CHAPTER 119 I Have Dungeon Plants

CHAPTER 119

I Have Dungeon Plants

Rufus

“Duke Briarthorn.” I nodded at Lady Amy’s father as he descended the stairs.

“Don’t you speak to me!” The duke’s stern voice barely held back his anger. “What is this about Amy going to the Summer Masquerade? Absolutely not.”

“Father, I’m of an age to attend—”

“No.” The duke swept his hand in anger. “I’ve followed the law and given you leave from your responsibilities enough. You will stay here and do your duty.”

“My duty is to my people,” Lady Amy said, frowning.

“Then why are you standing here and not serving the festival?” her father countered, looking over them all. His anger only faltered when he saw the grimalcats, but resumed when he looked at the crowd at his door. “Is that troll the poisoner? Or the giant? Your Viciousness, please remove them from my sight.”

Henrietta opened her mouth to reply, but before she could say otherwise, she was cut off by the elf girl. “Actually, it’s m-me, Your Grace.” She even shifted to free a hand and awkwardly wave at the duke.

“What?” That shocked the older elf, who examined the girl in confusion.

“I-I am the p-poisoner,” she said, quickly returning to hugging Slake.

“Good job, Mia. That’s my courage.” The grimalcat nodded, approving. Slake’s voice took on an echoing sound as he spoke to the duke, like he was under a spell. “The girl has promised her good behavior, and Lady Amy will be coming with me to the Summer Masquerade.”

The duke drew a deep breath. I was worried that he was going to lose his temper, but instead, he released it and adopted a calmer expression. It had been a trying time for the elf, having almost died yesterday, and he was notorious for being an overprotective father .

It was the reason Lady Amy, who was of an age with the rest of us, had never joined Keith as a playmate. When Feliwyn the Dragon had visited looking for powerful children to join their Dark Lord, Duke Briarthorn had fought back tooth and nail. He’d signed more concessions to the Black Fortress than any Hollow elf had in centuries.

Ironically, that same document he’d signed was what allowed Lady Amy a four-day workweek and the freedom to do as she pleased with her spare time. King Keith had been working with the elves in a closer capacity than any ruler of the Dark Enchanted Forest before him.

And the elves hated it.

“Everybody out,” the duke ordered. “I would speak with my daughter and the noble grimalcat, Slake Drakeford, alone.”

The duke took a second to bow to the brown grimalcat in respect but did not afford the rest of us more than a cursory frown. I almost debated insisting proper decorum for my queen, but she was happily eating a fruit leather and didn’t seem to mind.

Slake jumped from Mia’s arms and walked over to the duke, looking up at the elf with disinterest. It didn’t bother me one bit. Instead, I could have cheered.

“Do you have any cream?” he asked. “I would have cream and a side of fish.”

“What about Mia?” Lady Amy asked, walking over to join her father at the bottom of the stairs.

The duke looked between the girl and the grimalcat. “If she is promised by you, then she may go. But don’t leave the city until I give you leave.”

“What about my contract?” the girl panicked, and then realized she’d questioned her lord and blushed.

“My horse has been the one picking up your poisons,” Bronwynn piped up from beside the door. The minstrel spared a look at her own grimalcat, staring blankly at a wall, and continued. “After you’ve read up on the law, she will come and grab your delivery from your house instead.”

“With that, we will be out of your hair.” I nodded a polite goodbye to the duke and walked over to open the palace door. Gerda, Henrietta, Bronwynn, Mia, Momo, and myself all exited back into the crush of the festival.

Bronwynn immediately sidled up to me and linked arms. “Does that mean you can come join us?”

I stared out at the crush of people happily celebrating with candy apples and dancing and music. A mage had set up in the street, making animal bubbles for the children, and a dwarf with [Control: Size] was growing as tall as a building and giving rides.

Henrietta and Gerda were reassuring the young Mia that she was going to be alright, and even offered to walk her back to the porter area to collect her dungeon materials. Gerda insisted .

“I have to check in with my scouts,” I said, already seeing Mistress Puma making her way back to me with a candy apple in her hand. “But then I should be free. What did you have in mind?”

If there was a way to love this woman more, then I found it, because she smiled at me softly and said, “Why don’t we go for a walk in the gardens?”

“That is perfect.” I leaned in and kissed her cheek.

It wouldn’t take too long to explain to Puma what had happened. It would have to be quick, since I noticed her eyes were already locked on Mia. I caught the wink that Gerda gave Bronwynn as she and Henrietta dragged Mia off, waving goodbye as they blended into the crowd.

“Did I ever tell you,” I asked my bard, blushing but also amused at her friend’s antics, “that I have dungeon plants?”

“Really?” she asked.

“I just repotted my baby aloe vera.” The plants were great for living in the dungeon, where they only needed a little bit of sunshine from the barred window. “And my new myrtle tree was in full bloom when I left on this quest … I can only imagine the mess my office is going to be in when I get back.”

“So when you said that it would be easier if I joined you in your dungeon, you meant cleaning up flower petals?” Bronwynn teased. “Because I volunteer.”

My bard wagged her eyebrows at me such that I couldn’t help it: I burst into laughter.

“Alright,” I agreed. “But let’s clean up this mess first.”