Chapter 24
Rylana didn’t have to go far to find the dwarven diplomat because Shebly was on her way to the diner. Their paths crossed a mere three blocks away, near a gurgling fountain with a bronze gnome tinkerer perched above the water, holding aloft a pipe and a wrench.
“I have excellent news.” Shebly looked at Rylana’s torso. “Do you still have the horn?”
“Is your news that the king has arrived in Tranquility? And, yes, I left it in the kitchen where Jildarin is working. Someone broke into the diner again to search for it while we were out. I figure it’s safest in a dragon-adjacent locale.”
“It must have been thieves who know of its value—and how much the king will pay to return it to his family.” Shebly shook her head, then added, “Should it be the genuine artifact.”
“Someone thinks it is. Captain Laridon said there’s a dwarven gang that steals such things and operates in town.”
Shebly was nodding before Rylana finished the sentence.
“I thought immediately of them when you mentioned people claiming to represent the king. We’re affronted by the gang’s criminal activities and have driven them out of our own cities, but it’s naturally harder for us to enforce dwarven law in far-off coastal ports controlled by other species.
Anyway, King Ekton has heard of your diner and looks forward to trying the fare with about fifty of his dwarven retinue. ”
“Fifty?”
“Yes, those who came along with the wagon train and are close allies, relatives, favorite guards, preferred drivers, and, oh, the armorer who makes sure his iron boots are in good order. The king likes a lot of people.”
“Glad to know he’s not aloof and surly.”
“Hardly that. He enjoys food as well. Most dwarves do, and everyone who’s heard of the diner is eager to try it. Can you accommodate that many on short notice?”
“We should have thought to put in the grotto earlier,” Rylana murmured.
“I did come by this morning to attempt to give you more warning, but the diner was closed with many disappointed people out front, muttering in dismay as they alternately looked at the menu and peered in the windows. A particularly crestfallen ogre walked away, muttering, ‘No bacon?’ in a desolate voice.”
“Our regulars depend on us. Unfortunately, there was a dragon incident.”
“Those are always fraught.”
“Tell me about it. Yes, we should be able to accommodate that many dwarves. Jildarin saw that the king would arrive today and anticipated that he might be hungry. He’s preparing dinner now, and the dwarf baker across the street is going to create desserts to accompany his meal.
” Rylana watched the diplomat for a reaction, wondering if she knew about Mya—and about the ostracization.
“Ah? I’ve long wanted to try her baked goods, even though I’ve heard they can be… dubiously shaped.”
“All the shapes she bakes are fantastic. And there are normal goods too. I’m sure she won’t serve the king a boob cake.”
“No?” Shebly’s lips twitched. “He might enjoy that. He has a sense of humor. Can the baker and her food be trusted? I’ve heard she came here because… Well, after her husband passed, there were rumors, and then she left the city abruptly.”
“From what I’ve heard, she was driven out by the cruel gossip of a woman with standing in the dwarven court.”
“Lady Hymika. She does have a sharp and vengeful tongue.”
“Mya is a sweet grandmotherly dwarf. She wouldn’t harm anyone or drug her food.”
“I didn’t think so, but one never knows for sure what people who believe they’ve been treated unfairly will do.”
“Earlier, Mya spoke of making shield-shaped stonebread in case the king needs to protect himself. She’s on his side.
” Belatedly, Rylana realized she shouldn’t have suggested the dwarven ruler might be in danger at the diner.
Had Shebly heard about the attack the night the elven queen had been there?
Those elves had been trying to take out Sylin, not their monarch, but the newspapers had printed a less-than-accurate version of the story.
Shebly chuckled instead of appearing concerned. “She must be loyal if she’s willing to bake stonebread. If the pan isn’t greased multiple times, it sticks to the sides, and you have to use a hammer and chisel to get it out.”
“Dwarven food has interesting characteristics.”
“Dwarves have interesting characteristics.”
“I won’t argue with that. Do you want me to get the horn so you can give it to the king to check out now?
” Rylana asked casually, tilting her thumb over her shoulder toward the diner and trying not to show that she was eager to make it someone else’s problem.
While glancing in that direction, she noticed Sylin leaning against the corner of a building, her arms folded over her chest.
Shebly hesitated. “The king said he’ll have his antiques expert along for the dinner. I didn’t bring guards or an armored wagon with me so I’d better leave it in the care of one with a dragon mate to protect one’s belongings.”
“He’s my business partner, not my mate,” Rylana said, though if one of their interludes actually ended up leading where she wished it to go, would she still be able to say that?
Did she even want to deny being Jildarin’s mate? Not really, but it might be wiser if the world didn’t know about it. Of course, it could be too late to keep their relationship secret. If even a dwarven diplomat they’d only met once before knew…
“If he’s not yet, he will be,” Shebly said.
“I saw the way he stood beside you and looked at you. During the war, a dragon shape-shifted into a dwarf for diplomatic relationships with our people living near the joint kingdoms in the south, and I was on the ambassador’s team at the time.
We eventually figured out the dragon was merely seeking intelligence and not that interested in a truce with our people, but, while he was visiting, he had a scandalous relationship with Princess Devloka, whom I was close to at the time. ”
Rylana listened to the story with some horror, promptly wondering if the dragon had been Zilek.
“From what I recall,” Shebly continued, “it was quite the passionate affair. Even though the dragon meant to betray our people, the princess couldn’t be angry with him afterward.
Everything was apparently quite torrid and scorching hot.
How otherwise with a dragon? I’m a little envious of you.
” She clasped her hands to her chest. “Dragons are such fantastic beings.”
“They’re not bad.”
Shebly chuckled, then lifted a hand. “The king and his retinue will aim to arrive an hour before nightfall.”
“We’ll be ready for them.”
When Rylana headed back toward the diner, Sylin walked beside her, amusement tilting the corners of her mouth upward. No doubt she’d heard the story about the torrid dragon.
“Captain Laridon has a gig for you,” Rylana said, hoping to stave off commentary on her relationship with Jildarin.
“He’s already found me and given it to me. If you’ll be serving someone as important as a dwarven king this evening, do you want me around to help with security? Since you’re a comrade, I would charge only a small fee.”
“The last time you were at the diner when royalty arrived, you were the reason security was needed.”
“I’m not related to the dwarven king. None of their people should be angling for me. And if the female dwarf whom Laridon hired me to find shows up…”
“Ah, I see. You want to use our diner to facilitate the springing of a trap. And yet, you want me to pay you. Why do I have a feeling Laridon has also agreed to pay you?”
“Because assassins don’t work for free. But I might accept remuneration in the form of delectable meals from the diner.”
“I can arrange that.”
“Excellent. I look forward to keeping your premises secure.”
“Especially if your target shows up this evening?”
“Especially, yes. As you apparently told Laridon, I enjoy a challenge, but I also don’t mind swiftly and efficiently completing an assignment.”
“Got a lot of other hobbies that you want to get back to? Coffee shops to visit?”
“Always. I’ve also been contemplating… Oh, nothing serious.”
They stopped before reaching the front door of the diner, where people had gathered, checking the dinner menu.
“Seeking a new challenge and meaning in life?” Rylana asked, though she’d been the one wondering if she should be doing more than helping Jildarin pursue his dreams.
“My meaning is fine. I have occasionally wished… Well, between the fight that erupted and the queen’s swift departure after I told her I wouldn’t come back to the elven court with her, I didn’t get to…
Well, maybe I shouldn’t have been so stiff with her that night.
I didn’t mean to be off-putting. I was in shock, really. ”
Sylin so rarely opened up to Rylana that she quashed sarcastic quips that came to mind and nodded supportively.
“Anyone would be. Believing yourself an orphan your whole life only to find out you not only have a living parent but that she’s the queen of the entire elven realm… That’s kind of a big deal.”
“Kind of.” Sylin snorted. “Anyway, I don’t want anything from her and was horrified at the thought of getting involved with anything to do with the elven court and politics and ruling a nation, but I regret that we didn’t get more of a chance to, you know.” Sylin shrugged.
“Have a coffee in a private setting? Get to know each other?”
“Yeah. I’ve thought about visiting, but the elven court is so far to the south. It would take weeks to sail there and even more weeks to travel by road.”
“You need a dragon who’d be willing to take you. That’s about a day’s flight for one, I gather.”
“Are you volunteering Jildarin’s services? He’s made it clear that you’re the only one he’ll allow on his back and to sleep in his lair.”
“I’ll bet Zilek would take you. Especially if you have sex with him first. And after. Possibly during.”
“Dragons may be equipped to have sex in the air, but elves haven’t that knack.”
“Are you sure? The aerial acrobats who performed were pretty good at defying gravity. Maybe Layothlee can give you some tips.”
“I don’t know why I talk to you.”
“I’m delightful.”
“I don’t know how you’ve commanded the interest of a dragon.”
“I keep his books, buy his groceries, and help him battle conniving enemies.”
“I suppose you have fought at his side against other dragons.”
“As recently as this morning.”
“You got into another fight with those sisters?”
“Among others.” Rylana summed up the morning’s events.
“You’re not adopting healthy longevity practices, you know.”
“Since we met fighting as mercenaries in a war, my predilections in that area can’t surprise you.”
Sylin inclined her head. “No. Forgive my humor. You are a noble warrior, loyal companion, and I can’t imagine another more easily winning the love of a dragon.”
“Thank you. I know you struggle to give compliments without snark seeping into your tone.”
“We both struggle with that, I believe.”
“That’s the truth. I’d better let Jildarin know that the king and his fifty closest buddies will arrive this evening. Yes, you should come by for security purposes. If a battle breaks out, you can hurl Mya’s stonebread.”
“I’m not sure I’ve been training enough for that.”