The Keeper and the Dragons
Copyright© 2023 by Charly Young
Chapter 38
Queen Uonaidh’s Dungeon, Alfheim
Quinn woke from a restful sleep in a cell down deep in in the Queen’s dungeon. Predictably, the death of one of their own during harvest festival had caused a massive uproar. He counted himself lucky that the guards hadn’t killed him out of hand. He didn’t much care either way. He had abandoned any thoughts of survival the minute he had pulled the ring out of his pocket.
He waited to see how the cards played out. Quinn despised politics not because he didn’t understand it he actually did, his tutors had been quite adamant that he at least had an appreciation for the subtle nuances of effective governing. He was a black and white person living life in the gray area of necessity seemed exhausting.
As a result, when Lady Iris showed up with two servants and cart with breakfast, he wasn’t surprised.
“Lachlan Quinn, did you have to take the head of that disgusting being in the center of the sacred bower. You are truly a barbarian.”
“My Lady, the timing seemed appropriate and I found that in your land many creatures can survive even the most grievous of woundings. The troll women trained me to take no chances. I have not heard of any that can survive having their head removed.”
She frowned.
“None the less, some restraint or at least some subtlety would have been nice. No matter, what is done is done. My queen has graciously decided to let you go on your way.”
Quinn allowed himself an inward smile. They acknowledged a debt. He had done their dirty work removing the renegade Daoine. A political mess had been deftly avoided. As distasteful as it was for them to admit, a debt was due.
He quickly moved to collect. It was never a good thing to be a debtor or creditor with the Sidhe.
“Very well, my lady I will leave at once. Before I go, I ask a boon. I would speak to the Patriarch of the Drygioni Brotherhood. Can you arrange a meeting?”
She frowned. “Keeper, you push too far. My Queen will not tolerate any more adventures in her realm.”
Quinn gave her a steady look. “My Lady, I do the bidding of the Vísdómur. I do not wish to disturb your land any further. I have not gone after the architect of this whole debacle, the Prince. The fate of the Prince is in your hands. I have no desire to start a war with the Brotherhood, I have a boon to ask of them.
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