Page 65 of Morel Dilemma

“The dragon approaches,” one of the elves whispered.

Shortly after, a dwarf-driven, horse-drawn wagon came into view, a tarp covering a large load in the back. Jildarin strode along beside it.

Even before the elves backed away from her, Rylana let out a sigh of relief and slumped against the door. She hadn’t been certain they would stop for Tassani, but they wouldn’t attack her in front of a dragon’s lair. Not when that dragon was looking right at them. And scowling.

Jildarin picked up his pace to stride ahead of the wagon. “What is going on here?”

“Disobedience,” Rylana said. “Some beings think they’re above Tranquility’s laws about peace.”

She looked toward the pillar, but the elf who’d sabotaged it had disappeared.

“I am less concerned about disobedience toward gnomish laws than I am about the business partner of a dragon being threatened.” Jildarin stepped between Tassani and Rylana, the elf captain easing aside just before Jildarin would have shouldered him out of the way. Jildarin glared at the surrounding elves, though they’d wisely backed away, sheathing their swords and returning their arrows to their quivers. “Threatened in front of the dragon’s lair. Do they no longer teach elves to be wise in the face of superior predators?”

“It was a foolish decision,” one of the male elves said, though the female had crossed her arms over her chest in a defiant stance. The male bowed to Jildarin. “We apologize, Lord Dragon. You honor us with your forgiveness in this matter.”

“You are honored,” Jildarin said. “And you will assist me with a small matter to apologize with more than words for your transgression.”

“Yes, of course, Lord Dragon.”

“What matter?” Tassani asked.

Jildarin skewered him with his glower, but Tassani merely raised his eyebrows. By then, the wagon had arrived. The dwarf stopped the horses, then climbed into the back to untie the tarp.

“What are you having delivered this late at night?” Rylana asked.

“Furnishings.”

“Furnishings?” Rylana envisioned new tables for the diner. Or had he, perhaps, purchased items for the rooftop terrace?

“Furnishings.” Jildarin nodded firmly and pointed at the closest elves. “You will carry them inside.” He raised his voice and looked straight toward the shadowy alley between the coffee shop and the bakery. “You with the toolbox. Come. You will assemble the furniture.”

So that was where the saboteur had gone.

Tassani gripped his chin and watched as, after a few glances at each other, the elves tramped toward the back of the wagon, their weapons either sheathed or set aside. The dwarf removed the tarp to reveal…

Was that a bedroom set?

As Rylana gaped, Jildarin turned to open the door, making only the slightest of irritated noises at finding it locked. With a surge of magic that she sensed, the lock clicked under his grasp before the door swung open. He touched Rylana on the arm, guiding her to step aside as the first elf approached carrying a headboard that the dwarf had lowered to him.

“Take all the items into the back corner of the storeroom behind the diner,” Jildarin commanded.

Chin still between his fingers, Tassani watched as his troops walked past carrying nightstands, the rest of the bed frame, and two lamps on wrought-iron stands. Two elves joined together to tote a heavy wardrobe.

“You’re adding bedroom furniture to your lair, Lord Jildarin?” Tassani sounded bemused.

Rylana felt a little stunned herself and didn’t know what to say. When he’d left to think, she’d thought Jildarin was having doubts about keeping her close and wanted her to move out of the storeroom.

“To the corner of my lair where my business partner sleeps,” Jildarin said. “Her kind are not accustomed to slumbering on cave floors. To ensure her comfort and ability to properly run calculations for the diner, she requires a nest.”

“A bed,” Rylana said.

“Yes, a bed nest. Made by a talented dwarven craftsman whose skills are coveted by nest-buyers from many of the intelligent species that reside in Tranquility.”

The dwarf, who was apparently the craftsman and not a mere assistant, saluted Jildarin from the back of the wagon. He also pointed to the remaining item, a mattress. A large mattress. Rylana had never had a bed of such size in her life. During her years as a soldier, she’d slept on a cot or the ground or a floor with just the thin pad from her bedroll. As a child in her father’s castle, she’d had a comfortable bed, but it hadn’t been large. The mattress could easily support a rotund troll couple—and a passel of family pets, as well.

“I’m touched,” Rylana said. “Thank you.”

“Yes.” Jildarin pointed at Tassani. “You have not made foolish choices this evening, but if you are honored to serve, you may carry the soft wool nesting pad to place on the wooden frame.”