Page 70 of Queen's Griffon

The taunt tightened Avera’s lips. “A bastard, yes, but still recognized as her daughter, and when my siblings weremurdered, her heir.” Then before she lost her nerve, Avera told him bluntly, “On her death bed, my mother finally told me my father’s name. Basil Currosa from Verlora.”

At the revelation, Basil reeled. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped so far, he might never be able to hinge it shut. “No. That’s impossible.”

Frisk snorted. “Not too bright for a scientist, are you? Even the dumbest animal knows how babies happen.”

“It’s true,” Avera affirmed. “In my mother’s things, I found the same locket as yours with a picture of you and her inside.” Her hand went to her neck. “It was lost when I fell into the ocean during a storm.”

“I never knew,” Basil murmured, his voice low and rough. “Why didn’t she send me word?”

“Because you left,” Avera huffed. “Left my mother after using her to steal the rocks.”

Basil turned from her and paced. “And I felt such immense guilt after. When I set out to locate them, I never expected to meet someone like Calixte. I know you probably won’t believe me, but I cared for your mother. I asked her to come with me, even as I knew she’d refuse, her duty to her country stronger than the love we shared. Just like my obsession with the Dracova stones proved more powerful.”

“I didn’t come here for a family reunion,” Lenno barked. “Lead us to the stones. At once.”

Basil glanced at Avera. “These companions of yours?—”

“Aren’t my friends,” Avera stated, not about to lie. “Their captain kidnapped me on the emperor’s orders. He seems to think I can find the stones and wants them brought to him.”

“That wouldn’t be a good idea,” Basil murmured. “The stones are dangerous.”

“Ironic coming from the man who stole them,” Lenno mocked. “Now if we’re done playing father-daughter reunion, we’ll take the rocks and leave.”

“It’s too dangerous.” Basil shook his head.

“I’ll be the judge of that, old man. Bring us to them or I’m cutting off the first body part.”

“No need for violence, but I really do recommend waiting until morning.”

“Afraid of the dark?” Lenno wouldn’t relent and it didn’t help Frisk snickered.

“I am, and you should be too.” Basil didn’t even try to pretend bravado.

“Not all of us are cowards.”

“Is it because of the dragon?” Avera asked, surprised Lenno hadn’t delved more into the topic.

“The dragon is too large now to move through the tunnels. But there are other threats.”

“Yeah, we met some,” Lenno spat. “Giant snakes and bugs.”

“They aren’t the only things that grew to be too big,” Basil muttered.

“How did that happen? Those beetles didn’t seem natural.” Avera kept him talking.

“They aren’t. When the volcano erupted it caused much shaking. The rocky caverns we’d been using for our experiments were damaged, including a lab where we’d been working on a serum to make our crops produce larger fruits and vegetables.”

“Wait, what? A magic potion that grows things?” Frisk sounded excited.

“Not magic, science. A failed experiment, we soon realized, because while the produce did end up larger, certain animals and insects that ate it grew too. It began with the cave beetles. They ingested the enhanced produce and became enormous. They in turn were eaten by other creatures, causing a chainreaction in the ecosystem that survived the fallout from the volcano.”

“The dragon was affected,” Avera concluded.

“Aye,” Basil’s voice lowered. “The dragons in the stories, while large, weren’t as big as the one currently residing in the mountain.”

“Can it be shrunk?” she asked.

“No. Its girth is permanent, I’m afraid.”

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