Page 71 of Morel Dilemma

But he gave her an awkward pat on the back and said, “Yes. You and the gnome have earned meals at the diner and may come to eat.”

The tail wag grew more vigorous. Bixtok beamed.

While Jildarin collected his mushroom bounty, Rylana eyed the horn and wondered if it would be enough of a prize to entice her brother to leave the diner alone.

20

Instead of landing outside the city and changing into his human form there, Jildarin flew over Tranquility and circled the swath of verdant green grass, bushes, and trees of the elven enclave.

“Are you letting the queen or her people know that you found the enchanted morels?” Rylana touched the sack in her lap; they’d found an impressive number of the mushrooms.

They might be rare in the forest as a whole, but many had grown in the area of the burned trees. Maybe because dragon magic had been involved in the fire, the area had been more vigorously inoculated than usual. Whatever the reason, they had enough to feed an elven army.

I am speaking with her now, Jildarin said. She is eager to try the dish but wants me to bring it to the enclave where it’s safe. I am informing her that I’ve arranged an evening event that is likely to draw her offspring.

Rylana shifted uneasily on his back. “Sylin knows about the coffee unveiling and that it’ll be at your diner, but… I’m not positive she will come. We can’t guarantee it.”

From what I have observed, her addiction to the flavored water and all things surrounding its creation is great.

“I know, but she likes living too. And as I was just reminded last night, there are elves who oppose her continuing to do so.”

Those who serve the queen and obey her wishes are unlikely to act against her offspring.

“I’m not sure about that. There are some in the enclave who seem loyal to that other family and have an agenda at cross purposes to that of the queen. They might not act against her, but I don’t think Sylin is safe from them in the least.”

Jildarin continued to fly slow circles around the enclave, high enough above the city that the pillars didn’t sound, but some people had noticed the silver dragon and were looking up and pointing.

I have amended my message and informed her that her offspring might come tonight and that she should also attend our event. It will be much easier for me to prepare a fresh and excellent meal in my own kitchen, and then serve it to her without delay while it is still hot.

“And if she dines in your chairs, you can put her name on your plaque.”

Certainly. Having to amend the plaque to say that we delivered takeout to the elven queen would not be as appealing.

Rylana patted him on the back and didn’t say more, but she wrestled with whether she should place the mushroom in the window to warn her comrade to stay away. She wanted Sylin to have a chance to speak with the queen if she ultimately desired that, but Rylana didn’t want to lure her into trouble.

I must also take some time this afternoon to research and consider how best to prepare the morels and what to serve them with. I have, of course, been contemplating ideas for days, but I must taste one myself before I decide.

“Good idea. Don’t forget that you originally enticed the elves with promises of rubbing them in coffee.”

That may be too pedestrian a flavor for such an important meal for a royal guest.

“If a love for coffee is genetic, it’s going to be a safe bet for the queen. As you’ve observed, Sylin loves it—potentially to her detriment.”

Jildarin scoffed—or at least she assumed that was what the noisy throat-clearing sound indicated when issued by a dragon. It was also possible he would soon hawk up the bones of his last meal. I do not believe that food preferences are inherited.

“You never know. Maybe you should have discussed the queen’s favorite dishes with her so you wouldn’t have to guess. Did that subject come up during any of your previous encounters with her?”

Most of my encounters with her were during the war. We did not discuss food. As I recall, most of the meetings where she spoke and I was invited centered around troop movements, enemy intelligence, and plans to assault key infrastructure and supply lines.

“The queen spoke about such things? Not some elven general?”

Indeed. Her high-ranking military officers were present, but she knew much about the happenings of the war.

“Huh. Maybe she and Sylin are more alike than I would have guessed.” Rylana recalled that even though her comrade hadn’t been an officer, she’d always known what was going on and had never struggled to understand the machinations of war. “The coffee may be a good idea.”

Jildarin rumbled a noncommittal, Hm, that was almost a deep growl in his dragon form. Perhaps I will apply the coffee rub to some of the morels.

“Yes. The ones you serve to the queen.”