Chapter 40
I FOUND BLUEBELL WHERE I’D left her earlier on the outskirts of town. I swung up into her saddle and rode off to where I knew the Elder Beast’s horn would be safely stored.
When I arrived, I was glad to see Starlight and Carrot already there. I dismounted, then squeezed my way through the cavern passage and into Dave’s lair.
Farrah sat in my chair, wet cloth pressed to her mouth. Dave hunched over his small pile of gold.
“I told her I could wear a hat,” he said to Farrah.
She took the cloth from her mouth. “You’d look dashing in a hat,” she said, mildly slurring from the swelling in her jaw. “But I don’t know how well it would do for a disguise.”
Zig sat on my stack of blankets on the stone shelf where I often slept. He juggled two jewels and a golden goblet while Rylan looked on.
“I can’t believe you stole the mages’ jewels right from the ends of their staves,” Rylan said, voice tinged with awe.
“Their fault for waving them all around. Honestly, they should have taken better care of their things.”
Rylan laughed. “Sure. Their fault.”
“Hey,” Zig said, catching all three objects. “You can do something with these jewels, right? Maybe develop your magic further?”
Rylan’s eyes widened. “Maybe.”
I cleared my throat, announcing my presence.
Farrah shot up from the chair. “Ellinore!” she yelled, rushing over. She slapped a cold, wet cloth across my face. “For your nose!”
I winced, holding it with my fingertips. “Oh, thanks.”
“Were you followed?” Rylan asked.
Zig stood and ran over to give me a hug. I hugged him back, squeezing until he wheezed.
“No,” I said, releasing him. “I think we lost them. But if we didn’t, they’d be foolish to follow us into a dragon’s den.”
“You’d think, but they didn’t seem like the brightest mages in the council,” Zig said with a wink.
“You’re not wrong, but I think the Elder Beast’s horn is safe here for the time being.”
“Hopefully, they’ll suffer consequences for their actions,” Farrah said, sitting back in the chair.
“I doubt there will be any more than what was doled out by our hands.” I rocked back on my heels. “Speaking of facing consequences for actions, are you all ready to come with me to face the music at the castle?”
“No, thank you, Ellinore,” Farrah said politely. “I think I should stay here, guarding the horn.”
“But… don’t you need to go home at some point?”
“Oh yes,” she said, leaning back in the chair. “And I’m going to be in so much trouble. So I’d rather wait a little longer before being grounded for my remaining existence.”
Oh. Okay. “Zig?”
“Pass.”
“Rylan?”
“Um… sorry. I don’t think I’d be any help.”
I deflated. “Thanks, guys.”
“Hey,” Zig said. “You made your bed.”
“I know.” I kicked a loose rock.
Dave heaved himself to his feet. “I will go with you, seeing as I was your partner in crime.”
“Thank you. You’re a true friend.” I said the last part loudly for emphasis.
The other three grumbled and waved me away. Ingrates.
“Come on, Dave. Let’s go not get killed or thrown into a dungeon.”
“Oh, I definitely won’t,” Dave said as he stretched like a cat. “I’ll fly away before that happens.”
There was no use hiding the famed Golden Dragon. Dave had been seen by dozens of people already, including Lord Ethan. I just hoped that Aven had found a way to spin Dave’s continued existence in my favor.
We touched down in the courtyard and were greeted by screams from the castle staff. I slid from Dave’s back and landed lightly on the stone as a retinue of guards encircled us with their swords and pikes at the ready. Not the most auspicious welcome.
But then Aven broke through the line and sauntered toward me, back to their impeccable self, hair styled and makeup on point.
I wanted to run to them, kiss them, but I didn’t think that was a good idea while surrounded by this many guards.
So I stood in front of Dave, hands clasped behind my back, doing my best not to launch myself at them once they came near.
We were a stone’s throw apart when their path was blocked by the head guard. He whispered to Aven, and then the both of them walked toward me. Aven was in the lead, with the head guard a step behind.
And, oh no. Was I going to be arrested? Surely, the king and queen would have me dragged in at least for questioning if not for a long vacation in the dungeon. Had Aven vouched for me? Would they sneak in and visit me in my cell?
The guard paused behind Aven. “So Princet Aven was telling the truth,” he said with unrestrained awe. “Ellinore the Brave tamed the Golden Dragon.”
I blinked. Annoyed smoke curled from Dave’s nose.
“What?” Wow. So articulate, Ellinore.
“Yes,” Aven said, moving to stand beside me. “She did. And the Golden Dragon has been instrumental in assisting Ellinore on her adventures.” Aven nudged their elbow into my arm.
“Yes!” I blurted. “That’s true. He’s become an amazing ally.”
The guard shook his head, smiling to himself. “Wow. My daughter is a huge fan of yours. She won’t believe that somehow you are even more amazing than the songs say.”
My face burned with embarrassment, while Aven smiled with thinly concealed affection. “Right? I wouldn’t have known either until I joined her on this quest. But yes, even more amazing than the bards tell.”
Oh. I was going to make Aven pay for that. So much. Or maybe I’d just kiss them.
Aven cleared their throat. “The king and queen wish to speak to Ellinore. So we’ll be on our way.”
“Yes, Princet Aven.”
Aven nudged me in my arm. “Tell Dave to fly off,” they said in a murmur.
“What?”
“Do it.”
“Golden Dragon,” I said loudly, petting Dave’s snout. “You may fly away for the time being.”
Dave’s eyes narrowed. But with a low rumble, he took off. Well, at least he was out of harm’s way. Which was more than I could say for myself.
The guards oohed and aahed as Dave made a wide circle around the castle, then headed back toward his cave.
Aven guided me toward the throne room, our hands knocking together as we walked. I wondered if they wanted to lace our fingers as badly as I did. Once we were out of earshot of the guards, Aven stopped in the middle of a corridor.
They placed their hands on either side of my face. “What happened to your nose?”
“Face-plant.”
They winced. “But everything else? Zig? The horn?”
“It all worked out.”
They sighed, closing their eyes and bringing their forehead to rest against mine. “Thank the ancients. I haven’t stopped worrying.”
I grasped their wrist. “We handled it. While you were handling…”
They straightened. “Right. I did some preventative damage control after you dropped me off at the castle,” they said. “Lord Ethan had yet to arrive, so I had the jump on whatever ‘lies’ he would tell. It seems traveling without his sigil and gold cache caused a few delays on his journey.”
“Ancients bless Zig and his quick hands.”
“Yes. He bought me some time to prime my aunt and uncle in your favor.”
My heart fluttered. Aven had protected me once again. “Thank you. You didn’t have to do that. I know you don’t like liars.”
They smiled softly. “Well, I like one. And I get why she did it. But I hope she doesn’t feel like she ever has to again.”
“I won’t ever lie to you. I promise.”
“I know.” Their gaze locked with mine, and my cheeks heated even further. I must have looked like a strawberry at this point, but I didn’t care. “But Lord Ethan made it back a few hours ago, and he has told anyone willing to listen about, well, everything. So be ready.”
I nodded. I took a breath, raised my chin, and grasped the hilt of my sword. “How do I look?”
Their gaze was fond as they pushed back a strand of my hair. “Like Ellinore.”
We continued on our way, and soon we were at the double doors that led to the throne room.
The last time I was here, I had dragged in a dead giant spider.
This time I was trying my best not to hold hands with my previous rival while facing down an angry lord and a king and queen who might throw me in a dungeon. I liked this time better.
We pushed open the doors to catch Lord Ethan in mid-rant.
“She’s a charlatan. She’s a liar. She’s a fraud.”
“And she’s right here!” I said, striding down the carpet toward the thrones.
The king looked bored, rubbing his temple with two of his fingers. And the queen was annoyed, her lips pursed. I didn’t know if this boded well for me at all.
“Your Majesties,” I said with a bow. “Princet Aven said you wanted to speak to me.”
“Lord Ethan,” the queen started, “has been telling us quite a fantastic story about some kind of beast and a forest fire and a map that involved you somehow. I don’t know, I’ve lost track.
” She took a sip from her goblet. “Dear Aven has already told us about the Golden Dragon and the misunderstanding that occurred.”
The king perked up. “Yes. So remarkable you tamed the dragon. You should’ve told us that before. We could’ve had a dragon at our feasts. Can you imagine?”
I grinned with gritted teeth. Dave would hate attending a feast… or would he? “I’m sorry for the mix-up. I’ll be more specific with details in the future.”
The queen waved the remark away. “It was so long ago. Who cares now?”
Lord Ethan paled. I could tell he saw his chance to nail me to the wall slipping away. “Ask her about the other quests!”
“We shouldn’t bother Ellinore with recounting those,” Aven said smoothly. “We have bards for that.”
“Oh, of course!” the queen said, delighted. She clapped her hands. “Call the bard. I’d love to hear the one about—”
“Wait!” Lord Ethan yelled. “That’s not the point.”
“Then get to the point, Lord Ethan,” the king said. “We’ve been listening to you ramble for the better part of an hour.”
“Did you tell her about kidnapping Farrah?” I asked, tone innocent.
Lord Ethan went translucent.
“Farrah?” the queen snapped. “My niece Farrah? What does she have to do with this?”