Chapter 13 #2
Father tilted his head to the side, looking puzzled, then glanced toward Zames, as if he might know what she was talking about, but he’d disappeared into the kennel.
“He said you coerced him into evicting us,” Rylana said, but she was starting to doubt herself.
In all the years of her youth, she couldn’t remember her father lying about much or pretending obtuseness to avoid unpleasantries.
“Actually, his wife said that, but she had no reason to lie to me. She was furious about the situation, about the pressure she said you applied.”
Father spread a hand. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Rylana.
Even if I had the time and inclination to threaten landowners in the city, I wouldn’t try to have you and your new business endeavor ousted from your building.
Why would I do that? You’ve finally returned home after almost twenty years.
Even if you’re not doing the exact work I would wish for you, it’s far better than being a soldier in a far-off war.
And actually…” His eyebrows rose as he looked in the direction Jildarin had disappeared.
“I’ve had three acquaintances ask me about your new endeavor and business partner. ”
“Jildarin has gained some fame since winning the Golden Whisk,” she said, though she was still trying to puzzle out the situation. Why would Lady Derva have accused Rylana’s father of strong-arming her husband if he hadn’t? Could she have been the one lying? Acting for some reason?
“And notoriety for being a dragon. A cooking dragon. I’d never heard of such a thing before.”
“He’s a unique soul.”
“I’ve been wondering if I could claim he’s an ally who might swoop down to protect my freight vessels that are attacked regularly by pirates in the Hurricane Hells Straits.”
“Lately, he’s swooping down after morels.”
“More-what?”
“Mushrooms. To make an enchanting dish for the elf queen. Also an enchanted dish.”
“I wouldn’t truly expect him to accompany my ships through the straits, but if I could let it be known that my daughter has a dragon ally who might fly in that direction from time to time to breathe fire on pirates, that alone could be enough to deter their foul ilk.
I’m paying a fortune in insurance right now, and the Lords of Troll Gulf are threatening to remove my coverage altogether. ”
“I could ask Jildarin about letting people believe that, even if he’s too busy at the diner to travel that far often, but not if we’ve been evicted.”
“I still don’t know why you believe I pressured your landlord. I’m not a thug of intimidating stature. If I were, the pirates would fear me. This Aztor was the one who said I approached him?”
“His wife did. She said Lord Avandar—” Rylana rocked back with the realization that Derva hadn’t used Father’s first name.
“Have you seen your brother lately?” he asked, watching her face.
“No. I don’t know why he would want me evicted. We haven’t spoken in seventeen years.”
“Honestly, I don’t know why he would either. I keep him busy with work. He shouldn’t be off hatching schemes, and I don’t know why he would care about your diner.”
Rylana shook her head, about to say that she didn’t know either, but the memory of her conversation with her cousin came to mind. “He wasn’t around when you were speaking with Tharla, was he? Or have you had separate conversations about your dynasty with him?”
“We’ve had many conversations on that topic. When you ran away, he became my only heir to the business.”
“I didn’t run away. I was eighteen and left home.”
“Leaving only a letter and a jilted lover behind.”
“You were the one who accepted Vormalt’s proposal, not me.”
“Yes, yes, I know.” Father lifted a hand. It was more dismissive than apologetic, but at least he didn’t argue the point. “Speaking of Vormalt… Is it true that he was the one to tear up the floor in the library?”
“And unleash a curse on the city, yes.”
“I’m glad I was out of town that week, though I received a briefing from my secretary. And Zames had opinions about it and Vormalt, as well. Your departure all those years ago may have saved the family some embarrassment.”
“Yes, making sure the family saved face was my main reason for leaving.”
Father had turned to look through the windows into the library and didn’t comment on her sarcasm. “I’ve summoned a contractor to repair the floor, but I’m uncertain about what should be done with that strange chamber.”
“I understand it’s one of the original troll-god temples.”
“So, filling it in might be considered sacrilegious.”
“I would think so. Maybe just leave the trapdoor accessible and take some rye bread down there from time to time.”
Father blinked a few times and looked at her.
“I can get you the recipe. Does Frodin still work at those offices by Pier Fourteen?”
“Our headquarters? Yes, he’s there most days. I trust that, even if your brother was responsible for strong-arming your landlord, you won’t grow violent with him.”
“Violent?” Rylana touched her chest.
“You were a hired thug, were you not?”
“Mercenary is the proper term.”
“You’ll forgive me if I don’t find that much above pirate.”
Rylana bared her teeth and decided she would not forgive him for the comment. “Mercenaries do legal work for governments. They’re not criminals.”
“What those governments were doing to the elves in the mountains didn’t strike a lot of people as legal.
” Father waved away the argument. “Regardless, as many careless mistakes as Frodin has made over the years, he doesn’t deserve to be shot with arrows by his sister.
” After a pause, he added, “Or attacked by a fire-breathing dragon.”
“If he’s behind our eviction notice, he might.”
“I’ll be put out with you if he’s too wounded or otherwise traumatized to come to work next week.”
“But you’ll get over it if I ask Jildarin to let people believe he keeps an eye on your cargo ships?”
“That would improve my mood vastly.”
The man in the doorway stirred. Father noticed, and he flicked his hand in dismissal at Rylana. “See yourself out. I’ve work to finish.”
“Always good chatting with you, Father,” Rylana muttered as he headed back into the castle.
Maybe Sylin was wise to not want anything to do with her elven family.