“I’ll let him explain it when we get back to the house. It has to do with you and your family, so it’s a good thing you came back.”
“My curiosity is fully piqued.”
“Can you heal Sindari’s injuries too?” I leaned over and patted him on the back, careful to avoid the gouges the orcs’ swords had left.
There is no need, Sindari said. I can return to my world and heal quickly.
“Zav can heal you nearly instantly. As you just saw.” I lifted my arm. The wound itched slightly but didn’t hurt at all.
I saw that he kissed you. If that is part of his healing magic, I choose to reject it.
“You don’t think he can resist putting his lips on you while he’s healing you?”
Zav’s eyebrows drifted upward, but he was looking at the spot where Shaygor’s portal had been, probably wondering what story I would tell him that would explain this.
I will not risk it. If you have no further need of me?
“No. Thanks again for the help.”
For our next battle, please do not involve dragons.
You didn’t like biting Shaygor in the calf?
I didn’t like being hurled into that sign and having all those little black baggies fall on me.
Black baggies? Oh. I realized some dog-poo collection baggies had been attached to the big sign. At least they hadn’t been used yet.
As mist formed around Sindari and he faded from our world, Zav tensed and turned toward the road.
“It’s me,” Ti called warily, still far enough away to be invisible to my senses. “Is it all right to approach? Or do you wish to be alone with… your mate?”
“I enjoy being alone with him, but I also want my charm back and for you to tell him your story.”
Ti came into view off to my side, doing his best to approach me without getting too close to Zav. He extended his open palm with my cloaking charm on it.
“Thank you for protecting me, Ruin Bringer.” He bowed low over his extended arm.
“Call me Val.” I accepted the charm and threaded it back onto my leather thong.
“You not only were unafraid to battle a dragon, but you are the mate of one.” With his head still bowed, he glanced from me to Zav and back again. “Amazing.”
Amazing, right. He must not have seen the part where I’d been getting my butt kicked by Shaygor and his orc underlings.
“It is most amazing when she vexes my enemies,” Zav stated and turned back to me. “I detected that Shaygorthian was injured when I arrived. You struck a blow before he cowardly fled to the sky and sent his minions after you.” Zav gave me that pleased, bedroom-eyes look of his, and I thought we might have ended up kissing again if Ti hadn’t been there. Actually, he looked like he was thinking of kissing me, regardless.
I rested a hand on his chest. “Let’s go back to the house. After you hear this story, you may want to do a lot more than vex Shaygor.”
“I hope so.” Ti rubbed his hands together. “It is time for the Silverclaw rule to be no more.”
Zav eyed him. “I believe I am ready to hear this story.”
18
Zav listened in stony silence as Ti gestured expansively and shared the story he’d given me earlier.
We were in the dining room with Freysha, Dimitri, and Nin. Nin had returned with enough food to stock a Costco, and Dimitri had finally been able to close the shop and come home. Apparently, the goblins liked to stay late, swilling their coffee and playing board games that involved using a hand-cranked launcher to hurl dice across the room. The roll didn’t count unless the dice hit at least two walls before landing.
While Ti relayed his tale, Zoltan wandered up to confer with Dimitri about which of his potions needed to be restocked in the shop. He slid into a seat at the table next to Freysha, where he kept eyeing her and Zav’s necks. I remembered what he’d said about elf and dragon blood being extra appealing but assumed he wouldn’t be foolish enough to try to claim any of either.
“If this is true,” Zav said at the end of the story, “I must speak with the queen and my family’s allies and come up with a plan to rescue my kin. If it is true.” He squinted at Ti.
Ti lifted his hands. “I would not lie. I have risked much to come to the Ruin Bringer for help. I will succumb to a mind-scouring.”
“Good. Come.” Zav pointed to the back yard, and I detected a hint of compulsion to the order.
Ti followed him out.
Be gentle with him, Zav, I thought. He’s Nin’s grandfather, and so far, he hasn’t done anything suspicious. If we do what he asks, he’s also willing to pay me enough gold to buy you all-you-can-eat barbecue ribs for life.
We shall see. He gave me a long look over his shoulder as they walked out into the dark.
That made me wonder if I should have been more suspicious myself. But I trusted Nin, and she was certain this was her grandfather. Besides, Ti had been chased and almost died trying to get to me. It was hard to imagine all that being part of a ruse.
Dimitri mentioned being hungry, and Nin promptly led him into the kitchen.
I sat at the table next to Freysha and whispered, “Do you think Ti has been lying to us or holding anything back?”
“I did not get that sense from him, but like most with magical talent, he protects his thoughts from telepathic eavesdropping.” Freysha peered out through the window. “If all this is true, it is a reason—if not an irresistible impetus—for Lord Zavryd’s clan to go to war with the Silverclaw Clan. I am not aware of all of the nuances of the current dragon political situation, but such a war would affect people living all across the Cosmic Realms and cause a major upheaval for the dragons. Also, if the imprisoned Stormforge dragons could not be released and cured of that infection beforehand, Lord Zavryd and his kin would be at a disadvantage. The loss of so many family members during the last few centuries is the main reason that his clan’s influence has been waning and that the Silverclaws and other dragons have claimed more positions on the Ruling Council and in the Justice Court. It is why they are so close now to staging a coup. We’ve all felt their maneuvering this last century.”
“You haven’t been alive for a century.”
“I meant my kin.” Freysha smiled. “Elves collectively. As well as the other intelligent species.”
“Can’t Zav’s family rescue their kin without declaring war? Or will the Silverclaws consider that an opening volley?”
“It was in essence an opening volley for the Silverclaws. Once they know, the Stormforges will likely feel compelled to go to war over this massive affront whether they can win or not. Essentially, the Silverclaws have been secretly striking against them for centuries.”
“Whether they can win or not? They better free the sick dragons first and cure them, so they can help the clan with the others.”
“That is easier said than done. According to Ti—and I believe him—these Crying Caverns have numerous traps and alarms. I am certain the entire Silverclaw Clan would be made aware quickly if a flock of Stormforge dragons descended upon the area to mount a rescue. That might start the war right then and there, before any dragons could be freed, much less healed.” Freysha looked toward Zoltan. “You created a formula to cure Ti of the bacterial infection. Would it work to cure a dragon?”
Zoltan folded his hands on the table. “As I told Val, I would need to inject a dragon with the bacteria and then give him the formula to see if it works. Do you think your dragon would volunteer, dear robber? I would be most curious to experiment on him.”
“I’m sure he would love that,” I muttered. “Are you ever going to start calling me Val? I paid your ludicrous invoice—I’ve paid several of them—and I’ve never stolen from you.”
“The first time I encountered you, it was when you were breaking into my humble sanctuary and destroying my guard spider while holding a gun on me. I can think of less flattering things to call you than dear robber.”
“You wouldn’t worry about offending me and losing me as a client?”
“Not at all. My skills are in high demand. You need me.”
Zav walked back into the house with Ti trailing behind him. The gnome’s eyes were a little glassy, but he didn’t appear harmed.
“Grandfather?” Nin came in and took his arm. “I made you some fish-eye soup when I was gathering beef and rice for the others. Come sit down and have some.”
“You keep the ingredients for that in your food truck?” I’d only ever seen Nin serve one dish.
“I stopped at the store.”
“What store carries fish eyes?”
“Any reputable Asian market. They are delicious, Val. Did your Norse ancestors not enjoy fish?”
“Yeah, the non-eyebally parts.”
Nin gave me an exasperated look, then focused on preparing the meal for her grandfather.
He whispered something to her in Thai. She looked at Zav, shrugged, and whispered back.
“Everything okay?” I thought about tapping my translation charm—if Zav had been a bully, I wanted to know about it, so I could step on his foot the next time he wore sandals.
“My grandfather is feeling manly because he endured a dragon mind-scouring,” Nin told me.
“Manly?” Dimitri asked.
“Just because someone is only half your size does not mean he can’t be manly,” Nin informed him.
Zav touched my arm. “I must speak with you.”
He walked back outside, assuming I would follow. My curiosity ensured I would, but I lingered to examine Nin’s dubious fish-eye soup and hear the rest of the manly discussion before joining him on the patio. I didn’t like him to think he could snap his fingers and I would leap to obey.
When I stepped out and closed the door behind me, Zav was gripping his chin and staring up at the stars instead of huffing about my delay, and I felt guilty for worrying about making points at a time like this.
“What did you find out?” I asked quietly.