He did not sound glad. But maybe this was how Gerard sounded when he was glad.
Elias searched his mind for a new topic. Something that might spark some real emotion in the man and get him to open up.
“I’ve heard a lot about dragon hoards. So I’m curious, what do you hoard?” In Elias’s experience, getting someone to talk about something they were passionate about was always an excellent way to bond.
“Weapons.”
“Weapons?” Elias lifted a brow.
“Yes. Weapons.”
Elias waited for him to expand. When he didn’t, Elias pressed, “Any particular type of weapons?”
“Weapons used in important battles.”
“Huh.” Elias squinted. “Do dragons have much use for weapons? My understanding was that they flew into battle, breathing fire.” At least that was what the soprano currently sang about.
“Yes. That is correct. But Draconia also has non-dragon armies. They use weapons in battle.” Gerard did not continue speaking.
Apparently, the dragon warrior did not enjoy talkingabout his hoard. Elias held in a sigh. Gerard was not the easiest person to charm and make conversation with.
If Elias weren’t keeping secrets, he could tell Gerard how they’d both fought in the war and almost died. Then they might be able to talk about that. He stifled a smile at the thought. At least that would definitely elicit some emotion from the dragon warrior.
They continued dancing whilst Elias tried to think of a new subject that would liven up his dance partner. Prince Luther and Warden Onyx stood together at the edge of the dance floor. Prince Luther had his arm wrapped around the warden’s waist.
They’d recently returned to the White Monastery, both bearing scars from their brush with death.
Warden Flint, Warden Onyx’s uncle, had tried to kill the two of them and the current grand warden. He’d wanted to destroy the peace treaty, and he’d wanted to take the throne of the Grey Mountains.
He’d failed. But it turned out he’d been working with others to destroy the peace treaty. There were letters proving that. But unfortunately, they’d been unable to work out who the co-conspirator was.
Everyone had been talking about it. Now warrior monks lined the halls, and more guards stood in doorways. He’d heard that King Alaric did not taste or drink anything that had not been tested first, since Warden Onyx had been given lysithea tea to knock him out. Everywhere Elias went, discussions abounded about who Warden Flint could have been conspiring with.
Elias didn’t trust anyone. As far as he knew, anyone present could be a traitor.
He looked at his stepmother.
Elias despised her. She was definitely evil and capable of anything. But she’d always openly disliked Warden Flint. Often, she complained that he thought the Grey Mountains so superior to the other kingdoms. She’d been pleased to hear about his death. He couldn’t imagine they’d been plotting together.
She’d also been pushing for the peace treaty with Draconia from the start, whilst Warden Flint had despised the dragons and wanted the peace treaty to fail. Their goals did not align. So why would they have worked together?
Therefore, even if Elias wished it was her so he’d have an excuse to blast her, he didn’t actually think it was.
“Do you have any thoughts about who might have been working with Warden Flint?” Elias asked. Maybe this would be a fruitful topic.
Finally, Gerard’s green eye met Elias’s. “Not really.” He glanced away.
Elias pursed his lips. He doubted that. The dragon warrior must at least be thinking about who it could be. He must have theories!
But he clearly did not wish to share them with Elias.
Silence followed.
“Your brother and Warden Onyx seem very happy together,” Elias said.
“Yes.” Gerard hesitated. “They are in love.”
“In love?” Elias blinked. He laughed. “Well, at least something good came from all that horribleness, then.”
