Chapter 40 #2
I might as well take the opportunity to help Farrah out. “She assisted us greatly on the quest to save my brother. She should be commended when she returns home. But during our journey Lord Ethan did indeed kidnap her.”
The queen’s expression turned murderous. “You kidnapped her, Lord Ethan?”
“Tell her how you threatened her and Princet Aven with throwing them into the ocean while bound.”
“Is this true?” the king barked.
Lord Ethan raised his hands. “That is taken out of context.”
“Then explain the context,” the king said, voice low and dangerous.
“And if I do, are you going to listen? Or are you going to believe the lies of this peasant and the Pointless—” He cut himself off the moment he realized what he’d said.
But it was too late. The king turned purple with rage. “Choose your next words very carefully, Lord Ethan, or you might find yourself in a dungeon.”
Ethan swallowed, his throat bobbing. “I apologize, Your Majesties.”
“I believe it is time to see yourself out,” the queen said. “And retire from questing. Return to your lands, Lord Ethan. And only come to the castle when called.”
Lord Ethan scowled. He opened his mouth to respond.
“The next words you utter better be ‘Yes, Your Majesty,’ ” the king said.
Lord Ethan squeaked. He bowed. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
He cast one last murderous glance in my direction, then strode out.
“Good riddance,” the king muttered. “Aven, was there anything else you needed to speak about?”
“No, Uncle. Thank you.” Aven turned to leave, but I didn’t go with them. Not yet.
I stood in front of the thrones. “Your Majesties, may I have a moment of your time?”
The queen smiled gently. “Why yes, Ellinore.”
“Thank you. Over the last two weeks, I’ve traveled all over the kingdom.
I’ve encountered a faery, fire salamanders, pixies, a ghost dog, and two primordial beasts.
That’s not even to mention the griffin feather or the gnome hat that I found in a cave.
” I paused, choosing my next words carefully.
“I have enjoyed the quests you have devised over the years, and I’ve learned so much about our land and the creatures that inhabit it.
But there are fewer and fewer of them. And I’m afraid that if the nature of the quests remains unchanged, then there will be fewer still. ”
The king raised an eyebrow. “Are you asking for us to cease the quests?”
“No. I just ask that they be geared more toward helping than hunting.”
“Helping?” the queen asked. “I don’t understand.”
I took a breath. “Sometimes we just need to listen to solve a problem instead of hacking our way through the world.”
The queen exchanged a confused glance with the king. “I’m sorry, Ellinore. I still don’t—”
“Like the Golden Dragon!” Aven interrupted, coming to stand by my side. “Ellinore could have slain the dragon, but instead she helped him find an alternative food source to the village’s sheep.”
And another outlet for his horrible jokes, but the king and queen didn’t need to know that.
“Ah,” the king said with a nod. “I see.”
“But what about the stories?” the queen asked, swirling the wine in her goblet. “The one about the Golden Dragon is my favorite.”
“The current songs don’t need to change,” Aven said evenly.
“And I’ve made friends with a bard!” I blurted. “I’m helping him create new stories based on my previous quests. So you will still have new tales to look forward to.”
“Oh,” the queen said. “That sounds lovely.”
The king hummed. “Now that the Golden Dragon is tamed”—Dave was going to kill Aven for that—“could you bring him to a feast?”
The queen perked up. “Oh! Could you arrange that, Ellinore?”
I glanced at Aven. “Uh… of course. As long as he feels safe.”
“Which would mean vowing to change the quests,” Aven added. “No more hunting of the ancients and folklores.”
The queen leaned over to the king. “That would also mean no more spiders. The servants had a terrible time cleaning the stench out of the carpets.”
The king nodded. “True. And we already have several grand souvenirs,” he said, gesturing to the shelf behind him, where the spider’s fangs now sat alongside Dave’s scale and the pelt of the Ursa. He turned his attention back to Aven and me. “Fine. Consider it done.”
“Then I think the Golden Dragon would love to attend a feast,” I said, hoping Dave wouldn’t mind. “As long as he has his own table and it takes place outside.”
The king slapped the arm of his throne in excitement. “For the feast of the opening of the summer tournaments!”
“That would be perfect, dear,” the queen said with a wide smile. “Ellinore, are you planning to return for the summer season?”
I winced. “Um… no.”
The king frowned. “Even though we would change the nature of the quests?”
“I am exceedingly grateful that Your Majesties have considered all that Princet Aven and I had to say. And I’m very grateful for all the Crown has done for me and my family. But I’ve been given a new purpose… by a god.”
The queen blinked in surprise. “A god?”
“Yes. A primordial being tasked me with taking care of its creations.”
“Goodness! Well, we must respect the decision of a deity, mustn’t we? Will the bard be accompanying you?”
“Yes. He will.”
The queen smiled. “I look forward to the thrilling stories.”
The king cleared his throat. “Well, Ellinore the Brave, I will miss your theatrics.”
“Thank you, Your Majesties.” I bowed. “And from now on, it’s just Ellinore.”
“Aven,” the queen said with a smile. “Will you be joining her?”
I turned so quickly, the sheath of my sword banged against my leg.
“If I may?” they asked, hesitant.
“Of course,” she said. “Just ensure you return for the holiday feasts so we can check in. But otherwise, go have fun.”
Aven’s grin matched my own. They grabbed my hand and laced our fingers together. And we strode, smiling, down the carpet.
“Not too much fun!” the king’s voice echoed behind us.
Once outside in the courtyard, we stopped and took a breath. “I can’t believe that went as well as it did,” I said. “You must have really buttered them up before Lord Ethan arrived.”
Aven blushed. “I may have told them that I loved you and that I was going to follow you whatever happened, even if that meant being thrown in the dungeon with you. And I hoped they wouldn’t do that, because I’d rather love you out here,” they said, gesturing to the wide world. “But I’d do what I had to.”
“You said that?”
“Yes.”
“That… that is good buttering,” I said, my voice a breathy sigh. “Lord Ethan didn’t have a chance.”
Aven laughed. “So what now?” they asked, facing me and pulling me close. “We have a dragon, three friends, a horn, and a vow we gave a primordial being to protect the magical creatures of the world.”
I frowned, my brow furrowing. “I think we have one more thing to do before we wrap up this quest.”
“Can I kiss you first?”
“I’d be a little annoyed if you didn’t.”
“Good to know.”
So they did, and I was far from annoyed.