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CHAPTER52
AURDYN
Freyja went with Brovyn to send another raven to Florin, informing her cousin—King Edmynd—of the situation here. I know she wishes we could send aid to their kingdom, but we cannot split our forces. It would leave us too thin fighting a war on two fronts.
As I step into the tunnel, dug by the Dwarves, a low growl rumbles in the throat. I stalk toward King Davin and the other Dwarves immediately drop what they are doing to form a tight semi-circle behind him, as if they would be any match for my fire if I meant him any harm.
“How soon will this be done?” I ask, gesturing to the area they’ve already begun to close.
“A few hours,” he replies warily. “Any faster and we risk the stones not fusing together properly.”
I’ve heard stories of how the Dwarves sing to stones to move them, but I have never seen it done. I make a motion with my hand, telling them to continue.
He turns and motions for his people to begin. Their voices are low and deep as they sing in their language. And I observe in awe as the stones begin to move and pack tightly together.
After a few minutes, Davin turns to me. “Will you help us?”
“On two conditions.”
“Ah.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “I knew I shouldn’t have offered you my kingdom. You’ve changed your mind now, haven’t you?”
“I meant it when I said I have no desire to rule over unruly Dwarves.”
His shoulders sag as if in relief. “Thank the gods for that,” he murmurs. “I was not looking forward to leading a rebellion to take it all back.”
A deep growl rumbles in my chest, and he holds out his hands in mock surrender. “Forgive me.” He grins. “It was a poorly made joke.”
I narrow my eyes. I doubt he was joking.
“What are the conditions?” he asks a bit warily.
“You will make no more black arrows,” I state firmly. “I will not aid you only to have you turn around and mine and meld the ore that will be used against me and my people.”
He clenches his jaw, before nodding. “Fine. You have my word. And the second condition?”
“I need armor.”
His head jerks back. “Why on earth would a Dragon need armor when you have scales?”
“Not for me,” I grind out. “For my mate.”
His brows shoot up to his hairline. “You mean to take her to war?”
A puff of black smoke curls out from my nostril. “I may not have a choice.”
“What do you mean?” He frowns. “Why would you not have a choice?”
“My mate is very… stubborn,” I finally admit. “I will try to convince her to remain behind, but I already know her. She will insist upon going into battle.”
“Sounds like you’ve found a good one then.” A mischievous grin lights his face. “Just like my Elsie. There is nothing I can deny that woman. That’s why I married her, you know.” He winks at me. “The stubborn ones are the best. All that fire and passion… it makes for an interesting life.”
He claps a hand on my shoulder. “When this is over, I think we should all get together for a dinner. It sounds like the two of us have more in common than I thought.”
I narrow my eyes. “Remove your hand from my shoulder or I’ll remove it from your arm.”
“All right,” he harrumphs. “No need to be touchy. I was just trying to be friendly, you know.”
I open my mouth to respond, but Freyja walks up beside me. “There you are.” She smiles at me, and it is as if the very sun itself is present in this tunnel. She loops her arm through mine and turns to Davin. “How soon do you think you’ll be done?”
