by J. B. Garner
Once in a Blue Rune
Dwarf for Hire Book 2
J. B. Garner
Copyright © 2018 by J. B. Garner
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
In memory of Jon Compton, my dearest friend, without whose constant support any of my books would not have been written. He passed just after the publishing of my first two books.
* * *
To Reyn and Dave, who gave me the encouragement and opportunity to write these words, as well as Mom, Christine, and David. They are my family, both born and found, and I love them dearly.
* * *
Special thanks as well to Jason, Lori, Baret, and all my beta readers for their support, insight, and contributions to this work.
Contents
Also by J.B. Garner
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Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Thank You for reading!
Author’s Note
About the Author
Also by J.B. Garner
Dwarf for Hire
Rune Service
Once in a Blue Rune
The Push Chronicles
Indomitable
Indefatigable
Incorruptible
Three Seconds to Legend
The Opening Bell
The Tale of the Tape
The Twelfth Labor
The Inspector Redmane Mysteries
The Songstress Murders
Clans of Shadow (With J.A. Cipriano)
Heart of Gold
Feet of Clay
Fists of Iron
Elements of Wrath Online (With J.A. Cipriano)
Ring of Promise
The Vale of Three Wolves
Crystalfire Keep
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1
Prince Aelfread Aelfson, the scion of the Sylvarian Elves and heir of the Spaces Below The Lakes, blond-haired and perfectly proportioned, tugged at the collar of his bright red Easy-E-Mart uniform shirt. “Are you sure this is truly a necessity, dearest Mary? I am certain I could be of more benefit to our shared household by doing, well, most anything else.”
I planted my hands on my hips as I locked gazes with him. “I love you, Aelfie, but you’ve spent the past three months mainly lounging around my apartment or hanging around the store.” There was a good two-foot-plus difference in height between the Elven noble and my own Dwarf frame, but he still wilted a little under my hard, green eyes. “While I don’t mind wearing the pants in this relationship, even if I’m actually wearing a skirt, you need to do something to contribute. That year of paid rent I shook out of Mr. Sinclair won’t last forever.”
So marked the start of our first official disagreement as a couple.
Things had been good, no, great between us ever since he had returned to me at my request from his father, the Elven king of said Spaces Below The Lakes, the Elven kingdom under the Great Lakes. Oh, yes, I guess it might be possible you’re not familiar with me, Mary Stone, Dwarf-for-hire, or how I first was introduced to the world that lies beneath the world most humans know, so this might be a little confusing for you. I’ll try to sum it up thusly.
Magic is real and most every kind of creature you can imagine in your wildest imagination is real too. We call ourselves Figments and for thousands of years or longer, we’ve dwelt beside humanity, too few in number to be able to risk revealing ourselves to the general population, but way too powerful, especially the god-like True Dragons, to not have a say in things. So, all over the world, Figment governments and kingdoms run alongside human ones, bound by treaties, laws, and the risk of mutually assured destruction if things went to crap.
The one we lived in, the one that coexisted with the United States for the most part, was the Drachenreich, ruled over by mighty dragons and administrated by, well, anyone who could do the job so that the Dragons didn’t have to. Governors ran the show, with regions broken into the equivalent of states, with the Dragon’s Eye, Watchers that were a combination of the CIA, NSA, and the KGB, ensuring that no one worked against the ultimate will of the Dragons, not even the Governors.
Neat, huh? I was as clueless as anybody else for most of my life, thinking myself the butt of the gods’ jokes by being born a four-foot-tall-and-nearly-as-wide woman with a flowing scarlet beard and mustache. It wasn’t until Aelfie stumbled into the convenience store I now owned, here in fabulous Saginaw, Michigan, some months ago that I found all this out myself. Though we got ourselves into a pile of trouble with the Governor here, a dangerously ambitious Drake (that’s like a dragon man but not actually a dragon) by the name of Mr. Sinclair, we eventually got through it.
I saved Aelfie and then Siofra, the only Watcher I knew and one of the nicest and scariest ladies I knew, saved me. With the whole matter settled, I had a chance to get Aelfread back from his father, and so I did. We would live happily ever after, or at least that was the plan.
I suppose happily ever after would have to have a spat or two to keep things interesting.
To one side of the brewing confrontation, Johnny, the junior trainee on duty, tried to studiously ignore it all as he manned the front counter, his mismatched gold eyes locked right out into the store. Like most of my new hires since I took over, he was a Goblin formerly from the Gobbo tribe. Almost as short as I was, Johnny was neither as stocky or as quick to catch on to a job that didn’t involve some degree of skullduggery. At least he knew when not to butt into a conversation, especially one like this.
Aelfie managed to hold his ground well enough to provide a retort. “I have never known honest life before. Even in my father’s court, a certain ability to enhance the truth was critical. Naturally, I have needed these months to acclimate to this new state of being before finding a more lucrative and appropriate occupation for one of my innumerable talents.” He gestured lamely down at himself, at the polo shirt and khaki pants. “This most certainly does not fit those talents, my dear. Besides, what fiscal sense does it make for me to work for you, hence the source of the money that I would then immediately put back into the same bank accounts we share?”
Fortunately, we were having our little spat on Wednesday, the slowest night of the week. The Easy-E-Mart catered to the working human and/or Figment, and by hump day, most of those folks wanted to be anywhere but here, no matter how tasty our snacks were (and I invested enough to make sure we had the best). On top of that, we were hitting the peak of the late shift, only a smidge past midnight, so the place was entirely dead past our ‘discussion’ and the soft whir of the smoothie machines.
I ran a hand through my luxurious red beard
as I let out a huff. “That’s because you’re thinking entirely in the moment. If you are helping me here at the store, it makes it a heck of a lot easier to take special jobs and those are where the big money is at.” He knew that as the only Dwarf in the area around the Great Lakes that anyone knew of, my rune magic was a unique commodity in the supernatural market. “As much as I want to say I can rely on Johnny here, well …” I gestured lamely at the kid.
Now, I know some fantastically wise and smart Goblins, none more so than our local Lightbringer, Dame Polly Brightsun, but Johnny was not in that esteemed category. Sweet, loyal, and willing to put in hard work? Sure. But not smart. As if to make my point for me, Johnny tried to lean nonchalantly on his chalk-white elbows and instead jammed one right down on the computerized cash register’s keyboard.
Naturally, it shrieked its displeasure at such abuse, Johnny recoiling from it in shock. Fortunately, Aelfread’s always impressive Elven reflexes kicked in as he caught the poor Goblin before I had barely moved a step to help him.
Aelfie deftly set the Goblin back on the polished wooden stool we vertically challenged Figments used while on the job before spinning back to me, aggrievement plain in his almond-shaped eyes. “Oh! So, this is all because I’m a deadspell, is it? Without magic, I cannot possibly provide valuable work so you must go out and do … things.” He wiggled his long fingers in faux disgust.
The faint hint of hurt in his voice wasn’t false, though, and I inwardly winced the moment he said the word that I knew he hated most in the world. I didn’t mean to even imply that his lack of magical talent had anything to do with this, but I’d managed it all the same.
I chewed on my lip as I walked up close to him, even as he turned up his perfectly chiseled nose at me. Switching to Truespeech, the ancient language all Figments shared, I said softly, “Oh, my sweet prince, I do not mean that at all.” Reaching out, I placed my hands gently on his hips. “You know I love you and I value everything you have to bring to our household, your wit, your charm, your knowledge of all the things I am still learning about.”
Unable to resist, Aelfie started to relax under my touch, and he turned that nose slightly down again, eyeing me sidelong. “You say that, and yet you would still banish me to this kingdom of processed foods, drink machines, cigarettes, and lottery tickets. It is no place for a noble soul such as myself.”
The half frown-half smirk on my face wasn’t entirely voluntary. “I would hope that doesn’t mean you are insinuating that any who would care to work at this shop could not be noble by association?”
It was the Elf’s turn to switch to apologetic after the dawning realization of what he had stepped in crossed his face. He knelt down, so we could be as close to eye-to-eye as possible, drawing both of my meaty hands into his thin-boned ones. “Oh, my one true miracle, I now am the sorry one for saying such a thing. I … no … I did not mean quite that.”
“It would seem as if we are both chewing on boot leather tonight.” I blew a hiss of a sigh out through my beard. “I know this is not what you would rather be doing, but I need your help with this. It is not a matter of magic or nobility or lack thereof. I need you because you are the one I most trust in this world and I need that trust to make sure this dream of mine, humble though it may be, does not fall apart when I am away.”
Most people who knew Aelfread would think me mad to trust him. After all, he had been a hustler, con-man, and snake-oil salesman of the highest order, a real master of the Game. Those that didn’t think I was crazy for that no doubt thought I was bonkers for thinking that this little store was worth any kind of dream, not with the magic and potential I had at my fingertips.
All those folks were all wrong. They didn’t see what I saw when I looked at Aelfread, or stood behind the counter of the Easy-E-Mart. To think, I hated this place before Aelfie blew into my life and pulled back the veil of mundanity to show me the real world I lived in, the real person I was.
Aelfread’s green-gold eyes sparkled as he finally showed me that brilliant smile of his, the one that always melted my heart. “I have been something of a cad about this, haven’t I?”
“I think we can both take a bit of the blame for this one,” I offered as I leaned in close, stretching up on the toes of my steel-toed boots to make up the last few inches towards his lips.
Poor Johnny had to continue to look completely disinterested and ignorant of the fact his boss and co-worker were having a meet-cute behind him.
“Then let us both take equal part in making amends,” Aelfread practically purred as he leaned down a bit more himself, our lips about to meet in a passionate kiss.
Yes, it wasn’t professional, but hey, no one save Johnny was around to see it, right?
The front door let out the delightful chime that announced a new customer, accompanied by a familiar, husky, and definitively female voice calling out from across the store in English. “Okay, lovebirds, break it up before you make the kid even more uncomfortable!”
Even as Aelfie let out an exasperated sigh and I turned my head towards the voice despite my inability to see over the counter, Johnny ever dutifully called out, “Hello, ma’am! Welcome to the Easy-E-Mart! What can I do for you tonight?”
I didn’t need to see Reba “Bunny” Kincaid, our local Huntress (the Figment mash-up of a bounty hunter and sheriff), to know it was her. Still, I didn’t greet friends from behind the counter so, with an apologetic smile at Aelfread, I made my way towards the swinging door to the main part of the store. “Be with you in a moment, Bunny.”
Aelfie was a little less kind as he straightened up. “I would have preferred the kiss, Ms. Kincaid, but I suppose we are happy to have your business instead.”
“While I’m going to grab a Super Green Smoothie, I’m not here for business, well, that kind of business,” she replied as she sauntered towards the drink machines. “It’s special business.”
Out onto the sales floor now, I finally caught sight of Bunny myself. Looking like a human on the surface, she was petite (well, for a human), curvy, and blonde, dressed in a sports top, biker pants, and a leather jacket, looking more midnight jogger than elite police officer. The attire was eminently practical, though, especially for a Lapin Garou. For the uninitiated, that’s a wererabbit. Yes, that’s a thing, but I suggest you never laugh at one. A seven-foot, super-strong rabbit is nothing to laugh at, no matter how fuzzy-wuzzy or cutey-wooty that rabbit might be.
Talk of special business always brought a little thrill. I knew I was smiling as I snapped my fingers, the chill of magic spiraling through my spine, down my arm, and out through my fingers. “We’ve got no other customers, so you’re free to talk,” I suggested as the rune-carved locks snapped shut and the front sign spun from ‘open’ to ‘closed’.
Johnny blinked rapidly as he looked around at all of us while Aelfread’s reaction was almost as enthusiastic as my own. “Most excellent, good Huntress! I could do with some excitement after all this, well, domestic bliss.” He waved his hands defensively in front of himself. “Not that I mind that at all, dear Mary. I just would love to – “
Bunny had already made it clear to the drink bar, cup in hand when she cut Aelfie off. “Oh, no, my apologies, Aelfson. I don’t need you at all.” She started to pour the icy green concoction (made from fresh Centaur produce, so you know it’s good) with a smirk. “I just need Mary for this.”
I winced because I could feel the air deflate out of Aelfread’s sails without needing to look at him. All the same, Dwarf-work was what really paid the bills and made this new life I was carving out for myself have the spark I had been missing. I tried to give Aelfie a reassuring smile before glancing over at Bunny, busy putting a top on her smoothie.
“Are you sure?” I asked. “I don’t know what the problem is but having a street-smart set of extra eyes and ears is always handy.” Glancing from Bunny back to Aelfread, I nodded. “And it is Wednesday night. I’m sure Johnny can handle things until Rachel comes in for the morning
shift.”
That provoked a flurry of reactions from everyone in the store. Aelfie blinked in surprise as he pointed out, “Did you not just ask me to be here when you could not?”
Johnny’s look flipped from confusion to existential panic as he rapidly shook his head, his bulbous goblinoid skull bouncing around like a bobblehead doll. “No, Ms. Stone, there’s no way I can do that! No way, no how!”
Bunny was the only cool customer among them, almost as if she were expecting all this as she leaned her generous posterior against the counter. “I know you want the prince here to feel useful, but this is a magic thing.” She actually betrayed a hint of sympathy for the Elf as she added, “Sorry, Aelfson, I don’t need a con man tonight. Besides, it’s a straightforward bit of work.” She sipped her smoothie. “I should only need your lady love for a few hours tops.”
Aelfread grumbled something low under his breath, probably something nasty in Elvish based on the tone and utter incomprehensibility. Johnny looked immediately relieved and stopped his Muppet flailing while I scratched the back of my neck.
“Sorry, Aelfie, I tried.” It felt weak to put it that way but how else could I put it?
My own Prince Charming glanced up from his muttering and at least tried to put on a more, well, princely demeanor. “Indeed, my dear. Well, if I am not to be by your side, I will at least do my level best to ensure the Easy-E-Mart flourishes in your absence.”