The Worst Kobold Chapter 18: Chapter 14 - Romantic Subplots and Plucky Sidekicks

Read chapter 18 of The Worst Kobold by Thalaas on NovelPedia.

Griffon felt rather undignified as she rode in front of Prince Alexander on his horse Soot, like she was a hatchling. Prince Alexander had been true to his word, and had been treating her with respect. He hadn’t even bound her hands or anything. For a moment, she considered if she should make a play to try and take him out. A simple quick turn, and horns to the face should knock him out. But a second examination of her current situation told her it was a terrible idea. Fluke was being led somewhere else and she didn’t know where. Even if she did get lucky and won the fight, she’d be charged with assaulting a royal prince. That would be a death sentence if they caught her again. Controlling a horse as a kobold would also be extremely difficult for her. They were far too big to ride normally, unlike the dire wolves the kobolds had bred for that specific purpose. And after all that, she didn’t know where Ember was. She guessed they were keeping her in a different place than this mysterious container was. If Ember was there, Fluke could, theoretically, bust them all out with ease. If he knew he was a dragon, which he didn't. So no, she had no current escape plan. But if she couldn’t escape, then at least she should try and gather information. “So why don't you tell us what this is all about?” Griffon asked the prince as he rode behind her. “It's a royal secret,” Prince Falcon said by reflex. That had been his response so much the last two years. Why are you taking all those mages and scholars to an undisclosed location? Why do you need an ancient dragon leg? Why is it necessary to keep an entire orcish archaeology squad under lock and key? It's a royal secret. “Listen. Whatever you're doing you obviously need a dragon for,” Griffon. countered. “Bad enough you are taking good friends of said dragon, to get what you want. Now just about every being in the world knows pissing off dragons is a bad idea. The worst. And you don't strike me as completely brain dead. So whatever you need Fluke for has got to be worth ticking him off.” “It is,” Alexander sighed as he moved the reins to the right. His horse moved with skilled grace to a more well traveled path. Soot was so well-trained the prince barely needed to control her. “I know you may not believe me, but it is a necessary evil.” “Funny how kobolds always seem to be on the bad side of this necessary evil.” Griffon let Alexander hear the absolute venom in her voice. Though, he actually seemed to be a little upset over it. Good. He should feel bad about enslaving my kind, she mused. “But you may as well spill it. After you’re done with Fluke, he's going to tell me one way or another. And maybe I can convince him not to bring a thousand year storm down on your castle afterwards.” Unless they have some way to kill him. That was a horrifying thought, but she kept it internal. Dragons were the toughest creatures out there, but even they had limits. Could they have some plan to silence Fluke after? That thought made her core shudder but she didn't show it outwardly. Alexander let out a soft sigh. “Those are both excellent points,” he agreed. He thought for a moment before making a decision. “Very well, Griffon. Maybe you will understand my position better,” and he let out the entire story. The legend of the Wishing Stone. The discovery of the location by an orcish archeology crew. Bringing the contraption to Ashen. The gold, effort and years spent breaking down every defense one by one until they reached the final obstacle. “The destructive magic is our final obstacle, and it has proven challenging. To say the least,” Alexander continued. They had been riding for two hours now. The story had been long and, Griffon would admit, fascinating. “The final obstacle devours any material or magic thrown at it. But a dragon’s hide seems to be fairly resistant. We tested it with a mummified dragon limb. We hope, with your friend’s help, he will overcome the wild magics, and free the Wishing Stone.” Al