Page 66 of The Orc Warrioress and the Elf Lord

“Because thou art maddening!” roared the dragon.

Anyway, the interruption was not entirely opportune, because Iahir was attempting to keep the dragon’s attention

And once they heard the sound of the female voices, then there was no keeping the dragon’s attention. It turned, fluttering its wings, and roared out, “Kadrai!”

And then it dove right into the cavern. It was still holding Iahir’s belt with all his weapons on it, so Iahir went after the dragon, if only to ask for that back, he supposed. He did not think, at this point, that he and the dragon were actually going to fight each other. He thought that he and the dragon were getting on rather well.

Somewhat well, anyway.

It was dark in the cavern, but then there was a tongue of flame from the dragon, and Iahir managed to careen around the mound of jewels and gold that glittered in the flames and then they rushed through the cavern until they came to a round door, which was open, and an orc woman in a tiara was standing there and so was Gathren, who had drawn her sword.

That must be Gathren’s mother, then.

Gathren pointed the sword at the dragon. “Let her go!” she growled.

“Gathren,” said the orc woman, exasperated. “Please put your sword away.” She turned to the dragon. “Tafnir, this is my daughter I told you about. She’s only worried about me, surely you can see that.”

The dragon huffed out a bit of smoke and then said, gruffly, “I would not hurt thy offspring, Kadrai. But she must put up her weapon.”

“Well,” said Gathren’s mother, who seemed to be named Kadrai, Iahir supposed, “you heard him, Gathren. Put your sword away.”

“Let my mother go,” said Gathren, waving the sword in the dragon’s face. “You cannot keep her prisoner.”

The dragon turned to look at Tafnir. “Canst thou not explain it to her, love?”

Love? Iahir peered around the dragon to catch Gathren’s eye. Gathren looked utterly horrified.

“Truly, I cannot explain it to her, because I have told you over and over again that keeping me chained up is barbaric and backward and that I don’t like it,” said Kadrai.

“Thou dost find it gratifying to be my captive,” said Tafnir the dragon, his voice dropping in pitch suggestively. “I know thou dost.”

Oh, by the rosy fingers of the dawn, this picture was becoming very clear. Iahir cleared his voice pointedly.

The dragon turned to him. “Thou hast followed me, strange elf.”

“Yes, well, you have taken my belt,” said Iahir, pointing.

The dragon held it aloft. “So I have.”

“Right,” said Iahir. “Well, it seems to me that the two of you are playing a game amongst yourselves, a very private game that has absolutely nothing to do with either of us, and Gathren, you know that your mother is all right, so we have no reason to, erm, intrude.”

“What?” gasped Gathren. “This is not a game. She is chained up.”

“Yes, but it’s clearly…” Iahir trailed off. “Mr. Dragon, er, Tafnir, is it? You do unchain Kadrai from time to time, do you not?”

“No,” said Kadrai pointedly. “He does not.”

“Well, my love,” said Tafnir, “if I did that, thou wouldst leave. And I could not bear that.”

“Leave?” said Kadrai. “And go where? You did burn down my house, or have you forgotten that?”

“You can’t stay with this… this thing.” Gathren gestured with her sword.

“Gathren!” said Kadrai. “I raised you with better manners than that. Now, apologize.”

“Apologize?” said Gathren.

“It is all right, my love,” said Tafnir. “Thy offspring cannot help but be frightened.” The dragon turned round, including Iahir in this statement. “Perhaps if we all went inside and sat down in a sitting room? I think we could have a conversation better if we were comfortable.”