy pursed her lips. "Huh."

"What does that mean?"

"It means why would Chramnesind make you his chosen one? It's not like you're truly loyal to him. Look at these others. Vateria, this lot gave up their eyes for him. The others kneel in supplication. And they've all given up their families and friends in honor of his blessings. And you . . . you want an army. To win back land you never had a right to. Oh, yes. You are so the chosen one."

"This isn't working."

"Fine. It's not working."

"They're just keeping me here for my own safety."

"Fine. It's for your safety."

"Well, what other reason could they be keeping me for?"

Izzy shrugged. "Well, I'm sure we can safely rule out virgin sacrifice."