“That’s why we’re going to talk to them again,” Alric declared. All eyes snapped to the king, and Baldewin sat up a little straighter. “This is not a problem to be fixed quickly, but we can show them that we are open to dialogue. We may never be able to reach all of them, but I think we will be able to reach some. Like Tori, there may be others who are looking to leave but are afraid to speak up.”
Shoving his hands into the pockets of his slacks, Rodrigo stood in the center of the room, his shoulders slightly slumped and a look of utter heartbreak on his handsome face. Baldewin glanced around to find that the rest of Rodrigo’s retinue had a similar expression. They looked both worried for their king as well as sad for their own fate.
He understood their position all too well, because he’d been in their shoes not so long ago. An entire clan of mages was at their fingertips, but years of anger, hatred, and misinformation had been ingrained in generation after generation. Such things were not going to be wiped out in one visit.
“King Alric is correct, I think,” Rodrigo sighed. “There is nothing to be accomplished by attempting to force them to see our point of view. It will take time and patience.” He looked up at his fellow Valerii dragons and smiled a bit crookedly. “We ice dragons have the long patience of a slow-moving glacier. We will find our mates. The gods would not dare allow the world to become overpopulated with fire dragons. Ice dragons are needed as balance.”
Alric smirked. “Fire and ice.”
Cameron chuckled. “Don’t tell Ravi that.”
Rodrigo cocked his head to the side. “The little wind dragon? He’s fun. You should send him to me. He would enjoy Prainha Lefts.”
“Yes, but would it survive Ravi?” Baldewin murmured.
Cameron nodded as he cuddled closer to Alric. “That is so true.”
“Our next plan of action?” Rodrigo inquired.
“We meet after breakfast and return to the town. We will try speaking with Mathilda again. Maybe some other members of the clan if we can manage it. At least spread the word that there are dragons in Germany and Brazil eager to meet with mages. If that fails, we will return to Burkhard and draw up plans to send regular emissaries to the clan.”
“Good plan. I am going to bed, then. I have had enough of this day and wish to hurry tomorrow along.”
The Valerii Clan wished them a good evening and filed steadily out of the room. When they’d all left, Ravi dipped inside and secured the door behind him.
“You should be returning to your own mate, as well,” Alric prodded.
Baldewin’s head popped up, and he found himself hesitating. He was practically vibrating with need to get back to Tori’s side. His sense of the mage was strong, and he didn’t think he was in trouble. It was more of a need to see him sleeping peacefully, to wrap himself around his mate and hold him.
But he was the head of the king’s security. He was Alric’s personal bodyguard, which also made him Cameron’s bodyguard. His first duty was to protect king and consort, not his own wishes and needs.
“Go, my friend,” Alric said, almost laughing. “We have Ravi and Gunter to watch over us. Rodrigo is across the hall, along with his bodyguards. Cameron and I are plenty safe. You need to protect your mage mate.”
“I’m not sure protecting is among his brain’s top five things he wants to do to Tori,” Ravi taunted.
“I’m sure it’s at least in the top ten,” Cameron added with a giggle.
“I think you’re both wrong in assuming his brain is working at all right now,” Gunter added.
With a grunt, Baldewin shoved to his feet. “I’d rather be with my mate than listen to this mocking. I accept your generous offer, Hoheit. Sleep well.”
“Sleep well, Baldewin,” Alric said and then grinned wickedly. “And try to get some sleep. We need Tori to be well rested tomorrow when it comes to dealing with the Taavi.”
“True words spoken by a man too often tempted by his own mate,” Baldewin taunted right back.
Alric wrapped an arm around Cameron’s waist, pulling his mate into his lap who yelped in surprise. “This one has been a bad influence on me.”
Baldewin left the suite to the sounds of laughter and mock fighting. Spirits might have been dampened by the meeting with the Taavi Clan, but Alric was not willing to give up. It might be slow going, but they would make some progress in convincing them that dragons were not evil.
He quickened his pace down the hall to his own hotel room. With great care, he quietly slipped into the darkened room to find Tori still sprawled across the bed with the blankets twisted up around him. It looked as if he’d barely moved while Baldewin had been gone.