Page 72 (1/2)

Prologue

The Mad Queen of Garbhán Isle’s screa birds from trees and small animals deeper into their burrows

Her rage was a horrifying wonder to behold because it was always so raw So un than to see that rage directed at an individual or full army But, at the moment, there was no individual or arone

Thankfully, the queen did not redirect her anger toward those closest to her That hy they all willingly fought by her side Because as ht be, she was never wantonly cruel

One of the few beings willing to try to reason with the queen when she was in a rage h she was currently in her exquisite hu white hair draped over the entire backside of her horse, her sharp blue eyes aware of everything around her Yet if you didn’t know the truth about her, you wouldn’t guess that under that slion that could render a man in pieces with one swipe of her claw

“Annwyl?” she called out “Annwyl?” she tried again

But the queen couldn’t hear her or anyone She was too busy beating the trunk of a tree with one of her swords It wasn’t helping, though The action wasn’t wearing her out If anything, it was justher more pissed off

The She-dragon glanced back at the squad of soldiers She see red But they were the Queen’s Personal Guard They understood Annwyl the Bloody better than anyone They saw her in battle They saw her in quiet times They saw her at her worst and best The only one who knew her better than her personal guard? Her hus the Destroyer

“Annwyl, this isn’t helping”

The queen slaround and rested her hands on her hips, her head down, her breath co out in hard pants

“I know that,” the queen finally barked at the white She-dragon “Don’t you think I know that?”

“I think they were looking for soeneral announced as he walked away from the remains of the temple

General Brastias was a hero of e of Annwyl’s arenerals before hi the comfort and safety of Garbhán Isle, the seat of power of the Southlands But his continuing loyalty to Annwyl and the She-dragon, Morfyd the White, was so very strong that he still rode with them on missions like this

Morfyd—one of the Dragon Queen’s offspring, so actually a princess—looked down at herher horse’s neck to soothe its tension “Looking for what?” she asked Brastias

“I have no idea, but the interior has been torn apart”

“Perhaps they were just leaving a e”

“No” Annwyl shook her head “They want so”

“Annwyl, they’ve been destroying temples for months now Let’s not make this into so to da your people”

“It’s more than that I know it is” Annwyl yanked her blade out of the ground and slammed it back into the empty sheath she had strapped to her back “None of this is working,” she co “They’re always ahead of us because we have no idea what they plan to do next”

“So what do you suggest? We already have spies—”