Part 10 (2/2)

Fala stepped forward and pointed his crossbow at the King of the Dwarves. ”You dare insult the queen.”

”Put your weapon away,” Queen Vania said in a calm but firm tone. ”Let the dwarves speak.”

”That's better.” King Gneiss glowered at Fala.

Everyone seemed to be on a short fuse, and with tempers flaring, Keelie figured it wouldn't be much longer before there was an explosion of dwarves and fairy knights battling it out.

”I want to know what happened. What was the source of the power that surged through Under-the-Hill?”

Uh-oh! Keelie swallowed.

Queen Vania pointed at Keelie. ”This is the unique girl whose hybrid blood gives her the ability to wield fairy, Earth, and nature magic. She harnessed the solar energy and pushed it down into the Earth to heal the rift.”

King Gneiss turned to Keelie and studied her. ”You're the gal Jadwyn, er, Davey, talks about.”

”You know Sir Davey?” Keelie asked, attempting to hide the surprise in her voice. She didn't want to insult the dwarves.

”He's my nephew.”

”His uncle is the King of the Dwarves? He never said.”

The king nodded approvingly. ”It's as well. He's chosen the path of a merchant, selling our wares, and he's made a good life.”

”He's my Earth magic teacher,” Keelie added.

Queen Vania sighed. ”Are we through with our mutual admiration? Might I propose we sit down and discuss this in my council chambers?”

Keelie looked up at the queen. Council chambers sounded very official and serious.

Suddenly, the air grew hot. Flames coiled underneath the Great Hall's doors and a loud and furious roar echoed all around, making the fae cover their ears.

Everyone rushed toward the queen's throne as she created a s.h.i.+eld of ice to protect them. She turned to Keelie and King Gneiss. ”It seems as if Ermentrude has joined us.”

Through the s.h.i.+eld of ice, Keelie saw the doors bang open as Ermentrude the dragon entered the room, her goatlike eyes taking everything in. She had to be twenty feet long. Wow! Keelie had never seen a dragon before. Consider her impressed.

Vania inhaled and leaned close to Keelie. ”Show the utmost respect, and nod when she asks you a question. Dragons always like to be right.”

”What if I don't agree with her?” Keelie asked. ”The fae don't lie, and I don't either. I have principles.”

”Let's just say principles can get you roasted.” Queen Vania nodded and smiled at her unwelcome dragon guest.

”Enough said.” Keelie put her trembling hands behind her back.

The dragon reared back onto her ma.s.sive haunches and swatted at the floating chandelier, which spun, tinkling, to the other side of the ballroom. Her scales clattered against the polished floor and Keelie felt as if all her internal organs had liquefied. Ermentrude's sheer size was overwhelming, and she filled the room with the heavy and distinct smell of brimstone and charcoal.

King Gneiss stepped forward, his thumbs hooked into his pockets. ”About time you came out of yer hidey hole, ye of wizened windbag. Why don't you do something about ?” yer snoring.

Was the dwarf king stupid? You didn't call a dragon an old wizened windbag.

”You pitiful excuse for a king, how dare you call me an old wizened windbag. It's a wonder I can sleep with that nonstop digging and hammering that goes on in the mountain.” Ermentrude's voice shook the room.

The dwarf placed his hands on his hips. The dragon lowered her head until she was face-to-face with this dwarf with a death wish. Then there was a loud bang, and smoke. Keelie launched herself to the floor. She was expecting roaring and flames, and she didn't want to be in the crossfire of a dragon's fiery breath.

Instead, she heard laughter. When she lifted her head, she was astonished to see that the red-scaled dragon had vanished. In its place was a middle-aged woman wearing a red gypsy skirt and white peasant blouse. She had long red hair pinned up in a messy bun, and gold jewelry dripped from her ears, neck, and wrists in a tangle of styles and lengths.

”Gneiss, it's good to see you again, of friend,” the dragon woman said in a sandpapery voice. She sounded like a chain smoker.

”It is good to see you as well, but I wish it was under better circ.u.mstances.” King Gneiss frowned at the avidly eavesdropping crowd of fae and lowered his voice. ”I have felt a major s.h.i.+ft in the magnetic energy in the Earth.”

”The core is spinning faster,” the dragon boomed. Her face darkened. ”Many of my dragon brethren in different parts of the world have felt it, too. What happened? Who pushed the strong magic mixed with the solar energy deep into the Earth?”

King Gneiss pointed to Queen Vania and Keelie.

Keelie was still processing the concept that there were dragons all over the world. She saw King Gneiss' stubby finger pointed right at her and gulped.

Queen Vania stood and motioned with a hand. The ice s.h.i.+eld disappeared, leaving Keelie and the queen exposed. Keelie wanted to leap behind the throne. The red-headed woman was a freakin' dragon. If she was mad at you, then you were barbecue.

The dragon woman strode toward them, leaning on a crystal-topped cane carved with exquisite quicksilver dragons that looked almost alive as they glinted in the candlelight. Behind her, Keelie saw Sean skirt the crowd, hand on his sword, trying to keep Ermentrude in sight. What was he up to? Unnecessary heroics would only get him killed, and she now felt anxious on top of terrified.

”I should've know you were behind this, Vania, but I felt the power of another.” The woman turned her fiery gaze upon Keelie. ”Was that you, girl?” She thumped her cane on the floor.

Keelie jumped, and even the queen jumped a little.

Keelie couldn't lie. ”Yes. I pushed the magic down into the Earth in an attempt to knit it back together. Maybe things didn't go as they should have.”

She couldn't believe she'd said that in front of this woman, who looked almost as threatening as the dragon she'd been only minutes earlier.

Ermentrude pointed a long-fingernailed hand at Keelie. ”I heard about you from my daughter. She said to keep an eye on you. Now, I understand.”

Keelie didn't know any dragon children, but she didn't ask. One never wanted to upset a dragon.

Queen Vania cleared her throat. ”Mayhaps, Ermentrude, you would like to refresh yourself before you return to your caverns?”

Ermentrude lifted her head and leveled her gaze at Queen Vania. Then she smiled, as if she'd discovered something secret about the queen of the fairies that no one else could see.

King Gneiss stepped forward. ”You're more than welcome to stay with the dwarves.”

”I thank you for your kind invitation, but I think I would like to visit the elves of the Northwoods,” Ermentrude said. ”I have an old friend who has been feeling under the weather.”

That must mean Lord Norzan, Keelie figured. He was the only elf she could think of who would ever befriend a dragon.

Murmurs traveled through the Great Hall, and Keelie overheard Fala and Salaca whispering to one another. ”The dragon would rather stay with the elves than with the fairies. Ermentrude is getting old.”

The dragon narrowed her red-gold eyebrows. ”Queen Vania, I take insult when members of your court whisper about me behind my back.”

Queen Vania turned an angry glower toward Fala and Salaca, who grew suddenly quiet. Keelie tried to repress a smile. It was good to see the two ego-driven fae have their comeuppance.

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