Lilly stood motionless as a breeze blew some of her blue hair into her face. Sophia stood by, waiting for a reaction as Hurrock studied the two women closely.

“Whose your brother?” Lilly asked as she struggled to make the connection and looked at Hurrock.

“I am not her brother,” he replied with folded arms.

“My brother is Gersius,” Sophia stated and stared Lilly in the eyes. “And I want to know why he made a dragon his wife.”

“Gersius, is your brother?” Lilly asked as her memory came rushing back. She heard Gersius speaking of the fall of the city of Illian and the pain it brought him. He had waited to come to the cities rescued, believing it would hold out for weeks. All he wanted was a few more men, but the raven guard got there first and rode in as if they were going to help. Instead, they betrayed the city and opened the gates to the Doan, allowing them to rampage through the city and kill his sister, Sophia.

“Your Gersius’s sister!” Lilly gasped and then clasped a hand over her mouth.

Sophia nodded as Lilly took a trembling step back. She felt overcome by all the pain Gersius had suffered, knowing he had let his sister die. All the worries that she had been captured and tortured under the hands of the raven guard. His hope had briefly swelled when they found reports that the ravens were hunting her in the east, but they never found more evidence to support it.

“You're still alive,” Lilly said after a moment. “But, we couldn't find any evidence. We captured the reports and letters that said your survival was a hoax.”

“I don't know what you're talking about,” Sophia said as Lilly began to look around.

“You should have seen how upset he was!” Lilly shouted. “He thought it was his fault. He died inside to know he failed you.”

Sophia looked at Hurrock, who shrugged that he didn't understand either. Lilly saw the motion and realized her feelings were coming out in fragments. She took a deep breath and centered herself before explaining how she and Gersius met. She was sure to explain the shock and betrayal she felt when the dragon attacked her and how afraid she was of Gersius. She then lovingly detailed how he had taken her by the hand and led her into the human world, always treating her with respect.

“He was always so strong,” Lilly said. “Until he told me about you.”

“What about me?” Sophia asked.

“Gersius was tasked with breaking the siege of Illian,” Lilly explained. “He was sure the walls of the city were strong and would hold out while he gathered more men. He never suspected the Raven guard would betray him and open the doors to the Doan. He was sure you were dead, but we found evidence you were not. Then he began to worry you would be caught and tortured by the raven guard. He has wasted men and resources trying to find any clue about you. We even captured some dispatches to the Raven Guard that suggested you were alive and fleeing east, but we never found a trail.”

“My brother was supposed to rescue me,” Sophia said as she looked down.

“And now he worries you are a rape slave in some dark dungeon,” Hurrock added.

“I suppose I almost was,” Sophia said and looked up to meet Lilly’s gaze. “But it wasn’t his fault.”

“You try telling him that,” Lilly argued with a pointed finger. “His three wives have been trying to persuade him to understand that for months. He blames himself for not seeing the treachery inside the order of Astikar and doing something about it sooner.”

“He always did take the world onto his shoulders,” Sophia remarked with a shake of her head.

“He never stops planning the war,” Lilly pressed. “Not even to sleep and lay with his wives. It's a chore just to get him to hold us at night, and even when he is in bed, he's thinking about troop movements, logistics, strategy.” Lilly put a hand on her head and sighed. “That is when he's not busy blaming himself for your death.”

“You sound like you’re accusing me of doing something wrong,” Sophia protested.

“Your alive,” Lilly argued back. “He needs to know. It would change everything.”

“How was I supposed to let him know?” Sophia argued. “I am not exactly in the empire.”

Lilly paused in her shocked reaction to consider Sophia's point. She was well behind enemy lines and aiding the wise ones as one of their numbers. She couldn't work out how that could be, so she asked the logical question, how had she come to be here?

Hurrock explained this portion of the story and how he led the attack on Illian. The Raven Guard threw the gates open, and his forces stormed in, burning the city and slaughtering its defenders. The rest were captured and sent into slavery, with most of the men going to mines to collect gold for their dragon masters.

“So you let the Raven Guard go?” Lilly asked.

Hurrock sighed and looked to the east as if reliving those memories in his head.

“I was given strict orders from the wise ones not to harm a single man of that order,” Hurrock answered with a voice that sounded as if he was angry. “They sat by and watched as we conquered their people and even took a few women for themselves. Then they road out, laughing at what they had done like mad animals that should be put down.”

“I don’t understand,” Lilly said as she put a finger to her lips. “You sound like you hate them, but aren’t you allies?”

“No!” Hurrock nearly shouted, then took a moment to calm. “What they did was abhorrent to Doan culture and I am sick that I was part of it. To betray one's people is the greatest crime one can commit. I accepted the leadership of the attack on the city because I wanted the honor of breaking its walls. Instead, I was cheated by a plot of treachery and aided by snakes inside your empire. Those people were betrayed and left helpless for our attack. There was no glory to be gained in our attack and no honor in the slaughter that followed.”

“Then why did you do it?” Lilly asked as she saw his aura flaring with pain.

“I was ordered to by the wise ones,” he replied as his eyes took on a hard look. “They say a dragon came to speak with them and told them the plan. They were relaying its instructions and were insistent that I honor our pact with the traitors.” He had to spit after saying the word traitor, and his aura flared with anger.

“The dragons have a greater plan,” Lilly explained.

“It doesn't matter,” Hurrock replied. “The Doan do not kill mindlessly. We fight to test our strength and prove our honor. If there is no honor to be gained, then we do not fight. That is why we never settle the green lands and allow your cities to build up. We want you to be strong when we come so that our contest might be a good one. We never take the weak as slaves and leave them alive to start over. We honor the dragons as our ancestors have done for generations but what they told us to do was not honorable. That the wise ones went along with it is inconceivable and a shame on their heads.”

Lilly was shocked by his logic but also strangely touched by it. This was a man after Gersius's heart who appreciated strength in battle and devotion to his people. He was principled and angry that his people had used such a tactic to topple the city.

“You're angry at the dragons?” Lilly asked as she tried to read his aura. It was flaring with colors of anger and disgust but also a hint of hopelessness.

“I have kept my feelings for the dragons at bay for a while now,” Hurrock said. “But then I met you, and you took this form.” He accentuated the point by gesturing to Lilly's body. “I heard the rumors that you were his wife, but we all laughed at the idea of a dragon and a man being united. We had no idea you could take such a form, proving our dragons have been hiding things from us. They prefer to tower over us and speak down at us while we cower. They speak as if we are nothing to them and veil threats in every word. You prefer to meet us at our level and speak about things that show you care about human well-being. I have begun to question why we serve them, and your story of how you met your Gersius only makes me angrier.”

“Why would that make you angry?” Lilly asked.

“Because they claim their blood unites them, yet they attacked you and left you for dead,” Hurrock explained. “Am I to believe that you are my enemy because they say so? They were the ones who treated you cruelly, and your Gersius was the one who showed compassion. They are lying to us about you, and I do not need the sight to know that.”

Now Lilly understood, but why was Hurrock the only one who seemed to notice? None of the wise ones responded to anything Lilly tried to tell them except to laugh and mock her beliefs. It was difficult to reason out but she had another question that needed answering. She still hadn’t heard how Sophia came to be here.

“I brought her back,” Hurrock said. “When I captured the city, the men began choosing from its women, and I spotted her. I took her as mine, and she quickly told me her brother would come for her. That was when I learned who she was and decided she might have a more important role to play.”

“You took her as a slave?” Lilly gasped.

“He never laid a finger on me,” Sophia cut in. “In fact, he tried to help me escape, but I thought I would be safer here. So he took me to the wise ones and introduced me as a queen from the empire lands. He recommended they consider letting me join their group as a source of information about the empire, and they accepted, provided I agreed to live by Doan customs.”

“They took you in just like that?” Lilly balked. “I had to be a dragon and save the life of one of them, and they still argued about it.”

“I told them she was my wife,” Hurrock explained with a slight smile.

“You what?” Lilly growled and turned on him. “You are her husband?”

“Why are you angry?” Sophia asked as she put a hand on Lilly’s shoulder. “He has been very kind to me.”

Lilly turned back to Sophia and shook her head. She couldn’t believe this woman was her sister and that Hurrock was now her brother through marriage.

“You’re both my family,” Lilly said at last and looked between them before suddenly drawing Sophia into a hug as her heart filled with joy. “I can’t wait to tell Gersius you’re alive!”

“You can’t tell him!” Sophia burst and took Lilly by the arm. “Please, you must keep it a secret.”

“Why would I do that?” Lilly asked as her enthusiasm faded away.

“Look where I am,” Sophia said and swept the land with a hand. “I know my brother, and if you tell him I have been dragged away and made the wife of a Doan chief, he will become enraged. He will start a campaign to find and free me that won't end until he or the Doan are destroyed.”

“But he's already planning to do that,” Lilly said, then realized what she had said.

“He’s what?” Sophia asked as her eyes went wide. “Lilly, what is my brother planning to do?”

“I don’t know if I should tell you,” Lilly replied. “You are working with the wise ones.”

“You have to tell me,” Sophia insisted.

“It won't matter,” Hurrock said with a wave of his hand. “He will soon fall, and the war with begin.”

“You don't believe that,” Lilly laughed. “Gersius has united the empire and brought its full strength to bear against you. Every day his numbers grow, as does his preparedness.”

“He can press all the peasants he wants into battle,” Hurrock replied. “The empire's strength has always been the order of Astikar, but his strength is broken, and his numbers decimated. Without them, your empire is far weaker than it has ever been.”

“We have the armies of Ulustrah and Vellis marching at our side,” Lilly countered.

“Vellis, I have great respect for,” Hurrock admitted. “But the armies of Ulustrah are not made for combat. They make good wives, though.”

“Is that all you see them as?” Lilly asked in shock. “I will have you know that Thayle is as good a warrior as any man, and Alayse commands our largest army. She is as good at tactics at Gerisus and knows how to combine units and tactics to the best effect.”

“Then I look forward to facing her on the battlefield,” Hurrock said. “But women are not suited to a prolonged bloody conflict. I am sure they will fight hard until their divine power starts to wain, and then they will have to put their raw strength against ours. I am afraid they will not last long.”

“You’re wrong about them,” Lilly insisted as she felt proud to call the women of Ulustrah her friends. That thought raised another question, so she asked why the Doan didn't practice any of the faiths. The answer was simple because the dragons told them not to. Everything the Doan thought or did was related to the dragons somehow. Their very way of life revolved around the idea that the dragons were divines in the flesh and the rest were false gods, pretending to have power but lacking any real strength. Lilly saw it as the opposite, with the dragons lacking any of the power the divines had. Still, she could see how a dragon towering over a group of humans could instill more faith than a divine that never seemed to answer.

“None of this answers my original question,” Sophia asked. “Why do you call my brother your husband?”

“Because I love him,” Lilly replied.

“Then you should have fled and gone back to him long ago,” Hurrock said. “Every day you linger here puts you more in danger.”

“I have to find a way to turn your people back,” Lilly insisted. “Or the bloodshed will be as bad as the first dragon war.”

“You can’t,” Hurrock countered. “Your desires are noble, but the coming battles can not be avoided. You have failed in your task and have no reason to remain.”

“I have to remain,” Lilly said. “I made a vow to the wise ones.”

“Then you need to know what they are planning,” Hurrock said as he took Lilly by the arm. “You need to know their lies.”

“Hurrock!” Sophia cried and stepped between them. “You can't betray your people, or you will be no better than the Raven Guard.”

“Betray them how?” Lilly asked, but before anyone could answer, a woman called out.

“Here you are,” Cindri said as she approached with five other women and a dozen warriors. “You are to return to camp immediately. The festivities are about to begin, and we wish the soma woman to see how superior our ways are.”

“Do not speak of her in such a way,” Hurrock insisted as they stared the wise woman down.

“Remember your place chieftain,” Cindri snarled. “You are not at liberty to challenge us.”

“Nor am I required to obey you,” he answered back. “I could take my clan and leave at my discretion.”

“Then go,” Cindri said with a sweep of her hand. “Go and bear the shame of running from this fight. Bring that dishonor down on your clan so that the others can see how weak you are.”

Hurrock held his tongue as Cindri smiled wickedly and ordered the women to return to camp. Sophia walked beside Lilly, but neither woman spoke as they headed for the distant tents. Even as they approached, great bonfires were lit, and music began to play. Meat was set out to cook as the Doan gathered in various areas to participate in contests.

Lilly was brought to the other wise women, and Hurrock was quickly driven away as he glared at Lilly sourly. Lilly wondered what he had intended to say about the lies of the wise ones but didn't dare bring the subject up here. Sophia was also surrounded by the women, unable to relay anything more to Lilly for fear it would be overheard.

The women sat as a group before a large ring lined by small fires. Men put on displays of battle, fighting with great skill as they sought to impress the observers. Valindra sat with Nirlindris, the two women pointing to the displays and making comments between them.

“So they are sparring?” Lilly asked the woman beside her. Her name was Mikaela, and she was one of the younger Doan wise ones. She often wore her hair braided down one side and liked to tie it with little cords.

“This is a contest between clans,” Mikaela explained. “These are the best fighters from each clan, proving who is the strongest.”

Lilly went to ask how they intended to prove it when one of the men stabbed another and drove him to the ground. Lilly was shocked that they were fighting to such a bloody end, but the wise women didn’t seem to be bothered. Lilly watched as the wounded man was dragged away, and the victorious man raised his spear to cheers from the crowds.

“So you will heal him?” Lilly asked as she pondered the injured man’s fate.

“If his clan wishes it,” Mikaela replied. “He has failed them, so they will decide if he is worth saving.”

“That's barbaric,” Lilly exclaimed, drawing glares from some of the other women.

“The soma woman claims her empire is strong and yet does not understand strength,” Nirlindris laughed in her cackling voice. Her comment spurred others to join her in the laugh, but Lilly didn't see the humor in it. Instead, she did her best not to notice the battles and focused on listening to the music. This was something she appreciated from the Doan, the steady beat of drums and rhythmic flutes that accompanied them. There was a magic in their notes that carried her to someplace more beautiful.

When the fighting was over, and over a dozen men were seriously injured, a new contest was begun. This was a simple test of skill with men throwing spears for distance. It was accompanied by throwing axes and, afterward, a display of weaving skill. Women were predominantly weavers, but a few competed in throwing spears, with one tall woman giving the men a good challenge.

It all seemed so odd that a culture would condemn the empire's women as weak yet treat their own with much greater respect. Still, they did constantly reference a woman's place to provide strong children for her husband. It always came back to children and the continuation of their people. A new generation to teach to obey the dragons and hate the empire.

As the night grew dark, the fires were stoked, and many ate from the roast animals set out on spits. Lilly tried something called a tamack, a kind of giant pig. She wasn't choosy when it came to meat, but she noticed that Doan lacked cooking skills. The empire made pastries, cakes, and fanciful treats, whereas the Doan ate cooked meats and baked vegetables.

“Enjoying your food?” Jhandi asked as she sat beside Lilly.

“It's meat,” Lilly said with a shrug. “The empire's food is better.”

“Ha,” Jhandi laughed and shook her head. “The empire has no appreciation for good food. Give me a good bit of meat and some cabbage any day.”

“Say what you like, but I like the empire's food better,” Lilly said. “Sarah is even learning how to cook. She has made us some meals, and they have been fairly good.”

“You have a talent for humor,” Jhandi roared with laughter. “The great red demeaning herself to cook for humans.” She had to wipe the tears from her eyes, causing Lilly to fume. When the laughing finally stopped, she asked for a wine to wash her dry throat.

“So what comes next?” Lilly asked as she set her wooden plate aside.

“Next comes the most important part of the night,” Jhandi said.

“What's so important about it?” Lilly questioned while searching the throngs of people for some indication of what would happen.

“The unwed women of the Doan will sing,” Mikaela said as she joined them and sat on a pillow beside Lilly. “You will get a rare treat and hear the beauty of Doan songs.”

Lilly thought back to the great orchestra and choir that sang for them in Calathen and wondered if the Doan could hope to approach the feeling of power. She smirked as a dozen musicians took their place across a wide expanse and began to play a haunting tune. There were many flutes and a few chimes, but most of the song was paced with drums. Still, Lilly liked the methodical thumping as it added a mystique to the event. Eventually, women began to gather in the field, and as one, they opened their voices in song. Perhaps forty of them sang together as their voices soared higher, a song Lilly had to admit was beautiful.

“What are they singing about?” Lilly whispered as the Doan used a language she was unfamiliar with.

“It’s an old language,” Jhandi explained. “They are making the offer and will sing until they are chosen.”

Lilly had no idea what that meant so she watched intently. Slowly men began to enter the ring, and one by one, they took a woman by the wrist and led her away. When the field was empty, the wise ones looked proud and called for the three that were special and would sing in honor of the dragons.

Three beautiful women came to the field and stood side by side in their colorful Doan skirts. Unlike the others, these women wore face paints to give them colorful patterns.

Lilly swayed a little as the flutes began, and the drums quickly backed them up. The three women swayed with the sounds and began to dance in small circles waiving their arms before their chests as they twirled. The others had only sung, but these girls put on a display of motion, moving seductively as if trying to evoke a sensation.

“Why are these three special?” Lilly whispered to Jhandi as tea was handed out. Lilly was given a cup to sip and explained that this was a special dance performed in honor of the dragons.

“The women dance for your honor. Now you see the beauty of our ways,” Jhandi said. “We honor the dragons in all we do, and they honor us with their guidance.”

Lilly hardly considered what the dragons were doing to be guidance but kept her harsh words to herself. Instead, she sipped her tea and turned back to the three women whose dance was becoming more mysterious. To Lilly's delight, the three women then opened their mouths and sang a haunting melody as they swayed, adding their voices to the instruments. The song was lovely, and Lilly enjoyed it, but she was not moved. When the singing stopped, Jhandi poked her.

“You see. This dance was done specifically for you. This is how people should show respect for a mother of the scale.”

Lilly turned her head as she set her tea aside. “The people of the east honor me. They sing and dance for me as well.”

“Bah. Soma's do not truly know how to sing,” Jhandi said, dismissing her with a wave of her hand. “Your songs are like the cackles of the howlers, all guttural and screeching.”

Lilly was stunned by the woman's harsh words and provoked to anger. The songs had been beautiful, but it was nothing compared to the sound of the women of Ulustrah singing together. For that matter, the chanting tones of Astikar moved her with a sense of deep magic and solemn purpose the Doan could never match. She found herself growing less and less fond of the Doan and wanted to show them how wrong they were. Thayle had taught her how to sing, and people had gathered around to hear her. She decided to show Jhandi and the others how an empire woman sang, so she got up and walked into the yard.

“What is she doing?” Mikaela said in alarm.

“Lilly!” Jhandi cried and waved her back. “Come back here.”

“Stop!” Valindra called, bringing silence to the whole proceedings. When Lilly looked back at her, she demanded to know what Lilly was doing.

“You held a dance and song to honor dragons,” Lilly said defiantly. “Well, I am a dragon, and I want to honor you back with a song of my own. It is a song taught to me by an eastern woman of great skill.”

“You wish to sing for the assembly?” Jhandi gasped as she raised a hand to her lips. “But, this can’t be allowed.”

“She is a dragon,” Cindri cut in. “This should not be permitted.”

Lilly was delighted to see their shock as they broke into a debate. Her earlier comments with Hurrock had proven that her behavior was causing doubt among the Dona. Their dragons were petty, cruel, and loved to stand large over people. Lilly would show them that not all dragons behave in such a way and throw even more doubt on their beliefs.

“Let her sing,” a voice called out as all eyes turned to Nirlindris. “We have no authority to deny a woman the right to sing on this night.”

Lilly thought that was a funny way of saying it and was suddenly put off when she saw Hurrock standing at the edge of the crowd. His frown spoke volumes as he shook his head as if warning her she was making a Mistake. Sophia was beside him, a look of horror in her eyes as she discreetly waved a hand as if trying to tell Lilly no.

The crowd went silent as Valindra glared at Lilly and nodded.

“Fine, you may sing, but we know no eastern songs,” she said.

“I don’t need any music,” Lilly retorted. She crossed the yard to stand where all could see her and readied herself. She stood tall and spread her legs slightly, sweeping her gaze across the crowd that seemed awe-struck by what was happening.

She began to trace the song through her mind and relaxed as Thayle had taught her. She took a breath and then opened her voice so that all could hear it. Her voice radiated out as sweet as honey and powerful as a storm, striking everyone who heard it. She ran through it, striving for the full strength of her vocal range as the assembled Doan sat spellbound, carried on by only the power of her voice. Just as they were sure it couldn't be any more spellbinding, Lilly dipped into her dragon voice, lending the dual quality to her song. It had the desired effect as men and women jumped in surprise or fell back as if the gods themselves were speaking. For several minutes she rolled through the song of tones and notes that made a pleasing melody, and when she finished, all was silence. She walked back to where the wise one sat, every one of them speechless.

“That is an empire song,” Lilly said, pleased with herself.

“An eastern woman taught you that song?” Jhandi asked.

“She taught me how to sing, but I learned the song in Calathen,” Lilly replied.

“You have a strong voice. You were born to sing with a power only the gods could rival,” Mikaela added.

Lilly nodded, a smile on her face. She felt she had shown these women and the surrounding Doan that easterners could sing just as beautifully, if not more so. It also showed them once again that not all dragons were like the ones they knew. She was proud of herself, but a commotion to the right stole her moment of triumph.

Grelm walked into the firelight to jeers and protests from some of the others. He stood before the fire and glared at the wise women, especially Lilly. His dark hair was matted back and he wore a black bear skin over his shoulders.

“We should have seen this coming,” Lacindra said from the back.

“Just be calm,” Valindra said as her face set like stone.

“What is it you want, Grelm?” Jhandi asked. “Or do you wish to sing for us too?”

People laughed all around, but the look on his face never changed. He took his large ax and held it in both hands, still glaring as he faced the wise ones.

“By the rights of our law and as a clan chief, I make a formal claim on the Soma woman,” he said loudly so that all would hear.

Jhandi frowned as several of the others gasped. Only Valindra didn’t react to his bold statement except to slowly stand and face him.

“Sit down, you fool!” Valindra scolded. “She is a mother of the scale and a guest among our people. You have no right to make a claim on her.”

He didn't flinch, only glared with intention as his hungry eyes fell on Lilly. “She has come to our people claiming a desire to know our ways,” he began as he turned to address the whole gathering. “She has vowed to learn and obey them just as any other soma woman has. So now we stand gathered in the torma, one of our most sacred traditions. She stands before us a woman, speaking as if she were one of us. She has even stood before the entire camp and sung a song for all to hear. So I say she had made the offer.” Many others shouted their agreement as he smiled threateningly at the wise ones.

Jhandi shook her head disappointingly and stood to support Valindra. “I am the wise woman of your clan, and I say she has made no such offer! She is ignorant of our ways and is not yours to claim. She wanted to honor us back for the dance of the dragon.”

Lilly leaned over to Mikaela as Jhandi spoke. “What does he mean I made the offer?”

Mikaela whispered back. “When an unclaimed woman sings for the assembled clans, she is assumed to be announcing her desire to be wed. Any man present can claim her.”

Lilly sat back, unsure of what a claim meant, and tried to puzzle it out as the tension around her grew. Somehow her plan had failed disastrously, and now things were burning out of control.

“While I respect your age and title, I am the leader of the stone maw,” Grem rumbled, then turned to the gathered crowd. “You have all stood witness and know what has transpired. She has made the offer. Therefore, I have the right to issue a claim! Or will you defy our ways before all the assembled elders and war chiefs?” He said that last part as his eyes returned to the wise ones, daring them to challenge him.

“You dishonor her and our ways by twisting our customs to get what you want. You know she did not mean to offer herself!” Jhandi yelled angrily. Grem responded with another cry of support from the gathered thousands who vocally supported his right.

“This will go badly,” Mikaela said in a whisper.

Lilly leaned over to speak to her again. “What happens if he claims me?”

Mikaela glanced at her with concern in her eyes. “You will be his wife. He will take you to his tent and make you his.”

Lilly felt her stomach twist, and she curled her hands into fists. This was insanity; not only was she not a Doan woman, but she was already married. She thought of what Hurrock said and realized the Doan wouldn't care. They would never see her marriage to Gersius as binding, especially where this madman was concerned.

“I am not his to claim!” she said angrily as she stood up.

“Sit down, fool girl!” Mikaela said, but Lilly ignored her.

“No man can lay claim to me!” Lilly growled and pointed at Grelm. “Least of all you.”

Grelm’s face twisted in rage as he confronted Lilly’s defiance. “You made the offer yourself! You who we have treated with respect when you deserve none!” He turned to the assembled Doan for more support and stoked the camp against the wise ones. “How long will you tolerate this soma woman in our camps? How long will you look the other way as the so-called wise ones lead us to doom?” He turned and pointed his ax at the gathered women. “Not only have they held the armies back and given our enemies valuable time to prepare, but now they defy our most sacred traditions. She has made the offer, and I say she must obey our laws. If not, then it is time we dealt with her as we should have long ago. So what say you? Will the wise women honor our sacred laws that our fathers for a hundred generations have lived by, or will they prove they are not fit to lead!”

People around the camp cheered at his words, and some stood up to hurl insults at the wise women. The tide had turned, and Lilly was caught in a storm as the women tried to restore order.

“What is happening?” Lilly asked as she stepped back into the protection of the women.

“You should have stayed seated,” Valindra said harshly. “If we defy him now, we will lose control over the whole of the clans. We have to honor his right to make the claim.”

“But I am not a human woman!” Lilly growled.

“I have protected you as much as I can. If you insult us with this, I will not be able to protect you anymore,” Valinda said in a defeated voice. “I warned you not to speak unless we told you to. I warned you that the Doan would demand you obey our customs. If you do not go to him, he will have us removed from power, and the war you so desperately seek to avoid will begin.”

Lilly looked at Mikaela, who shook her head. “He is not so bad. You are strong; you will be able to tame him and make a good husband out of him.”

“Well?” Grelm barked. “Do our wise women honor the ways of our people or have they abandoned them?”

Valindra looked at him with a stone face that radiated her disapproval. “You may make your claim,” she said somberly. “But I hope the other dragons tear you apart.”

Lilly looked at the other women, all of whom looked away from her gaze. The battle was over, Grelm had won, and she was the prize. Lilly realized her terrible mistake as his leering gaze fell on her and spoke volumes of what he would do with her next. She desperately wanted to take her dragon form and dare him to lay a hand on her, then remembered the collar around her neck. So long as she wore that, she could not take her dragon form, and without the wise ones to protect her, Grelm would make her his wife. With no way to escape or fight back, Lilly swallowed and began to tremble as Grelm beckoned his wife to his side.