Dragon Mage (Book 3). 5. Getting The Gang Back Together (Patreon)

A few hours later found Corvus sitting in a meeting, surrounded by nobles and city officials. Corvus sat at the head of the table with Starella on his right side. Both listened politely as Roan, who was still dirty from the road, explained what his father had learned.

Technically, it should be Kale who was delivering the bad news since he was the one who had heard the rumors firsthand. But the man was singularly dedicated to his clan and wanted to receive his Horse Folk as they returned to the city. Bringing nobles in on the loop was a secondary concern.

Corvus wished that he could be so cavalier.

For her part, Starella didn’t look like she didn’t want to be there. Her tears had long dried, and she watched Roan with a practiced expression of calm concern.

Corvus wondered if she had her own version of the Emotional Control skill and how high it was.

“This is outrageous!” Lord Gemstone said as Roan finished. “We must send our soldiers to the capital and aid our king. Surely, the prince and princess agree with me.” He looked towards Corvus and Starella.

Interestingly enough, his basic Lie Detection skill pinged at that. He suspected that the man was not nearly as upset as he claimed. It was a good show and wise to pretend to be emotional when the king might be dead.

All eyes in the room fell to the two of them. Corvus exchanged a glance with Starella and straightened his shoulders before he spoke. “There is more news. Roan, would you tell them of the procession heading toward our city?”

Roan quickly hid a grin and did as Corvus said. As he explained about the palace’s men — who would likely bring official news — Corvus noticed a susurrus of movement by the door.

He glanced over as a familiar figure pushed through.

It was Gwen. Like her brother, she was dirty from travel. A coating of road dust stuck to the sweat of her forehead and her hair was frizzled and in complete disarray. The road dust had even coated the red and blue ribbons which were weaved through her hair.

To Corvus’s eyes, she was achingly beautiful.

She was also here much earlier than he’d suspected. From the scowl on her face, she also had bad news.

Time to cut this meeting short. He’d only been here as a show of courtesy when the nobles learned what had happened to the Capitol. It was best to be present when they were gathered to keep rumors from flying.

Corvus stood from his seat. Instantly, all eyes were on him again.

“Charm has agreed to fly out and see what news she can glean from the incoming men… though she will not confront them directly.”

“Why not?” Lord Gemstone asked. “She would be able to bring us their message sooner.”

Corvus shook his head. “You gentlemen have grown used to the sight of a dragon, but she will be a surprise to anyone from the palace.”

“Surely, you can explain—“

“To men who are already jumpy from a catastrophe?” Corvus shook his head. “I don’t intend to endanger my dragon for the sake of expediency.”

“Nor will I put my dragon in danger,” Starella broke in, petting a sleeping Cosmos who was curled up in her lap.

Not that the little dragon could even fly such a distance yet. But Corvus wasn’t about to undercut his cousin’s support by pointing that out. As usual, Starella’s words were double-edged. In throwing her support in with Corvus, she also reminded the nobles that she, too, had a dragon.

One look told Corvus that the nobles were not happy with his decision. Nor should they be. His argument was thin.

The truth was… Corvus wasn’t prepared to find out the news. The men from the palace could very well be coming with orders to have him executed.

If his father was now King, it would be a sure thing.

He needed as much time as possible to prepare.

Over the last week of managing the city, he had learned that the meeting ended when he said it did. He stood up and abruptly, all side conversation ceased.

Ding!

You have increased your Leadership Skill.

New level: Intermediate 12

Apparently, ending the meeting when he was ready and not when the nobles were satisfied was a learning experience.

Corvus crossed the room to greet Gwen. “You’re back early. What happened—“

And he was stopped in his tracks when she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a long, lingering kiss. The type of kiss that one should not have in front of a room of stuffy noblemen.

Corvus’s arms went about her anyway and he pulled her close. He didn’t care that she was getting him all dusty.

He only drew back as a polite cough sounded from behind them.

Perry had stepped up and was helpfully blocking the view as best he could from some of the more… traditionally minded noblemen. Thankfully, Corvus could hear the men were busy still talking among themselves.

He shot a look to Perry, unsure if he should be grateful or annoyed, then glanced back at Gwen.

“What was that for?” he asked, dazed.

“I needed to make a point,” was her airy answer. It also explained nothing.

Then Gwen’s smile to him died when she glanced around Corvus’s shoulder.

He followed her gaze and winced inwardly.

Their current demon host prisoner sat primly in the far corner of the room. She wore the pair of silver manacles on her wrists and was flanked by two guards, but by the proper way she sat, she could have otherwise been mistaken as a young noblewoman.

“Is that the demon host?” Gwen demanded.

“It’s… a long story. I finally accepted the party invite--I know you didn't want me to, but I saw no other choice. Nothing bad happened,  and she sent me this.” He quickly sent a copy of the sheet to her through the private messaging system.

Gwen’s eyes unfocused as she scanned through it. “So?”

“The last thing I want to do is punish someone for demonic activities when there’s no sign in her own sheet. Also,” he added when she opened her mouth to protest. Gwen had already made arguments that the twisted Kelpie horse creature was signs enough, “I’ll need more than occasional trips to that pit to learn how to communicate. With the royal messengers, the timeline has moved up.”

Her eyes flashed. “So you intend to, what, drag her around like a leashed puppy?”

"Maybe his plan is to throw the demon at the royal messengers," Roan said as he came up to them.

Corvus shot his friend a glare and Roan returned it with a cheeky look.

"What is your plan?" Gwen asked, pointedly turning her back on the prisoner as if she were not important. "I only caught the end of it, but if those men were sent by your father..."

"I know." Corvus rubbed between his eyes, feeling like he was getting a headache. The truth was... he was torn between several courses of action and felt close to paralyzed with indecision.

Run away and hide among the Horse Folk? Stay and accept the royal proclamation? Reject the messengers at the door and declare Meadow City an independent city state?

He felt certain he could accomplish the last option with ease. Starella might even back him for it would clear the way for her to be queen. Of course, once Cosmos was grown and she took the throne she might decide to reunite the kingdom...

But he wasn't sure he even wanted to be ruler of this city in the first place.

"Corvus?" Gwen asked, a hand on his shoulder.

He shook his head and let out a sharp breath. "I need to check on the progress of the dungeons." He turned to the guards and gestured for them to bring their prisoner.

Hattie had been watching carefully and stood, gracefully striding over under her own power. Chin up high.

Seeing this, Starella broke away from a private conversation she'd been having with Lord Gemstone and joined them.

"Are you going to tell me your plan now?" she asked archly.

"Plan!" Cosmos chirped. He had woken up and sat on Starella's shoulder like a scaly parrot. "Plan, plan, plan!"

"I'm... assessing my current resources," Corvus hedged.

"Nice sidestepping," Roan said.

"Your resources other than the talents of the Noblemen you just snubbed?" Starella asked.

"I'm a dragon mage. My resources aren't noblemen," Corvus looked at her pointedly. "Let's see how the dungeon project is coming along."

***