The door behind Ambrose opened to admit the older king’s senior advisor. Only slightly taller than Ambrose, the human held a sloping pot-belly and one sunken eye. “My lord? I’m sorry to disturb you, but there’s a beautiful sunset you don’t want to miss. We all know how much you enjoy sitting in your garden with your friends. We’d hate for you to miss it.”
“I’ll be along, Sam. Thank you for the reminder.”
As Sam left them, Ambrose turned to face them. “I don’t envy you what’s ahead. But I know you can overcome this small hill. You’ve traversed much larger mountains. Just remember that Pagos is with you. Always.” He removed a ring from his finger and held it out to Dash. “This is enchanted. Use it to contact me should you need my army. We will come.”
Dash took the ring and inclined his head to the much smaller king. “Thank you for all your help.”
Ambrose patted his arm then left them.
Turning toward Tanis, Dash handed the ring to her.
She arched a brow at him. “You’re trusting me with this?”
“Not by choice. Unicorns don’t have pockets.”
“Ah. The real reason you gave me that sack.”
Even though he knew she was teasing, he quirked a brow at her. “You know, I do carry you on my back, Dragon.”
“Teamwork. I like it.” She slid the ring on her finger. “So where to now? Your kingdom?”
“No. First we need to see a wizard.”
Chapter 11
Tanis wasn’t quite prepared for how much warmer it would be when Dash landed on a green, grassy knoll. This was much more like it, and it reminded her of home. “Where are we?”
“Alarium.”
The Elfin kingdom? Bold, given that the Elves weren’t friendly to either of their races. From what she knew, they were likely to be one of the kingdoms that had put up money to murder Dash. “Your wizard lives here?”
“He used to. I’m hoping he still does.” Dash tucked his wings in, and they vanished into his sides so seamlessly that she wanted to touch him and see how. But it might annoy him if she did.
Or worse, give her fantasies she didn’t want to have.
So instead, Tanis began peeling off the thick outer layers of her clothing. She’d barely finished when the tree next to her moved in her direction.
“Dryad! Dryad! Dryad! Oh, good Lord. It’s a dryad!” She danced away from the tree as such creatures normally didn’t get along with dragons. Mostly because they held grudges over dragons setting them on fire by accident.
Or sometimes on purpose.
Either way, they didn’t like her species.
“What do we do?” she asked.
“Try saying hi.” Dash held his hand out toward the nymph. “Good day, my lady.”
The tree sneezed then extended a branch toward him so that he could shake her leaves. “Good day, my king. Are you looking for Marthen?”
“I am. Is he here?”
“He was, until he wasn’t.”
Tanis had to bite her tongue. Wasn’t that always the case with everyone? But the dryad seemed sincere with her response, and for all his normal impatience with everyone else, Dash didn’t seem to mind the odd comment.
“Any idea which way he might have traveled?” Dash asked.
The dryad sneezed again. “Backwards.”
