Page 22 of Dragon Heir

“It’s, um-” I looked around as I tried to get my bearings for another half-truth, but I couldn’t quite remember which direction had led to the portal through which I’d been dragged by those three villains. It had been so long that I’d almost forgotten about the two men and their rough female leader. “I think it’s-”

“Lord Thorn! Lord Thorn!” The tiny voice came from the direction of the road.

Ware and Vargas dashed toward the front. Allard looked eager to follow but he first offered me his hand. “Will would never forgive me if I left his bride out here all alone in the midst of trouble,” he pointed out.

I took his hand and together we rushed around the house to the driveway. A half dozen of the Tenky were crowded about the open front door and a single quivering human man stood in the middle of their chaos. They zoomed around him on their bikes as he stood there wringing the life out of the cap in his hands. His unshaven face was ashen and his dark eyes darted to and fro. He tried to step out of the circle created by the cycling Tenky but they ran over and under his foot. He yelped and stumbled back into his ‘cage.’

“What is the meaning of this?” Ware bellowed as he stalked toward the little people and their captive. “Why are you harassing that man?”

One of the Tenky drove up to him and skidded to a stop only a few inches from Ware. “This human was acting very suspicious around his barn, sir. We brought him here for questioning.”

“I was not acting suspicious!” the man protested as he stomped his foot. “Something out there was acting suspicious!”

Will appeared in the doorway and his sharp eyes fell on the man. “What seems to be the problem, Steven?”

Steven practically threw himself into Will’s arms. The Tenky leaped forward to stop him but a soft wave of a hand from Will warned them off. They reluctantly backed away as Steven wrapped himself around Will’s midsection and sobbed against his chest.

“Lord Thorn! Thank goodness!” Steven bemoaned as he stabbed a finger at the Tenky. He glared at each of them as they frowned back at him. “These fiends here are accusing me of wrongdoing against you!”

“You were crawling all over your barn floor!” one of the Tenky spoke up.

“On your hands and knees and everything!” another chimed in.

Will lifted an eyebrow at his citizen. “Were you?”

Steven bobbed his head. “Yes, My Lord, but that’s because I thought I saw something slipping through the stalls! It was scaring my animals and I thought it might be a mouse or a drunk Tenky, so I tried to catch it.”

A dark cloud settled on Will’s brow. “Show us.”

Chapter Fourteen

And that’s how we ended up in Will’s carriage and six, a huge monstrosity of a vehicle that by the great miracle of space comfortably fit together Allard and Ware on the same seat as Vargas’ flashy outfit. Well, almost.

“Stop squishing me!” she snapped as she used her hips to push against Ware.

He was forced up against Allard’s side and glared at his feminine companion. “There is plenty of room for all of us!”

“Not when you keep squishing my dress!” she growled.

Will, Steven, and I watched their bickering from our bench across the way. The worn man sat on Will’s other side and stared in bewilderment at the bickering couple with poor Allard bearing the brunt of Ware’s weight.

Steven swallowed a lump in his throat and looked up at Will as we rolled down the road. “My Lord, I assure you again that I have nothing to hide from you.”

Will smiled down at him. “It isn’t your word I am going to inspect, Steven. I trust you are telling the truth and that is why we are going to investigate the barn.”

He blinked at Will. “Is. . .is there something amiss in the woods, My Lord?” His face paled and drooped. “The harpies haven’t returned, have they?” I shuddered at the remembrance of those horrible hags.

Will shook his head. “I doubt we will ever see their like in this area for a very, very long time. No, I wish to inspect your property in case a new rodent has been brought in via the road. There is always a chance such vermin or other troublemakers are carried via carriage to new parts.”

Steven bobbed his head. “I see what you mean, My Lord. I must admit my farm is one of those closest to the road and would be the first struck by such evil beasts.”

“Have you noticed anything else amiss?” Will inquired.

Steven thought for a moment before he shook his head. “Nothing, My Lord, except. . .”

Will lifted an eyebrow. “Except what?”

Steven furrowed his brow before he lifted his eyes to his lord. “Except that I swear I heard a coach on the road a fortnight ago.”

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