to be enough.
“When Zollin gets there he will be. It was a damn close call, though.”
“Why would that miner attack Mansel?”
“Kurchek’s been stewing for a fight ever since he came to the village. Most of Trollic’s men moved on, but not all of them. A few are still working in the Upper Range. None of them wanted Kurchek, though. He’s stupid and mean. I guess he figured on taking Mansel out and then I’d be easy pickings.”
“He was wrong about that,” Brianna said.
“Maybe. I’m getting old. Did you know I’m going to be a grandfather?”
“I did know that,” Brianna said happily.
“I am so proud of you, girl. Your father would be too. If you have a chance to see him, you should.”
“We’ll probably stop at Orrock. The letter we got last winter said they were staying there.”
“Good, they should know about your good news. Anyway, Mansel gave as good as he got. I think he could have killed Kurchek but he didn’t. Took his eye, though.”
“That’s horrible.”
“Can’t say I’m surprised. Mansel fought him off with a knife wedged in his arm. Don’t think I could have done that.”
“Me either,” Brianna agreed.
“Let’s hope we never have to find out. Where’s Zollin?”
“He left already,” Brianna said, setting the platter of food on Quinn’s lap.
His stomach growled and he realized he hadn’t eaten since Zollin and Brianna had told him about the baby. And that had mainly been ale with only a little bread. Taking care of Mansel and then riding out to Zollin’s cottage had erased any thought of food from his mind. But he was hungry and grateful for the food.
“Already?” Quinn asked. “When?”
“The dragons came at sunup. Zollin and Ferno left shortly after. We didn’t think the village would appreciate two dragons in the vicinity. They don’t trust me for the most part anyway, and Sorva isn’t really comfortable around people. It’s better this way.”
“The townsfolk who are afraid of you are fools,” Quinn said. “Sorva’s that big black one isn’t it?”
“Not as big as Bartoom,” Brianna said.
“Well, as much as I hate to admit it, you’re probably right. Another black dragon flying over Brighton’s Gate might shake things up a little too much.”
Quinn ate his breakfast and drank the coffee, which more than anything else made him feel better. They were just tidying up when they heard dragon wings flapping hard above the cottage. The huge green dragon landed softly not far from the cottage, and Zollin jumped down.
“How’s Mansel?” Quinn asked as he and Brianna came outside to meet Zollin.
“He’s fine now. That miner nearly ruined his arm,” Zollin said.
“But you healed it?” Brianna said.
“I had to rebuild it, but it’s fine now. I don’t think he’ll have any trouble with it.”
“I’m sure Nycol is relieved.” Quinn said.
“She seemed to be. They’re both resting now. I don’t think she got much sleep last night.”
“No, I don’t suppose she did.”
“You didn’t either,” Zollin said. “Why don’t you stay here for the day? We need you to look after things while we’re gone, anyway.”
“I’ll keep an eye on the place, but I need to go back. Something needs to be done about those creatures.”
“What creatures?” Brianna asked.
“The same ones that we encountered on the trail,” Zollin said. “They attacked Quinn, and Ollie said that Brynar lost a cow. Its hard to believe they weren’t the cause.”
“Ollie was at Mansel’s?” Quinn said.
“She brought them food. And news about Kurchek.”
“Is he causing more trouble?” Brianna asked.
“No, he's threatening revenge. Buck bandaged his eye, but they didn’t think he’d ever see out of it again. Then they helped him back to his room. By sunup he was back in the common room, complaining about breakfast.”
“Well, I doubt he'll be a threat for a while yet,” Quinn said. “I won’t lose sleep worrying about
“When Zollin gets there he will be. It was a damn close call, though.”
“Why would that miner attack Mansel?”
“Kurchek’s been stewing for a fight ever since he came to the village. Most of Trollic’s men moved on, but not all of them. A few are still working in the Upper Range. None of them wanted Kurchek, though. He’s stupid and mean. I guess he figured on taking Mansel out and then I’d be easy pickings.”
“He was wrong about that,” Brianna said.
“Maybe. I’m getting old. Did you know I’m going to be a grandfather?”
“I did know that,” Brianna said happily.
“I am so proud of you, girl. Your father would be too. If you have a chance to see him, you should.”
“We’ll probably stop at Orrock. The letter we got last winter said they were staying there.”
“Good, they should know about your good news. Anyway, Mansel gave as good as he got. I think he could have killed Kurchek but he didn’t. Took his eye, though.”
“That’s horrible.”
“Can’t say I’m surprised. Mansel fought him off with a knife wedged in his arm. Don’t think I could have done that.”
“Me either,” Brianna agreed.
“Let’s hope we never have to find out. Where’s Zollin?”
“He left already,” Brianna said, setting the platter of food on Quinn’s lap.
His stomach growled and he realized he hadn’t eaten since Zollin and Brianna had told him about the baby. And that had mainly been ale with only a little bread. Taking care of Mansel and then riding out to Zollin’s cottage had erased any thought of food from his mind. But he was hungry and grateful for the food.
“Already?” Quinn asked. “When?”
“The dragons came at sunup. Zollin and Ferno left shortly after. We didn’t think the village would appreciate two dragons in the vicinity. They don’t trust me for the most part anyway, and Sorva isn’t really comfortable around people. It’s better this way.”
“The townsfolk who are afraid of you are fools,” Quinn said. “Sorva’s that big black one isn’t it?”
“Not as big as Bartoom,” Brianna said.
“Well, as much as I hate to admit it, you’re probably right. Another black dragon flying over Brighton’s Gate might shake things up a little too much.”
Quinn ate his breakfast and drank the coffee, which more than anything else made him feel better. They were just tidying up when they heard dragon wings flapping hard above the cottage. The huge green dragon landed softly not far from the cottage, and Zollin jumped down.
“How’s Mansel?” Quinn asked as he and Brianna came outside to meet Zollin.
“He’s fine now. That miner nearly ruined his arm,” Zollin said.
“But you healed it?” Brianna said.
“I had to rebuild it, but it’s fine now. I don’t think he’ll have any trouble with it.”
“I’m sure Nycol is relieved.” Quinn said.
“She seemed to be. They’re both resting now. I don’t think she got much sleep last night.”
“No, I don’t suppose she did.”
“You didn’t either,” Zollin said. “Why don’t you stay here for the day? We need you to look after things while we’re gone, anyway.”
“I’ll keep an eye on the place, but I need to go back. Something needs to be done about those creatures.”
“What creatures?” Brianna asked.
“The same ones that we encountered on the trail,” Zollin said. “They attacked Quinn, and Ollie said that Brynar lost a cow. Its hard to believe they weren’t the cause.”
“Ollie was at Mansel’s?” Quinn said.
“She brought them food. And news about Kurchek.”
“Is he causing more trouble?” Brianna asked.
“No, he's threatening revenge. Buck bandaged his eye, but they didn’t think he’d ever see out of it again. Then they helped him back to his room. By sunup he was back in the common room, complaining about breakfast.”
“Well, I doubt he'll be a threat for a while yet,” Quinn said. “I won’t lose sleep worrying about
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