Centyr Dominance Read Free Page B

mountains.
    The eastern edge of the Elentirs was still more than
     an hour’s flight away, and although the mountains were getting smaller there
     were still no towns. They were saved from a rough camp when they spotted a
     sturdy cabin in one of the valleys.
    It had smoke coming from the chimney, so it was
     definitely inhabited. They landed several hundred yards away and hoped that
     the dragons hadn’t been seen. Moira could only imagine what sort of panic the
     sight of a beast as large as Cassandra might cause.
    I will sleep here, the
     massive dragon told her.
    She nodded, Thank you, Cassandra. I wish you could
     stay with us.
    It is no hardship. Morning will arrive
     soon enough.
    Grace wasn’t quite as content. She knew she was small
     enough to accompany them within, but her form was still a problem. She was
     tempted to suggest using an illusion so that she could accompany them, but in
     the end she kept her thoughts to herself. It would be cold on the mountainside,
     but she would be warm enough if she stayed beside the larger dragon.
    Chad took the lead as they approached the wooden
     building. “Let me do the talkin’.”
    “I can speak for myself, thank you,” said Moira
     immediately.
    Gram winced at her remark. He already knew better
     than to argue with the ranger on most matters.
    “Yeah? An’ what do ye plan to tell ‘em when they come
     to the door?” replied the hunter wryly.
    “The truth,” she answered. “We have nothing to hide.”
    “I’m the daughter of the Count di’Cameron. Would you
     mind putting us up for the night? I’m just out searching for my lord father in
     the mountains. We won’t be any trouble. Do you think you could spare some
     tea?” responded the ranger pitching his voice higher to imitate hers.
    She glared at him, “I do not sound like that.”
    “Don’t be so sure o’ that, princess,” said Chad.
    “Nor am I a princess…”
    “That ain’t the point,” he interrupted. “Ye may not
     sound like that to yer own ears, or even to mine, but to people who’re livin’
     out here in the wilderness, that’s how ye’ll come off. They’ll be scared half
     to death at the thought of someone like you bein’ here. Worsen’ that if you
     tell ‘em yer the daughter of the Count.”
    Moira graced him with an angry stare but held her
     tongue for a moment as she considered his words. Chad Grayson never failed to
     irritate her, but she couldn’t deny his logic. Finally she spoke again, “What
     would you have us do then?”
    “Let me talk. Yer my daughter, Gertie, an’ he’s my
     son-in-law, Gram,” explained Chad.
    “Why does he get to keep his own name?” she protested.
    “Fer one, it ain’t that uncommon a name, but yer’s is
     a dead giveaway.”
    “Son-in-law? You want them to think we’re married?”
     added Gram.
    Chad laughed, “Ain’t no one gonna believe a great
     brute like you is my son, an’ there’s no way ye could be brother an’ sister.”
     He looked at Moira then, “Oh, an’ we’re gonna have to tell them ye’re slow.
     Try not to talk. Stick to grunts if ye can.”
    Moira’s eyes went wide, “What?!”
    Gram began chuckling at that.
    “This isn’t funny,” she told him angrily, before
     turning on Chad. “Shouldn’t he be silent too? We both grew up in the castle.”
    “Yeah, if he talks too much it’ll be a problem, but I
     think he can get by if he sticks to short sentences. Gram’s spent a lot of
     time hangin’ around the barracks an’ talkin’ with yer father’s soldiers,” said
     the ranger. “Ain’t that right, Son?”
    “That’s right, Pa,” answered Gram, snickering.
    She looked back and forth between the two laughing
     men, growing more annoyed as they continued to laugh. “Mebbe ye should
     consider that this big lout ain’t the only one who kin act differ’nt if needs
     be,” she said suddenly, using a thick accent.
    The two of them began to laugh harder, until Gram had
     to gasp for