A Solstice of Dragons (Rise of the dragons Book 2) Read online

  I almost laughed at that. Aloora was a petite gnome who loved tight fitting jeans and tops. Although we were practically the same height, I was a curvaceous half-dwarf. The idea of me being able to fit into any of her clothes was laughable and terrifying.

  I put Bane in her ground floor bedroom and she waved me to the bathroom while she dug around her room in search of clothes. I shut the door carefully then used my hand to scoop water into my dry mouth, the tap water tasted like ambrosia. I wiped my hand over my mouth to catch some water that had dribbled down my chin then blinked as I saw myself in the mirror.

  Schitztz. I looked awful. Dust covered me entirely. I looked like an extra in a student zombie film. Small pieces of concrete were stuck in my frizzy hair. I pulled out as much as I could then washed my hands and face, removing most of the grey pallor from my skin. My clothes on the other hand needed a good wash.

  I stripped off to my underwear, praying that Aloora had found something decent for me to wear. She knocked on the door. I opened it cautiously; I was self-conscious about my curves despite my love of corset tops. My friend eyed me.

  “Here you go,” she offered me a pile of clothes she had dug out from somewhere and took my dirty ones with her.

  “You don’t have to wash them…” I trailed off as she gave me a look and left.

  I looked down at the clothes I was now holding sceptically. I didn’t have much choice, it was either put them on or have games night in my underwear, and I wasn’t even wearing a matching bra and pants set. I struggled into the fluorescent jogging bottoms that Aloora had found for me and then pulled an oversized t-shirt over the top. It had an anime style dragon on it. I looked like some weird parody of a nineties rapper.

  I pulled a face at my reflection in the mirror, straightened my back and held my chin up as I left the bathroom and headed to the shared kitchen.

  Marco was dishing up pizza onto brightly coloured plates as I entered. He paused with his hand halfway to a plate, a slice of pizza dangling precariously from his fingers.

  “What ‘appened to you?” he asked, horrified by my appearance.

  “Oh, you know, I’ve joined N-Sync,” I joked.

  Marco’s lip curled in disgust as the cheese started to slide off the pizza.

  “Watch your jeans, Marco,” I nodded in the direction of the dripping cheese and plonked myself into a seat at the table, noting his horrified expression as a blob of mozzarella landed greasily on his fashionable trousers.

  Aloora handed me a bottle of Madam Mim’s Cure All. I lifted my t-shirt and rubbed some into my back where the rubble had hit me. The tincture was well known in the magical community for being able to cure practically anything, from cuts to aches and pains.

  She had her smartphone in her other hand and was scrolling through social media posts. She thrust the phone into my face as I took a swig of the cola she had put on the dented table for me. “Is this you?” she demanded.

  My eyes focused on the screen. It was footage of the dragon attack that had just happened. From inside a car, a shaky film of me running from side to side with my hands in position as if they were holding Bane. Bane itself wasn’t showing up on the footage thanks to the elven magic Lorandir had worked on the axe when we were trying to prevent an artefact being stolen from Cardiff Museum.

  I looked absolutely insane. The footage zoomed in on the passengers fleeing the bus and then back to me as I banged on the Porsche window. I pushed the phone away. It was strange seeing myself, especially when it had just happened and I looked like a madwoman.

  I sighed loudly, “Yep, it’s me, I’m sorry to say. The camera really adds the pounds huh?” I tried to joke.

  “It’s your ugly clothes that do that,” Marco chimed in, “Why do you wear that hoody, hmmm?”

  I scowled at him then brightened up as he pushed a plate of pizza towards me.

  “Why were you feinting with a dragon?” Aloora persisted.

  I shrugged, my mouth full of food. I swallowed, took another swig of my drink and then swallowed again. My hands traced the condensation on the side of the plain glass as I thought. I stared at the dark liquid and thought I could see the panicked faces of the bus passengers staring at me. “I couldn’t let those people get killed. I had to do something.”

  I shuddered as I realised how close it had all been, how easily something could have gone wrong. Aloora’s face softened and she reached out and patted me on my arm.

  “Hey, don’t worry, nothing happened. You did great,” she paused and tilted her head on one side, “Do you fancy coming on my podcast? It would be great to get a first-hand account…” Aloora noted the look on my face. There was only so much a best friend would do.

  “Alright, alright. Just think about it ok? I don’t know what Agent Jones will say though,” Aloora mused.

  “Agent Jones? She came to see me today. Something about a task force. She said you insisted I was part of it.”

  Aloora’s blue eyes shone with excitement as she nodded, “It’s great right? We’re going to get to go on a dragon mission and,” she lowered her voice, “who knows what sort of secrets they know about dragons. What I might be able to find out.”

  “That’s your dream I know, Ally, but why involve me? I’ve got the shop to run.”

  “I know,” Aloora sighed, “I just thought it would be fun to be together on this again. We hardly see each other like we used to and this could be great. Plus I told Agent Jones you were the best at magical manufacturing and I checked Marco could watch the shop for you…”

  I looked between my two friends in disbelief, “I’m going to do it aren’t I?”

  Aloora gave me a large smile. Marco grinned at me over his wine glass too.

  I smiled back at them weakly.

  “Just don’t get yourself killed being a hero. I need my best friend,” she joked with a playful punch to my upper arm. I winced.

  “Don’t worry, I’m not a hero,” I replied, “just an idiot with an axe in the wrong place at the right time…and I want a favour.”

  Aloora raised an eyebrow at me. “My parents are coming over tomorrow. My Mum loves you Marco, please help entertain her, and you both have to come to dinner with us in the evening.”

  “I thought it was going to be something terrible,” laughed Marco as he took another sip of the ruby coloured wine, “of course I will come. Your mama is fabulous.”

  I felt like a weight had lifted from my shoulders, I hadn’t realised I was so tense about my parents coming tomorrow.

  Then my phone rang. I answered it to a barrage from Agent Jones, “Right, what were you playing at out there? I’ve seen the footage, you’re lucky to be alive! Why didn’t you stay and wait for the authorities?! I expect a full report! Are you OK? Do you need medical attention?”

  I winced, “I’m fine.”

  “Then you can bring a report with you when you join the task force!” she hung up without waiting for a reply. I guess I needed to write a report.

  I rolled my shoulders to ease the tension out and decided to ignore that problem. I grabbed another slice of pizza and asked, “Right, what are we playing tonight?”

  Aloora gestured to a pile of board games on the table.

  “Idiot’s pick,” she grinned at me while she took a bite of pizza.

  In the end, we decided on a game of Rhino Hero to start. My hands were still shaking from the adrenaline of the attack so I lost that one quickly as I knocked over the tower as I placed my second card. Then we had two games of Ghostel. Marco won both games with a convincing lead.

  I called myself a taxi to take me home. It wound the long way around the city streets as Park Place was still closed. I thought I saw Agent Jones in an elegant trouser suit. She was stomping around and barking orders behind the police tape cordoning off the road.

  Chapter 4

  I had a fitful night’s sleep, filled with dreams about a shadow moving around in my room and a dragon breathing fire while I slept. I woke up in a hot sweat, reaching for Bane which I had kept beside my bed. Errol slunk downstairs to avoid another early morning walk. I listened carefully for any noises but couldn’t hear anything.

  My senses heightened by fear, I crept about my small flat, turning on every light. My sparse mismatched furniture was in the same spots. Nothing had moved. I headed downstairs, getting angry that I was this fearful. That someone had made me this paranoid. I checked everywhere inside my shop. Nothing.

  I flung Bane down in frustration. I had almost wanted to meet an intruder to exorcise this paranoia. The heavy axe dented the wooden floor before falling over. Schiztz.

  I picked it up and heaved myself back upstairs. I was wide awake now. I decided against watching one of my favourite superhero films and instead got to work on my protection enchantments. I set up a couple of traps that would alert me if they were set off and more that would hold an intruder.

  I felt a lot more secure and better for doing something rather than acting like a victim. I decided to get a celebratory bacon roll from the Dragon’s Head and bribed Errol with a piece of charcoal to get him to come with me for a quick walk to the coffee shop.

  Brinda was excited to see me and pulled out her phone to show me footage from last night. Schiztz, now it had made the news.

  She was excited. “I must have a picture of you for the wall, now I have more famous customers!”

  I glanced at the wall of faces hung on the navy walls. I couldn’t imagine myself up there next to the likes of the famous elven popstar Cirian, who apparently “loved this coffee shop”. I’d never seen him in here.

  I wagged my finger at her as I grabbed my sandwich, “Don’t make me change coffee shops when you make the best bacon sandwiches!”

  Brinda winked at me as I left. I grumbled all the way back to my shop, moaning about dragons and unflattering footage to Errol. He was not sympathetic and curled up in the forge as soon as we got in.

  I rolled my eyes at him and turned my attention to the plans I had made for Agent Jones’ requests. I didn’t have everything in stock and I’d need components fast to complete all of this in less than a week. I checked the time was reasonable and then called my go to dwarven supplier, Gunther.

  He was happy to hear from me, as always. Although I suspected he was always happy to hear from his customers.

  I groaned as he also brought up the video of me. Aloora had posted a link to it. I had to talk to her about my aversion to having dodgy films of me looking like I was crazy posted on the internet.

  I laughed before changing the subject and rattling off the list of components I needed. Gunther paused. I could almost hear the neck rub as he considered how to obtain them and what he was going to charge me for the inconvenience, despite our friendship.

  “It’s for the Magical Liaison Office,” I added, “no expense spared for a rush job and I need it all today.”

  He chirped up at that and promised to turn up later with the supplies. I smiled, at least my work would go well.

  My phone bleeped with a text alert. We’ll be there this afternoon treasure, can’t wait to see you. Love Mum and Dad x

  I smiled to myself. Trust Mum to put perfect grammar in a text message. I quickly fired off texts to Marco and Aloora reminding them of their promise for company today. Marco sent back a smiley face and Aloora replied that she’d be there after her podcast recording.

  When my parents arrived mid-afternoon, neither of my friends had appeared.

  Mum swept into my shop, looking put together as always with a fitted wrap dress that complimented her white hair elegantly. She was carrying two large canvas bags. I hugged her and noticed Dad behind her burdened with a third.

  “Have you been shopping already Mum?!”

  She laughed, “No, no, these are things for you. I’ll just put them upstairs shall I?” She didn’t wait for an invitation and barged upstairs. I saw some green leaves sticking out of the top of one of the bags and groaned inwardly. Despite my lack of success with keeping plants alive, she was determined to add greenery to my flat. The only thing I’d managed to keep alive to date was some Mucklewhite mushrooms – a traditional Dwarfish delicacy that seemed to thrive on neglect.

  Dad and I shared a look. No doubt Mum had also bought me a couple of cheap gadgets too which she claimed would be “indispensable” to me but which inevitably I never used.

  He engulfed me in a forceful hug, “How are you Amethyst?”

  I returned the hug and then stepped back, “Good, good. You?”

  Dad nodded, “The teaching’s going ok, but you know the Dwarven Arms Council. There’s so much paperwork, I’m thinking of retiring, maybe starting an online blog...”

  I gaped. Dad loved teaching metalwork and was a master craftsdwarf. I couldn’t imagine him quitting his teaching post or starting an online business; he still started all emails with “Dear…”.

  Dad moved around my shop while I listened to Mum’s shoes clopping upstairs as she unloaded her bags. I watched anxiously, his approval always meant a lot to me. He paused by a couple of displays, stroking his long beard, still thick and brown despite his age.

  “Nice work, Amethyst,” high praise indeed from Dad, “And let me see your forge.”

  I gestured to the back of the shop and then followed him through the door into my workshop. Eyeing it critically, Dad’s thoughtful gaze took in the tools I had left out and the mugs I hadn’t washed up in the sink.

  “A tidy workshop is a happy workshop,” he chided softly.

  “Better than the shed I had at home,” I responded quickly. Dad laughed at that. My working shed had been an absolute tip when I lived with Mum and Dad. Mum wouldn’t come in there and Dad had shouted at me at least once a day to tidy it up. I always claimed it was creative and refused, but I couldn’t deny it was a mess.

  “You’ve still got some things in there you know. I daren’t go in but your mother’s talking about turning it into a she-shed for her plants.”

  “It was a she-shed – my she-shed! But next time I come up, I’ll sort it out. Golden promise.” I held up my hand in the traditional dwarven gesture for the sacred promise.

  Dad laughed at me and shook his head. He glanced around again and bent down to tickle Errol behind the ears, “Still making weapons?”

  I swallowed. I couldn’t hide anything from Dad. I bent under my workbench and pulled out the old army surplus bag where I kept my current stock. Dad lifted up a short sword, moving it from hand to hand and testing the balance.

  “Very nice. You could teach my current students a thing or two about weapons making. No enchantments?”

  “My…erm...clients... prefer a personal enchantment service, tailored for their needs.”

  “Smart, smart,” Dad put the sword back and covered up the weapons. I hastily put them away as I heard Mum clattering downstairs.

  “Those mushrooms are doing well! I’ve left some food in your fridge, it was nearly empty, I knew you weren’t taking care of yourself. And there’s a new garlic peeler I found that is amazing. I bought one for you too of course and I saw this scarf and thought of you,” Mum placed a silk scarf with tiny cogs printed on it around my neck. It was lovely. Mum did have an eye for nice things.

  “Er, thanks Mum.”

  “Now, tell me what’s new with you, seen any more of that elf?” she waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

  Marco arrived holding an espresso and a large cappuccino for me just in time. He gave me a wink as he passed me the coffee and started talking to Mum, distracting her effectively as he complimented her dress.

  Gunther’s face appeared outside the glass door. He strode in and plonked his large bag onto the countertop. It clunked as it hit the surface.

  “Thanks Gunther!” I beamed, “Did you manage to get everything?”

  He nodded then turned to Dad, “Dafydd! How are you? It’s been too long,” The two dwarves clasped hands in a traditional warrior’s greeting and started catching up. I fingered the bag then heaved it into my workshop; getting my hands on the components would have to wait until tomorrow.

  I walked back into the room as Mum’s phone beeped. She frowned at the text message before screaming and shoving it in my face. “You’re viral treasure! How amazing! Why didn’t you tell me?! I had to find out from Cressida of all people! I do wish you would smarten up a bit though…”

  “Ignore it Mum,” I groaned, “it’s nothing.”

  “Nothing! You’re trying to fight a dragon…what are you holding?” Dad and Gunther were now crowding round the phone.

  Dad pierced me with a look, knotting his bushy eyebrows together, “Why is your axe not visible?”

  “Er, I had it enchanted,” I stared at my shoes, examining the scuff marks on my solid boots.

  “Show me.” I couldn’t refuse. I took Bane from its hiding place under the counter and handed it to Dad. He studied it carefully, peering along the handle and then placing his fingers to his mouth as if tasting them, “Elf magic?”

  I nodded, bracing myself for a telling off. Dwarves and elves weren’t exactly the best of friends even in this day and age. Dad seemed more curious than angry that I had enchanted my family’s ancestral axe, “Interesting.”

  “That’s nothing,” Gunther enthused, “Ame’s trying to enchant items so you can’t lose them. We’re close, I’m sure.”

  Dad looked at me, “Really? Well I suppose it could be done if you had the right enchantments, but it would work better if you could imprint it to the owner.”

  My mind whirled, I hadn’t even thought of that. We continued debating the possibilities of crafting enchantments while Marco and Mum popped out for a shopping session in Cardiff.

  Aloora turned up just after closing time with Marco and Mum. They were all laughing and Mum and Marco were carrying several bulging carrier bags. I eyed them before suggesting we head out to a local dwarven restaurant, knowing my Dad’s appetite and no matter how much Mum tried, she was never quite able to master traditional Dwarfish fare.

  Mum immediately criticised my drink order, “You know that the sugar in that cola will rot your teeth!”