Page 12 of Connor and the Dragons

“Perhaps Connor can simply wait here with Oallian and spend some time getting to know the dragon while he waits,” Lord Frost said. I had no idea why he kept awkwardly trying to get me to get with Oallian, but he was doing it with all the grace of a third grade teacher trying to show two bullies that they could be friends. I turned to the window and thought about the problem for a minute.

“And you’re sure Sky is all right over there?” I asked.

“They are safe, just making slow progress,” Lord Frost said. “We have had one letter from them. Oallian flew out to meet the trade ship that had carried them across, on its way home from Liminia, and brought it back. The crew had met him before, which spared everyone a great deal of screaming. It is not a post anyone could rely on, and we have no safe way to send an answer, because a dragon cannot be seen anywhere near the Liminian coast.”

“Their cover is sound,” Aeldryc agreed. “Moerrven is a famous novelist, and has told everyone he is researching Liminia for his next novel. Sky is posing as his assistant. According to that letter, no one has questioned them for a moment.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“Because Moerrven’s cover is the truth. His name is well-known, even in Liminia,” Lord Frost said.

“Ah,” I said. “But they’re having trouble?”

“They’ve found several interesting documents, but everything is encrypted. The wizards in charge of portal magic are paranoid bastards,” he said. “So now they’re searching for a key or cipher or whatever it’s called.”

“Do you know what kind of encryption they’re using?” I asked. “If a person did it by hand and not a machine, it’s almost certainly one of the classic ciphers or a cousin of one, and most of those come apart under frequency analysis—” I stopped, realizing everyone in the room was staring at me. “What?”

“I thought he was a bartender,” Aeldryc said, turning to Pip.

“I mean, he’s also in grad school for something geeky,” Pip said, as if I wasn’t standing right there.

I cleared my throat, and they all turned back to me. “I’m studying history, with an emphasis on Historical Cryptography.”

“So you know ciphers?” Aeldryc asked. “Maybe sending you to help wouldn’t be so terrible after all.”

“The Queen wants Connor to stay in our custody,” Lord Frost said, stiffening.

“So? Go with him,” Aeldryc said.

“Why don’t YOU go with him,” Lord Frost said.

“We’ve been over that. Liminians hate the fae. They’ve chased all fae out of their country. And I’m… noticeable.”

“No shit,” Pip said, hip-checking his husband. “I notice you every day of my life.”

Seriously, did Pip have zero sense? The man had clearly killed for less. But he ignored Pip’s hijinks.

Behind them, Oallian was tiptoeing past, like we wouldn’t notice a six foot plus wall of solid muscle in a poorly tied robe headed for the snacks.

Lord Frost narrowed his eyes. “So what is our plan? Fly Connor there, land as dragons in the dark of night, and appear as three human men who belong in Liminia?” He said it as if he thought the idea was absurd, but everyone nodded along as if it was the perfect plan.

“That’s not a bad plan. It’s quite a populous country, and much of the population is human,” Aeldryc said. “You could blend in. You can all pass as humans.”

“Oallian glows red with fire if he gets too agitated!” Lord Frost said.

“So?” Pip asked. “Don’t get him agitated. Fuck him good so he’s relaxed at all times.”

Aeldryc nodded, rubbing his chin. “Or edge him so he’s completely focused on sex. Don’t let him orgasm at all.”

“That is absolutely not a proper plan,” Lord Frost huffed.

“No, no, I quite like this plan. Though I would like the occasional orgasm,” Oallian said. “But I am up for anything you want to do to my body.”

“You’re sure they wouldn’t identify us as outsiders?” I asked.

“If they do,” Lord Frost said, “we’d be risking military reprisal. The treaty with Liminia is tenuous at best, and our kingdom has finally found peace. The Queen may not want to take a risk just to get four twinks back home.”

“Not a twink,” I muttered. “Wait, four?”