Page 37 of Queen's Griffon

“We went to see Vinmo,” Simhi admitted.

He’d already figured as much. “Whatever for?”

“To ask him what happened, of course.” Avera rolled her eyes.

“The man’s made it clear he won’t speak. Why would you waste your time?” he gruffly snapped.

“He spoke to me,” Avera retorted.

“Like fuck.” The expletive slipped from his lips.

Simhi shook her head. “She’s not lying. Vinmo spoke to her.”

The news rocked Griff. “What did he say?”

“He claimed the monster that attacked him and the others in Verlora could fly, and that it ate the other sailors with him,” Avera recounted.

“And that it spit green fire,” Simhi added. “Which makes it sound an awful lot like a dragon.”

Griff found himself at a loss for words and Avera filled in the gap. “He also muttered some nonsense about it looking through eyes to find him.”

“Not just any eyes,” Simhi corrected. “He seemed to think the monster could see through Avera.”

“What else?” Griff asked, trying to hide his discomfiture because what Vinmo claimed resonated with his own thoughts on what plagued Verlora. However, a monster using Avera to see? That sounded plain crazy.

The little queen rolled her shoulders. “That was it. Then he tucked back in his hole and wouldn’t come out.”

“So do you finally believe me now when I say Verlora is plagued by a deadly threat?” he queried.

“I never doubted that part.”

“Why do I hear a but?” he grumbled.

“I still have to go.”

“Even after seeing what happened to Vinmo?”

“Knowing what to expect will help me avoid it. I hope.” At least she sounded somewhat uncertain.

He turned his glare on Simhi. “I would have expected you to talk some sense into her.”

“I tried, Cap, but the queen is determined.”

“You can’t seriously think she should go,” was his incredulous rejoinder.

“What else can she do? She can’t go back to Daerva, and no matter how good she is at tinkering the engine with Garth, she doesn’t belong here.” Simhi turned to Avera. “No offense, but it’s obvious this life ain’t meant for you.”

“So you’d rather see her die,” he said bluntly.

“Why do you assume I’ll be killed?” Avera huffed. “Did it ever occur to you that I’m meant to go? What if the stones Basil stole are the reason this dragon or monster has taken up residence? Could be their removal sends it back to sleep.”

“Or it relocates. Have you even stopped to think that if these rocks you seek attracted this beast, taking them will have it following you? To Daerva.”

Avera’s lips pinched. “There’s no way of knowing anything until I find them.”

“You’re so fucking stubborn,” he snapped. “I swear, I am almost tempted to take you there.”

Avera’s lips pursed. “I hear a but.”

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