Page 46 of The Mountain King
Bartender’s eyes narrowed, flicked to Gaston, then back to Maddugh. “Huh. Well, we got rules here. So’s to keep the customers safe. Per terms of the lease.”
“I understand. I’ll behave.”
The bartender put the rifle away, wiped his hand on a cloth, and shook Maddugh’s hand. “‘preciate it.”
“Can I leave you alone for a—oh.”
Maddugh glanced at Kai, then took her hand, lifting it to his lips. “Excuse me, my darling. Just a bit of discussion between men gone awry. I haven’t had dinner yet and was feeling a bit peckish.”
Gaston made a gagging sound. The bartender snatched a plate of something that smelled like burned chicken covered in spicy sauce from a passing server and placed it in front of Maddugh.
“On the house,” the bartender said.
Kailigh glared at him, glared at Gaston, then snatched her hand back and stomped away. Maddugh sighed. If she had a tail, it would be knocking glasses off tables, left and right.
She would look magnificent with a tail.
Gaston eyed the plate in front of Maddugh “The steaks here are decent.”
Maddugh bared his teeth. “You wanted to discuss something with me.”
“Ah… yes. The proposal. To expand operations—”
“I already said no.” His dragon roused, focusing on the male who had suddenly become prey. “Do you understand that if you follow the plans you gave me, then you will risk a collapse of several of the main tunnels? I don’t care how well you shore them up.”
The humans pushed their workers too far into the mountains and had set off more than one cave in during the last fifty years. But if Maddugh didn’t lease them the rights to mine, they would do it illegally, costing him the revenue stream and the ability to exert some kind of safety and quality controls. So, humans crawling through his mountains were a necessary annoyance, liked fleas.
“Profits are declining. We won’t be able to support the town on the current production schedules.”
“Find a way,” Maddugh said. “The portion of the mountain I needed is big enough if you aren’t greedy. There are years left in the territory you have.”
He’d done a detailed analysis at the beginning to make sure he didn’t have to go through all the paperwork more than once every century. It had only been twenty-five years since the last expansion—they had another seventy-five before they should be coming to him bleating about needing more area.
Maybe it was time he found a new business venture. Nuaddan needed something to take his mind off his troubles. He’d have his eldest son come out of the forest and take an interest in living again.
“My business partners are willing to pay premium for the privilege, and assume the insurance costs that come with increased risk.” Gaston said, his voice even.
Maddugh eyed the way the man’s hand wrapped around his beer. Like he wanted to strangle it. “I don’t need more money. The mountain is stable—it will remain stable and the current contract has seventy-five years before it’s up for renegotiation.”
Gaston’s smile was tight. “There’s an increased demand from the cities. Their energy needs—”
Maddugh snorted. “They’re fools. They’ve allowed a petty human war to degrade them from clean energy back to coal. Stupid. And lazy, but I can’t decide which is worse.”
Gaston stood. “I can see I’m wasting your time. Have a good evening.”
Maddugh watched as the man made his way through the crowd, paused briefly to speak to Kailigh, and then left the establishment. He’d have to keep an eye on that one. The dissatisfied humans were always the most dangerous.
* * *
“Trouble incoming,” Melissa said.
Kailigh turned her head as Gaston approached. “Gaston.”
“Talk to him, Kai. This town will be nothing but ghosts in five years if he doesn’t expand production.”
Her brow arched. “I’ve never known you to be concerned about the ghosts in any pockets but your own.”
His expression darkened. “We’ll talk, Kailigh. Your flying worm will want to cooperate with our expansion plans.”
