“It is better to rule reasonably over races for their own good and the good of dragons and the realm,” Zav said.
“Our own good, yes,” Chasmmoor said, proving that dwarves could be as dry and sarcastic as humans. But he didn’t object further.
The dwarves, like most of the elves, probably saw the Stormforge Clan as the lesser of two evils, when it came to possible leaders. If they had to live under dragon rule, better Zav’s family than the Silverclaw Clan.
“Politics,” I murmured.
“The king informed me that you will return to Earth with us and instruct my mate in the ways of her blade,” Zav stated, and I realized he’d known the outcome before he’d walked in here with Chasmmoor.
He could have mentioned it to me…
“Yes.” Chasmmoor’s tone was dry again. “He informed me thus as well.”
“She will make you smoked ribs, a human delicacy. She is an excellent cooker of meat.” Zav’s tone grew proud, or maybe sly. “I gave her a ring that enhances her talent in this area.”
My mother wouldn’t believe it if she ever heard Zav praise my cooking abilities. When I’d been a kid, her attempts at teaching me to follow recipes and bake hadn’t gone well. Never mind that the tiny avocado-colored oven in Mom’s converted school bus hadn’t exactly been Food Network-approved.
I held up my hand and wiggled my ring finger. “Accidentally, he says, but I have doubts.”
“Dwarves enjoy smoked meat,” Chasmmoor said. “I must check in with my king and my family before returning with you, but I will find the scrolls related to the dragon blades, so that you can copy them and start your learning immediately.” He looked me up and down again. “Did you bring ink, a quill, and numerous blank parchments?”
Oh, sure. I never went on adventures without a quill.
“This should do the job.” I held up my phone.
“Interesting,” Chasmmoor said. “I’d heard that humans have learned to create technological gewgaws with similar functions as magical artifacts.”
“Necessity is the mother of invention, as we say.”
“I will retrieve the scrolls.”
Zav came to my side and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. Now you will know the true powers of your sword and have the confidence to vex our enemies even further.
You know I don’t need to be confident to vex people. Vexations fall right off my tongue.
Perhaps it is more accurate to say that you will soon be more able to defend yourself after you vex our enemies.
That sounds good.
The dwarf whistled as he selected scroll after scroll from the library. After he’d rested thirty or forty on the floor, I started to grow concerned.
“Are all those related to Chopper?” I asked. “Or are you selecting some bathtub reading to bring with you to Earth?”
“They are all related to Thrallendakh yen Hyrek de Horak.” Chasmmoor cocked a bushy red eyebrow at me. Was that the sword’s real name? My charm hadn’t translated it. “It means Lightning Harnessed from the Most Ferocious Storm.”
“What does Hyrek mean?”
“Storm.”
“I might be able to remember that.”
The dwarf’s other eyebrow rose, and he looked at Zav.
“My mate has a tongue impediment and has difficulty with names,” he said.
“My tongue isn’t impeded.” I swatted him in the chest, not wanting Chasmmoor to think I was too dull to learn Chopper’s powers. Hyrek’s powers. “It’s just saving itself for vexing enemies.”
“And those with names of more than two syllables,” Zav said.
“Are you teasing me?” I asked him.
“Yes. You informed me that mates in your culture do this.”
“I guess I did.” I couldn’t keep from smiling fondly at him. Later, when we were back home and had nothing more substantial to worry about than the wedding, I would show him just how unimpeded my tongue was.
Chasmmoor’s gaze shifted from Zav to Sindari, and my tiger nodded.
I squinted suspiciously at him. What was he telling the dwarf?
Sindari gazed blandly over at me. I had a feeling I would never know.
“Chasmmoor, would your people be able to arrange a funeral or whatever is appropriate for a fallen warrior?” I pointed in the direction of Li’s body. “I don’t know if she has any human family or how I would even arrange for the body to be taken back to them for a burial, but since she’s half-dwarf, maybe it would be appropriate for her to be buried here.” I glanced at the tombs. “Or whatever you do.”
“She died bravely?” Chasmmoor asked.
“Fighting the lich’s minions and buying me the time I needed, yes.” I almost shared the name of the dwarven father that Li had given me, the one supposedly descended from Chopper’s maker, but realized that must have also been a lie. Had any of that story been true? Had she ever met her dwarven father? I might never know.
Chasmmoor nodded. “We can inter the body. Perhaps we can find out with blood magic who her ancestors among our kind were and where to situate the remains.”
I nodded, relieved that he hadn’t said a mongrel couldn’t be buried among their kind. The elves seemed too uppity to consider that, but I didn’t plan to request that in my will.
“Thanks.”
It was possible Li hadn’t been lying about everything when she’d told me about her family, and I would try to find out more when I got home, but this was more practical than lugging the body back and foisting it on Willard to try to get through channels back to China. Given how little our governments cared for each other, that might not even be a possibility.
Zav sighed and looked toward the tunnel. “Xilnethgarish comes with news.”
“He couldn’t deliver his news from the mountaintop?” I touched my temple to indicate telepathy.
“It is for you, and he wished to deliver it in person.” Zav’s eyes narrowed. “If he attempts to woo you, I will obliterate him.”
I thought of all his talk about how it was forbidden to slay other dragons outside of duels and how criminals were always punished and rehabilitated. “That’s allowed?”
“No. I will do it anyway.”
“Don’t get arrested before our wedding. Having your spouse in jail puts a big damper on a marriage.”
“Hm.”
Xilneth strolled into the cavern in elven form, handsome, blond, and green-eyed. I could envision him carrying a surfboard on a California beach.
He stopped in front of me, barely acknowledging the still squinting Zav, and bowed deeply. “The dragons have learned of the poison that was flowing into the air and might have slain us had you not stopped it. I cannot speak for the haughty Stormforge Clan, but the Starsinger Clan is deeply grateful for your assistance, Ruin Bringer.”
“My clan is also grateful,” Zav said. “I will ensure they are.”
I patted him on the stomach. “Thanks.” I added telepathically to Zav, Invite him to the wedding.
I thought you would invite him, he responded without taking his glower from Xilneth.
Dragons should invite other dragons. Don’t forget to extend the invitation to the rest of his clan. Thus to further the possibility of embarrassment at the wedding. That’s our plan to get your mother to come, remember?