Dragons of Asgard 3 by Logan Jacobs (first ebook reader txt) 📗

“Yes, me, too.” Asta clapped and smiled so wide her eyes were pushed shut by her cheeks.

“Maybe when this is all over,” Eira said, and she flashed the girls a wink, along with her pearly-white teeth.

I hadn’t known about Eira’s property, either. Kas was right, we’d been a little preoccupied with the dismantling of the entire dragon slave trade, but I made a mental note to see this property of hers. I wanted to see where the redhead lived.

The girls grew quiet once more, and I glanced over to see Kas had her spell book open on her knees. Uffe was in her lap, and the strawberry-blonde absentmindedly stroked his back while she read through her spells.

Svass was curled up in Eira’s lap instead of around her neck, and I smiled at the little yellow dragon. She was sprawled out across the redhead’s legs, and I saw her small chest rise and fall with each heavy, sleepy breath.

Inger sat on Asta’s lap with her head lifted up and her eyes closed as the white-haired elf girl tied some braided grass around her neck. Affixed to the grass was a small yellow flower, and once it was finished, Inger cooed and preened as Asta complimented her and stroked her head.

I chuckled inwardly at the two of them and how adorable they were together, but then Blar snored loudly against my feet, and I wondered how Asta got the cute little dragon who liked bows while I got the snoring horned beast who refused to behave unless there was pumpkin involved.

He snored again, and I smiled down at the little blue dragon. He was a pain sometimes, but I wouldn’t trade him for anything.

Before long, we arrived at Ramir’s shop, and I hopped off the cart and tied the horned horses up to the pole outside.

The bell on the shop door rang, as usual, when we walked in, and I looked around to see if I could locate Ramir before he revealed himself to be somewhere incredibly close like he always did.

“Father?” Kas called.

“Yes, dear?” the old man asked, and he leaned out from behind a bookshelf to our right.

“Father,” Kas groaned. “You have to stop hiding in here.”

“I’m not hiding,” Ramir chuckled. “I’m just doing my job. It’s not my fault you didn’t look around before you called out to me.”

I did look around, but I wasn’t about to say that to the old man. He’d just say I hadn’t looked hard enough, though I was sure Kas was right, the old man purposely waited to reveal himself. I suspected he liked seeing customers jump when they realized he was right next to them.

“Here.” Asta smiled and handed Ramir the basket I’d made for him. “Rath put this together for you.”

“He did, did he?” the old man asked, and he flashed me a wide grin. “There’s no need for all that.”

“Maybe not,” I chuckled. “But we appreciate all you’ve done, and we just wanted to bring you a little something to say thank you.”

“Seeing these little things is payment enough,” Ramir said as he bent down to scratch under Blar’s chin. Then the old man looked up at me and raised a bushy eyebrow. “However, I assume there’s something else you need since you’re here?”

“Are you saying we only visit when we need something?” Kas scoffed.

“Yes, dear,” Ramir laughed. “And it’s perfectly understandable. You all are quite busy.”

“We are,” I agreed. “And, yes, there is something we need.”

The old man shot a smile toward Kas, but his daughter just crossed her arms and let out a little huff.

“I’m always here to help,” the old man said as he carried the basket of goods toward the back of the shop. “What can I do for you?”

“We were hoping you have a map of Jotunheim you can let us use,” Kas explained.

“Hmm.” Ramir shook his head. “I’m afraid I don’t. Jotunheim is incredibly large, and I’m afraid not all of it has ever been charted, so maps are limited.”

Kas’ face fell. “You made us a map to get to the well.”

“Yes, but you had a specific, magical place you were headed to then,” Ramir told her. “Do you have another one of those?”

“Well, no.” The strawberry-blonde frowned.

“We’re trying to find where some frost giants are keeping a large collection of dragon eggs,” I told him.

“I see.” The old man’s bushy eyebrows pulled together. “And you’re not sure what part of Jotunheim they’re in? I’ve been to the realm a few times, so I may be able to help a little, depending on where you’re going.”

“We don’t know exactly,” I sighed and pushed my hand through my hair, which made me realize I hadn’t tied it back yet today.

“What about your dream?” Eira asked.

“Oh, yes.” Asta nodded fervently. “Maybe if you tell Ramir what happened, he’ll be able to figure out what part of Jotunheim you were in.”

“Mmm, yes, tell me about this dream,” Ramir said as he picked up one of the squashes from the basket and cut off large chunks to give to the dragons patiently waiting by his feet.

“I was a little dragon,” I said. “And I woke up in a room completely made of --”

“Ice!” Asta exclaimed, and she stepped slightly in front of me as she gestured wide. “There was ice everywhere, it was like an ice cavern, and he couldn’t get out because it was so slippery.”

“Right,” I agreed, and I tried not to smile at her enthusiasm over my dream. “And there were eggs all around.”

“Yes,” Asta said as she clasped her hands under her chin. “We’ve got to get to them and save the little dragon who showed Rath where he was.”

“What do you think?” I asked Ramir. “Do you know of any ice caverns?”

“I do.”