Then I came along, just in time to ruin everything. But as far as we can tell, it worked out okay.”
“Yeah,” Mia says. “On the way here we spotted a whole bunch of dragons, just fleeing wildly through the woods. That was all gunpowder? I wondered what your secret mission was.”
I put some MSG on his arms and legs, too, just to be sure. “Yeah. That was it. Tons and tons of it. The Factory really became a factory. With just one very efficient worker. Will the dragons leave now, Kyandros? I mean, leave this area?”
The silver dragon shrugs. “I don’t know what other dragons will do. They were running, though. It’s hard to make dragons run.”
I put a little bit of gel on his neck and close the lid. “How does that feel, Brank’ox?”
“It feels good having made dragons run,” he growls. “And having finally slain one.”
“Oh. Okay. I meant, how does it feel with the gel on your back?”
“It tingles. Like warm water running down the skin. It’s pleasant.”
“I’ve got more stuff,” Mia says and hands me a fur coat. “I thought you might need this, if you were still alive. Also this.” She gives me a food pack. “As usual, we can’t give you guys a ride, but with the MSG, here, I guess you’re not desperate to get back to the village as soon as possible. Anything else we can do?”
I glance up at Brank’ox. “I think we’ll be okay. At some point we’ll rebuild the Factory, but this guy needs some rest first. And then there’s the wedding.”
Mia laughs. “I knew it! The way you two looked at each other the last time we were here… Okay, I’ll tell the guys to expect an engaged couple. Or do you want to break the news yourself?”
I think about it. “Actually, we’ll tell them when we get there. Also, don’t you two have some phone books to read before you go back to the village?”
She grins. “How did you know? Now that I know you guys are all right, I’m so relieved I could just read all day. And I think we skipped a volume last time.”
I arch my eyebrows. “Pretty cold day for reading.”
She taps her lips and looks away. “Yeah, well… Actually, we know a place. Okay, you two. We’ll be off. The phone book waits for nobody. Well done, Brank’ox! You gave those guys a real fright. And Dolly, I had no idea we could make something as advanced as gunpowder. You rock, too.”
She swings herself up on Kyandros’s back, he beats his wings, and they fly off into the sunrise.
I take Brank’ox’s hand and look down into the Factory. “I don’t think it can be saved. We’ll have to rebuild it completely. And then maybe spend many lonely days here again. Just you and me. Married. With no dragon confusing us with his evil nonsense. Lots of food and supplies and such. New discoveries. How will we ever get through it?” I squeeze his hand so he knows I’m being silly.
He grins, a white flash in a sooty face. “We will just have to do our best. Possibly we won’t discover anything new and exciting here. We know the place too well. But a negative result is also a result, as I always say.”
“You do always say that. Will you bring your harp?”
He scratches his chin. “I think I’ll have to make a new one.”
“Okay. I think so, too. Then staying here will be bearable. Actually, love, it will be incredibly wonderful.”
He puts his immensely strong arms around me, smelling of smoke and war. “Wonderful beyond anything I’ve ever known.”
“Exactly. Let’s get going before the weather gets warmer and the Bigs get more active. You don’t have a sword anymore, and my gun only had one shot in it. At least we won’t have to worry about dragons.”
Brank’ox takes a final look around. “We have quite a lot of tidying up to do when we come back here.” He walks out the door, and I follow.
40
- Brank’ox -
The next days pass quickly. Dolly and I walk back to the village, encountering no Bigs or dragons. We’re warmly welcomed, served food and drink, and heartily congratulated on our engagement. They ask us when we want to get married, and of course I suggest immediately.
But the women want time to prepare – they say that every other wedding has been so hurried, and this time they want to make it a real good one. I