Page 5 of The Mountain King
Chapter Three
Maddugh was bored. The interminable years of his life in this dimension dragged behind him like a chain no saw could sever. After the first few years on Earth, spit out through a dimensional rift cause by the human war, they’d nearly over hunted the areas they’d landed in. But his stone city was built, as close to what they’d had at home, his people prosperous. He’d wrested control of the rock humans prized so much, and the mining of it had made him, and his people, wealthy. They still couldn’t grow food worth a damn, being mostly carnivores and not plant eaters, but they had enough gold from the mine that trading was never much of a problem, except during times when there were shortages in general.
He’d watched his young, motherless sons grow into men. They’d mastered their dual natures as men and dragons that made them Dwyrkin. This existence could be precarious at times, but it was almost never dangerous. And, the only real problem left for him to solve was unsolvable. How could he make his people fertile again? It was impossible. They needed fresh Dwyrkin genes to have more children, and that was one thing they would never get, exiled as they were. Unlike humans, Dwyrkin women had a limited supply of eggs. A handful of potential births, no more, and done. Magical babies were hard to carry to term, and once the eggs were depleted…
They would never again step foot on their land of birth, the gates were permanently closed. So, there would be no more children born—unless the men took humans to their beds, and if they did… well, that would spell their end. For eventually, the dam would break and the strength of their pure dragon blood would fail, and what made them dragon—even what made them a kind of super human—would be no more. But it was accept the decline of their power, or die. And the few times in his early travels he’d encountered a half-blood, he’d had to admit the mix hadn’t been… detestable. They would never be as strong, or shift, but they weren’t embarrassing.
A commotion at the entrance to his hall stirred his attention, a woman’s angry voice. In years past, mornings would be flooded with petitioners, dragon and human alike, but lately it had been quiet. Gaston had showed up again, this time without his aide, and attempted to discuss the very same issue Maddugh was certain he’d already given his decision on. He’d kicked the man out only moments ago. The wide double doors crashed open and one of his guards half dragged, half pushed a cursing woman inside.
She looked around, spotting him immediately despite the cloak of shadow he gathered around him. Interesting. The Fae kept to themselves, and the Bears also conserved their strength for their clans. Some had mated with humans over the years, but dragons had held out as long as possible. This woman reminded him of one of those cross species matings. He rarely used his magic these days—it wasn’t necessary, but he wasn’t so rusty that she should have been able to see through it.
Her eyes narrowed, and she yanked away from his guard. Only the hardness of her eyes and the direct way she stared at him—younger human women tended towards coyness—gave him a clue she wasn’t as young as she appeared, and he’d thought human women aged faster than Dwyrkin. Glossy dark hair bound in a loose braid. A narrow face, the bones reminiscent of his people, her full mouth thinned with her displeasure.
“Maddugh, I want to talk to you,” she said, voice ringing out in the quiet of the hall.
She used his name as if she had a right—as if she had no fear of him, discarding the honorific as if it had never existed. Maddugh’s eyes flicked to his guard and he lifted a finger, beckoning. He suppressed a smile because he could see his silence angered her. The guard bumped her forward. She took one step and paused, turning her head to look at the man.
“Put your hands on me one more time,” she said, “and see what I do to you, boy.”
Maddugh’s eyebrow rose. Boy? The guard wouldn’t like that. He was likely centuries older than this woman—but the mortals had a hard time accepting that their apparent youthfulness was entirely deceptive.
She strode forward and he had a fleeting thought that he hoped she’d been disarmed because she looked as if she wanted to shoot him, or skewer him with something pointy.
“I’m Maddugh,” he prompted when she stopped in front of him, folding her arms.
“I wasn’t sure since you didn’t answer me,” she said. “You need to tell your guards to stop taking their jobs so seriously. I’m one mere woman. He didn’t have to pat me down like an assassin.”
Ah. Likely her tone had rubbed his man the wrong way, so she’d gotten more hostile than usual treatment. Deservedly so. A beautiful, spirited woman could be forgiven many things—but not at first.
“What do you want?” he asked.
Whatever it was, he had a feeling he wouldn’t be bored in just a few more minutes. That alone was enough to incline him towards her request—which he was certain would be framed more as a demand. He glanced at the guard, dismissing him.
She took a deep breath, exhaled, uncrossing her arms. Her posture was less hostile once the guard closed the door, though no less grim.
“First thing. My daughter is dying,” she said. “I was told you can help her.”
Unexpected. “Why would I want to?”
She gaped at him a moment. He watched as anger pinked her gold-brown cheeks.
“My daughter isdying.”
He waved a hand. “You said that. And my response was, ‘Why-”
“I heard what you said,” she snapped. She paused. “I have money.”
Maddugh laughed. How cute. “Did you see the town on the way in? Yes? Well, it is all my hoarde. What need have I for your money?”
“Look, I was told you can help. I’m not even sure youcan. But I know I’ll pay whatever price you ask.”
Maddugh believed her. He rose, clasping his hands behind his back and circling her. What a rare opportunity for entertainment.
“That’s annoying,” she said, staring up into the air.
He ignored her. “I happen to be… inclined towards some sort of amusement tonight. Where is the child?”
“We live about a one-hour jog from here.” She paused. “Well, it took me about that long to get here at a brisk pace. If you’ve a horse, you might want to spare yourself the exercise.”
