She's All Thaumaturgy
Page 34
Elayne chuckled and gazed up at the sun shining in through the windows at the top of the tower. She sighed. “I’m sorry Gramps didn’t get a proper elven send off. He saved us, and he deserved it.”
“Yeah, well,”—Neoma sucked her teeth and smirked—“I don’t really think he would have liked it that much anyway, do you?”
Elayne broke into laughter with her before she returned to her duties. Neoma shut the throne room doors behind her, leaving Elayne alone beside the nexus. It was quiet in the large chamber, and she was happy for the momentary silence, but then there was a sound like beating wings above her.
A small shadow sailed down through the tower, and she gasped—Forsyth? No, this one was smaller, raven-sized, but it was a dragon nonetheless. It alighted a crystal that was jutting out from the far wall across the basin. Tavaris had said there were others, but when they’d checked, the rookery was empty.
“Hello,” she said to it quietly and held out a hand. “Did you come to say goodbye?”
The dragon cocked its head, twitching like a bird, then with a flap took to the sky again and sailed easily over to land on her hand. It was a solid little thing as it wrapped claws around her fingers, but it was gentle as it folded its wings back and stared at her with small, amethyst eyes.
“Well, you can stay too, if that’s what you want.”
“Your Majesty?”
Frederick had slipped into the throne room silently and was standing atop the rubble. His bruises had faded, and he was as handsome as ever, especially in the violet and silver colors of Heulux.
“Don’t call me that,” she said, climbing up away from the nexus and holding up the dragon. “Look, we’ve got a guest.”
“As long as it doesn’t try and burn down the place.” He grinned. “I didn’t expect to find you in here, but Neoma said…are you all right?”
“Yeah, of course.” She looked out on the destruction again and nodded. “In fact, I think we need to thank Wren. Those doors were a little stifling: this open concept is much better.”
He squinted at her. “That’s not what I mean, Elly.”
“I’m better than all right,” she said. “I’m home.”
“Well, I hope you’re up for some visitors,” he said slipping her free arm into his. She held the dragon up a bit higher, and it took flight, headed back for the tower. “The dwarves are really pushing to get into that mountain.”
“Right, right.” She rolled her eyes. “Why’d you let me get into that deal with them anyway?”
“Let you?” He turned toward her quickly. “I didn’t think that—”
Elayne planted a kiss on his mouth, and he was quick to shut up. “I know,” she said up against his lips.
Then there was a tear in the air beside them, opening up for a dinky to scurry out. Pirates! wrote the dinky in the air on silky strings. They’re looking for that payment we promised them! Not sure what to do, but I’ll take them for a drink for now. - Rosalind
“Of course they are.” Elayne shook her head. “Think you can convince them a spot in our nonexistent navy is as good as gold?”
“Well, no, Your Majesty,” Frederick told her as they headed down the hall of Heulux Castle. “But I think you can.”
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Thank you, Dear Reader, I hope this brought you joy.