The Worst Kobold Chapter 30: Chapter 25 - Have the Wish I Wish Tonight

Read chapter 30 of The Worst Kobold by Thalaas on NovelPedia.

Six Months Later... Griffon sat at a desk in the capital city of Arcoal, right in the middle of the Kingdom of Ashen. She was in the royal palace, in her own personal office. She had been given it, along with her own apartment in the richest section of the city. And she felt like something was off. She ran her hand over the stained wood under her fingers. It was a fine desk, though they had to cut off the legs of it so it was more suited for her size. She tapped the fountain pen against the paper, making another non-existent circle. It had run dry several minutes ago but she couldn’t stop with the invisible doodle. The thin scratch the pen made seemed to echo in the office and her mind. For all her battles, paperwork was something on another level of challenge. I should be thrilled. Griffon thought to herself. She tapped the newest ring on her right horn, made of pure gold. The highest honor one could get from her clan, for all the work she had done as a diplomat of all things. The newly crowned King Alexander of Ashen freed all my people, declared us equals, opened trade, and asked me to be an official liaison between our clan and his kingdom. Another circle on the paper, but in the opposite direction this time. There had been a lot of pushback about freeing all the kobold slaves, even with the royal decree. But, in an ironic turn of luck, the Ashen Kingdom was flushed with wealth. The Wishing Stone, as horrid as it was, had made many a valuable treasure before a certain wonderful dragon stopped it. The crater it had left behind had been filled with all manors of treasure. From the mundane, to the fantastic. The royal guard were still picking out magical trinkets and valuable ores from the grounds, and would be for years to come. Alexander Falcon had to hire more guards just to watch the dig site from looters. He had even hired many a kobold from Griffon's clan. There was scoffing at first, but kobolds proved they were valuable additions. Their eyes were far better than a human's after the suns et making them excellent for night watch. . They could excavate and build tunnels faster than humans, so they dug up the treasures quicker and with less risk. Nothing made you more sympathetic to a group, than having that group make your life easier. The last six months have made more progress for our people than in the last six decades….. and all it took was one noble sacrifice from the worst kobold. She smiled softly. Worst kobold… I guess a dragon does make a terrible kobold, doesn’t he? Of course, he made a terrible dragon as well... because I can’t imagine any dragon who would sacrifice himself so easily, to save so many. She flipped the pen in her hand in a full circle. Maybe you were the worst kobold, Fluke. But you were the best dragon. I just hoped you realized it. Griffon twirled the pen a few more times. She leaned back in her chair, looking at the Skysplitter sword hanging beside the door. Prince, no, King Alexander Falcon now. She had to remember that the previous Queen had stepped down to let her son rule. King Alexander Falcon had bestowed it on her for her bravery, and as a small thanks for the sacrifice Fluke did for them all. Many of his advisors were livid, giving a rare one of a kind weapon to a mere kobold bordered on insanity after all. King Alexander said if any of them thought she should give it back, go and take it from her personally. Not surprisingly, no one tried. Well, one did. He recovered. Eventually. The sword was a fine gift, one that made her smile, as well. It represented a fundamental change in two worlds. Again, she wished Fluke could see what he had helped to make here. Enough stalling. Griffon got up from behind the table. If I get this paperwork done, maybe Ember and I can go spelunking tomorrow. I need a distraction. She needed more ink, and would have to go down to the provisioner for some. She walked to the heavy door and swung it open, taking a half step and pausing mid-stride. A new kobold w