Chapter 22

“Tuerien Ironbane,” Fara said as she stood before a map of the surrounding area. It was mostly of the Kingdom of Myreman, the nation I had appeared in. Though my dungeon lay on the fringes of the country. “That is the most likely candidate to send a death dragon to attack you, Lord Leo.”

“Okay, why?” I asked. It was that evening after the attack. I had restored to life all my monster girls who had died. The harpies were patrolling the skies a half-day’s ride from Astovin. We would have far more warning this time. “Why him?”

“Yes,” Siwang asked. He sat at my meeting table, too, at the other end of the table. His monster girl companions occupied the seats by him. I had my companions, plus my claimed companions—Baaghi, Paanee, Feya, Smerta, Paetu, Esclava, and Vilkas. Halia and Kassie were in attendance along with Mayor Bevlin who represented the Astovinians. “Why?”

“He is the most powerful and dangerous dungeon builder to us, Lord Leo,” Fara said. The elf’s ears twitched as she traced down the map. She went south, past the estates of the troublesome Lord Shorvin to the capital of Myreman, Myrecilla. She went further south and stopped. “This is about where Tuerien Ironbane’s dungeon lies. He started out with Metal, gained Fire, and now has Thunder and Death.”

“That’s not proof that he sent a death dragon,” said Halia. “I maintain it was Fuegin. He is the most powerful dungeon builder alive. The odds that he doesn’t have a dragon are staggering.”

“You hate Fuegin,” said Lana Fulmine. “That could be clouding your judgment.”

“He knows about this dungeon,” said Halia, her arms folded stubbornly across her armor. “He has been watching you, Lord Leo. Keep track of you.”

“This Tuerien can be, too,” said Crystal. “And he’s a lot closer to us than Fuegin is, right?”

Fara nodded.

“We have to be careful of any powerful dungeon builder, honey,” Mom said. “We just killed Sulanga Stormfury. A powerful dungeon builder. One stronger than you were. You’re building a reputation, and Tuerien has to see how far your reach is. Sharithin is no farther from here than his dungeon is, right, Fara?”

“They are comparable,” Fara said.

“Yep!” Garnet said. She bounced up and down on her seat beside me. “Big Brother Dark Lord is a threat to all evil dungeon builders like Tuerien.”

“And Fuegin,” Halia muttered.

“So we have to be prepared to take on Tuerien,” added Garnet. “He’s a threat.”

“You think Leo is a dark lord,” Terra said, shaking her head.

“But not an evil dark lord,” Garnet said. “He’s a good dark lord!”

Morana nodded while the mayor furrowed his brow and glanced at my sister. I sighed. I wished she wouldn’t say that stuff in front of people outside the harem. I trusted Mayor Bevlin; he was a good man who had sworn to me, but there had to be something in the back of his mind that made him wonder if he had made the right decision to serve me.

And hearing me being called a dark lord wasn’t going to help.

“Garnet, let’s cool the fun and games,” I said. “This is serious.”

“I know it’s serious!” she snapped back at me even as she pouted. “I do know. I’m not a child. I just like to make it fun. It’s better than. A game. It’s not...” She swallowed, her face paling. “It’s just easier, okay.”

I took her hand and squeezed.

“Okay, who is Fuegin,” Alizee asked. “He sounds super dangerous.”

“He killed my father,” Halia said. “He controls much of the western part of the continent. The most deadly dungeon builder in a thousand years.”

“Oh, no,” Alizee gasped.

“And one who came to me with the hand of friendship,” I said. “He wants to find a way to understand why we’re here.”

“You trust him?” Alizee asked.

“No,” said Crystal. “That’s why Leo hasn’t told Fuegin about the shrines.”

My cheeks burned as I said, “I ... am cautious with him. But he’s never given me a reason to think he was a threat. Not so long as he finds me useful, I think.”

“He met with the twins when they first appeared,” Smerta said. “Once. I don’t know what they talked about.”

“I didn’t know that,” Feya said.

“It was before you showed up,” said Smerta. “I doubt those two dumb-asses wanted to work with him, arrogant pricks. Leo didn’t even tell Ziamili about the shrine, let alone Fuegin. The guy probably tried the same thing he did with Leo. Probably tries it on a lot of new dungeon builders.”

“Just looking for a sap,” I said, wincing.

“You’re not a sap,” Crystal said. She paused, smiling. “You’re a rube.”

“Thanks,” I said, shaking my head as I grinned at her.

“Sulanga feared him,” Vilkas said. “But he also feared Tuerien more. Their territory was close to each other. Well, close enough.”

“But I never saw a death dragon in Tuerien’s territory,” said Paetu. “I never even saw any dragon.” Her face tightened. “I was Sulanga’s first. With that sadistic pig from the start.” The djinn sighed. “I hope the real me doesn’t have to put up with him any longer. Jealous prick. His brother was the better man. That’s why I married him and not Sulanga.”

I stared at her. “Do you miss your husband?”

Paetu’s face contorted. “No, not really. I’m not the whole me, right? I’m the one that is willing to serve to keep myself from feeling pain. I would serve any, evenhim.”

“Abusive bastard,” spat Vilkas. Her lightning form crackled with fury. “I always wanted to fire him. He never gave me an excuse. Then he brought me here.”

“As much as it saddens me to hear how Sulanga treated you two,” Ms. Trueno said, “that doesn’t solve if this is from Fuegin or Tuerien.”

“The dragon went right for the entrance to Siwang’s dungeon,” Mom said. “Right to it. She didn’t hesitate. Wasn’t distracted. There was too much purpose. I think she was sent to eliminate him.”