Chapter 21 (1/2)

Lindyss looked up and put down her knitting needles and wool. The basilisk was whining and rushing down the stairs. Lindyss sighed while standing and started to head towards the mini boss room. She was wearing her usual blood red robe and high heels. Her light brown hair was shoulder length and tucked behind her pointed ears. She looked inside the mini boss room and saw Vur chasing after a bat in the air. He caught its wings and brought it to the floor.

“Can I help you?” Lindyss asked.

Vur hugged the squirming bat. “I want more books,” he said.

“Didn’t I tell you to ask the elves for books?” she asked, “you already read all of mine.”

“I read all the elves’ books too,” he said, “they told me to ask you.”

“Did you really?”

“Uh huh. I even read the boring ones too,” Vur said while making a face, “why would they make a book on plants.”

Lindyss sighed and crossed her arms.

“I know where we can get more books, but we’ll have to ask your parents.”

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“M-milord!” a sentry burst into the dining room of the demon lord’s castle.

“Didn’t I tell you that no one may interrupt my meals?” the demon lord asked, “this is the only time I have for my family.”

“Y-yes! But this is urgent, milord,” the sentry said with his head bowed, “there’s five dragons in front of the royal capital right now and they demand to speak with you at the front gate.”

The demon lord’s face paled. All the strong soldiers were garrisoned in the south or on the border between the human and demon territories. He nodded and stood up. “They haven’t attacked?” he asked.

“No, milord, but it’s hard to say what dragons will do.”

“Mina, watch over Tafel. If anything happens, remember that I love you both,” the demon lord said as he turned towards his wife and child.

Mina nodded and held Tafel’s hand. “Be careful, Zollstock.”

Tafel’s eyes glinted. No way I’m letting this chance go, she thought.

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Sweat rolled down Zollstock’s neck as he stared into the golden pair of eyes in front of him. The blude dragon's front claws were resting on the city walls while it sat on its haunches. Two humanoid figures stood on its head.

“How may I help you, mighty one?” Zollstock said while lowering his gaze to his feet.

Zollstock flinched as a high pitched voice that sounded like it came from a child rang through the air.

“Books! I want all your books.”

Zollstock’s face twisted and he opened his mouth to speak.

“You can’t just ask for all their books,” Prika said, interrupting him. Zollstock let out a sigh of relief.

“I don’t want to carry any duplicates,” Prika finished. Zollstock’s right eye started to twitch.

“Come again?” he asked.

“Are you deaf? Auntie, how can he be the ruler if he’s deaf?” Vur turned to Lindyss and asked. “Let’s ask her instead,” Vur said and pointed at Tafel who was hiding behind the corner.

Tafel froze.

“Tafel! What are you doing here?!” Zollstock asked.

“I wanted to see the dragons,” she whispered.

Grimmy laughed. “Aren’t you a brave child? Don’t you know dragons eat children for breakfast?”

Tafel trembled and collapsed onto her knees before shaking her head back and forth. “Y-you can’t eat me th-then. I-it’s dinner time,” she said.

Grimmy laughed even harder and the walls shook as he thumped his tail against the floor. “Maybe I should kidnap you and save you for breakfast,” he said with a grin. Tafel squeaked as she saw the rows of teeth and curled up into a ball.