“He’s a dragon. A fight is what he’s so energized about. They live for starting fights.” He reached down and grabbed my hand, not nearly as great at hoisting me up as Nyfain was.
“Great goddess, Hadriel, lift a weight once in a while.”
“How dare you! That would ruin my wiry physique. What would all the boys say if I couldn’t bend just right?”
“Guys don’t give a shit about the details, you know that. They’re just happy for a ride.”
“Truer words have never been spoken. Right, where to?”
I turned to look at Dabnye, watching off to the side. “We’ll be back, okay? Your mom will be fine until then. Help is coming.”
She nodded slowly and took a step back. “Thank you,” she said, and I could hear the relieved tears in her voice.
A lump formed in my throat, and I tapped Hadriel. “Go,” I whispered, grabbing around his body, much smaller than I was used to.
“Frog in your throat, oh great healer?” He kicked the horse’s sides and said, “Hah!”
“Feels good to be back on a horse again, huh?”
“Yes, actually. Butlering is boring. One day I’d like to be the stable master. I’ve always wanted to be. So, what all happened since we parted?”
I explained the state of the village. After describing the council meeting, I said, “That village greatly needs Nyfain’s help, and he barely did anything.”
“What do you mean he barely did anything? He gave them you. That is everything.”
“I shouldn’t be taking charge. He’s the prince!”
“No, doll, you have it all wrong. Royalty delegates. That’s what they do. To avoid looking like tyrants, dipping their fingers in everyone’s affairs, they section off their power. They manage the managers. Given everything has gone to shit, there hasn’t been a manager to delegate to in a while. But now…there is you.
“Nyfain elevated you to the position of royal healer. He has delegated the control of the elixir to you. Plus, he has a built-in threat to get everyone to step into line, since he said he’d support you, and you threatened to kill anyone who interfered with your operations.” He laughed with glee. “He’s probably tickled pink with you, my love. I doubt there is a prouder dragon in all of the world.”
“And he will show his pride by pushing me at the demon king.”
I hadn’t meant to sound so bitter. Or hurt.
Hadriel patted my arm as it wrapped around his middle. “Yeah, I heard about that. He thinks he’s saving your life. And honestly…he probably is. I am absolutely going to try to go with you. Though Leala will probably have a better chance because she’s your lady’s maid. I chose the wrong job. The bitch of it is that I would’ve rather worn the maid’s outfit than the stupid butler outfits. These things are hideous.”
I laughed despite the situation and looked away. “He wants to fight for everything else, so why won’t he let me fight, too? It’ll suck, but I’ll step away when he meets his noblewoman.”
The hush of the wood around us lent weight to Hadriel’s words. “He is letting you fight. He’s letting you fight the greatest battle, actually. He’s hoping you’ll save his people before you get out. It’s a rare honor for him to put so much trust in someone. Since the curse—maybe before—he’s shouldered burdens on his own. Give him some credit.”
My eyes clouded with tears, and I bit my lip, jerking my head in a nod and staring out to the side.
“It doesn’t seem like reality, that suggestion,” I admitted. “Make a deal with the demon king? Leave here for his kingdom? There is no—” My voice hitched. “There is no way. I’ve only recently, for the first time, lived away from my family and my village. And then I had Nyfain to protect me.”
He left his hand on my arm. “That’s it, I’m going to commission a maid outfit. I’ll be your second maid, how’s that? I’ll be with you every step of the way, doll. I won’t leave you to brave the demons on your own. You need a damsel to keep you level. I’m the best damn damsel there ever was. I scream right on pitch.”
I wiped away a tear, laughing.
He patted me. “It’ll all work out in the end,” he said softly. “I have faith in that. The prince has been playing hero, keeping the kingdom cranking, waiting for you. Now you will take over for a spell. When you two come together again, it’ll be explosive.”
“How are we going to come together again if I’m carted off to the demon kingdom?”
“I have no fucking idea, my darling. Not a clue. But you must, or we’ll all perish. No pressure.”
“Fantastic. Great pep talk, as ever,” I said dryly.
“I know, I know, I should stick to screaming.”
Eighteen
As we approached the tree line of my village, I patted Hadriel’s arm. “Okay, stop here. We can’t bring the horse. We’ll be noticed immediately.”