Rise of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 042 - The problem with duty (Patreon)

The only thing that prevented his lips from getting a face full of her head was his dexterity stat as her head snapped up, her eyes bulging, and her mouth hanging open.

“You what?!” she exclaimed, forgetting the need to be quiet as heads turned to see what caused the outburst.

Motioning with his head toward the others in the room and how they were staring, Ava saw his face and then let her eyes dart across the tables.

“Mother lovin', dwarf humping, goblin shite, dragon balls,” she cursed under her breath for a moment as Kaen began to chuckle.

Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself, letting the redness of her face slowly subside as she reached over with her right hand and grabbed his shirt, pulling him close to her, ignoring how he was bumping into the booth.

“I swear you are impossible,” she growled, glaring at his eyes with hers.  “You just got back and shared a little about how close to death Pammon was, and now you plan on flying off across the sea.”

With a grunt, she pushed him and sat back against her seat in the booth, crossing her arms as she glared at the table.

“Ava,” he said, trying to get close, but she shook her shoulder as he tried to put his arm around her.  “I told you I would be honest.  I promised I would keep you informed of everything possible.”

Closing his eyes briefly, he breathed in her scent, holding onto it before letting it out slowly through his nose.

“If I could take you or stay longer, I would, but you must trust me.  Once we get somewhere, I can tell you why this must happen. Then you will understand.”

The moment he finished that statement, she turned, her hands on his shoulder, pushing him almost off his seat and toward the edge of it.

“Then we go now, and you better be right about that last part.”

Catching himself before he fell on the floor, Kaen held his hand to her, feeling her grip as she let him help her out of the booth.

“Let’s use the office,” he said as he motioned to the door with his head.  “Something tells me you don’t want to wait.”

She shook her head no, and they walked briskly, ignoring the glances and looks they got from all the patrons who picked up on the change in their temperaments.

“You picked a fight with Stioks!” she shouted, thankful the room had wards to help cut down on the noise she was making.  “What in a goblins tit is wrong with you?!  Do you two have wool for brains?”

Kaen leaned back on the new couch Sulenda had put in there, content to watch Ava pace around the room, waving her hands in the air as she yelled.

“Juthom is an ancient dragon! Why would you even try?!”

She continued her rant for a few more moments, glancing at him and realizing that Kaen was still sitting there, quietly, not replying and keeping a slight smirk on his face.

“What?!” she demanded, her breathing rushed from how worked up she was.

“Are you finished yelling yet?”

Obviously, that was the wrong question as Ava launched into another tirade about how much of an idiot he must be.  After another minute of her finger-pointing yelling, and even a foot stomp, she turned on him again, her nostrils flaring and her face red.

“You aren’t going to yell back, are you?”

Shaking his head no, she threw her hands up and grunted.

“Why in a goblin arse not?”

“Your parents yell, don’t they?”

She jerked her face back as if he had slapped her across the cheek.

“What?” she sputtered, stammering for a reply.

“Your mom and dad.  They yell, and the loudest wins.”

Ava’s entire body language changed.  One moment, she was sputtering, caught off guard by his statement and how true it was.  The next, she shuffled her feet as she adjusted the collar of her dress and went speechless.

Kaen stood up, crossing the room in a heartbeat, putting his arms around her and drawing her close.

“I don’t want to yell at you.  I never want to yell at you,” Kaen whispered as he felt her tremble under his embrace.  “When we are married, I want you to know I will gladly discuss the choices we have in a calm voice, as best as I can.  I made a choice. We had the high ground.  Pammon agreed it was the right decision, and it was.  Was it risky? Yes, but there are times when we must risk everything.  Like the time I told you I loved you.”

He began to slowly push her away to look her in the eyes, yet she wrapped her arms around him and wouldn’t let him.

“I love you too, you big oaf,” she grunted, squeezing him tight.

“Pammon and I achieved something far greater than I could have dreamed.  In fact, I shared with you that dream that haunted me for so long.  Now, I know it was just a nightmare.  Now I know we can actually do something to them.”

Ava leaned back, smiling as she heard the excitement in his voice.

“I’m just glad you are ok,” she whispered as she squeezed him again.

Leaning back, she flashed her fantastic smile and then let out a small laugh.

“Tell me again how you injured Juthom.”

Kaen grabbed and pulled her in, resting his chin on her head as his whole body shook from his laughter.

Both of them jerked up a bit as they heard the knock on the door, adjusting their clothes as it opened slowly.

“You two decent,” came Sulenda’s sweet and playful voice as she held the door open just a few inches.

“Yes,” Kaen replied, his voice cracking, which brought a chuckle from behind the door.

A few seconds later, Sulenda and Hess came in, smiling and watching as the pair stood up at the edge of the couch.

“It’s a wonderful seat, isn’t it,” Hess teased.  “Very soft and yet firm at the same time.  Perfect for all kinds of naps.”

An elbow from Sulenda caught him in the ribs, eliciting a grunt.  She rolled her eyes toward Hess and smiled even more.

“Now, ignoring the crass man I love, you two look in better spirits than when you stormed out of the dining hall, scaring half the patrons.”

“Sorry about that –”

She waved her hand, cutting him off.

“Don’t apologize.  Most of them weren’t spending enough coins for me to worry about.  You did what I asked, and everyone knows you have a lot on your plate.  Now Hess told me what you plan on doing and judging by how both of your clothes look, you are well aware of the plan also.”

Kaen glanced at Ava, who held her chin high, not reacting in the least to Sulenda's statement.  He had begun adjusting his clothes a little better, earning him a smile and a wink from Hess, who was slightly behind Sulenda.

“I leave in three days.  Should I ask what you need from me now?”

Raising her eyebrows for a moment, a smirk appeared on her face, and she began nodding.

“Tomorrow, I will tell you what you need to do before you go.  After that, I expect you to return as quick as possible.  There is much to discuss and do with what Hess has informed me of.  Knowing I will receive an influx of dwarven children in the coming years will require more buildings and changes, but I think I can manage it.  Any chance I should be expecting a horde of elvish children at the same time?”

Snorting, Kaen shook his head no.

I just hope the elves aren’t doing what I think they are.

“Fine then.  It is late, and Hess and I need to turn in for the night, but I wanted to make sure you stop by before you visit Aldric and Herb tomorrow.  You need to take something to them from me.”

Kaen felt his eyebrows furl as he tried to imagine what she would need him to do.

“School business?”

She nodded and motioned her head to her husband.

“Tell your father goodnight.  It’s time I got his lazy body to bed.”

A huff came from behind her, and she flinched slightly when Kaen saw her pinch her backside.

“Night, Dad.  Don’t let Mom keep you up too late.”

Sulenda rolled her eyes as she turned.

“You two are just alike,” she muttered, exasperation coming from her voice.

“Aye, he is my love.”

Hess gave a slight bow toward Ava as he turned and chased after Sulenda, who already had the door open.

“Night, you two.  Don’t stay here all night; word might reach someone's mother, and you will find a collar around your neck.”

Ava coughed when Hess said those words, her cheeks flushing as she glanced up at Kaen, who was smiling.

“He is right, you know.  I need to get you home.  You have work to do!”

She groaned and playfully elbowed him as he laughed, drawing her in for a quick kiss.

“If you keep doing that,” she gasped after their lips parted, “I may not make it home at all.”

Reaching up to his neck and pretending to tug an invisible chain, Kaen pretended he couldn’t breathe for a moment.

“You’re right.  Best get you home quickly, as I wouldn’t want to be collared too soon.”

With a groan, she pushed him away, rolling her eyes and turning for the door.

“You and Sulenda must be related with how well you both roll your eyes,” he called out as she started to walk across the room.

“Oh, just you wait and see,” she said, her voice a little throaty as she looked over her shoulder and raised her eyebrows rapidly.  “I can do all sorts of things I’m sure Hess has told you about.”

Glad there were no flies in the room as his mouth hung open for a few seconds, Kaen darted toward the door, barely reaching it before her and holding it open.

“I look forward to that day,” he whispered as she walked past him and out the door.

She simply nodded and smiled.

You seem to be in good spirits, and I can only imagine why.

Pammon was not amused, and he could tell by the wave of frustration that came through their bond.

I didn’t do anything overly wrong.

No, you didn’t, Pammon stated as he glared across the room, watching Kaen as he lay in his bed in the dark.  Yet I could feel everything you felt, and it is hard to enjoy a nice meal when one isn’t sure if they want to swallow the cow or do other things to it.

Kaen started laughing so hard he choked, having to roll over and grab his glass of water still sitting on his nightstand from earlier.

Pammon thrummed momentarily, his better mood hitting him through their bond.

Yes.  I, too, feel the passion you profess to feel for her.  Imagine how bad things will be for you when I find a mate.  You might need to lock yourself in a room and hide lest you injure your poor wife.

The coughs that had just subsided came back with a double amount of force, and Kaen couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of that.

“You're bad,” he wheezed as he poured himself another glass of water.  “Sometimes worse than Hess.”

Who do you think I learned all this from? When you are off having fun or doing something, I have to hear his stories if Hess is around since he doesn’t want to tell you.

The water in his mouth sprayed out over his blanket, and now Kaen was ready to die.  Between choking on water, hearing that Hess was telling Pammon his sordid details with Sulenda, and a dragon threatening to go into heat and cause his life to be upended, the peaceful night's sleep he had planned was not about to come.

“I’m going to go take a quick dip in the tub,” Kaen muttered as he climbed out of bed, tossing his wet blanket on the floor.  “Someone has ruined the mood.”

Pammon thrummed as he watched Kaen walk toward the open doors into the night air.

I tried to tell you.  Some of us don’t like feeling turned on and aroused for hours at a time.

Kaen didn’t reply but instead just took a deep breath and let it out.  There were no instructions given about this part of being a Dragon Rider.

What else is there I need to know about this?