Chapter 16 #2
“Yes, of course,” the half-orc said.
“I don’t need anything from you,” Rylana said. “Just to be allowed in to speak with my brother about a family matter.”
“He has threatened the landlord of our diner and seeks to have us evicted,” Jildarin stated with indignation.
“What?” the half-orc asked. “It is in an excellent location. I’ve walked by it several times and gazed longingly through the window.”
“It is excellent, and we have almost completed our rooftop improvements,” Jildarin said. “Should we have to close…”
“That would be awful. I would love to help you, and I could even grip Lord Frodin’s shoulders while you assail him, but he’s not here today. I believe he’s riding the river because of the currents the storm weather creates.”
“So, he’s hard at work for the family business,” Rylana murmured.
“When he is here, it’s grudgingly.” The half-orc issued another wistful sigh.
“I guess we can leave a message.” Rylana plucked up a piece of paper from the stack the contraption had issued.
Jildarin watched as she wrote on the back that she was back in town and wanted to meet with him.
She debated if she should mention she knew he’d threatened their landlord.
Frodin might guess that anyway. At the least, he would wonder why she suddenly wanted to speak with him when she’d been back in Tranquility for weeks without making contact.
Before she’d figured out how to finish her message, Jildarin took the paper from her.
“As with the bananas,” he said, “we will attempt to prompt good behavior.”
Rylana kept him from taking the pen, worried he would write something that would cause more trouble rather than resolving anything.
But Jildarin didn’t need the pen. As he’d done with the chalkboard, he burned a message into the bottom of the paper, demonstrating a delicate touch to do so without leaving holes.
Those who threaten a dragon’s establishment often find themselves roasted like a rotisserie pig, his message read. But those who leave their kind in peace might be invited to enjoy fine morsels at the dragon’s establishment. Choose your course.
After signing his full name and clan, Jildarin pushed the paper toward the half-orc, then lay the single slice of chocolate-dipped banana on the page. “You will deliver this message and this item to him.”
“As soon as he returns.” She smiled as she eyed the banana slice. “How did you know he has a sweet tooth?”
“He is human. We will await his response.” Jildarin strode out of the building.
The half-orc sighed and gazed after him.
Rylana took the pen to her own piece of paper and finished with: Meet me at the coffee shop on Acorn Street tomorrow afternoon. Ry.
She thought about removing Jildarin’s note, doubting threats would prompt her brother to feel amenable toward her, but left it. Let Frodin realize that he was not only messing with her but with a dragon. What had prompted him to interfere with their business anyway?
“I’ll check the market tomorrow and see about getting some roc ribs,” Rylana said when she caught up with Jildarin at the door. “Those aren’t common.”
“Fortunately,” he said as they walked outside, “we have many bananas remaining, should your brother correct his improper behavior.”
“That’s good, but I don’t want to disappoint your half-orc fan.”
“Correct. Fans should be encouraged, not disappointed.”
“Absolutely.”
In the street, Jildarin paused as two fire-fliers buzzed past, and he looked briefly toward a gap between buildings.
“We are being observed,” he said quietly.
“By elves again?” Rylana guessed.
Who else skulked about, keeping an eye on her from the shadows? The dragons were a lot more brazen when they observed her.
“Yes.” Jildarin slanted her a long gaze. “You will be wary of Captain Tassani.”
Rylana sighed. She hadn’t yet decided how flattered she should be by Tassani’s attention, or if she wanted anything to do with him, but the thought that he might simply want to get close so that he could more easily find Sylin was disappointing.
“It’s good that you’re here to watch out for me,” she said.
“Yes. And to assist with your personal issues.”
“Issues?” Rylana asked. “Do I have more than one?”
She waved back toward the building. At the moment, her brother was the main issue on her mind.
“You do,” Jildarin said. “Fortunately, the unveiling of the special coffee will now be hosted at our diner. The comrade you seek will not be able to resist appearing for that.”
Rylana smiled. “That’s probably true.”
“And the elven queen, once we have enchanted morels, will also not be able to resist coming. As she stated, she desires to speak with the elf child. They will meet at our new terrace and converse about pedigrees and determine if they will have a relationship.”
“That’s a good plan.”
“Yes.”
“Assuming we can find those morels.”
“After today’s great ground-soaking rain, I am confident that we will do so. Also, the gnome assured me that he has the most gifted magic-locating hound in his unit.”
“Then we can’t fail to find the morels tomorrow morning.”
“Certainly not.”