Page 48 of Bleeding for the Prince
Copperpipe nodded, and his arms flailed. “Yes, that is it!”
Gwil turned to Hyax. “Want to clue me in?”
“Copperpipe was having trouble translating some of the technical jargon into English, so I spoke to him in Goblin. I’m a bit rusty, but I got the gist.”
“The gist being?”
“There’s a dragon under Dante’s. A big one, who has been asleep for a long time, and is now showing signs of waking up. It could sleep for centuries or it could wake up tomorrow… we don’t know.”
“I take it we don’t want to wake the sleeping dragon.”
Hyax rolled his eyes, and Copperpipe snorted. “No, Fang Face. It would destroy the block as it dug its way out and set fire to half of the city as it flew off.”
Gwil didn’t appreciate the tone, but he guessed it was a daft question. Although he still didn’t know what it was they were supposed to do. “I guess we want to keep it asleep.”
“Yes, and move it,” Hyax said, as if that was the most obvious thing in the world.
“Got you. Sing a lullaby while moving a twenty-tonne lizard. Simple.”
Copperpipe let out an exasperated huff. “You are not helping.”
“I’m not known for my dragon transportation services. Tell me, oh wise one, how does one move a sleeping dragon the size of a house without waking it up?”
“We don’t know,” Hyax admitted. “We’ll need to do some research. The dragons haven’t written an official history of their people that’s been shared with outsiders. While I’ve not had cause to look, I don’t remember a specialist dragon section in any fae library I’ve visited.”
“Goblins eat books, and my people don’t care for the past,” Copperpipe said.
“Good job I’m now a member of the place with one of the paranormal world’s most extensive collections of books, then, isn’t it?” he said, trying but failing not to sound smug.
“The Jyndarin Society, of course.” Hyax grinned. “I’ll contact Simon. We’ll arrange dinner, and I have a feeling he might be useful.”
Copperpipe sucked his teeth. “I will ask around, but I fear I might not be able to help you more this time, Fang Face.”
“You’ve done a brilliant job already. Mind you, your dinner at Dante’s was a hefty price.”
Copperpipe chuckled as he climbed into the fireplace. “Worth it,” he called as he disappeared.
Gwil turned to Hyax. “Thanks for coming back. I wasn’t sure if I should interrupt, but he was quite insistent.”
“He’s not wrong to be worried. And I was happy to have an excuse to leave.”
“Do you need to go back?”
Hyax sighed. “I probably should.”
“Probablyisn’t the same as have to.”
“True. I could use the time to have a look through a few of the books using our dynamic before I discuss anything with Simon, as I think we’re going to need to come up with something special to solve this.”
“Perfect reason to stay at home if you ask me.”
Hyax grinned. “Let me get changed. I can sit and watch you have a bath as I read—I noticed you’re not wet and naked.”
Gwil laughed as he dodged out of Hyax’s reach. “See you in the bathroom. Be careful not to get your books wet!”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Hyax squeezed Gwil’s hand as they arrived at the steps leading up to the Jyndarin Society. The building was one of the lovely white-fronted ones Gwil referred to as Georgian. He had little knowledge or care for this realm’s history, but they did know their architecture. There was a pair of impressive doors and a plaque with the letterJ. He was surprised not to see some form of security officer preventing entry.
