Dragon Sacrifice (The First Realm Book 3) (3 page)

Cruix pointed at himself. Raised his eyebrows.

“Even you, Cruix,” Meerwen said. “How’s it going, Mina? What have you been doing?”

Mina had been sinking closer and closer to her desk. Her chin was resting on it now and her hands were tented over her head. “I can tell you what I’m not doing. How am I supposed to work when all of you are stinking up the air?”

“I showered,” Heronimo said.

Chapter 3

We decided to eat out. Call it a double date, plus Cruix. I’ve tried to play matchmaker but it’s never worked out.

“For the hundredth time, I ask you. Why won’t you get a girlfriend?”

“And for the hundredth time, I answer. I’m just not attracted to elven women.”

“It doesn’t have to be elves. How about humans, or halflings, or dwarves?”

We were walking through the Merchant Quarter, on the way to Restaurant Row. There were a lot of caprans on the streets. The goat-people were strolling, shopping, even operating a few of the stalls.

“Or caprans?” I asked. “What about caprans?”

Cruix made a face. “Just because I’m wearing an elf body, that doesn’t mean I’m about to stick it in the first woman to show willing. I’m not
you
.”

“Ho ho ho,” Heronimo said. “He’s got you there.”

“You’re a bit of a slut, Angrod,” Meerwen said. “I don’t know why I date you.”

“I’m low-maintenance,” I said. “You can take cases, go on manoeuvres,
live in another city
, and I’ll still be here when you come back.”

“There’s that,” she said. “Somehow I don’t think you get very lonely.”

“I do, I do!” I said. “I need all these women to console me.”

“Angrod! Prince Angrod!”

“And here’s one now,” Mina said.

A bouncy halfling girl bounced into view. She carried a baby in her arms. “Prince Angrod! I’m so glad to see you! I’ve got something to show you.”

“Eh. Heh,” I said. “Haven’t seen you in a while, Meg.”

“Almost a year, in fact. Notice anything new?”

Somebody snickered. Cruix and Heronimo were nudging each other. Mina was trying not to smile. Meerwen had the strangest expression.

“… You’re wearing your hair short?” I said.

The girl laughed. “Such a jokey, my prince. I’d like to introduce my baby son.”

“How old is he?” Meerwen asked.

“Three months.”

“Really?” Meerwen said. “That recently?”

“Little Angrod is big for his age, isn’t he?”

“You… named him… after me?” I said. Meerwen’s stare was like daggers.

The new mother laughed. “Oh, no, my husband did. Isn’t that right, Cuthbert?”

“That’s right,” Cuthbert said. The tall capran had just stepped out of his toy shop. “Your Majesty, it’s good to see you.”

His hand was smeared with paint. I shook it anyway. “Cuthbert. Congratulations on starting a family.”

He beamed. “I’m a lucky man. Couldn’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”

I shrugged. “It was nothing. And how’s business?”

I didn’t think it was possible for him to smile any wider, but he did. “It’s great. I’ve always wanted to be a toymaker, and now I am.”

We looked at Meg, who was showing off her son to the girls. Baby Angrod had his face uncovered now, you could see the stubby horns growing out of his little head.

“It is good to be a toymaker,” Cuthbert said, patting his apron. “It is good to make things that bring joy to children.”

I’d met him when I was in the Silver World. He’d been a member of the palace garrison and had worked in the armoury making bows. He’d been a master bowyer and I’d looked forward to him opening an archery shop in Corinthe. Seeing him now, though, I knew he’d made the right choice.

“There weren’t many children back home, were there?” I asked. “How is the capran community?”

“Self-sustaining, thanks to you. I do believe we would survive as a race were the portals to close.”

“That’s good. How did you meet Meg?”

“I was looking for a supplier of fish glue when I met her. She was selling clams out of a cart.”

“Was she wearing
the
dress?” I asked.

“Oh yes,” he said. “It wonderful to watch. We were married by the end of the month.”

Meg looked at us and grinned. She was a lovely girl and she radiated the kind of satisfaction I’d rarely seen in my fellow elves. She had her baby and she had her man. All was well.

“Well,” I said, “I won’t keep you any longer. Don’t be a stranger if you’re ever around Veneanar Castle.”

The gang and I resumed walking. We rounded a corner and I went, “Whew! That was close.”

“Haha, that was almost your baby,” Heronimo said.

“Your beautiful baby boy,” Cruix said.

“And, hah, that was almost your wife,” Heronimo said.

“Your loving wife,” Cruix said.

Heronimo turned to him. “Are we kidding Angrod or making him feel bad?”

The dragon shrugged. “I don’t hate babies. And if Angrod were to have one, it would be like I had a nephew. That’s not so terrible.”

“If you like babies so much, why don’t you have one of your own?” I asked. “I’m sure we could find you a nice halfling girl.”

He shivered.

“Come on, Cruix. That’s a copy of my body you’re wearing. And you know I like the ladies!”

“It’s too much like bestiality.”

“It’s been thirty-one years! The blue balls.”

“Change the subject, Angrod. Just… change it.”

“Fine. We’re here anyway.”

“Biggo’s All-Day Breakfast?”
Meerwen said. “I didn’t know you had one here.

“I kinda invited them over,” I said. “Gave them a good deal on their lease. Why should Drystone have the only one?”

Everything was big. The smallest table seated four, and not elbow-to-elbow either. Other tables could easily accommodate a family of eight. A halfling family, in other words. The walls were red brick and the chandeliers were wagon wheels.

“Hello, table for six?” I told the hostess. To my friends I said, “I invited Dagonet over.”

“Why?” Cruix asked.

“Well, I consider you all family.” We were seated now.

“Oh,
yecch
,” he said. “Next you’ll be saying we’re brothers or something. We just live together, all right?”

“No, I see his point,” Meerwen said. “We’re all members of his household. Why shouldn’t he treat us like family?”

“Where are Auntie Marilla and Uncle Erumaren?” Heronimo wondered.

“They believe upstairs people shouldn’t mix with downstairs people.” I threw up my hands.

“There’s no budging them. They practically raised me but they insist on keeping to themselves.”

“They’re old,” Mina said. “You don’t see elves with wrinkles every day.”

“Almost never, really,” Dagonet said. She was sitting beside me.

“Dagonet, don’t do that!” I said.

You’d think my assistant would be easier to spot. She’s a redhead, with freckles on her nose and cheeks. Also her cleavage. She defies the stereotype by fading into the background.

“Surely you noticed me come in?” she asked. “I passed right in front of you.”

“We’ve talked about this,” I said. “Make more noise! Every time you startle me you take years off my life.”

She smiled.

“Angrod, what’s this for?” Heronimo asked. He pointed at the empty platter in the centre of the table.

“It’s for the snapdragon,” I said. A waiter came by with a bowl of raisins and a glass of rum.

“Someone order an aperitif?” Mina wondered, but then the waiter sprinkled the raisins into the platter and poured in the rum.

“Do the honours?” Meerwen asked. I made a coin-flipping motion and flicked a tiny ball of fire into the platter.
(Foom!)

“The game is to snatch the raisins and eat them,” I said.

“Not much of a game,” Cruix said. “But then, fire makes everything better.”

I ordered while everyone gave it a try. Nothing fancy on the menu—halflings weren’t into things like butterfly shadows or edible balloons. But they did know how to cook things that stuck to your ribs and sent feel-good signals to your head.

“Ow!” Mina said. She’d jerked her hand from the platter, spilling drops of burning rum. “Shit, ow!”

“I see you have years of practice,” Cruix said.

“It’s fucking hot,” Mina said. She tried her hand again. “Fucking hell!”

“Watch me,” I said. “I won’t use my silver hand.” I plucked a burning raisin and ate it. “When they’re slightly singed they start to get all crispy.”

Mina tried again, but snatched her hand back. “Ow!”

“You can share mine,” Meerwen said.