Ryper grinned. “Good. I always wanted to be king.” He turned around and winked at Dash. “I think my first law will be to torture elves.”
Dove smirked at him. “Not funny.”
Ryper gave him a droll stare. “You don’t count, Dove. Besides, you’re only half elf.”
“So they tell me,” Dove said drily. “On both accounts.”
Ignoring them, Dash pulled Tanis down the hallway that led to the dungeon where the dragon slayer had been imprisoned.
It was a cold, dank place. Tanis placed her hand to her nose to help blot out some of the stench. She’d ask Dash what that smell was, but she didn’t really want to know.
As they rounded a corner, Dash froze mid step.
“Something wrong?”
He didn’t say a word as he went to one of the cells to look inside it. “Keryna?”
Filthy and ragged, with bruises all over her, she ran to the bars. “Majesty? Have you come to free me?”
Dash didn’t say a word, but by the furious tic in his jaw, Tanis knew he had no intention of freeing her.
Murdering her, maybe. Letting her go...
Never.
Without a word, Dash turned sharply and led Tanis to the cell where the human named Fort was being kept.
Fort looked as hopeful as Keryna. “Majesty! You’re alive!”
“No thanks to you.”
That took the joy out of his grimy face. “Am I to be executed?”
Dash looked at her. “His fate is in your hands, my love. Whatever you want, I grant.”
Tanis had spent so much time wanting his life that she’d almost allowed it to destroy hers.
But as she stared at the awful wretch she wanted to hate, she actually felt sorry for him. According to what he’d told them, his brownie partner Dreama had abandoned him. Bink was dead.
Fort was alone.
As much trouble as he’d caused, he wasn’t the one who’d killed Davin. Hurting him wouldn’t accomplish anything. After all, he was an arrogant braggart tool.
He wasn’t worth the price of dung. And after this, she’d never again think of him.
“I thought I wouldn’t be able to live so long as he had life in his bones. Now...” She sighed heavily. “I realize how insignificant he is. Let him go free.”
Dash’s jaw went slack.
“But not in Licordia,” she added. “He should be set free in Thassalia.”
“No!” Fort gasped. “They’ll kill me!”
They might. But that wasn’t her problem or her concern.
Dash kissed her hand. “My queen has spoken.” He waved his wand and used his powers to transport Fort to Meara’s court where she had fled to after her battle.
Meara thought herself safe, but she wasn’t.
