She looked at him, still light-hearted.  “You’ve wanted to ask me that for these many months, haven’t you?

“You do know that when I give my word, it’s good,” she answered, still pleasant in her tone, but serious in her eyes, being very tolerant, in dragon terms, of someone asking such a question.

“I know the ultimatum was directed at King Dregor,” Baneck said.  “And I believe you do love this land, and you would not desert us.”

Morgy nodded quietly.

“But you did not do anything while the threat was upon us.”

“That’s right.  It’s best I stayed out of it.”

“None would have thought less of you if you challenged him and lost.  War or no war, we would have avenged you.

“But I’m not knowing why you didn’t lift a hand.”

“Your uncle could tell you as easily as I,” she replied simply.  “But I’ll spell it out for you.

“First, do not think me incapable of dealing with a skelark like him,” she jabbed a thumb over her shoulder, as if Felldrake was waiting outside the building.  “He’s bigger and stronger, yes; but with my greater experience and host of surprises, he would be kicked into the dirt.

“So, everyone would see me winning the battle, with King Dregor and the rest of this kingdom standing by and watching.  How would that reflect on the proud warrior’s heart of this people?”

She did not let him answer, but continued.  “You know who else would see it?  The Spearhorns.  Those greedy reds would take notice, if I defended this nation like my own territory.  Then they would start descending on this realm to challenge me for it and all its booty.”

“But this is our kingdom,” Baneck said defiantly.  “We fought for peace from those very dragons.”

“Not if you suddenly have a dragon fighting your battles for you.”

His expression softened as he took in this revelation.

“That’s how a red dragon thinks,” she said.

Now he was thoughtfully quiet.

“You kept looking at the dragon in front of us, boy,” Torsar said.  “You didn’t see the forest for the trees.”

Baneck sighed.  He told Morgy, “Sorry for questioning you.”

“Now, dear,” she waved a dismissing hand, and reached across the table to give him a reassuring pat on his own.  “Consider it a lesson learned.”

He nodded and smiled back.

Her geniality was back in full measure, and she leaned back.

“So you learned to live in a new place,” Baneck concluded.  “Does that mean you can safely possess an item of Wintermore, because you’re willing to take risks?”

“No.  It means I can deal with such an item, just like dealing with new people.  I know how to do so.  You don’t.”  She looked at him stridently.  “I only want you to make it.  Then leave it to me.”

“And the buyers?  You said it was for a goodly people.”

“Indeed it is.  And they can most certainly possess it safely.  I would not have you make something to be used for evil, darling.  Quiet treachery poisons strength, as the local saying goes.”

“Hmmm.”  He scratched his chin, and started to pick up his drink, but set it back down.

“Let’s talk about payment.”

Morgy’s eyes took on a new light.  “Yes?”

“Part of it, will be 700 gold.”

Torsar sputtered over the rim of his mug.  “What?!  Are you daft, boy?” he nearly bellowed, froth flying around his mustache.  “It’s worth much more than that!”

Baneck held up a hand.  “Part of it, I said.  The other part,….”

Torsar sat up and forward, looking anxiously between them.

Baneck kept his bearing.  The shrewd dragon-merchant was always in control of her business, and the things that affected it.  But this was something she wanted, so he had a negotiating advantage.

“Favors,” he told her.

“Favors?” she said, as if caught off guard.  “If this is about the facts of life, darling, you should have come to me before your engagement became official.”

“Not like that,” he said, too quickly to hide his embarrassment.  “Fawnlum and I will need certain things done, I’m thinking.  And only clever Morgenferrin will be able to help us.”

“You just want to ask for certain things indefinitely?”  She put her hands over her heart in mock surprise.  “Baneck, darling!  I never knew you were so greedy.”

“You can take me at my word, I won’t sponge off you.  Wintermore is tied to me and Fawnlum now.  And like you said, we can’t imagine what we’re in for.”

“Well said.”  She leaned forward to clasp his hand, and they shook on it.

“Torsar, you’re a witness.  Baneck’s not allowed to walk off with all my fortune.”