Dragon Blood (Completed)

Bad Ideas

Chapter 14

Ryder and Zane left the queen's quarters, heading for the dining hall. Food had been requested for Paige and Dean as they had opted to eat in their suite. Dean readily stayed with Paige when she handed him one of the small laptops Alva had brought up from Drake's rooms. Dean sat happily, running his fingers over the lit-up screen.

"The queen is a bit on the mean side," Ryder said under his breath when they were in the hall. "I'm not sure I'll be able to consent to a lifetime with her as my companion, dual-natured or not."

"Yes, because she looked like she was all about the idea." Zane knew the decision wasn't Ryder's alone. "Do you think all those documents will tell us anything important?" Zane asked, not wanting to talk about a potential relationship between Paige and his brother. He just didn't like the idea of it, though if anyone had asked him his reasoning for his objection, he couldn't put forth a valid answer.

"Sure. I mean, look at everything we have discovered so far. I just hope we get through the pile in time to find the right bit of information," Ryder noted as they entered the dining hall. "I just wish we had more people who could speak English."

The hall was just as large as the vault, but this room felt open with a wall of windows that offered views of the pristine gardens. It was just after the rainy season and the flora was in full bloom. Lasha trees with their long drooping branches swayed gently. The silver in their leaves caught the sunlight, making them dance. Beautiful flowers bloomed all around creating a kaleidoscope of color that enchanted the eye. A large pink quartz statue of Minton, the Father of Dragons, was set in the center. The quartz came from the desert mines in the Yellowback kingdom.

"Yeah, it would be nice if she didn't have the whole burden of translating. It seems to be a strain on her," Zane mused.

Ryder shot him a puzzled look, but before he could make a comment, they were distracted by Lavender calling to Zane.

"Zane," she shouted from across the room. They made their way over to where she was seated with Zane's father. "Oh my, I never dreamed you would be in meetings all this time."

"We are just on a break. We have to go back," Ryder announced, trying to sound important.

"Back? Why?"

"The queen is translating documents that were found in Drake's things, and we are taking notes," Ryder explained, puffing out his chest.

"How much longer is that going to take?" she asked.

"Days," Zane grunted. Taking the seat next to her, he reached for her hand. "There are a lot of documents to go through."

"Have you discovered anything interesting?" his father inquired.

"The queen has commanded that we don't discuss any details outside the room. She is convinced Drake had help inside the castle, and doesn't want anything to get out," Ryder said, as if he thought Paige's theory was unfounded or ridiculous. He just wanted to sound important because he was the one privy to information that the others were not.

"Yes, her guard has already been around to question us as if we are some sort of criminals ourselves," his father said, and Lavender sympathetically patted his arm.

"She seems to be rather hard on everyone. She must not understand what it's been like for us here," Lavender offered.

Zane started to open his mouth to inform them that they were the ones who didn't understand, but then his father leaned forward and kissed Lavender's forehead. "You are a joy to my heart, young Lavender. I can't wait for the day I call you daughter."