Chapter 14
Rylana did not see herself off the property, as Father had suggested, instead taking the path that led down to the shoreline and the boathouse.
Before she reached the dock, a pair of cloaked and hooded figures stepped away from the rocky slope to her right.
She twitched, instinctively reaching for her knife until she recognized a lock of dark-green hair dangling to one of the visitor’s shoulders.
“Hello, Layothlee,” Rylana said. “And guest.”
“Captain Tassani is here to ensure the area is safe,” Layothlee said in an amused tone.
Both elves pulled back their hoods, the silver-haired captain of arms bowing to Rylana.
“My father’s boathouse isn’t usually a staging point for criminal activities.” Rylana wondered how many of his warriors the captain had brought. If Sylin spotted numerous armed elves lurking, she wouldn’t come to this meeting.
“I suspected not,” Layothlee said, “but some of the enclave’s guards objected obstreperously to the idea of me coming alone.”
“Not entirely for reasons of your safety,” Tassani murmured.
“I believe some of those who don’t want to see Sylin reunited with the family may have realized the queen has communicated with her through intermediaries.” Layothlee pointed at her own chest before gesturing to Rylana.
“I do feel a bit like a matchmaker trying to get a couple together,” Rylana said.
“A reluctant couple?” Layothlee smiled and looked up the slope toward the estate, though the castle wasn’t in view from below. After that, her gaze skimmed the lake. “We haven’t detected her in the area yet. You said she’s coming? Lord Jildarin used the word probably.”
“Yes, and he was quoting me. I can’t promise anything, especially if you’ve got guards lurking about. Sylin is good at avoiding elves with potentially inimical intent.”
“We’ve noticed,” Tassani said dryly. “Never before have I failed to apprehend people when I knew precisely where they lived.”
“Sylin doesn’t live anywhere, as far as I know.”
“She spends more time at that coffee shop than I do my house in the enclave.”
“True, but she doesn’t have a bed there or anything.” Rylana didn’t mention that Sylin had possibly taken up residence in the attic of the bakery next door.
“I don’t imagine she’s had many beds in her life.” Layothlee shook her head in apparent sympathy. “I feel guilty that I enjoyed a nice, safe, and furniture-filled childhood—and life in general—when she… Is it true that she was raised by wolves?” Layothlee looked around again, beaming curiosity.
Unlike Sylin, she didn’t have any reluctance about meeting long-lost relatives.
Rylana didn’t know if her elven comrade was in earshot—or even on this side of the lake. If Sylin had spotted Tezilly and Brella waiting for their special shipment, she might have been distracted by wanting to know what they’d ordered. Rylana admitted to curiosity about that herself.
“I think she spent at least part of her childhood fending for herself in the woods,” Rylana said, “but she hasn’t told me everything about her past, and I’m not great at telling when she’s lying.
Or joking is maybe what I should say. I don’t think she’s mendacious in general.
Just private. And sarcastic. But her delivery is so deadpan that you don’t always realize it when she’s being sarcastic. ”
“I look forward to speaking with her.” Layothlee raised her voice to be heard farther into the deepening night. “Maybe I’ll wait inside the boathouse.”
She gestured for Tassani to stay where he was, then walked up the dock to the spur that led to the small structure, one side open to the water so small craft could be paddled in and out.
Taking the hint, Tassani walked farther up the beach to leave the route to the dock open. Though Rylana doubted Sylin would mind walking past her, she followed him to further open the way.
“Have you battled any dragons lately?” Tassani positioned himself to look out toward the lake, though Rylana had little doubt he was keeping the boathouse in his peripheral vision.
“Not since the Lucky Island encounter,” she said. “I’m hoping Jildarin’s family has forgotten about me.”
“And how distracting you are?” Tassani sounded amused and looked at her.
It was growing too dark to make out facial features, but Rylana imagined his eyebrows twitching.
“Yes. My legendary beauty draws male dragons from all around the world, and they’re helpless to resist my allure, preferring my radiant companionship to mating with their own kind.”
“Your beauty is lovely,” Tassani said, “but I would guess it’s your willingness to stand up to dragons and battle them when the odds are not in your favor that draws the eyes of their kind.”
“Despite what his mother and aunt think, Jildarin’s eyes aren’t drawn.
” Rylana thought about their shared kiss, but Jildarin had made it clear that had been a mistake.
An alcohol-induced mistake. “Even if his eyes were drawn, I think it would be because I sold his gnomish commercial ovens and keep his books balanced.”
“Mathematical accomplishments aren’t historically proven ways to woo dragons.”
“Yup. Hence why he’s not drawn.”
“No? He flew you here on his back.” Tassani waved to indicate he’d seen them over the lake.
He and Layothlee must have arrived quite early.
“It’s rare for even their longstanding elven allies to be invited to ride on a dragon.
Most of their kind consider it demeaning to carry a rider, as if they were a beast of burden.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a human on a dragon. ”
“I was helping him forage for mushrooms earlier.”
“Something dragons are known to deeply desire.” Tassani snorted softly.
“He wants to make an epic mushroom dish for the queen in the hope that she’ll grace our establishment.
He’s thinking of putting up a plaque mentioning famously important people who’ve dined with us.
Since we didn’t find the right mushrooms, he’s still on his quest, and he didn’t mind flying me over here while he contemplates how to complete it.
” Rylana didn’t mention that Jildarin had left to chat up a gnome and perhaps offer meat bribes to his canine log inspector.
“So, you’re saying that he does not feel romantically inclined toward you?” Tassani faced her fully.
“Nope. Dragons don’t believe in romance.”
“It’s true that they’re not known to write poetry, share delicious morsels, or plant a garden for a potential mate that they’re wooing, but some of them do pair-bond for an extended time to bring hatchlings into the world and raise them.”
“Since I can’t hatch anything, no dragon should be interested in me for that reason.
” Rylana shifted her weight on the pebbly beach, wondering at Tassani’s choice of a conversation topic.
He was more pleasant than most of the elves she’d spoken to since arriving in Tranquility, but she didn’t long to discuss her unrequited feelings for Jildarin with him.
“Then you must be correct. It’s the mathematics.”
“You would also experience feelings of camaraderie for someone who achieved the removal of the many hard, angular ovens prodding you in the scales while you sleep.”
“Of course.”
“But not more than camaraderie.”
“Oh, I don’t know. I’m quite partial to sleeping comfortably.
My reason for asking these questions… other than determining if you and those around you are in further danger from his clan…
” Tassani glanced toward the boathouse before finishing.
“I was curious if you would be interested in visiting the coffee shop for a beverage one day.”
“I visit it every day.”
“With a companion,” he added.
Rylana almost made a comment about Sylin before it dawned on her that Captain Tassani might be asking her on a date. “You want to have coffee with me?”
“It’s not my favorite beverage, as elves generally find tea more palatable, but I would not mind consuming it while in the company of a warrioress who is fearless in the face of fire-breathing dragons.”
Rylana opened her mouth, but a witty comeback didn’t come to mind. Maybe because all the male elves she’d encountered lately—and for most of her life—had been more interested in seeing her as an enemy, or at least an obstacle, nothing came to mind.
“Dragons aren’t the only ones who admire such traits,” Tassani added with a shrug.
“Oh. Uhm.”
“Your response assures me that you’re delighted by my suggestion.”
“I’m just… surprised by it.”
“But not offended or repulsed?”
“No.”
“Well, that’s a promising start, anyway.
” Tassani bowed again to her. “Feel free to decide at your leisure if you’re interested in meeting at that coffee shop.
Perhaps after the queen has departed. The present quiet moment aside, I am being kept quite busy, and I need to remain alert.
Layothlee is a relative of mine as well as my charge to protect this evening. ” He nodded toward the boathouse.
A soft white-blue glow was now visible through the doorway.
A magical light that Layothlee had created?
It shone onto the tip of a kayak inside—Rylana didn’t think it had been there before.
And were those voices coming from within?
Rylana hoped so. What Sylin did with her life had nothing to do with her, of course, but she would be happy if Sylin, after being orphaned for as long as she could remember, found her family, especially if they were open to having a friendly relationship with her.
“A relative?” Rylana asked. “Does that mean you’re elven royalty too?”
“Hm, enough that I’m invited for dinner at the elven palace when I visit but not so much that I would be in line to inherit the scepter if fewer than one hundred other people died ahead of me.
” After a pause, Tassani added, “I’m not important enough that my family wants to arrange a marriage to a well-blooded elf lady or anything like that.
As long as I generally do what my mother wishes, I’m not pressured insofar as choosing a mate goes. ”