Chapter 7
SEVEN
“Have you asked the archaeologist what it’s like to be a legalized tomb robber yet?”
The Valley of Thorns, The Fringe
Dragon Heights, Wyoming
I imposed on my parents, leaving Citrine, Garnet, and Tourmaline in their care while Erik and I returned to the Valley of Thorns. Part of me wanted to bring our furred and feathered family with us, but I understood we would face more of Madam Merorie’s atrocities.
We couldn’t always protect the carbunclo and hummingbird from the realities of the case, but this time, we could.
So we did.
Since our previous visit, someone had brought in some heavy construction equipment and transformed the path into a proper asphalt road wide enough for a transport to navigate without issue. I drummed my fingers on the wheel of my SUV. “Are you behind the new road?”
“Technically, I gave the job to my mother to do and gave her the money to pay the contractors, but yes. We need the heavy equipment to excavate the house and access the catacombs. That’s part of why I was glad you wanted to pay a visit.
The catacombs are ancient, and after the victims have been removed, they want to figure out who was buried there and why.
Looking at the ages of the burials has led us to believe that the site predates civilization in the area. It’s old architecture.”
“How old are we talking about?”
“It’s thousands of years old. That’s the problem with us dragons.
We have wings. We can fly. And thousands of years ago, while most dragons lived in Europe and Asia, dragons did come to the Americas.
Most didn’t stay because civilization simply wasn’t as robust here as it was overseas.
I’m sure some dragons mingled with early cultures in the Americas, but it would have been few and far between. ”
As I hadn’t heard of anything like that, I regarded Erik with interest. “And where did you learn that gem?”
He pointed in the direction of the ruins, which had gone from crumbling structure to excavated hole. “They’ve brought in archaeologists to help us with this case.”
“Have you asked the archaeologist what it’s like to be a legalized tomb robber yet?” I snickered, expecting to get off to a poor start with the team saddled with investigating our new property.
“I did. She complained that it was not nearly as profitable or glamorous as she was hoping for, but it appeases her morbid curiosity, so she keeps coming back for more. I’m worried you’ll like her, develop an interest in legalized tomb robbing, and do the wrong sort of digging.
I’m fine with us digging for treasures for our carbunclo, but I’ve had my fill of angry ghosts for a while. ”
“Honestly, I’m surprised more of them aren’t actually angry thus far.”
“Oh, they’re angry. They’re just not angry when you’re around. Nobody has been hurt yet, but there are definitely angry spirits loitering here. I don’t think all of them want to rest in peace. I think some want to get their hits in still.”
I eyed my fiancé. “And is there a reason nobody has told me this until now?”
“Mostly, I’ve been concerned you’d try to scold the ghosts and get haunted.
Some became agitated when their remains were handled, but that isn’t uncommon.
The teams working here have been pretty careful to promise that everyone would be getting a proper burial.
Explaining that the clan of dragons responsible for their murders would be paying for everything settled most of them down. ”
Well, that was something. “Anything else I’m not going to like?”
“I hope not.” Erik headed over to where a construction team was hard at work cleaning away the area around the original house.
He stopped at a table, grabbed a pair of hard hats, and tossed one my way.
“In bad news, since we own the land, we’re on the hook for the excavation bill.
But in good news, we needed to do this anyway, and I’m pretty sure both our parents are going to help pay for everything.
My father is rather proud of me for deciding to make the purchase, especially once he realized we’d allow the investigation to go forward smoothly. ”
“Have you asked them to leave as many of the roses intact as possible?”
Erik pointed at one of the large pieces of digging equipment.
“The roses that are in the way are being dug out with that monster and transplanted. A few dragons of the appropriate colors are helping out, yellows included. In bad news for us, there were some hefty charms providing the roses here with the appropriate sunlight, and we’re going to need to redo those charms if we want the roses to survive moving forward.
The magic is old and failing. In good news, I’m friends with some of the dragons that can do it, and they’ll give us a good rate if we allow them to take cuttings of our more interesting roses and collect rose hips. ”
“Sure. If they want to play with botany and save us a bill, I’m good for that. I was wondering why there were so many roses here, though.”
“I was more wondering why they called it the Valley of Thorns instead of the Valley of Roses. There are some pictures of when this place is in full bloom, and it’s spectacular.
I’m considering overriding our parents on this and having the wedding here.
We could change the tone for the future.
” Erik eyed me, and I wondered at the wariness in his expression.
“I’m going to accept your proposal, and I won’t even make you get on a knee unless you want to, if that’s what you’re worried about.
If you want this place to be the wedding venue, we’re going to have to close this case first, which will delay the actual ceremony for a while.
I’ll also want the catacombs to be investigated and sanctified if needed.
We will be making sure all haunters are laid to proper rest before any vows are exchanged. ”
He sighed his relief. “I can work with that.”
I considered my fiancé, wondering how much of our lives would have been different if we’d both been a little less self-sacrificing and a little more determined to prioritize our relationship over the dreams of our youth.
Then, because I was a little bit of my mother and a little bit of my father thrown together, I said, “Our furred and feathered children can be reclaimed from their babysitters tonight. If we grab them and make a run for it, we could skip over to Casper, grab a license tomorrow morning, and hunt for an official, eloping without notifying anyone, except for our furred and feathered children, of what we have done. I can skip changing my name in the system until our ceremonial wedding date, which will ultimately become a vow renewal.”
Erik considered me, his eyes narrowing. “Our parents would lose their shit upon finding out. Dragons do not elope, Kinsley. They engage in lengthy and expensive courtships and delight in adding to their hoards upon engaging in an elaborate ceremony.”
“We can still do that while we smugly bask in the glow of running off, eloping, and enjoying unholy matrimony.”
“If we eloped, it would be a little unholy,” he admitted.
“It’s a good use of our day off, too. It would ensure an actual day off.”
“You provide an excellent argument in favor of eloping. But we’re discussing this near dragons. One probably heard us.”
Sure enough, one of the construction workers hard at work excavating raised his hand and waved at us. “Dragons do sometimes elope, Erik. They just don’t bother with the courtship and ceremony thereafter. It seems your partner is interested in building her hoard.”
“She’s not very good at hoarding, but I’m confident I can teach her with time.” Erik navigated through the piles of debris and materials and headed over to the older man, who killed the engine on his excavator. “Did her mom corner you and make you come all the way out here?”
“She did. We’re augmenting the crew you hired on her dime.
Kinsley, elope if you want to, just expect dramatics from your parents once they find out.
Since you’re planning an actual ceremony, you won’t completely break your father’s heart, but it’ll be close.
I’m George, and I’m an iron dragon. I helped build your new place, so if you have any problems at all, give me a ring.
” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a wallet, and offered a business card.
“I’ve been told you’ll be building a house here? ”
I nodded. “I’m thinking we should put a catacombs entrance somewhere appropriate and move the actual house elsewhere. I do not want to sleep above where a bunch of people were murdered.”
George pointed deeper into the woods. “There’s a meadow over there that would be an ideal site for a proper house. It’s at least fifteen acres, so you can have a sizable home without completely disrupting the wildlife. What material for the catacombs entrance?”
“Stone,” Erik said before I had a chance to ask for the options. “That’s traditional, and you can get the carvers to show off their craft. Has anyone mentioned where the deceased will be interred if their families can’t be found?”