by Eric Vall
“Let’s see if that does it,” I muttered as I fused the gem into the dragon’s sternum, and we waited once more for the dragon’s skull to tip up toward me.
“Are you okay?” Aurora cooed, and he nodded once as she gently stroked his wing. “Do you want to try flying for us?”
The dragon shifted its wings as it crouched, and when it leapt and tried to fly, I could tell its body structure was moving much more fluidly now, but he still couldn’t take flight.
“That was so close,” I assured the dragon. “I think it’s just weight that’s throwing you off.”
“There isn’t much you can do about that, though,” Aurora muttered. “He’s only bones. What are you supposed to remove?”
I grinned as her words gave me an idea.
“Oh, there’s plenty to remove,” I chuckled. “Birds have hollow bones.”
“They do?” the half-elf asked, and I nodded.
“I don’t know if it’s the same with dragons, but it’s our best option at this point,” I replied as I turned to the dragon. “Little guy, I’m gonna leave your gem in place while I alter your bones. This might feel strange, but it shouldn’t take long.”
The dragon came over as his little metal claws clicked across the tabletop, and he stood perfectly still while I summoned my metal magic. Then I siphoned slips of metal from the inside of his tiny bones, but I made sure to leave enough behind so the steel wouldn’t be too flimsy. Once I was done, the dragon looked the same, but when I lifted him up, he was half as heavy.
“Alright, try that,” I suggested, and the dragon crouched down again.
This time, the miniature dragon wiggled a little in preparation before he lurched upward, and he flapped wildly while he wavered in the air.
“You’ve got it, keep flapping!” I urged, and Aurora dropped to her knees as she clung to the table’s edge with a huge grin on her face.
“Go, go, go!” the half-elf cheered. “Don’t give up! I believe in you!”
I could tell the dragon was still getting used to its body structure, but he kept at it until his efforts evened out, and he was able to fly in a circle over the table before he coasted for a few feet and came in for a clumsy landing.
Aurora and I both shot to our feet while we cheered for the little guy, and he pranced in a circle just like Deya did when she was dragon happy. Aurora clutched my arm like our kid had just scored his first goal, and I laughed as she yanked me back and forth in her excitement.
“He’s so cute!” Aurora giggled. “I love him, we should keep him just like this forever!”
“I would,” I chuckled, “but this is a prototype, and I need to get it as close to the final product as possible. I planned on adding an exterior to the dragon so it looked more realistic.”
“But it’s so intimidating as a skeleton,” Aurora countered. “Imagine looking up at a giant version of this guy and seeing fire explode right out of his metal skull! You were concerned about extra weight, after all. This would avoid the issue.”
“That does sound pretty scary,” I agreed as I raised my brows, “and it makes my job easier.”
“Good enough for me,” Aurora decided. “Plus, I don’t want to take the poor little guy’s gem out again. He’s happy like this, aren’t you?”
The dragon nodded in response, and he came over to run his metal bones along Aurora’s arm like I’d seen cats do before.
The half-elf giggled and scooped him up to kiss him on the skull, and when she sent me a glittering smile with the dragon nipping at her chin, I knew I couldn’t argue with that.
“Okay, skeletal metal dragon it is,” I chuckled. “This is going to make the mages shit themselves, though.”
“Everyone who sees him will cower in fear,” Aurora said with a devious grin. “We should call him Mason.”
I rolled my eyes as I picked up a fresh chunk of steel. “I don’t think so.”
“Well, what should we name this little guy?” the half-elf asked.
“We should hold off on naming him, since he’s technically a present for Stan,” I admitted. “I thought he might like to have a dragon friend.”
“Gods, he’s going to love it!” Aurora laughed. “Can I take him to the training hall so he has more room to practice flying? I want him all set for when Stan gets back.”
“Sure,” I said with a grin. “I’m going to start building a giant dragon skeleton.”
Aurora was already laying kisses all over the little dragon as she murmured to him about the amazing things he would learn to do, and I had a silly grin on my face as I watched her fawn over him. She blushed when she met my eyes, and then she giggled her way out the door and headed for the training hall.
“Fucking hell,” I sighed to myself. “I know she wants a baby.”
I shook my head while I flipped my parchment over, and I was still grinning over the half-elf as I began a new batch of calculations.
I didn’t want to overcomplicate my design, but I knew it would have to be large enough to intimidate the real dragons. Otherwise, they’d probably end up tearing my automaton to pieces, so I tried to remember how huge the black dragon I’d slain was. That guy didn’t take shit from anyone in Mors Pass, and if I could at least match his size, then there was a good chance my automaton would survive.
After finishing my calculations, I realized there was no way I could build a fifty-foot-long automaton in my workshop, and I wasn’t too eager about tackling over a hundred feet worth of wings. So, I dialed my design back to thirty-five feet from nose to tail, and I’d just have to work on the design one portion at a time and then piece it all together at the end.
So, I started with the vertebrae, and I connected five-foot sections together before piling them in the corner of my shop. As soon as I had the backbone and tail completed, I used the image in the book to gauge the size of its skull, and this time, I added eyes and nostrils since my women really wanted this guy to shoot flames from out of every orifice. I mounted two gnarly looking horns on top, too, just to up the intimidation factor, and I serrated the edges of its teeth because why the hell not?
While I moved on to sculpting the forearms, I scanned the perimeter of Falmount out of habit, but everything was still in order around the village. Bom Two was on patrol, the water channels were already flowing with water, and I could hear Cayla and Shoshanne’s heels scuffing the dirt as they came down the lane.
The fact that they weren’t saying a word to each other was strange, though, and when they came into the house and headed straight to the training hall without stopping by, I furrowed my brow.
Then I heard a knock at the door, and I sighed as Alfred greeted Haragh and welcomed him in.
I shoved my work aside and rose to my feet just as the butler escorted Haragh into the shop, and the half-ogre had a large sack in one hand as he sent me an uneasy smile.
“Thought I’d take your advice,” Haragh muttered, “but I think I better just--”
“No, we’re handling this now,” I interrupted, and I led him and Alfred back through the door and toward the training hall.
When we entered the vaulted chamber, Shoshanne, Aurora, and Cayla were there with Deya, but they went rigid the second they saw my half-ogre friend behind me. Then they promptly made to leave, but I gestured to the butler.
“Alfred, bar the door,” I instructed.
“Yes, sir,” the man replied at once, and he propped himself like a starfish at the entrance as he offered Cayla an apologetic bow.
Chapter 13
“Mason,” Aurora growled. “We do not want to be here.”
“I know you’d rather stalk off than give Haragh the time of day,” I allowed, “but considering he’s my best friend, and he’s saved my life on multiple occasions, you’re gonna stay and hear him out.”
All of the women looked slightly ashamed as I held their gazes, and they turned back around. They still crossed their arms and stood in a line of stern disapproval, but it was better than nothing.
“Thank you,” I muttered, and I nodded at Haragh.
Then the half-ogre cleared his throat. “First of all, I’d just like to say, I’m an ass.”
The women nodded in agreement.
“Secondly, I don’t know what I’m sayin’ half the time,” Haragh confessed. “Words come out, things get said, and it’s all a load of horse shit. So, I apologize. I think we all know I’d never intentionally insult ye’ to your very core, but I’ve never been a smooth man, and I can’t undo what’s been done.”
My women glanced sidelong at Cayla this time, and the princess narrowed her icy eyes before she eventually nodded.
“That being said,” Haragh continued, “I brought ye’ all gifts as a peace offering.”
Aurora snorted as she rolled her eyes, but when he grabbed the ruddy sack from the ground, the half-elf immediately changed her tune.
“Is that a flanged mace?” Aurora gasped.
“It is,” Haragh said, and he pulled the four-foot long weapon out while he forced a casual grin. “It’s for you. Solid iron, seven fins, and there’s even three spikes at the end of the handle in case you wanna flip her around and get creative.”
I smirked as Haragh handed over the mace, and I could tell it took all of Aurora’s will power not to throw her arms around the half-ogre right then and there. Her knuckles were white as she clutched the iron shaft and ground her teeth, and she had to avoid looking up just to keep her pissed off façade in place.
Deya didn’t care in the slightest, though. She was already smiling while she eyed the ruddy sack, and she craned her neck to try and get a glimpse at what else he had to offer.
“Shoshanne,” Haragh continued as he rifled through the sack, “I brought ye’ a set of scalpels made of platinum. Just arrived on the train from Aurum today, and I’m told a set like this is what the farmers of Serin use for castratin’ the livestock. I thought it could be of some use to ye’ now that dragons and shit are showin’ up in Falmount. Might spare ye’ from dullin’ all your equipment.”
“Thank you, Haragh,” Shoshanne replied, and she blushed as she happily accepted the gift. “That’s very considerate of you.”
The half-ogre stood a little taller now that he was making some headway, and the smile on Deya’s face seemed to reassure him before he even handed the beautiful elf her gift. It was carefully wrapped and tethered shut, but Deya eagerly tore the covering off while Aurora leaned over out of curiosity.
“It’s a dagger,” Haragh informed her, “but it’s dwarven made, which is a rare find these days, and I guarantee there’s not an elf in the world that’s got one. I even had a blacksmith engrave your initials on the hilt as is custom amongst the dwarves.”
“There’s only a D,” Aurora pointed out.
“Yeah, I didn’t know all of her initials,” Haragh muttered.
“I love it,” Deya fawned as she studied every inch of the well-wrought dagger. “I have never owned a dwarven blade before. How did you know?”
“I didn’t,” Haragh mumbled, and he quickly pulled out his next gift as the beautiful elf giggled.
Then the half-ogre cleared his throat, and he presented a large bundle of black leather to the princess.
“Cayla … I got ye’ this.”
The princess arched a brow. “What’s in it?”
“Nothing,” Haragh admitted. “It’s just leather, but it’s the best I could find in Serin, and the man assured me it was tanned only a week ago. I didn’t have it made into anything because that seemed inappropriate, but there’s a shit ton of it here, and ye’ can do whatever you want with it.”
Cayla grinned as she took the leather, and I knew from the way she stroked the bundle and clutched it against her breast that Haragh had done well.
“Thank you,” the princess said with a slight nod. “Your offers are acceptable, and your apology is adequate.”
Haragh’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“Really,” Cayla assured him.
“Well, shit!” Haragh chuckled and slapped his knee. “That’s excellent. Now, since you all don’t want to kill me anymore, I do have a favor to ask.”
Cayla clicked her tongue as she dropped her bundle of leather to the ground, and she propped her hands on her hips.
“Hear me out,” the half-ogre tried. “The thing is, Taru’s, uh … well, she’s in a delicate way.”
“Is it her bullet wounds?” Shoshanne asked. “I’ll take a look right now. I had no idea she wasn’t healing well, or I would have--”
“No, she’s healin’ just fine,” Haragh quickly assured the healer. “She’s just pregnant.”
My women gasped as their jaws dropped, and they burst into applause and giggles before they all threw their arms around the half-ogre. Alfred offered his own polite applause from the doorway, but I just stared at the laughing ogre while I tried to catch up to the conversation.
“Hold on … you’re gonna be a dad?” I asked, and when Haragh nodded proudly, I gently pushed Aurora aside so I could get at the man. Then I locked him in a hug almost as bone crushing as his own while Haragh laughed heartily, and his eyes were a bit misty when I released him and clapped him on the shoulder.
“Dude, that’s fantastic!” I exclaimed.
“It is,” the half-ogre agreed.
“I can’t believe you’re having a kid before I do--um … do … something about this Master issue,” I fumbled. “That’s crazy.”
Haragh smirked. “You’re tellin’ me.”
“Taru must be so happy,” Deya sighed.
“She is,” Haragh chuckled. “Burstin’ with pride, tell ye’ the truth. That’s what I came to talk to you all about. She’s been a bit tense the past few days, feelin’ strong emotions … not that I have any issue with that, she’s fully entitled to it. No judgement here.”
I eyed my women, but they all looked amused as the half-ogre continued.
“I just want her to feel a bit special, ye’ know?” he admitted. “After coming all this way and havin’ the mages take a few shots at her, she’s not too happy, and since she’s got this good news, I thought it might cheer her up some to celebrate with a group of women she doesn’t want to decapitate.”
Aurora looked like her eyes might fall out of their sockets. “Yes! We’ll do it!”
“We could take her out to kill something,” Cayla suggested, and all of my women nodded in agreement.
“Ruela, too!” Deya announced. “Taru would love the way she hunts. They can gut their kills together.”
“That’s perfect,” Haragh agreed.
“We’ll bring a good mix of our weapons so she can try them out as well,” Cayla added.
“This will be so much fun!” Shoshanne giggled “I’ve always wanted to have a nice evening out with a group of likeminded women.”
“We’re gonna kill so much shit!” Aurora squealed. “I’m trying out my new mace.”
Now, I couldn’t help feeling more than intrigued.
“Wait, that does sound fun,” I cut in. “I wanna kill a bunch of shit with Ruela and Taru.”
Aurora bit her lip, though, and the four women exchanged glances.
“Oh,” the half-elf muttered.
“Seriously?” I asked flatly.
“It’s just … this is kind of a girl thing,” Cayla explained. “A ‘you’re having an ogre baby’ celebration. Like Haragh said, Taru needs some supportive women around her right now.”
I nodded despite my disappointment, but when I looked at Haragh, a grin came to my face.
“Yeah, alright,” I agreed. “That’s cool. We’re gonna celebrate in our own way.”
“We are?” Haragh asked.
“Hell yeah, we are,” I chuckled. “You’re having a fucking baby! We’ve gotta mark the occasion, and I know exactly how to do it.”
“Alright,” the half-ogre said with a broad grin, “but what if more of the Master’s soldiers show up in Falmount while we’re all out celebrating?”
“Mason is a ba
ron now, Haragh,” Cayla reminded him. “Barons may come and go as they please, especially those who have whole armies living on their land.”
“I’ll talk to the Defenders before we head out,” I assured the half-ogre. “The rebuilding is finished, and Kurna’s already discussed the new protocol with the mages, so this will be a good chance to see how they do on their own.”
“They did great against those spiders,” Haragh pointed out. “Should be fine.”
“Exactly.” I nodded. “Now, I have a couple things to sort out before we leave, but first, Alfred, I’m gonna need you and Stan to join me in the workshop.”
Alfred abandoned his post at the entrance as I discreetly nudged Aurora, and she giggled before sneaking the metal dragon into my hands behind her back. Stan missed the exchange because he was busy bouncing around on Cayla’s shoulder, and I turned for the door as Alfred offered his palm to the metal man.
“Master Stan,” the butler said with a slight bow.
“Stan’s a master now?” Shoshanne clarified.
Alfred was about to correct himself, but before he could apologize for making presumptions, I quickly whipped around and cut him off.
“Yes, he is a master now,” I said a little too loud. “If Pindor gets to be Master Pindor one day, then Stan should, too. Maybe it’s not exactly conventional, given there’s no blood relation, but I don’t have any heirs, so … ”
My women raised their brows as I made sure to look at each of them in turn, and then I led Alfred, Stan, and Haragh out of the room without another word.
Once we were on the other side of the mansion, though, I paused and glanced at Alfred.
“Do you think they caught my meaning there?” I muttered under my breath.
“I would expect so, sir,” the butler replied. “You were subtle, yet deliberate.”
“I’d say ye’ clocked ‘em over the head with it,” Haragh mumbled.
I shrugged. “Good enough.”
When we entered the atrium, Haragh made a beeline for the giant steel bones littering my worktable, and I briefly filled him in on my latest design while Alfred patiently held Stan aloft. The little metal man nodded along with my explanation, and he was rubbing his hands together by the time I turned to him.