Page 67 of Morel Dilemma

None of the dragons in Clan Killcrusher are dull. Yes, Jildarin definitely sounded smug.

“Are you suggesting that your brother is smart too?”

He is also not dull, though his arrogance and pomposity can interfere with his ability to cogitate in a logical manner.

“I wonder if he’s had any luck wooing Layothlee,” Rylana said as Jildarin’s great muscles bunched, and he sprang into the air, wings stirring the leaves on nearby trees as they flapped. “I’m sure Sylin wouldn’t be disappointed if she didn’t have to go on the coffee date I told Zilek that I would arrange for them.”

I do not believe his effective wooing of the elf ballerina would cause him to lose desire to mate with another attractive elf. I have observed that he is, especially when in his human form, promiscuous. After a moment, as Jildarin reached his chosen altitude and flew over the treetops, he added, He is not overly chaste in his dragon form either. Considering we are of the same clutch, I sometimes find his mannerisms puzzling.

“Me too.”

Soon, Toadstool Rock came into view, rising above the surrounding trees, its flat top gleaming damply under the morning sun. Fortunately, no dragons lurked in the area this time, at least not that Rylana could see.

Jildarin banked and descended, the barks of an alarmed dog floating up to them. Unperturbed, he landed in the grassy meadow surrounding the “stem” of the mushroom-shaped rock formation. The redheaded gnome Rylana had seen on the ferry two days earlier gaped at Jildarin’s great silver form and tugged his barking dog back into the trees. The whites of the hound’s amber eyes were atypically visible, reminding Rylana of the horse that had broken its reins to escape the troll ruins—more specifically, to escape the nearby dragons. The gnome patted the dog’s back, half gripping its green log inspector vest to restrain it and half crooning at and trying to calm it.

“Maybe you should change into your human form,” Rylana suggested as she slid off Jildarin’s back and into the damp grass.

After issuing a growl that almost sounded like a harumph, he did so. The dog hid behind its handler and clenched its tail.

“I am having doubts about the ability of that creature to assist us,” Jildarin said.

“The log inspectors are known for their noses, not their bravery against mighty predators twenty times their size, Lord Dragon,” the gnome said, giving the dog a stay hand gesture and walking forward. The hound did indeed stay, but it slunk behind a tree to do so, still eyeing Jildarin with a clenched tail, not fooled by his new shape. The dog had white around the muzzle as well as on the paws, so it must have seen its fair share of trouble over the years—and knew how to recognize it. “Though all animals in the forest wisely quail before the power of a dragon.”

“That is so,” Jildarin said.

“Willow can smell magic.” The gnome looked curiously at Rylana. “I’m Corporal Bixtok.” His gaze shifted back to Jildarin. “I, ah, did not realize you would arrive with wings and scales.”

“This location is many miles from Tranquility,” Jildarin said. “Flying made sense.”

“Chef Jildarin, despite standing for many hours a day in the kitchen, isn’t a great fan of walking. I’m Rylana, by the way, his bookkeeper.”

“Oh? I assumed— Well, you rode on his back. You are not his mate?”

“Just his business partner.” Rylana thought of the bedroom set that had been delivered the night before, and that such gifts had never been a part of her father’s interactions with his senior staff, but she didn’t add to her comment.

“Rylana,” Jildarin said, “will calculate the cost of the ingredients and my time to ensure that the free meals you and your hound receive after finding the enchanted morels are of a suitable value to compensate you for your effort.”

“Ah.” Bixtok’s expression was somewhat rueful, and Rylana had a feeling he was here because he’d been too scared not to do as a dragon wished rather than because he felt he was being compensated fairly. “Willow and I will endeavor to find your mushrooms.”

Despite its obvious unease with the dragon, the hound wagged its tail a little at hearing its name and duty.

“Excellent,” Jildarin said.

Rylana opened a purse she’d brought along and withdrew a couple of gold coins. She waved for the gnome to take them. “Compensation for walking all the way out here and giving up your day.”

“Oh.” Bixtok brightened. “Thank you, ma’am. That’s most appreciated. It will buy fresh treats for Willow. She loves dehydrated bovine trachea and lamb lung.”

“Delicacies, I’m sure.”

Jildarin shook his head, frowning at the coins changing hands.

“I informed the gnome that he would be paid only if successful,” he told Rylana.

“We will be,” Bixtok assured them, then trotted back to his dog. The hound’s stay had retreated several trees farther back. Bixtok removed the leash attached to the dog’s collar and pointed into the woods. “Willow, hunt magic!”

The dog barked at Jildarin.

Jildarin sighed and looked at Rylana. “You paid before our employees’ abilities were proven.”