“We can cover two thousand of it.” Finem raised his hands apologetically.
“My brother’s weight in gold, then.” Ghreid envisioned Slath sitting on a scale, arms folded, pissed.
“Y-yes.”
“How about a quarter of a skein of Draynarian gold silk?” Varis marched in, arms folded, tail held high with interest.
“Dear, that was for our nest!” Ghreid stood, his heart half aflutter. Varis was beautiful in the afternoon light drifting through his office window.
“Apa, Nen.” Varis nodded toward the two men. “Will that pay my bounty?”
“It’s not a bounty! At this point, it’s more of a d-dowry…” Finem stood, capering before his son, bright eyes scouring every inch of him to take in his features, the silk trim on his clothes, every bit a waiting question.Are you really him?
“It still leaves plenty for what I had in mind.” Varis gave Ghreid a half grin. “There’s a reason I only had trim done on my clothing.”
Ghreid’s heart warmed. Varis so dearly wanted pillows for their eggs, imagining them already.
“Th-that would…”
“It’s enough gold Draynarian silk to make the high priest a set of robes. Money can’t buy Draynarian silk these days.” Varis glared.
“That will work, my child. It will work wonders in the light of glory.” The blessing in Kalish sounded better, Ghreid assumed.
“Good. A quarter skein.” Varis nodded.
“How did you come by such a thing?” Mykal pushed past Finem and opened his arms, welcoming Varis in with a tight hug.
“Two years stranded at sea with me and a thousand shitting seabirds.” Varis sneered, and Finem slowly approached, one arm outstretched to join the hug with a more reserved posture. “There I was guarding that shipment, praying it would grant me clemency, but turns out, it only lines my cradle, trims my robes, and pays off some philandering priest.”
“C-cradle?” Mykel pulled back and glanced Varis up and down.
“Preemptive. My mate and I will do our best to start a family.” Varis smiled and Ghreid closed his ledger. “And my mate can save his coin for the start of things to come.”
“Will we get an opportunity to meet our new son-in-law’s parents?” Mykel glanced from Varis to Ghreid.
“No. They slumber. If it is the will of the fates, they will wake soon, one hopes. I look forward to the solstice when some wake.” Ghreid offered his best forced smile.
“Dragons take a hibernation when they need, and it can last years. Some have slept for hundreds.” Varis waved the notion aside. “There are brothers that you might meet. Depending on your stay and their proclivities.”
Ghreid’s mind drifted off to his sleeping parents, and a hole bottomed out in his stomach. A thought occupied his mind.Our children will never meet them.
Chapter Twenty-One
Varis
Having his father and his partner there was a small blessing. They held great pride in all that Varis had done at his mate’s side.
A shadow soared overhead as they returned from their day’s sojourn, great wings throwing shade and a whip of sea-salted air, growing fresher by the day. “He’ll beat us home, this eve. You win the bet, Nen.”
Mykel squinted at the source of the shadow, a dragon great with wings spread wide. “I don’t think I did, child.”
“It appears to be Prince Draenvir.” Rydel turned from his place at the front of the carriage. “I’ve been ever so curious. What is the meaning of this word, Nen?”
“It is like your word for uncle, but is reserved for your Apa’s partner. Kalish has some specific words for it.” Finem patted Rydel’s shoulder as he lifted a brow in curiosity. “Apa is father.”
“Interesting.” Rydel forged ahead as a second set of wings came flurrying over.
“That’s strange. Prince Draenvir flew in on his own, without a wyvern.” Rydel flicked the reins, and their horse trotted faster, moving up to a clipped gait.
