Chapter Forty One
Everyone, including the gnome, stared at Justin as he agreed to Fred's terms. Justin wasn't sure whether he had rendered them speechless or if they were simply doubting what they had heard, and they were waiting for him to confirm it. So he did.
Finally, Art cleared his throat and came to stand next to his twin brother. Even though Sigmund and Art had been in the room together for a while now, it was still a jarring effect to see them stand side by side. When Art spoke, Justin realized that his voice was deeper than his brother's, with the bare traces of a different accent.
"Are you quite sure, Master White? Who do you plan on going with to steal 60 gemstones from a dragon? Dragons are highly attuned to magic, and if one of us goes with you, the journey will not be successful."
Justin looked around the room at the four mages and was saddened to see their grim expressions of agreement. Before his eyes traveled over to Maggie's for encouragement, she spoke. "I will go with you, Justin."
This time, it was Justin who was sure he hadn't heard correctly. "You want to go with me to steal gemstones from a dragon? A very dangerous dragon that would rather squish us like a bug than give us a single gemstone from his hoard?" When he said it out loud, it sounded much worse than he had originally thought.
Maggie's nostrils flared, and her eyes blazed, and for a moment, Justin was taken aback by her fierce reaction. "I am not a shrinking violet who is afraid of her shadow. Besides, we would be doing this to save my mother and sister. It is only fitting that I go."
Cora cleared her throat and came to stand next to Maggie. "Your Highness, it is for that very reason that you can't go. If something were to happen to you, your kingdom would be without a viable heir, and your father would lose a daughter."
Cora looked uncomfortable but determined as she continued. "You saw what your father went through when your mother and sister became sick. You wouldn't want him to face that again, would you?"
Justin knew it was a low blow, but it was a successful one. Maggie shrank back into herself, and she immediately shook her head. "Cora is right. As much as I would love to go with you, I can't risk putting my father or this kingdom through the stress and worry. Although I feel sure I would make it home completely unscathed."
"Of course, you would, Your Highness. But it is better to avoid stress and worry for the king or the kingdom whenever we can. And if your mother or sister should wake up during that time, you would want to be there for them, I am sure." Art's words were meant to be a soothing balm on Maggie's skinned pride.
She wasn't naive to miss what they were doing, but she wasn't stupid either. She would take the escape given to her and thank Art for his thoughtfulness.
The entire conversation still didn't solve the question of who would accompany Justin. For a long breathless moment, he feared he would have to go on his own. He saw no real way that doing that would be a success, but he had said he would get the gemstones, and he had no real way of getting out of that either. Of course, he didn't want to. More than just helping Maggie, the Mages, and the King, Justin wanted to see a real dragon close up. He had done his best to focus on the noble reasons for this quest, but his personal reason still fought to explode out of him in a fit of glee. However, there would be little to celebrate if he got lost on the way to the dragon's cave and was poisoned by a basilisk or eaten by a hydra.
"I will accompany Master Justin, if it pleases him?" Justin was pulled out of his spiraling thoughts as he looked up into the kind eyes of Sigmund. Just minutes ago, Justin was wondering whether or not this man could be trusted, and now he was willing to risk his life to help him. Guilt filled Justin up to his throat to the point that he almost choked on it. He had to take several deep breaths before he could speak.
"Why would you be willing to help me? You've only just met me." Sigmund ran his hands through his hair in such a way that mirrored his brothers. Justin couldn't help but smile at it. "I don't have to know you to know that your cause is good. The Queen and Princess are mine as well as my brother's. I want to see them returned to their full health as soon as possible. Besides, my brother wrote about you in his letter to me. He spoke highly about you, and, well, he believes in you, so I will too."
Where Justin's heart was thick with guilt towards this man, it was now mingled with awe and gratitude. Everyone in the room knew that this journey was a dangerous one. If something went wrong, it could be a deadly one. Most people would not risk their lives for a noble cause, especially with someone whom they didn't know from experience would have their back.
Justin knew in that instant that he would trust Sigmund with his life. With a smile and a handshake, the deal was struck, and the only thing left to do would be to plan the actual quest.
As Justin stood, taking in the weight of what he had just agreed to, the reality that he was going on an actual quest like a character straight out of a role-playing game was the one thing he had not expected to get hung up on. However, as the truth set in, all he could do was throw his head back and laugh.
Even as everyone stared at him in bewilderment, the force of his laughter rolled over them like the flapping wings of a waiting dragon. And all they could do was wait for it to pass by.