I’d popped by the lake to watch Feliwyn before - because, who wouldn't go and look at a real life, fire-breathing dragon a stone’s throw from their front door?

  And in all that time, I’d thought that I’d built some immunity to the dragon.

  That was not so.

  Feliwyn dragged her picnic blanket over to us, and it was only my [Mental Resistance] that kept me from melting into a terrified puddle of fear at the immense presence looming over me.

  Her body was the size of a truck, with a tail as long again. Her head was the size of a recliner leather chair, and despite the terrible size comparison analogies, she was anything but clanky or plush.

  Her scales were sleek and lovely, and she moved with grace.

  “I didn’t know what you’d like,” I said, bringing out everything I had prepared for this day. “But I hope something catches your fancy?”

  I started with four loaves of bread toasted, sliced lengthwise and toasted; cheesy garlic, cranderberry, honey nut, and plain rye.

  Beside that I served four whole-roasted floof poof birds, seven pounds of flying pig bacon, eight floof poof bird eggs scrambled and topped with a drizzle of maple smoke bbq sauce, a serving bowl with 10 cups of warm rice, an open barrel of black coffee, and a bucket of cherries jubilee.

  I also brought out a tray of twelve warm cinnamon buns and put them off to the side to cool. I’d stored them right out of the oven.

  “This looks delicious, troll.” Feliwyn reached out her claws and daintily picked up the bowl of plain rice. After smelling the dish, the dragon gave a pleased smile and then ate the entire thing, bowl and all. “I’m famished.”

  “May I introduce you, Your Eminence, to Gerda the Bridge Troll?” Julian said. He reached out and placed a hand on mine. “She is an Oracle who has been helping Valaria prevent disaster while you were in slumber.”

  “I see.” Feliwyn’s eyes dropped to where our hands were linked.

  “I’ve only been here for five years, but I’m happy to tell you everything I’ve learned since.” I leaned in close to the dragon, jumping right into it. “Princess Penelope eloped with a bear beastman who runs an inn and tavern in Gren’s Keep! All of the royals are as they were except for Drendil, where Regent Havork is holding down the fort. Their Royal Highness Rowen is thinking of abdicating; and Guild Master Warren Jones finally retired-- but not before his assistant captured his heart. Literally.”

  “Really?” Feliwyn smiled slowly. “Do you know where he kept it hidden?”

  “The Temple of Justice,” I explained, knowing this bit of lore from my play through of Bastian’s route combined with [Oracle]. “She had to wait for the exact moment his contract broke, then she stole his heart and summoned Warren for herself. That’s not the only love story either…. A few months back, King Keith got married in this very field.”

  Feliwyn froze. “Keith is wed?”

  I’d deliberately waited a bit to tell her, to help ease the news. “And Chloe too.”

  I knew from the slit eyes and intense look that Feliwyn was deciding how to feel about that. I pressed on, adding a helpful, “Rufus is only engaged.”

  “Any children?”

  “No plans yet.”

  The feelings like a knife on the back of my throat subsided as the dragon withdrew a bit of her intent. “Good.”

  Then she stuffed the entire tray of cinnamon buns into her mouth, threw back the coffee, and shook herself. Wings spread wide enough to block out the sky in front of us.

  “I will remember you, Miss Gerda.” The dragon nodded at my date, “Julian, give my regards to your mother.”

  With that, the dragon launched herself into the sky.

  Julian lifted my hand and kissed the back of it. “Don’t do it.”

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “What?” I stopped, my hand already outstretched towards the dragon’s picnic blanket; a season three treasure if ever I saw one. “She won’t even remember it’s gone.”

  …

  Three weeks into the north.

  “You never said there would be stairs.”

  There were an endless number of steps stretching ahead, and while I’d super troll abilities, it didn’t stop the stairs from being an annoyance.

  Julian smiled at my grumbling. “You could ask Jeffry to borrow the amulet–”

  “Not happening!” Jeffry said, swooping past them. Great eagle wings carried him on the winds as he scouted ahead.

  “--or not.”

  “It’s four days walk to the end of the canyon, and four days back.” John told me. He was cheating, sending a shadow along while he remained behind and then shadow walking over whenever the shadow reached the perk distance limitation. “Or cross it this way.”

  “Who even made these stairs?” I asked, dejected.

  “The stairs were first constructed during Duchess Emelan’s rule.” Jeffry flew down and landed at the front of the party, his wings folded in. Never one to resist educating someone, he launched into it. “Her wife, Duchess Yulia, created the canyon during one of their battles. The pair were considered as passionate in hate as in love, and took to the Ice Field’s whenever they needed to settle a quarrel.”

  “How–” I began, but Julian answered, “They were both level eighty by the time they retired.”

  Jeffry cleared his throat at their interruptions and continued. “It took four years to complete the project, and legend says they never even stepped foot on the path themselves.”

  “Incoming!” John pointed at a glint of light further up the stair.

  Jeffry launched himself back in the air, and Julian brought up a [Barrier]. Visha ran sideways on the wall up and over our party in some defying gravity perk, pulling out curved twin blades.

  Tully stood with me. He wasn’t allowed to use his warhammer on the stairs.

  “Ice Spiders.” Jeffry called out from the sky. “Three ahead, two behind, and one above.”

  “I’m never letting you take over scouting again, Jeffry.” John said. “It’s an ambush.”

  “They’re literally see-through, John!” Jeffry defended, pulling out his sword and immediately swiping it. “[Sword Slash].”

  There was an angry hiss as the attack his a spider like iced-over glass the size of a great dane that had tried to jump on top of us.

  It stumbled over the edge.

  “Okay that’s going to give me nightmares.” I said, more casually than I thought my racing heart would’ve allowed.

  Up ahead, Julian and Visha were battling three spiders, Jeffry was attacking one from the rear, John was cutting the spurs, and Pram was concentrating on the overhead.

  Tully just mumbled a dejected. “This sucks.”

  “I know, it’s not fun waiting it out.” I patted him on the pauldron. “Do you have any buffs?”

  He shook his head. “Nothing. I can’t do anything but fight. I’m a paladin of Justice- total damage dealer.”

  “He’s also good with sewing.” Pram said. He had a bow with a large magical ice arrow set, aiming for the spider above. “You made that stuffy for Phoebe for her birthday.”

  “That’s not helpful, Pram.” Tully said.

  Frozen spurs latched onto the side of the stair, piercing and anchoring into the ground at my feet. Two more followed. One long leg climbed up over the edge.

  “Mine!” Tully pushed me up the stairs and out of the way as he swung his warhammer. It hit the spider and sent it flying out into the ravine.

  Unfortunately, the spurs were still connected to the spider, and it ripped the stairwell apart. A whole section of the stair collapsed, including where I was sitting.

  It wasn’t that I was afraid of heights, I could portal to safety, but the sensation of suddenly falling made me scream.

  “I’ve got you!” Then Julian was there, grabbing my hand. Below, Jeffry was cursing loudly. He’d caught Tully and was flying him back up to safety.

  “Don’t let go!” I told Julian.

  “Of course,” He pulled me up by one hand, the other using his Royal Valarian Shield to defend against a web spur shot. When my feet were on solid ground he took the extra second to kiss me on the cheek. “I would never let you go.”

  …

  “Feliwyn swooped in and lifted me clean out of the garden,” Henrietta beamed at me over her mug of ale. "Can you believe it?!"

  “I can.” I said, remembering the sheer ferocity of the dragon.

  We were on a girls night at a tavern in Peldeep. As soon as she had returned from her trip with her dragon mother-in-law, I’d abandoned Julian at the North Fortress and dragged Henrietta out for an evening of fun.

  “Her Eminense flew us straight to the Depths of Despair Dungeon. It was amazing!” Henrietta regaled, “She wanted to see my battle technique. And she was so nice– she told me that I’d cleared it faster than Keith did when he was my level. And she told me I was doing a great job as Dark Lady.”

  The smile on my Henrietta’s face softened. “She’s more than I could’ve hoped for in a dragon-in-law.”

  “I’m glad.”

  “I do feel bad for my husband though.” Henrietta set her chin on the palm of her hand and leaned on the table. “She’s thrown everything into chaos since coming home, and he was very worried when she’d kidnapped me without notice.”

  “He’ll be okay.” I assured her. “It’s always hard when family comes to visit— let alone when they're a dragon.”

  “She wasn’t even going to stay with us, but someone ransacked her cave in Thistlecrick. So we're just waiting for her while she picks out a new laire. How is living with Julian?” Henrietta’s eyes lit with curiosity.

  “Good.” Unbidden, I thought about exactly how wonderful it was, living with Julian. “He leaves me notes.”

  “Notes?”

  I showed her one that I’d found under my plate the last time he’d made breakfast.

  Have a good day guarding bridges.

  I had more, from compliments to endearments to temptations.

  “That’s so sweet—.” Henrietta paused when the lights dimmed overhead. The show was about to start.

  Minstrel Brownie came out on stage, and we enjoyed an evening of good food, music and friends.